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The Medieval DeWarenne Trilogy #1
A Year and a Day
When Lynx de Warenne, Edward Plantagenet's most prized warrior, invaded Dumfries castle, he took possession of Jane Leslie's home--and soon wanted something more from the headstrong lass. Desperate for an heir, he proposed a handfasting: a Scottish custom whereby a man can lawfully take a woman into his bed, then, after a year and a day, the couple can either wed or part. Any child of that union is deemed legitimate. Jane had no choice but to surrender to the invader's knowing touch...
Fearless on the battlefield, Lynx was afraid to love. But Jane slowly stole into his heart. And as the fires of war raged around them, amid treacherous foes and brilliant intrigues, who would have thought that two such unlikely partners would fall in love--or that their breathless passion for each other would outlast...
Fearless on the battlefield, Lynx was afraid to love. But Jane slowly stole into his heart. And as the fires of war raged around them, amid treacherous foes and brilliant intrigues, who would have thought that two such unlikely partners would fall in love--or that their breathless passion for each other would outlast...
483 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 9, 1998
169 people are currently reading
1878 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Henley
73 books639 followersVirginia Syddall was born on December 5, 1935 in England, where her father, Thomas Syddall, taught her to love history. She obtained a degree in History in the University. In 1956, Virginia married Arthur Henley. They moved to America, and now they live most of the year in St. Petersburg, Florida, and they spend the hot summers in Ontario, Canada, where they have their two adult children and three grandsons.
Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
November 29, 2014
A Year and A Day is a very nice medieval historical romance that includes a lot of historical details. Lynx de Warenne is an English Knight who takes possession of Dumfries, a Scottish castle during the fight with Scotland over the borderlands in the late 1200's. Once in the castle, he decides to handfast with a commoner, Jane Leslie, because he is desperate for a son and she comes from a family that seem to be prolific childbearers. Jane is much younger than him and has been allowed to run wild in the lands around the castle. She has healing abilities due to her Celtic heritage and can also communicate with animals. Jane doesn't really want to handfast with Lynx even if he is a noble but she has no choice.
Lynx and Jane are handfasted quickly and consummate their vows which is a bit awkward because they don't really know each other. Lynx is called away to fight for the English and when he comes back six months later, he is overjoyed to find out he is going to be a father. Lynx's sister Marjory comes back with him and quickly sets to work helping Jane learn how to be more assertive with Lynx and showing her how to run a castle. Lynx is very intrigued with the new flirtatous Jane who leads him on a merry chase. Jane gives birth to a son, then sets about to win Lynx's heart so he will wed her because he wants her and not just someone who will give him children. Lynx and Jane fall in love over the course of months and find the intimacy and passion that lovers share. But the war between Scotland and England continues to rage and Lynx is caught right in the middle, so their love and lives are tested by the ensuing events.
I really enjoyed this book. The historical events of the time period are a big part of the story and didn't seem to take away from the main story. I was impressed with the author's ability to show history in all of it's grayness - she showed how conflicted the ties were between the nobles of Scotland and England. Robert the Bruce was a big part of the story and his connections to England and the other contendors for the crown were not glossed over and dumbed down like some books have done. The story itself was very good and seemed to show medieval life as it would have been. Lynx and Jane did not fall instantly in love, it took months of getting to know each other. Their first love scene was a little awkward because they barely knew each other and Lynx just wanted to make a child. Once they fall in love and lust with each other, they are able to look back and laugh at that time. We see a lot of Lynx's actions on the battlefield and in meetings with other nobles which helps show how a warrior in that time period would have lived. Lynx does have a mistress when he decides to handfast Jane, but he doesn't sleep with her (or we aren't told that he did) again - not because he feels he shouldn't because it was acceptable at that time to have a mistress when married but because he was getting sick of her. He brings her to Dumfries where she tries to cause some trouble for Jane but he gets rid of her when he sees what she was doing. He only brought her to the castle because he didn't want to dump her in a strange Scottish city and he doesn't sleep with her there, so rest assured anyone who might be bothered by this. I like Jane a lot in this book, she is caring, loving and strong. She is willing to work to get Lynx to fall in love with her then gets to reap the rewards once he does because he is a very sweet and romantic man. I liked the romance between Lynx and Jane that developed over the second half of the book. We see their attraction and love grow for each other so it's that much sweeter when they finally make passionate love.
