Seize the Dawn

I've read hundreds of historical and modern- day romance novels. I get bored easily with run- of- the- mill stories. This story was excellent. It's not all about sex between a spoiled virgin and a jerk of a hero. While the main couple gets the lion's share of the story, there are several other exciting characters who are engaging in a war for freedom. The characters are as passionate towards one another, as their about the war between their countries, England and Scotland. The pages of the book come alive in realistic battle scenes, dramatic interactions between characters, and vibrant love scenes that are as emotional as they are steamy. Shannon Drake does tend to include a lot of history in her stories, but I did not find it overly so in this book. The Story: Lady Eleanor of Clarin has inherited her parents grand English castle. However, she must marry and produce an heir before the English king decides to assign a husband for her. She chooses to marry a life- long family friend, even though he is decades older than herself. She needs a respectable English husband to keep Castle Clarin. While on her way to France to meet her intended husband, Eleanor's ship is seized by French pirates. In a stroke of bad luck, the French pirates are then raided by Scottish warriors. One of the leaders of the Scottish men looks familiar to Eleanor. Both she and the Scotsman recognize one another at the same time. She is the lady who showed up on the battle field years earlier, and knocked him out as he was fighting against her countrymen. In a panic, Eleanor jumps into the Irish sea to try to swim for land. Her chances are not good, but anything is better than facing the wrath of this Scottish warrior, Brendan Graham. Brendan knows that she can not survive in the freezing water, so he jumps to rescue her. He has no love for his enemy, but his human decency causes him to save her. Once they reach France, Brendan and his friends hope to use Eleanor to both collect a ransom from her wealthy fiance, as well as using her as a bargaining tool with King Phillip of France. During the time they spend together, Eleanor and Brendan grow attracted to one another. She asks him to be her first lover, before she has to marry an elderly man. Once Brendan touches her, he is obsessed. He has to be with her as much as he can, savoring the days with her until he has to turn her over to her fiance. The two fall in love, Brendan telling her "I could die in you." When the time comes for Eleanor to marry her fiance, Alain, Brendan can't believe that she intends to go through with it. But Eleanor has no choice, as King Phillip warns her that he will hunt her down if she turns away from his good friend, Alain. Brendan offers to run away with her, but Eleanor fears the king. On the day of the wedding, Brendan goes to the church. When he hears Eleanor make vows to Alain, he storms to his ship in hopes of sailing back to Scotland and forgetting her. Whe

In the beginning of this book, the heroine is fighting in a war and ends up knocking the hero out. What I loved about this book is the fact that she fights him throughout most of the book, and still it doesn't begin to bore you or make you want to burn the book!! Another classic Drake novel that will keep you reading long into the night.

This was a really fun book to read because it takes a few twists and turns that you really don't expect. The love that develops between Brenden and Elenor is the best part of the story. I also love the fact that Elenor is such a strong charater even though she is a woman. Wonderful story.

I have read ALL of Shannon Drake's Graham series books and have loved each and everyone of them. Seize the Dawn in a wonderful story of two people whose lives will be forever bound, despite the raging war between their respective homelands. I especially loved the fact that the characters, Brendan and Eleanor, were able to express their love for each other, unlike most romance novels, where you find the characters in a constant power struggle. I also love history, and Shannon Drake does an excellent job weaving historical facts with romantic fiction!

By 1301, Lady Eleanor of Clarin knows she will do anything, even sleep with Lucifer, to keep her people safe. She has fought in war against the murderous Scots who killed her father. Now she is marrying an elderly, wealthy French aristocrat all for the good of her people and to thwart the plans to control her and her land by King Edward I, who selected a bestial knight as her spouse. On the journey across the Channel to France, pirates take her ship and capture Eleanor. However, the victors have no time to celebrate as Scots led by Brendan Graham attack their ship and make Eleanor their prisoner. Each one hates the other based on prejudices that center on deaths of loved ones. However, loathing turns quickly into passionate loving, but they realize they have no future together as the machinations of King Henry and Robert the Bruce supersede even the noblest of aristocrats. SEIZE THE DAWN is an exciting medieval romantic thriller that leaves the audience gasping for breath. The story line is fast-paced, filled with the era's intrigue, and loaded with historical tidbits and persona that make the plot feel authentic. The star crossed lead couple is a charming duet as the intrepid Eleanor wants nothing to do with love thy enemy and Brendan is a worthy Gibson-like hunk. Shannon Drake writes an appealing historical romance novel that readers will need more than the dawn to finish this one-sitting tale.Harriet Klausner