The romance genre gives testimony to romance's survival of the thick sands of time. Popularity of the historical romance further establishes the amazing longevity of romantic passion.
Scotland's rolling highlands provide one of the most popular settings for historical romances. Talented romance writers like Amanda Scott, Arnettle Lamb, Christine Dorsey, Claire DelaCroix (Cross), Diana Gabaldon, Jaclyn Reding, Julie Garwood, Karyn Monk, May McGoldrick, Nora Roberts, Patricia Potter, Shannon Drake, Teresa Medeiros, Terri Lynn Wilhelm, and Virginia Henley have all woven their stories from the lush green grasses of Scotland.
Each month, I will feature a romance review or two from any one of these highly-recommended novelists or any other extraordinary authors I come across.
This month's author is the inimitable KARYN MONK and her heartwarming Scottish Historical Romance, ONCE A WARRIOR.
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ONCE A WARRIOR By Karyn Monk A Bantam Fanfare Historical Romance, 1997 ISBN No. 0-553-57422-1, $5.99, 370 pp.
Setting: The Highlands of Scotland, Spring 1207 As a result of a vision, Alpin--the MacKendrick clan seer, foresees the death of his beloved Laird. However, this tragic vision also reveals that Malcolm MacFane--a fierce warrior hailed as The Black Wolf, holds the key to the clan's survival. Post haste, the Laird sends for the MacFane and offers his daughter Ariella's hand in marriage. Strangely, however, the MacFane fails to heed the MacKendrick's call for help.
When a rival clan besieges the MacKendrick holding, destiny plays its cards and the Laird lies dying. Now, more than ever, the MacKendricks need a hero. As a last resort, a band of "so-called" warriors and a boy named "Rob" set off the bring back the MacFane.
When the MacKendricks arrive, they discover a shell of a man who claims to be the Black Wolf. Scarred, disabled, drunken, bitter, and living in a hovel with Gavin--the only man left in his army that did not desert him, MacFane makes an unlikely hero. Admitting defeat as a man, he again denies their request. However, when the band offers an amount of money that will allow him to numb his pain with all the wine he can consume, MacFane agrees to return with them.
Upon his arrival, MacFane discovers a hopelessly undefendable castle inhabited by craftspeople and poets. Although he wants to walk away from the challenge of teaching these artisans to battle, honor bids him to stay.
Intrigued by a statue of Ariella MacKendrick, MacFane yearns to learn her secrets. Somehow, he doesn't believe a woman such as Ariella would lock herself up in a tower to burn. As realizes that Ariella MacKendrick would never be a quitter, he learns that neither could he. And, although gold originally brings the Black Wolf to the MacKendrick holding, not gold, but a far greater treasure, entices him to stay.
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