Kimberly Cates’ ONLY FOREVER – Irish Lass Soothes A Troubled Texas Soul

The story begins in 1847 as Sister Ashleen O'Shea, a novice nun in Ireland, steals a chalice from the convent to gain passage to America for her and four orphans destined for the poorhouse. Her goal is to reach Oregon and make a new life for the children but she ends up in Texas where she must rely on a rough cowboy, Garret MacQuade.

As a youth, Garret's family was torn from him by ruthless outlaws. Since then, he has lived a hard life. His only passion is his painting that reveals his heart. When a man he cared for as a father gives Garret’s family homestead to Ashleen, he is forced to help her.

Cates writes very well, creating vivid pictures of life in 19^th century Texas and wonderful characters. 

Ashleen is a strong heroine who soothes Garret’s troubled soul. The children are wonderful, each having an issue but healing thanks for Ashleen and Garret. The two villains who are pursuing Garret (and Ashleen, too) are truly despicable adding to the suspense. From Ireland to the American West, it’s a worthy tale.

Review: Kimberly Cates’ STEALNG HEAVEN – Exciting Regency set in Ireland

Set in Ireland in the Regency period (early 19^th century), this is the story of Sir Aidan Kane, a war hero and a man who was wronged by the woman he married. He lives with guilt he may have killed her as some say he did. The child she gave him, Cassandra, is his greatest treasure. When she is fifteen, Cassandra decides to give her father a birthday present, one she thinks he very much needs. But she fails to tell him it’s a wife.

Norah Linton arrived at Castle Rathcannon in Ireland, expecting to find a lonely widower because of the letters she’d received, which unbeknownst to her, were actually written by Cassandra. Instead, she finds a man in temper over the whole idea until it occurs to him that a woman of untarnished reputation, like Norah, could help smooth the way for his daughter into society, a daughter who would otherwise face scorn for her father’s many sins.

It’s a great story, well-told and brimming with angst. There’s a bit of the conflict between the English and the Irish as well since Aiden’s ancestors took their land from the Irish. Norah is a sensitive, caring and brave woman who sees beyond Aidan’s hard crust to the loveable man inside. Cassandra is endearing and the secondary characters satisfy.

I recommend it!

Review: Kimberly Cates’ HER MAGIC TOUCH- Irish Mythology Brought to Life!

The story begins in Ireland as 6-year-old Mary Fallon Delaney listens to her dying mother tell her the legend of Ciaran of the Mist, a mythical Celtic warrior who promised to appear at the hour of Ireland's greatest need. And her mother gives her a magical brooch that will summon Ciaran.

In 1808, Fallon, now grown, on Beltane eve, goes to a castle ruin where she hid the brooch years ago. When an English officer appears and threatens to destroy the castle ruins, Fallon waits for the moonlight and summons Ciaran and a naked stranger stumbles out of the mist.

The man (who accepts the name Ciaran) insists he is no Celtic warrior from the fairy realm, but he has no memory of who he is. He knows nothing of his life before he stumbled out of the mist, a gash on his head, and he has no intention of getting swept up in the clash between the Irish and the English. But Fallon, still lost in her fairy stories, has other ideas.

Captain Redmayne is looking for a smuggler call “Silver Hand” and thinks it just might be this guy named Ciaran. When Fallon claims he is her fiancé, the English officer forces them to wed, thinking the ruse will be up. But it isn’t and they marry, knowing nothing of each other.

This is historical romance ribboned with fantasy and Irish mythology. Cates writes in lovely, lyrical style that weaves the fairy tales Fallon believes in with the fictional characters. The heroine is very sheltered and naïve and does some unwise, if unlikely things, but inevitably manages to succeed. Even the hero comes to believe in her legends. There’s a twist at the end and a heartwarming Epilogue. Fans of Irish mythology will love this one.

The Celtic Rogues series (I've read them all and recommend them; the first is my favorite):

 
Black Falcon's Lady
Her Magic Touch

Briar Rose
Stealing Heaven
Lily Fair

Review of Kimberly Cates’ CROWN OF MIST - Captivating Irish Historical Romance

Original cover, one of my favorites

Welcome to Irish month on Historical Romance Review! I'm starting with a tale set in Ireland with a wonderful Irish heroine.

Crown of Mist is a captivating story of a love between an Irish peasant lass, Brianna Devlin, and a British lord, Creighton Wakefield, loyal to Charles II. It is set in Ireland, England and France in 1649, beginning with Cromwell’s terrible attack on Drogheda, north of Dublin at the mouth of the River Boyne, as a part of England’s attempt to subjugate Ireland.

Brianna, a fierce fighter, has lost her two older brothers in the battle. She and her younger brother are saved only because they were hidden in a well (over her objection). When the battle is over, she encounters Creigh who, having been a spy for Charles II, is trying to escape Ireland. One of Cromwell’s troops wounds him and Brianna, a healer, tends him and travels with him to the coast where he expects to join a ship. 

On the way, Creigh and Brie fall in love. Though they become lovers, they don’t expect to end up together because of their different classes, but events conspire to keep them together.

The story has a fair amount of brutal fighting and some really evil villains who do some ugly things. There’s lots of angst as Brianna suffers one misfortune after another, not to mention the fact she is viewed by all as less than moral traveling with Creigh.

It's a compelling story and Cates paints vivid word pictures of the life of an Irish girl at the time. Brianna, though her beginnings were modest, has extraordinary intelligence, skill and courage. It was easy to see why a man with a noble heart like Creigh would fall in love with her. Buy on Amazon.

New Review: Kimberly Cates’ GATHER THE STARS – Emotional Post Culloden Love Story Set in Scotland with a Hero to love

This is a story of a man, Gavin Carstares, Earl of Glenlyon, who is tortured by memories of the Scots he could not save at the Battle of Prestonpans at the beginning of the Jacobite Uprising in 1745. And now he has given his life to saving those who are fleeing the English after the tragedy at Culloden Moor when the Scots were slaughtered.

To assure the last ship carrying Scots to safety can leave Scotland, Gavin captures an English general's daughter, Rachel de Lacy, agreeing to give her back when the ship sails. Rachel is betrothed to the evil Sir Dunstan Wells, a hero of the battle of Culloden Moor, a man committed to killing Highlanders.

Once Rachel is taken captive, she discovers all she was told is a lie and is appalled at the cruelty shown toward the Scots. And she comes to love the mysterious Gavin. Who wouldn’t? He is sensitive, caring, strong and loyal.

Cates does a splendid job showing us Gavin’s suffering from what he believed was his own cowardice. He wants Rachel but knows he must return her. However, Rachel has a mind of her own and she’s a good shot. Most of the story takes place in or near a cave where the Scots hide and shelter those fleeing, including some orphans. There are some endearing secondary characters. The battles are over and the focus is on saving as many as they can.

No one does better than Cates at bringing to life the plight of the Irish and the Scots at the hands of the English. This is a good one in the series.

The Culloden's Fire series:

Crown of Mist (Prequel)

Gather the Stars

Angel's Fall

Crown of Dreams