Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: The Briton
Author: Catherine Palmer
Publisher: Harlequin/Steeple Hill
ISBN-10: 0-373-82781-4
Release Date: February 2008
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Inspirational Romance
Year/Setting: 1150’s/England
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: None/Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Catherine's Website:
www.catherinepalmer.com
Lady Bronwen loves the land the Britons inhabit and wants to see that land and heritage maintained for all eternity. However, she also respects and loves her father and understands when he gives her in marriage to Olaf, the ruler of the nearby Warbreck territory. Even as her father gives her in matrimony, he has a plan and steps outside the norm for their period in time. He also has a will which gives half of his treasures to his younger daughter, Gildan, who is marrying their cousin from the next holding. However, all of the land and the remaining treasure is to remain under the control of Lady Bronwen. Rossall is her ancestral home and her father has faith in her to maintain that. Upon his death, the land will come to her to be held for her firstborn son of this Viking.
Shortly after her father’s death, however, her husband, the Viking, falls in battle as well and she discovers that her brother-in-law has usurped her position and maintains control of Rossall. She also discovers that he is mistreating her sister, Gildan. She and Gildan are now on the run and find themselves relying on the generosity of strangers – strangers who introduce them to a new God, the one God. During the course of this running, a foreign knight named Jacques le Brun comes to her aid.
Lady Bronwen must fight her past beliefs that since he is Norman that he is bad and wanting to do her harm. She must also fight her heart that is coming to know him in ways she hadn’t thought possible. How can she balance her new found faith in God with the warring emotions left over from her father’s teachings and her desire to return and regain her ancestral home?
Catherine Palmer has created a wonderful historical that balances history and a belief in the Lord. She illustrated the great depth of character that a Christian must have as they face old belief patterns that are deeply ingrained within. We all have choices to make and the ones that Bronwen faces are many and complex. Jacques shows great strength and compassion as she struggles to find her way through the maze of emotions she must deal with.
The imagery created is very interesting and enables the reader to create the scenes quite lushly in their imagination. The historical inflections are well done, especially for those readers who aren’t steeped in history and aren’t fond of textbooks. Catherine makes the history real and anything but boring.
All in all, very well done and very imaginative.
Lori
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