Loving the Enemy

He took her out of a cage and saved her from certain death; she thought he was an angel. Then, Christian would come to find out that Gavin was the enemy. He promised to marry her and use the resources of her castle to aid his king. However, she had burned the castle to the ground before she was captured.

Gavin might have been her enemy, but he saved her. Could he be the angel she dreamed about during her journey between life and death? Would she open her heart to him? Gavin was no ordinary enemy. What about the rumored riches? Was there treasure in the castle she burned? To find the answers, you will want to read this excellent, Scottish historical romance. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Book:’’ The Falcon Laird” formerly ‘’The Angel Knight”
Author: Susan King
Series: Celtic Hearts, Book #2
Publisher: Dragonblade
Length: 332 Pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags

Scotland, 1306
Lady Christian MacGillean, a Scottish heiress and follower of her cousin the Bruce, and who burned her own castle Kilglassie in Western Scotland to keep the English from getting it. Now because of this she is considered an outlaw. Lady Christian has had her entire family wiped out by the English so she has no love for any sassenach! She was forced to wed a hateful English Knight, Henry Faulkner. When he dies she is suspected of murdering him except he was killed by a bow, a weapon she doesn't even know how to use! She has an adopted daughter Michaelmas who she calls Mícheal who was born in a nunnery that she left with her close friend and Celtic Priest and his wife Moira and their many sons to keep her safe from the English. Henry and his English garrison had taken her home, land and murdered innocents Scot’s in the name of the King! Christian swore to Thomas Bruce never again as she went to meet her cousin King Robert the Bruce, The true King of Scotland!

Christian’s deceased husband had only married her for the gold her castle Kilgassie was rumored to have. Even though Christian, nor any of her family members or servants had ever seen any of this gold and everyone had searched for it, most think it is just a fictional legend from long ago. The legend was supposed to have this hidden gold from centuries ago that was given to King Arthor of Camelot that had been blessed by Merlin, the Druid, magician or warlock. Of course none of the English believe her and think she is hiding it and will eventually give it to her cousin, King Robert to support Scotland! Christian and other female family members of Robert the Bruce are put in cages. She had been in a locked cage where she was beaten, starved and blankets were often taken away by the King's first officer Hastings. Her only relief is when one of the English servants who is very kind and thinks it is disgraceful how they are treating this young lass she doesn't care if she is English or scottish no human being should be treated like this. Plus the lass is at death's door and she is still being mistreated. The English serf tries to help her but is denied when asked so she sneaks what she can to feed and keep her warm.


Sir Gavin Faulkener, an English knight, is half English and half Scottish whose mother was a Scot, encounters Christian when she is a prisoner of Edward, and at death’s door because she is kept in a cold cage. He is sick and angry seeing how they are mistreating a woman! Gavin rescues her without full permission thinking she is dying. He is promised an English castle and given Kilglassie not realizing it was in ruins,without her awareness he marries Christian with permission of the English king. Christian at first thinks he is an angel except Gavin feels love for Christian immediately and does everything to save her. As he already lost one young wife from the same illness. Christian thinks Gavin is an angel at first with his golden hair and blue eyes then she assumes he is Scottish hearing his mothers brother's Scottish accents. She is shocked he is an English night, is her dead husband's cousin and married! A wedding she has no memory of she feels so betrayed as she doesn't trust any English Knight especially with the name Faulkner. Though he is kind and seems to have a gift for healing she still feels betrayed! Will she ever trust this angel knight as a man and not let his Englishness get in the way. Read and find out.

Again another heart wrenching story that is absolutely brilliant! Susan King definitely knows how to draw you in and keep a fast moving, awe-inspiring story that any historical reader will absolutely love! It definitely has a bit of everything in this novel, from the ancient celtic stories of King Arthur and Merlin of Camelot, to the iconic true hero Robert the Bruce and his faithful followers. Furthermore this book is filled with faith, magic, myths, folklore, Bruce sympathizers, hatred, torture, love, trust, angels, healing, humorous children, guardian doves, plus a good share of English villains, and a golden haired hero with some other special gifts and a harp playing lass you just hope will survive and get her HEA.

I love historical fiction that has a bit of true history with historical fiction and some iconic true hero’s like Robert the Bruce and the devastating things that he had to deal with during his life, This is a re-read for me and I loved it even more if that is even possible. It is no wonder I have loved this writer for over 25 years! A book that is an absolute must read!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Celtic Hearts
Book 1 - The Hawk Laird
Book 2 - The Falcon Laird
Book 3 - The Swan Laird coming April 26, 2024

Our two main characters are on opposite sides, one Scottish one English. It is their individual histories and how those events shaped them that connect these two.
Sir Gavin Faulkener is an English Knight that spoke openly about the brutality of Berwick and was chastized by King Edward.
When Lady Christian's English husband dies, she burns her castle so the English cannot control it. She is taken captive by the English and is imprisoned in an iron cage exposed to the weather.
Susan King does wonderful research and we feel we are right there in the cage with Christian experiencing her miserable conditions!

What a delightful story!
Sir Gavin is such a great balance of a protector but also soft-hearted, and Lady Christain is a true survivor after facing such horrific treatment in English captivity. I loved the background of the building of a castle! If you enjoy real Scottish romances and history, then I think you would enjoy this book. Well done!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc.

The Falcon Laird is Susan King's second book in the Celtic Hearts series. Sir Gavin Faulkner rescued Lady Christian from an iron cage that King Edward Longshanks had been keeping her in, after burning her Scottish castle so it would not be taken by the English. We then have two people on opposite sides, thrown together. They have to learn to trust each other. This book has a lot of great side characters. We've also got Robert the Bruce and even the legend of Merlin. This book made me look up Robert The Bruce. I continue to learn more about history from reading romance as an adult than I ever did in school.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. My opinion is my own.

