"Legendary!"
What could an rebellious, independent, 19th century British
woman and a martyred 17th century Scots piper have in
common. Why pointed ears, of course! That is to say that
they share the MacLeod blood, which everyone knows has more
than a bit of fairy in it. In fact it is claimed that a
woman of MacLeod blood could even save a man from death! Taffy Lytton, is a woman born ahead of her time, a constant
source of grief to her very proper father. He believes a
proper young lady's duty is to snare herself a well-to-do
husband. He'd even chosen a likely prospect in America.
Taffy had returned without a husband. She'd been much too
willful for the young man. Instead she'd returned with a
variety of scandalous items, serviceable clothing, a
velocipede, a camera, a Winchester rifle, and a pair of
brass knuckles, of all things. If he approved of nothing else, Davis Lytton allowed Taffy
to photograph his archeological findings. That is how she
comes to view the bones of the legendary Piper of
Duntrune. The story begins at Duntrune Castle in 1888. Bishop
Mapleton, having had the floorboards of his dressing room
removed, had discovered the handless bones of Malcolm
MacIntyre, the legendary captive piper whose discordant
playing of a familiar tune, had warned the famed MacColla
and his men away from the castle and certain massacre two
centuries ago. The piper had paid dearly for his deed,
losing his life along with his hands. In exposing the
bones, the bishop has set Malcolm's spirit free, for the
very same discordant tune could be heard at each sunrise
and sunset. Mapleton had taken numerous desperate measures
to send the piper's spirit on its way before consulting
Davis. Before leaving the castle to develop her photographs, Taffy
examines the famous bones herself, pricking herself on the
sharp amputated arm bones. Thereafter Taffy sees Malcolm in
her dreams, his loving face, his sweet voice calling to her
to come to him. His pointed ears speaks of their shared
maternal bloodlines. Is it true that by touching his bones
she'd tied herself to the soul of the Piper of Duntrune? In
her heart she knows that she must somehow find a way to
answer his call. Malcolm, in his time, sees visions of Taffy as well. His
natural intuition has told him that his days are numbered.
He would spend them pleasantly in love with his golden
haired vision, who possessed so many strange and wonderous
things, and face his death bravely. Perhaps he would join
her spirit in the next life. If he called to her, would she
heed his call? The still folk (fairies) have their own plans for this
pair, for it is true that those of the MacLeod blood have
shared blood with their own. Belief in magic has gone out
of fashion in Taffy's time. Their only hope for the future
is to bring this pair together to keep their line strong in
the human world. Can they change the course of human
history? I love tales that pick up where true legend leaves off, it
makes the characters that much more real. Such was the case
with Malcolm MacIntyre, the Piper of Duntrune. Taffy is a
strong and liberated woman born in an era where woman were
expected to marry well, and do little else. She was the
perfect heroine for the situation she found herself in, a
warrior capable of defending her mate against their human
foes, and confident enough to defy and bargain with the
immortals as well. NIGHT VISITOR is action packed,
and the
love story that evolves during Malcolm and Taffy's travail
is passionate and sweet. The fairies are self involved and
as likely to be cruel as kind, which makes the tale far
more interesting and adds greatly to the suspense. A
recommended read. Copyright © 2001
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted June 27, 2001
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Some Loves Cross Oceans, Others Cross Time
"Come to me."
Beneath the crumbling turrets of Duntrune Castle, Tafaline heard the call. Many years before, the keep had been captured, betrayed. She had heard the tale; all self-respecting Scots knew of the massacre and of the brave piper who had given his life so that some of its defenders might live. But few saw his face in their sleep, his sad grey eyes touching their souls, his warm hands caressing them like a lover's. And Tafaline was willing to wager that none had heard his sweet voice. But he had been slain so long ago. How was it possible that he now haunted her dreams? Were they true, those fairy tales that claimed a woman of MacLeod blood could save a manf rom even death? Was it true, that when she had touched his bones, she'd bound herself to his soul? Yes, it was Malcolm "the piper" who called to her so insistently, across the winds of night and time...and looking into her heart, TAffy knew there was naught to do but go to him.
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