Judith Ryan was twenty years old and a four day newlywed to Peter Ryan. Peter was a forty-year-old, world-renowned antiquarian who had been called to Ireland to do a dig at the ancient site of Dun Tirlough. Judith knew the courtship had been fast, but she could only see happiness and possibilities with this older man. The two newlyweds were housed in an old estate's cottage which stood next to an ancient Celtic garden.

After two days in Ireland, Judith began to realize that the Peter who had courted her in the States was not the man she had married. He treated her with indifference and as though she was a child in the way. The two had not even consummated their marriage.

When Judith confronted Peter about his behavior and her dreams for the future-which included children-he responded by slapping her in the face and trying to rape her. Judith was able to escape and ran to the old gardens, coming upon a well. Celts of the Dark Ages would toss treasures down wells in hopes that the Gods and Goddesses would answer their wishes. Judith took her mother's gold necklace and offered up a plea to the Druid Mother Goddess, Danu, to help her find a man who would love and respect her. After dropping the necklace in the well, the stones at the edge gave way, dropping Judith into its depths.

Awaking next to the well, Griffon, youngest son to Connault, Lord of Dun Tirlough, watched Judith. Lord Connault lived during the Dark Ages. Griffon was at the well as he had been told that a witch who had put a sickness spell on his father would appear there. He told those at the Keep that he would go find the witch and bring her back to remove the spell. Griffon knew immediately that Judith was not a witch. But his honor as a warrior would not let him leave her there alone. Griffon believed that Judith had been abandoned (and he could see beaten) by her husband. Finally receiving her acceptance of him as her champion, Griffon took Judith back to Dun Tirlough-not only to keep her safe, but to marry her.

Having always been intrigued by Celtic history and Druid mysticism, I found this love story to be fun to read as it has both. It is intriguing to see how Judith copes with her 21st-century freedom being curtailed quite a bit by Dark Age customs. And at times I found myself being both angry and sympathetic toward Griffon as he struggles with old demons that must be cast out if he is to be happy with his new found love.

Reviewed By: Kathy Martin
(c) October 2004