|
Elise, Dowager Duchess of Wynd has a secret - a secret that she guards quite well from everyone. But, the secret is becoming too burdensome and she realizes that she must soon release it. And who better to share it with than it’s rightful owner? The task of breaking the news seems easy enough; Elise is well known amongst society’s circles for her sharp wit, cool demeanor and cultured charm. Elise feels that she might even be relieved to finally share the secret she has been struggling so hard to bear. That is, until she meets the man to whom the secret actually belongs.
Colin, the new Duke of MacGowan, has never met anyone like the Dowager Duchess of Wynd. She’s cold as ice, beautiful as a flawless painting and an enigma he just can’t seem to comprehend. One thing is certain, Elise stirs his senses like no other woman he’s ever met. If he can maneuver conditions to suit his own needs, she might also just be the solution to his marriage problem.
Colin is in London to find a wife – or so the rumors say, anyway. To Elise, the new Duke seems to be anything but the ‘catch of the Season’ that all the mamas are whispering about. In fact, he seems nothing more than an uncouth Scottish barbarian, and she begins to second-guess her decision to tell him anything! But, the handsome brute has other plans, and soon Elise is embroiled in a convoluted scheme to make her his wife. Elise has no desire to ever marry again – and she certainly wants no part of carrying the MacGowan name. However, circumstances conspire to make sure that she has no choice in the matter, and soon Elise finds herself the newest possession of the Duke of MacGowan.
TENDER IS THE KNIGHT is a splendid historical novel. Author Jackie Ivie has created characters as real as your own reflection. Elise, as the heroine, is perfectly written, and Colin is everything a reader could ask for in a man: strong, virile and handsome as sin. Ivie has skillfully entwined romance with a lush historical backdrop, sweeping readers from the ballrooms of 19th-century London to the wilds of untamed Scotland in a highly emotional escapade. TENDER IS THE KNIGHT’s storyline is faultless, featuring a fast-paced plot and riveting adventure that will have readers turning the pages until the very end. With TENDER IS THE KNIGHT, Jackie Ivie has earned a place on my list of favorite authors. I’ll definitely be looking forward to her next novel.
Reviewed by Janean Nusz
for The Road to Romance
April 25, 2006
|
