Suzanne Barclay (1945–1999)

Pretty good. The biggest thing was that this medieval romance actually felt, y'know, medieval (I know just enough about the era that most medieval romances drive me nuts with simple, obvious errors). The criss-crossing feuds are excellent and very true to the Highlands, and their concern with oaths (especially oaths on someone's soul) is very medieval. Can you swear on someone else's soul, though? Hmmm. Anyway. The problem that started the whole thing was very realistic, and the revelations show more at the end about it fit perfectly with the revealed characters of those involved. Paddy's name change was maybe a little over the top, but I could see it - it was his idea, not his father's. And the various last-minute saves actually felt realistic, not deus ex machina. I like it. show less

Not terrible, but not nearly as good as Lion's Lady. Somehow it didn't strike me as a true portrayal of medieval times, though I can't point to any obvious mispresentations. Well, her magic/psychic power is an odd note, for one. Ranulf is too bad to be true, and Gowain has had too many disasters - it's unrealistic. Dunno. I really liked Lion's Lady and was pleased to find another by the same author, but it's just not very good. I'll try others by her, but her skill is clearly uneven.

Rowena Gunn married to give her unborn child a name and a childless Laird an heir. When she meets her son’s true father, Lion Sutherland, 6 years later, shortly after her husband is killed, they are both is bad positions politically. They need to tread warily to protect the heir from a murderous uncle and maneuver against a possible usurper to the throne. Lots of secrets and intrigues. Others in the series have been better, but this was ok.

Gowain de Crecy returns from the wars in France to find his father has died, his mother disappeared, and his step-brother has declared Gowain’s parent’s marriage non-existent and, therefore, Gowain a bastard. He joins a band of dispossessed villagers and knights who wouldn’t do Ranulf’s dirty deeds living in the caves and organizes them to try to recover his birthright. Alys Summerville is a healer whose sensitivity to other’s emotions isolates her from touching anyone. On the way show more to visit an abbey under Ranulf’s protection, they meet the rebel band capturing Ranulf’s food wagons. After the battle, Alys is left behind and goes with the rebels to help the wounded. She learns the truth about the brothers and helps their cause. Another part of the Summerville saga that is well done. show less