A Love Forbidden

GIVEAWAY!!!

MORGAN, KATHLEEN
A LOVE FORBIDDEN

Moved by the desire for adventure and a yearning to help the Ute Indians, twenty-year-old Shiloh Wainright impulsively accepts a teaching position at the White River Indian Agency in northwestern Colorado. The new job, however, isn''t what she imagined it would be, and Shiloh soon finds herself caught in the cross fire between the Utes, their unyielding Indian Agent, and the unrealistic demands of the US government. Her unexpected encounter with Jesse Blackwater, an embittered half-breed Ute and childhood friend, only complicates matters as they battle their growing feelings for each other amidst the spiraling tensions threatening to explode into a catastrophic Indian uprising. Set amongst the wilds of the Colorado Rockies in 1879, this is a tale of a forbidden love and a faith tested in the cauldron of intolerance and the harsh realities of life on the untamed frontier. Bestselling author Kathleen Morgan deftly explores themes of mercy, fidelity to one''s beliefs despite what others think or do, and compassion for those different from oneself as she plumbs the depths of the human heart and the healing power of God's love.

My Review:

Rife with complications and conflict, this historical romance set my heart on fire and my blood to boiling! With so much emotion in every page this one should come with a Kleenex alert -- at least for me.

First there is the setting -- the sweeping backdrop of one of North America's not-so-finest hours. I've always been both compelled and appalled by stories that center around the treatment of Native Americans in both our countries (I'm Canadian) and Morgan really captured some moments as I imagined them.

She set her characters in A Love Forbidden smack in the middle of historically accurate action which made the read all the grittier. The stark contrast between whites with an honest (if misguided) desire to help the Natives and the dishonest actions of the government serves to advance the tumultuous plot and pits Jesse and Shiloh against each other despite their attraction.

That forbidden love (perfect tie-in with the title) takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride right along with the hero and heroine. It seems, at times, that their coming together is simply impossible with all the daunting hurdles that have to be overcome. But there are tender moments too and along with sweet there's some lovely heated, toe-curling ones.

The powerful inspirational thread of forgiveness lends itself beautifully to the circumstances both Shiloh and Jesse find themselves in. Spiritual meshes seamlessly with romance and adventure in an unforgettable tale of surviving love.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Love Forbidden, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca.  Remember to put the title in the subject line so that your entry is easy for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 13 2012. Open to international readers. Good luck!

A Heart Divided

GIVEAWAY!

MORGAN, KATHLEEN

A HEART DIVIDED

When fate brings them together, they must choose between family ties and love.

The Caldwells and Wainwrights have been feuding for decades. Still, Sarah Caldwell has misgivings when her father pressures her into distracting a ranch hand while he and her brothers rob the Wainwright's place. When it becomes clear that hand is actually Cord Wainwright, heir of the Wainwright holdings, Sarah realizes things have gone too far.

As the feud boils over, Cord and Sarah make a most inconvenient discovery -- they just might be falling in love. Can they betray their families to see where this attraction leads? Or will their families betray them?

Against the beautiful and wild backdrop of the Rocky Mountains in 1878 comes this sweeping saga of romance, betrayal and forgiveness.

My Review:

I have only read Kathleen Morgan's Scottish Highlands series so what a surprise this was -- to 'hear' her distinctive style in Western drawl. LOL. A Heart Divided is definitely a sweeping saga -- an epic family drama that hopefully isn't finished yet. I'm very anxious for Nick and Noah and Shiloh to have their own stories so I hope their books will become part of the Heart of the Rockies series.

Full of intense passions and emotions this is a consuming read. I just flew through it. Morgan has a knack for creating multi-dimensional characters and she puts them through the wringer while building to a powerful climax of forgiveness and redemption. And she doesn't mind throwing in some sizzle along the way.  Blissful sigh of pure contentment. I can't wait for Book Two in the series.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".


GIVEAWAY:  If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Heart Divided, please leave a comment below. Draw will take place on Sunday, May 29.  And if, perchance you are having problems with Blogger and find you can't leave a comment (which has been happening to me all week), you can email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca  and let me know you are interested in your name being added to the draw. Good luck everyone! You really want to read this one!!!

Wings of Morning

MORGAN, KATHLEEN
WINGS OF MORNING

Can a forbidden love survive betrayal and suspicion in the Scottish Highlands?

Orphan heiress and Scotswoman Regan MacLaren is a bride of only one day when her husband is murdered. Left alone to thwart the revenge her family seeks on her husband's assassin, Regan suffers a terrible fall and loses her memory -- and with it her place in the world. Meanwhile, laird and warrior Iain Campbell is waiting for the love he knows God will bring him. But a woman near death and without a memory isn't quite what he expected.

And so begin enormous challenges for Regan and Iain to overcome the unholy ambitions of others while love takes them by surprise. But will betrayal and suspicion force them apart forever? Or can their love help heal their clans and their land?

THIS IS THE SECOND IN THE THESE HIGHLAND HILLS SERIES AND JUST AS SATISFYING A READ AS THE FIRST, CHILD OF THE MIST. KATHLEEN MORGAN DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF FLESHING OUT THE STRUGGLES OF LIFE IN 16TH CENTURY SCOTLAND -- ESPECIALLY FOR A WOMAN.

REGAN HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF MEN SINCE SHE WAS A YOUNG CHILD. AN HEIRESS DENIED HER BIRTHRIGHT BY THE GREED OF HER CLANSMEN, SHE HAS DEVELOPED DEEP ROOTED INSECURITIES. THIS MAKES HER VULNERABLE TO THE PLOTTING OF MEN AND SHE FINDS HERSELF SWEPT UP IN A DECEIT NOT OF HER MAKING.

IAIN CAMPBELL IS FORTHRIGHT AND KIND, EXPANSIVE IN HIS GENEROSITY AND LOVE OF GOD. HE IS BY NO MEANS NAIVE, BUT HE LOOKS FOR THE BEST IN PEOPLE -- PARTICULARLY THE INJURED WOMAN IN HIS CARE.

FORGIVENESS AND TRUST ARE CENTRAL THEMES IN THE STORY AND ISSUES THAT BOTH IAIN AND REGAN WRESTLE WITH THROUGHOUT. THIS INCREASES THE ROMANTIC TENSION, PULLING IT SO TIGHT THAT THE ANGST IN THE PLOT NEARLY SEVERS IT. AS IN THE FIRST BOOK, WINGS OF MORNING IS STEEPED IN POLITICAL INTRIGUE -- INCLUDING AN APPEARANCE BY MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. A GREAT PICK FOR A SUMMER READ.

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.