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SCOUNDREL’S KISS

Carrie Loty, Zebra, 2010, $5.99, pb, 361pp,9781420104769

Ada o Keyworth is unusual or a medievalwoman. Educated by her amily, she’s adventurous,headstrong, and strikingly beautiul—but she’s alsoaddicted to opium and on the run rom debtors.Gavriel de Marqueda has plenty o his ownproblems, but when he nds Ada being auctionedas a slave, he liberates her, and in the process makesher problems his own. As the pair journey acrossSpain, they nd that they have more in commonthan they expected, and they also nd that theirchemistry is undeniable.

Troughout the novel, Loty avoids the easyclichés o the genre in avor o the original.Te 13th-century Spanish setting is unique orhistorical romance, and Loty makes good use o the history o the era. Struggles between royalhouses, tension between Spaniards and Moors,and monastic history gure prominently. But likeany good historical romance, the love story eclipsesall else, and it’s a scorcher. Both characters aredamaged, but their love or each other helps themheal their wounds. Scoundrel’s Kiss is thoroughlyenjoyable, and I look orward to reading Loty’suture historicals.

 Nanette Donohue

THE WHALER’S FORGE

Christine Echeverria Bender, Caxton, 2009,$16.95, pb, 201pp, 9780870044748

Over a century beore Columbus “discovered” theNew World, Basque whalers were already hunting

whales and setting up whaling camps in what aretoday Canada’s Atlantic maritime provinces. Inthis well-researched novel set in 1364, Bender tellsthe story o Kepa de Mendieta, a harpooner whois presumed drowned ater his boat is capsized bya whale; his shipmates return to Spain withouthim, leaving only a gravestone on the beach in hismemory.

He is rescued by Achaku, a beautiul Indianhealer, with the help o a riendly whale. Kepa, whois himsel practiced in the medical arts, is entrancedby Achaku’s beauty and kindness as well as thesavage beauty o a strange new land. As the dayspass, Kepa orges close bonds with Achaku and her

community, realizing all the while that he wouldreturn to Spain when the whaling feet came backin the spring. Or would he? Would the love that isundeniably growing between him and Achaku holdhim there orever?

Bender’s research in writing this novel wasmeticulous—including joining a SmithsonianInstitution archaeological dig at a Basque whalingsite in Canada—and it shows, not only in herdepiction o Basque whalers and their whalingmethods but in the customs and culture o thenative people as well. Te Whaler’s Forge is anentertaining and inormative read or anyone

interested in knowing more about pre-Columbianexplorations o North America and its nativepeople.   John Kachuba

THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD

Amanda Forester, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2010,$6.99/C$8.99/£3.99, pb, 337pp, 9781402229480

Destined or lie in a convent, Lady AilaGraham nds hersel exchanging marriage vowswith Sir Padyen MacClaren. Facing devastationwrought when their crops are torched in 1347, herather needs strong warriors to deend Grahamlands. With Padyen’s people destitute ater his longabsence ghting in France, marriage is the only wayto save them. A previous woman’s betrayal, however,results in a misunderstanding on his wedding night.Tis rit between the couple permits a traitor withinthe Graham clan to set a trap that eventually leadsto Aila’s imprisonment and possible destruction o the Grahams and Padyen. Only love and trust willstop the impending evil, but are the tenuous tiesbetween Aila and Padyen strong enough to bringthem together and protect those they love?

Tis is a typical historical romance, set

predominately in the Lowlands, albeit with a ewmissteps in the historical research, like the wearingo a belted plaid and calling the two-handedgreat sword a claymore. In spite o this, readers insearch o a story that transports them to medievaScotland where men and women, who prize honoand duty, ace evil villains should enjoy this tale.

Cindy Vallar

NO LAW IN THE LAND

Michael Jecks, Headline/raalgar Square, 2009£19.99/$24.95, hb, 384pp, 9780755344185

Make no mistake about it: in Michael Jecks’slatest Knights emplar Mystery, No Law in thLand, there is no law and precious little justice oanyone. Set in October 1325, the story centers onBaili Simon Puttock and Sir Baldwin de FurnshillKeeper o the King’s Peace, and the lawlessnesthey encounter upon their return to England ateescorting Queen Isabella to France. When Simonand Sir Baldwin inorm King Edward II thathe queen has no intention o ever returning toEngland, Edward is urious and dismisses Simonand Baldwin rom court.

Meanwhile, Osbert, a villain worthy o any

C O, JULIET

Robin Maxwell, NAL, 2010, $15.00, pb, 352pp, 9780451229151Maxwell delivers a mesmerizing retelling

o the amous star-crossed lovers, Romeo and  Juliet, in her latest novel, set in Italy at thebeginning o the Renaissance. Juliet Capellettiis a headstrong, intelligent young lady who isacing an arranged marriage to Jacopo Strozzi,her ather’s new business partner. She does

not look orward to her match but knowsthat it will make her parents happy. Juliet’sentire uture is orever changed one nightat the engagement party o her best riend,Lucrezia, when she meets the handsomeRomeo Monticecco. Romeo is at the partyto seek reconciliation between his amily andthe Capelettis, who have been euding andretaliating against each other or years.

  Juliet and Romeo nd a chance to talktogether alone under the stars, and their destiny unolds. Both are surprised bythe other’s passion or poetry and shared interest in Dante Alighieri’s Vita Nuova.Ater their rst meeting, Juliet is determined to nd a way out o her upcomingmarriage to Jacopo, even though this means deying her amily’s wishes or her andpossibly destroying the business between her ather and her betrothed.

What unolds is a beautiul love story between the soul mates Romeo and Juliet.Maxwell realistically portrays the torment with which Juliet is aced as she wonderswhat her uture holds. Te things I enjoyed the most about the novel were howMaxwell drew parallels between Dante and his love, Beatrice, and Romeo and

 Juliet, and her use o poetry and quotes rom Dante throughout the novel. Readerswill savor this exquisite and magical love story.

Troy Reed

EDITORS’ CHOICE

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HNR Issue 51, February 2010 | Reviews | 251th Century — 14th Century