Border Wedding [Hardcover]

Lady Meg and her sisters are known throughout the borderland as homely women. Meg's parents are aware she is no beauty, so when Meg's father captures Sir Walter (Wat) Scott for stealing cattle an opportunity for an advantageous marriage falls nicely in their laps. Wat is given the choice of hanging or marrying Meg, to save his friends he opts for Meg.

Meg and Wat have a tepid relationship. The sexual tension was kept on a low burn the whole novel and for a man with a past with the ladies, Wat is a selfish and inconsiderate lover and husband. He absolutely must rule the roost. Of course, this is medieval Scotland but Wat's temper is hair trigger when it comes to Meg.

Meg is much more interesting than Wat. Her mother has somewhat managed her father for years by seemingly polite speech and obedience. However Meg, like her mother, understands that sometimes men have to believe that they always know what is right. They just need to be steered gently in the right direction.

Meg's loyalties are tested. The English have designs on Scotland and her mother's family is English. Her brothers are involved in in Meg's troubles too and quite frankly her brothers are beyond loathsome to being completely amoral.

This book really needed sparks between the main characters. Wat and Meg spend some time apart in the story. Whenever they come together it never feels like they really missed each other. Furthermore, Meg must be the most sexually frustrated heroine becaue her husband seems to have little concern for her feelings in and out of bed. Suddenly toward the very end of the book, the reader is supposed to believe that he loves her. I never knew when it happened.

Sir Walter Scott's decision to steal back his cattle from a thieving neighbor results in a do or die situation. Unfortunately Wat and his men are caught in the act and thievery is a hanging offense. He's given a choice of marrying or hanging. While being hung is preferable to marrying his captor's homely eldest daughter, watching the men who followed him die is more than he's willing to accept for his offense.

Lady Margaret Murray may not be a raving beauty but she is a dutiful daughter and if her parents insist on her marrying Wat then she'll accept her fate. She's spent years watching her mother wheedle her father around to her way of thinking but never realizes just how much of that behavior she'll take on - or how much it will annoy her new husband.

Despite her concerns Meg enters into her marriage with a hopeful heart. Her sister Amalie will be accompanying her to her new home so that she won't be surrounded by only strangers. Wat's men may have vowed to protect and serve her but can she count on them to keep their word with the marriage taking place under such duress? Meg thought Wat would be taking her to his home but instead he leaves her at his parents' home while he supposedly goes to fix up his peel tower so that it will be more presentable for her. Meg isn't about to remain with Wat's parents forever especially once she realizes that Amalie is very uncomfortable.

With the battle for supremacy between England and Scotland escalating Meg will find herself torn between her loyalty to her family and her new husband. Shocking secrets will be revealed and Meg may just discover that she's fallen in love with her husband. Will Meg be able to balance the various aspects of her new life and still win her husband's love?

Amanda Scott continues to enchant readers with her latest release BORDER WEDDING. Meg is such an understated character that I loved reading about the gradual changes in her personality and absolutely cheered her for refusing to cower in the face of her husband's anger. Wat is as honorable as he is loveable. He takes his responsibilities seriously and I simply had to laugh at how ballistic he becomes over what he perceives to be Meg's disobedience. Ms. Scott based Meg and Wat loosely on real historical figures which makes them even more memorable. This story has the perfect blend of passion, emotion, and historical context to ensure readers will be adding this book to their keeper shelves.

I'm now anxiously awaiting Amalie's story, BORDER LASS which is supposed to be released in September 2008. I'm not going to give anything away but after reading about this young woman's life and fears I really want her to have a happily-ever-after.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

BORDER WEDDING
AMANDA SCOTT

4 Enchantments

Sir Walter Scott only wants his livestock back from neighbor Sir Iagan Murray. Instead, he and his men find themselves in a cell awaiting their fair punishment, hanging. However, Sir Murray comes to believe this may be his chance to marry off his eldest daughter, Lady Margaret. She is known to be quite plain and long in the tooth. So faced with the noose or marriage, it is no heavy decision for Wat.

Lady Margaret Murray finds herself headed to a new life she never thought she would have. Hidden underneath the ugly headdress and plain clothing is a woman that is anything but plain. Hidden behind Meg's serious demeanor are eyes that twinkle with suppressed humor and an easygoing manner that Wat comes to appreciate.

However, life in the Scottish border lands in 1388 is the site of constant conflict and an ongoing struggle with England over control. Meg faces some hard decisions and must measure how deep her loyalty is to her family and to her new husband.

Once again, Ms. Scott pens a story about finding love in the hardest of times. It is evident that much research has gone into the historical information presented and the story provides a wonderfully detailed accounting of a few of the battles that plagued the border area in that time period. BORDER WEDDING also brings to light some of the conflicting emotions that those with family members on both sides of the border must have experienced. Great character development has the reader experiencing various emotions along with the characters. A realistic romance of the period entwined with a rich historical presentation...it is what historical romance is all about.

Ms. Scott is a USA Today bestselling author and winner of numerous awards including the Romance Writers of America's RITA. Her first novel sold in 1980 and she has gone on to write almost 50 more. She has a master's degree in history and resides in northern California with her husband and son. [...]

Doris Herd
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
May 2008

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