The Falcon's Bride [Mass Market Paperback]

Dawn Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2006

At twenty-one, after two Seasons with no takers, Theadosia Barrington should have been grateful to snare Nigel Cosgrove. The earl-to-be was a blue-eyed Adonis, a true catch-and surely the incident in Covent Garden was exaggerated. And yet, upon her arrival at Cashel Cosgrove, Thea found herself more intrigued by the Irish castle's legend, that of the tragic Ros Drumcondra. "The Black Falcon" he was called. Party Gypsy, part Celt, the warrior had been conquered by betrayal alone. His ghost was still reputed to wander these halls, making women tremble with fear and desire-for who could resist those burnished copper eyes? Hadn't he stolen away the betrothed of Cian Cosgrove, made the woman his love slave? If only Thea herself could suffer such a fate. If only magic were a reality. If only that Gypsy woman had spoken the truth, and Thea was a woman out of time, the one meant to be...THE FALCON'S BRIDE

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Thompson's romantic time-traveler begins in 1811 with Thea Barrington, a young Londoner living with her fiancé, Nigel Cosgrove, on his remote Irish estate. Thea's family has much to gain from the wealthy Nigel, so she makes the best of the arrangement despite Nigel's increasingly violent treatment. Thea has another reason to stay on at Nigel's castle—a mysterious gypsy has told Thea that she is destined to become the bride of Ros Drumcondra, also known as the Black Falcon, a half-Gypsy, half-Celt clan chieftain who lost Cashel Cosgrove to Nigel's grandfather more than a hundred years before. Wondering how she could be linked to the fate of this long-lost warrior, Thea stumbles on a portal that takes her back to 1695, the same year Drumcondra disappeared. She is promptly kidnapped and brought to Drumcondra, who, believing she is intended for the Cosgroves, holds her for ransom. Appalled at first by Drumcondra's rough treatment, Thea begins to warm to the handsome chieftain. Though eager to return to her own time, she decides to do what she can to save Drumcondra from the betrayal she believes cost him his life. Readers hoping to make sense of Thompson's time-shifting plot line might find themselves with a headache, but those looking for passion and escape will be pleased. (Sept.)
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Review

"Thompson creates such appealing characters that you'll be hooked!" -- -RT BOOKclub

For a time, Thompson transported me to another place, a place called Ravencliff. -- Aysel Arwen, Author of Romancing the Stars

Impressive and moody, Thompson's book instantly intrigued -- Marilyn Rondeau, The Best Reviews, Romance Designs

The book is very atmospheric, evocative -- Deborah MacGillivray, author of A Restless Knight

that grabs the reader instantly and holds onto them tighter than steel until the last page -- Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 326 pages
• Publisher: Love Spell (September 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0505526794
• ISBN-13: 978-0505526793
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #902,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Historical/Paranormal Author for Dorchester Books - The Ravencliff Bride (2005 RIO Award Winner), The Waterlord & The Falcon's Bride. Highland Press - Blue Moon Magic and Blue Moon Enchantment. Historical Fiction - Odin's Daughter (2005 RIO Award Winner) & Children of the Wind.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling Time-Travel 'Must Read'!, December 19, 2006

By 

delenor "Ravenous Reader" (TO, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Falcon's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

Loved 'Ravencliff's Bride', was luke-warm to 'The Waterlord', and now was blown away by 'The Falcon's Bride'!! Just finished this book, and I'm feeling bereft! I miss Ros Drumcondra (known as The Black Falcon), and Thea Barrington, promised to Nigel Cosgrove, earl-in-waiting, but destined to be the Falcon's bride (as told to her by the mysterious old gypsy who appeared out of the sudden snow storm on the night of Thea's arrival at Cashel Cosgrove)! I miss their beautiful, thrilling, tense, uplifting, sexy, sensual, exciting, satisfying, intelligent, mysterious, (did I say 'exciting & sexy'?), brave, strong, love-conquers-all-even-time, love story! There! That covers it - a little! I won't go into the plot (see other reviews), all I ask is that you pick up a copy of this book. It's not connected in the least to the other two (R/bride and Waterlord). Set in mysterious Ireland of 1694,1747 & 1811, when life was tenuous at best, and the Gypsy race faced all manner of persecution & prejudices. Thea & Ros are the quintessential soul mates born into different times & circumstances - but destined to be together. The journey that each embarks on to ultimately reach the other is exciting, dangerous, heart-warming, sensual, and sooo very satisfying at the end! Ms. Thompson takes the reader on a journey of the senses and of the soul! The plot is so very intriguing, and not the usual 'lost-in-time' of some of the other time travel offerings. It leaves the reader with a feeling of having consumed the perfect gourmet meal - without the side effects! I shall remember Ros & Thea for years to come because I'm keeping this book! And of course, let's not forget the secondary hero of the tale - the remarkable, faithful, majestic time-traveller falcon, Isor! What a great addition to the plot line - and Jeta, Ros' gypsy mother and the only human keeper of the time tunnels. Nigel & his ancestor Cian were the perfect villainous pair, blast their black-hearted souls! They got their 'just desserts'!! I also think that the jacket of this book is one of the best that I've seen in a long time - with the exception of that of the oh-so-sensual 'R/bride'! My hat off to Ms. Thompson! Her next book comes out in Spring 2007, and it's about a vampire who still has a chance to become human again.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensually Stimulating Timetravel - Spellbinding, August 29, 2006

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Falcon's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

Based on this new novel and following on the heels of her two previously successful releases of the THE RAVENCLIFF BRIDE and THE WATERLORD, Dawn Thompson is proving not only has she arrived, but is a force to be reckoned with.

Setting her latest novel in 1811, we are introduced to Thea Barrington come to Ireland to wed Nigel Cosgrove, the second son of an Earl. Thea is not in love, but the large financial settlement that will shore up her family's dwindling coffers will overlook rumors of his unsavory behavior. An unusual storm on the night of her arrival brings with it an old gypsy woman whispering a garbled warning in Thea's ear. Disconcerted by the forewarning and then by the tales of ghostly spirits haunting the castle, Thea is shaken when she sees the ghost of Ros Drumcondra that night.

The next day as Nigel is reprimanding Thea's behavior and attempting to force himself upon her he is viciously attacked by a falcon who saves Thea from further harm. While Nigel is recuperating from his injuries Thea cajoles her brother James into taking her to a nearby pagan landmark where she enters a time warp and is transported back to 1695. There she is rescued, then imprisoned by the very real and very much alive Ros Drumcondra.

From the moment he sees her Drumcondra feels bewitched by the force of his attraction, but the Gypsy warlord thinks only of ransoming her back to her betrothed to get back his castle until he realized that the most important prize was Thea herself. Thea was afraid to tell Drumcondra she was from the future, but when his mother scrys the future showing Thea his death, only then does she realize that she has been brought back to the past to save him for a future with her.

*** This was an absolutely spellbinding effort by Ms. Thompson. She held me breathless with excitement as the falcon Isor led this dynamic couple back and forth through the portals of time chasing their destiny to find the one place that they could be together to live and love in safety. With each journey layers would be peeled back revealing motivations, and mysterious secrets from the past. The romance and love story was drawn beautifully then enhanced with the skillfully sensual brushstrokes of a master wordsmith. Brilliant writing, a fabulously buff hero, an enigmatic falcon, and delectable elements combining gypsy lore and fantasy time travel combine together to make this one riveting and unforgettable read! I highly recommend this book.

Marilyn Rondeau - RIO , Reviewers International Organization

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A FABULOUS RIDE!, March 30, 2007

By 

Victoria Houseman "Victoria Bromley" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Falcon's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

Ms. Thompson takes you on a whirlwind ride - two people trying to make their lives work in uncertain times meet because it is their foretold destiny. While they have so much they must overcome individually, they allow their growing love to help them in their separate quests - making their difficult roads merge into one love, one heart, one soul. One risk the author took is that she has the hero and heroine time travel more than once and to different places. Ms. Thompson's skill and talent make this work beautifully. Ms. Thompson is now on my auto-buy list. I can't wait to read her upcoming vampire series!