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Black Dragon
December Quinn

Cerridwen Press
February 2008
ISBN#:  9781419913099
Historical

Please visit December Quinn's website
 



Synopsis:

Isabelle de Harvington wants only peace and happiness, and thinks a musician in her father's employ can provide it. But 13th century politics intrude, and Isabelle finds herself wed to the one man in Christendom she least desires — Gruffydd ap Hywel, the man who witnessed the most embarrassing moment of her life six years earlier. Being forced to marry him is bad enough; being forced to live in Wales is worse.

Gruffydd made a blood oath to devote his life to others, and loneliness is a price he's willing to pay. As the Black Dragon he spends his nights fighting, protecting his people from criminals and enemy invaders, ignoring the pain he thinks he deserves. But Isabelle's presence in his life forces him to confront his past and to see himself through the eyes of someone who doesn't think he's so unworthy after all.

Now he must choose between the promises he made and the wife he so desperately wants to claim — and Isabelle must fight to discover if love can defeat the fiercest dragon.
 


 

SRR GRADE: B+
 

As much as politics affects our lives today apparently it was just as bad in the 13th Century, the setting for Black Dragon.  December Quinn paints a pretty bleak picture of the time period – but one that is accurate.  Life was tough and she keeps her characters true to the time period.

 

Gruffydd and Isabelle are caught between two Kings and there is nothing they can do about it.  Forced to marry they are virtual strangers and Isabelle dreads leaving her family and everything she knows behind. 

 

But off to Wales goes Isabelle accompanied by her extremely solemn husband.  She has no idea that he has vowed to devote his life to protecting others and has no desire for a bride or the complications she will bring to his life.  A life that is more than complicated enough already as Gruffydd takes on an alter ego every night, the Black Dragon, riding the countryside to protect his people from death and danger.

 

Isabelle begins to have feelings for her aloof husband and slow realizes she is falling in love with him. But when he sends her home with her father what can she do to convince him to take a chance on the love that could be theirs forever.

I was quickly drawn in to Black Dragon.  Isabelle is a warm and loving character and concerned for those around her and especially her new husband. Gruffyd has suffered tragically and you feel his pain as share his story.  His body is covered in scars from battle and tormenting himself for his past.  You can’t help but route for these characters to conquer their differences and for Isabelle to break down Gruffydd’s walls.  This story has everything, suspense, heartache and salvation, and when Isabelle and Gruffydd finally come together they lit up the Welsh countryside as it it were May Day.  I highly recommend this book!

 
~Reviewed by Lynda
 

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