Sunday, March 30, 2014

New Review: Laura Parker’s A ROSE IN SPLENDOR – Exciting Irish Romance with Fairy Lore Elements

This was my first by Parker and it just happens to be book 2 in her Rose trilogy (see list below). I think it reads well as a stand alone.

Set in Ireland and France beginning in 1691, it tells of the Fitzgerald family and their daughter Deidre who at 7, is already dreaming dreams that forecast her future. Her nurse tells her she is marked by the fairies—as witnessed by the rose tattoo she bears on her shoulder—and that her mother was a witch. The involvement of the Fitzgerald family and the fairy theme run throughout the book.

One of Deidre’s dreams tells of a handsome young man with nearly black hair and blue eyes, riding a dark horse and wearing a black cape. A man just like that shows up at their Irish estate just as they are forced to leave for exile in France after the Jacobite army loses at the Siege of Limerick. The young man, who suddenly appears in their stable, wounded and bleeding, is hiding from the English troops. Deidre’s quick action saves his life. Though her father is wary and her nurse disbelieving, Deirdre insists the dark haired stranger is destined to be her true love. Her father intends to assure she never sees him again.

Years later, Deidre has grown into a beautiful young woman and is living in France with her family when Killian MacShane, a hero of the French army and a friend of her brothers, comes to visit. Deidre instantly recognizes him as her destiny but Killian, an impoverished soldier trapped in a relationship with a conniving French noblewoman, is not so sure.

This is a well-told story with rich historical detail, vivid descriptions and interesting characters. As with many Irish historical romances, the abuse of the English and their laws that deprived the Irish of their homeland, their property, pride and often their lives, is woven into the tale. And there is the fairy lore aspect that makes this one different.


The Rose Trilogy:

ROSE OF THE MISTS
A ROSE IN SPLENDOR
THE SECRET ROSE

Friday, March 28, 2014

Best Irish Historical Romances



I developed this list for a friend of Irish descent who loves historical romances set in the Emerald Isle or with an Irish hero or heroine to admire, who asked me to recommend some. The romances on my list cover all time periods. Some of the stories transcend typical historical romance as they bring to life heartrending tales of the wonderful Irish people who survived much hardship to help make America great.

This list contains only those I have rated 4 or 5 stars. I hope you find some among them that will bring to mind the Emerald Isle and perhaps give you dreams of an Irish hunk or a worthy Irish heroine.

·       A Rose in Splendor by Laura Parker
·       Beyond the Cliffs of Kerry by Amanda Hughes
·       Black Sword by Kathryn Le Veque
·       Briar’s Rose by Kimberly Cates
·       Bride of the Baja by Jane Toombs (original author Jocelyn Wilde, pen name for John Toombs)
·       Broken Vows by Shirl Henke
·       Carnal Gift by Pamela Clare
·       Countess of Scandal, Duchess Of Sin and Lady of Seduction (Daughters of Erin trilogy) by Laurel McKee
·       Crown Of Mist by Kimberly Cates
·       Dark of the Moon by Karen Robards
·       Dream Lover by Virginia Henley
·       Embrace and Conquer by Jennifer Blake
·       Emerald Ecstasy by Emma Merritt
·       Emerald Prince by Brit Darby
·       Forbidden Love by Karen Robards
·       Golden Surrender, The Viking’s Woman and Lord of the Wolves, Viking/Irish trilogy by Heather Graham
·       Her Warrior Slave and Her Warrior King, from the MacEgan Brothers Series by Michelle Willingham
·       Lady of Conquest by Teresa Medeiros
·       Lily Fair by Kimberly Cates
·       Lions and Lace by Meagan McKinney
·       Maid Of Killarney by Ana Seymour
·       Moonlit by Emma Jensen (3rd in her Regency spy series; the only one set in Ireland)
·       Maidensong by Diana Groe
·       Master of My Dreams by Danelle Harmon
·       Nightwylde by Kimberleigh Caitlin
·       No Gentle Love by Rebecca Brandewyne
·       Odin’s Shadow by Erin Riley
·       Passion’s Joy and the sequel Virgin’s Star by Jennifer Horsman
·       Raeliksen and Mac Liam (from the Emerald Isle trilogy) by Renee Vincent
·       Rose in the Mist and Irish Gypsy (from the Riordan trilogy) by Ana Seymour
·       Scarlett: The Sequel to Gone With the Wind by Alexandra Ripley
·       Sea Raven by Patricia McAllister
·       Skye O’Malley by Bertrice Small
·       Stormfire by Christine Monson
·       Surrender the Stars by Cynthia Wright
·       Tears of Gold by Laurie McBain
·       The Black Angel by Cordia Byers
·       The Game by Brenda Joyce
·       The Ground She Walks Upon by Meagan McKinney
·       The Hawk and the Dove by Virginia Henley
·       The Heart and the Holly by Nancy Richards-Akers
·       The Highwayman by Anne Kelleher
·       The Irish Devil by Donna Fletcher
·       The Irish Duke by Virginia Henley
·       The Irish Princess, The Irish Enchantress and The Irish Knight, trilogy by Amy Fetzer
·       The Irish Rogue by Emma Jensen
·       The Irish Rogue by Judith E. French
·       The Passions Of Emma by Penelope Williamson
·       The Rebel by Christine Dorsey
·       The Sword of the Banshee by Amanda Hughes
·       Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor
·       Wild Angel by Miriam Minger
·       Wolf’s Embrace by Gail Link

