Thanks to the publishers, author and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first historical fiction novel that I have read that is set in this time period and in Wales.

I enjoyed the arranged marriage aspect and the fact that the heroine is feisty. There's a fair bit of sexual tension in the beginning and you can really sense the reluctance these characters feel in falling in love.

But the female protagonist, Merered, was too immature for me to like much. I also felt that there could have been more Welsh history incorporated into the novel to provide context around why there was tension between the English and the Welsh.

Still it was a fun, quick read.

This is a super fun read. I really enjoyed this one!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was very well written. There is a lot of suspense and twists to this story, much more than your typical historical romance. I would have given it a higher rating if I didn't spend the first half of the book disliking the heroine so much.

Gerald of Malmsbury has been awarded a castle on the edge of beautiful Wales. He has a large problem that he is required to marry, Marared, the daughter of the Welsh Chieftain. She is not a woman to be trifled with and her actions show that she is exceedingly difficult and stubborn. So, the plot thickens as Gerald tries his be along to deliver the treaty he carries to the Welch. This is an interesting read and provides many twists in gaining the castle he wants to call home.

Caradoc wanted a treaty with the English. He was tired of all the fighting. Gerard was sent to make and maintain the treaty and Caradoc wanted him to marry his daughter Marared. There is some animosity between the group but if they see that everything will be fine and then perhaps trust will come. It starts out really rough for poor Gerard. His wife wants nothing to do with him in the beginning but as she watches and sees how fair and kind he is with everyone, she starts to soften. She is kidnapped and almost forced to marry one of the princes. Luckily, she is married to Gerard but maybe not so lucky for him. All kinds of things are happening between Gerard and Caradoc and the Welsh.
It is an interesting story with all kinds of tales to go along with them. Like the fairies, or the wee people and they share the world with a man but under trees or caves or such. It was cruel of her to be such a shrew with her husband, Gerard. I thought the characters were fun, engaging, and forgiving. The way the author described the land, the storms, and the beauty of their surroundings were amazing. The color of the sky at sunrise, breathtaking. I enjoyed the tale and found it satisfying. I would love to read more of her work.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

Gerard of Malmsbury has been awarded control of a castle on the Welsh border, on the condition that he marry the daughter of the local Welsh chieftain.
Marared is fiercely patriotic to Wales and it's people. She wants nothing to do with the English enemies. When her father insists on her marrying one of them she will do all she can to thwart him.
Our hero has worked his way from nothing to get where he is now but this is not going to be easy. Our heroine has a lot to learn about the lengths some people will go.
A wonderful story that keeps you interested from the first to last page. There are lots of twists and turns and people with their own agendas.
Great fun.

As a long time fan of the author, I was excited to see this new series and the cover is just stunning! Also I liked how the heroine had ancestry connected to the characters of her Dragon of the Island series. A great read for those who love medieval historical romances. After reading, I went and pre-ordered it.


Marared is a Welsh lady and hates the English with a passion. When her father agrees to wed her to English knight and baron, Gerard, she is very upset and constantly trying to figure how to get out of it. Gerard adores Marared and wants a real marriage - if only she will calm that temper! Can he trust her? Can she trust him?
And can Marared survive the Welsh highlands to save those she loves?

Marared could not believe her father was forcing her to wed an Englishman. Their enemy. But it would seal an agreement for them to be allies. Gerard of Malmsbury could see her hatred of him but he thought "she might be a wild hellion, but she also stirred his blood like no woman he had ever met. She had a face to inspire men to battle."

As they were wed and returned to Gerald's home, it seemed that her hatred began to cool as her husband was fair and a good leader to his people and always kind. But Marared had tried to set plans in motion to defy him and it might be too late to stop.

Secrets, enemies, and a building love will make this journey a challenging one for Marared and Gerald. Hopefully before it is too late, their love will build and conquer all.. Great story by an author I had not read before and look forward to more in this series!

Gerard of Malmsbury has come to offer a peace treaty on behalf of his lord to meets with Caradoc ap Mabon the Welsh chieftain. He offers his daughter to the man who holds Tangwyl Castle for Gerald this will elevate him to a baron. Marared hates anything English, especially Gerard the man her father the chieftain has decided she’s to marry him. Gerard knows it’s been hard for her to leave her home and gives her time to adjust to her new circumstances, but Marared is having none of it, she’s unhappy and she wants everyone to know it. At times she is such a brat! Gerald finds his new wife quite intriguing and wants her happiness. She eventually redeems herself, but after she has already set things in motion things could destroy her future happiness. A captivating story of two different cultures colliding and falling in love. I have voluntarily read and reviewed these excellent story.

Resisting Her Destiny

They married for peace. Can they stay married for love, or will a devious plot separate them? He is her enemy, and she will never give in to the passion he stirs within her. These are brave words. How long can she hold to this vow? Marared Resists Gerard with everything she has, but often, gentleness will erode resistance faster than any harshness or cruelty can. While she is busy resisting, Marared begins to see the gentle soul her husband is. Marared starts on a destructive path and schemes to end her marriage. Will she and Gerard survive the deadly plots in which they find themselves embroiled? Can Marared fix the mistakes she made? If you enjoy Medieval historical romance with adventure, plots, and machinations, you might like this story.Resisting Her Destiny

They married for peace. Can they stay married for love, or will a devious plot separate them? He is her enemy, and she will never give in to the passion he stirs within her. These are brave words. How long can she hold to this vow? Marared Resists Gerard with everything she has, but often, gentleness will erode resistance faster than any harshness or cruelty can. While she is busy resisting, Marared begins to see the gentle soul her husband is. Marared starts on a destructive path and schemes to end her marriage. Will she and Gerard survive the deadly plots in which they find themselves embroiled? Can Marared fix the mistakes she made? If you enjoy Medieval historical romance with adventure, plots, and machinations, you might like this story.

