| From RomanceJunkies.com Historical
Lady Aila Graham has led a very lonely existence. At an early age, her mother promised her to the convent and forced her into a sheltered life. The last thing Aila expected was to be called to her father and informed she was to be wed that very day…to a Scottish warrior, no less.
Laird Padyn MacLaren barely escaped France with his life. His fiancée turned on him and left him unable to trust women. When he finally made it home to Scotland, he discovered his lands and his clan were suffering. When he received a summons from Laird Graham of a neighboring clan, he didn’t expect the offer he was given.
Padyn had been in France trying to protect Countess Marguerite from the English. One fateful night, he discovered not only had she made a deal with the English, she was betrothed to another. He had to fight his way out, knowing if he were caught he would be hung. He managed to make it home with the aid of a French knight, Chaumont, who had become like a brother to him. But Padyn’s home was in dire straits. He needed land for his knights and coin for rebuilding.
When the summons arrived from Laird Graham, Padyn responded, not knowing what he might be getting into. After the death of the only Graham son, Lady Aila was to be the sole heir to the lands and riches of her clan. A neighboring laird, McNab, was also bound and determined to have her, even though she was promised to the convent. Full of the suspicion that McNab was behind the burning of his fields, Graham offered Aila and her inheritance to MacLaren.
Padyn didn’t want to trust another woman, but he sorely needed the land and coins, so he quickly agreed. Padyn and Aila clashed from the moment they met, but her father saw them quickly wed. That evening was to be the St. John’s feast combined with the wedding feast. Having never been allowed to eat in the Main Hall, Aila was dressed by the maids and she waited in her chamber for someone to invite her to the dinner, believing that was how it was to be. Hours later, when no one came, she cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, she sneaked out for her normal morning ride, not knowing that everyone thought she was a ghost. When she returned, she found the stable master on the ground and heard someone moving about. Frightened, she fled to the safety of her tower, but when she heard the tale of how he had fallen, she knew someone had tampered with what she had seen.
After being convinced by her mother and the maids to go to the convent to seek an annulment, Aila left with a maid, Senga. There she discovered more deceits and made up her mind to make a real marriage with her husband. On the way home though, she was kidnapped. Padyn, ever distrustful of women, was convinced that she was in on it.
As they face more dangers, the two build a slow trust and begin to work together to stay safe. It was not an easy task.
THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD is Ms. Forester’s debut novel, and I hope the beginning of a long career. THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD will keep you on the edge of your seat and unable to stop turning the pages until the very end. The journey to love for Padyn and Aila is very sweet and it will keep you enthralled.
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