A Rose in the Storm by Brend Joyce – a Review

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Description:
When Rivalry Becomes Passion

With warfare blazing through Scotland, the fate of the Comyn-MacDougall legacy depends on one woman. Recently orphaned, young Margaret Comyn must secure her clan’s safety through an arranged marriage. But when an enemy invasion puts her at the mercy of the notorious Wolf of Lochaber, her every loyalty-and secret want-will be challenged.

And A Kingdom Is At Stake

Legendary warrior Alexander “the Wolf” MacDonald rides with Robert Bruce to seize the throne of Scotland. But when he takes the fiery Lady Margaret prisoner, she quickly becomes far more than a valuable hostage. For the passion between them threatens to betray their families, their country…and their hearts.

Captured by war…Claimed by desire

Review;

It’s been a very long while since I last read a Brenda Joyce novel.  I’ve been eagerly anticipating this new book of hers and let me tell you I wasn’t disappointed one bit.  Ms. Joyce has not lost her touch in the world of literature.  She created a wonderful historical romance that was centered around the war between King Edward and Robert Bruce, all the while weaving a touching and trying love story throughout.  For anyone who truly loves history and this time period, you can’t go wrong with A Rose in the Storm. 

One thing’s for certain, Brenda Joyce did her research on this one.  For someone like me who isn’t a history buff, she certainly got my attention.  The names, places, and events that took place within this story had me feeling like I was living back in the age of Highlanders and the war for Scotland’s crown.  Yes she admits to taking some creative liberties for the fictitious part of the story(romance between Margaret and Alexander), but she tried very hard to keep to the times, the battles, the locations etc.  I had to go and look up some of the information that she was giving me in this book and let me tell you, she was spot on.  I was blown away by her accuracy of the war and what transpired between King Edward’s armies and Robert Bruce’s armies.  I actually enjoyed the historical part of the story, which took up much of the book.  I thought this would bother me, but nope, not the way Ms. Joyce did it up. She takes such a major part of history and uses it to catapult her romance between Margaret and Alexander. Through their romance we get to see the horrors of war, the politics, the allegiances, the changing of allegiances, tearing apart families, and how it affected everyone’s lives.  I for one would not have survived back then.  Heck I can barely make a decision when it comes to deciding what to make for dinner, how the heck would I have survived picking sides in the war for Scotland’s crown. 

Amongst all this turmoil and battles somehow, Margaret and Alexander who are blood enemies manage to fall in love. Margaret is a Comyn-MacDougall who is allied to King Edward, while Alexander ‘The Wolf’ is a warrior in Robert Bruce’s army. Alexander at the orders of his King sets up a siege of Magaret’s home, Castle Fyne.  Once Alexander takes Castlte Fyne, Margaret becomes his prisoner.  However, he has a soft spot for her and doesn’t treat her like your typical prisoner.  Instead he treats her like the Lady of the castle that she is, and begins to develop feelings for her.  No matter how many times he tells her she will eventually change allegiances, she baulks him at every turn, not matter how strong her feelings for Alexander are growing.  Their romance is very slow to build and when they finally come together it’s a tender part of the book.  We get to see just how much this war and her feelings for Alexander are affecting Margaret.  This relationship goes against everything she was raised to believe and who to pledge her support to.  The push and pull attraction between Margaret and Alexander is well written.  If she had put them together quickly and made it an easy romance it would never have worked properly.  However, in taking the time she did with both characters, and creating a push and pull relationship between them, keeping them just on the edge of acting on their feelings, it pulled me in and made me want them together no matter the cost to both of them. Yes there was a lot of angst and ‘I can’t love him because of who he is’, but back then, you didn’t fall in love with the enemy or else your life was pretty much forfeit.  This romance was beautifully written and written with much care and compassion for both characters.  You felt every emotion from both Margaret and Alexander just pour off the pages.  When they were happy, I was happy, when there was trouble and turmoil that threatened to unveil their secret love I was on the edge of my seat with anxiety that something bad would happen to this couple. 

The other thing I liked about both Margaret and Alexander is that they were evenly matched.  Even though Margaret is but a young 17 year old, she doesn’t come off as a child.  Margaret is feisty, has the heart of a warrior and doesn’t abandon those near and dear to her. The way she fought for her castle and people who dwelled within, shows just how strong, courageous and smart she is.   That in and of it self is what draws Alexander to her, her courage and strength.  Alexander is Bruce’s best warrior and it shows in the way he commands his army, sets up the siege of Castle Fyne and later engages in many battles throughout the book in support of Bruce, and defense of his Lady Margaret.  There is nothing this Highlander won’t do to protect his lady love.  Sigh…. I think I’m in love… 😉   His strength, nobility and loyalty are only part of what draws Margaret to him.  Of course it helps that he’s a very handsome and muscular warrior to boot.  Both characters know what it takes to stand firm, do what they believe is right, all the while being loyal and steadfast to those that matter to them.  Margaret and Alexander are two well written characters who balance and compliment each other nicely. 

As I said early I am not a history buff, but this book had me captivated from beginning to end.  The battles, war politics, and romance in this book was top notch.  Ms. Joyce pulls out all the stops in this one.  I really liked the way she took such historical aspects about the war for Scotland’s crown and weaved a very tender and trying romance around it.  Watching Margaret and Alexander come to grips with their emotions for one another and deal with the battles, and hardships of war had me sitting on the edge of my seat many times wondering if there could even be a HEA for this couple. In the end Ms. Joyce did not disappoint. I truly hope she decides to carry on with this story and write more. There are so many more characters she can write about and expand upon. I guess time will tell, and until then my fingers are crossed for another wonderful historical Highland romance from the amazing Brenda Joyce.  

Until next time, happy reading

Reviewed by Marcie