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

New Review: Christine Monson’s STORMFIRE – A Brutal Irish Bodice Ripper, but a Keeper of a Love Story that Left me Breathless!

This has been a controversial romance, not just because it’s a bodice ripper, but because of some of the harsh elements it contains. So, of course, I had to read it to discover the truth for myself. Some readers might categorize this an “80’s bodice ripper” and so it is, first published in 1984, but I never look at books that way. To me a story stands or falls on its own no matter the era it was written (some of my favorite keepers were written decades ago). If the story is absorbing and the characters compelling, if I can’t stop thinking about it and I find myself reading late into the night, then I know I have a keeper.

It begins in the late 18th century and continues into the early 19th, set in Ireland (mostly), England, Scotland and France. It’s the story of Sean Culhane, a bitter Irishman seeking revenge, and the spirited English beauty Catherine, daughter of John Enderly, Viscount Windemere.

Hardened by the English atrocities he has witnessed, Sean weaves an intricate plan using his smuggling in art, spies and munitions to destroy Viscount Enderly, the man responsible for decimating Sean's family in Kenlo and consigning hundreds of Irish to their deaths. Abducting Enderly’s daughter is only the beginning.

Sean brutally rapes the innocent Catherine and then makes her his whore and puts her to work as a slave on his older brother’s estate of Shelan in Ireland. Catherine fights Sean with every ounce of her being, even trying to escape into the night, while earning the respect of Sean’s men. I couldn’t help but wonder how English atrocities could drive a good man to such cruelty and how an English girl raised in luxury might be affected by such treatment. Then, too, Sean’s initial brutality toward Catherine seemed at odds with the devotion shown him by his housekeeper, his mistress and his men, making me wonder what the real man was like under that hardened exterior. Eventually, as seems inevitable, Sean and Catherine soften toward each other. She comes to understand what motivates Sean’s desire for revenge, and he comes to admire her courage and tenacity.

This is a saga of nearly 600 pages and I cannot do it justice in a review, but let me say there are many twists and turns I did not anticipate in the relationship between Sean and Catherine—and Sean’s brother, Liam (“the more dangerous of the two”). It’s the story of a man who nearly destroys the woman he deeply loves, all for the sake of bitter revenge. And it’s the story of a woman who comes to love that man so that she would do anything to save him. But there is much more to this saga, as others would see them both destroyed.

Into a great story, Monson has woven the pain of Ireland’s history, a beautiful land sorely affected by the English. (It includes the Irish rebellion of 1798 and its aftermath.) The writing is so good, there were times I stopped and re-read a passage just to admire it.

Here is one of Catherine’s musings about Sean:

“His spirit, like the lonely, windswept sea, was ever-restless, ever-changing, sometimes howling down to savage the unyielding land, then caressing it with a lulling embrace, inevitably wearing away its resistance. He was asking her to become a part of him, without reservations, without ties that would inevitably be wrenched apart, leaving her battered on the rocks and him lonelier and wilder than before.”

