"Engaging fourteenth century Scottish romance"

In 1332 Scotland, Amicia MacLean and Magnus Mackinnon marry by proxy. For Amicia this is what she always wanted as she has loved Magnus since she was a little girl. However, when Magnus arrives two weeks later still in shock and feeling guilty for surviving the Dupplin Moor massacre. He is furious to learn what his father did. He becomes irate, insisting his new bride go home as he will annul the marriage that he has no plans to consummate.

Amicia realizes that her spouse is suffering from more than just battle fatigue syndrome as he also feels culpable for living and has no plans to do so. As she begins to heal him, she works her way into his heart. However, an unknown assailant does not want this marriage to work as that individual wants the two clans at war, which would leave this miscreant as the only winner.

This engaging fourteenth century Scottish romance stars a fascinating lead male protagonist who simply has given up on living due to feeling guilt from the surviving carnage of his countrymen. Amicia is a fine patient person who believes she can nurture her beloved back to health. Though the serpent in Eden subplot adds intrigue, the strength of this tale is the coupling of a feisty female curing through love her hammered hunk.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 28, 2004

Summary

Even a marriage by proxy can't spoil the joy Lady Amicia MacLean feels when she is wedded to Magnus MacKinnon. With his quick wit and dashing smile, the roguish warrior captured her heart when she was still a girl. It's not until he returns from battle that Amicia discovers the truth: the union was made to fill empty MacKinnon coffers with MacLean gold. Magnus knew nothing of this marriage. Honorable and proud, he intends to rebuild his clan's fortune coin by coin himself-and wants nothing to do with his bonny new bride.

But Amicia is not one to give up without a fight. She plans to invade Magnus's bedchamber, offer tantalizing glimpses of what every husband has the right to see, and settle for nothing less than the total surrender of the most stubborn knight in the realm!