Helpful Score: 1
In the last decade of the eleventh century, Claire's elderly spouse dies. Her nasty brother-in-law kicks her out of the manor, using her son William as a hostage to insure her cooperation. The distraught young woman wanders the countryside until she meets Nonna Freeman, a renowned local healer, who sees the hidden talent inside Claire. Nonna makes Claire her apprentice. However, to keep the lass at her side, Nonna informs her that her son Palmer, fighting overseas in the Hermit's Crusade, sent her a letter in which he agrees to marry Claire by proxy. Seeking the protection, Claire accepts.
When Palmer finally returns home, battle fatigue has destroyed his spirit and the fighting has broken his body. He becomes more despondent when he learns he has a wife he never asked for and his mother is too senile to recognize him. Claire tries to use her healing prowess, accompanied by her budding love, to help Palmer, but he just returns her kindness with ugliness. Plots from other players intercede even further, leaving a relationship making it even to the twelfth century seem unlikely even though love has blossomed between Claire and Palmer.
DANGEROUS GIFTS is a brilliantly designed Medieval romance that paints an insider's look at the last decade of the eleventh century. Claire is a courageous, warm, and witty character. However, Palmer makes the novel as he suffers from "Crusades syndrome", a Middle Ages form of battle fatigue. The story line is propelled forward by the plots of the secondary players, making Haywood smith's latest entry the ideal gift to give to sub-genre fans.
When Palmer finally returns home, battle fatigue has destroyed his spirit and the fighting has broken his body. He becomes more despondent when he learns he has a wife he never asked for and his mother is too senile to recognize him. Claire tries to use her healing prowess, accompanied by her budding love, to help Palmer, but he just returns her kindness with ugliness. Plots from other players intercede even further, leaving a relationship making it even to the twelfth century seem unlikely even though love has blossomed between Claire and Palmer.
DANGEROUS GIFTS is a brilliantly designed Medieval romance that paints an insider's look at the last decade of the eleventh century. Claire is a courageous, warm, and witty character. However, Palmer makes the novel as he suffers from "Crusades syndrome", a Middle Ages form of battle fatigue. The story line is propelled forward by the plots of the secondary players, making Haywood smith's latest entry the ideal gift to give to sub-genre fans.
