The Border Lord and the Lady (Border Chronicles) [Mass Market Paperback]

Bertrice Small (Author)

Book Description

Series: Border Chronicles | Publication Date: October 6, 2009

From the New York Times bestselling author?the fourth passionate romance in the Border Chronicles series.

Lady Cicely Bowen, daughter of the Earl of Leighton, is sent away by her father when her jealous stepmother threatens her safety. Soon the exiled Cicely becomes best friends with Lady Joan Beaufort, the king?s cousin?and when Joan is married to King James I of Scotland she chooses Cicely as one of the ladies accompany her north?

At the Scot?s court Cicely finds herself pursued by two men?elegant Andrew Gordon, the laird of Fairlee, and Ian Douglas, the laird of Glengorm, a rough-spoken border lord. When Ian kidnaps Cicely just as Andrew is about to propose, the royal court is sent into an uproar. The queen is demanding the return of her friend and the Gordons are threatening to set the border on fire. But the border lord is difficult to tame?and the lady?s heart is even harder to claim.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lady Cicely Bowen, confidant of Queen Joan Beaufort at the Scottish court, is determined to marry only a man she loves. However, her plans are dashed when she meets rough Scottish border lord Ian Douglas, who is so captivated by her that he kidnaps her away to his lands, convinced that she will fall in love with him. Despite a tempestuous beginning, Cicely soon is intrigued by the uncouth but gentle Douglas. Ever-popular Small concludes her Border Chronicles (A Dangerous Love, etc.) with this sexy, albeit mostly predictable, romp along the Scottish borders. As readers have come to expect, heroine Cicely is tough, smart and wildly independent. Small manages to keep the romance fresh with fliratations, steamy scenes and political intrigue. Fans of her work will find it entertainingly familiar, which with a writer of Small's talent, is no small thing.
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About the Author

Bertrice Smallhas written thirty novels of historical romance and two erotic novellas. She is a New York Times bestselling author and the recipient of numerous awards. In keeping with her profession, Bertrice Small lives in the oldest English-speaking town in the state of New York, founded in 1640. Her light-filled studio includes the paintings of her favorite cover artist, Elaine Duillo, and a large library—but no computer as she works on an IBM Quietwriter 7. Her longtime assistant, Judy Walker, types the final draft. Because she believes in happy endings, Bertrice Small has been married to the same man, her hero, George, for thirty-eight years. They have a son, Thomas, a daughter-in-law, Megan, and two adorable grandchildren, Chandler David and Cora Alexandra. Longtime readers will be happy to know that Nicki the Cockatiel flourishes along with his fellow housemates, Pookie, the long-haired greige and white, Honeybun, the petite orange lady cat with the cream-colored paws, and Finnegan, the black long-haired baby of the family, who is almost two.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; Original edition (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451227921
• ISBN-13: 978-0451227928
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #713,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bertrice Small is a New York Times bestselling author with more than 34 novels in print. She lives in the oldest English-speaking town in New York state. Her website is bertricesmall.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars yes predictable, November 10, 2009

By 

Erin Rose Vosburgh "Atochabsh" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Border Lord and the Lady (Border Chronicles) (Mass Market Paperback)

I agree that it is predictable. I just got to the point where the first husband dies and I don't know if I'm even interested in finishing the book.

I have all of Ms. Small's books, and like the other reviewer I've watched them fall into this predictable format.

Please Ms. Small, give us some of your older style with the history, color, drama, and love. I'm going to buy the next book. How could I not, but please bring us back to your older styles that captured my imagination and made me stay up all hours reading.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very predictable, October 28, 2009

By 

A. Puent "pumpkin" (Hessen, Germany) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Border Lord and the Lady (Border Chronicles) (Mass Market Paperback)

First of all, I would like to say that Bertrice Small is one of my favorite authors.

This book, however, is too much in a pattern which several books have already followed: The first husband is not really what she wanted, but she falls in love. Then he dies and she starts out disliking the new husband she is given, but eventually she falls in love with him, too. There is a crisis and afterwards, they both admit their love. (Reminds me of Blaze Windham and some other books...) And then there is, of course, the hateful servant she let go and who plans revenge (in other books this position is filled by rejected suitors or other jealous people who try to harm the heroes or heroines).

I am a bit disappointed...

There was no spirit in this book as there was in such wonderful stories as "Enchantress Mine", "The Kadin" or "Skye O'Malley". Or at least it was lost on me (I could NOT find any twists that were unexpected, as a previous reviewer stated!)

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining fifteenth century romance, October 11, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Border Lord and the Lady (Border Chronicles) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Earl of Leighton worries his brilliant teenage second wife Luciana Maria Pietro, whom he married for her money and for giving him sons, will harm his beloved young daughter, Lady Cicely Bowen. To keep her safe he sends her away from her stepmother. Cicely and Lady Joan Beaufort become friends.

When Joan and King James I of Scotland marry, Cicely is selected as a lady-in- waiting to the new queen. At the Scottish court, two lairds with opposite demeanors pursue Cicely. Andrew Gordon is a suave aristocrat while Ian Douglas is a border lord. Although she plans to marry Andrew, Ian abducts her. She finds border life complex and harsh while her other suitor declares clan war and the queen demands the return of her lady in waiting.

This is an entertaining fifteenth century romance starring strong lead characters and real historical figures especially Joan who was married to James I. The story line provides a deep look at the era when intrigue and clan disputes and hostilities were the norm. Vivid with the real persona enhancing the triangular relationship, Bertrice Small provides a wonderful romance with Stockholm syndrome implications.

Harriet Klausner