It’s been a while since I’ve read a non-Regency HR and I am reminded of how much it SUCKED to be a woman in the Middle Ages. Not very romantic to me. Still, I love a warrior heroine, and scarred at that. This didn’t really play into my favorite tropes though, and was more about intrigue than angst. ( )

Isobel's father had defied King David II and now she pays the price. She fights to hold on to the keep. While David needs to make an example of her family to discourage others from defying him.

Isobel's decision to save Marc seems a little forced. She doesn't have a good reason to do it. She fights the King but I just don't see why. She hated her father and her husband was in favor of co-operating with David. Isobel seems more sympathetic to her late husbands view.

But the book gets very good once Isobel is captured and brought to David's court. then it becomes a very good story.

It made me wan to read more about David II of Scotland. ( )

it started out sort of odd but got better as you got into the story...still sort of add way to write it but not a bad read ( )