Her
Irish Warrior
by Michelle Willingham
Her Irish Warrior: A Medieval Reading
Delight!
Publisher:
Harlequin Historical (May 2007)
Her Irish Warrior,
set in 12th century Ireland, is a heart-warming Medieval historical
romance with excellent characterization, a scene setting made alive to
the senses, a suspenseful plot and authenticity to the Medieval
literature.
Genevieve de Renalt is engaged to Sir Hugh Marstowe. Although her
father supports this marriage, Genevieve cannot allow herself to marry
such a man now that she knows him and his true character. When her
father cannot rescue her, she escapes. She comes across Bevan MacEgan,
an Irish warrior, in the woods and pleads for his help and protection.
Pulled between his duties as a warrior and the feelings she inspires,
as well as his desire to recapture Rionallis, the land taken from him
and now part of Genevieve's dowry, will he choose her and will his
choice be made from a desire for her or the land? Will Bevan and
Genevieve's past secrets come back to haunt them or can they find true
love despite all the obstacles others pose? Can they open their hearts
amidst or will oaths and duty win over love? In the Middle Ages and in
the background of this romance, marriage was a political alliance. Add
to this the fact that both Genevieve de Renalt and Bevan MacEgan have
been hurt if not abused by previous partners. The heroine and hero are
respectively a Norman lady and a Irish warrior who hates the Normans.
Add all that together and more and the chances of these mixing pleasure
with any possible marriage alliance seem pretty close to nil....but can
hearts win out over both force and vulnerability?
Characterization is one of the strengths of this romance. Genevieve de
Renalt's betrothed is a power hunger man who thinks love is dominating
a woman. Genevieve is an excellent heroine, determined and clever, full
of passion and tenderness and a wonderful contrast to Hugh. Michelle
Willingham allows the reader to see both the warrior and the man in
Bevan MacEgan, his strength and loyalty plus the scars from battle and
in his heart. A suspenseful plot with some interesting turns and
conflicts makes Her Irish Warrior a
fast paced page turner. Hugh, her betrothed will stop at nothing to
kill Bevan and take back his possession. In a world where marriage can
be a political alliance, even King Henry has a say in Genevieve's
marriage on account of her dowry, land that used to belong to Bevan! So
many conflicts, so many secrets, so many hurts and past wrongs....will
Genevieve and Bevan be able to find real love when all conflicts, inner
and outer, seek to prevent their union? Michelle Willingham has a gift
for creating a scene and details that are both faithful to the Medieval
tradition and which also make this romance accessible to modern
readers. One bedroom scene in particular takes a custom fairly commonly
seen in Medieval stories and adds a nice heart-warming, romantic twist.
Her Irish Warrior
has several echoes from Medieval literature, but each time, Michelle
Willingham adds details and context that heighten the tension and
romance between the hero and heroine. Michelle Willingham's writing of
the snow adds a tactile landscape into the scenes in a manner that
makes the historical background feel alive. The vocabulary is authentic
and yet accessible to the modern reader.
|
