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Celtic Rogues #6
Lily Fair
In an Ireland divided between druid mystics and the faith of St. Patrick…
A dark prophecy...
It was foretold that Caitlin of the Lilies would one day destroy the Irish chieftain Conn, who sends her to be raised in a far-off convent. Caitlin trustingly awaits the bridegroom Conn has promised her—and at last a handsome warrior arrives to escort her home. Cailtin wonders if this proud, silent man is to be her husband, until she awakens to find him looming over her, his sword at her throat.
A knight errant...
Niall of the Seven Betrayals has sworn fealty to Conn, the chieftain who promised Niall a final quest that will win him honor. When Conn orders him to escort Caitlin of the Lilies home, Niall resents being charged with such a mundane task, not suspecting that the crafty Conn has carefully honed him into the perfect weapon to do the unspeakable.
A test of loyalties...
When Niall attempts to carry out his mission, the defiant Caitlin makes him question everything he believes. He faces an unimaginable dilemma. Kill the innocent maid who trusts herself to his protection or betray his king and have all hope of regaining his honor snatched away—along with his life.
A dark prophecy...
It was foretold that Caitlin of the Lilies would one day destroy the Irish chieftain Conn, who sends her to be raised in a far-off convent. Caitlin trustingly awaits the bridegroom Conn has promised her—and at last a handsome warrior arrives to escort her home. Cailtin wonders if this proud, silent man is to be her husband, until she awakens to find him looming over her, his sword at her throat.
A knight errant...
Niall of the Seven Betrayals has sworn fealty to Conn, the chieftain who promised Niall a final quest that will win him honor. When Conn orders him to escort Caitlin of the Lilies home, Niall resents being charged with such a mundane task, not suspecting that the crafty Conn has carefully honed him into the perfect weapon to do the unspeakable.
A test of loyalties...
When Niall attempts to carry out his mission, the defiant Caitlin makes him question everything he believes. He faces an unimaginable dilemma. Kill the innocent maid who trusts herself to his protection or betray his king and have all hope of regaining his honor snatched away—along with his life.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
91 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Cates
58 books98 followersKimberly Cates lives in Illinois with her family.
Pseudonyms: Kimberleigh Caitlin and Kim Cates.
Pseudonyms: Kimberleigh Caitlin and Kim Cates.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 27, 2013
Early Irish Medieval with a Prophecy
I am a huge fan of Kimberly Cates and I have loved her Irish historical romances; most recently I gave 5 stars to NIGHTWYLDE. But just so her fans know, this story is a bit slower in developing, even though Cates’ writing is as good as ever. As there is no date given, I cannot give a precise setting except to say it’s early medieval Ireland.
While her mother was pregnant, a Druid made a prophecy that the child, Caitlin of the Lilies, would one day destroy their Irish chieftain, Crom the Ever Truthful. In a very human irony, Crom is anything but truthful. Though he wanted to destroy the babe, he did not because Caitlin’s father was the powerful spear caster Fintan MacShane, endowed with fairy magic that made his every spear throw hit its target even though he was blind. Instead, Crom put the girl child into an abbey planning to kill her when she was grown.
Twenty years later, Niall of the Seven Betrayals, Crom’s faithful warrior, is sent to remove the young woman from the abbey—and to kill her. Niall, who is aware of the prophecy, must choose between an oath made to the abbess to protect the young woman and following his king’s order—the last test to restore his honor among his people.
Both Caitlin and Niall are in for some big surprises as Niall decides not to kill Caitlin but instead takes her to his family’s estate, Castle Daire.
Cates, as always, paints a vivid picture of her characters. Caitlin, the innocent, becomes the brave young woman so like her father. And Niall discovers he really is like his father—faithful and true. The story is detailed and puts you deep in Ireland’s past when the Christian faith and paganism coexisted.
I am a huge fan of Kimberly Cates and I have loved her Irish historical romances; most recently I gave 5 stars to NIGHTWYLDE. But just so her fans know, this story is a bit slower in developing, even though Cates’ writing is as good as ever. As there is no date given, I cannot give a precise setting except to say it’s early medieval Ireland.
While her mother was pregnant, a Druid made a prophecy that the child, Caitlin of the Lilies, would one day destroy their Irish chieftain, Crom the Ever Truthful. In a very human irony, Crom is anything but truthful. Though he wanted to destroy the babe, he did not because Caitlin’s father was the powerful spear caster Fintan MacShane, endowed with fairy magic that made his every spear throw hit its target even though he was blind. Instead, Crom put the girl child into an abbey planning to kill her when she was grown.