How I picture Sean

Whatever you might say about this book, Monson’s writing is consistently brilliant and her story absorbing. She did an incredible job creating an impossible situation. When Sean falls in love with Catherine and her unwavering spirit, you want them to be together, yet you can’t see a way for it to happen—a powerful set up for the rest of the book. And there were many obstacles to follow.

I highly recommend this romance for those readers unafraid of what are some raw scenes and more angst than other romances. It’s a well written, worthy tale, and it’s going on my Best Irish Historical Romances list as well as my Favorite Heroes and Heroines list.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

And the winnder is...



Thanks to all those who commented on Kathryn Le Veque's post on Ireland and the research behind her new book.

We have a winner! It's Janice Houghland! Congratulations, Janice! You will be receiving your choice of the eBook or paperback of Black Sword!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Medieval Romance author Kathryn Le Veque Talks About Ireland!

Joining me today is Kathryn Le Veque, author of over thirty Medieval historical romances. Today she is sharing with us Medieval Ireland from her research. One lucky commenter will receive a copy of BLACK SWORD, her latest release! (If you choose paper, it's mail to US and Canada only.)


Thank you, Regan, for inviting me to be a guest on your wonderful blog! I’m very honored to be here.

My area of expertise is Medieval England and Wales, between about 1066 A.D. until the reign of Henry Tudor. I find those 300-odd years so very fascinating, and I’ll tell you why: it was the period in man’s history when he was just coming out of the Dark Ages and trying to civilize himself with structured society and progressive thinking. There was much trial and error, but there were also successes. The Magna Carta is one. And there are such great historical tales there, too. One of my favorites is the story of Prince Edward (soon to be Edward I) and his escape from Simon de Montfort. It’s a jailbreak worthy of a Hollywood movie. But enough about my beloved Medieval England. Let’s move on to Ireland.

Ireland 1323 A.D., Black Sword Map
During the Medieval period, the Irish shared the same nemesis as did Wales and Scotland – the English, and more specifically, Edward I. Edward was all about conquest and subjugating other races, people, and islands. Sure, there was a good deal of conquest going on prior to Edward’s reign, but the late thirteenth century is when Edward really kicked it into high gear. He had several English subjects who were already overlords in Ireland and through them he waged a big push in his campaign of conquest. Most of the activity seemed to be in Wicklow, from Dublin south to Wrexford, and the O’Byrne and O’Connor clanns. There were lesser clanns, of course, but these were the big ones with thousands of members. Notice I spell ‘clan’ with two ‘n’s’? That’s because the Irish spelled it that way, yet another way to differentiate their family groups from the Scots.


Black Castle

So what was the difference between the Irish and the Scots or the English in battle? The Irish were kind of like the Welsh – they had a love of spears rather than broadswords, and they fought very lightly – in other words, without the bulky armor that the English wore. They enjoyed hit and run tactics. Where the Scots might wear tartan, the Irish wore a traditional garment called a leinte. It’s basically a long tunic. They moved swiftly and without massive numbers like the English did, and they didn’t employ things like siege engines during a battle. That’s a purely Norman device. Irish warfare at this time makes for some fascinating reading.

Black Castle ruins

That’s why I chose to center my latest novel, BLACK SWORD, around this period in time. Devlin de Bermingham, my hero, is a true Irish rebel – intelligent, cunning, and desperate to break free from English rule. I think there’s a misconception that Medieval Irish rebels were unorganized and barbaric. Neither was true; they simply had a different way of fighting – more like guerilla warfare than organized battles. It’s also worth noting that the Norman families that had taken pieces of Ireland around the time of the Conquest of 1066 A.D. were very much entrenched in Ireland at this time, yet the Irish natives hated them as if they had only just come to Ireland and stolen their lands. You had generations of English living on the same lands and in the same houses for two hundred years, yet they weren’t considered Irish. They were hated as Normans.

Devlin de Bermingham carried the surname of a Norman ancestor yet through his mother he was descended from Irish kings. Had that not been the case, he would have been just as hated in the land of his birth as the other Norman’s were.

I found Medieval Ireland to be wild and fascinating. Who knows? Maybe I’ll write a SON OF BLACK SWORD someday to see how Devlin’s descendants are making out. I believe Medieval Ireland is another big subgenre with excitement and romance just waiting to be tapped!

