"Will a marriage of convenience turn out to be a love match?"

Fairy princess Noele of D'Naath has been promised in marriage to the elvin king of Winterland from birth. She sees the marriage as her duty to her people, to cement the relationship between the faerie and the elves. Noele resents the fact that she has no choice in her own future. The elvin king, Garick, will have the option of discarding her and giving her to his second in command Roarke after the consummation. Noele longs for love, but she knows Garick sees her as a burden and nothing more.

Elvin king Garick has long denied any emotions he may feel. It's not the way of kings to love and care for others. His bride will be a distraction from his duty to protect his people. Why then, does the thought of Noele with another man, even his friend Roarke, make his blood boil? Can Garick reconcile his wants and needs with his elvin upbringing?

Danger threatens this magical land in the form of powerful wizards. The evil wizards have been making inroads against the faerie and elvin peoples, hence the need for this merger. When an attack comes close to home, love is the only thing that can save this couple. Will they be able to trust their hearts to the other? Garick and Noele have known each other only a matter of days, after all.

I had a hard time really relating to the characters in this story. Maybe if the tale had been longer and explained more of the history of this magical land, it would have been more enticing. However, I do plan to read Ms. Burton's next story in the series, which I hope involves Noele's sister Solara and Garick's right-hand man, Roarke. If you enjoy erotic tales of faerie and elves, give WINTERLAND DESTINY a read.

Sensuality: Rated E-rotic by the publisher. Explicit sex, threesome with anal sex; sexually explicit scenes: 7

Reviewed by Denise Powers
Courtesy Sensual Romance Reviews
Posted March 14, 2004

Summary

Noele, Faerie princess of D'Naath, has been destined to wed Garick, the Elvin king of Winterland, from the moment of her birth. They are to be married on the day of the Winter Solstice. Their two kingdoms will be joined together to strengthen their territory and keep it from the hands of the evil wizards.

Happy with her carefree life in the woodglen forest with her sisters, Noele is loath to have that freedom taken away. Garick holds the power to keep her or cast her aside after their marriage. For a faerie who has always done what she pleased, being practically owned by the charismatic king does not sit well with her.

But the beautiful faerie wields a power of her own, the power to touch Garick's heart, to make him experience sensations he's never felt before. Garick doesn't care for the hold she has on him, but he can't deny his awakening emotions for the beautiful princess.

Two hearts destined to be together must fight not only the evil wizards, but their feelings for each other. Yet love is tied to fate, and some ties cannot be broken.