Jennifer McGowan (1)

Dandy mix of intrigue, romance, and how women were treated in the 1500s. Beatrice is the daughter of a seemingly impoverished English nobleman and a mother who is addicted to alcohol and laudanum. Pressed into service as one of Queen Elizabeth secret protectors (read spies), she's treated quite shabbily not only by her father, but by the queen. She's betrothed, then suddenly isn't, thanks to Elizabeth's arbitrary and capricious whims.
It seems that every time she thinks she might have returned to equilibrium, the rug is pulled out from under her. Enter Alasdair MacLeod, a Scottish noble looking for the queen's support in a struggle against the French. At first, Beatrice is irritated by his brashness and extreme confidence, but the more she's around him, the easier it is to talk and feel comfortable. By the end of the story, she's been pulled through many a wringer, but has a happy ending. Satisfying story.… (mehr)