Regan here...Thanks for being on my blog, Kathryn. And for all those of you who want to stay in touch with Kathryn, here's how:

Website
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Amazon Author Page

Friday, March 21, 2014

New Review: Kathryn Le Veque’s BLACK SWORD – Medieval Irish Bodice Ripper!

Set in Wicklow, Ireland in 1323, this is the story of Lady Emllyn Fitzgerald who disguised herself as a boy to stow away on a boat full of soldiers sailing to Ireland in order to see the knight she loves. The boat is a part of her brother’s, the Earl of Kildare’s English fleet, which is destroyed by the Irish led by Devlin de Bermingham (aka “Black Sword”). Emllyn is captured and is taken as the spoils of war by Devlin, who tells her she will be his “broodmare” concubine.

In the crushing defeat, over a thousand English are slain but thirty soldiers remain. Emllyn agrees to a bargain whereby she will help Devlin spy on an English holding to the south if Devlin will show her the surviving England soldiers. She is hoping to find among them her beloved knight. Meanwhile, Devlin tells her he will never let her return to England and Emllyn knows because she has been ruined, even if she were free, she could never marry.

This book begins with a bodice-ripping scene in the early chapters and a very alpha male hero, but by the middle of the book, he’s softened into a man who is sensitive, thoughtful and very much in love. He becomes less interested in defeating the English and more interested in recovering the woman he wants who, because of his own devious plans, has slipped into the hands of another. The story has lots of twists and turns with treachery and secrets, and an intricate plot that will keep you turning pages.

Emllyn is a strong heroine you will admire and there are some very unusual secondary characters added to make it interesting (a half crazy aunt and a “lady” who isn’t, to name a few).

Because it’s set in Ireland with a red-haired Irish hunk for a hero, it’s going on my Best Irish Historical Romances list, and this is the second of hers that is on my Best Bodice Rippers list.

Coast south of Wicklow, Ireland, home of Black Sword

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

New Review: Teresa Medeiros’ LADY OF CONQUEST – A Bodice Ripper set in Ireland’s Long Ago Past

Set in Ireland (Eire) in the 2nd century at the time when the High Kings reigned, this is the story of Conn of the Hundred Battles (a real historic figure), who as High King governs Eire through the Fianna, his legion of warriors. When Conn learns that someone is killing his men, he goes in search of the killer and finds Gelina O’Monaghan, who, along with her brother, is taking vengeance on Conn for destroying her family.

Since Gelina seems to Conn more a child than a woman, he decides to take her as his foster child. Back at Tara, Gelina develops a crush on the man who allowed her to live when he could have taken her life. Conn tells Gelina that he killed her brother when he (and she) attacked him, but in truth, Conn does not know if the brother lives. In the time that follows, Gelina defies Conn at every turn while falling in love with him. It’s a battle of wills and they come to both love and hate the other.

It’s a story that will hold your attention though there are some improbable moments and perhaps some disturbing elements (the bodice ripping comes late but it does involve rape). Then, too, Conn believes, illogically in my opinion, the worst of Gelina in places where the evidence would suggest otherwise. He is strong and stubborn. She is strong and resourceful, and will not suffer his betrayal easily. I liked her for that.

Medeiros has written a page-turner and included some wonderful secondary characters, perhaps my favorite being the dwarf Nimbus, who befriends and trusts Gelina and would marry her if he could. Some of the dialog is witty and endearing. I can recommend it but just be aware of the elements I mentioned.

Monday, March 17, 2014

If ever you travel to Dublin...


…you will likely be traveling down busy Grafton Street:


And when you do, look for my favorite place to have coffee and people watch: Bewley's Café:


The first time I wandered into Bewley’s, I discovered a world of gourmet coffee and treats downstairs with wonderfully enticing smells. Upstairs and in other rooms, they have sitting areas where you can drink coffee and enjoying the ambiance. In the upstairs, you can view the street and watch people walk by. I was there one afternoon, sipping my coffee, when I happened to look up and see a beautiful redheaded woman dressed all in green sitting across the aisle.

She looked like some Irish princess from long ago dining alone. So, I struck up a conversation. She was most gracious in responding and to my utter amazement I learned she was an American with Irish roots just like me! (In my case the roots also include Scotland and England.) What a truly small world we live in! Our conversation was one of the most enjoyable hours I spent in Dublin and became a lasting memory of a wonderful Irish city and a great coffee house.