Overall, this was a very good medieval historical romance that actually felt historical and accurate for the time period. The story itself was really good and we get to see first hand the beginnings of Scotland's war for independence from England. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good medieval romance.
Lynx and Jane are handfasted quickly and consummate their vows which is a bit awkward because they don't really know each other. Lynx is called away to fight for the English and when he comes back six months later, he is overjoyed to find out he is going to be a father. Lynx's sister Marjory comes back with him and quickly sets to work helping Jane learn how to be more assertive with Lynx and showing her how to run a castle. Lynx is very intrigued with the new flirtatous Jane who leads him on a merry chase. Jane gives birth to a son, then sets about to win Lynx's heart so he will wed her because he wants her and not just someone who will give him children. Lynx and Jane fall in love over the course of months and find the intimacy and passion that lovers share. But the war between Scotland and England continues to rage and Lynx is caught right in the middle, so their love and lives are tested by the ensuing events.
I really enjoyed this book. The historical events of the time period are a big part of the story and didn't seem to take away from the main story. I was impressed with the author's ability to show history in all of it's grayness - she showed how conflicted the ties were between the nobles of Scotland and England. Robert the Bruce was a big part of the story and his connections to England and the other contendors for the crown were not glossed over and dumbed down like some books have done. The story itself was very good and seemed to show medieval life as it would have been. Lynx and Jane did not fall instantly in love, it took months of getting to know each other. Their first love scene was a little awkward because they barely knew each other and Lynx just wanted to make a child. Once they fall in love and lust with each other, they are able to look back and laugh at that time. We see a lot of Lynx's actions on the battlefield and in meetings with other nobles which helps show how a warrior in that time period would have lived. Lynx does have a mistress when he decides to handfast Jane, but he doesn't sleep with her (or we aren't told that he did) again - not because he feels he shouldn't because it was acceptable at that time to have a mistress when married but because he was getting sick of her. He brings her to Dumfries where she tries to cause some trouble for Jane but he gets rid of her when he sees what she was doing. He only brought her to the castle because he didn't want to dump her in a strange Scottish city and he doesn't sleep with her there, so rest assured anyone who might be bothered by this. I like Jane a lot in this book, she is caring, loving and strong. She is willing to work to get Lynx to fall in love with her then gets to reap the rewards once he does because he is a very sweet and romantic man. I liked the romance between Lynx and Jane that developed over the second half of the book. We see their attraction and love grow for each other so it's that much sweeter when they finally make passionate love.
Overall, this was a very good medieval historical romance that actually felt historical and accurate for the time period. The story itself was really good and we get to see first hand the beginnings of Scotland's war for independence from England. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good medieval romance.
September 11, 2019
The novel begins as the heroine is confronted by a lynx while bathing naked in the river near her castle. Not a metaphorical lynx. An honest-t0-god, real-life wild cat who proceeds to pounce on her and then lick her breasts erotically. ROFL. Oh, Virginia Henley, you crazy old cat!!!
The novel then proceeds to introduce the human version of the lynx, named, creatively, Lynx de Warenne. He does a handfasting wth the heroine because he desperately wants a son. Neither his mistress of two years, or his first wife, were able to conceive, or so he thinks.
The mistress has actually been dousing herself with pennyroyal tea to abort her baby every time she finds herself pregnant. Why? Because she does not want to lose her figure. Was she twirling her mustache while imbibing the poisonous tea? Methinks yes.
The hero treats the heroine as a broodmare. The so-called handfasting changes nothing to his relationship with the mistress. He even moves the mistress into the castle where his pregnant wife resides. TYPHOON OF TACKINESS!!!
It is only when the mistress tries to trick the heroine into drinking pennyroyal tea that he reluctantly dismisses her. Not because he loves the heroine but because he is outraged that harm was directed towards his precious heir. No comeuppance other than that.
The mistress leaves with her head held high and coffers full of money, clothes, and jewels that he had gifted her during their two year relationship. The heroine's vile, jealous sister, who helped the mistress poison the heroine, never gets any comeuppance either and dissolves into the mist. I think Virginia Henley needs to take lessons from Teresa Denys on how to write a satisfying comeuppance.
