Child of the Mist

MORGAN, KATHLEEN

CHILD OF THE MIST

An arranged betrothal was never the course Anne MacGregor imagined her life would take. Yet when her father explains that her cooperation is the only way to bring about the long-sought truce between feuding families. Anne has no other choice.

A simple ceremony pledging Anne's hand in marriage after one year of commitment is the only seal to the promise of peace. But when the arrangement requires the reluctant Anne to follow Niall Campbell back to his home, she soon discovers that peace is not so easily achieved. Before they even arrive, rumors about her abound, and her safety is threatened. Meanwhile, Niall's ascension as leader of his clan is in jeopardy, as a traitor works to bring about his downfall.

As Niall and Anne begin to see beyond each other's defenses, love takes them by surprise. But will it be enough to defeat their foes? Or will the truce be broken, their lives forfeit, and war return to their beloved land?

I WAS VERY EXCITED TO FIND THIS GEM AT MY LIBRARY. SO MANY OF THE CHRISTIAN HISTORICALS ARE SET AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AND USUALLY IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES. WHILE I LOVE READING THEM IT WAS WONDERFUL TO JOURNEY ACROSS THE OCEAN TO 16TH CENTURY SCOTLAND FOR A CHANGE.

KATHLEEN DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF THAT ERA. THERE HAS BEEN CONTROVERSY RE. SOME OF THE CONTENT OF THIS BOOK -- FOR SEXUAL SUGGESTIVENESS, VIOLENCE AND A NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF THE CLERGY. WHILE I DID FIND THIS A GRITTIER READ, I THOUGHT THAT KATHLEEN HANDLED ALL THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES WITH GRACE WHILE STILL REMAINING TRUE TO THE TIME PERIOD.

FACT WAS: SCOTTISH HIGHLANDERS WERE BRAWNY, LUSTY CLAYMORE SWINGING WARRIORS :-) AND NIALL CAMPBELL CERTAINLY PORTRAYED THEM MAGNIFICENTLY. RELIGION WAS STEEPED IN POLITICS AND FANATICISM FED THE SUPERSTITIONS OF THE TIME. WHILE THE CAMPBELL CLAN'S CLERGYMAN WAS REPREHENSIBLE, I FELT THAT ANNE MACGREGOR'S PURE LOVE OF GOD PROVIDED A GOOD BALANCE.

THE SUSPENSEFUL PLOT WAS FILLED WITH TWISTS AND TURNS AND PLENTY OF INTRIGUE THAT KEPT ME TURNING PAGES. NIALL AND ANNE'S TURBULENT ROMANCE WAS INTRICATELY WOVEN INTO THE ACTION-PACKED PLOT. I REALLY ENJOYED READING MAID OF THE MIST AND HAVE ALREADY PLACED HOLDS ON THE REST OF THE SERIES AT MY LIBRARY.