Title: A Highland Moon EnchantmentSeries: An Order of the Dragon Knights novella
Author: Mary Morgan
Format: Kindle, 232 pages
Published: November 17th 2017 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
ISBN: ASIN: B0767QVJBX
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 Wine Glasses
Irish warrior, Desmond O’Quinlan has never surrendered his heart to any woman. He has no wish to have his soul tortured by love. Yet, the moment he locks gazes with Ailsa, his fate is destined for an adventure he never fathomed. He may have battled alongside a Dragon Knight, but his greatest challenge will come from within his own heart.
Ailsa MacDuff, a warrior among her clan, has no desire to have a man chain her to a life of obedience. However, that is before she meets Desmond. The temptation to allow this warrior inside her heart is a risk she dares to take, but one that could lead to a future of emptiness and sorrow.
When betrayal looms from within, the battleground of love is no match for these two warriors. Can the power of a Highland full moon be strong enough to unite or destroy them?
Linda's Thoughts:
Prologue
When the ancient bards wove the tale of the great O’Quinlan clan in Navan, Eire, they foretold of destinies that would forever change the lives of these noble warriors.
One might deem that it all began with the eldest male, yet, the story began with the youngest – a daughter. To protect Fiona O’Quinlan from the enemy of their clan, her brother, Desmond, sought out a Fenian Fae Warrior to escort her to safety during a fierce battle.
However, as with any request to the Fae, all did not go as Desmond wished. The Fae had already set in motion their own plan, and their sister was sent to another time.
The O’Quinlan clan would not be reunited with Fiona for many years. When they were, they were told her fate was destined with another – Alastair MacKay, a feared, and battle-scarred Dragon Knight. Though Desmond and his brothers eventually accepted their sister’s love for the MacKay, Desmond harbored lingering doubts over the match.
And as one year bled into the next, Desmond’s anger at the MacKay grew.
Unbeknown to Desmond, his time had come to fulfill the bardic prophecy and take his place as a ruling warrior. Furthermore, in order to step forward on his journey, he must relinquish the fury of the past and open his heart and mind to only one emotion.
Love.
A Highland Moon Enchantment by Mary Morgan is a lovely historical time travel romance novella in the author’s Dragon Knights series. This tale relates the story of Irish warrior Desmond O'Quinlan and warrior Ailsa MacDuff. The time for the fulfillment of the bardic prophecy has come…
You should know that A Highland Moon Enchantment works well as a stand alone if that is your preference. Mary relates just enough of past history that newbies are never lost. That said, fans of the series will recognize Desmond and the other O’Quinlan brothers as they were previously introduced in Dragon Knight’s Axe, the third book in the series. Dragon Knight’s Axe told the story of Desmond’s sister, Fiona and Dragon Knight Alastair, who are now husband and wife. That book also made it clear that Desmond does not get along with Alastair. As this novella opens, it’s apparent that there’s been no relief for Fiona with that aspect as she has her hands full mediating between her husband and brother.
Ailsa is the heir to the Ailsa Craig tribe. We first meet Ailsa when she, her bodyguard, her father and some of their tribe have made the long journey to bury Ailsa’s mother’s remains when they’re attacked by the English. Desmond and Alastair are out together in the forest when they come upon Lady Alisa MacDuff and her remaining party. Desmond and Alastair quickly offer their aid and hospitality. She is a woman who can take care of herself, but in this situation, she’s thankful for their assistance. There are sparks between Aisla and Desmond from the start and the pull between them strengthens as they spend more time together. Her mother had foretold that a great love was in Aisla’s destiny. Yet she and Desmond come from different tribes, so there can be no future for them. Could this be what her mother foretold or is their attraction only A Highland Moon Enchantment?
I knew once I read that Desmond didn’t believe in love that he’d soon find himself besotted. Sure enough. Besides his feud with his sister’s husband, Desmond is dealing with a further challenge – his unwanted attraction to the independent Ailsa. Desmond’s heart races every time he’s near Ailsa and he doesn’t know how to deal with these strange feelings. When the times comes, will Desmond let Ailsa go or will he realize that their love is worth fighting for?
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from A Highland Moon Enchantment:
Ailsa had made up her mind that the man she would marry must steal the breath from her lungs, make her skin tingle with his touch, and consider her an equal when it came time for her to rule the island. Her heart yearned for love, and she would settle for nothing less.
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“Have nae fear. I am not a knight, nor do I seek to rescue any damsels.”
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“Let me show ye how a kiss can burn the blood in your body. And how a touch can send tremors coursing through your skin.”
Mary’s writing is flowing and vividly descriptive. The storyline is well-plotted and teeming with twists and unexpected surprises. This delightful magical adventure weaves Irish and Scottish mythical lore, the Fae, Warriors and Knights into a passionate historical romance. If you enjoy romances that mix fantasy with sexy, brawny heroes, strong, gifted women, and a good measure of danger, I’d encourage you to check out A Highland Moon Enchantment. It’s actually a great way to dive into this series if you haven’t yet done so.
Suggested Reading Order:
Book #1 Dragon Knight's Sword
Thank you so much for your lovely review. I'm thrilled you enjoyed Desmond and Ailsa's love story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful review. This sounds like the perfect romance. Thank you for including the quotes. It definitely makes me want to read more.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful author and person. Great review.
ReplyDelete