The Black Knave [Paperback]

Patricia Potter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2000

Trapped in a marriage of convenience, a Highland lass turns to the legendary Scottish freedom fighter, the Black Knave, for help-never suspecting that her hero is closer than she thinks.

"Patricia Potter has a special gift."-Affaire de Coeur

"A master storyteller, a powerful weaver of romantic tales."--Mary Jo Putney

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The first volume in a new Scottish historical trilogy, Potter's latest novel takes a noble hero with a dangerous secret and a Jacobite heroine determined to save her young brother, forces them into a marriage of the King's convenience, and lets the fireworks begin. Set in the turbulent times following the Battle of Culloden, this fast-paced adventure, vaguely reminiscent of The Scarlet Pimpernel, is riddled with deception and treachery, and as the protagonists work toward their separate goals, they have little idea that their ultimate purposes are so closely aligned. Well-drawn, memorable characters, compelling action, and Machiavellian political intrigue add to a story that Potter's many fans will be waiting for. Potter (Chase the Wind) is a popular writer of Scottish and Western historical romance and lives in Cordova, TN.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 412 pages
• Publisher: Jove (June 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515128643
• ISBN-13: 978-0515128642
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,136,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling, July 4, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Knave (Paperback)

His father and his older brother thought he was a wastrel. His father openly hated him for walking away from the wholesale slaughter of innocent women and children at Culloden. However, not long afterward his brother trips and dies on his own blade and a low lying tree branch kills his father. Rory Forbes becomes the Marquis of Braemoor, a position he does not want.

Cumberland forces Bethia MacDonnell to marry Rory, who she feels is pathetic. He dresses like a wimp and she heard he cowardly fled the battlefield even if he fought for her enemy. She needs the help of the brave Black Knave to rescue her brother held hostage by Cumberland. The Black Knave has saved numerous Jacobites from the wrath of the victors sending them to safety in France. As Rory and Bethia find reasons to distrust and loathe one another, they still fall in love. However, she needs a champion not a loser like Rory, even if at times he seems so heroic.

THE BLACK KNAVE is a retelling of the classic Scarlet Pimpernel that makes Patricia Potter either a raving lunatic or an intrepid, confident author. After reading the historical romance, readers will realize that the awesome author pulls off a coup as she freshens up both the Pimpernel premise and the overwritten post-Culloden novel. Rory and Bethia are a wonderful couple who fall in love amidst the ruins of war and its aftermath. The story line is action packed and never allows the reader to sit back as Ms. Potter provides her audience with a thriller.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rory A Very Charming Hero, March 9, 2005

By 

Chandler Smith (Troy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Knave (Paperback)

Rory Forbes actually fit the definition of a hero. And he was so good at it. He was just so sexy, and handsome and loyal to those he cared about. Can't get much better than him. A wonderful, wonderful book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not blown away., October 27, 2008

By 

Jerzygirl "Jennifer" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Knave (Paperback)

After the death of his father, Rory Forbes becomes the new Marquis of Braemoor. He neither wants the title nor the bride that he is forced to marry per the King's order. The Jacobite bride was even less pleased but was forced to marry to save her younger brother who was being held prisoner. In her eyes only the Black Knave can save her and she needs his help desperately. Little did she know, he is closer than he thinks.

Rory and Bethia hate each other from the start and his fake persona of being a gambling, empty headed wastrel isn't helping matters. You cannot help but love Rory. He is sensitive to her feelings, even though he can't let her know. He is strong, noble, kind, gentle, and has a good heart. Bethia is strong, brave and determined and does not sit back and accept his treatment of her. She makes the most of her situation and doesn't whine and cry like others would in her situation. She fights him tooth and nail although her attraction to Rory is growing. Little by little she sees through his facade, and sees the wonderful man underneath. When I say little by little that's exactly what I mean and the reason for the four stars. It had a tendency to drag a little while they got to know each other better. It wasn't a very fast paced, exciting book, but it did have all the qualities of a good book. The character development and plot were both excellent. The end was just as it should be with all the t's crossed and i's dotted.

I recommend this book highly, just don't expect it to keep you on the edge of your seat. It had more of a laid back feel to it.