The Cross of Ciaran
By Andrea Matthews
Publication Date: 18th June 2020Publisher: Inez M. Foster
Page Length: 362 Pages
Genre: Time Travel Romance
When a fifth century pagan priest is unearthed in Ireland fifteen hundred years after being entombed, archaeologist Caitlin O’Connell is convinced it’s the find of the century. The body is in perfect condition, right down to the intricate tattoos adorning the Celt’s skin. In fact, if scientific data hadn’t proved otherwise, she would swear he hadn’t been interred more than a few hours. Eager to discover more about the mysterious Celt, Caitlin accompanies the body back to the New York museum where she’s employed, but before she has time to study him, the priest disappears without a trace. Rumors surrounding the event begin to circulate and result in the excavation’s benefactor pulling the plug on the entire expedition. The rumors are not far off the mark though. After being buried alive for betraying his goddess and his priesthood in the dawning age of Christianity, Ciarán wakes to a strange new world. Alone and frightened in an unforgiving city, he stumbles upon the only thing familiar to him and seeks sanctuary within the church walls. With the help of the parish’s pastor, Father Mike, Ciarán slowly grows accustomed to his surroundings, though he’s plagued by dark dreams and the disturbing sensation that an evil from his past has followed him into the future. But a more immediate danger lurks on his doorstep. Caitlin is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery concerning her missing Celt, and when she meets her Uncle Mike’s new handyman, Ciarán Donnelly, she’s convinced the handsome Irishman knows more about the theft than he’s letting on. Yet, even she can’t deny the attraction between them, simmering below the surface and blurring the lines between her personal and professional life. But will Ciarán’s secrets draw them together or shatter their future forever
Caitlin O’Connell’s dream comes true when, during an archaeological dig, her team uncovers a tomb, and on opening it reveals a body inside. The Celt must have been entombed for more than 1500 years, yet it remained perfectly preserved and in pristine condition. One could almost be convinced he was only asleep.
Due to the overwhelming publicity surrounding the discovery, Caitlin has less time than expected to study the Celt before he is exhibited in the museum for everyone to see. Nevertheless, she continues to feel an overwhelming sense of pride for her find and anxiously anticipates the opportunity to have the Celt to herself once more.
One night, though, the Celt goes missing. The museum shows no signs of forced entry, and the cameras didn’t capture any footage. It is almost as if he simply stood himself up and walked out of his own accord. And yet, this was impossible. The man had been dead for fifteen hundred years. And now, Caitlin’s chances of studying him were close to zero.
The past becomes a modern mystery romance in The Cross of Ciarán: A Celtic Romance by Andrea Matthews, a novel that reawakens the past and brings forth ideas and events that no one could ever have even imagined to be possible.
Ciarán awoke after being buried alive, locked in a tomb for the crime of turning his back on his goddess and giving himself over to Christianity. But the world he has awoken in is little like the one he remembers, and there is no one around to help him. He finds himself surrounded by people who do not even speak the same language as him and are certainly not dressed like him. The only thing he can find that he is vaguely familiar with is a church, and he takes himself inside to rest in the haven the church walls create. Found by Father Mike, Ciarán is slowly introduced to the new world and yet he must acclimatise himself to it quickly. A fifteen hundred-year-old pagan priest, walking around as if no time had passed – the experiments and tests he would be subjected to were enough to drive him into hiding, and make him work hard to make sure that no one, bar those who needed to know, would ever find out his true identity.
The problem lies with Father Mike’s niece, though. Caitlin is determined to find her missing Celt, and her uncle’s new handyman seems remarkably familiar. Plus, he acts strange, and she doesn’t entirely believe his story about having amnesia, and not truly remembering who he is or where he comes from. With her suspicions aroused, Ciarán must work even harder to keep his cover, but neither can deny the fact that, despite all of Ciarán’s secrets, and Caitlin’s curiosity, they both feel something they were not expecting. In each other, they see a like-minded spirit, someone who seems to understand them, and who actually takes an interest in what they have to say. After all, what better pairing – an archaeologist who specialises in Celtic history, and an actual Celtic priest?
The attention given to portraying Ciarán is wonderful, and it makes his story even more believable as he truly comes to life within the pages of this book. His palpable fear and uncertainty, as he awakens in an unfamiliar world, devoid of any familiar faces for reassurance, adds a sense of authenticity to his character. Ciarán’s endearing qualities and the way he elicits genuine empathy from readers are truly remarkable. As he gains a deeper understanding of his surroundings, his past experiences start to resurface, causing him to grapple with the reality of his past. Reconciling with a history that spans centuries, and being urged to move forward, proves to be a challenging undertaking. Furthermore, concealing his true identity from those in his life, especially as his relationship with Caitlin deepens, proves to be a formidable challenge, as his physical appearance bears the undeniable marks of his ancient heritage, and the more Caitlin scrutinizes, the higher the chances of her uncovering a Celtic tattoo or scar. The uncertainty of the world around him, coupled with having to hide who he really was from those around him, made Ciarán a character you truly feel for as you read, for he is a wonderful man who has so many bad things happen to him, you just want to hold him and tell him that it will all be alright.
As Caitlin and Ciarán get to know each other, they inevitably grow closer and begin seeing each other more often. Caitlin can’t help but keep thinking about her missing Celt, though. The opportunity to study him, to learn from him, seems to be slipping further and further away, and her chances of recovering him for a second time are slim. Caitlin is a woman who boldly speaks her mind, regardless of the rationality of her statements. Could Ciarán have something to do with her Celt’s disappearance? What were the chances of bringing her Celt back safely, without any harm being done to him? At times, Caitlin can be quick to temper, and rather short with those around her, but she is in a position of high stress, and so some of this can be excused. She is almost an entirely different person when she is around Ciarán, though, and starts to relax and enjoy the time she spends with him, outside of work. It’s as if there’s an unexplainable force bringing them together, and she can’t quite pinpoint what about him is so captivating.
Andrea Matthews’ novel, “The Cross of Ciarán: A Celtic Romance,” captivates and holds your attention until the very end. This is an incredibly impressive start to the series, and the open ending of the novel leaves you yearning for additional content. Prepare to be enthralled by Ciarán’s story, as it unfolds over five books and threatens to become something of an obsession as you binge-read the entire series. With Ciarán, Andrea Matthews skillfully revives the past, leaving you hanging onto every word of this captivating narrative. I can’t stress enough how much I recommend this book and I’m eager to read the rest of the series.
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Andrea Matthews
Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science, and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen hundred year old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century. Andrea is a member of the Romance Writers of America.
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