A Tender Magic

Leandra and her cousin Brenna, both of Lyonesse, make a clandestine visit to the witch of the forest to obtain a love potion. Motherless, with her people needing protection, Leandra will do anything she needs to do to secure her widower fiancé’s affection, as well as the might of his troops, including binding him to her with a elixir containing heaven knows what.

Garrett Bernay longs to regain his family's honor, honor lost when his uncle betrayed the king. In the service of Reginald, Earl of Tremelyn, he must prove himself worthy of the knight’s cloak and family sword he’s been granted. Lord Reginald charges him to retrieve the lady of Lyonesse, and bring her across the sea to Tremelyn. But things never really go quite as planned...

Linda Madl crafts a lovely and entertaining medieval romance in A Tender Magic. Reminiscent of the classic tale of Arthurian legend (with a twist), Leandra, Garrett, and Reginald take up the reins of the Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle as this story progresses. Leofric, heir to the earldom of Casseldorne, is aptly cast as the villain of this piece, and serves to further confuse and muck things up with his scary presence. A warrior maiden, Leandra is no easily cowed miss, and her passion and beauty shine through as Ms. Madl weaves this tale of lust, unrequited love, and chivalry. Garrett is a hero of dreams – handsome and stalwart – albeit with the prejudices and misogynistic ideals of a man of his time. In spite of that, though, he is likeable. The sparks fly when he tries to impose his will upon Leandra, and a twist of events, orchestrated by the vivacious and sparkling Brenna, serve to cast the die that will determine the fate of Leandra and Garrett. Linda Madl’s A Tender Magic will surely tug at your heart and have you rooting for these two finely wrought characters, even as you snicker at the mess they find themselves in

Reviewed by: Michelle