An English knight and a Scottish lass with a secret she would die to protect.Simon de Bretteby is one of The Saint’s closest friends and most loyal soldiers. His entire life has revolved around service to Lord de Wolfe’s nephew—except for one summer when he was ordered across the Scottish border to put a stop to a rogue chieftain who’d stolen cattle from an English lord. Injured and separated … and separated from his men, de Bretteby had little chance of survival, but a kind-hearted Scottish lass boldly healed his body, though he left his heart in her keeping.
Iseabal Maxwell, daughter of Chief Maxwell’s bastard son, has little love for English soldiers—and even less love for clan politics. With her sister ordered to wed as a pawn for peace along the border, Iseabal expects the same bleak future. As relations between the two nations grows ever more strained, defying her father’s orders by saving the life of an English knight risked much. But letting him go was one of the hardest thing she has ever done.
Now her life lies in ruins—her father dead after the English besieged their home, her fate decided by a man she fears.
What will happen when she appears on Simon’s doorstep, carrying secrets she would die to protect?
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This book will have hope blossoming from your heart until the very end!
I love the way this author writes. She has a way of describing the scene so it’s easily pictured in your mind. And she writes about the characters and their feelings so you feel like you’ve met a friend. I would give this book 10 stars if I could.
The book explodes with the chaos of a castle-takeover right after Iseabal’s father passes. The new lord of the castle is cruel and I was thinking of ways for her to escape myself! Her lady’s maid suggests her home, which is two day’s travel on foot, and it’s their only way out so they’re not discovered.
(Five years prior) Simon is injured in battle and is taken to an abandoned croft by young Iseabal who heals him and loses her heart to an English knight. He leaves when he is healed but has left her broken hearted….and pregnant.
(Five years later) Simon has recently been awarded his own castle which is in dire need of repairs and wants to earn the respect of the nearby village. He’s never forgotten his angel with long black silky hair and green eyes that brought him back to health some five years prior.
Fate has them meet again since it is his new lands that Iseabal has gone. The rest of the story unfolds from there and since I’m not one to give spoilers, just know that this man swears to win her heart again.
My favorite line in the book was:
“Do ye intend to cheat me of my three days?”
(Read the book to find out why Iseabal said this.)
Outstanding read!!!! Recommend it highly!!! It’s a wonderful story of second-chance love and one I’ll remember fondly.
One summer several years ago, Simon de Bretteby crossed the border into Scotland to retrieve English cattle. He was badly hurt when Scottish Iseabel Maxwell found him and nursed him to health. She came to care for Simon, but he left when he was able.
Several years later, her father has died. Her sister, Marsaili, is supposed to be on the way to their keep. Unfortunately, her cousin Albert has brought his half-brother, James, who has been given their keep. James is not what she wants in a husband. With the help of her devoted servants, Hew and Aggie, she manages to escape the keep with them, her beloved son Ewan and his dog Shep. After some danger they are welcomed at Aggie’s sister, Mary’s, as she needs help with the spring lambs.
Simon has a keep of his own now and it’s not far from Aggie’s farm. Iseabel never thought she’d see Simon again and doesn’t want him to know Ewan. It’s hard to keep a four-year-old boy from finding out he has a Da. There are several other things going on in this very good book, but you’ll have to read it to find out. I couldn’t put it down and highly recommend it.
A chance meeting five years ago brings together Simon de Bretteby, an English knight and Scottish Lass, Iseabel Maxwell. Carrying out orders while in service for Lord de Wolfe’s nephew, Simon was wounded when he went across the border to Scotland and taken in by Iseabel who helped him heal.
They did form an attachment but he had to return to his people and duties.
This is a story of Iseabel, who had to flee her home after the English took over and killed her family. She was desperate to take her son and not marry a man that she fears and knows she has to get away. As fate steps in, she and Simon are unexpectedly reunited but danger lurks and it will take all his strength to keep them safe!
Cathy MacRae immerses us in history, full of the battle between the Scottish and the English with characters and words true to the times. Suspense, secrets and a love that will survive despite their differences. Immerse yourself in a heartfelt tale that you will not be able to put down until the last page!!
Simon de Bretteby is one of the most trusted soldiers of the Saint, a nephew of Lord DeWolfe. His whole career has centered around service to the Saint, except for one time when he was sent across the border into Scotland. He was to put an end to a rouge chieftain that was causing trouble. Things were going fine, until he was hit in the head, injured and separated from his men. He was found by a kind Scottish lady named Iseabal Maxwell, nursed back to health and before he left captured his heart. Now as her life is in ruins, she decided that it is time to find Simon, hoping he will save and protect her, as she did him. What an interesting adventure in found in The Penitent.