Lisle MacHugh, widow of the Laird MacHugh who died at Culloden, is left mother to her step-daughters and caretaker of ailing aunts. As head of the clan, she struggles to keep them fed and clothed, and, with the MacHugh castle falling down about them, with a working roof over their heads.

Langston Leed Monteith, aka the Black Monteith, was banished many years ago by his father. Returning to Scotland after the Battle of Culloden and shortly before his father’s death, he now fights to reclaim his family name and all entitlements.

Langston Monteith rescues Lisle MacHugh from the Highland Rangers. He knows that she despises him, but her blue eyes and fiery hair draw him to her. He will do anything and give anything to have her for all time.

Lisle MacHugh is attracted to the Black Monteith and she fights it with all she is. He is known as a friend to the English, and, with his reputation for buying up all the lands lost to the other clans, he is despised throughout Scotland.

Lisle’s love for the MacHughs is enduring and she will do whatever she must for them to survive and prosper, but she feels betrayed when they agree to give her hand to the Black Monteith for gold reversing their ill fortune.

Jackie Ivie has a taut thriller in Heat of the Knight. Her character portrayal of the Black Monteith was tremendous; the deception and misdirection were an awesome thread through out the plot. Lisle’s reactions to her discoveries and her knowledge of the Black Monteith gain momentum and you glory with her when she realizes what is going on. Take your time and read slowly so you don’t miss a thing. I know when you get started, you will want to gobble it up at one sitting but disabuse yourself of the notion. This is one book you don’t want to rush through.

Reviewed by: Dana P.