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The Archer Daughter edition by Melissa MacKinnon For the Muse Designs Romance eBooks

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The Archer Daughter edition by Melissa MacKinnon For the Muse Designs Romance eBooks

Cate Archer isn't your typical fourteenth century heroine. She's an enigma--a rather exquisite combination of untapped innocence and savior. She's young and slight, barely more than a girl, yet she alone is depended upon to bring food to her entire village--men, women, and children--perhaps because she's willing to hunt where no one else will: the king's land. But sustenance isn't the reason she's there.

She's there for murder.

Following her father's death at the hands of the king, she vows vengeance. The problem is, she's not sure who the murderer was...only that he was a representative of the king. So she takes to the king's forest, systematically eliminating representatives of the crown. After she sends back a tax man's head, sans his body, her personal message to the king makes her a wanted woman.

And Lord Owen Gray wants her bad.

What should have been a simple imprisonment turns into a tenuous bond between enemies, then a love affair. But what's forbidden turns dangerous when members of the king's guard find Owen with Cate. With both their lives on the line, Owen's next move stings of betrayal, leaving Cate to question everything she believed about the man who didn't just claim her body, but her heart. Despite his assurances, he still harbors a secret...a deadly one. And the next victim of that secret just might be her.

THE ARCHER'S DAUGHTER, MacKinnon's sophomore release, is a well written historical romance craftily woven in the context of England's 1381 Peasant Revolt. It's an interesting time period--one we don't see often within the realm of historical fiction--but the story isn't lost to the telling of facts. Rather, readers will find THE ARCHER'S DAUGHTER is a thrilling, unpredictable ride that will leave readers breathless until the final twist--one no fan of historical romance should miss.

ARC provided for review


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The Archer Daughter edition by Melissa MacKinnon For the Muse Designs Romance eBooks Reviews

The story was engaging and the characters were intriguing but it does have explicit s dual scenarios. Many aspects of the characters and setting were underdeveloped. Lastly, the ending was rushed and ultimately ruined it for me.
Interesting. But unbelievable that a woman, actually young girl had that much power, especially during that era in time
The Archer's Daughter by Melissa MacKinnon reads very much like a feminine Robin Hood. The story is set in medieval England, and as in Robin Hood, there is desperation among the people stemming from ever increasing taxes and greedy unscrupulous tax collectors. Cate Archer had only her father, who was a master bow maker. Kate became very skilled at shooting and hunting with her bow and was more comfortable in her less than feminine attire, which allowed her to move with stealth and comfort when in the woods. Her father had taught Cate how to survive and thrive in less than optimal conditions, and this became the life she enjoyed, and would ultimately depend on for survival for herself and her community.
King Richard had pledged to decrease the taxes, and to work fairly and honestly with the poor and downtrodden, which was received with open arms. At last-relief! Yet relief proved to be an illusion as tax collectors multiplied, and their demands increased until the villagers were starving and ill. Just the opposite of the King's promise. And so, Cate's father was to meet with Richard's men to discuss the problem when he was violently assaulted and murdered by the king's men.
In despair and anguish, Cate became the leader of a resistance group aimed at finding the person responsible for the death of her father and It did not take long before soldiers were sent to kill or capture the rebels. But because Cate's community was deeply entrenched within the forest it was fairly easy to evade the soldiers for a time. In the meantime the rebel s and the community were starving and wasting away, with no means of survival. They unknowingly depended on Cate to hunt to provide food for them, while often going hungry herself for three or four days when supplies were low.
And it was one of those very days when Cate, tired and hungry, encountered a group of the king's men, led by Owen, son of the man who commanded the kings soldiers. Eventually Cate was captured by Owen, who arrested her, chained her up, and proceeded to take her to prison. Soon enough Cate's band of warriors attempted to rescue her and in the process of the rescue Owen's leg was severely injured. During the melee when the rebels were attempting to rescue Cate, she overheard some information that placed Owen in danger; but because Owen had treated her with consideration and kindness, Cate sent her warriors home while she stayed behind to provide care for Owen's wound and to get him away from the danger that was stalking him. Now the stalker was being stalked!
Unknown to Cate, Owen had fallen in love with her at first glance, and it did not take Cate long to return his feelings. As a function of their being together so much while she tended to his wound, Owen began to understand that the situation was not limited to Cate's community but had spread to the rest of the nation as well. effect that the living situation of Cate's community, all under his father's control. While they were honest, hard working, industrious people who just wanted to survive, they were slowly being exterminated by the unending greedy grasp of government!
Eventually Cate and Owen were captured by his father but Owen made it seem as though he was in the process of returning Cate to prison after she had escaped. Owen's father was so angry at Cate that he decided to make a spectacle out of her hanging, so he commanded his men to round up more rebels, men, women and children, everybody, anybody they could capture and wring a confession out of, to be arrested and sentenced to hang. He wanted vengeance and decided to have mass hangings, even hanging children and the dead. He told them King Richard was expected to attend, which whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
In the meantime Owen had devised a plan to save Cate, who was perishing in a cell filled with others who were ill, and dying, all awaiting their turn for the noose. Time was not on Cate's side nor Owen's as he rushed to pull his plan together. Would he fail Cate Would she believe his love for her? Could she give up her plan to find her father's killer?
MacKinnon sets a rapid pace and maintains it throughout the tale. There is no extra detail, or filler in this story so in many ways her brisk style is invigorating. However, there are a few scenes which called for a "little" bit of softening, slowing down, and further introspection. MacKinnon didn't waste any time in which to fill out or provide texture for relationships. Cate has friends who consider her a substitute daughter and as she discovers her attraction, perhaps even love of Owen, no time is taken to embellish the dynamics, or to explore the nuances of those feelings and what those might mean to everybody involved. While I personally do not care for a lot of "filler" I do think it would be appropriate and fitting to set the stage, talk about the touchy feelies a little more in depth., like why did they need a substitute daughter, or personal interaction between she and Owen. Not so much that it becomes gooey but just a touch to provide some sense of color to a scene instead of the "just the facts " pace that was predominant of the rest of the story, including the few sexual encounters that take place.
I am one of those readers who likes a story all tied up neatly and whine when there is no epilogue. I have never felt as though a story is complete without a good epilogue. While there are some authors that can finish well without one, not many can. An epilogue provides the reader with an opportunity to accept that the story is coming to an end, to shift focus from the evolution of the story to the future of it. An epilogue doesn't have to be long and drawn out, or filled with the marriage and requisite twins on the horizon. It can be as simple as "The End" , well almost. However MacKinnon terminated this story just as she wrote it, abruptly- chop chop! I was turning pages looking for more before I realized "The End" had come and gone, just like eggs off Teflon .
So, even though this tale is a simple repeat of Robin Hood, MacKinnon did manage to give it a little different perspective. I enjoyed Cate, she was spirited, feisty, and self-sufficient, maintaining her femininity, without being obnoxiously tough. Cate is an honest woman both with herself and with others, while love and loyalty is her strength, and she makes no excuses for herself. A real heroine-a real woman! MacKinnon allowed her the freedom to be who she was, without apology, and maintained her personality integrity to the very end.
Owen presents as a man of contradictions. He is the spare of the one and a spare attitude that was prevalent in the medieval era. Owen was bastard born and when his older brother did not survive Owen's father took him from his mother and raised him. Owen grew up wanting and coveting his father's approval and love, but never quite felt he had achieved it. His father's approval was illusive and just outside Owen's grasp no matter what he did to achieve it. Yet, when confronted with Cate, the underlying issues of the rebellion, his father's cruelty and dishonesty, Owen was able to sift through all of the conflicting information and emotions to solidify and resolve his own ego integrity without compromising those he loved and who depended on him, while providing a resolution that was fair and just for everyone.
Owen and Cate were the perfect counterparts, and they balanced one another perfectly. Neither demanding, neither subservient, each a half of a whole, strong separately yet stronger as one. Cate and Owen's relationship, though built at a rapid pace, was the most satisfying part of the book for me and long after I have forgotten another Robin Hood, I will remember them.
Well done MacKinnon but could you just round it out with a little silk, velvet, something?
This is a 10 star book. I've read over 300 books in the past 4 years and this is without my number one pick!! I love the chararcters, especially Cate who is not the average "miss" and her escapades. She made me want to learn how to use a bow & arrow and go hunting!!

