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Tam DeRudder Jackson

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Talisman (The Talisman Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Tam DeRudder Jackson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 83 ratings

Part of: The Talisman (5 books)

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Time's running out…

Rowan is a warrior, capable of bending time and space to take on the rogues and zombies the triple goddess unleashes on civilians. For centuries, his family has taken on the Morrigan, their successes against her legendary.

If Rowan doesn't find his talisman by midnight of his twenty-eighth birthday, he faces death—or worse.

Wallflower Alyssa Macaulay has no clue Celtic warriors live alongside her or that she's one of them. Orphaned at four and raised by her grandmother, who kept Alyssa ignorant of her true self, she never learned of her talisman ancestry. But a chance meeting on a cold winter's night upends her life and thrusts her into a new world.

A world where only she can help end a centuries-old curse.

When Rowan discovers Alyssa is his talisman, his fated mate, he wants to celebrate. Too bad Alyssa doesn't know. She thinks he's only interested in a good time, and the goddess's imminent arrival doesn't give Rowan time to tell her otherwise. He needs to provide her a lifetime of training in a week—and prove what they have is much more than one amazing night. If they can live long enough…

This paranormal romance has plenty of Celtic lore, a steamy romance, and twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of Stacia Clark and Mila Young will devour the first book in the Talisman series. Start the Talisman series today!

Editorial Reviews

Review

If you're wondering if this book is as good as it sounds, IT IS!! If sexy Celtic warriors are your thing (which I'm sure they're everyone's thing, right;) ) then Talisman is for you! I love this book and couldn't put it down. I finished it in one sitting. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. --Sophia Hayes, NetGalley reviewer

What a fantastic paranormal romance by Tam DeRudder Jackson. Excellent writing and superb set of characters. Totally enjoyed. --I. Belcher, NetGalley reviewer

Loved this. It's amazing. -- Donna Williams (bookseller) NetGalley review

From the Author

I was writing a contemporary cowboy romance when the characters from a Celtic band of warriors kept crowding out the cowboys. Finally, I gave in and followed the warriors. The result is a five book series, all of which will release in 2020. Talisman is Book One. Since I love the legends of King Arthur and Celtic mythology, I couldn't resist adding elements from those stories to my books. Researching Celtic mythology led me to the Morrigan, the triple goddess of war. I split her three identities into three separate goddesses and turned them loose to wreak havoc on the world I've created. The warriors have their hands full with them throughout the series. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I've enjoyed writing them.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09W9ZH3MY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tam DeRudder Jackson (December 20, 2019)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 20, 2019
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 832 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #802,002 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #16,618 in Fantasy Romance eBooks
- #24,267 in Fantasy Romance (Books)
- #29,606 in Paranormal Romance (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 83 ratings

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Tam DeRudder Jackson

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Tam DeRudder Jackson's love of all things Celtic led her to write the Talisman Series. Steeped in Celtic mythology, these steamy, fated mates, paranormal romance adventures are set in the mountains of Tam’s native Montana and the Highlands of Scotland. Rogue, the most recent book in the series, was named a best romance of 2022 by the Independent Book Review.

An avid fan of rock music, Tam never misses a chance to see a live show, especially if it’s Shinedown, one of her favorite bands. Her love of rock music inspired her contemporary rock star Balefire Series, a sexy fun ride following the lives and loves of the members of a fictional mega-band. Readers of this series consistently give the books five-star reviews.

Tam earned her BA in English from Montana State University and her M.Ed. in literacy from Lesley University. After a short teaching stint in Bath, England, she settled in the wilds of Wyoming where she taught adolescents all about the Celts and a bit about writing before she stepped out of the classroom to pursue her writing career full time.

When she’s not writing, you can find her working her way through her mountainous TBR piles, alpine skiing, or traveling to some new place on her ever-expanding bucket list. To stay up to date on her adventures, connect with Tam on her website www.tamderudderjackson where you can subscribe to her newsletter.

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4.6 out of 5

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Kindle Customer

Loved it

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023

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I SOO look forward to reading the next book in the series, I enjoyed this book, it was very well written!

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Linda Ganzini

An exciting must-read!

Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2021

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Talisman is my first in the paranormal romance series based on Celtic mythology about modern-day warriors—I loved this book. The descriptive scenes and settings come alive on the page, as does the passionate, fated union between the warrior Rowan and his Talisman Alyssa. And like most warrior stories, you know or at least presume there will be a happy and victorious ending. Yet, the author keeps the excitement and adventure riding high to the point you're not sure the story will end well and if Rowan and Alyssa's magical bond will keep them alive. There are evil goddesses out for revenge and an ever-powerful team of warriors, talismans, and druids, out to reverse a century-old curse that will otherwise continue to haunt them for near eternity. The stakes are high, and with the main characters so well developed, you'll be cheering them on during their battles with rogues, zombies, and mythical monsters and praying the power of love conquers all. Page after page, I was thoroughly entertained, intrigued, and captivated by this action-packed tale—a must-read.

