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Raven #3
Snow Raven
Embittered after his beloved wife’s death at the hands of his sworn enemy, Ranald Lindsay, the Highland laird called The Wolf of Badanloch, is hungry for vengeance. When chance puts him face to face with the woman betrothed to his enemy, he kidnaps her, intending to force a confrontation with his English rival.
The Pawn of Two Powerful Men…But Only One Can Claim Her Heart
With her blazing red hair and daring wit, Meredith Tanner both infuriates and challenges her brooding captor. Undaunted by his anger, Merry turns Ranald’s dark and dreary keep into a cheerful and orderly household, winning his clansmen to her cause even as she tries his patience again and again.
The mutual desire Ranald and Merry feel only complicates matters as courtly intrigue and turmoil erupt between Scottish and English rivals, border lords and royals alike. Snow Raven flies from the windswept Highlands to the deadly intrigues of England’s Tudor Court, with a passionate cast of characters leading the charge.
The Pawn of Two Powerful Men…But Only One Can Claim Her Heart
With her blazing red hair and daring wit, Meredith Tanner both infuriates and challenges her brooding captor. Undaunted by his anger, Merry turns Ranald’s dark and dreary keep into a cheerful and orderly household, winning his clansmen to her cause even as she tries his patience again and again.
The mutual desire Ranald and Merry feel only complicates matters as courtly intrigue and turmoil erupt between Scottish and English rivals, border lords and royals alike. Snow Raven flies from the windswept Highlands to the deadly intrigues of England’s Tudor Court, with a passionate cast of characters leading the charge.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1998
38 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 19, 2016
4 and ½ Stars! Scottish Laird Falls for an English Lady in Waiting to Elizabeth Tudor
This is the third in McAllister’s excellent “Raven series.” Set in 1578 in the Highlands of Scotland, it is the story of Ranald, Laird Lindsay and Earl of Crawford, also known as the Wolf of Bandanlock, and Meredith (“Merry”) Tanner, a half Irish Englishwoman who is a lady in waiting to Elizabeth Tudor. Merry is betrothed to Sir Jasper Wickham, who she has never met when she leaves her sister in Wales to return to court.
Merry’s coach is attacked by Ran’s brother, Gilbert, who is out for some fun. Though no one is seriously hurt, the coach is ruined and Ran offers to see Merry to her betrothed. Little does she know that Sir Jasper is Ran’s enemy, who he believes responsible for the death of his much-loved wife. Ran plans to hold Merry as his captive to get to the truth, but his plans go awry with an unexpected result.
A great tale reflecting much research into the historical events of the period, McAllister has obviously taken great care to give you the feel of the Scottish culture and the characters’ accent come across as very real and add to the feeling you’re in Scotland. She also portrays the tension between the Scots and the English at the time. The characters are richly drawn and the plot intriguing. Caught in the middle between Ran’s anger and Sir Jasper’s treachery, Merry will accept her fate but she brings more to the arrangement than Ran bargained for.
Though a bit drawn out in places, it held my interest. It’s a part of a trilogy, but can be read as a stand alone. I recommend it!
The Raven trilogy:
SEA RAVEN (Irish heroine, Bryony O'Neill, Merry’s mother)
FIRE RAVEN (Morgan Trelane, a Welshman, the Devil of Falcon's Lair and Kat, Merry’s sister)
SNOW RAVEN (Ranald Lindsay, the Highland laird known as the Wolf of Badanloch and Merry)
This is the third in McAllister’s excellent “Raven series.” Set in 1578 in the Highlands of Scotland, it is the story of Ranald, Laird Lindsay and Earl of Crawford, also known as the Wolf of Bandanlock, and Meredith (“Merry”) Tanner, a half Irish Englishwoman who is a lady in waiting to Elizabeth Tudor. Merry is betrothed to Sir Jasper Wickham, who she has never met when she leaves her sister in Wales to return to court.
Merry’s coach is attacked by Ran’s brother, Gilbert, who is out for some fun. Though no one is seriously hurt, the coach is ruined and Ran offers to see Merry to her betrothed. Little does she know that Sir Jasper is Ran’s enemy, who he believes responsible for the death of his much-loved wife. Ran plans to hold Merry as his captive to get to the truth, but his plans go awry with an unexpected result.
A great tale reflecting much research into the historical events of the period, McAllister has obviously taken great care to give you the feel of the Scottish culture and the characters’ accent come across as very real and add to the feeling you’re in Scotland. She also portrays the tension between the Scots and the English at the time. The characters are richly drawn and the plot intriguing. Caught in the middle between Ran’s anger and Sir Jasper’s treachery, Merry will accept her fate but she brings more to the arrangement than Ran bargained for.
Though a bit drawn out in places, it held my interest. It’s a part of a trilogy, but can be read as a stand alone. I recommend it!
