The Irish Warrior

Ashley York has written a wonderful love stories during the Norman Invasion of 1066. Not an easy subject or time, yet The Irish Warrior captures you as you worry for Thomasina (aka Tommy) as she fights for her future. She is hiding from her father who has used her to pay a gambling debt. Sean finds her stealing his horse, although Tommy knows it is her horse... and so the story of them begins.

The Irish Warrior was an enjoyable novella. One that wasn’t too quick to read (ie ended too quickly). This is the second book by Ashley York that I have read and will continue to read her novels.

An adventure to observe Sean and Thomasina's journey.....definitely a story to curl up in front of warm fire and be swept away.

Novellas are great when they’re as good as this one. It is on the long side for a Novella, but I enjoy the break from a full length novel at times.
I found this novella to be a pleasurable read. You will definitely want to read it in one sitting if at all possible. I read it in two days as it was a very busy time of the year with the Christmas season.
Even though it's the third book in the author's Norman Conquest series, and I did not read the first two it works very well as standalone if that is your preference.
I would recommend THE IRISH WARRIOR to anyone who enjoys historical romances featuring swoon-worthy heroes who voice a sexy brogue.
I would give this story a 4.25 star rating.
.

I have not read the earlier books in this series, but I will as soon as time allows. This is a medieval novella and I enjoyed it.
Sean O'Cisoghe was in England to see Brighit, his childhood love, married. Brighit has always thought of Sean as a brother, to his dismay. She tells him there is someone for him but it was never her.
While returning to the coast he encounters Thomasina, dressed as a lad, claiming his rented horse is her stolen horse. He takes her with him to the coastal town where he rented the horse and plans to hire a boat to return to Ireland. They encounter trouble and have to leave the town. While hiding in a cave she knows, her brother and his friends come and agree to help him get to the coast and a boat.
That is a very simplistic description as I don't like plot spoilers, especially in a short book. However, I liked watching this warrior lose his heart while trying to help Tommy. While not a great book, it is a good story and this author has potential. I will her other books. Thanks to netgalley for allowing me a copy.

Another of Ashley's books that just grabbed me and took be for a ride. One of my favorite tropes is the heroine disguised as a male and the author did it justice.

Thomasina was very easy to feel for. She just wanted to live her life on her terms and not that of her drunkard father who sold her to pay his debts.

Enter, Sean, a man who is just wallowing in his thoughts about how his love got away from him. He encounters "Tommy" rather abruptly and sees through "his" disguise.

I loved the scenes by the fire. Poor Sean, seeing that rounded bottom, did not help disguise the fact that he was attracted to Tommy.

This story builds up to the action and it's full of rotten men, mistaken identity, and accusations. It does crescendo into a sweet wedding ceremony and HEA. Personally, I would like to see a story about Tommy's brother and friends. Now that was an entertaining group of men.

*I received an early copy of this book (via NetGalley) for an honest review*

5 plus stars: Another Ashley York winner!

Wonderful novella by Ashley York as she writes another captivating quick paced page turner, though it is is lengthy for a novella which is alway a plus for me! This exceptional book is long enough to get attached to the character which in this book is Sean and Thomasina .

Blackpool, England 1075

Fans of Ms. York will remember Sean O'Cisoghe in The Gentle Knight, Brighit and Peter's in book 2 of her fabulous "Norman Conquest" series and not in the most favorable light. Let's just say he doesn't take rejection like a gentleman. So he now has left Eire to get over his broken heart and had major chip on his shoulder. After a two year absence he is planning to return to his Clan in Eire and this is when he meets spitfire,Thomasina MacDonnell who accuse's him of taking her horse without permission! Thomasina is dressed as a lad for her own protection. Her brother Niall had her hiding in a cave as her drunkard father, gave her away ton town evil and unscrupulous man to pay off his gambling debts. Plus the idea of bartering with your own daughter in a way to pay off your debts is disgusting and wrong on so many levels. Now what will happen when her uncaring father and her so called betrothed catch up to her ?

Thomasina is also looking for her missing brother who should of returned long by now who was out stealing sheep and she s concerned trouble might of found öu Sean who recognizes Tommy ( Thomasina) as a female right away but doesn't let her know. Sean teaches her how to act more manly for her own protection łašand they go on this journey together as he has become her protector but not without some danger that involves the evil Ivan From The Gentle Knight and as evil as ever and might even cost Sean his very life. You can feel the sparks and chemistry between Sean and Thomasina which made this such a fun read!

This was a wonderful read that has drama, humor, heart melting moments, danger and romance. The love scenes were sizzling and beautiful. It was another spectacular read that has you rooting for the couple and readers of the series will be happy to see Sean moving on with his life, becoming the man he was meant to be. I loved it. You can read as a stand alone book but I personally find it more fun reading in series order to know the background of characters from previous books. Again it is not necessary but a personal choice.

I have been reading Ms. Ashley's novels since her debut as a wonderful author. Her book's always capture my attention from cover to cover filled with riveting adventure, mystery, suspense, drama, conflict, passion and of course love - plus detailed setting, amazing dialogue with character's that come to life and capture my heart!

I can not wait for Book 4 in The Norman Conquest Series"The Seventh Son"! This is to be released on March 30, 2016.

