"A fun medieval tale"

When Lady Talia's forced wedding ceremony is interrupted and her Carrisford Castle is taken by attackers for the seventh time, she knows what to expect and prepares for the looting and killing that is sure to follow. She doesn't know how to respond or what to think when her new "guardian" Alex de Monteneau declares that there will be no killing, and nobody is to be harmed. When his words prove to be true, Talia begins to feel hope for the first time in years, for herself, her small sisters and her villagers. Maybe this large, handsome stranger will be the answer to her prayers and she will be able to abandon the secret plan she and her people have set in motion to insure that they and the castle will never be attacked again. All she has to do now is marry him and all will be well.

Alex de Monteneau is a bastard son who is intent on working his way up in the world to wealth and respectability. Although he is more attracted to Lady Talia than he cares to admit, he sees her and her run down castle as a way to further his ambitions. If he can sell them off to the highest bidder, he will be well on his way to winning marriage to an heiress who can give him a fine castle and a legitimate family. The only thing standing in his way is this maddening, feisty woman who seems to be working her way into his heart.

Linda Needham has become one of my favorite authors of medieval romances. Her characters are always likeable and easy to root for. Poor Alex was so befuddled by Talia and her wooing of him. Talia was a joy, I never quite knew if she was really so resigned to her fate, or if her supposed acceptance of marriage to a man of Alex's choosing was a deliberate ploy to keep Alex off kilter and jealous. For the most part I found this book enjoyable, however my attention began to wander when the story focused on Talia's small sisters and their exploits with their pet rabbit. I also felt that the ending was too abrupt and left too much to the imagination. I think this book really needed a longer, more detailed conclusion, or at the least an epilogue. Not one of Ms. Needham's best, but still a fun read.

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted September 6, 2002