The Raven trilogy:
SEA RAVEN (Irish heroine, Bryony O'Neill, Merry’s mother)
FIRE RAVEN (Morgan Trelane, a Welshman, the Devil of Falcon's Lair and Kat, Merry’s sister)
SNOW RAVEN (Ranald Lindsay, the Highland laird known as the Wolf of Badanloch and Merry)
January 9, 2015
The pregnant wife of Ranald Lindsay dies under mysterious circumstances and he blames Sir Jasper Wickham. When the Scottish earl learns Meredith Tanner is betrothed to Wickham, Ranald decides to abduct her in order to use Merry as a weapon against his enemy. Now in any other HR book in this situation there would have been fights, escape attempts, and acts of domination and submission. However Meredith rather calmly accepts her captivity. Since she's such a model prisoner, Ranald allows Merry enough freedom to clean up his castle. When the monarchs of England and Scotland order the H/h to marry, both Ranald and Meredith conclude this is the only logical thing to do.
There's really nothing going on in this book. There's no tension between the leads. I can't believe I'm saying this but because both of them are so reasonable and understanding they come off as deadly dull. The flimsiest Big Misunderstanding drives a wedge between the couple. Merry leaves for London while Ranald basically leaves the book. He's MIA for the last quarter of the story, showing up just at the very end to declare his love while never once mentioning or resolving the Big Misunderstanding. He's not even the hero that saves the day at the climax.
Very mild reading.
There's really nothing going on in this book. There's no tension between the leads. I can't believe I'm saying this but because both of them are so reasonable and understanding they come off as deadly dull. The flimsiest Big Misunderstanding drives a wedge between the couple. Merry leaves for London while Ranald basically leaves the book. He's MIA for the last quarter of the story, showing up just at the very end to declare his love while never once mentioning or resolving the Big Misunderstanding. He's not even the hero that saves the day at the climax.
Very mild reading.
March 20, 2021
Found Ranald to be very annoying. Never came across a more annoying male lead.
July 14, 2021
Interesting read
I liked this book and wish I had read the other books before I got this one. This was very interesting and good suspense thank you for writing this book.
I liked this book and wish I had read the other books before I got this one. This was very interesting and good suspense thank you for writing this book.
July 29, 2013
Author: Patricia McAllister (also writes as Brit Darby)
First published: 2013
Length: 5066 kindle locations
Setting: Scottish Highlands and English Court, 1598 (Tudor)
Sex: mf - not frequent nor overly explicit
I couldn't get a handle on this book. The story seems half told. There are many history lessons as Merry spends time with Elizabeth Tudor, and ongoing Scottish King vs English Queen, highland/border reiving - it drags overly much, losing the romance. There are many dialect phrases scattered through the book which are fundamental to character motivations. But the author never translates them. So the reader is as lost as English Merry. There is insufficient focus on our MCs and their relationship - the point of a romance. The suspense and mystery is boring, important characters (like Siany, Cullen, Meg) drop in and out without rhyme or reason.
I just really didn't care for anyone.
I picked it up because it was on an Amazon free list.
But I wouldn't bother with anything else by this author.
If this is an example of the third in a trilogy, experience is not making her sufficiently better.
Raven:
Sea Raven - Bryony O’Neill and Captain Slade Tanner, 1559
Fire Raven - Kit Tanner and Lord Morgan Trelane, 1598
Snow Raven - Meredith Tanner and Ranald Lindsay, 1598
-CR-
First published: 2013
Length: 5066 kindle locations
Setting: Scottish Highlands and English Court, 1598 (Tudor)
Sex: mf - not frequent nor overly explicit
I couldn't get a handle on this book. The story seems half told. There are many history lessons as Merry spends time with Elizabeth Tudor, and ongoing Scottish King vs English Queen, highland/border reiving - it drags overly much, losing the romance. There are many dialect phrases scattered through the book which are fundamental to character motivations. But the author never translates them. So the reader is as lost as English Merry. There is insufficient focus on our MCs and their relationship - the point of a romance. The suspense and mystery is boring, important characters (like Siany, Cullen, Meg) drop in and out without rhyme or reason.
I just really didn't care for anyone.
I picked it up because it was on an Amazon free list.
But I wouldn't bother with anything else by this author.
If this is an example of the third in a trilogy, experience is not making her sufficiently better.
Raven:
Sea Raven - Bryony O’Neill and Captain Slade Tanner, 1559
Fire Raven - Kit Tanner and Lord Morgan Trelane, 1598
Snow Raven - Meredith Tanner and Ranald Lindsay, 1598
-CR-
August 12, 2016
i really liked this book, it was a bit slow at some points but the story was lovely.
July 22, 2013
I've put this one down for now but may pick it back up later
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews