Tahn

January 3, 2005
Kelly pens a novel with a medieval setting, writing under her initials to distinguish it from her historical Depression-era inspirational fiction under the name Leisha Kelly (Julia's Hope
; Katie's Dream
; Emma's Gift
). The lovely Lady Netta Trilett is kidnapped by a cold-blooded killer, Tahn Dorn, who slew her husband several years before. This time, however, Dorn is acting out of a somewhat unexplained newfound desire to turn over a new leaf. After Dorn stashes Netta in a cave for her safety, the evil Samis, Dorn's former leader, burns her family's home. Dorn rounds up eight children Samis had tutored in villainy and spirits them away to the cave, where he and Netta care for them and Netta wrestles with forgiving Dorn—and understanding her newfound feelings for him. Kelly develops her story well in the first half, and her characters, especially the children, are sweet and vulnerable. Some light sexual tension and violence mark Kelly's change of genre. The pace slows in the second half, and readers may struggle with the idea of a woman romantically interested in her husband's killer, no matter how much Christians believe in forgiveness. Yet Kelly's tender touch will endear her to those CBA market readers who like their historicals heavily salted with salvation themes.

May 15, 2005
As Robin Hood might, Tahn Dorn kidnaps Lady Netta Trilett, knowing that the Trilett Castle is about to be overrun with the forces of the evil Baron Trent, who wants no opposition in his campaign to become king. After a lifetime of service to another evil lord, Samis, Tahn's submerged conscience is at last breaking free. He saves the kingdom, saves a host of children Samis is in the process of corrupting, and wins Netta's love. That's the first book, and it's a serviceable adventure, but then Kelly tacks on a second book, which teases out Tahn's torments and attenuates his courtship of Netta, while advancing the story only a little. It's too much of a good thing. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)