The Maid of Lorne

November 15, 2005
Faced with the choice of marriage to Sebastien of Cleish, Robert the Bruce's spymaster, or death by his hand, Lara MacDougall, our eponymous heroine, reluctantly agrees, knowing that she must stay alive to save her young siblings. Now accused of betrayal and worse by both her own family and the Bruce's men, Lara is torn by feelings of abandonment, her growing emotions concerning Sebastien, and her sense of loyalty to her clan. Empathetic, well-B-defined protagonists, solid historical detail, and a well-crafted plot filled with spies, treachery, and intrigue keep things on track in this lively adventure that chronicles a particularly violent medieval period; a nice addition to Brisbin's ("The Duchess's Next Husband") growing bibliography. She lives in Berlin, NJ.

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2005
It's either wed or dead, so Lara MacDougall, the Maid of Lorne, chooses marrying Sebastien of Cleish as the lesser of two evils. After routing Lara's father in battle, Sebastien had been given orders by Robert the Bruce to secure Dunstaffnage Castle, Lara's home. Using Lara's two younger siblings as hostages, Sebastien convinces Lara to throw open the gates. Once inside, he states his ultimatum: marry him or be dead by nightfall. Lara vows to do her best to become a thorn in the side of her new husband. At first, she refuses to be seduced by Sebastien's kind words and soft touches, but as she gets to know her enemy better, Lara finds it more and more difficult to betray the man with whom she is falling in love. With her usual superb sense of characterization and exceptional gift for creating sizzling sexual chemistry, Brisbin fashions a splendidly satisfying medieval historical that deftly explores the themes of trust and love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)