Marielle Matesse has gone from being an unwanted and unhappy child to being married to a French Count who just wants her as a pretty ornament . She has failed in giving him the heir he wants leaving his horrible younger brother as next in line to inherit.

Ashby fitz Waryn is the bestfriend of Lord Garrett Montayne, who keeps trying to gift him with land so that he will have a home of his own. Ashby will not take charity. He will make his own way or go without. Working as his friend's man of business gives him enough to do on his trip the the French vineyards.

Our poor heroine has never been given a chance to grow into her true character. Our hero has far too much pride for his own good. There is a truely awful villian in this story who will use all means at his disposal to get what he wants.

This story is very emotional at times and has an unexpected ending. I loved the characters even if I thought the hero should have been a little more forceful.

A very enjoyable read.

I like Alexa Aston's books, but wasn't sure about this series.
I am glad I have them a chance. Book 2 in the Medieval Runaway Wives series.
Marielle seems to not have much luck. After her husband's death she finally decides enough is enough. Ashby, who we meet in the first book meets Marielle before her husband died.
Ashby seems kind of work is me at times, but is good guy.
Romance and adventure.

This story was very emotional. I felt that the author was able to convey the elation and the agony that the characters were experiencing. The heroine is a girl who has been sent to a convent at age 5 and ten years later, her father brings her home to work in the family's rug business. One day, an older man, in his 40's comes in and offers to marry her. She was raised in a convent so taught not to be vain. She is married for seven years, treated as a collection item or whipping post, depending on how her husband is feeling. He has no care for her at all, except that she is only allowed to weave tapestries in her room or try to have his son. The hero was sent to their vineyard to see new winemaking techniques. While she doesn't break her vows, she is very much intrigued by the hero.
This story was typical of how women were treated in older times. She had been educated at the convent, but wasn't allowed to use her mind or do physical labor. She just had to look pretty and act nice when she was allowed to entertain her husbands guests.
This story was. Very emotional; full.of intrigue, obsession and callous regard for other people. The hero was slow to act like a man. I felt he should have been more independent and have confidence in himself, but that is only me. He gets it together in the end and it helps with building his character development.
This book was worth the read and time. It was a continuous uous story with supporting character from other books that I have nor read. So this is a stand alone story, but i will be looking for other books by this author. 4.5 stars with recommendation to read.

I thought the premise of this book was intriguing, but unfortunately, this story did not live up to my expectations. I thought that everyone hating Marielle for no reason made no sense. I skipped over lots of chapters to get to the end. I did not care about any of the characters. They all seemed quite flat to me.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given in my own words, for this ARC. The premise had such good intentions unfortunately, for me, it did not live up to expectations. The story was written well enough, it just didnt seem to me to have enough fire.

Abuse can be physical or mental and be inflicted to children by their own parents , siblings, and caregivers!
Marielle has had to endure mental emotional abuse from her parents, the nuns who should have been her protectors, and even her own siblings. Then she was picked out by her husband like a piece of the very Tapestry that her parents sold in their shop where she worked. Her husband isolated her as though she was a showpiece for his endeavors only. His brother was a tormentor to her and made her feel like she had to be constantly on guard.

Ashby is a mans man, but deep down he feels as though he has nothing because he is just a heirs spare spare. He never wanted the Church so he rebelled and turned his back on God just to prove that he was not going to be what his father wanted. He became a soldier. He was a lifelong friend with a man who sent him on a journey that led him to Marielle. It was a connection of souls and fireworks.

Marc the evil brother in law decided that he wanted his brothers title and wife. So, he poisoned his brother and tried to blackmail Marielle into marrying him.

As you know a woman who has been beaten down so much can only usually stand for enough and then will fight back. This is where the adventures begin and become the most harrowing at times, but even comical as well.
I loved Marielle’s awakening from emotional abuse to finding her voice. She is a testament to all women.
The author has taken a delicate subject matter and given it a remarkable voice in her pages and that is no easy feat! Her development of the characters and even the growth of Ashby it was touching to witness.
This author has such an amazing insight!

Thank you to the authors and publishers who work diligently for us the readers!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Marielle Matesse is sitting in a carpet shop waiting for a customer. She had just come home from the convent. At four she had run away from home. She gets married to a man who does not really love her. She does not love him. Marielle had a twin sister but she died when they were five. Her family didn't want her and felt she was an evil child.
Ashby fitz Waryn Was a knight and his best friend was Garrett Stanbridge. They had been through all kinds of things since they had grown up together. Brother and friend of his heart, cherished comrade and companion in battle, is what they thought of each other. He felt his time to move on had come and was thinking of going to France.
She is an amazing author for me. I must say I loved her book. It is a little complicated but so very thrilling. It entertains and keeps you wanting more. The characters are amazing and realistic. The storyline is set in Medival times. She writes an absorbing tale of love going through so many trials and tribulations. I think you will enjoy it.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I did not enjoy this book. The characters were very two dimensional. The way their feelings were described and the way they talked was boring. The blind hate that Mariella’s family had for her was flat and idiotic. Honestly, it made no sense. There were also very few mentions of the time period it was supposed to be happening in. It was as if the author wanted to call it an historical romance but didn’t want to actually do any of the work towards making it one, asides from some random references.