A DANGEROUS LOVE

Author: Bertrice Small ISBN: 0451219783 10/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: NAL
Time Period: 1480's Scotland, England

Orphaned by England’s War of the Roses, betrayed by her half-sister, Elizabeth of York, Adair Radcliffe is taken captive during a border raid and sold into servitude to Conal Bruce, the laird of Cleit. The laird seeks a housekeeper—but instead he finds that beneath the girl’s dirty, disheveled appearance is a proud and spirited violet- eyed beauty who refuses to be tamed. It is she who will teach the stubborn Scot that love recognizes neither borders nor rank...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Bertrice Small's new release, A DANGEROUS LOVE, is the first book in her new Border Chronicles series. It is the story of Adair Radcliff, the Countess of Stanton, and her journey from being an orphaned child into becoming the Lady of Cleit.

I have to admit that I am a little disappointed in A DANGEROUS LOVE. I really wanted to like this book. I found the beginning of the book to be boring. I couldn't find a real connection to the heroine, Adair, as I found her to be cold and lacking feeling. I actually liked her nursemaid, Elsbeth, much more than I liked Adair. After losing both her husbands and her keep, she ends up being bought and then sold to a Scottish border laird.

Conal Bruce, the Laird of Cleit, wants Adair to be his mistress and eventually falls in love with her. Conal isn't the most romantic of all heroes. In a strange sort of way, he and Adair complimented each other perfectly.

As nice as the love story is between Adair and Conal, I just couldn't get past some of the graphic sex scenes that Small included in this book. I found they took away some of the beauty of the story, and I don't think they were even necessary. However, this is the first book I have read by Small, and if that is her style of writing, than that is what her readers are used to.

Bertrice Small's A DANGEROUS LOVE, failed to impress me. Although I did enjoy the second half of the story, I found the graphic sex and the lack of connection I felt with the characters problematic.

If you're a fan of Small's books, than you will most likely enjoy A DANGEROUS LOVE. As for me, I'll just pass on this book, thank you.

Julie Kornhausl