Storm Warrior (Grim, 1)

I think this is more fantasy than romance. There really wasn't much of that to speak of. It was all neat and squeaky clean in a way. Morgan sees a dog following her on vacation a really big dog. So it becomes a huge shock when she sees the same dog at her work in the states. So when she brings him into her home and the next day finds a man where the dog should be she's mortified. Not only does she not believe this mans wild stories but all reason says it's impossible.

I think a lot of the story was trying to prove to Morgan the truth. I get it but I'm not sure it was that fun to read through. I loved the fantasy about it but I wish there was more of a romance between the two characters.

I'm not sure if it was because it's the first in a series or if it is just the way the stories go. I might try book two to see where we go from here but I'm on the fence with this one.

Storm Warrior is a cute, light, paranormal romance with memorable characters and a delightful story that's easy to like. The plot's fairly straightforward which made the more complex Faerie lore easier to grasp and I loved that this book features a Grim! As omens of death their role in the paranormal world is somewhat limited; they're more observers than do-ers so Harper really had to pay special attention to her mythology and shape it accordingly and she does by incorporating many different types of faeries. My only complaint is that there wasn't enough action but that's often the case of a first installment in a series so I won't hold that against Dani.

In many ways this novel felt more like time travel fiction than a paranormal romance because Rhys becomes mortal very early on in this book and spends the rest of it learning how to live in the 21st century. Although he's been a silent observer for a thousand years, he spent them as a mastiff (dog) so he has little use for things like cars and the internet. I enjoyed watching him re-learn the intricacies of human society and his attempts to convince Morgan that he's a millennia old Celt were beyond entertaining. As a vet, her beliefs are rooted in science so accepting that faeries and Grims are real is quite a stretch for her. I was happy that Harper developed her Faerie lore to the extent that she did because without it, this novel would have been very un-paranormal.

I actually enjoyed the side characters more than the main protagonists in this story; Leo and Ranyon were definitely my two favourites but I also liked the other veterinarians that work with Morgan. Leo's a sweet old man who quickly becomes one of Rhys' best friends and Ranyon is an ellyll which is kind of a mix between a brownie and a tree-type creature. I loved that he was a Blue Jay's fan! A big thank you to Dani Harper for that fun, little, Canadian Easter egg! She also did her Faerie research before writing this book and it showed; her lore about the Tylwyth Teg, barghest and The Hunt was rich and enthralling.

Rhys is definitely fictional boyfriend material; I loved everything about him from his sexy tattoo, to his Celtic accent to his... personality. I had to include that last one just to make me feel less superficial. I wish he'd spent more of this book as a Grim instead of a mortal though but I have a feeling that the Fair Ones aren't through with him yet. As much as I respected and admired Morgan's level-headedness and independence, her inability to accept the truth that was right in front of her nose did irritate me. I mean really, who cares if Rhys thinks he's a thousand year old Celtic warrior! Haven't you ever heard of bedroom role play? They eventually do work things out but it took too long in my opinion; I would have preferred a bit more sexy time!

Dani Harper has a real talent for writing great paranormal romances; she first drew me in with her Changeling series and now she's hooked me with her first Grim installment. Storm Warrior is the perfect mix of sizzle and supernatural plus, you can't go wrong with a smokin' hot Grim!

After losing her parents, Morgan is raised by her grandmother with lots of love and fairy lore. Now a successful veterinarian, Morgan takes a much needed vacation to Wales. While there she is followed by a huge black mastiff with a unique silver color. When the same dog rescues her after her return to the States, she takes him home. But the dog disappears and she is left with Rhys, who claims to be an ancient Celtic warrior enslaved by the fae in the form of a grim, a dog whose presence portends death. While Morgan cannot deny her attraction to Rhys, she attempts to fight it by hiding behind a wall of scientific disbelief.

This is an enchanting book, light and fun. There is some genuine humor and the secondary characters were infused with believable personality. Rhys is a strong and appealing hero. Morgan is probably the weakest of the cast and her resistance, while futile, seemed half-hearted. I enjoyed the fairy lore and the affectionate portrayal of the animals.

This is an engaging novel filled with vibrant characters. The pace is easy but my interest did not flag. The ultimate showdown with the fairies was suspenseful and the resolution was satisfying. If you enjoy this genre, you will delight in this magical treat .

3 1/2
Storm Warrior is a book for those that like more story then romance. I really loved the Celtic world and the characters, but as a romance reader I want the romance in the story to the main part in the world building or storyline. At first you read about Morgan having dreams about a man and then she meets him, but what happens after that it falls flat. It's not that I just want sex in a book, I've read lots of romance books with no sex but I felt those characters romance grow as the story progressed, but not Morgan and Rhys, they didn't even stay together long enough for their romance to develop.

I really could relate to Morgan and I loved how strong she was, but I felt she didn't want to give Rhys a chance and that she just wasted too much time being apart from him just because she couldn't see his side of things. Rhys really doesn't know how to handle things between him and Morgan, but I understand where he is coming from since he has been in Grim form for so many years.

Again a great story, but you just won't find romance being a top priority. The world is really great and easy to understand so I can see a lot of readers liking this story.

I found this book to be very imaginative. The characters were compelling, as was the unique storyline. You can really feel the characters and feel like you are in the story. I would recommend it for romance and fantasy fans.

The story begins in the Black Mountains of Wales in AD 92 as the Celtic warrior, Rhys, is running from his Roman captors. He and others have been struggling for several decades to repel the Roman invaders. He finds a cave that is so dark and goes further and further until he sees a bright white light and his last thought is "Beware the Tylwyth Teg."

The reader is now brought to present-day Wales and Dr. Morgan Edwards, a veterinarian, who is on a tour of the old ancient ruins in Caerleon. Morgan was born and grew up in the US but had always been fascinated by Wales, her grandmother's homeland. However, she notices that a huge black mastiff has been following her -- a little strange. The dog also has a very strange metal color that is ornate. Her companion on the tour, a woman named Gwen who is tall and white haired, is fascinated by the mastiff and says it could be a grim -- a messenger from the faery realm. Gwen tells Morgan that a grim usually portends the death of the person who sees it. While Morgan had heard lots of stories of grims and other faeries from her grandmother, she is not keen to believe that this is true.

However, it is now time for their tour bus to move on. And so they do.

I do not want to tell more of the story to avoid spoilers but it is a fascinating tale and well done and researched. I have an advanced reader's copy and was a bit dismayed by there being "X"'s with a box frame in many of the spaces in the print thus making is hard to read some pages. I am sure those will be edited out for the final published copy!