The Warrior's Reluctant Wife - Lissa Morgan (HH #1747 - Sept 2023)

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. 

 
 

An Alliance with His Enemy Princess - Lissa Morgan (HH #1700 - Jan 2023)

A royal decree
That will change their lives…
 
Norman knight Rolant Guyarde has come to conquer a Welsh fort, but when he meets its mistress, he realizes she's the sword-wielding “soldier” he fought en route! Despite their being enemies, he finds himself intrigued by the brave, beautiful Princess Gwennan. When they're forced into an uneasy alliance, Rolant helps her petition the king for her parents' release from prison. But in exchange for their freedom, the king demands a price neither Rolant nor Gwennan expects!
 
Terrific enemies-to-lovers story set during the Norman attempts to conquer Wales. The author's passion for the history of her country shows in the vivid descriptions of places, people, and events. The opening pages were an irresistible hook, and I was glued to the story from start to finish.
 
A year earlier, the invading Normans attacked Princess Gwennan's home. Her brothers and husband were killed, and her parents were taken prisoner. Gwennan put away her woman's clothes, dressed as a man, and led those left in a desperate attempt to save her homeland. As the book opens, her troop is ambushed, and though some escape, Gwennan is captured by the knight, Rolant.
 
Rolant's mission is to deliver supplies to the garrison at a recently conquered Welsh fort, then take over its protection. During a battle against Welsh attackers,  Rolant is shocked to find that the boy he captured is a woman. Rather than throw her to the wolves (his men), he protects her and keeps her secret. Gwennan's fury is palpable, and she is vocal in her hatred for the Normans. I enjoyed the interactions between Gwennan and Rolant, who is amazingly patient with her and perhaps a little overconfident in his abilities. It was fun to see Gwennan turn the tables on him and take him prisoner, setting the stage for an intriguing turn of events.
 
I liked Rolant. He is a good and honorable man who suffers from terrible guilt from an incident with his family. His pain is overwhelming and keeps him from believing that he deserves the love that he craves. I loved his protectiveness toward Gwennan, which he sees as redemption for his past mistakes.
 
Gwennan was a complicated character. The loss of her husband hit her hard, and she has channeled that pain into her quest to take back her lands. I liked her care for her people but got frustrated with her constant attempts to push Rolant away. He was trying to help her, and she wanted nothing to do with it.
 
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Rolant and Gwennan. Their attraction was evident from the beginning, though both fought it. For Rolant, his past and sense of honor kept him from taking advantage of Gwennan, though his feelings for her grew. Her spirit, determination, and intelligence make her irresistible to him. Gwennan was disturbed by the feelings Rolant stirred in her, the desire for him, and the guilt that she was forgetting her husband.
 
Circumstances force them into a closer relationship, and both must find a way to put their pasts behind them if they want a future together. I ached for both as they struggled to put those pasts and fears behind them. Rolant's explanation of his past was heartwrenching, and I could feel his pain as he told Gwennan about it and his determination as he finally put it behind him. Rolant won my heart when he had the love and patience to give Gwennan the space to work through her feelings and fears and be there when she was ready to talk about them. The ending was fantastic, and I loved the epilogue.