The Falcon Laird by Susan King is a lovely romance filled with history and plenty of twists and turns. It is 1306 and Edward Longshanks, King of England still covets Scotland. The Scots are tough, though, and refuse to fall. Lady Christian MacGillan is preparing to leave castle of Kilgassie before the English come. She can no longer defend it. She leaves her daughter, Michaelmas in the hands of her friends, who will care for her. Her last act is to set fire to the bailey, as it breaks her heart. She is being aided by her cousin Thomas Bruce, brother to Robert Bruce, contender for the throne of Scotland and Edward’s enemy. Sadly they are caught soon after and Lady Christian is imprisoned in a cage, hung off the side of a castle, in rain and cold. She is cared for minimally unless Oliver Hastings, the king’s man is in residence. Then the few comforts she has are removed. He remains convinced that she is hiding a stash of gold, told of in legends, and he means to have it. Gavin Faulkener, a subject of the king has returned from France, doing the king’s bidding. He happened upon her and knows he must save her, although she is close to death.

As always, the villain is the most interesting character and Hastings is one such. The only way for Gavin to save Christian is to marry her and solidify his hold on Kilgassie, which has been given him by the king. He believes she will die. He does not believe in the gold. But, miraculously, she lives and little by little he falls in love with her. As she regains her health he sees much to admire. Both are well-written characters as is Hastings. The plot is convoluted with Hastings after the gold and Christian staunchly loyal to her cousin. Together they rebuild the castle and being to eek out a life. It is really quite a wonderful book, full of twists and turns and interesting characters and situations. All they really want is to be lift alone to be happy. Hastings cannot allow that. Thanks, Susan King, for a charming novel.

I was invited to read The Falcon Laird by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #SusanKing #TheFalconLaird

Book two of this series is just as spectacular and awesome as the first book. Christian and Gavin come from opposing sides of the world yet their bond is strong and blessed by God. My love of Irish/Scottish lore, druids and angels runs very deep. This story includes all of them which makes it the most magnificent story I have ever read. The author brings to life the ancient beliefs of healing and faith is a story so potent you will not put it down until the last page. Even then you will crave for more of the same as you feel the magic of the ancient truths surrounding you and filling your heart.

After the harrowing opening chapters of this novel, a beautiful romance emerges from the ashes of lives ruined by war, greed, and the unscrupulous use of power. Lady Christian has good reason to hate the English, but when she first sees Sir Gavin she feels a connection to him. Unfortunately, her initial impression is tarnished when she discovers that he is another in a long line of Englishmen whose motives are suspect. Gavin has suffered loss and the scourge of the manipulative decisions made by King Edward, but when tasked with marrying Christian in order to take over and rebuild her stronghold, he discovers a resurgence of the good-hearted man he used to be. Winning Christian's trust may take some time, but he proves himself to be a man that she can depend on. When their mutual enemy storms back into their lives, Gavin and Christian stand together in unity, thereby opening the way to a new and brighter future. The ragtag bunch of children adds some levity to the storyline, but also an essential link to the past that brings healing and restoration. I received a copy of this well-written and suspenseful novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

a lovely and comforting story of a young scots woman with secrets and the pretty english knight that helps her open up. a simple and beautiful story of two people on different sides finding each other and learning to love and hope again. it's well-written, sweet, and very wholesome.

Celtic Culture, Merlin, Kings, Romance:
I can only say that this is an epic story from beginning to end with an abundance of surprises along with a love story squeezed in between.
A wonderful cast of characters that take us on an adventure back to the time of Merlin and a bit of magic.
The plot with some medieval history and folklore is quite involved with the evil king Edward and his henchmen. 
The Falcon laird Gavin is a wonderful character along with the strong and brave Christian. Their love story is intertwined throughout the rivalry between King Edward and Scotland's Robert Bruce.
The reading gets a little bogged down with the hunt for the treasure and the rebuilding of the castle but for the most part is a very good story with a magical kind of romance. 
The ending was fantastic which elevated my rating up to a 4-star review.
This was the second book I have read from this author, and I do look forward to reading more.
😜The cover is intriguing and gives you a hint at the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Susan King for free access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

This has everything that you would find in a historical romance. The heroine needing a savior in a strong, handsome, and honorable man with political turmoil moving the plot forward to a “happily ever after”. I love these. They bring back memories of when I first started reading romance novels and this gives me all those feelings. Christian and Gavin are everything a slow burn romance should be. Christian fighting with all her might the desire she has for this man who is now her husband, an enemy to her and her people yet she can’t help but like him. Christian is a strong willed heroine with the ability to be sensitive towards the things in her life that matter. Not including her new husband that married her when she was deathly sick, but over time the kindness and caring nature of Gavin wears her down. Gavin is what a lead man should be, strong, devilishly handsome, and willing to do anything to make his love happy. These enemies to lovers is a fun read and I was very happy to be given access to it.

Very quick read that leaves you craving more. If you have ever experienced the deja vu feeling, this book is for you. Looking forward to read more books from this intriguing author.

I thought this story was cute overall. It is about a Scottish woman named Christian who is captured and put in a cage, punished by the King of England only to find herself falling in love with the English knight, Gavin, who saves her. She struggles with trusting this man whose loyalty is to those that tortured her.

Although I liked the overall story, I struggled with the amount of background that was given through dialogue in not very organic ways and with Gavin who did a terrible job of reassuring Christian that he was on her side. It was maddening! However, I thought that following Christian as she gets to know Gavin was sweet.