REVIEW: A Woman of Courage (+$15 Amazon GC Giveaway!)

Title: A Woman of Courage

Author: Marlow Kelly

Series: Honor, Love, Courage #3

Pages: 60

Date Published: 2015

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Format: Kindle

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours

Synopsis:
When an injured Fianna Byrne turns up at Connell O’Neill’s gate twelve years after their separation he knows this could be his last chance to find happiness with the woman he loves.

False accusations against Fianna had strained relations between their clans and forced Connell, under Irish law, to divorce her. Their disastrous three-month relationship left Fianna pregnant and heartbroken. She has avoided Duncarraig and her ex-husband ever since.

But with her home obliterated by the Vikings, Fianna must face her past in order to save her son, and prove once and for all she is a woman of courage.

~My Thoughts~

For such a short book (60 pages!) Marlow Kelly managed to cram a whole lot into A Woman of Courage. Beginning with a devastating attack on her village, Fianna's life is sent hurtling out of control. With nowhere left to go but to her former husband's village to seek shelter, Fianna has to fight injuries both old and new when seeing and speaking to the man who ran her name through mud so many years ago. 

The story-line itself was compelling and interesting. It was clear from the very first Author's Note, that much research had been done into the lives of Celts during the 800's, and I learned a lot just from that brief section...for example...divorce. I didn't realize that was a thing at all in Europe at the time.  Vikings raiding Celtic villages and towns in the middle ages, two lovers torn apart by misunderstandings, reunited by lust and love...there's a lot there! This is a mildly steamy read, and it does get cautiously graphic a few times so beware if you like your romances squeaky-clean. 

Fianna was a great character: the traditional, fiery Irish beauty if you will. While she and Connell were both getting into their middle years, they were both still very much attracted to each other despite the years and the breadth of the pain between them. 

The romance between Fianna and Connell was tangible, though a bit rushed (if that can be said for a star-crossed love that lasted at least a decade before it could be acted upon once more...). Because the novella itself was so short, years and years of backstory had to be shared in brief glimpses and memories from the two main characters, all while rushing forward with the plot and the romance itself. While you could physically feel the love they had for each other, the regret for past decisions about their relationship, it was also very quickly done and I could have used a bit more depth to the backstory to feel as though really knew what I needed to about this couple. 

Overall, A Woman of Courage is a quick, fun romp on the Irish hillside. It's not too terribly deep, but is a welcome escape into a romance for an afternoon. And really...who couldn't use that now and again? :) 

~Try an Excerpt!~

Twelve years ago she’d been Connell’s wife. His devastating rejection of her, after only three months of marriage, and their subsequent divorce caused a pain so real it twisted her insides. The hostilities that ensued after their separation, followed by an uneasy truce when she found she was pregnant with their son, Lorcan, made it prudent to restrict her contact.

During their short marriage he had weakened her in a way no other man could. She’d transformed into a woman so overtaken with lust she’d been blind to everything, including his true feelings. With Connell all her instincts, control, and intellect became like overcooked oats, a sludge that thought of nothing except him.

Her breath caught when her former husband strode out of the large central house, marching toward her. His long limbs and easy stride accentuated the rippling muscles of his legs. Every movement emphasized his grace and strength. He was still tall and broad, with long, smooth, black hair and a black beard to match. He would have been too handsome, too pretty, if it hadn’t been for his large crooked nose. That imperfection added to his allure, making him more appealing. Her pulse quickened, and her body warmed with need. She forgot her reason for being here, forgot everything except him. Damn it. Even in her injured state, with everything she had endured, he still had the ability to turn her mind to mud.

~Meet Malow!~ 

After being thrown out of England for refusing to drink tea, Marlow Kelly made her way to Canada where she found love, a home and a pug named Max. She also discovered her love of storytelling. Encouraged by her husband, children and let’s not forget Max, she started putting her ideas to paper. Her need to write about strong women in crisis drives her stories and her curiosity regarding the lives and loves of historical figures are the inspiration for her characters. 

Marlow will be awarding a Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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