The Border Lord's Bride

By Bertrice Small

Book Overview

New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small continues her Border Chronicles with this tale of a woman rescued, a man enraptured, and a love unanticipated by the fates... Duncan Armstrong, laird of Duffdour, had sworn never to wed unless it was to a lass he truly loved. But when he needs a favor from King James, Duncan never expects what he's forced to pay in return: the taking of a bride he neither loves nor desires. When Highland heiress Ellen MacArther's marriage plans are thwarted by a murder attempt, she has no choice but to beg the king for help. The cost for her urgent plea: to surrender her heritage and become a border lord's bride. But the price to be paid for two strangers thrown together by fate is higher than imagined. And more dangerous than the passion--and betrayal--that could consume them.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451222148
• ISBN13: 9780451222145
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Joanna's Passion for Books

So far I've read all the books in this series except for the latest one.I've enjoyed them all as I've enjoyed all of Bertrice Smalls books for years.

Border Lord's Bride

As always, Beatrice Small has given me an entertaining read. I have enjoyed all of her other books and she didn't let me down this time.

Small writes in a BIG way

A multi decade fan of this historical romance now futuristic romance writer - I must give her high marks for this wonderful chronicle!!!

Very engageing, rich in historical info...

It seems that we have yet another of the few authors that can weave romance and history together in such a ration which leaves you off feeling pleasantly educated as well as swept off of your feet. The original in my experience being Diana Gabaldon with her Outlander series. Very interesting and not oftenly covered info about Tudor era, English/Scottish borders. We hear much in these novels about the worthy and lovely highlands, but this is the first I've read about the Lowlands and the border politics. Exciting and brave heroins and engaging characters all around right down to James IV. Well done Miss Small, I keep reading.

fabulous late fifteenth century romance

In 1494, the unprotected are pawns for the more powerful to obtain greater strength. That is why elderly Lochearn Laird Ewan MacArthur sends his beloved orphaned granddaughter Ellen to King James for her safety. Two weeks after her departure, their cousin Gavin demands Ellen marry his son Balgair instead of the heir Donald McNab as he plans to make his offspring Laird of Lochearn even if it means turning Ellen into a teenage widow. Border Laird of Duffdour Duncan Armstrong visits King James to ask a favor of his liege. In return James assigns him to safely escort Ellen home so she can wed Donald as the monarch believes it is Ewan's decision. When they reach her home, they quickly learn what Balgair and his sire have done as he has her grandfather's signed document making him heir and her spouse; he explains that he held Donald hostage, but once signed slit both their throats. However, Balgair made one mistake as he asks Duncan to witness the ceremony, he failed to understand the escort is an honorable loyal person, who takes this into his own hands by wedding Ellen although that means giving up his hope to marry for love; or does it. The second Borderlands Chronicle historical romance (see A DANGEROUS LOVE) is a fabulous late fifteenth century tale filled with intrigue and treachery much greater than that described above. The lead pair struggles with her odious extended family and with the machinations between the rival Kings James and Henry VII. Readers will cherish the heroic Duncan as their own as he risks his happiness and ultimately life to keep Ellen safe; fans will also admire the spunky female protagonist, whose tasted violence and death with her parents already gone and now her betrothed and beloved grandfather were murdered; yet she keeps her with and takes a chance on the unknown rather than the devil she knows. Bertrice Small provides a great read. Harriet Klausner