A Modern ThiefKatherine Goldman is a professional with world-class skills, but the expertise of the family firm doesn’t lie within the scope of legitimate commerce. Goldman & Associates steals priceless treasures and delivers them to the highest bidder – and business is good.When Katherine lands in Scotland to boost some relics, nothing in the experience of this notorious thief prepared her … thief prepared her for a collision with a dark, rakish man wearing plaid – who happens to be trapped inside an ancient mirror.
A Man Imprisoned in Time
Centuries before, Simeon Campbell had no idea the woman he charmed was a witch of unspeakable power. When Simeon refuses her gift of immortality, he quickly learns there is no wrath like a woman scorned.
Cursed to spend eternity within the bonds of her enchantment, Simeon is lost through time and nearly bereft of hope. Until he’s accidentally released by a lass with questionable motives, in a century he could never have imagined…
One Wicked Curse
As the pair plunge into a journey where danger trails them at every turn, this man of honor is determined to stop at nothing to save the woman he’s sworn to protect. But Katherine stubbornly knows better than to clash with an enemy face to face. If Simeon is determined to defeat ancient evil at its source, he’s going to need help.
He’s going to need a thief.
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This story wasn’t at all what I expected because of the characters. It is unique, although there is time travel, with its clash of expressions, women and men’s roles in society and of course the advancement of technology.
Many good qualities to this story. The plot is catchy with vibrant fast-paced dialogue, pertinent to each character’s style of talk. The narrator, Greg Patmore, captures the sensual lure of Laird Simeon who has spent centuries in a glass mirror under the curse of Isobel, a witch, whom he would not bed. I feel the laird’s desperation to break out of living in total isolation. Greg Patmore is talented and a pleasure to listen to.
Katherine, on a job, finds a mirror while thieving for her father and discovers it is no ordinary mirror. She hears a man’s suave voice coming from the mirror asking to be released. He is brawn and beyond handsome in Katherine’s opinion.
Katharine is a talented, skilled thief—she gets in and gets out—no changing what she should do. This time, being intrigued since no one hears the man in the mirror except her, she doesn’t follow the Gorman Rules of thievery, grabs the mirror with the promise to try to free the man, which propels the story forward.
Katherine contacts her Colin, her brother. Things are not going as they should. She feels watched. But who would it be? She left no tail.
Katharine’s voice, narrated by Greg Patmore, feels awkward. She doesn’t sound likable—she’s a bit whiny. How can the laird be attracted which he is? Is he so sex-starved that he can’t resist the first woman he sees for centuries? I think the character would be better served if early dialog (internal dialogue) would from time to time show her soft underbelly, and soften her voice – making her real off-the-job voice more feminine.
Katherine didn’t want to get caught in the laird’s charm with his rumbling masculine and beguiling brogue. She is the best thief in the world and knew feelings could get her killed. Perhaps, backstory on why Katharine had to maintain her status would create more internal conflict, fleshing out her character fully.
Sophia captures Katherine’s brother in love too quickly with Sophia, the laird’s sister. I say this because he was just dumped by his wife and on the run from the police. Again, I suggest to the writer, she has a nice sequel for those two, giving a chance for us to discover what Sophia really is like and the merits of Colin.
Lastly, a thread not resolved. How did the laird know what words would release him and the reader doesn’t? There is one little sentence which points to it. We were privy to the exchange between Isobel and Simeon at the time he was cursed. Why did the writer not include a portion or hint of that? We as the reader would benefit, keeping the information from Katherine, of course.
If you are entertained by a spicy Highlander fantasy, time travel, and sexy protagonists, laced with humorous moments, this story should delight you.
This review is on the audiobook version.
This was a pleasant surprise. It’s been a while since I listened to a historical book. It’s not really a romance per se but more of a historical adventure. But it’s also a current adventure since we start in the present before traveling back to the past. On top of that we get a little of a paranormal mystery. What happened to Simeon Campbell to bring him to this point in time? Was it meant to be that Katherine Goldman would be the one to set things in motion?
Our author gives her readers a little bit of everything. Some would think that it would be confusing but she makes it all seem believable. Katherine is an interesting woman who on one hand can’t understand what’s going on but is willing to accept what’s happening – eventually. Simeon isn’t quite sure what’s going on but he’s a strong man that’s willing to take a chance to find a solution.
No offense to Mr. Patmore but when I started listening to him I thought of Sean Connery. I had no trouble thinking of Simeon with a younger face of Mr. Connery. He helped to carry me back to the Highlands and the people that live there. He also helped me become apart of the present mystery and how Katherine is going to go about solving it. Mr. Patmore may not have the best female voice but that didn’t bother me. He did a great job in getting me to like this story and looking forward to more.
I look forward to seeing what else Ms. Norem has written. I want to see where else she is going to take me and what my next adventure is going to be. I may even see what other books Mr. Patmore has narrated. He did a great job in transporting me out of my living room and taking me to the Scottish Highlands.These two made a great pair.
I voluntarily reviewed an Audiobook copy of this book