Reviewed by Roberta

TITLE: The Archer’s Arrow

SERIES: Ren Faire Romance

AUTHOR: A. J. Marcus

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 210 pages

BLURB: Former Olympic archer Robin Lockwood quit competing and now runs an archery booth at the Ren Faire. He enjoys his unencumbered life with few attachments but lots of casual friends. Traveling across the country from fair to fair adds spice to his life.

John Aquitaine found acting in college and started a comedy show with his good friend, Pete. They are the “Perfect Princes,” and it helps John escape real life. The gypsy lifestyle lets him keep people at arm’s length until an arrow nearly hits him and he meets the handsome Robin Lockwood.

The flame between them sparks quickly, but the relationship is slowed when John’s dark past catches up with him. John’s Uncle Fred, the source of his horrible memories, appears at one of the Perfect Princes’ performances, and it upsets John so much he needs Robin to rescue him. Their love is tested again as Uncle Fred plans to finish what he started when John was a child.

REVIEW:

I must say that I was kind of excited to read this book.  I’ve never been to a Ren Faire before, so this was going to be something different for me.

We start off with Robin.  Robin is this wonderful character.  He’s a former Olympian who now travels the country doing Ren Faires.  He’s using his skill as an archer to make money without the hugely added pressure that came with being in the Olympics.  He’s beautiful, kind and just so sweet.  He’s young and living this life of a gypsy.  He’s got no real cares in the world and that’s just the way he likes it.  Meeting people and living such a simple life works for him.

John is the exact opposite from Robin.  He’s quiet and introverted. He has such an awful childhood.  So awful that the experience has shaped who he is as an adult.  John doesn’t let people close to him. He’s so very emotionally scarred from his experience.  As he gets closer to his home state of Texas, things seem to coming to a head.

These two characters are just so charming and heartwarming in so many ways.  You fall more in love with them the more you continue to read about them.

John’s past that comes back to haunt him is just awful.  Heartbreakingly Awful.  I felt for him.  But I also watched him grow into a stronger person.  To see just how far he’s come from who he was at the beginning of the story to who he becomes at the end of the story.  So much stronger.  It was hard to watch and yet, it was also so very beautiful to watch.

There was bigotry and past abduction in the story. There was also of course past rape that wasn’t really on scene.  I just wanted to let people know, as it’s in the story and if these are sensitive subjects for you, this might not be the book for you.  But if you take the chance, this story was worth it.

The secondary characters were really amazing.  The people who supported Robin and John were really just amazing.  They had the guys back from jump. There was never any doubt that they, the Ren Folks are a Family and that they’d do anything for each other.  They showed that time and again.

John mother and his Uncle/Step-Father…I don’t even know what to say about them.  They were absolutely awful.  That’s the nicest thing that I can say about them.  They were just awful and it’s a shame to know that there are actually people like that in the world is just heartbreaking.

You also meet John’s Dad.  He’s pretty darn great.  You only see him towards the end of the story, but I liked him.  He’s a great guy and I’m pretty sure that it’s the beginning of a reconciliation for them.

I will say that this story wasn’t the easiest nor was it the hardest on that I’ve ever read.  However, it pulled me in and took me along for the ride.  Robin and John’s story was filled with so many emotions.

The story actually flowed so smoothly.  I wasn’t pulled out of the story or bored.  I did have to stop to catch my breath a couple of times, but other than that, smooth sailing.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner Press  ::  Amazon  ::  ARe