Saturday, May 7, 2016

Review: Heather's Graham's COME THE MORNING – 1st in the Medieval Scottish Series A Worthy Read!

This is the first in a series of historical novels of the Graham clan (see list below). First released under the pen name Shannon Drake, it’s set in 12th century Scotland during King David I’s reign. Waryk de Graham is 14 and on the battlefield with his father and uncle, both of whom are slain. In a heroic feat, he manages to rise from the assumed dead and save the remaining Scottish warriors and kill Renfrew, the leader of the Norse forces. For this, he is knighted by the king, dubbed "Lord Lion," and promised future prizes.

Ten years later after Waryk has faithfully served the king and won many battles and his reputation has spread far and wide, the king is of a mind to finally give him the promised reward. Prompted to move by the death of Adin, once a Viking conqueror who then became truly Scottish and loyal to King David, the king gives Waryk the Blue Isle—a wondrous holding—and his daughter Mellyora MacAdin, who is known as beautiful and a brilliant swordswoman.

Mellyora, unaware of all this, upon her father’s death, asks the king to allow her to rule in her father's place and to marry the McKinney who is a laird in his own right and lives on Blue Isle. But the king wants a powerful warrior defending Blue Isle and he wants to reward Waryk.

Waryk has had a mistress he has loved for years and wants to marry her. But he will bend to the King's will if only to gain the lands. So Mellyora, headstrong and courageous, after many attempts to escape, is finally resigned to marry Waryk (or suffer the loss of her lands). Neither likes the other and so begins the story of their tumultuous love.

Graham’s writing is wonderful and she serves up non-stop action. The romance is compelling. And, this historical is also based on her own family history of the Graham's. The historical elements are well done and Graham even includes a timeline in the back for those of us who love the history.

Our heroine and hero do have their issues. At times, Mellyora, who was supposed to be a brilliant strategist, could be quite stupid in falling into Waryk's traps and he was at times less than honorable, even mean. 

Buy on Amazon.

I recommend the whole series!

The Graham Saga:

Come the Morning
Conquer the Night
Seize the Dawn
Knight Triumphant
The Lion in Glory
When We Touch
The Queen's Lady

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