Just when I thought the lynx episode of the first chapter was an isolated acid dream and the story would continue conventionally, the hero is injured during battle and the heroine nurses him back to health with...her breast milk!!!! OMG Virginia, whatever you are smoking, I want some! Pleeeeaaaassssse...
Other than the craziness, which could have earned a " so gloriously bad, it's great" rating, this was a total fail. I never felt that the hero really renounced the OW. He actually got mad and upset when he learned that she had been murdered by her next lover, later on the story. I don't think he would have ever fallen "in love" with the heroine without the healthy, baby son or the weird, breastfeeding episode that seemed to have bonded him to her.
The novel then proceeds to introduce the human version of the lynx, named, creatively, Lynx de Warenne. He does a handfasting wth the heroine because he desperately wants a son. Neither his mistress of two years, or his first wife, were able to conceive, or so he thinks.
The mistress has actually been dousing herself with pennyroyal tea to abort her baby every time she finds herself pregnant. Why? Because she does not want to lose her figure. Was she twirling her mustache while imbibing the poisonous tea? Methinks yes.
The hero treats the heroine as a broodmare. The so-called handfasting changes nothing to his relationship with the mistress. He even moves the mistress into the castle where his pregnant wife resides. TYPHOON OF TACKINESS!!!
It is only when the mistress tries to trick the heroine into drinking pennyroyal tea that he reluctantly dismisses her. Not because he loves the heroine but because he is outraged that harm was directed towards his precious heir. No comeuppance other than that.
The mistress leaves with her head held high and coffers full of money, clothes, and jewels that he had gifted her during their two year relationship. The heroine's vile, jealous sister, who helped the mistress poison the heroine, never gets any comeuppance either and dissolves into the mist. I think Virginia Henley needs to take lessons from Teresa Denys on how to write a satisfying comeuppance.
Just when I thought the lynx episode of the first chapter was an isolated acid dream and the story would continue conventionally, the hero is injured during battle and the heroine nurses him back to health with...her breast milk!!!! OMG Virginia, whatever you are smoking, I want some! Pleeeeaaaassssse...
Other than the craziness, which could have earned a " so gloriously bad, it's great" rating, this was a total fail. I never felt that the hero really renounced the OW. He actually got mad and upset when he learned that she had been murdered by her next lover, later on the story. I don't think he would have ever fallen "in love" with the heroine without the healthy, baby son or the weird, breastfeeding episode that seemed to have bonded him to her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2025
3.5 stars
I am torn on this one. 3.5 stars rating is just perfect for this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the facile storytelling tone and the steamy chemistry between Jane and Lynx, but on the other, there was too much political-war scenes that at length bored me.
I am usually all for meshing historical facts with fiction (though to what extent the history part is factual I don't know because I haven't checked). It did add some gravitas and some layers to the worldbuilding but it also detracted from page time for Jane and Lynx. I guess it was intended to reflect the reality of the times, where a man spent most of his time away at war?
There were also big suspension of disbelief moments (e.g. ), but in the end I rolled with it. Overall, it was a solid medieval HR book but the pacing suffered with too much wartime scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2022
Read: 6/19/20
Not VH's best book but it is still an entertaining read!
Not VH's best book but it is still an entertaining read!
September 26, 2010
It's ok, but I wouldn't recommend it. I found myself wishing the story would move along a little faster.
The conversations among warlords and details of war movements were dull. . I didn't like that Lynx was so selfish sexually during his first two nights with her. Lynx didn't trust women. He thought they were deceitful. Jane became that way too. I didn't like that she was purposely playing hard to get with Lynx. It worked to create more lust, but that is not the kind of story I like to read. Lynx's former mistress and sister were also game playing and/or deceitful. On the positive side, two scenes come to mind that surprised me, one was with the lynx animal at the beginning. The other was the nourishment she gave to Lynx during his healing. Other than those, nothing else surprised or delighted me. I didn't laugh at anything. I was annoyed at a few things. I didn't respect, like or admire the main characters enough.
