ONCE UPON A KNIGHT

Author: Jackie Ivie ISBN: 9781420101669 10/2009 HISTORICAL Publisher: KENSINGTON
Time Period: Medieval 1457

In the fog-filled Scottish Highlands of 1457, a sensual dare brings together a fiery lass and a mysterious suitor—but it will take far more for them to discover they’ve fallen in love… A Brawny Clansman The fiercely handsome Vincent Danzel never backs away from a dare. So when he’s challenged to make a particular young lady fall in love with him without taking her to his bed, he jumps at the chance to woo the unsuspecting lass to her knees… A Willful Lady Sybil Eschoncan’s visions warn her that an unsuitable man will enter her life, and Vincent’s sudden appearance confirms her prediction. But she’s unprepared for her wild attraction to the rake—and perplexed by his unwillingness to claim her… An Irresistible Passion Vincent vows to resist his mounting desire, even as Sybil’s every word intrigues him and her every touch ignites his senses. But when another man lays claim to the tempting maid, Vincent must risk everything to fight for the love he never expected to find…

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Jackie Ivie sets her historical romance ONCE UPON A KNIGHT in the Scottish Highlands of 1457, where Sybil Eschon, bastard daughter to the former laird, runs most of the keep’s affairs (except those of her insatiable step-mother) including healing, cooking, and cleaning. She is surprised in the forest when a tall, handsome knight, Vincent Danzel, drops down in front of her from the tree he’s been hiding in. Revenge seems to be the theme of the day, and Vincent is playing his part in a scheme by Sybil’s sister Kendran. She promised Sybil she’d get vengeance on her for Sybil’s relentless teasing her for her loves and heartbreaks. Sybil doesn’t believe in love and thinks her sisters’ heartaches were all in their heads. Vincent doesn’t believe in love either, though he enjoys a good romp and is often paid to make women fall for him on a bet. This one is different, though. The stipulations of the bet include that he is to make her fall for him without touching her and definitely without taking her to bed, and then he is supposed to abandon her in order to break her heart. Sybil sees nothing in this pretty boy to fall in love with, until he pulls his flute out and plays soulfully heartbreaking music. But will these two non-believers ever find their love if they are trying to save their lives from so many enemies sent their way?

Ivie is a master manipulator. Most of the characters in this story seek vengeance on someone else: Kendran on Sybil; Hugo McHugh on Vincent for stealing cattle; Vincent on the McHugh for subsequently killing his parents and a friend, and then stealing Vincent’s sister for his wife. And thrown into the mix is a dwarf laird who comes to Eschoncan Keep to claim Sybil for a wife. Sybil is so repulsed by Sir Ian that she throws herself at Vincent so she will no longer be the pure maiden the dwarf seeks. In attempting to use Vincent, Sybil doses him with hallucinogenic mushrooms that have rather nasty side effects, including making him think he no longer has that manly part of him with which he so vigorously enjoyed Sybil throughout the night. He’s run away from her in order to break her heart, but the mushroom magic sends him running back to her to restore his manhood, and he winds up marrying her to save her from the dwarf. There are so many twists and turns that it was hard to keep up with all of the machinations until it becomes clear in the end. The puppet master sends Vincent to rescue Sybil from the clutches of the McHugh and passes on sage advice—Vincent can either save his love or get vengeance on Hugo McHugh. Vincent realizes his love for Sybil is the priority over everything else. Getting vengeance is never warm and comforting.

I could barely put ONCE UPON A KNIGHT down from start to finish. Ivie teases with hints and details, pulling the reader along on the adventure until it is too late to go back. Just as I was sure our couple was safe, another complication would arise and then suddenly, before I knew it, we were at the end and I wanted to stay to see them through the rest of their lives. I will definitely be looking for more of Ivie’s novels in the future.

Susan Barton