Kindle Edition Deborah Jay Author Deborah Jay Books Category:  Fantasy Type: Fiction Pages: 35 Copyright: July 29, 2015 Price: FREE! (eBook) Discover a unique eco-urban fantasy with a touch of romance. When Scottish water sprite, Cassie, volunteers for an anti-fracking protest, the last thing she expects is to find herself at odds with a druid. But with time running out for the local environment, she can’t afford to be distracted by the handsome hunk of a Highlander. Intent on a minor act of sabotage, Cassie is totally unprepared to be caught in the cross-fire of a magical battle. Can she avert catastrophe? Or will she become the very agency of an ecological disaster? Excerpt I pushed open the swing doors to the lounge and glanced around. Most of the crowd were locals I’d come to know over the past few weeks, but a rather delectable-looking stranger sat in the snug beside the chimney. My body perked up with interest. Right now, my DNA stores were high, and gathering more would be an indulgence, but this guy had the makings of a pleasing dalliance, with or without extra benefits. His shaggy brown hair melded into a luxuriant beard, above which shone a pair of the brightest blue eyes I’d seen in a long while. He was dressed in a heavy woollen sweater with a thick, quilted jacket and thermal beanie discarded beside him on the bench. Never one to stand on ceremony, I sauntered across the room and put a hand on the chair facing him. A pleasant waft of pine aftershave tickled my nose, evoking images of wide open spaces and forest, meeting my approval. He nodded in response to my raised eyebrow, and I pulled the chair out, dragging it across the bare wooden floorboards with a squeal. He winced. “Dear God, lass, d’ye like to torture your men even before ye’ve been introduced?”

Quick Entertaining Read
This quick read is sure to capture your attention from the start. "Frack You!" shouts from protesters kept in line by police in riot gear opens the story. Soon it goes into Cassie the watersprite's world of fantasy. Starting off the story with something that is socially controversial in the real world was an excellent way for this author to grab the reader's attention. It allows readers of all genres to suspend belief later when the book turns to the fantasy world with magicians and such. One thing I really liked about this story is when discussing real places, there are links inserted that take the reader to background information about the place. Again, this brings the reader back to reality, weaving a cloth of fantasy and truth into a terrific, quick read. Now I'm off to by the novel Desprite Measures involving Cassie... let's see what new adventures she gets into.

A story with a conscience
A lovely short story set in my native Scotland, written by someone who obviously cares about our environment.

Well written, with interesting characters that you want to learn more about, this is the first story I've read by this author and it works well as a stand-alone, although I believe it is part of a series. I'll definitely read more of Cassie's story!

Fun, quick read
This is a simple, short story that grabs your attention from the first paragraph. Cassie is a sprite and although I haven’t read the first book in this series, Desprite Measures, I didn’t have any problem following along with the story, plot and character traits of those involved. Cassie has taken a human form in an attempt to find her lost boyfriend. She finds herself involved in a heated protest over fracking – something she has a vested interest in as the process will destroy the water supply of the locals. As a Sprite, water is an integral part of Cassie’s existence. In this short but action packed story, Cassie experiences an encounter with a handsome druid, an evil Magician and a lot of drama. Her attempt at saving the day turns into a comical debacle as she tries to distinguish between good and evil.

This story flowed smoothly and gave the reader an enjoyable glimpse into the world of Cassie Lake. The author intertwined real life elements into her magical world of druids, magicians and sprites. It was a clever twist to include internet links to various real life sites to bring a touch of realism to this fantasy. I would recommend this story to anyone looking for an easy, quick story that will make you smile.