Magical Seas: A Rowan Gray Mystery Books 1-3

By: Lily Harper Hart

Narrated by: Kate Marcin

Length: 17 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Starting a new life isn’t easy, but for Rowan Gray it’s especially hard. The Michigan native finds herself fresh out of work and signs on to be the ship photographer on The Bounding Storm, a cruise ship that anchors in Florida while sailing the tumultuous seas on a weekly basis.

It’s a new world for the passionate spitfire, but the same old problem rears its ugly head when she boards. You see, Rowan can see death omens in her camera, and when they pop up, she feels obliged to save those in the grim reaper’s crosshairs.

Quinn Davenport is a former military man enjoying an easy stint as head of security on The Bounding Storm. As soon as he crosses paths with Rowan, he realizes she’s different. He has no idea how much until it’s too late to turn back.

Together, this duo must fight against fate - and their hormones - to keep The Bounding Storm safe.

This omnibus includes the first three books in the Rowan Gray mystery series. Titles include Welcoming Seas, Murky Seas, and Stormy Seas.

©2017 Lily Harper Hart (P)2017 Lily Harper Hart

Meh

The plot is interesting but the writing and narration are both wooden and stilted, and there are a few small editing errors. Both the writing and narration improved very slightly over the course of the three books, the narration more so. For example: I don't know many people who 'roll their neck' all the time, but more than one of these characters do it regularly. Phrases are used over and over again, both in descriptions and dialogue. The author seems to have a need to prove she has a vocabulary, so characters say things people rarely say in real-life conversation. It's fine to use good, chewy words in a description or narrative, but unless your characters are set up as being highly intelligent, pretentious snobs, then use of those words in dialogue is jarring. More research about common practice on cruise ships would help, too. I know this is one cruise ship I wouldn't want to sail on because people are constantly disappearing under suspicious circumstances, and the ship doesn't try to rescue people who are suspected of having gone overboard. As far as the narration goes, the first book is filled with extremely odd pauses in the middle of phrases after verbs that have an odd inflection. The narration does improve some for the second book, but declines again in the third one. Overall, I think the plot idea has potential, and I think the writer and narrator also both have potential, but haven't reached it yet. If the three book set is $5.00 or less then I might buy it to pass the time while driving, but otherwise I'd pass.

wonderfully thrilling

these are great books 📚 can't wait till more come out.
I'm a big fan.

It's ok

Enjoyed the 1 and 3 books the most. Follows the author's format of a 27 YO Heroine with a heavy handed male love intrest, surprisingly he is also in law enforcement, who seen that coming. What is really disappointing that I think I only laughed twice, which is abnormal for this author

Excellent series

This book group was a gift from my granddaughter. And I was surprisingly happy with the books in this series. Well written, excellent characters and setting, picturest. And as a who done it---top notch. I will be purchasing more books to continue the series.

Thank you Lily Harper Hart and Kate Marcin for a great read / listen.

Rowan and Quinn

I just love these two together. I love the trouble they find and I love how they are in it together to the end.