Blog Tour: The Keys of the Watchmen by Kathleen C. Perrin (Gina’s review)

The Keys of the Watchmen
written by Kathleen C. Perrin
published by Langon House, 2014

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Book Depository, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange  for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this book: Well, seeing as I read this book in five days, I would say the answer is yes. However, I will say it wasn’t love at first chapter. It took me a good twenty-five percent of the book before I embraced Nicolas and Katelyn as decent and believable characters. I knew going into Perrin’s book that this would be YA, but it was a bit too angsty and whiny at the start. I nearly had some wine to mute the whining.

It was when Jean’s character fully came into the story that I took a step back and began enjoying the book. Jean helped Nicolas and Katelyn focus on the task at hand and soothe their teenage pubescent emotions. He is a father figure, which makes him one of my favorite characters. I think everyone needs guidance in his or her lives, even if that person is flawed. No one is perfect and this book reflects a lot on religion, God vs. Satan, hatred vs. forgiveness, and acceptance. Jean’s character is well-written, and he helps the main characters transition.

I also appreciate the development of the relationship between Katelyn and Nicolas. It isn’t rushed, but it is full of all the things that make up first love. I even found myself crushing on Nicolas and hoping that Katelyn would open her eyes to the possibility of falling for him. Team Nicolas!!

GOLDEN LINE

“If only . . . but life was full of ‘if onlys,’ and it served no purpose to dwell upon what couldn’t be changed.”

Would I recommend it: I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a twist of time travel.

About the book – from Goodreads: Katelyn Michaels plans on hating every moment of her visit to Mont Saint Michel with her father’s new French wife. Once there, she is confused when she experiences sensations of déjà vu as she and her younger brother explore the medieval village and abbey. She is even more disturbed when she is confronted by two unusual young men, one who insists she has a sacred mission, and the other who will stop at nothing, even murder, to prevent her from fulfilling her destiny.

When the oddly-dressed but alluring Nicolas slips Katelyn a strange medallion, she is whisked back through time where her Watchmen hosts tell her she is the only hope to save Mont Saint Michel. Even worse, she learns that those trying to destroy the mount are led by a fallen angel intent on learning the mount’s closely-guarded secret.

Katelyn is torn by feelings of anger at being taken back in time, inadequacy at finding a modern solution for a medieval problem, and responsibility for the mount’s starving inhabitants. She is also perturbed by her surprising attraction to the ill-tempered Nicolas. Will she stay to learn why she was chosen by the Archangel Michael and find a way to save his mount?