This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Krista has been writing since she was nine-years-old when she scribbled out her first adolescent work entitled Merish, the completely illogical but heartfelt story of a girl who was part mermaid, part fish. As a young mother, Krista added to her repertoire some middle grade readers and picture books she’s wary of mentioning.
In 2004, Krista began an intensive four year period working part-time as a critical care nurse while homeschooling her four children. During this hectic time, courses of writing were taught and learned, and rules of syntax were scolded to memory. Ironically this period of study equipped Krista with the tools she needed to enter the next phase of her writing experience.
Now equipped with the mysteries of the comma, Krista was ready to tackle a much bigger project—a full-fledged novel.
After the kids were enrolled in public school in 2009, it occurred to Krista that there is an insatiable audience of women and girls who want to read books filled with stories about true love, not just vampires. Convinced that there was an unfulfilled audience waiting for what she love to write—romance, she sat down in the family’s dungeon, a.k.a. the basement, and began to furiously type. In no time, her first novel was drying on crisp white paper.
Krista currently resides in Midlothian, Virginia with her husband, four daughters, and an eccentric cat with a weird attachment to the family’s socks. She continues to write obsessively every chance she can get.
Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
The plot of "The Lure of Shapinsay" by Krista Holle falls heavily on the myth of the selkies. A selkie is a marine creature that looks like a seal but can shed its skin and become human-like. A human male that finds the skin of a female selkie can keep the skin and prevent her from returning to the sea. A male selkie is known for storms, ship wrecks and the need for revenge. They have a way of enchanting or luring women to the sea.
The setting for "The Lure of Shapinsay" is Scotland of 1848, a land filled with mythical tales, or are they? Kait was not the typical Scottish lassie; she could pretend to be sweet, quiet and reserved mimicking the expected demeanor of females. Having been on her own since she was thirteen she was very capable of taking care of herself and putting others in their place. A child was born to her best friend. The child showed signs of the selkie with webbed hands and feet. Horrified, the grandfather took the child from the screaming mother and returned him to the sea. One of the selkies that witnessed the murder was extremely angry at the killing. He had little respect for humans and their ways. When the selkie saw Kait swimming he began to plot his revenge. He noticed her scent even before he entered her bedroom. She opened her eyes to a handsome young man. She knew she should be afraid but instead she only knew she wanted to be with him.
This tale moves along at a steady but slow pace. It reads much like an old fairy tale. Kait is an interesting character and a strong lead. I knew very little of the sealkie legend when I first got started. The author did a great job in re telling the stories of the seal. I also enjoyed watching the relationship between the sealkie and Kait, proving that love transcends relationships. This book has so much to offer; it is filled with the myth of the sealkie, romance of an unusual nature, and the struggle of good vs. evil.