The Irish Warrior by Ashley York is another exceptional, superbly written, riveting story you don't want to miss! I highly recommend! ~B

***I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review through netgalley.com***

Books by Ashley York

The Bruised Thistle

The Norman Conquest Series

1.The Saxon Bride 2.The Gentle Knight 3. The Irish Warrior - 166 pages novella 4. The Seventh Son - *To be Released March 30, 2016 pre-order available now.

The Irish Warrior - A Norman Conquest by Ashley York is a great book with our heroine, Thomasina MacDonell, aka Tommy, who disguised as a young boy seeking her missing brother. An Irish warrior, Sean O'Cisoghe, our hero is wallowing in self-pity, his thoughts are filled with how his love got away from him and all he wants to do is go home. Sean encounters Tommy “aka Thomasina” rather abruptly and sees through "his" disguise. Tommy discovers her drunkard father has sold her horse to unbeknownst to Sean to pay off one off his debts and her father has betrothed Thomasina to an old lecher to pay a debt. Thomasina unsuccessfully tries to reclaim her horse from Sean and their adventure begins. Sean, a warrior, starts giving her advice on how to act properly as a young man. This a sweet romance with strong emotions that ignites fiery passion between those two sad souls. The story is filled plenty of funny antics, action and adventures to keep you turning the pages of this novella!
I received a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

“I considered ye mine. From the first.” – Sean O'Cisoghe

When you're hooked with a series from the very first book, you often find yourself hoping for more of the characters you encounter and like to get their happy ending. It doesn't always happen. It certainly isn't a must for writers to give you, the reader, what you want. They simply follow their whims and the stories in their own minds, and deliver us goodies to read and enjoy.

Thankfully, Mrs. York's whims and mind seem to be in sync with our desires! Proven by the fact that not only she gave us Peter after we fell in love with him in the first book, but now, after pining for Sean in the second book, she made it happen: she gave us so much Sean goodness, the result was overwhelming and left us ready for more!

So, if you don't remember Sean, here's a little reminder: he was the Irish cutie who wanted to marry Brighit in the second book. The one I feared would turn dark and then I would cry because, come on, I'm jinxed, most of the fictional hunks I like either become villains, or, well, they die! But not Sean, no siree! The man not only remained loyal and good, even if he got rejected, he even maintained his honor despite the heartbreak he experienced.

Most men would have taken advantage of Thomasina the way things went between her and Sean. A heartbroken man tends to do cruel things, no offense to any gentleman reading this, but it's true. You're just more impulsive when you're hurt. So, when Sean found Thomasina pretending to be a Tommy, understandably he wanted nothing to do with her. Even so, he still helped her, he still protected her, and no matter how tempting he found her, he kept true to his code and respected her.

Now that's some serious good writing right there, people. I've said it before many times, but if there's one thing Ashley York has in spades, it's her knowledge of her characters. Many writers tend to forget how they created their characters in the first place - especially if there's too many of them - and, under the disguise of growth, change them entirely.

SHE never did that! She showed character growth in both Tommy and Sean, without making them completely different people. She gave them lots of REAL opportunities to fall in love, to develop their romantic feelings, and even allowed them to doubt them because they were so incredibly humane, and humans make mistakes, and they learn from them. Because this is the main theme governing her stories: the poor choices of people, understandably and realistically so, and their efforts to rise from the bottom, to stand up again and move on knowing better this time. She delivered that and so much more. And She. Was. BRILLIANT in doing so!

I can't wait to see who will be the next lead. And I have no fear: they will certainly have a maginificent story to tell us.

“I ken ye are my tomorrow.” – Thomasina MacDonell

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

Other review sites:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1676689713

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2ZQRVB8GAVIT7/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01593SYQO

The review can also be found at the book's LibraryThing page.

I wondered what would happen to Sean after leaving the Priory and seeing his love marry another, but no longer.

On his way to catch a ride home, the horse he is riding is abruptly called to the side of a young lad claiming that the horse is his, however the young lad is not a lad but a lass, and so the adventure begins.

In this book we meet up with a few favourite characters and if you didn't like Sean in the last book you'll definitely love him in this. It's a book you can't put down and is definitely a keeper.

The Irish Warrior ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ written by Ashley York
(The Norman Conquest #2.5)

We met Sean O'Cisoghe in The Gentle Knight book #2 of this series.
He was the cast away suitor of Brighit a bit part so to speak. In this story the author developed him into a sincere, honorable man with much to offer.
She has you routing for this cast off with a vengeance.

As Sean is returning to his homeland a young lad spots him riding his horse and demands it back. Now Sean let this horse from what he thought was a reputable farrier. As Sean listens to this lads story he beginnings to notice just how unmanly this lad in trews appears. Sean knows this is a young woman. She explains she is in search of her brother. Sean offers to have her accompany him until he returns the horse. He remains secretive about her disguise.

This book is a quick read full of danger, laugh your sides humor and sizzling romantic scenes. Thomasina MacDonell our lad/lass is such a heartwarming character full of mischief, love and fear. Her life has not been an easy road and when she meets our Sean it is kismet and serendipity colliding.

I throughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I believe Romance is Ashley York's middle name.