TEMPTATION OF THE WARRIOR

Author: Margo Maguire ISBN: 9780061256370 4/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: 1826

A new land, a new time... To protect his people from a great evil, Merrick Mac Lochlainn, newly crowned high chieftain of his clan, must travel forward in time nearly 1,000 years. But when he awakens in nineteenth-century England, he has no memory of his mission to save his race, nor can he recognize Jenny Keating, the spirited young beauty who calls herself his wife. A new love... Orphaned and on the run from a cruel headmaster, vulnerable and alone, Jenny never dreamed of being rescued by any man, much less a chivalrous and handsome warrior like Merrick. Drawn to his powerful physique and mysterious ways, she begins a dangerous deception and poses as his beloved. But her feelings of desire are all too real. Together they will battle a dark threat that jeopardizes their very lives, all the while tempting each other with a passion too powerful to resist.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

TEMPTATION OF THE WARRIOR absolutely kept me on my toes from start to finish.  I was so impressed with this story that I went out immediately and bought the book proceeding it.  The action, the chemistry, the play between characters—all of this adds up to make this one heck of a book!

Jenny is such a wonderful character. She has such spunk and life that I would be hard pressed to find a single complaint about her.  She is strong, beautiful, and completely worthy of our hero, even if she doesn't realize it or accept it at first.  When she lies to a band of gypsies about her relationship with the man who has rescued her, the man who fills her head and her heart before she can even stop herself, she has no idea how true her lies will actually become.

Merrick... Lord, have mercy, that man is a hottie through and through!  He is all about saving his planet and traveling through time to find the answers to his problems, but along the way a hiccup with some bullies and a beautiful woman tie him up, and it looks like he may not save his people in time.  He doesn't even realize that the very answer to his prayers sits right in front of him, day after day. 

Everything about this book is wonderful.  The plot, the flow, the interaction between the main characters—this book is truly beautifully written.  Jenny and Merrick have beautiful chemistry and they understand one another.  Jenny is so much stronger than she ever thinks possible, and it is a true pleasure when she finally starts to emerge from her shell.  I think the backbone that she develops due to her relationship with Merrick is wonderful. 

Margo Maguire hits on all the high points of a romance novel with this book.  With the perfect combination of paranormal and romance, TEMPTATION OF THE WARRIOR is a heart stopper from start to finish.  Ms. Maguire has truly outdone herself.  Bravo, Ms. Maguire!

Kristal Gorman