Woman Afraid of Water - A.C. Fisher Aldag

In a land ruled by ancient magic, one woman's fear may be the key to saving it. In the quiet hills of southern Indiana, the ancient Celtic tribes have lived unchanged since the Iron Age-riding horses, using handmade tools, and practicing the old magic as though the centuries never passed. Hidden from the outside world, their lives are guided by ritual, tradition, and the Goddess herself. But modern America is closing in. When ancient ways clash with contemporary life, Chieftain Lady Cairne Auldwedd calls upon the Goddess for help. The answer arrives in the form of Dr. Joyce DelaFemina, a young anthropology professor eager to study what she believes is a cultural anomaly. Instead, she finds herself swept into a world of enchantment, swordplay, and sacred oaths. To her surprise-and dismay-Joyce can use magic. And when a centuries-old blood feud erupts, she's pulled in deeper than she ever imagined. With a greedy developer threatening the land, restless spirits stirring, and duels breaking out in the local strip mall, Joyce and Lady Cairne must join forces to protect their people. But can a skeptical academic find her place in a world of ancient power... and maybe even fall in love with a bard along the way? Woman Afraid of Water blends magical realism, folklore, and humor in a heartwarming tale of transformation and finding magic in the most unexpected places.