Once A Gypsy by Danica Winters Series: Irish Travellers #1
Published by Diversion Publishing on 11/01/16
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 290
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I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Even for a clairvoyant, the future is never a sure thing.
Helena has always struggled to fit in with her Irish Traveller family. It’s not just her opposition to getting married or her determination to attend university; Helena also has one talent that sets her apart from the rest of her clan―the gift of the Forshaw, the ability to see the future.
Graham is the groundskeeper at a manor in Adare, Ireland. Though the estate appears idyllic, it holds dark secrets, and despite his own supernatural gifts, Graham can’t solve Adare Manor’s problems by himself. Desperate for help, Graham seeks out a last resort: Helena, whose skills are far greater than even she knows.
When he promises to teach her to control her powers, Helena resists, afraid both of the damage her abilities might do and her increasing attraction to the handsome groundskeeper. Her entire way of life is at risk: Any involvement, especially romantic, with non-Travellers like Graham is forbidden. But Helena’s future is anything but certain, and fate has other plans for her family, her powers, and her relationship with Graham.
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Once a Gypsy takes us into a different area of the paranormal. I haven’t read much about “Travellers”. This setting was new to me. I knew that gypsy’s had many different beliefs and basically a pretty bare bones lifestyle. I don’t want to say “rough” life, because for them it is all they knew and they likely did not consider it rough.
Helena is different. She has dreams and aspirations that take her out of the Travellers world. She wants to go to school and become something different. Especially get away from some of the trials she faces at home. Her father gets offered a job, but it is on the condition that Helena attend with him.
This is where Helena meets Graham. He seems like a sweet guy who is showering her with attention, but you can tell something is up and he’s hiding something. His feelings all felt real for Helena, until we get a glimpse of just what the whole story going on at the manor is. A lot of secrets are discovered in the old mansion that Graham has been desperately trying to hide. He is stuck in a hard place with his father and their secret, as well as feelings he is starting to have for Helena.
Once A Gypsy has both Graham and Helena who are dealing with their own personal demons, come together to combat the mansion’s issues. The story of the mansion was unique. Helena’s life definitely needed to be changed so I think even with the initial trials of the mansion, the new relationship with Graham and the opportunity to get away from her mother outweigh the trials.
The lifestyle brings many questions and concerns in Helena’s life and it feels as if she is forever going to be dealing with other people’s prejudices, beliefs and problems.
Once a Gypsy was an interesting read with some good drama. I didn’t feel completely pulled in or engrossed in the story, but it had a good base with a couple of surprises. It will be interesting to see how this turns into a series. The first books always seem to have a lot of world building in them which is probably why I didn’t get a deep connection to the story. The Travellers world is definitely different and I am anxious to see how much the Traveller’s lifestyle affects the rest of the books.
About Danica Winters
Danica Winters is an Amazon bestselling author who has won multiple awards for writing books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and occasionally a touch of magic. Most recently, Danica was the winner of the Paranormal Romance Guild’s Paranormal Romantic Suspense Book of the Year Award and Chanticleer Media’s Paranormal Book of the Year for her novel Montana Mustangs.
When she’s not working, she can be found in the wilds of Montana testing her patience while she tries to understand the allure of various crafts (quilting, pottery, and painting are not her thing). She always believes the cup is neither half full nor half empty, but it better be filled with wine.
Danica Winters is represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
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