"A marvelous writer of Scottish sagas"
I am a Scot, and I love history, so I am rather picky on
Scottish historicals. I nearly cringe when writers set a
book in Scotland and have little idea of the country or the
history. I must say this book, Ms. Welfonder's debut novel,
surprised me. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to those
wanting a good old fashioned Scottish romance. And I
mean "old fashioned" in glowing terms; the type of books we
should see more of instead of fewer and fewer. Ms.
Welfonder gives a first class tale and it insures I will
keep reading her next efforts. If you have not ??discover??
ed this true conjurer of Scottish historical with a wee
dram of the Stop-Breath, then you are in for a treat. Linnet MacDonnell was the youngest of seven sisters. Her
mother died giving birth to her, so her father has little
love for her. Not a proper lady, she was permitted to run
wild with her brothers. Instead of managing a keep, she is
a good knife thrower or can out ride any man astride a
horse! Worse, she has the gift of sight (Thank you for
portraying Scots with their closeness to the Fae!),
tainting her in daddy dearest eyes. So when Duncan
Mackenzie of Kintail offers for her, even though is an
ancient enemy, The MacDonnell is more than pleased to be
rid of his ugly daughter. Linnet is not thrilled with the prospects. Duncan is known
as a fierce warrior, the Black Stag, and more terrifying,
it is rumoured he killed his first wife for betraying him
with another man. But she has no choice, so the marriage is
made. Duncan wants only two things in a wife: that she not be a
great beauty like his first wife. He blames her beauty for
her betraying him, and bearing a son that might not be
Duncan's. He wants a nice dowdy woman men will not look at.
Secondly, he wants her power, hoping she will be able to
tell him if the boy is really his or not. Outside of that,
he wants nothing more from the redheaded hellion he takes
as a bride. Only, Linnet is not ready to settle for such
meager crumbs and sets about to change Duncan and his
heart. This is a warm, loving tale. Ms. Welfonder's voice is
already strong, surprising for a first book, so she shows
she is a writer to watch. Her love of Scotland is clear in
her words. I love her understanding of the lore, of the
magic acceptance of the Scots. So if you love Scottish historicals, do NOT miss this one
or the rest of Sue-Ellen Welfonder's brilliant works. Posted September 24, 2004
Reviewed by Deborah Macgillivray
Posted January 3, 2007
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Hell was never so sweet...
A Fiery Angel, A Coldhearted Devil, And A Marriage Hotter Than Hell! Linnet MacDonnell was the youngest of seven sisters, and not the family beauty. With her flame-bright red hair, sharp tongue, and strange gift of second-sight, no man wanted her. But the devil would take her. Bartered as a bride to her father's long-sworn enemy, the nobly born Highlander Duncan MacKenzie of Kintail, she had no choice but to enter a marriage with a man rumored to have murdered his first wife and said to possess neither heart nor soul. Forbidding and proud, Duncan MacKenzie wanted only one thing from his new bride -- to use her special gift to determine if young Robbie was truly his son. He never expected the MacDonnell lass to stubbornly follow her heart, chase away the darkness in his castle with light and laughter, and ignite a raging fire in his blood. How dare she defy him, and tempt a devil like him to feel what he feared most of all --- love!
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