Series: De Warenne #1
Published by Random House Publishing Group on July 29th 2009
Genres: Historical Romance, Medieval Era, Scottish Highlands
Pages: 496
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
ISBN: 9780307568571
With over five million copies of her novels in print, New York Times bestselling author Virginia Henley has enchanted readers worldwide. Now she sweeps us back to an intensely romantic, tumultuous time in Scottish history. . . . When Lynx de Warenne, Edward Plantagenet's most prized warrior, invaded Dumfries castle, he took possession of Jane Leslie's home--and soon wanted something more from the headstrong lass. Desperate for an heir, he proposed a handfasting: a Scottish custom whereby a man can lawfully take a woman into his bed, then, after a year and a day, the couple can either wed or part. Any child of that union is deemed legitimate. Jane had no choice but to surrender to the invader's knowing touch. . . .Fearless on the battlefield, Lynx was afraid to love. But Jane slowly stole into his heart. And as the fires of war raged around them, amid treacherous foes and brilliant intrigues, who would have thought that two such unlikely partners would fall in love--or that their breathless passion for each other would outlast . . .Virginia Henley is the author of fourteen romantic novels, including the New York Times bestsellers Seduced and Desired. Her work has been translated into ten languages. A recipient of the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, she lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Ontario, Canada.From the Paperback edition.
MY REVIEW
Summary:
Lynx DeWarren after losing his wife of five years, wonders if he will ever be able to have any children. Not having children from his mistress either, he wonders if its all on him. But he is determined to have a child, as his heir. Then he comes to the Dundries Castle, where he meets the steward, who is father to ten children. And when he finds out about handfasting, where you can handfast with a woman for a year and a day, and if you have a child, that child is legitimate, and at the end of the allotted time you can decide whether to wed or not. So he decides to handfast with Jane Dunfrie, the youngest daughter who has yet to wed. Jane Dunfrie, is afraid of men ever since she was attacked in the woods. Jane has inherited special celtic gifts from her grandmother, as well as her younger brother. Jane is a healer and that is what she wants to do for the rest of her life, however her father has different ideas. So with not much choice, she handfasts with Lynx, but never expected to find…and a tender love in her lynx’s arms.
The Hero
Lynx DeWarren is Edward Plantagenet’s most prized warrior, and loyal to those he serves. But even though he is a great and talented warrior for England, he knows that there is something missing in his life. He knows he must marry again, and have a heir, but he wonders if he is lacking in being able to produce a child. But when he handfast’s with Jane, he knows that he has a very good chance of bearing children. What he never expected in this handfasting with Jane, was to fall in love, which he never believed in until he met her.
The Heroine
Jane Leslie, has unique gifts from her celtic heritage. Inheriting these gifts from her grandmother, she can connect with any animal she is near. She is also a great healer, and knows that is what she would do rather than get married. Although she loves all of her nieces and nephews, but ever since she was attacked by a man in the woods, she has stayed far from men apart from her own family. But then she meets Lynx, with stunning eyes, she knows that she will never be the same, and that he is a sign, of what she doesn’t know yet. But then she ends up handfasting with him, and knows if she isn’t careful she will fall in love with him.
My Thoughts
This is the first from Virginia Henley that I have read and I read this pretty quickly and I am eager to read more of her books if they are anything like A Year and a Day. I truly enjoyed this story, and I am so glad that I decided to start reading from this author. A Year and a Day is a true classic romance story, It takes place around the time with Robert Bruce, and one of the most romantic times of history, especially since I love anything that involved Scotland, which this story definitely does. I very much loved the plot of this story, and all the characters that were involved, definitely more of a emotionally involved romance. It was definitely fast paced with passion, mystery, adventure and a sparkling love story that will bring tug at your heartstrings. So fasten your seatbelts for one hell of a ride.
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