One Snowy Knight by Deborah MacGillivray
One Snowy Knight by Deborah MacGillivray
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Historical
Length: Full (378 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: LASR Best Book
Reviewed by Camellia
One Last Hope…Lady Skena MacIain has seen much hardship this year, and she fears worse is to come. For a bloody battle in Dunbar has left her a young widow, and her Scottish fortress without protectors. She wishes she could be as hopeful as her babes, who believe the Cailleach, the Lady of Winter, will send them a miracle in time for Christmas. But life has taught her that things can never be so easy…
One True Love?Until a mysterious warrior is found amid a blinding snowstorm, sick with fever. As Skena nurses the handsome knight back to health, even she begins to believe he might bring salvation to her little keep—and passion to her life, as his body awakens a long sleeping desire within her…a desire her touch stirs in him as well. But his wounds speak of danger, and Skena will soon learn, his past carries a secret that could shake her home—and her heart—to their very core…
ONE SNOWY KNIGHT is a beautiful story. The heroine saves the hero and he saves her right back—again and again.
In 1296, Noel de Servain, wounded and war-weary, seeks peace and a home to call his own at Craigendan Keep in the Northland of Scotland. King Edward gave him the title of baron and Craigendan Keep for his many years of service—years of service fraught with the ugliness of war.
Lady Skena of Craigendan Keep, an Ogilive woman with mild witch power, searches for Andrew and Annis, her twins, who have sneaked out of the gate in search of a mythical character: rather than the mythical character, they find Noel unconscious and almost covered in snow. When Skena finds them, they declare that he is their Christmas Knight, the knight of their wishes. While she long ago gave up on wishes coming true, she puts her own thoughts aside and defenses their Christmas Knight from the wolves until help comes—just one more fearsome task that falls her lot.
Since her husband left to fight against King Edward eight months ago, she has taken on the responsibilities of taking care of the Keep and its people. Being told her husband is dead, Skena knows changes will come but while things are in transition, she fights drought, famine, and defends the Keep with old men, women, and children. Bone weary and struggling with deep-down fear, Skena faces her fears. She even makes a sort of peace with herself as her old nurse Muriel tells her she must forget the past and do what has to be done to ensure their survival. The old woman says, “…men run stag wild locking horns, but women must wage war with their bodies and minds”.
The secondary characters help make ONE SNOWY KNIGHT a story rich with love, full of intrigue, and laced with magic, myths, and superstitions that thrill and chill. The antagonists are so sneaky and warped they make the reader shudder.
Deborah MacGillivray’s magical writing takes the reader to the place where the action is so the cold, hunger, fear, and a myriad other emotions flood the senses. Most of all, she lets the reader vicariously experience the love of Noel and Skena that encompasses the very best soul mates have to offer each other.
Redemption and the ushering in of a new start take away the grayness of life and bring hope along with clear evidence that dreams and wishes really do come true.
ONE SNOWY KNIGHT is magical. It is worth keeping.
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