Border Lord

I enjoyed this book on a purely entertainment level. I loved all the twists and turns. I found the romance to be a bit much at times, but loved the overall context of the book. Def not one sorry to own!

Duncan Maxwell, known as the Black Bastard, had tried to make a life for himself. He had married four times with each of his wives succumbing to the harsh rigors of border life. There were a total of 52 people who depended on him for their very lives and sustenance. And their precious cache of salt had just been stolen, making the prospects of surviving the harsh winter very slim. The last thing Duncan needed was a half-drowned English woman who had washed up on his shore. Catherine Armstrong truly believed her stepfather loved her and would want her to return to her home once he knew where she was being held. But since she was in the process of leaving her home when she was shipwrecked, Catherine had no intention on letting this wild Scottish border lord find out who she was or where she was from. Besides, there was no money for her ransom except for the king's ransom in jewels she had sewn into the hem of her shift. And those jewels were all she had left of her inheritance from her mother. Nobody was going to take those from her, no matter how big, scary and gorgeous he was! Haywood Smith has written a rollicking, sexy story of two extremely stubborn people from opposite worlds who are forced to put up with each other in circumstances beyond their control. She brings to life the hardships of living in the Scottish wilds where the residents lived hard and loved even harder. A great read!

Catherine Armstrong, an English spinster, is shipwrecked on the shores of Scotland when Duncan Maxwell, son of an absent English father and Scots mother, rescues her. Duncan appears to be a harsh man, despising anything English, and is an outlaw who holds Catherine hostage for the ransom her English father can provide. Though Catherine's life in England was much different from her life in Scotland, she adapts well to being caretaker to Duncan's home and seven motherless children. Sparks fly between Duncan and Catherine as they discover a common bond, their love for the children. Haywood Smith has written an excellent Elizabethan historical that keeps the reader intrigued until the last page is done. The romance between the hero and the heroine is wonderful, not merely a "love at first sight" but a gradual awareness of one another that develops into a deep and abiding love which must endure some difficult tests. This is a wonderful read especially for those who are looking for something richer than the typical historical.

In 1590 on the English-Scottish Western Marches border, Duncan Maxwell keeps the peace though he hates the English. Half of his heritage comes from an English lord who used his Scottish mother as a bed partner, but deserted her and her newborn. The ultimate survivor, English lady Catherine Armstrong lives in spite of murder attempts and a shipwreck of the merchant vessel she sailed on. The infamous Duncan rescues Catherine. He sees the woman as a ransom prize that will bring needed money to help care for his motherless seven children. Instead of being a docile prisoner, Catherine takes over Duncan's household. As they begin to fall in love, he must not only overcome his prejudice towards the English, Duncan must deal with what he believes has to be a curse that has left him burying four previous wives. BORDER LORD is an exciting historical romance that never allows the reader a moment to relax or put the book down. The story line is filled with action and a look at life on the Scottish side of the Borders. The lead protagonists are a charming pair with much to overcome if they are to forge a relationship, as his children seem to want. Haywood Smith showcases her abilities with a powerful sixteenth century tale that will elate her fans and send new readers seeking her previous works (see DANGEROUS GIFTS).Harriet Klausner