Book: The Warrior’s Reluctant Wife
Author: Lissa Morgan
Series: The Warriors of Wales, Book #1
Length: 265 Pages
Publisher: (Harlequin)
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flag

Wales

This is about an arranged marriage in which the widowed Rhianon is extremely unhappy about this upcoming union. After-all she was brought up by an abusive father and her dead last husband was exactly the same! So marriage is the very last thing she desires as to her it only means she will be physically harmed by another man.

Due to a wanted alliance she is being forced to marry Peredur ab Eilyr who is a warrior as their father are two fighting chieftains. So this is a forced marriage of convenience as she has no opinion that counts and again she is being used for her family's so called duty. Rhianon fears it will be another violent man that will either physically or mentally abuse her. Perhaps she will get a bit of both as she has no idea but they usually go hand in hand!

A breathtaking story of a marriage of convenience from two enemy fathers but whose children might possibly discover love. A lovely book of how love is the most powerful healer of all!

This novel details all that this couple had to go through with so many obstacles with so much hurt and abuse from their past. They both have a difficult time believing in trust, caring and love. Even though both have scars from their childhood they soon put their armor aside and take the road to happiness and love. As it was their only way to salvation and to a happy future and life together.

Peredur is the exact opposite of what Rhianon was expecting; however he too came from an abusive childhood and never wanted to marry or have children. All due to his traumatic past as they soon realize they have more in common than they first realized.

Rhianon and Peredur became like a moth to a flame and only felt protective desire and love but will it be enough? Can others destroy their tender hearts and new found love? Even though this marriage was very difficult to begin with, they soon realize they can change their future on their own terms. Can these two broken people come together and heal? Can they open their hearts to trust each other and discover love? Read and discover their fate.

Lissa Morgan is a new author that had me so awe inspired by this awe inspiring story. It was about two people who had so much betrayal and abuse for a good part of their lives starting at such a young age. Definitely an emotional read that I could not put down! It was both clever and brilliant but definitely have a few tissues or hankies nearby. Readers with soft hearts will definitely need them. I am looking forward to the next read by this extraordinary author whose both I absolutely loved!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from Harlequin publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. I really liked these characters and I enjoyed the story.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot!

This book tells the story of Rhianon and Peredur, who are forced to marry because of their fathers' rivalry. Both have had difficult experiences that make it hard for them to trust others. Even though Rhianon tries to be independent and not a victim, she takes risks to avoid being controlled by Peredur. Peredur agreed to marry Rhianon to protect her from his abusive brother, but he never planned to fall in love with her.

Their relationship gradually develops as they learn to trust each other and share their fears and pasts. The Welsh setting adds a unique flavor to the story, and the author's attention to detail makes it easy to imagine the world. The other characters, like Rhianon's cruel father and Peredur's brother, play important roles in bringing Rhianon and Peredur together.

Overall, this book is a great read about two people who overcome their pasts and find love in a strategic marriage while discovering a mystery about the castle's guards.

Good book about two people brought together in a marriage arranged as a strategic alliance between two warring Welsh chieftains. Neither Rhianon nor Peredur wants to marry. Rhianon's father is cruel and violent, and her late husband was no better. Her new husband is a warrior with the reputation of being heartless. At the same time, Peredur never intended to marry but agreed to the marriage to protect Rhianon from being married to his cruel younger brother.

I enjoyed this slow-burn story of two people whose traumatic childhoods have created deep-seated trust issues. Though Rhianon has been forced to marry, she refuses to be a victim and vows never to show her fear. Instead, she tends to be defiant in her refusal to be controlled, sometimes taking stupid risks rather than accepting Peredur's strictures. Peredur's early childhood was heartbreaking, with those who should have loved him mistreating him instead. I ached for him and the treatment he received from his grandmother. It was a good day for him when he was taken in by Eilyr and raised as a beloved son.

After their marriage, Rhianon and Peredur leave for a remote castle to watch over their border with a rival prince. Their arrival at the castle begins with the mystery of why its garrison has disappeared and what the locals know about it. Peredur's time is spent preparing the castle and his men for possible war.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Rhianon and Peredur develop. Peredur's plan to never marry and have children becomes problematic when he finds his attraction to Rhianon becoming harder to resist. Rhianon is dismayed that she is attracted to Peredur because she expects him to be like the other men she has known. But for all his reputation as being heartless, Peredur is a kind and compassionate man. I loved how he treated her with understanding and respect and how that helped overcome her fears. As Rhianon began to trust Peredur, she saw past the fierce warrior to the vulnerable man underneath. The explanation of his heartless reputation was not what I expected. I liked seeing them slowly open up about their pasts and fears and realize what they had together. The epilogue was great and showed what is possible when fears are faced together.

Secondary characters were well-developed and crucial to the storyline. I ached for Rhianon after the descriptions of her cruel and violent father and her abused and negligent mother. Peredur's brother was a nasty piece of work, and I figured him for trouble from the beginning. I loved Rhianon's uncle Edwin and her maid Esyllt, who played parts in bringing Rhianon and Peredur together.

I loved the Welsh setting. The author's attention to detail made the story richer and events easier to visualize. I loved the description of the castle, the surrounding area, and the story of the morloi. It only reinforces my desire to visit Wales and learn more about my heritage.

4.0⭐️/5
1.5🌶️/5

Wow. After reading "The Warrior's Reluctant Wife" from Alissa Morgan, I needed some time to sort out my thoughts. This is a historical romance set in Wales in 1157. Note: while mostly not on page the characters experienced and reflect on some heavy trauma. TW: abuse (physical, sexual), war, killing.
 
