Customer Reviews

Until the Knight Comes (Warner Forever)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've read several medieval romances this summer, and Until the Knight Comes has been my favorite. Sir Kenneth MacKenzie is a marvelously fierce knight. Lady Mariota MacNichol both fiery and passionate. This story was engaging and sensual and wonderfully romantic.

Best of the best, Welfonder lives and breathes Scotland. Sensually romantic, with history recalled in beautiful detail, this story is highly recommended for those who like sexy Scotsmen and the feisty ladies who tame the fiercest knights. I was charmed and enchanted. A keeper!

Once again Welfonder returns the reader to her beloved medieval Scotland to give her fans a dose of romance and intrigue amongst the heather, lochs and crags of the land and people she clearly loves.

Lady Mariota Macnicol defied her family to become the lover of Hugh Aleson, Bastard of Drumodyn thinking he loved her and would take her to wife. Instead, he lived right up to his name the moment Mariota discovered him fornicating with the local alewife. So shocked at being discovered Hugh died of a heart attack, but the alewife so angered at losing a hefty source of income, stole the stunned Mariota's dirk, plunging it into Hugh's chest and escaped while Mariota was found and accused of killing the liege lord of the castle.

Imprisoned in the dungeon, Mariota was rescued by her companion Nessa and they escaped to the vacant ruin of Castle Cuidrach. Unfortunately, for the two women the newly made knight, Sir Kenneth MacKenzie has just arrived to take possession of his inheritance. Mariota boldly claims she is the lady of the keep awaiting her husband but quickly changes her story when Kenneth informs her -- the keep in now his. Both have vowed to never love again, but chemistry and the meddling Devorgilla of Doon would soon be working her magic to have them both singing a new tune and to help them face the danger of besting those who sought to tear them apart.

*** This was a bit slower in pace than Welfonder's previous titles but resonates clearly this authors love of Scotland through the vivid imagery of her prose. I also found the suspense and intrigue to be a tad bit less developed in this and focused more on the character development of both Kenneth and Mariota and their burgeoning romance. Lady Mariota, was ashamed of her affair with the knave Hugh and to have witnessed his betrayal of her in the most shocking manner after going against her beloved family to be with him was a tremendous burden to carry. Kenneth lived with the stigma of his bastard lineage and had always steered clear of `fallen women'. These were two wounded souls whose physical attraction to another disguised the `love' that neither cared to admit to. Secondary characters were all colorfully brought to life and I was thrilled to see Devorgilla reappearing to add that delightful bit of magic I've found to be immensely satisfying in this series. Jamie "the Small" was a darling and I certainly hope to see more of him in future offerings. Well written, nicely sensual love scenes combined with a sweet ending that will melt your heart and mist your eyes are all in store for the reader.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Ms. Welfonder hooked me from the first page. Captivating, steamy, utterly breathtaking, she brings the Highlands to life with her impassioned stories. A very memorable and recommended read.

I have read and enjoyed all of Ms Welfonder's books. Until the Knight Comes is no exception. The characters and story line are well developed, richly detailed and the atmosphere created by the writer draws you into the story. Ms Welfonder does extensive research for her books and it shows in all the small details that make the story come alive. I always know that a Sue-Ellen Welfonder book will be worth the price and will transport me to ancient Scotland for hours of enjoyable reading.

In 1344 Mariota Macnicol catches her lover Hugh Alesone with another woman, the alewife Elizabeth Patterson. However before she can confront him she finds him also dead. Elizabeth takes Mariota's knife from her while the woman is in shock and plunges it into Hugh's heart. She next slaps Mariota in the face making it seem like a struggle ensued. Then she climbs out the window where Hugh left an exit carved onto the walls like steps. Hugh's men catch Mariota and assume she killed their liege so they lock her away in the dungeon.

Mariota's friend Nessa helps her escape. They flee to currently empty Cuidrach keep, but not long after their arrival the new Keeper of Cuidrach Kenneth Mackenzie and his men arrive. Kenneth and Mariota vowed never to marry as neither trusts the opposite sex. However, as they battle one another and even more their growing attraction to each other, the past shows up putting their relationship in jeopardy.

Sue-Ellen Welfonder's latest Knight tale is a fun fourteenth century romance starring two individuals afraid of commitment falling in love. Mariota is a fascinating protagonist who was framed, but that is irrelevant as the victim's men figure case closed. Kenneth is her ideal counterpart as he has no interest in a wife yet finds he admires and desires Mariota. Though the plot device has been used before, readers will enjoy this solid historical starring two never me in love individuals falling for one another.

Harriet Klausner

I'm struggling to figure out why this book got so many good reviews. The syntax was so horrible, I couldn't make it past page 11. The author doesn't really have paragraphs, just long, meandering sentences that take up several lines. What's worse, she follows these up with short, one-sentence paragraphs that tend to be sentence fragments. All these lines are, of course, crammed with purple prose and cliched Scottish dialect. I know this is a Scottish romance novel, but come on! I couldn't stand it! I don't read these kinds of books expecting perfection, but I don't think it's wrong to expect actual paragraphs. Don't waste your time with this one.

i usually enjoy a good highlander story but this is sort of boring with the sex
sceans and over descriptions of same

She just keeps getting better. Her Scottish tales keep me enthralled from page one to the end. Wish I could rate her books higher as they are so very excellent as Ms Welfonder is so very talented in her way of writing.
You can tell that her heart & soul are deeply entrenched in Scotlands misty moors & heather in the highlands.