Patricia Rice has written a fascinating and captivating tale with two incredible characters and scorching love scenes that will make any romance fan hungry for more. MYSTIC GUARDIAN, the first book in her new Mystic Isle Series has magic, suspense and even some comic relief.

Mariel St. Just and her pregnant sister Francine are in dire straights because of their lack of money, which means no food. They are slowly starving and it seems that Mariel is the only one who can take charge of the situation. Mariel is not just a simple girl from Brittany. She was born with special powers, from being able to swim great lengths under water and experiencing on-going premonitions of a "Golden God" who will save her and her village. As she walks the lonely shores one day, she finally sees this god and believes the prophecy her dead mother had told her about will now come true.

Trystan L'Enforcer is no god, but rather the guardian of the mystical island of Aelynn. He ventures back and forth from there and to the outside world on the ocean. This time he sees Mariel and is overcome with the need to be with her. But this doesn't matter, for he must return home. Mariel instead swims to his ship and stays hidden as they reach Aelynn. She is found washed up on the shore by Trystan and he figures out that she is his "amacara"; his perfect physical match. Mariel doesn't realize that she is a crossbreed, a mix of Aelynn and the Other World and that she must procreate with him for the sole purpose to protect his world. Mariel soon escapes back to her sister and Trystan tries to find her so he can take her back with him. She must mate with him or he may have to kill her to keep her silence in order to save his people from being found.

There was a little bit of everything in these pages from action, comedy and very sensual love scenes between Mariel and Trystan. These two are too stubborn for their own good, but still perfect for each other in every way. Their constant fighting and the way Mariel kept slipping through Trystan's fingers was a hoot. I found myself routing for Mariel as she told Trystan the way things were going to be between them and his reactions to her way of thinking. He was one alpha male that wouldn't take no for an answer, but when it came to Mariel, he fell hard and would protect her with his own life.

I recommend this new series from a true master of the romance genre. Patricia Rice simply soars with this inventive storytelling of an enchanting land of mates and magic.