A Review for Mostly Magic (Books of the Kindling #2) by Donna June Cooper

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: June 3rd, 2014

Finished Date: May 4th, 2014
Publishers: Samhain Publishing
Genre: YA Paranormal

Source: For Review
Format: eBook
Pages: 355

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

One terrifying premonition brings them together. Another will threaten their future.

Books of the Kindling, Book 2

Do dreams come true? Dr. Daniel Woodruff hopes they don’t, because his dreams predict a devastating future for him, for those he loves—and for the planet.

His latest premonition, which blows a huge crater in his eroding sanity, holds a singular horror—the loss of a wife and unborn child. Yet another reason he can let no one into his chaotic life, least of all a perky, persistent investigative reporter he finds simultaneously frustrating and fascinating.

Mel Noblett leaves no stone unturned in her one-woman crusade to save the environment. When a whistleblower in Italy proves too frightened to talk, Mel turns to a fall-back lead, an extremely eccentric, beekeeping professor who might just make the trip worthwhile.

Despite their instant attraction, Mel is relieved when Daniel keeps her at arm’s length. After all, she has a secret of her own—one that makes her preternaturally good at her job. And, when Daniel’s terrifying visions prove uncannily accurate and begin to revolve around Mel—it is a gift that could put her life in danger.

Warning: Reluctant seer of a bleak future meets petite force of nature who lights up the heart of his darkness. Where there’s smoke, there could be an unpredictable blaze of passion, but the rewards are oh, so sweet…

The review: Ah, it’s great to be back on Woodruff Mountain……
This time around we head to Italy first and to Mel Noblett, a journalist for all things environmental, a woman determined to shed light on any wrongdoings or environmental impact of pharmaceutical corporations… which is why she is in Italy, after been given a tip off that one of their own will turn over evidence that a certain company is not taking its responsibilities seriously and warning that the impact will be massive. When things don’t go according to plan, Mel heads off to hopefully get an interview from the elusive Daniel Woodruff - brother of Grace from book one and commonly known in his profession as ‘the Bee Whisperer’ – to see if he will hopefully shed some light on the plans to add antibiotics to honey, Mel is confident she can get him to talk….after all, she has a gift.
Daniel Woodruff is having dreams again, bad dreams that rob him of his sight and predict really bad things for the future both personally and environmentally. He knows he needs to head back to Woodruff, Grace is urging him to make peace with his gift and visit the ‘cave’ but to be honest – it’s a curse and he wishes he never had it! Especially now, it’s evolving, he’s having visions through touch that leave him debilitated but determined to stop events happening, if he can save only one person then it’s worth it right? But then he meets her, the one from his dreams, the one in danger, they have an instant connection and he wants her so badly ….. but he knows it can never be, he has to change the future, not just for her but for everyone and if he leads a lesser life because of it…so be it! Daniel thinks he can stop fate, but will his decisions affect the future for better or worse and will his feelings for Mel force him to take that chance and either live a life in love or loneliness?

As I said, it was great to be back in Woodruff but I enjoyed both locations and Florence sounds amazing!
I loved both Mel & Daniel and thought they shared a really good chemistry, it was clear to see that they would make a great couple. Mel had a vivacious character & demeanour and I liked her gift. Daniel came across as guarded which is understandable, but he was leading a half-life, letting his visions lead it, not allowing himself to actually have a life or take risks which is again understandable especially when he finds out the future and needs to stop things from happening and also trying to protect people by giving up his own chance of happiness. This is precisely why Mel and Daniel both do the dance of who will not allow the other to suffer – in different ways of course but with the same outcome and it’s only the interference of the mountain that will guide our two kindred spirits together.
The storyline was just as good as book one, it blends in so well with the overall feel of the series and the magical place that is Woodruff Mountain. One of the things I liked about book one so much is that it brings environmental issues to the attention of a romance reader and I really like this, book one was the effect of running a meth lab and its debris having an effect on the surrounding earth; who knew the impact it would actually have? This time around, it’s Daniels speciality – bees – and through this we are enlightened about how damage could be done through them dying out and also how corporate companies can interfere in a huge way with nature, whether it’s through GM crops or pushing meds into food sources – this is scary stuff and it really makes you wonder just what is going on and what these corporations can actually get away with. We automatically assume that the government will protect us and we won’t have to do anything to prevent these situations but I’m not so sure, I think we all need to heed the lessons on these books. As for the impact on the storyline – well imagine you gain some sensitive knowledge that could do a lot of damage to the reputation and livelihoods of people in powerful positions if leaked, then imagine what they would do to keep that knowledge from the public eye…. Yeah, our lead characters are about to find out but hopefully Daniel will come to terms with his gifts beforehand, before the horrible events that he has predicted unfold and possibly ruin us all. There isn’t as much focus on the mountain magic in this but its effect is felt throughout and there are some really good discoveries about how the mountain and Grandmother Lily expects peopIe to use their gifts. There are also a few startling discoveries that could affect everyone because as we all know – good is also balanced with evil – and just as people with gifts are willing to do good, there are also some willing to use them for their own purposes, which opens up lots of possibilities for future books and adversaries. For all I love Woodruff Mountain, I did appreciated the change of scenery too but when we returned, it was great to see what Grace & Nick have done following the events of book one by helping the land heal and making things right with the buildings. I also love the progression for Jamies’ character and seeing her blossom slightly, I’m expecting big things for that girl and hope one day, she will not only get gifts but also her own HEA. I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel though!