Gerard of Malmsbury is not enjoying his visit to Caer Brynfawr. Having been insulted by two lovely welsh ladies just adds to his discomfort. Marared is angry. Upset that her father is making an agreement with the enemy and that the agreement includes her.
Gerard agrees to marry Marared and has every intention of being a caring and loving husband. His biggest obstacle, is his wife! Marared has no plans to stay in this marriage. She begins to plot and scheme to end the union. But she does not understand that he is her destiny. But her schemes bring about her downfall. She may end not only their marriage, but their lives.

I do love a forced marriage trope but, the heroine in this story drove up the wall. Just felt almost sorry for hero most of the time. This book did lag a little bit for me so I did get bored reading it.

This is the first book I have read by this author and thought the plot was well reasoned and her descriptive passages are beautiful. I also loved Gerard of Malmsbury and his stoic patience with his new wife, however, I really did not enjoy Marared's almost continuous hurtful antagonism towards her husband. It took about two-thirds of the book before she started to see the positive aspects of the marriage brokered for her by her father and to start experiencing appreciation for the good man she married. She does redeem herself in the latter part of the book, but for the most part, her hurtful words made me feel very uncomfortable. As this is the first book, I am hoping that the main characters will get along a bit better in the rest of the series, as I would like to read more by this writer. Nevertheless, the book does ultimately come to a sweet and happy conclusion. I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Lord of Hearts by Mary Gillgannon is a different kind of mystery and a very enticing one. Marared, daughter of Caradoc ap Mabon is a stubborn and opinionated young Welsh woman who has a decided hatred for anything English. She refuses to even be polite so it came as a great shock when her father betrothed her to one, to seal a peace treaty. Gerard of Malmsbury had not been looking for a wife, but his liege had instructed him to do what it took to seal this peace accord, so the options were limited: marry and be happy about it or marry and be miserable, but marry he would. Marared was busily considering how to get out of the betrothal when her father announced that there was a priest present and they would marry immediately. Marared was resigned, still determined to flee the marriage and return to Wales. Gerard was unfailingly kind and pleasant, determined to win the long game and have a marriage he could live with. Things did not go smoothly.

The plot here was different and complicated. The pacing was good, it held my interest through out. To say Marared was stubborn is to simplify the situation. She had an abiding hatred for the English and refused to see any good in any of them. She was not always a sympathetic character: she was so mean to her new husband. Gerard, on the other hand, was used to adversity and would never willing give up. It was the proverbial rock and hard place. She put her stubbornness to good use once she figured out she was wrong, as well. She took no words of counsel from anyone, just made her own way. It was an exhilarating read from beginning to end. The blossoming love between the two and the fight to realize it made a read to remember. I recommend it highly.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Lord of Hearts by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #lordofhearts

I saw this book in NetGalley and requested for it because of the cover honestly. :)

I gave it three stars because the heroine was the typical stubborn, irrational, immature heroine. Granted, some development into a better person was described, the endless pages of how lacking in basic common sense, wisdom and grace the heroine is turned me off. The hero was not so bad. He was the mature one. And it is only his honor and the physical attraction that kept him pursuing the heroine at first. The storyline could have used more development of the characters. But alas when the plot is based on the heroine’s stubborn attitude it seemed like it truly capitalized on it. I did appreciate the twists in the story though and the epilogue.

Strong women always make for a great read. Marinated was one such woman. The twists and turns keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

I’ve not read Mary before so this is a first for me and I found the story very enjoyable, it had some great characters that I can see further books leading to, and the leading couple were great.

Gerard I felt so sorry for , the guy had it tough all his life and his foray into marriage was not an easy one, not a sign of bliss to be seen.
Marared was a handful from the beginning, both for her father then for her hubby, spoiled angry and passionate for her country, I can see where she was coming from but she did become a little annoying at times, poor Gerard I just wanted to hug him and slap her lol.

However a good story with some brilliant descriptions of the countryside. This book keeps your attention.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

What a kickoff for a brand new series! The author pairs a proud Welsh Princess who absolutely detests English people with a calm, but strong Knight who will fight to keep what is his!

Gerard works hard to show his new wife Marared that he is a Englishman that she can trust as well as his liege. They want no more wars between them and her people. However, it has been so ingrained into her by various people especially by her rebel cousin that they need to uprise that she can not truly give herself yet to her husband. He has the patience of Jobe!

Things are going to hit the fan, but does Marared regret her decisions and which ones?
The author does an exceptional job of keeping the flow of the book moving except a couple of times it seemed to be a little lagging, but it didn’t detract from the overall drama of the storyline.
I would recommend this book to anyone.

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

Gerard and Marared’s story had several components that should’ve made me fall in love with it (enemies to lovers, forced marriage, etc.) but there always seemed to be something in the way of that enjoyment.

*spoilers*

After their forced marriage (an excellent trope!) Gerard got WAY too close to raping her before deciding not to. Regardless of where Marared is on her journey to falling in love with Gerard, she hatches a plan that’s going to put not just her husband, but his entire people at serious risk. Both of them make decisions hovering between childish and morally bankrupt, and their unconvincing emotional journey isn’t enough to make up for it, with a distinct lack of groveling that could’ve at least improved their emotional arc at the end.

I received a digital advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.