Dawn Thompson has to be one of the hottest rising stars in Historical Romance today. This is so good to hear. In a period when everyone else bemoans the genre is dead, Thompson is making them eat their words. She is a writer who doesn't speak down to readers, but challenges with stories that spellbind the imagination and the heart. Her debut book in Romance (she has two historical fiction works out, Odin's Daughter, and its sequel Children of the Wind) was September's release of The Ravencliff Bride. It gave you the eerie qualities of an old-styled Gothic romance, yet she made the premise new again. In March, her second book came out, The Waterlord, a sensual tale of Norse lore that shows she is a force to be reckoned with. This third romance, The Falcon's Bride, will cement her as a talent here to stay, and set up her emergence as a superstar of historical romance with the Spring 2007 release of Blood Moon.

The Falcon's Bride taps into the mysterious world of the Gypsies of Ireland. Ros Drumcondra is a warrior of old...really old...lol Thea is hardly prepared by the magic that pulls her away from her world into Drumcondra's. Travelling through time to be with him, Thea finds their love is no shelter from her world or his. There is a dark evil that stalks them through the threads of time. However, Drumcondra and his falcon are prepared to battle for their lives and Thea's love. It's a complexly crafted story. You will love Isor the falcon and thrill the Drumcondra's and Thea's love that defies all.

It will leave readers, wanting something more from their stories, breathless and eagerly awaiting 2007 Spring release of Blood Moon.

Very highly recommended

Another winner for Dawn Thompson!

The Falcon's Bride is a love story--of a mother's sacrifice for her son, as well as the passion between Roc and Theo.

Theo Barrington travels to Ireland with the intention of marrying Nigel Cosgrove. While Theo has her doubts, she knows this match will be a good one for her father's finances. Enter one old Gypsy lady who tells Theo she's the Black Falcon's bride. But the Black Falcon is a legend--half Irish lord and half Gypsy, not a real man, and dead long ago. Still, at the Winter Solstice, Theo is drawn to a 5,000-year-old passage tomb called Newgrange, where she is transported to the arms of Ros Drumcondra, the Black Falcon. And the passion begins.

Talk about a delicioso hero--Ros Drumcondra fills the bill and more. Yum. Theo Barrington is strong enough as well as smart enough to be his match in both wits and passion. The Falcon's Bride is a compelling story you won't want to put down. Every offering from this talented author gets better and better. This book is definitely a keeper!

reviewed by
Jacquie Rogers

The Falcon's Bride
Dawn Thompson
Love Spell, Sep 2006, $6.99
ISBN 0505526794

In 1811 Ireland, Londoner Theodosia "Thea" Barrington lives with her wealthy but abusive fianc Nigel Cosgrove though his increasing use of violence scares her and makes her want to reconsider marrying him although she really has no choice as her family needs his money and power. However, she has a personal reason for remaining at least at Nigel's castle; a gypsy told her she will wed Ros "Black Falcon" Drumcondra, whose grandfather lost Cashel Cosgrove due to betrayal to Nigel's ancestor over a century before.

Thea enters ancient ruins that are a portal leading her to 1695, the year that the laird allegedly disappeared, but before she can get her bearings, Drumcondra's men abduct her. He thinks she is the intended of his enemy, Cosgrove. He holds her for ransom, but quickly her and her captor fall in love. Thea plans to save her beloved's life before returning to her time.

Though the time travel story line takes a bit to understand especially who Drumcondra really is, readers will enjoy this fine historical due to the heroine who is out of place as a Regency lady in seventeenth century environs. The story line is action packed as Thea is a pawn between the two rivals, but chooses love and goes out of her way to insure her beloved survives the upcoming betrayal. Readers will enjoy Dawn Thompson's fine time traveling romance.

Harriet Klausner