Review: An Enjoyable Read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 3, 2013
Story Rating Part 1 ~ 3 StarsStory Rating Part 2 ~ 4 StarsHero Rating ~ 3 StarsHeroine Rating ~ 4 StarsRomance Rating ~ 4 StarsHeat Level ~ 2.5 StarsEnding ~ 4 StarsOverall Rating ~ 3.5 StarsWritten in the Stars was a 2 part romance. Part one was set in the year 1601 and part two was set in the present day.Part one takes place in 1601 where we meet Elizabeth. She is sent to Dunham Castle to honor her father's wishes and marry Carlyle, the Duke of Lennox's son. When she arrives, she meets the Duke and his wife, his son, Carlyle, and the Duke's bastard son Will. Elizabeth feels an immediate connection to Will, but not to her betrothed, Carlyle. Will also feels the connection and they can't seem to stop thinking and wanting each other. As the story moves on we learn that Elizabeth has special powers. This added a nice touch. Elizabeth tries very hard to see the good in Carlyle, knowing that she must wed him. Carlyle has his own reasons for wanting Elizabeth, and he takes drastic measures to ensure that she does marry him. What Carlyle does to ensure that Elizabeth will be his, did not sit well with me at all, and I wished that things could have gone in another direction then what occurred.Part two, brings us to present day and we meet Cordelia Ward, a marine archeologist who is desperately trying to find the Chelstine, a ship that sunk back in 1606.  Before his death, her father had searched relentlessly for the Chelstine. This part of the story was action packed and I was drawn in quickly. Cordelia and Elizabeth share some strong bonds through time, and Cordelia also has some magic of her own. The Chelstine held the treasure that Carlyle had took  when fleeing to America, as he was trying to escape Elizabeth and her promise to make him pay for what he had done.Cordelia finds the Celestine with the help of Innis Foley a man from her past. While they are searching, Morgan Murphy shows up, he has a reputation as a ruthless pirate seeking ship wrecked treasures. Right away Cordelia senses danger through her magic and believes the danger is due to Morgan's presence. At first Cordelia is somewhat drawn to Innis, but she ends up sharing a kiss with Morgan. He makes her feel things that no man has ever made her feel before. As they all race to find the mother lode on the Chelstine, they are all placed in various dangerous situations. Cordelia becomes confused as to which man is causing these things to happen.In both parts I felt that the heroines were the superior characters. I loved the magic element that these two women possessed, and felt they both really well done characters. The heroes on the other hand, weren't as well developed, and I would have liked to have known more about them.The love scenes for me could have been hotter, but for other readers it may be just what they are looking for in their romances.In the end, everything is wrapped up nicely leaving me satisfied overall with the conclusion of these two couples. It seems that their love was "Written in the Stars" after all.