2 people found this helpful

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JD. Ottinger

Great start to a promising series!

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2023

Rowan runs his family's security firm by day and is a warrior by trade, fighting against the curse laid on his family by the Morrigan centuries ago. (A warrior has to find his talisman before his 28th birthday or he has to options. Become a slave to the Morrigan or become a rogue warrior fighting for his life.) As he nears his 28th birthday, he finds himself trying to beat the clock to find his talisman, his protector. Alyssa just wants to make it through her dissertation on Celtic history. After the loss of her grandmother and her fiancée walking out, she is just not sure how much more she can handle. So, when she finds footprints around her house, she seeks out a security firm to help her safeguard her house. Unbeknownst to her, Rowan is the answer to all of her problems and vice versa. As he thrusts himself into her life and inundates her with information that her grandmother should have given her, she becomes even more overwhelmed. It's not every day that you find out that you are destined to break a centuries old curse on the families of warriors and talismans. Can she handle all the pressure to defeat Morrigan and her sister and break the curse, once and for all? Or will they all be destined to repeat the process for another century?

This was a fascinating read in the sense that I felt like I was learning and reading a story. The characters all had relatable insecurities as the work together to defeat the Morrigan. I think the author did a wonderful job of writing a wallflower's perspective of being thrust into an unknown world and trying to navigate everything essentially as an outsider. Having to earn trust is huge, especially when it has been broken before. As the first book in the series, it left the door open for more exciting things to happen. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!

This is an adult book.

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Avid Reader

This book is a Must Read!

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

What a great book! This is a story of hunky modern day warriors, fighting an ages old battle of good versus evil, with the help of their talismans—the strong and talented women they love. The odds have been unfairly stacked against them by a vengeful goddess, but there’s hope that Rowan and Alyssa, the main couple in this book, can re-level the playing field once again. Of course, they face overwhelming obstacles, lots of steamy chemistry, and so many other things that make this book a must read. I highly recommend it and I can’t wait for the rest of the books in this series. I’m glad they’re coming soon!

2 people found this helpful

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Space Cowgirl

A Disappointment👎

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2021

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ADULT Alpha Male Modern Knight 🔪💪Romance💕 and Paranormal Fantasy🌈

The book started out great, then degenerated into a very long, tedious, soap opera like story filled with lots of dialogue and not much action until the very end. I felt cheated that I spent so many hours on this book.

ARC Provided by Candid Book Reviews📚
I paid $.99 for This stinker.

3 people found this helpful

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SCourtney

Celtic goodness

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2020

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I absolutely loved this story and you better believe I will be reading the other books as well. There was so much I learned and the descriptions helped me visualize myself in that moment. I was Team Rowan from the start and I'm glad he didn't let me down. The one burning question shows up in the excerpt of part II has me questioning her gram's motive the whole time.
A must read of intense action, adventure, and steamy scenes!

3 people found this helpful

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Brittany

Amazing Series!

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2022

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An amazing series, very well written!

2 people found this helpful

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MP

Winning Combo!

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2020

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Part Fifty Shades, part Games of Thrones and you have a winning paranormal fantasy combo! Great dialogue with ample visual context clues in this Celtic mythology. I picture Henry Cavill as Rowan in the movie adaptation :) Take a break and enjoy this adventure!

3 people found this helpful

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Damien Larkin

A really enjoyable fantasy-romance

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2023

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I don’t read many fantasy-romance books, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

For centuries, a hidden war has raged. The Morrigen, one of three ancient Celtic goddesses, will stop at nothing until she’s destroyed the warriors and their bloodlines who oppose her. Rowan, a famed warrior, has until his twenty-eighth birthday to find his talisman and break an ancient curse. When Alyssa comes crashing into his life, both their worlds will never be the same again.

To her shock, Alyssa finds she too comes from an ancient bloodline and Rowan is her destiny. With war looming on the horizon, she must uncover her secret power and decide whether she can trust Rowan enough to let her guard down.

Overall, this was a great read with some really tense moments. The author did an excellent job of building tension and right up to the last few pages, I had no idea how it was going to end.

I’m looking forward to diving into the rest of the series!

