Suzanne Barclay (1945–1999)

Elspeth made a mistake 4 years earlier in choosing Raebert over Lucias, preferring a warrior over a bard. Raebert turned out abusive and Lucias grew into a warrior. Elspeth returns home cowed and nearly penniless when he husband dies. Determining to take possession of the one remaining piece of property she owns, Elspeth finds herself in the middle between Lucias and her ex-father-in-law, all claiming the tower. The big theme of this book is trust or rather the lack of it. Most of the book show more is accusation and defiance rather than communicating. show less

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

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

This concluding volume in the Carmichael/Sutherland medieval series deals with a classic Scottish icon, Scotch whiskey. Catlyn Boyd’s clan has a superior recipe, which her con man neighbor wants by any means. He blackmails Ross Sutherland into attempting to get him the recipe. However, as Ross gets to know Catlyn and uncovers the true motives of her enemy, things change. This was another good tale by Barclay, but did not have a feel like a series was ending. When I looked to see if there show more might have been more I missed, I found that Ms. Barclay passed away in 1999, the year this was published. A definite loss. show less