Border Bride

Deborah Hale not only treats us to a historical view of Wales, but her fresh approach to a traditional plot keeps you turning the pages to find out how the hero, charismatic Conwy ap Ifan and Enid, a heroine with a closely guraded secret, find their way to love. A must read for the true romantic!

Rich detail and fabulous characterization add to an already great book.Ms Hale has certainly done her homework in this often overlooked country. I felt as if I was right there. Enid, our heroine, is so delightfully written, we feel as though we've known her all our lives. And what can I say about Conwy, our hero? Ms Hale is a master of creating delicious heros with just enough torment to make a reader want to slip into the book and steal them away.Enid and Conwy share a special past, of part of which Enid keeps close to herself, and we understand her so well for it. When Conwy returns, her whole world is flipped upside down, making for a terrific, page-turning read.You simply must buy this book!

Deborah Hale weaves a spellbinding story with this Welsh-set Medieval. Conwy ap Ifan is a very special hero, as is Enid. You'll find yourself rooting for a happy ending for this couple. My only complaint is that border lord Macsen ap Gryffith's own happily-ever-after is not yet written. NOTE TO AUTHOR: Please tell us you're writing Macsen's story!

Having once journeyed east to the Holy Land, Conway ap Ifan is once again in his Welsh homeland, posing as a bard and working for Empress Maud, Lady of the English, to try to maintain a peace and gain favor with the border lords should the Empress succeed the throne. But at Glyneira, Con finds Enid, the girl from long ago that he has never been able to forget. Thirteen long years has not dimmed his memory of this beautiful girl, now woman, with children of her own. Though once promised to marry a prince, she is now the widow of the deceased owner of Glyneira, and may soon be the bride of Macsen ap Gryffith, a border chief. While Enid is not immune to Con's charms, she recalls his wanderlust and desertion of her in past years. And the powerful secret she holds in her heart may shatter her peaceful existence if Con lingers too long at Glyneira. Ms. Hale has definitely done her homework in this well researched historical ripe with vivid depictions of the dwellings of the times, as well as the customs and disputes for lands. And the descriptive nature doesn't overshadow the romance and meshes well with the enduring love between Con and Enid.

Conwy ap Ifan, a secondary character in a previous novel, THE ELUSIVE BRIDE, has found favor with the Empress Maud by way of an accounting of his action in recapturing a keep for her. Maud promises to outfit him with arms and men and finance a return trip to the Holy Lands if he is able to keep the Welsh lords busy fighting each other so they won't have time or resources to fight England. Since his only hope of gaining title or lands is through heroic efforts in the Holy Lands and he craves nothing more than advancement and adventure, Con agrees and is off to the Welsh borderlands to make mischief between the chiefs. A melodic voice, a charming smile, and a handsome face allow this handsome mercenary to pose as a wandering bard where he is welcomed into the Welsh homes. One of the homes Con finds his way to is Glyneira in Powys, where Enid versch Blethyn hopes the traveler her daughter warns is on the way is the border chief who hints of marriage. Enid's husband died leaving her with the estate and two children to take care of, and a whining sister-in-law who constantly belittles her every move. With this in mind Enid wants to serve the traveler herself and be the one to wash his feet if he agrees to `take water', an old Welsh custom to welcome a traveler into the warmth of the home to visit as long as he desires. Enid dresses in her finest and rushes to greet the traveler, but instead of the chief she expects, she looks into the eyes of the one she's loved from the time she was a young girl living in her father's home - Conwy ap Ifan. They are both struck speechless, remembering their life together when Con worked in the stables for her father and the young love they had shared and never forgotten. Once the initial shock wears off, Enid nearly panics as she wonders how she will be able to keep the secret from Con that completely changed her life when he rode off years ago to seek his fortune as a mercenary.Deborah Hale delivers a fresh rendition of an old plot, bringing action, adventure and romance together in a historical tale of old Wales. I was pleased to read about the customs and culture of the early Welsh, a country not often chosen by authors of historical fiction, as Ms. Hale shares her knowledge in this period of history. Just as appealing are the protagonists featured and the way they renew their lost love. Con is a charismatic fellow, whether in his guise as bard, mercenary, or lover, and he brings Enid back to life again - even before she learns the truth about his sudden departure when she was a young girl in love with him.Be sure to pick this one up when you see the title BORDER BRIDE by Deborah Hale, and you, too, will enjoy reading a refreshing tale of old Wales.Carol Carter, As written for Romance Reviews Today