Rebel, by Linda Windsor

This is the third in the 'Brides of Alba' series.  I have read one and three so I'm pretty confident when I say that they can be stand alone's.  I read number one, having downloaded it (from Amazon for free) to my kindle and enjoyed it so much that I went to my local Christian bookstore and sought out one and two.  They didn't have number two so I went ahead and bought number three.  And I wasn't disappointed.  I will likely buy number two very soon!

In this series finale, we find Alyn, a "disallusioned, somewhat hopeless, non-priest, not quite scientist"~ man who just wants to go home.  It's about 6 AD and, sadly, Alyn arrives to find Merlin has died and Arthur is now accepting counsel from Cassian, a druid who seems to have his own best interests at heart, rather than what is best for his country.  Alyn also finds Kella, a scribe, a girl he grew up with who is no longer a girl but a feisty young woman who still doesn't listen to him.  She is as frustrating as she is beautiful.  Together the two must carry out orders from the queen.  Kella's heart is breaking.  Having found out her fiance is dead and her father is missing, the secret she harbours near bursts from her mouth the minute she first sets eyes on Alyn, the boy she loved as a youth.  She places her hope in him, hoping Alyn will help her find her loved ones. 

I love this series.  Linda Windsor's writing is terrific.  She kept me hooked the entire book through.  Her descriptions are complete while not being overly wordy.  I like that she has really done her research and even offers hints and tips at the end if you'd like to read more about that time period. 
Because I have read parts of two series now, I did see some reference from one to the other which I thought was intriguing.  I will definitely track down the ones I am missing.  Highly recommend!

The Messenger, Siri Mitchell

I just finished The Messenger by Siri Mitchell.

This one tugged at the heart-strings. 
The Messenger is a story of one Quaker woman's quest to free her brother from prison.  The life of a Quaker would dictate that she not get involved.  After all, they abhor violence.  But this woman understands why her brother joined the fight and when he is captured, she feels she has no choice; she must help him.  Little does she know that she will be called upon to begin sending private messages thus making her a spy.  A spy who won't lie. 

The writing of this novel was well done.  I enjoy Siri Mitchell's work. The author paints a vivid picture of the squalor of prisons.  You can almost feel the despair some of the prisoners feel.  You can get a very real sense of the Quaker's angst as she goes against her people, knowing that at some point, she'll likely be un-friended.  I love that the spy Hannah was passing notes to was handicapped.  All too often, the male character is a perfect specimen and you can't help but fall in love with him.  Jeremiah was almost abrasive because he felt shorted by the unfairness shown him.  He lost a hand to an arrow and was left for dead.  It made him somewhat bitter.  His character felt very real to me.  I think I would feel just as justifiably angry....and yet, he is an overcomer. 

What hurt my heart the most about this book was reading about the conditions of the prison.  Knowing this is a true reflection of things that can happen during war time is most unsettling.  And I'm thanking God once again, that I have not been in a similar situation.  I am so thankful I live in Canada.  Where to date we have been safe from war on our soil (at least during my lifetime).  And I pray it stays that way.  I don't know if I would have the strength and fortitude needed to endure such a terrible thing.

Until next time!