Review: The Gypsy Ribbon: Suit of Wands by Shannon MacLeod

The Gypsy Ribbon: Suit of Wands
Author: Shannon MacLeod 
Reviewer: VampBard
Rating: A

What I’m Talking About:

Shannon MacLeod’s second title in her Arcana Love series, The Gypsy Ribbon, has the perfect blend of romance, humor and tension. Not just sexual tension, either. Get your thoughts out of the gutter! With this title, I’ve started writing my review at the 50% mark. There were quotes and passages that I didn’t want to miss in writing my review, and if I highlight everything I adore on my e-reader and try to sift through it later, I’ll be a sobbing mess.

Ms. MacLeod does a fabulous job with the omniscient perspective – we get to know what multiple significant characters are thinking. I. Love. This. I don’t think I’d want to only know this story from Beth’s perspective, or from James’s perspective either. Well-played choice of POV!

“I have no intention of having sex with you. What you and I will be doing is making love, and from what I understand there’s a big difference. I’m after more than your body tonight, darlin’. I want all of you and nothing less.”

I’m sure no one wants to hear me wax poetic about how every person needs to feel loved and cherished in any physical relationship. But. We do. One of the things I adore about James is the way he’s remote. He doesn’t build relationships easily, nor does he allow people to cross the piranha-ridden moat he’s built around himself. Isolated from his family – his source of life – James appears to be withering. Damn sensitive musicians. How do they make me love them so easily? Watching him blossom and grow after meeting Beth though? Probably one of the best character arcs I’ve read in a long time.

“First.
Last.
Only.
Mine, his heart purred.”

Alright. This thought process by our hard-rock hero, James, made me a pile of girl goo swooning in his glory. And these aren’t spotty sightings of Mr. Romantic, either. He’s all-in for the romance with Beth. Lucky girl.

Lisbeth is our lucky heroine. She’s definitely a heroine because she saved James. I love the way Ms. MacLeod infused the Tarot with Beth, using it for foreshadowing purposes as well as to build tension. While Beth was originally a tentative character, I really liked watching her grow into her relationship with Seamus (Seamus = James… you’ll understand why the shift once you read!). I had to take a leap of faith with Beth a time or two, and it was okay in the end. I understand all the twists and turns she took on her path to Happily Ever After now.

There were a lot of favorite passages that I had while reading. I can’t in good conscience give you spoilers, though. The way Ms. MacLeod foreshadowed the major conflicts in the story were fabulous. Not a word wasted. No rogue ramblings about a cat that wasn’t warranted.

All-in-all, the Arcana Love series is one I froth-at-the-mouth to get my hands on when I hear about a new release. The Gypsy Ribbon was a fabulous second title which made me ask more questions about characters for the continuation of the series. Argh! Is it time for another book in this series yet? Please?

My Rating: A — Loved It

About the Book:

Internationally known wild child James Kelly is a filthy rich rock star, devilishly handsome, with silicone beauties aplenty to grace both his arm and his bed. He has it all. Or does he? What he wants most is a real woman to tell him no once in a while…and thanks to his inherited precognition, he knows her when he meets her. But the vision of his future is shrouded in darkness and shadows. 

Tarot reader Lisbeth Vargo works at the local renaissance faire. She’s still stinging from her last bad relationship when her best friend marries James Kelly’s brother. After being paired up in the wedding party, sparks fly between Lisbeth and James. Even her tarot cards tell her he’s the one, but is the interest of a “bad boy” something she can take seriously?

Sometimes falling in love takes a leap of faith. Occasionally it needs a push off the cliff. James is more than happy to give Lisbeth that needed shove, but will his love save her…or get her killed?

Release Date: December 2, 2013
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Series: Arcana Love #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance w/ Paranormal elements
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher

Reviews in the Series:
The Celtic Knot: Suit of Cups by Shannon MacLeod (Arcana Love #1)