Adair Radcliffe is only a child when her family perishes in the War of the Roses, so her real father, the womanizing King Edward IV, takes her in, honoring his promise to her mother. Once Adair turns sixteen, the king marries her off without her knowledge -- and to her later outrage -- in a wedding by proxy. But when tragedy leaves her a widow twice over, Adair realizes that her already tenuous social position has sunk even lower. Now, all she can do is hope that the Scottish laird to whom she is sold will have mercy on her. But little does master or servant suspect that love knows no rank.

Every now and again, and not often enough, we find that author that has that knack to flawlessly capture every aspect of ah what a good novel should be. For me, that author is Bertrice Small. Of the hundreds of historical romance novels that I have read, Ms. Small has never let me down when it comes to her knowledge and writing of history and romance.

With a wide array of interesting characters and an excellently thought out plot, it is hard to find any aspect of this book lacking. The characters are written so that the reader easily possesses that deep understanding and connection that draws you in and doesn't let you go. Adair is a strong-minded, proud woman that honors her family history above all else. While not perfect, she is the type of heroine that you find yourself rooting for during her struggles, and sympathizing with during the hardships that she faces.

All too often, authors tend to ignore the ugly aspects of times past and make pretty stories with pretty characters in pretty settings to feed off of our romantic notions about historical eras, but not so with Ms. Small. We are shown the downtrodden, the ugly, the pain, in what makes for a more realistic and gripping tale. For all but a few, life in historical England didn't revolve around fancy gowns and spotless reputations. More often than we care to think about, families were torn apart, children left homeless, and life cut short. Ms. Small has the ability to integrate those harsh realities to give her stories a feel of authenticity that is missing from many others.

An absolute must for fans of Bertrice Small. If you haven't previously taken the chance to read this author's work, now's the time to get acquainted. Pick up the book, park your rear on the couch, and get lost in this exquisite tale.

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Publisher: NAL Trade (October 3, 2006)
ISBN: 0451219783
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