The Dragon's Secret — Donna MacQuigg

Sketchily set in 10th-century Wales, this fantasy romance opens with handsome Viking warrior Kyran vanquishing King Aswyn of Dragon's Head, only a few miles from the cottage of beautiful hedge witch Sayrid. When Sayrid, who saw Kyran's triumph in a vision, later saves him from an attacker, she scorns him as a barbarian but feels drawn to heal his wounds. While Kyran settles into Dragon's Head, the evil witch Brynn plots to kill him so she can become queen and collude with neighboring king Oddrun in taking over all of Wales. Sayrid distrusts Kyran, seeing him as just another conqueror who threatens the poor and vulnerable, but a prophecy links them and requires them to fall implausibly in love. MacQuigg's grasp of history is shaky, but comfortably familiar archetypes and situations will keep undemanding readers turning pages. (June)