Between the MCs there was a lot of pining and yearning and angst, and I just loved the writing style of the author. The book is told in a head-hopping style. I enjoyed the subtle shift in POV mid-scene, although I did have to adjust to the shifts at first.
 
I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a slow burn historical romance (outside of the drawing rooms of Regency or Victorian England), dual POV (head-hopping), arranged marriage with forced proximity. Spicey moments are there, but it takes a long time to get there. Morgan's writing style really made the slow burn payoff worth it for me.
 
The marriage between FMC Rhianon and MMC Peredur was arranged as a strategic alliance between two warring chieftains, at the command of their prince. They’re forced to move to a castle by the sea so Peredur can be a lord to that region and it’s there they have to try to overcome their past to forge a future together.

Peredur and Rhianon are sooooo attracted to each other, but frightened to be vulnerable and open up to one another because of their trauma as children. I really enjoyed how they gradually (emphasis on GRADUALLY) opened up but being as this is a slow burn romance, their opening up took a LONG time. At one point Peredur's horse, Rhianon's lady's maid, and Rhianon's uncle were all trying to do some matchmaking to bring the couple together, and I was wondering if this HEA was ever going to happen.
 
Peredur was such a big cinnamon roll when it came to Rhianon. His POV is so sweet, however frustrating at times,  because he is so gentle and caring with her, even if he gets in his own way. I just wanted to hug Rhianon, because of her crappy abusive dad, abused and emotionally absent mom, and abusive former hubby really messed skewed her perception of what makes a happy family.
 
Thank you to Harlequin - Romance and NetGalley for the advanced copy. My review is provided voluntarily and represents my own thoughts and opinions.

4.5 stars

When recently widowed Rhianon is ordered to marry Peredur ab Eilyr, she has no choice but to comply, however, she refuses to be a biddable bride, especially to another warrior. She will marry him, but after enduring a brutal childhood and an equally brutal, yet thankfully short marriage, she doesn’t trust men, especially not one like Peredur, a warrior lord with a fierce reputation and who is whispered to have no heart. No, she can’t trust him, despite his kindness to her or her uncle’s admonishment not to believe the things said about him. She is sure that he will eventually show his true colors and it will be a cold day in hell before she yields to him. However, it becomes clear that she is wrong about Peredur, can she overcome her fears and open her heart to him? And more importantly, will he let her?

Known as Peredur Galon Gudd – Peredur of the Hidden Heart, for good reason, just not the one most assume. Peredur was taken in by Eilyr as a young boy and raised as a beloved son, he strives to make his adoptive father proud, and even though he never wanted to marry, he agreed to wed Rhianon when Lord Rhys ap Gruffudd, Prince of Deneubrath and their overlord ordered the marriage between the warring families. He married her to save her from his brutal younger brother, but he plans to keep theirs a marriage in name only. They travel to Castell Abereinion to man the fortress, but when they arrive it is clear that trouble is brewing, starting with the fact that no one is there to greet them. Peredur must find out what is afoot a task made all the harder when his unwanted wife tempts him as no woman ever has!

This was a great start to a new series! The book is well-written, nicely paced, and filled with intrigue. Rhianon and Peredur are both wounded souls who have been ill-used by those who should have loved them, it has made them both wary of trusting others, but they both have good hearts and slowly they begin to open their hearts to the other – but that doesn’t mean that their demons won’t still rear their heads and cause a bit of heartache. Throw in a bit of intrigue, treason, murder, suppressed desire, sassy servants, and evil relatives and you have an excellent story! I loved this book and can’t wait for the next installment!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

*3.5

I enjoyed this but I just wanted more from it. I feel like I wanted more of his feelings and just more of them being happy together.

I received an arc through netgalley.

He married her to save her from his half brother.

I enjoyed this medieval book, set in Wales. Rhianon is a widow (she was only married for two weeks, but he was an awful husband in that time) forced into a political marriage to Peredur. Peredur is very honorable (a product of a Flemish father who assualted his mother) and though a warrior, very kind and compassionate.

Their marriage is off to a rocky start with Rhianon mistrustful and resigned.
Peredur is a virgin who is married with temptation for his new wife surprising them both. They have a lot of outside forces to contend with, too.
Recommend. I really liked Peredur, and fournd him to be a well constructed hero.

This 1100s medieval arranged marriage romance set in remote Wales is a fast paced historical romance. These two have a very traumatic past on top of getting sent to protect the lands by being the outpost in a cold, dark, lonely remote castle. Rhianon grew up under a horrible father and then husband - she is now getting forced to marry a new man Peredur who has a reputation. They grow warm and understanding towards one another until it's more. We get fun side characters with her uncle and maid. This book was a joy to read and couldn’t put it down.

You can tell the author did her homework and made reading even more fun. This was well researched and loved all the extra Welsh parts thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for more of this series from Morgan.

I had a good time reading The Warrior's Reluctant Wife by Lissa Morngan. Both of the characters had their own personal demons but they did not let those fears / uncertainty cloud their mind. They were both protective and patient with each other.

I wasn't a fan of how this book was written; I thought it could have been edited better. I also didn't enjoy how the issue of pregnancy was handled during the novel.

Stuck in an unwanted marriage, Rhianon and Peredur must come to terms with their marriage. I thought the author did a good job leading us to the end, but I also thought Rhianon’s personality swung back and forth a little too much. Even so, I enjoyed reading the book.

I love a good marriage for convenience story, and to have it set in Medieval Wales? An absolute treat! This book was lovely from beginning to end, the romance delightful, and the historical accuracy superb. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more by this author!