ParaNormalRomance.org

"Inspirational ... Magical... A Story You Won't Soon Forget!"

Medieval Scotland: Dughall is born and his poor mother, who had been severely mistreated, perishes. He is given to the Hays, who shower him with love, giving him the foundation to be a good and honest man.

Dughall and his brother Ian Hay share the same birthday of Oct. 31st, the day of the dead. They have the sight and can sense each other's pain and pleasures. Dughall also has a connection with Keira, a pagan priestess. They dream of each other and hope to marry one day. For a while, everything is wonderful at the seaside village of Whinnyfold, until Dughall's real father shows up to bring him home to Huntly.

At the castle: The Earl of Huntly gives a new name to the word evil. He is cruel and deals out punishment sometimes without reason. Dughall tries to understand his father, but there seems to be no pleasing the man. There's Kate, the Earl's mistress who has her own agenda and Fang, who takes great pleasure in torturing people. Dughall does find friendship with Murdock, who is assigned to protect him. He realizes there is more to his brother Gilbert than meets the eye and he meets his mother's father, the Duke of Drake. He is a kind man who would like to take Dughall away from the Earl, but law states he cannot interfere.

As the story unfolds, the reader will find out how the characters shape each others lives and their futures.

Ms. Treat has captured the life of medieval Scotland with clear and vivid prose. You'll enter a world where you can almost feel the spray from the sea, the warmth from the peat fires and the love as you enter the homes of the seafaring people of Whinnyfold. She shows how a noble may rule with grace and understanding or with unforgiving bitterness. She'll take you to the stone circle to honor the goddess with pagan rituals and celebrations. She touches on the healing powers of herbs, and the medieval superstitions concerning these rites. The relationships are believable whether there's love, loyalty or vengefulness. This is definitely a tale for everyone. It is rich with history, myths, magic, and the paranormal. Characters you'll fall in love with and those who you may actually hate.

Courtesy: Karen Michelle Nutt, author

Reviewed by Karen Michelle Nutt
Posted June 21, 2007

It’s 1619 in Scotland, a time of intolerance, when healers are hanged as witches. A child born of mysterious parentage is given to fisher folk to raise as their son. Dughall grows up in a family bound by love and morality, becomes a healer, and displays psychic abilities.

His life is torn apart when he’s claimed by his real father, a cruel and powerful lord who tries to mold him in his image. Dughall must define himself, in the midst of a struggle between an Earl, a Duke, and the family who wants him back. All the while, he’s determined to marry the lass he left behind, a woodland priestess with eyes as green as a peacock's feather.

"Dark Birthright" is a story reflecting the political, religious, and cultural dynamics of 17th century Scotland. It paints a picture of life in the Highlands, as well as the fisher folk and a village of witches worshipping the Goddess.