Circle of Honor: The Scottish Crown Series, Book 1

Being a fan of Scottish history especially of the highlands and the battle for independence I stumbled across this book. The main attraction was a character with the name Comyn, a clan linked as traitors and not seen in many books. I have a personal interest in the clan and appreciate when they are given a more positive light as in this book. Listed as a romance this is an excellent historical fiction novel and as a guy I really don't want to admit I loved a romance novel, buy hey, I DID! Using Bruce's murder of Sir John "the Red" Comyn as the back drop, Carol Umberger weaves an excellent and easy to read tale. We have Gwenyth Comyn, youngest daughter of The Red Comyn who is captured as she attempts to flee to England after her father's murder and the ravaging of her clan's lands. She is brutally raped and forced into a marriage to save herself and her reluctant savior and new husband, Adam Mackintosh. Adam has his own troubles and he is the heir to lead the Clan confederation of Chattan and is being challenged by a cousin who is also Gwenyth's assaulter. Clan politics, honor, promises, lies and love all swirl in a believable love story as Adam and Gwenyth find their way together through each others challenges and trials and ultimately find love and renewed faith in God. I really loved how each character felt real and the stories point of view shifted to each character so you saw life at Castle Moy and in the highlands through there eyes and emotions. A great read and I plan to read all of Carol's books.

Circle of Honor won the 2001 Golden Heart Award from the Romance Writers of America. It's easy to understand why. This is a beautiful love story of two broken people who must learn to trust each other. Adam Macintosh was there when Robert the Bruce killed Sir John Comyn and destroyed his family home. Sir John's men staged an ambush and Adam was seriously wounded and has gone home to Castle Moy to recuperate. His father,Angus Macintosh, is dying and has named his son as the next laird. Leod Macpherson, who wants to be chieftain of the Macintosh and Macphereson clans, claims a cripple like Adam isn't man enough to be laird. Gwenyth Comyn, Sir John's daughter, vowed not to rest until her father's kilelr is dead. She has been taken captive and is a servant in Leod's keep. When she is brutally assaulted, she accuses Adam, and is given the choice of having him killed or forcing him into a sham, handfast marriage. She saves his life by choosing marriage, but can a knight of Robert the Bruce and the daughter of Sir John Comyn live in peace? Circle of Honor will grip the reader from the first page to the last.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read and even to those who would rather be watching T.V. I have read hundreds of books and this is without a doubt the best book I've ever read. Buy it. I guarantee it won't be a waste of your money.

Circle of Honor is a wonderful book set in Scotland during the time of Robert the Bruce.Adam Mackintosh and Gwenyth Comyn are very engaging characters. Gwenyth is the victim of a violent assault and she coerces Adam into marriage in order to escape her tormentor. Adam, wounded in battle because of his own folly, finds himself married to a women who manipulated him and is plotting against his king.Despite these circumstances, they rely on God and each other and find a love strong enough to heal Gwenyth's emotional scars and Adam's physical injuries. The book is a good mix of historical intrigue and romance. Carol Umberger is a very gifted author and I am thrilled to see her write about this time period, as there is not much Christian fiction set in this area. Definitely a worthwhile read!!!

I picked this one from a local bookstore and Thank God, This book is really FANTASTIC!! Loyalty, honor and last but the most important thing, Love, amid the clashing force in Scotland against English invasion. The story was opened with a tragedy that befell Gwenyth, the smallest daughter of Sir John Comyn, the traitor whom had been killed by Robert the Bruce (was a to-be King of Scotland). Gwenyth, being shocked by the death of her father, planned a revenge to strike at Bruce with the Balliols which was declaring that the throne of Scotland should be belong to them. She was to be married with Edward Balliol to strenghten the power against Bruce. Unfortunately, on the way to meet Edward, she was kidnapped by the gang leader of Clan Chattan, Leod, who had a cruel intention to overtake the chieftain of Chattan position from Adam Mackintosh, the rightful heir. With his black intention, Leod tried to set Adam on risky position by assaulting Gwenyth (who was in disguise as a servant) on one gathering day in his laird. Gwenyth, receiving the horrible shock, was told to appoint Adam as her rapist while she knew it wasn't him. Somehow, she had to survive and rid of herself from the cursed Leod and at the same time, safe Adam's life. Would God also leave her now like when she had been praying for deliverance when she was assaulted? Was Adam the answer to her prayer? The battle between hope - faith in God and despair flowed though the story, of how a broken faith can be restored by loyalty, honor and a profound love.