I love the type of romances where the hero/heroine marry early and spend most of the novel learning what makes each other tick. This book delivers just that. It was a light, fun, fast paced read that I polished off in several hours. I loved Elizabeth - although convent bound for 13 years she's extremely clever (a trait honed from years of trying to outwit the Mother Superior). She's good hearted, humble and patient and, although she knows her marriage is only for alliance and an heir, she doesn't blink twice because its better than the convent. But she secretly hopes that her mysterious, untrusting husband will eventually come to love her. Raymond captured my heart as well (especially with that raspy voice!) He had his reasons to distrust women (after all, his first wife tried to strangle him) but deep down inside longs for love and a child. And of course, you've got to throw in the wicked former brother-in-law to try to destroy the two newlyweds to assuage his own years of pain. I really like Margaret Moore - all of her books are fast paced page turners that eliminates all the drivelly, excessive details and complicated plots and twists and instead focuses on the characters and their development and interaction with each other. This book was a true joy!
