Ancient Irish traditions remain strong in a world where High King Brian Boru survived the Battle of Clontarf and established a dynasty that rules Ireland to this day. When greed for oil prompts England’s Regent to claim an Irish island in the North Atlantic, Ireland’s Crown Princess Talty becomes a pawn in a murderous plot to seize the throne of England. From Japan to California to an eleventh century Ireland preparing for the Battle of Clontarf, Talty must hide her true identity, though she can’t hide her ingrained training as a member of the Fianna: the warriors who guard the Kingdom of Ireland. She brings home a discovery worth more than any oil well, yet all she wants is to return to her family and Neil Boru, the adoptive cousin she secretly loves and cannot have"or so she thinks. Neil has a secret of his own, one that emerges as the Boru clan works with MI6 to thwart an invasion of Ireland and bring Talty home.

REVIEW

Pat McDermott’s novel A Band of Roses is a captivating glimpse of an Ireland with an alternative history. What if Brian Boru had never been defeated at the Battle of Clontarf, and Ireland remained unified to this day as one country ruled by the Boru clan? You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy this story, however. A Band of Roses combines political intrigue, adventure, science fiction, and romance into a well-written and fascinating package that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

I’ll admit that when I first picked this novel up, I was a little bit intimidated by its length. I shouldn’t have been. Although this story is on a grand scale, it is completely absorbing, and I enjoyed each and every page. The narrative flows smoothly, and while the story line is quite involved, Ms. McDermott keeps it very well organized. There is no “down time” in this novel; the plot never gets bogged down but remains fresh and interesting throughout. Indeed, there are times that the tension pulls so tight that it positively vibrates, and I found myself holding my breath and reading faster to keep pace with the action numerous times.

There is a large cast of characters in A Band of Roses, and Ms. McDermott has done an excellent job developing them into “real” people and making them all unique and memorable " from the main characters all the way to those with only small supporting roles. The members of the Boru family will steal your affection right away. They may be Irish royalty, but they are also warriors and rogues and lovers who have a zest for life and absolute devotion to each other.

Overall, Ms. McDermott has created a unique, complex, and highly entertaining story in A Band of Roses. I found it to be more than worth my reading time and would not hesitate to recommend it to others. Give it a shot…I think you might enjoy it as well.

Reviewed by: BD Whitney
www.bookwenches.com
Saving the world . . .one book at a time

EXCERPT

The familiar sight of Ron Chambeau’s offices eased Talty’s distress. So did Ron. He kissed her cheek and scolded her for not letting him know she was coming.

“I didn’t know I was coming myself.” She settled into the chair beside his desk. “I only learned of Imi’s death two days ago.”

“From what I hear, you’re her main beneficiary.”

“You probably know more about it than I do. She not only left me her house, she left me some fairly substantial funds. And you’re going to help me spend them.”

“Yeah? What’s this all about, Major Princess?”

Affecting a snobbish air, Talty sat back and crossed her legs. “I’ve grown accustomed to traveling in my husband’s private helicopter. I’d like one at my disposal, and I want the best. Soundproofing, a gourmet galley, leather seats in the cabin, air-conditioning, night-flying, retractable weapons. You know.”

Ron’s eyes slowly narrowed. “The Bellwether Sachem?”

“The Bellwether Sachem.”

“You’re full of beeswax, little girl! You might be a princess, but you’re the farthest thing from muckity executive accommodations I’ve ever seen. If you don’t tell me what you’re up to, you can take your cute little butt right out of here. If fact, I ought to smack it and boot you out!”

Talty had missed Ron. “You told me once, ‘You can’t keep peace without teeth.’ In Ireland we say, ‘Don’t show your teeth until you can bite.’ I’m hungry, Ron.”

“What the hell are you thinking of doing with a gunship?”

“Keep peace, I hope. I heard a rumor about a threat to Irish oil wells.”

“Shouldn’t you let Kieran and your uncle worry about the Wessex gang?”

So he’d heard it too. “Maybe, but I’m a Fian warrior. It’s my duty to help protect Ireland"with the right tool for the job, of course.”