I think I’ve already read this one and it isn’t any better the second time around. People at Amazon love her historical writing but . . . ???? Characters are Julian Challon, survivor of Edward I’s slaughter at Berwick, who wants nothing more to do with such warfare and Tamlyn MacShane, a Scotswoman who has control of piece of land Edward has given to Challon “the Black Dragon”. Blech. ( )

I am picky on my Scottish Historical Romances. With a name like Grant would you expect any less of me? Of late, there are been some, even some of the top writers, with little grasp of Scotland scribbling away. They have seen Bravenheart and now they know Scottish history.
I am delighted to say this book is for someone who wants a beautiful Scottish Historical Romance. And WOW...Julian Challon is to die for. I fell in love with Challon. Tamlyn is an equal to him, a spirit Scots lass, but Challon stole my heart.

Anytime this knight gets restless, he can visit me. Sigh...cannot wait for the sequel.

Very highly recommend. Five stars is not enough. ( )

A Restless Knight starts out promising. The heroine, Tamlyn MacShane, holds the title to her own land in the Highlands of Scotland where the pagan ways are honored. She is a strong and interesting character. The hero, an Englishman, Julian Challon (The Black Dragon), has made his way to Tamlyn’s land. He is under orders of King Edward to take the land that rests in the hands of the three MacShane sisters. Julian decides before he makes it to the MacShane lands that he will also be taking Lady Tamlyn of Glenrogha, as his wife.

The chemistry between Tamlyn and Julian heats up the pages from their first meeting. Both are drawn to the other and find it hard to resist the spark that lies between them. But in spite of that spark there is still a great deal of push/pull. Julian immediately mistakes Tamlyn as a whore of Lord MacShane, her father. Of course Tamlyn does not know this and after finding out that Julian has come to take MacShane land she keeps her identity hidden, choosing to go by "Fool" than to reveal who she really is. Julian decides that even though he plans to marry Tamlyn MacShane he will still keep the woman who he knows only as “Fool” as his mistress. His "Fool" will bare his children and be his side honey. :(

Well, of course, both truths come out and from there I was sure that the story would take off. Only, it didn’t. The push and pull just kept going and going... This is the point where the promising beginning goes out the window, becoming replaced by an endless story with a frivolous plot.

While Tamlyn is busy resisting Julian the plot begins to transpire, but it was weak and easily overshadowed by Julian and Tamlyn’s back and forth. Which, by halfway through the book, had become redundant.

I found much of the writing to be repetitive. The conversations and musings were constantly about the same things: how much Julian wanted Tamlyn, and how much Tamlyn wanted to resist. The internal thoughts of the characters didn't change until about mid way through the book, but by then the story had lost its luster.

One of the reasons I picked this book to read is because I was in the mood for a paranormal romance. The problem I found with A Restless Knight was that the paranormal elements were confusing. There were points in the book where the pagan ways made sense and other points where I was scratching my head about them. There were also times where the stream of explanation of a pagan event would go on and on, at these points I found myself skimming passage after passage.

I did hold out hope, as I turned each new page, that something more would happen, that an event would come along to kick the story into high gear. I did this because A Restless Knight has the constant feel that there is something big on the horizon, unfortunately, it never comes.

Most of the story is spent with Julian and Tamlyn dancing around each other:

"You will give in."

"No, I will not."

"But you will."

"Never."

"Oh, yes."

Okay, so that's not verbatim, but you get my drift. Then, when they finally do give in to their undying love, the story became even more mundane.

Not that the whole book was a disappointment, I did enjoy Tamlyn. Julian was a very Alpha, "You will bear my children," type of guy. But I didn't fault him for that because he had his own charm. You would think, with a great hero and heroine that the book would be a hit, right? Not this time.

Oh, well.

http://cupidschokeholds.blogspot.com/2008/03/restless-knight.html ( )