"exciting premise weakly handled"
There are supernaturally endowed Guardians who lived
amongst the Mundanes, mere mortals. The Guardians each have
special talents, and were sworn to protect the Mundanes.
Years ago, Gywnne's father, a powerful Guardian took a
Mundane to wife. This was not forbidden, but was
discouraged because a Guardian man needed an equally strong
woman to balance and enhance his powers. As Gwynne grew up
in her father's home, she inherited his love for history
and lore. When her father died, she was seventeen. Alone in
the world, she passively accepts marriage to a man over 50
years older than she. Over fifteen years pass, with Gwynne
still working in the library of her childhood home, keeping
companionship with her late husband's sister. She's content
to pass through life like some hothouse flower. When Duncan McCrae, the Lord of the Storms, sees Gwynne he
knows she is his destiny. Gwynne is a pain to Duncan (and
the reader) by her willingness to avoid life. When Duncan
makes it clear to her he wants her for his wife, she is
shocked and rebuffs him. Gwynne believes she does not have
any power and hesitates to welcome a union with such a
powerful Guardian. Duncan accepts Gwynne's mandate to leave her alone and is
preparing to depart for his home in Scotland. Gwynne is
summoned by the Guardian Council and told she must marry
Duncan. Gwynne hesitates, but finally accepts as a member
of the Guardian society she must marry Duncan. She is
warned that war between Scotland and England is looming,
and that Duncan will need her. He is a Scot, but his
loyalties lay with Hanoverian rulers in England. This will
make his power as a Guardian very pivotal for both
countries. While the premise holds so much promise, the two leads just
don't capture the emotions or the heart in true Putney
Style. Thunder and Roses and all the Fallen Angels are just
so much more than this book. Since it dealt with Scotland,
and the lore angle, I REALLY wanted to love this book. It
is an enjoyable read, just pale. The whole plot had so much
untapped potential. Even the prose was stale - "her waist
was so tiny he could span it with both hands"....HOW many
times has that overused phrase been trotted out in
Historicals? A writer of Putney's strengths and talent
should never fall back on something that worn out. And
referring to Gwynne's wedding night as being "initiated in
the ways of Aphrodite"...(groan) The second half of the book is much stronger and I was glad
to see it picking up and starting to come "alive", but it
never overcame the "shallow" emotions of the characters.
The novel is a weak effort from one of the most talented
writers around. If you are a diehard fan, wait for
paperback or get it at the library. This is a series. I
still have high hope for the next one, but please more
passion in the romance instead of sleepwalking. Putney is
truly one of the greatest writers in Romance today. Thunder
and Roses and Dancing on the Wind are prime examples of
just how evocative her prose is. In this reviewer's
opinion, A Kiss of Fate is just not true Putney. Posted August 13, 2004
Reviewed by Deborah Macgillivray
Posted January 3, 2007
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A novel of the Guardians
Laird of an ancient, powerful Scottish clan, Duncan Macrae
is committed to ending the ceaseless strife between
Scotland and England. But he also has other, secret
powers—those of a Guardian, humans with mystical
abilities to control nature's forces and see into the
hearts of others. And from the moment he encounters the
young and independent English widow Gwyneth Owens, his
fiery spirit is irrevocably drawn to claim her as his
own—a passion that will not only set his loyalty to
his land against his sworn Guardian vows, but will also
threaten everything he cherishes most.
Though Gwynne's father was a Guardian, she believes that
she has inherited only her mother's beauty, not her
father's power. Then one kiss from the dangerously
alluring Laird of the Macraes ignites a hunger that shakes
her to her soul—and reveals visions of a looming
catastrophe that threatens England and Scotland both. Only
by becoming Duncan's wife, and ultimately betraying the
man she loves, can she avert disaster.
As destiny and two mighty nations clash, Gwynne and Duncan
must push their powers and passions beyond the most
forbidden limits if they are to save their love—and
secure the future.
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