"A surfer girl and a three hundred year old ghost!"

Josie Griffin, expert surfer and part owner in her father's surfboard business, lives in Parker's Inlet, South Carolina. One day while surfing, she wipes out big time. She makes it to shore fingering a huge goose egg on her head and wondering if she has a concussion when a barnacle encrusted treasure box washes up on the shore. She finally pries it open finding a beautiful necklace that looks old and hand forged. She places the necklace around her neck and lo and behold a little Scotsman appears before her. He tells her his name is Bagan and he's the guardian of the charm stone for the Clan MacNeil. He tells Josie that she's Laird Connar MacNeil's destiny.

Josie knows right then and there she's lost it! She throws the necklace off of her neck, puts it back into the box and rushes home as fast as she can. Then somehow or other she's summoned to Scotland because her father, Big Griff, has had his boards chosen to be handed out at the Scotland National Championship. He had a prior engagement so it was up to Josie. Josie decides while she's there she'll just have the treasure chest sent to the heir of the Clan NacNeil but she can find no one to take the chest to Glenmuir. So Josie resigns herself to taking it and dropping it off.

Josie has no way of knowing who and what she'll encounter once she gets to Glenmuir. She also has absolutely no idea what a hold Glenmuir and it's people will have on her and most especially one Connal MacNeil, a three hundred year old ghost who only wants to fulfill his destiny.

This was a one sitting read for me. I was totally enchanted by this most haunting story. Josie was a feisty independent woman who knew exactly what she wanted out of life. Connal was a hunky three hundred year old ghost who was bound and determined to save the Clan MacNeil but at what cost? This story alone is one of the reasons that Donna Kauffman is a keeper author for me! I highly recommend this one.

Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted August 5, 2002

Summary

When expert surfer Josie Griffin has a rare wipeout, she's shocked to discover that a real-life treasure chest is to blame--one that contains a necklace hung with the biggest stone she's ever seen. But that's nothing compared to the shock she gets when she places the jewel around her neck. Instantly a mysterious little kilted man appears to inform her that the charm has betrothed her to an eighteenth- century Scottish laird! It's not that Josie has anything against handsome lairds--or older men. But three hundred plus years may be stretching things a bit. After all, she has a career to consider. And besides, she's sure the effects of her concussion will be wearing off any minute-- until the minutes turn to hours...then days... A little charm goes a long way The spirit of Connal MacNeil has been waiting centuries for his betrothed to appear on Scotland's roaring shores. Josie's arrival with the MacNeil charm stone is his dream come true. Her passion is a fiery match to his own--and her powerful body is perfect for bearing the heir he plans. He bargained his soul for this last chance at prosperity, and he won't take no for an answer. Unfortunately the lass doesn't quite understand that destiny has bound them for all eternity. In fact, she seems determined to deny him at every turn--when she isn't busy with her foolhardy need to go wave hunting. But it doesn't take long for other, more earthly MacNeil charms to take hold. For Josie is only human--and Connal has waited long enough for the love affair of his lifetime to finally begin....