The conversations among warlords and details of war movements were dull. . I didn't like that Lynx was so selfish sexually during his first two nights with her. Lynx didn't trust women. He thought they were deceitful. Jane became that way too. I didn't like that she was purposely playing hard to get with Lynx. It worked to create more lust, but that is not the kind of story I like to read. Lynx's former mistress and sister were also game playing and/or deceitful. On the positive side, two scenes come to mind that surprised me, one was with the lynx animal at the beginning. The other was the nourishment she gave to Lynx during his healing. Other than those, nothing else surprised or delighted me. I didn't laugh at anything. I was annoyed at a few things. I didn't respect, like or admire the main characters enough.
December 12, 2018
It’s been 18 years but I’ve remembered well. For the craziness of the story it deserves 4 stars. :))
July 15, 2025
4.5⭐️
May 23, 2017
Another book that I would have never read if not for Goodreads challenges.
A Year and a Day has a cute love story but had too many other things that diluted it:
- Info-dumping of historical facts;
- Unnecessary descriptions of battles;
- Paranormal aspect of the story with main heroine Jane being able to communicate with animals. (The beginning resembles a scene from SnowWhite or Sleeping Beauty, at least until lynx starts to lick her nipples. o.O TMI? Sorry.)
Author tried so hard to make erotic scenes unique, but I think maybe she should have stayed with well used attributes and nouns because her descriptions can be a little ... strange? Here's an example of an 'interesting' x-rated passage:
"One minute she was drowning in need, the next she was soaring on the crest of a wave of pleasure, her body dissolving in liquid tremors, sheathing his scalding, marble-hard manroot as it burst, spurting his male essence up inside her like molten sparks of fire."
So if you can handle this kind of descriptions be my guest and read the book. :)
A Year and a Day has a cute love story but had too many other things that diluted it:
- Info-dumping of historical facts;
- Unnecessary descriptions of battles;
- Paranormal aspect of the story with main heroine Jane being able to communicate with animals. (The beginning resembles a scene from SnowWhite or Sleeping Beauty, at least until lynx starts to lick her nipples. o.O TMI? Sorry.)
Author tried so hard to make erotic scenes unique, but I think maybe she should have stayed with well used attributes and nouns because her descriptions can be a little ... strange? Here's an example of an 'interesting' x-rated passage:
"One minute she was drowning in need, the next she was soaring on the crest of a wave of pleasure, her body dissolving in liquid tremors, sheathing his scalding, marble-hard manroot as it burst, spurting his male essence up inside her like molten sparks of fire."
So if you can handle this kind of descriptions be my guest and read the book. :)
September 7, 2021
I didn't much care for first 50% of the book. Both MCs, Lynx and Jane, were very unlikable. Lynx treated Jane with a certain disdain despite the purpose that he handfasted with her. Jane was pretty much a spineless doormat. There were so many secondary characters at play and so much historical infodump.
Second half of the book wasn't too bad. The MCs did a 180 and the romance was sweet and endearing. The level of intimacy and trust they were able to achieve was amazing. Jane grew on me since she finally appeared to have found her spine and Lynx started treating her like she deserved all along. Steam level was 3.5 out of 5. There were plenty tropey twists to keep me mildly entertained. All in all, I felt satisfied after I finished the book despite its slightly off beginning.
Second half of the book wasn't too bad. The MCs did a 180 and the romance was sweet and endearing. The level of intimacy and trust they were able to achieve was amazing. Jane grew on me since she finally appeared to have found her spine and Lynx started treating her like she deserved all along. Steam level was 3.5 out of 5. There were plenty tropey twists to keep me mildly entertained. All in all, I felt satisfied after I finished the book despite its slightly off beginning.
May 3, 2016
Magnífica novela. Al principio tuve mis dudas porque empezó un poco rollo, pero en seguida la historia fue tomando forma y me atrapó completamente. Es una novela medieval de las de antes que nos acerca a la Escocia de William Wallace, y donde aparecen algunos personajes históricos que salían en la película "Braveheart", como Robert de Bruce. En este caso la historia viene desde el punto de vista inglés, al ser el protagonista un noble inglés.
La trama está muy bien trazada y la historia romántica va floreciendo poco a poco.
Salvo un par de costillas que no me han gustado mucho, la historia puede considerarse casi casi perfecta.
La trama está muy bien trazada y la historia romántica va floreciendo poco a poco.