To get you in the mood for St. Patrick’s Day, how about taking a virtual tour of Bewley’s? Here’s the link:

http://bewleys.com/bewleys-grafton-street-cafe/take-a-virtual-tour-of-the-cafe

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Saturday, March 15, 2014

New Review: Judith E. French’s THE IRISH ROGUE – Irish Hero to Love in Early 19th Century America

Set in 1820 in America, this is the story of Anne Davis, a daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, who has managed to end up pregnant but with no husband. Then an incident on the docks and a rescue by a daring Irishman leads to a marriage of convenience with Michael O’Ryan. Michael has escaped a hanging in England for his role in the war in Ireland only to find himself impoverished in America so Anne’s bargain to pay him to wed her comes at a good time.

French does a great job of portraying the plight of the Irish in America in the early 1900s and slavery in Maryland. Many Irish had skills but could not find work and could barely feed their children. And slaves, even those who were valued, longed for the self respect freedom would bring. Michael, raised as a nobleman’s son, having experienced prison and poverty, now seeks to help both the slaves and his fellow Irish. Anne doubts Michael’s honesty and his motives but grudgingly comes to trust him and to see he has a good heart. And though Michael plans to leave her according to their bargain, he finds he wants to stay.

It’s a story of struggle and learning to trust and along the way there is much excitement with pirates and treachery and envy. Some great characters and a worth hero make for a great story. A very well written tale!

Friday, March 14, 2014

And the winner is....


The winner of the Amazon gift card from the Brit Darby post is Janice Hougland!

Congratulations, Janice, and thanks for stopping by to comment on the wonderful post on Ireland by the authors of EMERALD PRINCE. Enjoy your gift card! It will be coming to you via Brit Darby.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Favorite Author and Guest Brit Darby, Author of Irish Historical Romance!

Today I am welcoming the writing team of Fela Dawson-Scott and Patricia McAllister, better known as Brit Darby, to my blog. As you all know, both in my own romances and those I read for reviews, I love the deep historicals, the ones where history is a character. Well, Brit Darby is just such a writing team, as you’ll see from my review of Emerald Prince posted just before this guest post. I am very excited to have them on my blog!

Patricia McAllister
Fela Dawson-Scott
Thank you, Regan, for the invitation to share some history with your readers for Irish Historical Romances month on your blog.

When Brit Darby (the writing team of Fela Dawson Scott and Patricia McAllister) set out to write Emerald Prince, we were firmly set upon one premise: There must be real history and genuine historical figures in the book. The challenge was how to weave real people into our fictional tale, and blend it all together as seamlessly as possible.

Once we decided upon a time period and setting for Emerald Prince, we set about our research and gathering the cast of characters. In 1209, when the main book opens, King John ruled England. Our heroine, Lady Alianor Coventry, is a young widow who is subject to his games and whims at court. One of these whims involves packing Alianor off to marry a Norman lord in Ireland.

King John was Lord of Ireland throughout his entire reign. Conflict raged in Ireland between the Anglo-Norman lords and indigenous Irish kings. John manipulated both groups to tighten his grip on Ireland. Using Alianor as a pawn to placate a powerful Norman was perfectly in his character.

Wicklow Mountains of Ireland

Once we had our English heroine en route to her unhappy fate, we needed the perfect Irish hero to rescue her, though inadvertently in this case. Enter Liam Caomhánach, who initially kidnaps Alianor for ransom, but quickly finds events (and his feelings for the lovely young widow) spiraling out of control. Liam is, of course, the “Emerald Prince” behind our book’s title. But how he came to life is a history lesson in itself.

Researching early Irish kingdoms was an eye-opening experience. For example, the Gaelic word for “king” () doesn’t mean what we might assume today. Instead of a single, all-powerful monarch (like King John), the term king in early Ireland could mean a leader of any group. And a local Irish “king” could be subject to another “king” in the next valley, who in turn was vassal to another “king”, who perhaps oversaw an entire province. There were many such kingdoms dotted across the Emerald Isle.

To complicate matters more, Irish kingships were not passed down in the usual way. It’s assumed that kings inherit crowns from their fathers. This is traditionally the case in continental Europe. However, Irish kingship did not follow a strict father to son (or closest male relative) succession. Instead, it was based on blood kinship and could stretch over several generations.

This meant that grandsons and great-grandsons, even illegitimate sons, could come to power and rule, if they could drum up enough support from relatives and political allies. You can see how this resulted in some intense competition for crowns (family reunions must have been fun!)

All these historical tidbits helped us form an interesting premise: What if our hero was the illegitimate son of one of these Irish kings? What if our hero’s mere existence was a threat to the other potential heirs, because of the unconventional way Irish kingship was conveyed? Thus our hero Liam was born. His father, Cathal Crovderg (O’Connor), was a real king of Connacht and a genuine character to boot. He plays a significant role in Emerald Prince. But Liam uses his mother’s surname, partly out of defiance, partly out of pride. He refuses his father’s attempts to rein him in. Instead, he assumes an outlaw lifestyle and gradually attracts followers across Connacht, who join him at Wolf Haven, a mountain hideaway tucked away amidst abbey ruins.

The Abbey Ruins

Liam’s actions attract King John’s attention, but not in a good way. Indeed, they put his father Cathal, who is subject to John’s rule like most Irish kings of the day, in a precarious position. Should Cathal be loyal to his liege, or his son?

Enter another complication with Quintin de Lacy, the Norman lord who is obsessed with Alianor and bargained with King John to get her as his bride. De Lacy is furious when she is snatched away from him. Before Liam knows it, he has bitten off more than he can chew, invoking the ire of several powerful men, including his own father.

Events are also overshadowed by an ancient legend, one that says a man known as the Emerald Prince will rise to unite Connacht, and restore peace to the war-torn land. Liam refuses to believe he is this prince—he counts himself an ordinary man who only breaks laws to stay alive. But Liam’s loyal followers believe in the legend with all their hearts.

King John is acknowledged by most modern day historians to be a rather terrible fellow. As is the case with most medieval queens, however, much less is known about his wife, Queen Isabella. We went with our instincts in rounding out Isabella’s personality and actions. In Emerald Prince, the queen turns out to be a bit of a heroine herself, working behind the scenes to aid the cause of true love.

Other real historical figures pop up in the book, including William Marshal. All play a role in uniting our hero and heroine, and help fulfill the legend of the Emerald Prince. Connacht’s people find they are ready to throw off the past cloak of servitude, and let the light of freedom guide their future.

From today until St. Patrick’s Day, Emerald Prince is on a special Kindle discount deal. And, as a special treat, leave a comment here for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift certificate.

Regan's note: You can keep up with Brit Darby on Patricia's and Fela's website: britdarby.com

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

My Seafaring, Pirate Regency Romance--WIND RAVEN is here!

More than a year in the making, and based on a solid foundation of research into schooners of the early 19th century, pirates operating during the Regency, the Brits in Bermuda and the Americans in Baltimore, my seafaring pirate romance, WIND RAVEN, is finally here!

It's the story of Captain Jean Nicholas Powell and the young woman he is forced to take as a passenger on a mission into the Caribbean for the Prince Regent to hunt down a pirate seizing British merchant ships.

Tara McConnell was raised on her father's ships, the sisters of the wind they called the Baltimore clippers that helped America run the British blockades in the War of 1812. She has lost much at the hands of the British, yet she cannot help respect the handsome ever-frowning English captain of the Wind Raven who seems to think he can kiss her whenever the fancy takes him.

New York Times bestselling author of high seas romances, Danelle Harmon, described Wind Raven as:

“A salty, sweeping, evocative tale of romance on the high seas—and a good old-fashioned love story that will keep you up far, far past your bedtime. So, reach for the coffee. Brava for Regan Walker!"

I suppose I should also mention that on the Wind Raven, there is an Irish cook who tells fairy stories and suspects Tara is one of those mythical beings!

Here’s a snippet:

HER LOVE WAS A TIDE SHE COULDN’T HOLD BACK

“A fine fix we’re in,” Tara said, looking first at the captain and then at the night sky. The stars began to show themselves in the darkening canvas above, giving her the sense she stood on a precipice at an auspicious moment in time. It had only been a short while ago she had gained the insight she had now about the two of them. She should have realized the truth long ago.

“What do you mean?” he asked, coming up behind her, so close she could feel the heat of his chest. His warmth had always drawn her, and it was pulling her to him now like a strong undertow.

“Each of us withheld from the other the one thing we wanted,” she remarked, staring into the night sky.

