“I’ll be waitin’ fer ye on the other side, my hand outstretched, till ye reach fer me when yer earthly time is done. Then our clasp shall ne’er be broken again…”
Sometimes love can be so strong that it ruptures the confines of a single lifetime, extending into those beyond. This is what Caitlyn Hegarty, an American schoolteacher, learns on her trip to Scotland where she soon becomes entangled in the tragic history of a pair of 17th-century lovers. Standing before the dungeon at Undlay Castle, she relives the romantic adventures of the roguish thief and poet, Donal Donn, and his doomed passion for Mary McElroy, the spirited daughter of the laird of Undlay. Unable to shake their spell, Caitlyn is drawn into the shadows of the past as she attempts to solve the mystery enshrouding their forbidden love.
Inspired by the true story of Domhnull Donn and Mary Grant, the novel depicts the timeless power of love amidst the lawlessness, superstition, and pageantry of a lost age.
BOOK REVIEW
This is a dual-timeline novel that tells a passionate love story. In 17th-century Scotland, a cattle thief does not normally get the chance to fall in love with the daughter of the laird, but that is what happens between Mary McElroy and Donal Donn. Their instant passion is undeniable after a chance meeting in the forest. Their desire to be together conflicts with the plans of Mary’s father to strengthen his position by placing her in a political marriage. The most likely candidate is a hateful man who will do anything to destroy Donal and take Mary for himself. In 2018, Caitlyn is on a trip to Scotland when she comes across a love story from the past in an unusual way.
I adored the story of Mary and Donal. The writing is so powerful and poetic, and the dialect of the time fits the story perfectly. The verses that Donal pens for Mary while they are apart are beautiful. This love story grabbed me and kept me mesmerized until the end. Mary’s situation demonstrates the lack of choices for women at that time.
I feel that the dual timeline, however, is not needed. The whole 2018 storyline is unnecessary and not fully developed, and Caitlyn’s character is not fleshed out. The story of Mary and Donal stands on its own. It appears Caitlyn’s function was to bring a bit of magical realism to the story, but that could have been done without her.
Although the dual timeline did not work for me, I am still giving this five stars because this was one of the most beautiful romances I have ever read. Rarely am I captivated by a romance, but this one swept me away.
I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award winning writer, Catherine Hughes is a first-time author who, from her earliest years, immersed herself in reading. Historical fiction is her genre of choice, and her bookshelves are stocked with selections from ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Europe as well as those involving New England settlements and pioneer life in America. After double-majoring in English and business management on the undergraduate level, Catherine completed her Master’s degree in British literature at Drew University and then entered the classroom where she has been teaching American, British, and World Literature at the high school level for the last thirty years.
Aside from teaching and reading, Catherine can often be found outdoors, drawing beauty and inspiration from the world of nature. Taking the words of Thoreau to heart, “It is the marriage of the soul with nature that makes the intellect fruitful,” Catherine sets aside time every day to lace up her sneakers and run with her dog in pre-dawn or late afternoon hours on the beaches of Long Island. When her furry companion isn’t busy chasing seagulls or digging up remnants of dead fish, she soaks in the tranquility of the ocean setting, freeing her mind to tap into its deepest recesses where creativity and imagination preside.
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