Salvo un par de costillas que no me han gustado mucho, la historia puede considerarse casi casi perfecta.
June 10, 2023
A re-read of this medieval story w/ more political
intrigue than romance. King Edward Plantagenet
directed troops to subdue/ control/ capture the
Scottish. Robert the Bruce pledged his loyalty, but
planned to be the King of Scotland. Gave this 3 stars.
This had sex scenes.
Had 2 romances, widowed English warrior/ baron
& heir to an earl, Lynx, & kind/ beautiful Scottish
commoner, reddish-blonde haired Jane, had the 2nd
sight & healed persons & animals. Marjory (sister
of Lynx) & Robert the Bruce, 2nd couple, loved ea.
other, but became HFN.
King Edward commanded Lynx claim Dumfries castle.
Jane's sire served as steward. Most of his 10 offspring
were married and fertile. Lynx and Jane handfasted
and he went off to war. Upon his return, he saw she
was w/ child.
Marjory taught Jane how to entice & gain the upper
hand on a man. After Jane asserted herself, she
repeated "I will & I shall." Much later, Lynx returned
home from war, near death. Jane used an unusual
source of nourishment to rebuild his strength.
The mistress of Lynx played a smaller part than I
remembered. Lynx tired of her & had no sexual
contact w/ his mistress after he & Jane handfasted.
intrigue than romance. King Edward Plantagenet
directed troops to subdue/ control/ capture the
Scottish. Robert the Bruce pledged his loyalty, but
planned to be the King of Scotland. Gave this 3 stars.
This had sex scenes.
Had 2 romances, widowed English warrior/ baron
& heir to an earl, Lynx, & kind/ beautiful Scottish
commoner, reddish-blonde haired Jane, had the 2nd
sight & healed persons & animals. Marjory (sister
of Lynx) & Robert the Bruce, 2nd couple, loved ea.
other, but became HFN.
King Edward commanded Lynx claim Dumfries castle.
Jane's sire served as steward. Most of his 10 offspring
were married and fertile. Lynx and Jane handfasted
and he went off to war. Upon his return, he saw she
was w/ child.
Marjory taught Jane how to entice & gain the upper
hand on a man. After Jane asserted herself, she
repeated "I will & I shall." Much later, Lynx returned
home from war, near death. Jane used an unusual
source of nourishment to rebuild his strength.
The mistress of Lynx played a smaller part than I
remembered. Lynx tired of her & had no sexual
contact w/ his mistress after he & Jane handfasted.
February 13, 2022
Oh my everytime I read Virginia Henley it is a love hate relationship. This was not one of my favorites because well a few things that happened where just plain weird and one relationship had a terrible ending. But as always she writes an incredible tell. Plot 6.5(1-10) steaminess 7(1-10)
One thing is true Virginia Henley does not always give you the endings you want but the ones she wants you to have!
One thing is true Virginia Henley does not always give you the endings you want but the ones she wants you to have!
May 19, 2013
As the steward of Dumfries Castle. Jane Leslie's father owes allegiance to whoever controls it. Her sisters are all married to abusive jerks, and for some reason they all hate on Jane.
Jane is a healer like her Celtic granny Megotta. She has a telepathic relationship with animals, and she really wants to stay single and hook up with critters instead of human males. (She's too innocent to see this in the way you pervs are thinking.)
Lynx de Warenne is the nephew and heir of John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey and Edward I's appointed guardian of Scotland during the conflict with Balliol and Comyn. Lynx is also a lifelong friend of Robert Bruce. The Bruce is aligned, for now, with King Edward against Balliol, but his aspirations reach well past what Edward is ready to accept.
Lynx wants an heir above all things, and so far as he knows he has not yet sired any brats, despite a previous marriage (she died) and a number of hookups. His current mistress, Alice, is horrified by the way childbearing plays hell with a woman's figure, so she's exercised her "right to choose" without Lynx's knowledge. Upshot: Lynx doubts his own fertility.
When he's named the king's overseer of Dumfries, and he encounters the fecund Leslie family, Lynx decides to handfast with the last unwed Leslie daughter. It's supposedly a super deal for a commoner like Jane—if she manages to conceive he'll marry her and she'll become a countess. Thing is, Jane doesn't care about any of that. She's more or less coerced into the handfast, but she plans to be shed of him in a year and a day, baby or no.
