September 30, 2013
Keats’s strong debut highlights the dangers of 1285 Scotland. Wrongfully imprisoned for poisoning an earl, Ana Bisset, who has supernatural abilities to heal the wounded, is rescued from her captivity by Niall MacCurran. Miraculously, Ana survives and becomes the healer for the Barony of Duthes. Pretending to be Ana’s fictional husband returned from the dead, Niall appears at her cottage, threatening to expose her past if she does not assist him with entry to the manor house, where he hopes to find stolen jewels. Their dangerous game of deceit is complicated by mutual attraction and the threat of a traitor in Niall’s own camp, and the intensity of their lovemaking is heightened by an ever-present possibility of death, especially when Niall is badly wounded. Lyrical writing, well-researched but not overbearing historical detail, and a strong cast of characters will keep the reader engaged.