From New York Times Bestselling Author Madeline Martin comes a steamy, suspenseful prequel novella to the Borderland LadiesWHEN A WOMAN WANTING VENGEANCEAfter her mother was killed in an English raid, Ena Davidson spent her life fighting for survival, despising the men who stole so much from her family. Bran, her younger brother, is all she has left. To feed them, he risks his life as a reiver. … she has left. To feed them, he risks his life as a reiver. Determined to protect Bran, Ena sneaks into a raiding party going to England. She expects to find danger in the perilous, hostile borderlands–not love.
FALLS FOR THE ENEMY
Renault Blanchard has worked hard to escape his meager childhood, vowing to never return to begging on the streets. When an earl considers him for a coveted position among the castle guards, Renault knows that he must prove himself. He spies on the Scottish, an easy and uneventful task, until he discovers a feisty lass with a wild spirit and a fire that ignites his own passion.
THEIR LOVE COMES AT A HIGH COST
Despite all the odds against them, Ena and Renault slowly begin to trust each other. But old wounds run deep, and these star-crossed lovers face treachery from all sides. Will their love be strong enough, or will the fragile, intimate bond between them be shattered by hate?
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Enemies Fall in Love – Novella Length.
Interesting to read a romance of this period where the H and h are not noble and I found this a thoroughly enjoyable story.
I initially thought there was some degree of historical licence ie. that poor children who were orphaned became wards of the town and were assigned some household to grow up in; that reivers were bound to a Scottish clan and townspeople to a lord of the manor but the author assures me that what was true for the rest of the country didn’t apply in the Borders – that the area was lawless and chaotic and fell under no man’s real ‘rule’.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ena’s Surrender: A Scottish Medieval Romance (Borderland Ladies Book 0) by Madeline Martin 5 Stars!
I ’d this riveting enemies to lovers story
It was a great read and fun to visit some of the characters from “The Borderland Ladies Series” which has become one of my favorite series. This story is about the violent living along the English and Scottish borderlands where both sides steal livestock and raid villages along with killing and violating women. Ena is Scottish and lives with her brother who are all that’s left of their family after the English broke down their door and killed their older brother at the age of 7 and their mother. Ena was wounded and left her for dead but, her younger brother Bran had taken care of her until she healed enough to leave their home. This is a riveting story of enemies to lovers with spies, betrayal, violence, danger, treason, and an awaking of human decency and kindness regardless of what side of the border your from. I enjoyed this exciting and steamy love story and, I highly recommend it to all historical romance readers!
Happy Reading
Adult content.
After her mother & brother were killed in an English raid, Ena Davidson spent her life fighting for survival, despising the men who stole so much from her family. Bran, her younger brother, is all she has left. To feed them, he risks his life as a reiver. Determined to protect Bran, Ena sneaks into a raiding party going to England. She expects to find danger in the perilous, hostile borderlands–not love.
Renault Blanchard has worked hard to escape his meagre childhood, vowing to never return to begging on the streets. He spies on the Scottish, an easy and uneventful task, until he discovers a feisty lass with a wild spirit and a fire that ignites his own passion.
Despite all the odds against them, Ena and Renault slowly begin to trust each other.
This is the prequel to the Borderland Ladies series & if you’ve read the series or are about to read the series then this is a must read. Oh my what a read for a novella! Fast paced – don’t start it late at night if you want to sleep. Wonderful characters who have lots of depth. I loved both Ena & Renault she’s feisty & loving, he’s honourable & kind together they are dynamite. Renault melted my heart when he returned Maribel. A lovely story that gave an insight into Bran’s life & for a short story if didn’t leave any loose ends.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Finally! We get to read Bran’s backstory, meet his sister, and see her get her HEA. One of the delightful things about this novella is that you don’t feel you’ve missed anything when you are finished reading. With some novellas, you end up feeling as if you aren’t quite finished yet, but this beautifully told tale leaves you with a feeling of full satisfaction. If you haven’t already read the rest of the Borderland Ladies series, read this one first, because you get to know Bran, the hero of Marin’s Promise – but, if you’ve read the rest of the series already, this is a lovely addition.
