Lady of the Knight

Morganna KilCreggar was only four when she witnessed the rape and murder of her mother and rape and beating of her sister at the hands of the FitzHughs. Some years later, all of the KilCreggar clan would be dead and she alone, the only KilCreggar survivor made a vow to avenge their deaths. She honed her skills with deadly weapons and was brilliantly accurate and deadly. Being uncommonly tall and lean, she disguised herself as a young boy forsaking all signs of femininity but for her one indulgence of her long braid. Leading her `lads' onto a battlefield to retrieve what spoils were left, "Morgan" the leader was caught by a man who she'd thought was dead. Alexander (Zander) FitzHugh was not only one of the biggest and broadest men she'd ever seen, but also the handsomest. Taking what he wanted Alex decided to take the boy "Morgan" and made him into his new squire. Alex, saw what Morgannna wanted him to see, an angry and stubborn young lad. Though not as hard as he portrayed himself to be Fitzhugh tried his best to break through his squire's surliness and discover what secrets he kept, all the while wondering at the strange attraction he felt for the young lad. As little by little, Zander managed to whittle down more of Morgan's distrust, she found she was not as immune to the big, arrogant, and haughty warrior she had vowed to detest. Soon Morgan fought not only her hatred of the dreaded FitzHugh clan but her unbidden desire to taste the forbidden fruits that the man represented and who embodied all that she had sworn to destroy. *** I have read a tremendous amount of medieval and Scottish based novels and I have to say that Morganna KilCreggar has to be one of the most fabulously incredible heroines I have come across in some time. Along with that, I must also say that the love story and Zander's `gift' to his bride, simply took my breath away. This was one of the most amazing and stunningly brilliant medievals I have had the pleasure to read this year. The sexual tension and the intense emotion of this story will grip you from the beginning to the most delectable end! For a debut novel in the style of the great Woodiwiss and Henley, I have to tell them - move over there's a new kid on the block and she's about to steal your thunder! -- Marilyn, for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

Since she was four, Morganna (Morgan) KilCreggar has had one goal only--to destroy the FitzHugh leader whose rape and murder set off the feud that destroyed the entire KilCreggar family. Morgan has trained herself to be a ruthless killer, with an uncanny ability to throw knives, shoot arrows, and fence. Through constant exercise, she has developed muscles that let her pass as a male--although a young male. While leading her band of robbers onto a battlefield, Morgan is seized by a warrior who claims her as his squire. 'Zander FitzHugh is doing what he can to free Scotland from English control and a squire with a talent for weapons like that of young Morgan is too useful a tool to throw away. Despite the 'lad's' resistance, Zander drafts Morgan into the effort. The emotional cost is high, though. Zander has always liked women before--and now he can only think of his beautiful squire. Morgan hates the FitzHughes, but this is not the FitzHugh she has sworn to kill. Sooner or later, Zander will return to his family's home and she'll be able to kill his brother, the head of the clan. Despite the growing attraction she feels for Zander, she knows the two can never have a future together. Her own death will surely follow instantly upon the death of the FitzHugh lord. Still a girl can dream, can't she? Even if she's a girl in male clothing. Author Jackie Ivie tackles the difficult task of refreshing the overused 'hero mistakes heroine for a boy but falls in love anyway plot line' and making it new. This device was horribly overused in the 1970s and has fallen out of favor as a result, but Ivie pulls it off with Morgan's extreme training (she does hundreds of pushups a day) and with Zander's occasionally hinted at near-sightedness. One note, I would have liked to see Morgan/Morganna's continued athleticism and proto-feminism rather than a retreat into a pampered and protected female. Set in the early 14th Century during the time of The Bruce, LADY OF THE KNIGHT is an impressive debut effort by an author to watch.

Author Jackie Ivie got it right on her first try. Lady of the Knight is a wonderful book - I loved every part of it. Morganna KilCreggar's entire clan is dead, except for her older sister who is mentally unbalanced. The last of her clan was wiped out by clan FitzHugh, and Morganna, disguised as a lad, has vowed to kill their leader and get revenge on them, even if it means her own death. Along the way, Morganna-Morgan has honed her skills with deadly weapons. While scavaging the scene of a recently fought battle for spoils, she comes upon a man she believes to be dead, but soon finds out he is anything but. This man turns out to be Zander FitzHugh, of the hated FitzHugh clan. He claims Morgan for a squire and she plays along, thinking she can kill him at an opportune time and get the revenge she seeks. Things don't quite turn out that way, however. Morgan impresses Zander with her weaponry skills. She also manages to keep Zander in the dark with regards to her gender. Zander finds himself attracted to his squire and, understandably, is quite upset about this. Morgan too, is beset by feelings for Zander that she never believed would happen to her. Ms. Ivie deals with Zander's emotions at believing he is attracted to another man exceptionally well. She shows us his grief, his confusion, his anger and his love. She also deals well with Morgan, and how she struggles against a woman's feelings. Zander in love is a tender, considerate, wonderful man who shows Morgan that there is love in the world, even a world full of brutality and death. Zander's brothers add to the story, as well as Robert the Bruce, a wonderful woman of loose morals names Sally Bess and assorted other characters. I loved the part where Morgan is coerced into playing the part of a woman in a play at Earl Argylle's castle. Zander's reaction to seeing her dressed as a woman is memorable. This is a great read, and I would recommend it to everyone. I hope Ms. Ivie's next books are the same quality as this one. I predict a successful writing career for her.

Clan FitzHugh destroyed the KilCreggar clan. Unknown, there are two female survivors. One is all but insane. The other is Morganna. At the tender age of four, she witnesses horror first hand. As she grows, she disguises herself as a lad and hones her skills. She has no time for play or leisure. She has a vow of vengeance to fulfill. The one who caused the blood feud, Phineas FitzHugh, will die by her hand. Once done, she will be free to die herself. So as the grows, she becomes deadly with whatever weapon one can name. A.D. 1310Alexander "Zander" FitzHugh brazenly takes what he wants. So he makes the boy "Morgan" his squire. Zander has no idea of all Squire Morgan's secrets. He only knows that the lad always hits what he aims for - always! Zander finds himself attracted to his squire, and has no idea as to why, but he intends to find out. The newly crowned King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce, is set on the unification of Scotland. As Squire Morgan's skills become legendary, the king and Zander use them to unite the Scottish Clans. During this time, Morgan strays from her purpose and into Zander's bed. Now, in the battle between vengeance and passion, the more powerful will emerge victorious. ***** Author Jackie Ivie knows drama and uses it to take away the breaths of her readers! This is a powerful tale with a heroine that women can look up to. No silly or simple-minded lass here! This book is destined for my "Keeper" shelf and will never leave my possession. Yes, it is THAT good! Highly recommended for all Historical Romance fans. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

This book is not your same ole same ole. The author takes a plot that has been done before--girl dressing up like boy. But takes it so much further--she (the author) takes a risk, and it pays off. I really loved this book. This book offers a lot--a rich setting, real (and likeable) characters, and even with a slightly dark overtone, a chuckle or two. Probably my favorite part though is that it is not predictable. This is not a cookie cutter application of a previously used plot. It stands on its own. In addition to recommending this book for any reader, I in particular think it would be an excellent choice for a reading group. It is sure to generate discussion. Don't pass it by.