Rating: 
Summary: Celtic evangelism takes a new twist.
Review: This Irish Coleen dwelled in the desciptions of her ancestors land, learning much about the Emerald Isle's history and religion from this rapid action,romantic fiction novel. The spirit of Ireland is portrayed captivatingly through the strength of the warrior queen, defending her home, and the captive groom defending his faith. A good cool weather fireside read to warm ye bones.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Surprise
Review: Under conviction of God, I gave up "secular romance" novels a few years ago. But I really missed the stories set during the Viking to mideval time period, since most Christian novelists don't write about those times. Maire (pronounced MOY-rah) was such a wonderful surprise, weaving the story of the ancient Celts in with the spread of the Gospel to the Emerald Isle. Linda Windsor's attention to detail, knowledge of the historical era, and wonderful description brought the characters and the time period to life. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating!! Could not put it down!!
Review: Wonderful tale of the religion of the "One True God" and its early development in Ireland. As I read this book I found myself longing to be a part of the faithful people of Erin when Christianity was taking hold of its people. These people were so devout in their religion, it made me realize how much we have back slided with Christianity. Maire is engaging. She is an empowered woman seeking what is best for her people even if it means marrying a Christian hostage from another land. Witness the sparks of faith in Maire and the people of Gleannmara as she falls in love with Rowan and his God. You will not be able to put it down. I can not wait to read the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating!! Could not put it down!!
Review: Wonderful tale of the religion of the "One True God" and its early development in Ireland. As I read this book I found myself longing to be a part of the faithful people of Erin when Christianity was taking hold of its people. These people were so devout in their religion, it made me realize how much we have back slided with Christianity. Maire is engaging. She is an empowered woman seeking what is best for her people even if it means marrying a Christian hostage from another land. Witness the sparks of faith in Maire and the people of Gleannmara as she falls in love with Rowan and his God. You will not be able to put it down. I can not wait to read the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating!! Could not put it down!!
Review: Wonderful tale of the religion of the "One True God" and its early development in Ireland. As I read this book I found myself longing to be a part of the faithful people of Erin when Christianity was taking hold of its people. These people were so devout in their religion, it made me realize how much we have back slided with Christianity. Maire is engaging. She is an empowered woman seeking what is best for her people even if it means marrying a Christian hostage from another land. Witness the sparks of faith in Maire and the people of Gleannmara as she falls in love with Rowan and his God. You will not be able to put it down. I can not wait to read the next book in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: One True Faith and Begorrah
Review: [This review, by Sinead Fox, originally appeared on www.IrishSide.com.] More contemporary Christian than Irish, more romance novel than historical novel, Linda Windsor's new book, Maire, may face a challenge in finding an audience. I fear that this work, the first in a series entitled "The Fires of Gleannmara," will be marketed to those having an interest in Irish culture or history, and this audience may not receive it warmly. The novel begins with "A forward, as 'twere, from Erin's heart . . ." "Gleannmara. Ah, the sound of it warms me to me earthly core. 'Tis one of me favorite spots, nestled as it is between me mist-shrouded Wicklows and the Irish Sea. The Romans, you see, once dubbed me island Scotia and me people Scots, which is why some of me children took that name to Scotland later on...." It goes on like this, as "the Emerald Isle of Ireland-Erin, for short" gives the reader a brief history of Ireland's people from the very beginning to the rise of Christianity. The novel then begins the story of Rowan of Emerys, a Romanized Welshman with a past, and Maire, a Celtic warrior-queen with a future. They meet on the field of battle, then fall into a marriage of convenience that blossoms into a love match. He is a mature, battle-hardened soldier who now longs for life of Christian spirituality, she is a fiery pagan beauty desperate to prove herself capable of saving her people from the druid Morlach. The contrasts between the two--Rowan's age, strength, wisdom versus Maire's youth, vulnerability, and inexperience--is the stuff of countless romance stories. Windsor's novel, however, is set apart from other romance novels by two things: its unsparing Irishness and its unapologetically Christian orientation. I say unsparingly Irish, because Windsor lays on the begosh and begorrah a bit thick at times. The language, from the forward to the bibliography, is a torrent of dialect and colorful metaphor that may charm anyone who doesn't actually know any Irish people, but will probably make anyone who does uncomfortable. The book includes a glossary for the Irish words and phrases used in the story (and there are plenty), and a bibliography of sources. Yet for the effort that Windsor makes to demonstrate her scholarship, her knowledge comes off as wide but not deep--more like an expository Discovery Channel documentary than a meticulously authentic James Michener novel. I say unapologetically Christian, because Christian themes are thoroughly woven into the fabric of the novel. The hero dreams of turning his life over to God, the heroine struggles to understand her husband's strange religion, and a number of important characters are either introduced as Christians or convert to Christianity by the end of the story. Rowan and Maire do not give in to their passions before their marriage is blessed by a priest, and Rowan demonstrates a boundless capacity to forgive. I was surprised to find that, for as heavy-handed as Windsor's treatment of Irish language is, her evangelism is more refined: It is warm, joyful and doesn't give into sappiness or preachiness. Though I personally like my romance novels smuttier, my historical novels more sweeping, and my Irish writing less colorful, I was warmed by Linda Windsor's likable characters and cheerful devotion to Christian principles. I confess that if it weren't my job to read Maire, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. Having read it, though, I'm glad I did. [Copyright 2000 The Irish Side. All rights reserved.]
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