Sidney Davenport, a wild and gifted Guardian, attempts to stop Madame's use of the sun crystals. She meets Sam Waterhouse, a naval Captain who is tempted to fall into the dark forces.
The Guardian's Wildchild is a story that's unlike anything you've read before. It's not a typical romance story of starry eyed lovers in the throws of passion. No, Sidney Davenport and Captain Samaru Waterhouse are adversaries, at first.
Sidney Davenport is gifted in the paranormal, but carefully conceals her powers from the world. Even in the crises that threaten her life, she refuses to use her powers of telepathy, telekinesis, space/time travel. If her enemies discovered the truth of who she is, her Guardian people would be at risk. She calls upon her spirit guides, Seamus and Celeste, to guide her through a mine field of the insane - Madame and Captain Butchart.
But, God help Sidney, she can't deny her attraction to the man who has orders to perform her execution - the tall, dark eyed Captain Waterhouse. He's meticulous, disciplined and trusted by his ship's naval officers and seamen.
Captain Waterhouse is walking a fine line between his mother's Buddhist influence and a dark destructive path. He is about to scrap his higher morals to bust out of his hell. When a female prisoner is delivered to his ship, he has no idea she is capable of turning his disciplined life into a storm of unimaginable experiences. His prisoner's enemies, he discovers, are also the ones who hold his life in the palm of their hands.
The ending? Not a fairy tale ending here. But enough said.
Summary: Caught in a reckless attempt to stop Dark forces, Sidney Davenport, a young, rule breaking, spirited member of the secret paranormal community of Guardians, finds herself imprisoned on a naval ship and slated for execution. Her struggle with the unfamiliar emotions of fear and anger becomes even more complicated when she can no longer fight her attraction to the very man who has orders to perform her execution.
Captain Sam Waterhouse, a meticulous naval captain who’s suspected of treason, teeters on a precipice between Darkness and Light. When he receives an unusual prisoner, a paranormal journey begins to unravel his disciplined life. All the while, humanity is unknowingly at great risk when two Dark forces team up to acquire control of an elusive power. Sidney and Sam attempt to quiet their powerful feelings for each other, only to discover they can save each other, and in doing so, they might even save the world.
Through stunning imagery, an intricate and adventurous plot, and a strong cast of characters, Feather Stone gives readers a fascinating glimpse into the future—a future that is chilling, yet full of hope.
Excerpt
Behind a massive desk, the captain sat stiffly in his chair. He glanced at Sidney, then gave an almost imperceptible nod to his lieutenant. His gaze shifted to Butchart. A tense silence followed. It stirred Sidney’s reserves. She noticed that Butchart’s breathing became shallow and his hand gripping her arm was sweating.
Neither Butchart nor Waterhouse spoke the usual words of greeting. The silence troubled Sidney. Finally, Waterhouse rose from his chair. “At ease,” he ordered. His voice was crisp and deep. “Frank, it looks like you’ve been rather busy.” He eyed Sidney’s tangled hair, filthy clothes, and bare feet. “Who or what have you delivered to the Nonnah?”
“Nothing you’ll have to be bothered with for long. She’s to be executed this evening. The details are on this file.” Butchart pulled out a memory rod from his tunic and tossed it onto the desk. “I’ll remain on board until after her execution.”
Waterhouse walked up to Butchart and smiled. “You want to watch, Frank? You’re short of blood on the naval base?”
Butchart snorted. “This is a special case. She’s quite dangerous.”
Waterhouse raised his eyebrows. “Is that so?”
Sidney sensed that under the military fiber of their equal rank something wanted to be unleashed. She felt it in Butchart’s tightening grip and saw it in Waterhouse’s dark eyes. But she felt a warmth in him even though he held his mouth in a firm expression of cold indifference. While every cell of the ship’s captain screamed authority, she felt the word “safe” when she looked at him. And there was something more behind those eyes, something that reminded her of Greystone. But she had no energy to inspect his aura, was no longer able to focus for more than a few seconds at a time. The room’s floor swayed, and her mind began to drift. More and more, an adversary more lethal than Butchart took hold of her body.
