Now This Is Romance!
It's been a while since I've found a historical that I couldn't put down. Thanks to Heather Waters, I now have a couple days of laundry to catch up on. It was terrific to read something different. Both main characters had huge personal demons to face. Through their growing love for one another, their eyes were opened to how blessed they really were. In the end, when it seemed their people would turn on them, Draven and Faith stood by each other against the world.
It was great to read about two characters who I could really like...
Faith has backbone, but she's not Superwoman. She has pride, but she's not nasty to people who offer her help. She's good- hearted, but not without flaws. When she recognizes her mistakes, her remorse is genuine.
Draven is a warrior with magic in his blood. He can command fire, and heal the sick and the wounded. Although the world he lives in considers him evil, he never seizes to use his powers to help the very people who scorn him. As painful as his life has been, he hates the thought of causing pain in kind. A body and mind of immense power, with a heart of pure unselfishness.
Faith was attacked in the forest two months ago. Discovering she is pregnant, she names a man whom she believes has been executed for witchery as the father. She claims to have been with him willingly. She can't bare the shame of admitting that she was too weak to fight off a rapist. Better to name a man who will never be confronted by her clan.
Faith's uncle, Laird Elliot Maitland, won't rest until he gets justice for his niece. Arriving at the Cameron keep, he demands that Draven Cameron return to Maitland and marry Faith. To Faith's shock, Draven is still alive. To her horror, he is about to be burned at the stake by his own father, right in front of her eyes. She again claims Draven as the father, this time to save his life. Fearing the wrath of the much larger Maitland clan, Draven's father releases him to the Maitland Laird.
Faith believes that Draven's powers are not evil, but true miracles from God. Few people agree with her, including Draven. Draven was more than ready to die. He resents Faith for robbing him of his chance to finally know peace. When Faith decides she needs to spare Draven from being forced to marry her, Draven can't bare to see her suffer the shame of admitting the lie. He claims the child as his own and marries her.
Faith is feeling greatly humbled. Knowing the unborn child was conceived in violence, she can't bring herself to care for it. Yet a man whom has no blood tie to the child is claiming it for all the world to hear.
Draven is baffled. After a lifetime of being called the Devil, a God- fearing woman is standing by him against all who scorn him. What he has been taught are traits of evil, Faith is insisting are gifts from God.
Both Faith and Draven are finding the miracles around them through the patience and acceptance of one another. Draven vows to cherish Faith and do whatever he must to build her confidence and trust. Faith will stand by Draven against her own clan to prove to them, and more important to prove to Draven himself, that he is not evil, he is blessed.
When Draven discovers that Faith's rapist is near, he is prepared to use any means necessary to protect his wife, his new clan, and HIS child. After a lifetime of loneliness and torment, Draven will never allow harm to come to the first person ever to show him unconditional love and acceptance.
After reading this book, you'll want to read the author's second book. It's even better! Here is the link:
Destiny's Warrior (Berkley Sensation)
If you like Scottish historicals, these are a few of my favorites:
Scotsman
Two Book Series:
The Pride of Lions
Blood of Roses
A great combo of Scottish and Early American:
Surrender (Leisure Historical Fiction)
