In the Warrior’s Bed-Mary Wine

In the Warrior’s Bed
Mary Wine
Kensington Brava, Feb 2010, $14.00
ISBN: 9780758234650

In 1063 Scotland, Laird Erik McQuade is an angry mean-spirited person. He refuses to provide a dowry for his only daughter Bronwyn McQuade and treats everyone even her with disdain and scorn. He especially loathes the McJames clan.

When Bronwyn and Cullen McJames meet while both are riding, she is unaware he is her father’s enemy. She thinks nothing of it except that he is attractive and seems nice especially compared with her family. However her odious troublemaking brothers run off to dad to tell him about the encounter that the male McQuade brood turns into a tryst. Erik demands retribution going to the Court of Scotland in ire with a claim that Cullen took his daughter. Angry but not wanting an incident and besides he likes Bronwyn, Cullen does the last thing Erik expects from his feuding foe; he abducts the man’s daughter. Hoping to find the happiness his brother found (see In Bed With A Stranger) and end the feuding, he plans to marry her. When Erik dies, her brothers decide to proceed with the clan vengeance of their late dad; not out of loyalty or honor but with a desire to kill the heir, Bronwyn.

The second McJames medieval Scottish romance is a terrific tale due to the strong heroine who makes a strange bedfellow alliance with a caring peace-seeking laird. The story line is fast-paced throughout while the support cast especially the siblings of the lead couple is fully developed. Fans will want a taste of this delightful wine as the palette will cherish this enjoyable historical.

Harriet Klausner