So anyway, they get busy, then he gets called away to fight with the king. When he returns to Dumfries after a few months (WITH HIS MISTRESS IN TOW, thank you very much), he's thrilled to find Jane's pregnant, and ready to marry her. She, OTOH, is ready to kick his philandering ass to the curb, as well she should be. She leads him a merry chase before the HEA.
Behind the romance, we have the conflict between Edward I and William Wallace—with Robert Bruce lurking in the background (and shagging Lynx's sister). Lots (maybe too many) details regarding the battles, and likewise lots of historical figures. 3 stars
Jane is a healer like her Celtic granny Megotta. She has a telepathic relationship with animals, and she really wants to stay single and hook up with critters instead of human males. (She's too innocent to see this in the way you pervs are thinking.)
Lynx de Warenne is the nephew and heir of John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey and Edward I's appointed guardian of Scotland during the conflict with Balliol and Comyn. Lynx is also a lifelong friend of Robert Bruce. The Bruce is aligned, for now, with King Edward against Balliol, but his aspirations reach well past what Edward is ready to accept.
Lynx wants an heir above all things, and so far as he knows he has not yet sired any brats, despite a previous marriage (she died) and a number of hookups. His current mistress, Alice, is horrified by the way childbearing plays hell with a woman's figure, so she's exercised her "right to choose" without Lynx's knowledge. Upshot: Lynx doubts his own fertility.
When he's named the king's overseer of Dumfries, and he encounters the fecund Leslie family, Lynx decides to handfast with the last unwed Leslie daughter. It's supposedly a super deal for a commoner like Jane—if she manages to conceive he'll marry her and she'll become a countess. Thing is, Jane doesn't care about any of that. She's more or less coerced into the handfast, but she plans to be shed of him in a year and a day, baby or no.
So anyway, they get busy, then he gets called away to fight with the king. When he returns to Dumfries after a few months (WITH HIS MISTRESS IN TOW, thank you very much), he's thrilled to find Jane's pregnant, and ready to marry her. She, OTOH, is ready to kick his philandering ass to the curb, as well she should be. She leads him a merry chase before the HEA.
Behind the romance, we have the conflict between Edward I and William Wallace—with Robert Bruce lurking in the background (and shagging Lynx's sister). Lots (maybe too many) details regarding the battles, and likewise lots of historical figures. 3 stars
April 7, 2013
Lynx DeWarren after losing his wife of five years, wonders if he will ever be able to have any children. Not having children from his mistress either, he wonders if its all on him. But he is determined to have a child, as his heir. Then he comes to the Dundries Castle, where he meets the steward, who is father to ten children. And when he finds out about handfasting, where you can handfast with a woman for a year and a day, and if you have a child, that child is legitimate, and at the end of the allotted time you can decide whether to wed or not. So he decides to handfast with Jane Dunfrie, the youngest daughter who has yet to wed. Jane Dunfrie, is afraid of men ever since she was attacked in the woods. Jane has inherited special celtic gifts from her grandmother, as well as her younger brother. Jane is a healer and that is what she wants to do for the rest of her life, however her father has different ideas. So with not much choice, she handfasts with Lynx, but never expected to find...and a tender love in her lynx's arms. This is the first from Virginia Henley that I have read and I read this pretty quickly and I am eager to read more of her books if they are anything like A Year and a Day. I truly enjoyed this story, and I am so glad that I decided to start reading from this author. A Year and a Day is a true classic romance story, It takes place around the time with Robert Bruce, and one of the most romantic times of history, especially since I love anything that involved Scotland, which this story definitely does. I very much loved the plot of this story, and all the characters that were involved, definitely more of a emotionally involved romance. It was definitely fast paced with passion, mystery, adventure and a sparkling love story that will bring tug at your heartstrings. So fasten your seatbelts for one hell of a ride.
April 19, 2012
Superbly Told Tale of an English Nobleman Knight and an Innocent Scottish Lass—Wonderful!
