“The haunting amber eyes slowly lifted, and in an instant frozen in time's fabric, they locked with his, ensorcelling him with pulsing, ambient power. A witch's power. A dark fire that burned straight to his soul.” So the riveting personality of the Countess Tamlyn MacShane mesmerizes the Black Dragon, Julian Challon. But there is much more afoot than the tantalizing, sensuous passion building between the initially wary personalities!

King Edward I or Edward Longshanks of England has sent Julian to claim the MacShane's Scottish lands, an action that is not necessarily fostered by loyalty and devotion on either part. The timing is potently significant! The magic of Beltane is flowing full force through Julian, weary and disgusted by his own and his lord's horrendous crime. He will discover the shocking, transforming truth of his own ancestry as well as his mission for the future. How will he accomplish this task when others distrust him because of his lord and he is wary about even himself, while hopelessly besotted by this tempting woman?

Tamlyn's fierce pride and passionate love of Scotland 's people and lands affect the reader as much as Julian. Her own destiny awaits fulfillment, again not necessarily what she has previously envisioned. Possessing the “fey” abilities, she learns about the less honorable aspects of war and her companion's part in that while bantering with one to whom she feels closer every day. King Edward's mind becomes poisonous in his hatred of the Scots; Berwick is a memory of slaughter that eventually touches even Tamlyn with its darkness! How to trust this one who is destined to love and fight for Scotland yet who has such patriarchal notions about ownership of land and woman? Can he forsake the greed, court intrigues, and war lust of his peers and King?

Deborah MacGillivray knows her Scottish history for sure and how to cast a spell on her reader. On every page she weaves a haunting yet fascinating depiction of the renowned “dragon” and “witch” whose physical and patriotic passion will draw the reader into a deeper, mystical love of Scotland, indeed of love itself!

Deborah MacGillivray knows how to professionally develop the tension of conflict and character development in a marvelous historical fiction tale and at the same time amplify that with the sexiest scenes of great romance! Relish this terrific and well-crafted read!!!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on May 4, 2006

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