Series:
Warriors of Wales (Book 1)
An arranged marriage
An unexpected love…?
Recently widowed, Rhianon had hoped to never find herself
bound to a man again after being raised by a violent father and married to an
unpredictable husband. But to seal a strategic alliance, she's forced to marry
Peredur ab Eilyr -- a warrior lord with a formidable reputation! Rhianon may be
a reluctant wife, but ruling with Peredur is revealing a passionate side to her
new husband Rhianon is anything but reluctant to explore…
Good book about two people brought together in a marriage
arranged as a strategic alliance between two warring Welsh chieftains. Neither
Rhianon nor Peredur wants to marry. Rhianon's father is cruel and violent, and
her late husband was no better. Her new husband is a warrior with the
reputation of being heartless. At the same time, Peredur never intended to
marry but agreed to the marriage to protect Rhianon from being married to his
cruel younger brother.
I enjoyed this slow-burn story of two people whose
traumatic childhoods have created deep-seated trust issues. Though Rhianon has
been forced to marry, she refuses to be a victim and vows never to show her
fear. Instead, she tends to be defiant in her refusal to be controlled,
sometimes taking stupid risks rather than accepting Peredur's strictures.
Peredur's early childhood was heartbreaking, with those who should have loved
him mistreating him instead. I ached for him and the treatment he received from
his grandmother. It was a good day for him when he was taken in by Eilyr and
raised as a beloved son.
After their marriage, Rhianon and Peredur leave for a
remote castle to watch over their border with a rival prince. Their arrival at
the castle begins with the mystery of why its garrison has disappeared and what
the locals know about it. Peredur's time is spent preparing the castle and his
men for possible war.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Rhianon and
Peredur develop. Peredur's plan to never marry and have children becomes
problematic when he finds his attraction to Rhianon becoming harder to resist.
Rhianon is dismayed that she is attracted to Peredur because she expects him to
be like the other men she has known. But for all his reputation as being
heartless, Peredur is a kind and compassionate man. I loved how he treated her
with understanding and respect and how that helped overcome her fears. As
Rhianon began to trust Peredur, she saw past the fierce warrior to the
vulnerable man underneath. The explanation of his heartless reputation was not
what I expected. I liked seeing them slowly open up about their pasts and fears
and realize what they had together. The epilogue was great and showed what is
possible when fears are faced together.
Secondary characters were well-developed and crucial to
the storyline. I ached for Rhianon after the descriptions of her cruel and
violent father and her abused and negligent mother. Peredur's brother was a
nasty piece of work, and I figured him for trouble from the beginning. I loved
Rhianon's uncle Edwin and her maid Esyllt, who played parts in bringing Rhianon
and Peredur together.
I loved the Welsh setting. The author's attention to
detail made the story richer and events easier to visualize. I loved the
description of the castle, the surrounding area, and the story of the morloi.
It only reinforces my desire to visit Wales and learn more about my heritage.
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