This was, if not mistaken, on the New York Best Seller list several years ago written by Madeline Hunter. I start off with that as when you read the review, you might wonder how in the world that the book got there.

It isn’t a bad book at all. This is a book that I would call a ‘woman’s book’ which is no different than the ‘chick flick’ other than it is in written form. To me, it reminded me very much of a romance novel – true, better quality of writing than what you find in them, but still felt as if that is what I was reading.

The premise is a simple one, set in a time long ago when men wore armor and carried their swords. An invasion of the country next door was common. A young woman finds herself an orphan along with her brother after their father’s estate was overtaken in a siege. Because of her late father’s status, she and her brother become a ward of the king and live within the castle. A marriage is arranged for her with someone that is far less than her by society standards since he is just a merchant and has no title. Reason? She is found in a compromising position with the young knight that she is in love with. He is the bastard son of the housekeeper. The head of the business favored not only the mother whom he asked to marry more than once before he died, but also took into her son in as an apprentice in his shop. His mother also died as well as the shopkeeper who left the business to the housekeeper’s son. He was indeed very wealthy. He traveled all over the word for his business and known as a shrewd businessman.

As was common at that time, a marriage was arranged between the merchant and the orphaned daughter of the dead English baron. She was young and was in love with a knight at court. The merchant had reasons of his own why he would make such a contract with the king.

There are some good twists and turns, nothing that really unpredictable, but the quality of writing is good. The portions that have to do with sex are worthy of a cold shower for the reader. So not a book that you would pick up to read while waiting to go to church or something like that because if you are reading in those potions of the book, you mind is not going to be on anything that they are saying. Just a warning of sorts. I also didn’t figure out the ending till about 3/4th through the book.

The book was so good that my neighbor wants to read it. So if you have some down time and nothing to do and looking for something to spice up your mindset, this is the book for you.