This book won the Maggie Award from the Georgia Romance Authors for Excellence in Writing, and I'm not surprised. It is meticulous, fast-paced and tells an endearing story set in Scotland in the 13th century. It's the story of Lynx de Warenne, English knight, heir to the Earl of Surrey and Edward Plantagenet's most prized warrior--and, Jane Leslie, a Scottish lass with a kind heart and special healing powers. When Lynx became Edward's Governor of Dumfries castle, he decided it was a perfect time to sire an heir. He asked his castle steward, Jock Leslie, to allow him to handfast his youngest daughter. While Jane wanted no man, when her father told her he had agreed to handfast her to the new lord she had no choice.
This is a superbly crafted tale of two people who married for the creation of a child, but discover both passion and an enduring love. Lynx was a hardened warrior who didn't trust women; Jane was an innocent young woman afraid of men. Henley weaves a wonderful story of these two coming to love and trust each other as the winds of war between Scotland and England swirl about them. Once again, Henley crafts a romance with well-researched history and a full menu of characters, both real and fictional, woven in seamlessly as only a master storyteller can do it. I highly recommend this one and it's going on my Best Scottish/Highlander Historical Romances list!
This book won the Maggie Award from the Georgia Romance Authors for Excellence in Writing, and I'm not surprised. It is meticulous, fast-paced and tells an endearing story set in Scotland in the 13th century. It's the story of Lynx de Warenne, English knight, heir to the Earl of Surrey and Edward Plantagenet's most prized warrior--and, Jane Leslie, a Scottish lass with a kind heart and special healing powers. When Lynx became Edward's Governor of Dumfries castle, he decided it was a perfect time to sire an heir. He asked his castle steward, Jock Leslie, to allow him to handfast his youngest daughter. While Jane wanted no man, when her father told her he had agreed to handfast her to the new lord she had no choice.
This is a superbly crafted tale of two people who married for the creation of a child, but discover both passion and an enduring love. Lynx was a hardened warrior who didn't trust women; Jane was an innocent young woman afraid of men. Henley weaves a wonderful story of these two coming to love and trust each other as the winds of war between Scotland and England swirl about them. Once again, Henley crafts a romance with well-researched history and a full menu of characters, both real and fictional, woven in seamlessly as only a master storyteller can do it. I highly recommend this one and it's going on my Best Scottish/Highlander Historical Romances list!
December 3, 2025
↬ Historical Fiction with a side of Romance
This book is in the lines of Alexandre Dumas' brand of Historical Fiction. Real setting, real events, real historical figures and even names and titles that did exist, with the fictional MCs' lives taking place around them.
I can see why it made such impression on me in my teens, since Alexandre Dumas is still one of my favorite authors of all time.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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This book is in the lines of Alexandre Dumas' brand of Historical Fiction. Real setting, real events, real historical figures and even names and titles that did exist, with the fictional MCs' lives taking place around them.
I can see why it made such impression on me in my teens, since Alexandre Dumas is still one of my favorite authors of all time.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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July 7, 2012excellent book if you like romance and also a historical touch. It describes the old ceremony of Handfasting in Scotland. Henley is a fantastic writer. You will enjoy this book very much.
April 7, 2014
Totally forgot I read this...I actually read it a few times. I still have it...lol
August 30, 2020
2,5 estrellas
Definitivamente este género no es para mi. Se me ha hecho pesado y a veces leyendo en diagonal.
Definitivamente este género no es para mi. Se me ha hecho pesado y a veces leyendo en diagonal.
June 28, 2018
A Year and a Day is a strange beast. For a romance novel, it has too many historical details. For a historical novel, it has too much romance. Add to that awkward paranormal elements, and you get the picture. This review lists most of the problems I had with the book.
One of the expressions that struck me as odd for the 1200s:
...they have let the maggots devour their gray matter.
One of the expressions that struck me as odd for the 1200s:
...they have let the maggots devour their gray matter.
February 24, 2021
Another favorite of hers for me. This is one I could definitely read again. Loved it. Haven't read it in years but I know I absolutely loved it.
June 17, 2011
This read like two books, one about Lynx and Jane de Warenne, the other the history of Edward I, Robert Bruce and Wallace. The two sides never completely gelled for me.
