Jackie Ivie, The Knight Before Christmas

The Knight Before Christmas

Jackie Ivie

Zebra, October 2006, $5.99

ISBN: 0821780123

In 1455 Scotland, his father demands Myles Donal marry the Harridan of the Highlands. Myles tries his best to stall his pending nuptials in the hope that his sire will change his mind or a miracle will occur, but he finally runs out of excuses, so begins his hike into hell known as Eschoncan Keep.

However, he feels fortunate when a snow storm leaves him freezing and in need of having shelter. He manages to find it inside a small croft, in which a female is also waiting for the storm to let up. Myles soon learns that the courageous feisty woman is his betrothed, Kendran Eschoncan. She is fleeing the arranged marriage her father agreed to with another Laird. She makes it clear she has no plans to marry anyone, though attraction and ultimately passion flows; Miles deems otherwise, as he finds the elan of the "Harridan" desirable. However, at Eschoncan Keep, Myles learns that Kendran is not his intended; instead another sister is. He and Kendran hide their feelings for one another and their prior encounter so no one's honor is destroyed. However, one of her sisters Sybil, who has the gift of sight, advises them to seek love not duty.

THE KNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS is an entertaining often humorous Scottish medieval romance. The storyline is character driven, as Myles struggles to cope with more than just a Harridan as he deals poorly with the Eschoncan sisterhood. Fans of delightful lighthearted romantic romps will want to read Jackie Ivie's fun gender wars tale, as the hero learns where there's a will there's a way, especially when an Eschoncan female leads.