Twenty years later, Niall of the Seven Betrayals, Crom’s faithful warrior, is sent to remove the young woman from the abbey—and to kill her. Niall, who is aware of the prophecy, must choose between an oath made to the abbess to protect the young woman and following his king’s order—the last test to restore his honor among his people.
Both Caitlin and Niall are in for some big surprises as Niall decides not to kill Caitlin but instead takes her to his family’s estate, Castle Daire.
Cates, as always, paints a vivid picture of her characters. Caitlin, the innocent, becomes the brave young woman so like her father. And Niall discovers he really is like his father—faithful and true. The story is detailed and puts you deep in Ireland’s past when the Christian faith and paganism coexisted.
April 2, 2009
Sometimes a girl needs a little overwritten anachronistic middle-ages-ish Celtic romance found at Goodwill. I'm just sayin'.
October 28, 2016
Twists & turns.... love and betrayal..... truth revealed and lies..... evil and good.... I loved this story & had to stay up late to finish it.
So much emotion in the story of Niall who is questing to regain an honorable name after his father committed horrible acts and Caitlin who was brought as a babe to a convent and knows no other life. Their lives intersect when Niall's final quest is to bring Caitlin back to the clan who condemned her to a life cloistered from her family and her people. Nothing is as it seems in this story of love and loss.
So much emotion in the story of Niall who is questing to regain an honorable name after his father committed horrible acts and Caitlin who was brought as a babe to a convent and knows no other life. Their lives intersect when Niall's final quest is to bring Caitlin back to the clan who condemned her to a life cloistered from her family and her people. Nothing is as it seems in this story of love and loss.
May 27, 2018
Just a wee bit of magic
The story made me laugh, cry, want to clot Niall along side the head a time or two, feel Caitlin s joy. But their journey to HEA was worth the read. I'm not sure if the books in series are intertwined but I may have to check out the other books now. And Fiona needs her story.
And, spoiler, I really wish she could have gone back to convent to visit and share her happiness with the abbess. Worth the read!
The story made me laugh, cry, want to clot Niall along side the head a time or two, feel Caitlin s joy. But their journey to HEA was worth the read. I'm not sure if the books in series are intertwined but I may have to check out the other books now. And Fiona needs her story.
And, spoiler, I really wish she could have gone back to convent to visit and share her happiness with the abbess. Worth the read!
January 1, 2018
Pull out your tissues and read this story. A story bards could very well sing to make legend of hardship, sorrow, a druid's foresight, slithering persons in power, the honorable men to thwart them and the love of a person and a country.
May 21, 2018
Delightfully Irish
This tale is for any Irisher to enjoy. I particularly loved the descriptions of the lush countryside and the tender love that blossomed between Niall and Caitlin. Thank you, Kimberly Cates, and keep writing.
This tale is for any Irisher to enjoy. I particularly loved the descriptions of the lush countryside and the tender love that blossomed between Niall and Caitlin. Thank you, Kimberly Cates, and keep writing.
August 13, 2022
Historical romance set in Ireland in the Middle Age.
Full of boring and irritating internal monologues of the two main characters. The story dragged unnecessarily, too many detailed descriptions of the surroundings in each chapter. I had to skip a lot
Full of boring and irritating internal monologues of the two main characters. The story dragged unnecessarily, too many detailed descriptions of the surroundings in each chapter. I had to skip a lot
May 30, 2018
Hero's and Love
A purchased accident I won't regret 😀 excellent read.
Some typos but still easy to read. I kept stopping just to make it last longer.
A purchased accident I won't regret 😀 excellent read.
Some typos but still easy to read. I kept stopping just to make it last longer.
October 10, 2020
Action
This tells of a warrior who promises a maid he will protect her and keep her safe. He must go through l much eye opening site to keep that promise.
This tells of a warrior who promises a maid he will protect her and keep her safe. He must go through l much eye opening site to keep that promise.
May 5, 2025
Excellent story! But quite long, so be prepared to be curled up with it for many hours!
March 8, 2012
Probably shouldn't admit to reading this, but I like to remember what I've read and what I haven't. I don't really ever read romances, and now I know why. It was like a story I've read before, but with way less story and just a little more romance. I think I prefer way more story and character development with love sprinkled in.
July 31, 2013
Found a new author!! Fast easy read that I couldn't put down.
January 20, 2019
Contained within the multi-author book collection called Lords of Ireland
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews