Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: A Restless Knight
Author: Deborah MacGillivray
Publisher: Zebra
ISBN: 0-8217-8036-0
Release Date: July 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 1296/Scotland
Overall Rating: 4.8
Sexual Content Rating: Sexual
Language (Profanity) Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: Mild (mostly alluded to)
Deborah's Website: deborahmacgillivray.co.uk
Lady Tamlyn MacShane is a woman truly in charge of her own destiny. Life is going pretty well. Scotland is one of the few areas where women actually are the keepers of the "home." In other words, she is the head of the Glenrogha as her two sisters are over two other keeps. All in all not a bad plan, although the three sisters have gotten a bit of a reputation. All is right with the world as we envision beautiful Scottish lass Tamlyn walking on the moor, picking flowers one beautiful, clear day. (Can’t you picture it in your mind?)
That peaceful is invaded by a servant who bids Tamlyn to come quickly back into their home so the gates can be barred against him. Tamlyn hesitates and that hesitation costs her. The gates have been closed to bar the way and she attempts to take a back path in. However, the danger is lurking ever nearer. In the end, she slows to be captured as she doesn’t want to give away any back entrances. She is caught by him, the Black Dragon.
As the Black Dragon exchanges words with the guard, Tamlyn realizes that he is unaware of who she is and she decides to keep it that way. As he holds her prisoner (awaiting the moment to rush the castle), Lord Julian Challon (the Black Dragon) assumes Tamlyn must be the mistress of the Lord. Again, another disbelief that Tamlyn will use to her advantage.
When it comes right down to it though, I am not sure who truly had the advantage. 
I found A Restless Knight to be a beautiful illustration of Scottish life. There was a lot of harshness during that time period along with the unrest created with England. The injustices were running rampant which explains how the "king" gave Glenrogha to another family. It seems so unreal to me given today’s life that someone can "give" away another person’s property but that was frequent during this history. Deborah covers that very well and explains it as best as anyone can.
So, yes, the history is quite clear but the characters are even clearer. Tamlyn is a headstrong, courageous lass who down deep wants to be loved but loved as an equal. Julian has holes within him which are hurting as well (he only begins to discover the depth of those holes as he falls for a lass who belongs to another – or so he thinks). I guess we all need to be careful with assumptions.
Lori
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