So many of my favorite themes!!! I loved this. I don't want to wait a whole year for the next! Which also plays into a trope I adore!

I did think it weird that Bowen and Genevieve both thought they "had" to be separated, even when they both told each other they loved each other. I kinda made the last little bit of angst feel manufactured. But still, overall, great! (4.5 stars)

p.s. This book has stood up on many a re-read! (Dec 2016) ( )

I liked this story and was emotionally invested in its characters (I even teared up a couple times!). *strong trigger warning for rape though* However it had some large flaws. Some *significant* inconsistencies (serious spoilers) the villain had been extremely possessive of her and others weren't even allowed to speak to her and he scarred her face so that other men wouldn't even find her attractive- but also he passed her around, everyone has been verbally abusing her for ages, and he set men to leer at her while she bathed. ?!? Well which is it? Or, she's been misused in every way by rapists for a year- but also she's unsure if it's possible for, like, a woman to give head?... Really? We're to believe that a gang of rapists wouldn't have at least *threatened* her with that sometime over the course of an entire year? That that was somehow a line they weren't willing to cross? Or that the idea never occurred to them?? ha. It just becomes ridiculous to claim things both ways, and it weakens the case for each! and other highly unlikely circumstances. And the last hurdle stumped the characters for entirely too long to be believable. Strengths- the heroine was strong and showed good judgement and exhibited skills, and was honest. And the hero acknowledged his own feelings, which were fun to watch unfold, and he prioritized her wellbeing. I liked them both. And there was a decent balance of drama and some good side characters. ( )

Oh wow where do I start? Genevieve is such an amazing leading lady. To have been kidnapped, assaulted, raped, starved, and treated as something less than human.......and yet still come out sane. Sure she as fears and times of over whelming lack of self-confidence but love can change that.

Bowen, perfect in every way imaginable. First off is the fact that being a handsome and fierce warrior he can collect bed post notches without much effort but once he sees beautiful scarred Genevieve all he wants to do is care for her, cherish her, protect her. He doesn't see the scar as a disfigurement but a sign of strength. Her skill with bow and arrow (it saves his life) is admirable; especially since she takes out one of the most hated men in the land. Someone Bowen himself had reason to want to spill his blood.

He takes her away from McHugh lands where even though she was the victim the McHugh women treated her like a tramp. Spitting at her, trying to stone her, you name it...she's suffered it from their hands. Before he takes her back to his home at Montgomery Keep he sends word to her parents that she is not dead and they can meet up with her in Montgomery Keep. Genevieve has not wanted to contact them for all the shame and embarrassment she will bring to the family. When they finally arrive Bowen knows that he must let her go so that she can heal and be happy.

Well we all know that's not going to be the last of it as this is a romance story and we need a HEA. It's sweet. It's loving and it will make you smile from ear to ear.

Took me a while to read this book; not because it wasn't interesting but only I could chose a book like this while trying to get ready for the beginning of the holiday season. If you are looking for a love story with a strong female who's been through hell and back. A man with enough character to be able to see past the body and into the soul; and not be afraid to let her be in charge....this is a book for you.

Loved the characters. Loved the story development and not glossing over rough details or rushing through an awkward type of talk or situation. Looking forward to reading more from this author. ( )

Above all, this is a story about maintaining hope and overcoming one's trials, great or small. I do think Bowen falls in love a little too quickly, but he and Genevieve were so cute. And I do appreciate that Banks doesn't rely heavily on forced Scottish dialect as some authors do. I definitely liked this one more than the first in the series. ( )

I loved this book even though it was tougher to read than the first due to all the trauma that the heroine had to deal with. It’s a shame that there only seems to be these two books as I really like these families and would have read more of them. ( )