"A touch tale of wounded souls"

Welfonder has been an auto-buy since her first wonderful book, Devil in a Kilt. Never has she left me down. As a writer of this period of Scottish history myself, I appreciate when another writer delivers such attention to detail, to Scotland and its history. Welfonder breathes her deep and abiding love for my homeland into every story, giving you a "real" Scotland.

In this tale, Lady Mariota Macnicol believed the lies of Hugh Aleson of Drumodyn. Her family warned her that he was no good, but Mariota followed her heart and became his lover. Then things fall apart. Mariota catches him having sex with another, the shock of being caught send Hugh into a heart attack and he dies. The Alewife isn't happy at losing the money she received from ole Hugh and blames Mariota, so she sets it up for Mariota to be accused of killing Hugh. Mariota is immediately tossed into prison, but her companion Nessa helps her escape. They hide in the ruins of Castle Cuidarch, thinking they will be safe there. Only Sir Kenneth Mackenzie comes to claim the castle as part of his inheritance.

At first, Mariota claims she is Lady of Cuidarch, that she is married to the lord of the castle. She has to eat those words when Kenneth reveals who he really is. Soon, Kenneth is put in the position of defending Mariota to save her life.

It's a tale of souls wounded by first loves, who must to learn to trust each other before they can love again. Fans of Welfonder will be well pleased with yet another her wonderful Scottish Medieval sagas.

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted August 10, 2006

Summary

earless and outspoken, Lady Mariota MacNichol must run for her life. Accused of murdering the unworthy rogue she once loved, she boldly takes possession of deserted Cuidrach Castle, the one place her enemies would never look. Then the new laird of Cuidrach unexpectedly arrives... Sir Kenneth Mackenzie is a fierce knight well experienced in bawdy pleasures and willing wenches-though his last liaison left him wounded in pride and love. Chivalrous enough to open Cuidrach's portals to a lady-in-distress, he keeps the path to his heart well-barred. But now the strong- willed Mackenzie is living with a fiery, passionate woman unafraid of his formidable reserve. Eating at the same table, warming themselves by the same fire...how long will it be before these two share the same bed?