"Enchanting medieval romantic fantasy"

In 1432, Graeme Campbell, THE LAIRD OF STONEHAVEN, returns from fighting alongside Joan, the Maid of Orleans, to his Scottish home. He plans to marry Blair MacArthur, rumored to be a fairy woman and the current focus of the MacArthur Prophesy. His cousin tells him he is mad to marry the witch, but Graeme knows he must honor the last wish of the lass' dying father that he marry her. He also does not believe in witchcraft or prophesies as he feels Blair is simply a healer.

Blair knows of the Prophesy as well, which states that the fairy woman will face trials from the elements and cannot fall in love with the wrong man. An arranged marriage seems an ideal way to save herself especially since the groom loved Joan so she agrees to wed Graeme with no plan to ever love him. As they become acquainted the impossible occurs and they fall in love especially when Graeme realizes the danger to Blair mirrors what occurred to Joan.

Connie Mason shows her flexibly with this powerful medieval romantic fantasy. The story line contains the typical elements found in an historical, but also freshens up the plot with paranormal components that hook the audience. The parallels to Joan of Arc are cleverly interwoven so that the hero is haunted with a déjà vu feel that makes his prime project to keep his beloved Blair the "witch" safe. Ms. Mason has a winner that should widen her audience appeal.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 4, 2003

Summary

He appears nightly in her dreams—magnificently, blatantly naked. A man whose body is sheer perfection, whose face is hardened by desire, whose voice makes it plain he will have her and no other.

Blair MacArthur is a Faery Woman, and healing is her life. But legend foretells she will lose her powers if she gives her heart to the wrong man. So the last thing she wants is an arranged marriage. Especially to the Highland laird who already haunts her midnight hours with images too tempting for any woman to resist.