Ena and Bran Davidson were the only survivors when the English attacked their cottage in Scotland. Ena was grievously wounded and only survived because Bran tended her as best he could. They were just small children, orphaned, and abandoned by a society that was more concerned with their own survival than that of a couple of small orphaned children. Ena and Bran were close, they knew how lucky they were to have each other.
Ena wanted, so very much, to help Bran. She hated that she was expected to sit in their cottage in relative safety while he was out reiving in order for them to eat. His life was on the line all the time. When she decided to dress like a warrior and sneak off to join in one of the raids, she had no idea it would change her life, Bran’s life, and the life of an Englishman she had yet to meet.
Renault Blanchard was orphaned at a very young age and was totally on his own – another of society’s throwaways. He was bound and determined to make something of himself. His goal was to become a castle guard at Kershopefoot Castle. Imagine a poor, dirty, scrap of a beggar becoming a castle guard and living in the castle. All he had to do was please the Earl of Bothbury with the reports from his spying and he was sure he would be elevated. Well, that was his goal until the night he had a brief battle with a fierce warrior – one that proved to be a female.
Renault continues to encounter Ena – deliberately – even though he knows his life would be forfeit if anyone – his people or hers – should ever find out. Life is hard in the Borderlands between England and Scotland – and the people are enemies. There can be no hope for a relationship between then, but Renault can’t stop himself.
You’ll absolutely love watching Ena and Renault find love against all of the odds. You’ll also love Bran and his devotion to and love for his sister. I can definitely recommend this fast-paced, exciting read. The one thing that bothered me at all – and it is a very, very, very, very minor thing is that somehow, I had trouble with the name Renault for our hero. I’m sure it is correct for the time and place because this author is a stickler for that sort of thing. The fault is totally and completely mine – I just didn’t care for the name.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ena is a brave Scottish lass accompanies her brother on a raid across the boarder in to England. She is forced into battle with an Englishman, but is unable to kill him.
They take the stolen cattle back to Scotland.
She comes in contact with Renault, who she discovers is the Englishman she almost killed.
Will she be able to forget the past and love her enemy.
Ena’s Surrender: A Scottish Medieval Romance
Borderland Ladies Series #0
Madeline Martin
https://www.facebook.com/MadelineMartinAuthor/
Release date 02/25/2020
Publisher Madeline Martin
Blurb :
WHEN A WOMAN WANTING VENGEANCE
After her mother was killed in an English raid, Ena Davidson spent her life fighting for survival, despising the men who stole so much from her family. Bran, her younger brother, is all she has left. To feed them, he risks his life as a reiver. Determined to protect Bran, Ena sneaks into a raiding party going to England. She expects to find danger in the perilous, hostile borderlands–not love.
FALLS FOR THE ENEMY
Renault Blanchard has worked hard to escape his meager childhood, vowing to never return to begging on the streets. When an earl considers him for a coveted position among the castle guards, Renault knows that he must prove himself. He spies on the Scottish, an easy and uneventful task, until he discovers a feisty lass with a wild spirit and a fire that ignites his own passion.
THEIR LOVE COMES AT A HIGH COST
Despite all the odds against them, Ena and Renault slowly begin to trust each other. But old wounds run deep, and these star-crossed lovers face treachery from all sides. Will their love be strong enough, or will the fragile, intimate bond between them be shattered by hate?
My review :
Can they have a future together when each side of their border is at war against the other …
I haven’t read any of this series as I came late to Mrs Madeline Martin’s work, so this prequel was the best way for me to discover her medieval world as I tend I confess to read later in time romance.
I loved it was about commoners, people who struggled and fought to live.
Ena is a survivor, but despite the horrors of her past, she didn’t turn the tragedy she lived in a reason to exact revenge. She believes she hates English but she has never seen proof of their goodness until one slips into her life and stole her breath and heart.
Renault has risen himself from a orphan turned beggar to a spy for his lord. He is close to goal, a post as a castle guard. While he dislikes all this nonsense violence, he follows the path as he hopes it will help him to get his right reward.
Until he comes face to face with a stranger challenging his battling skill and glimpses her true identity. From there, his world shifts from its axis.
Both are good and caring persons, they did as they should to survive when hunger and cold loom around them, but once they meet, they will revise their own preconceived notions about the other and open their heart and soul. Soon, they know what they want but what if life comes between them.
5 stars for this sweet tale of trust and faith.
I was granted an advance copy by the author and preordered my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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