Professional Reviews
Review by Krystal
Review by Krystal: Live to Read reviewer
Looking for a strong, brassy heroine? Sidney, one of the main characters, will appeal to the reader. She manages to stay strong and tough even through some of the most difficult times of her life. The reader will form an easy and instant connection to her.
Sam is more of a tough cookie. However, he is compassionate when it counts. The reader may take slightly longer to warm up to him, but he is not hard to like either.
The setting is a Navy ship far away from land, brings a bit of a magical quality to the book. There is an undercurrent of change that fits nicely into the setting of the book as well. The characters, especially the main characters, are very dynamic. They do not remain the same throughout the book, they have realizations/epiphanies, form relationships, and develop new understandings. The reader will be fascinated to watch the author deftly pull the sub-plots together.
Sam is normally a very disciplined man. When Sidney, as a prisoner, is placed on the boat, Sam's perception changes. Already suspected of treason, Sam is now in dangerous waters. The quiet, romantic scenes between Sidney and Sam are believable and just plain cute to read. The reader will be rooting for their relationship. Sam attempts to distance himself from his prisoner while Sidney fights feelings for her warden/jailer.
This book was very fast-paced and fun to read. Readers should enjoy that the author provides an epilogue, there is resolution. The characters, especially Sam and Sidney, will remain memorable even after the reader closes the book. This book is recommended to young adults/adults.
Review by Nicki Elson
Review by Nicki Elson: Omnific Author
I know this is going to sound totally cheesy, but truly, reading this book was a journey. Stone has a remarkable ability to draw readers into this world she's created. It's our world projected into a future that's lost the most beautiful part of being human. Really, what the protagonists are fighting for throughout the story is to bring this beauty back.
It's hard for me to say whether this story was more character driven or plot driven - both are so strong. And the setting - most of it on a Navy ship out to sea - is fantastic. But I can say that my favorite part of the story was Sidney. She's a supernatural wild child, making her own set of rules but in the end wanting to do what's right. She's the classic heroine and yet unlike any main character I've ever read before.
Okay, I have two favorite parts. My other favorite part was something I'm not sure I can quite describe, but I'll give it a shot. It was the author's ability to pull me right into the middle of a scene and feel the emotions. There are very few stories that have ever brought me to literal tears, and this is one of them. It wasn't even a climactic moment of the story, but I'd been so pulled into the scene, feeling what each of the characters were feeling and...yeah, I lost it. Twice.
I think this story would appeal to fans of the supernatural as well as those who are more reality based, because the story brings together both believers and skeptics.
Review by Library Mosaic
Review by Library Mosaic
Review:I received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
Sidney Davenport is captured aboard a naval ship and is put under the guard of Captain Sam Waterhouse. Her past is a big mystery as well as the reason she is on the ship and her mission, which frustrates Sam who is in charge of her interrogation.
As strange things start to happen in the ship some of Sidney’s powers are revealed. She’s part of a secret community of guardians who have several abilities and is obvious Sam doesn’t trust her…
Sidney is definitely one strong and though heroine. She has special abilities and is able to keep her strength even in the most difficult moments.
Sam is though too and even though it took me a while to warm up to him, I ended up really liking him and realizing he could be quite compassionate.
Both characters change a lot during the book, especially when they are hit by several epiphanies. I really liked the evolution of their relationship and thought the romantic moments between them were very sweet and cute.
I enjoyed reading about how Sam tried to keep his distance from his prisoner while Sidney tried to fight and deny her feelings for the man who was keeping her captured.
All in all, this book is well-written and fast paced. It’s interesting reading about characters that fight to bring back the most important and beautiful part of being human.
I think any YA and paranormal fan will be able to enjoy this book.
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