HISTORICAL
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MEDIEVAL
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Trim Castle (1174-  ) is a major construction of this period


King John's Castle on the southern bank of the River Shannon.  Built in the Twelfth Century on the orders of King John of England

Aegir, Norse god of the sea

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Taming Her Irish Warrior
Taming Her Irish Warrior by Michelle Willingham
by Michelle Willingham
   

Ewan's Story!
 

Honore St. Leger has no plans to marry.  Now widowed, she has no inentions of yoking herself to the nightmare she has known as marriage.  Now widowed, she has freedom but her father insists that she marry.  Ewan MacEgan has plans to marry to marry her sister Katherine.  The little brother of the impressive MacEgan brothers, he wants to finally make his way in the world.  Marriage to her would improve his position.  As he pursues Katherine, Ewan cannot help but be drawn to the feisty Honore, his childhood friend.  Together they used to battle with swords a children.  Today, Honore has all the spunk and determination she did as a child. As the passion sizzles underneath the surface, will Ewan and Honore find a way to admit the love they have for one another, not only to themselves but to each other? 

In TAMING HER IRISH WARRIOR, Michelle Willingham gives her readers the story they have been craving ever since the appearance of debut Medieval historical romance, HER IRISH WARRIOR.  Now grown up with a handsome body to match, Ewan still carries within him the need to prove himself, and yet, he has just the right amount of sensitivity and determination to be able to reach through the walls Honore creates to protect herself. 
Honore is not your average woman.  Unlike her beautiful but mild-mannered sister, she doesn't hesitate to take charge of situations.  She loves sword-play. She breaks all the rules for feminine behavior and comportment and yet, Ewan recognizes the beauty and passion within her.  In a society where business, not love, binds marriages, can these two friends and lovers find a way to do not what is expected of them but rather marry for love?

Fans of the MacEgan Brothers will discover again in this romance that Michelle Willingham's characterization is superb.  Having seen Ewan before, many readers will have high expectations about Ewan.  I, myself, had a certain image in my mind of him and what kind of woman with whom he should be paired.  Michelle Willingham surprised me a little as she paired him up with a woman so bold and daring but as I read more and more about them, it hit me in one of those wow moments how truly perfect each was for the other --- and in a way even better than I imagined.  Rather than overshadowing him, Honore and his love for her is exactly what he needs to step out of the shadow of his mighty brothers and become his own person --- and does he ever.  Likewise, Ewan is just the man to reach the passion locked within Honore and see her as she truly is.  The ending is just perfect!  Kudos to Michelle Willingham for not watering her heroine down at the end.  Always true to her characters, Michelle Willingham writes an ending that will steal the heart with its imagery, emotion and romance.

For those new to the series, TAMING HER IRISH WARRIOR does work as a stand-alone. Michelle Willingham does an excellent job at making someone unfamiliar with the series knowing his emotional background in terms of proving himself to his brothers.  She doesn't waste time summarizing the plots of her previous books but rather readers new to the series get to know Ewan from the character himself.  I myself prefer this to getting bogged down with plot rehashings.  Fans of the series, of course, will enjoy revisiting Ewan and discovering what new insights Michelle Willingham has given into him as he has moved from a young little brother to a man, a man just as endearing if not more so than the brothers which have preceded him.


Publisher: Harlequin Historical (October 2009)
Other books in the series: Her Irish Warrior,  The Warrior's Touch, Her Warrior King, Her Warrior Slave

Reviewed by Merrimon, Medieval Book Reviews
Merrimon Book Reviews


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