A MUST READ!!!
I was hooked from the first chapter. This book was a show stopper. Never have I read a short story of this genre with as detailed a story plot and characters as this one. This is the perfect combination of romance and excitement. I could watch the scenes in my mind perfectly. The words came right off the page!
I didn't finish this book but only because it wasn't really a clean read.
The blurb actually summarizes quite well what this book is about, so I won't bother anybody with my recap.

I actually liked the book quite well. Cate was a worthy heroine, who met her hero on equal terms. Owen was very likable. I absolutely loved to what lengths he went to save the love of his life. There was enough background information on the hero/ine to support their characters and actions accordingly. Also, the author created with her descriptions atmosphere and ambience which allowed the perfect stage for the plot to unravel.

Why then only 3*? Because I think that the thread relating to the murder of Cate's father wasn't elaborated enough. In any case, this was a basic factor in the plot and definitely needed to be expanded further. Also, there were no explanations regarding what happened with the villain when his scheme was detected. Finally, I considered the ending far too rushed.
Cate Archer isn't your typical fourteenth century heroine. She's an enigma--a rather exquisite combination of untapped innocence and savior. She's young and slight, barely more than a girl, yet she alone is depended upon to bring food to her entire village--men, women, and children--perhaps because she's willing to hunt where no one else will the king's land. But sustenance isn't the reason she's there.

She's there for murder.

Following her father's death at the hands of the king, she vows vengeance. The problem is, she's not sure who the murderer was...only that he was a representative of the king. So she takes to the king's forest, systematically eliminating representatives of the crown. After she sends back a tax man's head, sans his body, her personal message to the king makes her a wanted woman.

And Lord Owen Gray wants her bad.

What should have been a simple imprisonment turns into a tenuous bond between enemies, then a love affair. But what's forbidden turns dangerous when members of the king's guard find Owen with Cate. With both their lives on the line, Owen's next move stings of betrayal, leaving Cate to question everything she believed about the man who didn't just claim her body, but her heart. Despite his assurances, he still harbors a secret...a deadly one. And the next victim of that secret just might be her.

THE ARCHER'S DAUGHTER, MacKinnon's sophomore release, is a well written historical romance craftily woven in the context of England's 1381 Peasant Revolt. It's an interesting time period--one we don't see often within the realm of historical fiction--but the story isn't lost to the telling of facts. Rather, readers will find THE ARCHER'S DAUGHTER is a thrilling, unpredictable ride that will leave readers breathless until the final twist--one no fan of historical romance should miss.

ARC provided for review