Once a Gypsy

Once a Gypsy by Danica Winters is the 1st book in her new Irish Traveller series. Helena, our heroine, is a traveller (gypsy) and we meet her immediately, as she goes to meet her father, who is being released from prison. It is there she sees Graham, our hero, but she doesn’t pay too much attention to him, and leaves with her father to go home to their camp. Helena has been studying for her exams, as she wants to be able to better herself. She loves her father & siblings very much, but her mother is an abusive alcoholic, making life difficult for her living in the strict world of the Gypsy life. In dire need to pay off debts, her father accepts a job, which includes Helena, at Adare Manor.

Unbeknownst to them, Graham has initiated the job offer, as he knows Helena has the Forshaw (see the future), and possibly other powers, which will help his family, who are sick and possessed. When Helena starts work at the manor, she begins to see visions, which she then realizes that she can see the future. Graham explains to Helena the situation with his mother and brother, and others at the mansion. Helena wants to help, but it will be Graham who will help her try to learn how to use her powers to help those who are ill.

At first, Helena isn’t sure of what she can do, until she meets a gypsy woman who has the same powers, and will help her harness her gift. Though he admits he used her to come help them, Graham tells her he is falling in love with her. However, Helena knows her family will not accept her getting involved with a Gorger (non gypsy). What follows is an interesting tale of life in the restrictive gypsy world, and those that are affected by demons and magic. I liked Helena a lot, and enjoyed her and Graham together, as they made a nice couple; but in this first book there was no true romance, even if they both know they are in love with each other. Helena learning how to use her powers, and finally making decisions not to allow her mother to cruelly define her life was good. I did not like the mother, and felt this part of the story with Helena and the other children having to deal with her was depressing. I also thought the story dragged at times, with some redundancy. I know in first books of a fantasy/paranormal story there is a lot of world building, which has a lot of details. I just felt there were too many downers, and not enough good moments. I will check out the next book in this series to see if it picks up the romance and excitement to another level.

Helena has been raised in a very structured Gypsy world of modern day Ireland where young women follow strict rules for proper behavior which includes marrying young and very little opportunity for a career or other paths in life. She longs to break free so she can go to University and make different choices for her life. Helena loves her family and wants to protect her younger siblings from her harridan of a drunken mother. She meets Graham who is not from her culture, and who works at the Adare Manor owned by his wealthy step-father. He seems to know something about her magical talents although he keeps it from her. Helena’s gift of seeing the future called forhaw unsettles and frightens her. Graham has an agenda when it comes to Helena because he needs her other magical abilities to help with a desperate situation.

Helena knows if she pursues her dreams, she will be cut off from the family as her older sister was after taking up with an outsider. This combination of cultural clashes and paranormal, which generally works so well with Irish mythology, gives this book a kind of dual identity. People like to think in modern times that prejudice and separatism between cultures no longer exists, but the old ethnic stigmas and boundaries are hard to overcome for both sides. This is the first in The Irish Traveller series so though there is some resolution with the love story part such as it is, there are characters who continue to cause trouble and situations to be resolved. While this book is listed under romance, there is more emphasis placed on Helen’s issues than her relationship with Graham, but that may change as the series progresses.

A interesting start to a new series, i liked the story amd the qay it flowed. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and i followed along with the story well enough. I thought it was neat and would like to read more from tnis autnor. A great new series!

Danica Winters starts her newest series with a bang. This novel tells the story of a woman who lives the Pavee (gypsy) life and learns that she has an extraordinary gift. Her life turns upside down and she must deal with the fallout. Helena O’Driscoll knows that life as a gypsy is a tough one. People automatically assume that they are shifty, lazy and criminals. As she waits for her father to exit prison, she meets a gypsy woman who hints that there may be more to Helena’s life than she knows. Meeting a handsome gorger who makes her feel things, dealing with a mother who drinks too much and trying to make her own way instead of just marrying add to the complications in Helena’s life. Graham Kelly goes to Limerick Prison to meet Helena. He knows that she won’t come work for him unless her father is also there working. He has to figure out a way to make sure that she has the skills that he needs. His life is not what it first appears and is more complicated. There is a lot going on in this book. We have the gypsy culture and all the expectations that exist for the women in that culture. They are expected to marry young and continue the gypsy lifestyle. Helena wants more than that and is looking for an education to help her make her way. We also have the antagonism that gypsies and gorgers feel toward each other and what happens when attraction between the two makes relationships complicated. Add to that the paranormal aspects of Helena’s sight and all the things that are really going on in Graham’s home. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to see what life holds for Graham and Helena as the series continues. I liked all the detail about being a gypsy and what life means for people in this culture. I thought the anxiety that Helena feels about her new gift and her attraction to Graham was realistic and helps us understand the life that she leads.

This contemporary fantasy is set in Ireland. The main character Helena is a Traveller but is having trouble fitting in because the things she wants aren't things Traveller girls shoudl want. She doesn't want to marry and she wants to attend university. When she discovers that she also has the gift of Forshaw and can see the future, things don't get easier for her.

Helena meets Graham who wants to use her gifts to help his younger brother. They are attracted to each other but Helena knows that nothing can come of their relationship or she will be forced to leave her family. Her older sister made that choice and Helena can see that she isn't happy.

Graham does manage to convince Helena to use her gifts despite her reluctance. She also lacks self-confidence largely due to her mother's habit of always putting her down. Helena wants to be helpful and also wants to find her own place in the world.

Even more than a fantasy, this story was a exploration of a young woman looking for her place and the world and deciding what she is willing to give up to have it. It is the first book in a new series and there are lots of dangling plot threads that will probably be addressed in later episodes.