“And what would that be?” He put his hands on her arms, drawing her back against his chest. She shivered with his touch but allowed it, while fighting the urge to turn and fall into his arms.

“You wanted my body and, fool that I am, I wanted your heart.”

He spun her around so fast her vision blurred. “My heart? You wanted my heart?”

“Yes, but I cannot seem to touch it.” His eyes carried a look of astonishment. “Well, you can keep it,” she said emphatically. “I don’t want it anymore. And you shall never have me!”

He stared at her for only a moment. “Oh, yes, I will.”

As if she had defied one of his many orders and he was having none of it, he brought his mouth down on hers in a kiss that was claiming. One of his hands closed on her nape and his other arm wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her to him, trapping her with his powerful strength.

Order on Amazon

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

New Review: Brit Darby’s EMERALD PRINCE – A Wonderful Tale from Medieval Ireland with a Legend, a Worthy Hero and a Courageous Heroine!

This was my first by the writing team of Patricia McAllister and Fela Dawson Scott, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The novel reflects considerable research and careful attention to historical detail in this tale from 13th century Ireland.

The story begins in 937 (prologue) on Inisdeven Island in Eire (Ireland) as the Nordic Vikings descend on St. Gall’s priory. The only monk remaining alive is young Donal to whom a dying Viking gives a large Emerald that he says must find its way to a female in his line—a descendant of the Fairy Queen Fand.

Hundreds of years later, in 1209 in England, Lady Alianor Coventry (“Nora”) is widowed when her older knight husband dies, a man she greatly loved and admired who was like a father to her. King John, tired of his pregnant wife Isabella, is pleased to learn the fetching young heiress of Coventry is now free to be his plaything. But Nora wants to help her people, something the king has no intention of allowing. Given a choice between becoming the king’s leman or marrying the Norman madman Quintin de Lacy, she chooses neither, but is nevertheless shipped off to de Lacy in Ireland. On the way, she is abducted by the outlaw, Liam Caomhanach, the one the Irish call “the Emerald Prince,” a man foretold by legend.

I thought the authors did an excellent job of incorporating history and the legend of the Emerald Prince into the story. That is so important to me as I like real history in my historical romance. They have created wonderful characters with a rich backstory—and some real life persons, like King John, Queen Isabella and even William Marshall. Both Liam and Nora are compelling--both unselfish and courageous to the end.

It’s a great tale, well told, and I recommend it for you lovers of Irish medieval romance. It’s on my best list!

Sunday, March 9, 2014

New Review: Christine Dorsey’s THE REBEL – Irish Hero Takes on the Role of “Robin Hood”

This is book 2 in Dorsey’s trilogy that features three heroes, a Scot, an Irishman and an Englishman, who cross paths on Drummossie Moor at the battle of Culloden in Scotland in 1746 when the Scots experienced the defeat that would forever scar their homeland.

Set in Ireland in 1747, THE REBEL tells of Captain Padraic (Paddy) Rafferty, aka Lord Dunlanoe, an Irish patriot masquerading as a fop so he can act the Robin Hood at night. From the deck of his ship, the Rebel’s Pride, he fights the English. Then he comes home to his castle in Ireland to become the Rebel by night and Lord Dunlanoe by day.

On his last homecoming, Padraic discovers that his father, who he’d left a fortnight ago, is dead and has left behind a widow, Lilianne Rafferty, of whom Padraic knew nothing. Lily, who is 4 years Padraic’s junior, poses a problem for him in maintaining his disguise for when he learns her father is Robert, Lord Tinsley, he cannot allow her to return home.

Lily has a unique healing gift that makes many people shy from her and others seek her out. She claims no mystical powers, just a God-given ability that sometimes works and sometimes does not. Padraic, who suffers from a leg wound received at Culloden, doubts she can heal anyone and will not let her touch his leg. But a neighboring lord, who hates the Rebel, would have her as his wife for her money and her healing power.

The book is well written and the characters well developed. Paddy is a charmer. The story becomes more exciting as it progresses, though perhaps it did not quite achieve the excitement that her first in the trilogy did. Still, I recommend it and the three in the series. They are all related.

The trilogy:

THE RENEGADE (first published as THE RENEGADE AND THE ROSE)
THE REBEL
THE ROGUE