I am also dubious about the lynx being a native of Scotland that recently. According to Wikipedia "Britain: It was thought that the lynx had died out in Britain either about 10,000 years ago, after the ice had retreated, or about 4,000 years ago, during a cooler and wetter climate change. However, carbon dating of lynx skulls taken from the National Museums of Scotland and the Craven caves in North Yorkshire show they lived in Britain between 80 and 425 AD". I am more than dubious about turtles being found in Scotland. For a start, the English reserve the name turtle for the marine varieties, freshwater ones being referred to as terrapins. Secondly, from the small distribution map on Wikipedia, it appears that the British Isles are entirely turtle and terrapin free, as a native species that is.
It may not matter to you, but being a pedant and English to boot, it does matter to me.
I am also dubious about the lynx being a native of Scotland that recently. According to Wikipedia "Britain: It was thought that the lynx had died out in Britain either about 10,000 years ago, after the ice had retreated, or about 4,000 years ago, during a cooler and wetter climate change. However, carbon dating of lynx skulls taken from the National Museums of Scotland and the Craven caves in North Yorkshire show they lived in Britain between 80 and 425 AD". I am more than dubious about turtles being found in Scotland. For a start, the English reserve the name turtle for the marine varieties, freshwater ones being referred to as terrapins. Secondly, from the small distribution map on Wikipedia, it appears that the British Isles are entirely turtle and terrapin free, as a native species that is.
It may not matter to you, but being a pedant and English to boot, it does matter to me.
October 12, 2014
I am currently rereading this book. I forgot how much I loved it! I thought the story was fast paced. After reading Diana Gabaldon for the past year; I welcome a fast paced story.
A cliffhanger in one chapter is solved in the next, thus followed by another cliffhanger that is quickly resolved.
Lynx is so sexy it kills me. Robert the Bruce is a guy I would like to have a few drunken nights with.
The sex scenes in this book are STEAMY! My god !
I love this book. It is sexy fun and doesn't leave you wanting for more.
This is one of my favorite Henley books.
Pick this book up! You won't regret it! I just wish all of Henley's books were as steamy as A Year and a Day!
A cliffhanger in one chapter is solved in the next, thus followed by another cliffhanger that is quickly resolved.
Lynx is so sexy it kills me. Robert the Bruce is a guy I would like to have a few drunken nights with.
The sex scenes in this book are STEAMY! My god !
I love this book. It is sexy fun and doesn't leave you wanting for more.
This is one of my favorite Henley books.
Pick this book up! You won't regret it! I just wish all of Henley's books were as steamy as A Year and a Day!
March 7, 2009
Pretty good book. King Edward's prized warrior Lynx de Warenne invades Dumfries castle and takes possession of Jan Leslie's home. They handfast for a year and a day. Lynx is afraid to love but Jane slowly steals his heart.
March 4, 2009
Really enjoyed this!
September 27, 2016
KİTAP SADECE ZAMAN KAYBI
July 14, 2020
I have to admit that this fell a bit short. I love the Scottish a year and a day tradition and was glad to finally have a book surrounding it but this wasn’t really how I expected it would be.
April 7, 2020
This is a lot better than what I was expecting, even though the first chapter is very weird and almost made me give it up.
What I liked the most it's not one of those historical romances that completely ignores the events happening at that time period, like the author never heard of a history book before.
This one while it does have your typical romance where you can't figure out where it's coming from or the reasons behind it, it's still deeply immersed in current events and even features historical figures.
Including Robert The Bruce here was fantastic since he was someone I was interested in reading more about and I love how the plot was so integrated with actual facts! What a rare treat!
What I liked the most it's not one of those historical romances that completely ignores the events happening at that time period, like the author never heard of a history book before.
This one while it does have your typical romance where you can't figure out where it's coming from or the reasons behind it, it's still deeply immersed in current events and even features historical figures.
Including Robert The Bruce here was fantastic since he was someone I was interested in reading more about and I love how the plot was so integrated with actual facts! What a rare treat!
July 23, 2025
Not what I expected from Virginia Henley. The whole scheme to make Lynx notice “plain Jane” was immature and silly. Jane seemed too witless and insecure. In the beginning she had fire but once she got pregnant she was a pushover, no thanks! Lynx sister helping Jane to get noticed while the evil mistress is living under the same roof. It’s all weird and tacky. Lynx is an oaf.
March 26, 2019
I really enjoyed all the historical details almost as much as I enjoyed the romance 😊
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