ARC Book Review: Doon

Authors: Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Publication Date: August 20, 2013
Publisher: Blink (Imprint of Zondervan)
Series: Doon # 1

DOON…

Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months.

But the Scottish countryside holds other plans.

Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

DOON is loosely based on the premise of the musical Brigadoon, with permission from the ALan Jay Lerner Estate and the Frederick Loewe Foundation. Follow the journey at http://www.DoonSeries.com

~Destiny awaits!

With childlike conviction, I knew my prince would come and that good would ultimately triumph over evil.

Dunbrae Cottage, with its rounded gables, thatched roof, and wild English garden, was surrounded by the same sense of magic, and it made me long for the girl I’d once been, the one who believed fairy tales could be real. But that naïve faith in happily-ever-after had been ripped from me long ago.

Or maybe I’d wake up back in Alloway, snug in my four-poster bed at Dunbrae Cottage, and realize this was all just a dream.

Who was the real Jamie MacCrae? A ruthless ruler or a puckish prince? Perhaps he was a bit of both. And just like that, a tiny sprout of hope bloomed in my chest.

After the throne room, I’d commenced something I liked to call Survivor: Brigadoon. The bridge would open in a little less than two weeks. If Vee and I were going to escape with our lives and hearts intact, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down for a second.



First of all, the cover of this book has completely enraptured me. I am a recent fan of The Hobbit and was immediately reminded of Bilbo’s shire. The lush greenness of the hillsides is purely breathtaking. Not to mention the glorious red dress, fit only for a queen! Enough about that! I must admit that I have never watched Brigadoon or any of the retellings of that musical. So while other people have something to compare this book to, I sadly do not. However, I feel that this can be a good thing. This book definitely creates a YA feel very early on, especially with the problems that Veronica is facing. The girls have a special bond, and their friendship is reminiscent of many YA books I have read. It is, however, when the girls get to Scotland that things change, and the fantasy feel crept over me! Once in Scotland for the summer, Veronica starts to have visions and dreams about a handsome boy in a kilt. Then she imagines this bridge that this handsome boy is urging her to walk over. Or is she imagining it?!

Veronica and Mackenna are both wonderful heroines and narrators that lead readers through this mystical and enchanting story. Neither girl takes anything from anyone else, but I must say that Veronica’s story is my favorite. She comes from a troubled home life, and it seemed from the first page that she was more apt to suspend her disbelief. Mackenna, on the other hand, was loved and spoiled and had no desire to believe in the fairy tales that her aunt once shared with her. Veronica and Mackenna had a remarkable friendship and one of my favorite parts was watching them both develop and change once in Scotland. Lucky girls to have a friendship like theirs!

Being in Scotland and sharing this mystical adventure with these girls was just plain fun! This is proposed to be a four book series, and I cannot wait for the next book to be released. There is action and drama, and yes some pretty handsome Scottish gentlemen! I loved the realistic side vs. the magical realism side. These authors do a wonderful job of tying up loose ends, although after that ending they do have me anxiously awaiting the next book. This is not to say that the book is not without its faults. I choose not to get into those because the good outweighed the bad for me!

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Blink YA/Zondervan in exchange for my honest review***