C. Reyne

It'll draw you in from the beginning!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2020

Verified Purchase

I was drawn into the book pretty much right away as I liked the different characters and the well described settings. The story centers around Rowan, a not so ordinary man with extraordinary abilities who descends from an ancient race of Celtic Warriors, and Alyssa, who is currently working on her Masters thesis on Celtic Mythology and is also descended from the same Warriors, only she has no idea. When the two meet, Rowan quickly realizes she is his Talisman, the woman he is destined to bond with in order to avoid a thousand-year old curse. Alyssa was brought up by her Grandmother and was taught nothing about her destiny or her heritage, and resists Rowan’s advances at first. As he is on a short timeline, he bulldozes his way into her life, while making insanely hot love to her at every opportunity, which leaves her reeling. Nonetheless, she agrees to help him and his family in their battle against two evil Goddesses who both want Rowan for themselves.
Despite Rowan’s, at times, heavy handedness and occasionally clueless behavior, he acted out of necessity, under a time constraint, and to protect the people he loved, it all made sense as you got to know him. Alyssa attempts to slow things down, but it almost falls on deaf ears. She needs time to process everything she’s being told and the things she has to learn, but as time is running out and a battle with the goddesses and their minions is looming, only a crash course will help. It won’t teach her everything, and it certainly won’t help her sort out her feelings about her heritage, her destiny or Rowan.
I really enjoyed the story. It caught me in its grip and I found I couldn’t put it down until I’d read till the very end. The characters were well developed with real depth and strong personalities, the settings were descriptive and imaginative and the story flowed well with attention to detail, consistency throughout and Celtic Folklore and Myths woven into the fabric in a seamless and believable way. If you’re a fan of Paranormal Romance with a bit of action, hot alpha males and strong, sassy women, then this book is for you. Highly Recommended.

Angela Hayes

I really wanted to love this book but couldn't get past my issues with it...

Reviewed in Australia on January 18, 2023

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3 Stars

Talisman is the first book in The Talisman series by Tam DeRudder Jackson. This is the first book that I have read of Ms. DeRudder Jackson’s, so I was intrigued to see what I would find between her covers as I love anything paranormal-- so this book had my attention before I’d even opened the cover.
It starts off really well, so I was anticipating a fantastic story. But, unfortunately, while the promise is there, it just doesn’t reach its full potential (for me). I couldn’t connect with the characters, or their story and I wasn’t invested in them at all- so that frustrated me no end. I felt the characters needed more development, with attention to their connection, chemistry, and personalities.
With paranormal elements, romance, adventure, danger, intrigue, prophecy, magic, the talisman, Celtic mythology, warriors, good vs evil, history, and so much more--- this story should have been a captivating read. But even though there are warriors and battles, adventure and more- the story lacks on the action and adventure side. I felt the author missed the opportunity to take this story to the next level by not creating more dramatic moments, developing more action in keeping with the whole warrior/good vs evil aspect of the storyline, as well as not amping up the tension enough – because if she had, that would have made this an incredibly addictive read, and set the whole series off to a stellar start.
Also, there was a lot of info dumps, added details, and threads that didn’t lead anywhere or add to the overall story. So that was distracting, and quite frustrating. There is such a lot of dialogue too, so much so that I felt the story got ‘bogged down’ by it all.
Like I said, the potential is there, so I am hoping that the issues with this book will be resolved in the next instalment/s.
Happy reading!

Thank you, Tam DeRudder Jackson!

Julia Blake

A fun and interesting read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2021

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A fun and interesting read which introduces us to the world of a family of cursed ancient Celtic warriors and their magical “talismans”. Women who complete the warrior although not always in a romantic way. Alyssa Macaulay has no idea of her heritage or that she is one such talisman until fate throws her into the path of Rowan Sheridan – a descendant of the warrior Celts.

A well-written book, this is a heady mix of romance, heat, action, and mythology, as Alyssa and Rowan seek to break the thousand-year-old curse once and for all and defeat the evil Morrigan in battle. All the time trying to figure out the complications of their new relationship.

The plot romps along at a cracking pace leaving the reader barely time to catch their breath before being plunged into battle. I must admit, I did get a little confused during the battle as to who and what and where and when – but I guess things do get confusing in battle.

I wasn't that keen on the heroine, I must admit, she was a bit weak and her crippling self-doubt was a little too overplayed. Also, she really should have tried talking to Rowan before making assumptions, but that is only my personal view because I like my main female characters to be very strong-natured.

The story ended very satisfactorily, but I can see where the seeds for future books in the series have been sown and it will be interesting to see where the author takes things from here.

A good read for those enjoying the paranormal works of Nora Roberts and the like.

Planet_Reading

A great debut novel kicking off a new paranormal romance series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2020

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A great start to a new paranormal romance series, which transports ancient Celtic warriors meddling gods and vengeful godesses into the 21st century. I like the concept of "contemporary mythology," and I was excited to get exactly that.

When Rowan and Alyssa meet, they delve into a relationship straight away.
I have to be honest:
I didn't feel the chemistry between those two right from the start. Perhaps because Rowan is bulldozing his way into Alyssa's life, ignoring her wish to take things at her own pace. However, the couple grew on me as their trust deepened.
Okay, Rowan is hard pressed for time, but everything seems to happen within a few days and it feels a bit rushed for me. But perhaps that's just me being a sucker for slow-built tension.
A great debut novel with ample scope to develop into an epic paranormal romance series.
Warrior - book 2 in this series - goes straight onto my reading list.

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