Moira Sinclair remembers of stories told by her beloved grandmother years ago as a child. She talked about the magical land Iona and the wonderful times she had there. Moira’s parents decided they would have none of these nonsense stories filling her head, and told Moira that if they continued talking about Iona she would not be allowed to visit her grandmother again.

Moira has now grown up and no longer has her grandmother around to talk to. She recalls the stories of youth, and seeks out to explore Iona and the charm it had held. She happens to go to Iona at a very special time, Samhain the time where the veil between the possible and impossible are the thinnest. This is the night everything as she knows it will change.

Kate Davies brings us her contribution to the Beginnings Anthology with Ritual Love. This is a magical tale in which worlds collide in the mystical festival of Samhain. Rich in druid lore, readers get swept away by the ambiance that surrounds Moira and the handsome stranger, Aedan ap Crannog. While this story is but a morsel, it is spicy enough to savor every last bit.

Reviewed by: Jayne