Craig MacKay is a highly skilled warrior. He’s handsome, he’s brave, he’s intelligent, he’s honorable, and the ladies love him as much as he loves them. He has always claimed he’ll never marry – so – what is he doing volunteering to marry the woman to whom his brother is betrothed? His brother, Robin, their Laird, is in love with another woman. Robin will marry the woman to whom he is betrothed out of honor, but he’ll be miserable – and Craig knows it. It was an arranged marriage that was foisted upon Robin and Craig is pretty sure the betrothed’s brother won’t care which MacKay brother marries his sister as long as one of them does. Turns out he is right – and he has a new bride.

Lady Lenora Gunn Gordon is a widow and the sister of Laird David Gunn. Lenora’s world is one of abuse and distrust. The males who should have protected and cared for her used her as a punching bag instead. Her father didn’t even recognize her when he saw her in the hallway, David beat her and then married her off to an abusive husband who also beat and raped her, and after her husband died David took over the abuse again. No, Lenora does not trust any man – and never will. She has no choice but to accept the change in betrotheds, and why should she care since it has all been her brother’s choice? This MacKay will be just one more man to control and abuse her.

I enjoyed getting to know Lenora and Craig as they negotiated their way over the many pitfalls along the way to their HEA. Lenora fought a hard battle to keep from coming to trust and love Craig, but it was one she couldn’t win. Craig was always kind, caring, concerned, and interested and he wore her down – she couldn’t help coming to care for him. The same was true for Craig. He never expected to come to care for the termagant who became his wife. He expected they would both lead their individual lives. I enjoyed seeing the two work through their differences.

I missed reading the first book in this series and will begin reading it as soon as I finish writing this review. That means that I really enjoyed this book – and that this book can be read as a standalone. You’ll want to read the first book, but you don’t have to enjoy this one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )