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Lions #4
Lion's Lady
A BROKEN PROMISE --- A BINDING VOW
Rowena Gunn was ever ruled by these echoes from the past to protect her son and safeguard his future. But the past was now embracing her in the very present form of Lion Sutherland, the Highland laird who alone could storm her defenses and besiege her cloistered heart!
Though hailed as a braw warrior, Lion Sutherland was nearly undone when his bonnie Rowena wed another. But now the fates had reunited them, and he'd be damned if anything --- even the protests of the lady herself! --- would destroy their newfound chance at love!
Rowena Gunn was ever ruled by these echoes from the past to protect her son and safeguard his future. But the past was now embracing her in the very present form of Lion Sutherland, the Highland laird who alone could storm her defenses and besiege her cloistered heart!
Though hailed as a braw warrior, Lion Sutherland was nearly undone when his bonnie Rowena wed another. But now the fates had reunited them, and he'd be damned if anything --- even the protests of the lady herself! --- would destroy their newfound chance at love!
299 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1998
About the author
Suzanne Barclay
63 books26 followersCarol Suzanne was born on 20 December 1945 in USA, daughter of Phyllis and Whit Hoose. She married Kenneth E. Backus, and obtained four stepchildren.
Published since 1992 as Suzanne Barclay, was an author for Harlequin Historical, specializing in romance set in the Medieval era. She founded the Lake Country Romance Writers in 1993, and served as the chapter's first president. She passed away on 15 September 1999 after a long battle with cancer.
Published since 1992 as Suzanne Barclay, was an author for Harlequin Historical, specializing in romance set in the Medieval era. She founded the Lake Country Romance Writers in 1993, and served as the chapter's first president. She passed away on 15 September 1999 after a long battle with cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 23, 2020
Some spoilers ahead:
I picked up this book because it was a second-chance/reunion type of romance. Hero and Heroine are separated as teenagers and reunite six years later. I was interested in seeing how it'd work out in a medieval setting and it was good for the most part, but ever so often something came along that just...irked me. Not enough to dnf, but it was always on the back of my mind.
1. Hero's past(-ish) lovers
Lion and Roanna were in love as teenagers and she finds out she's pregnant. She goes to meet him but is informed that he's already left the country. She is offered marriage by another laird, Padruig, and she accepts to save her reputation. We later find out the Hero didn't actually leave but was recovering from injuries and by the time he healed, the heroine was already married. Instead of talking to her to understand what was going on, he sleeps with other women for the next six years.
And while the hero was sleeping around, the the heroine and her husband did not have sex even once in their marriage of six years. How unrealistic is that!? The author gives some poor excuse about the husband having a mistress:
It's like the author is bending over backwards to keep the heroine "pure" while the hero sleeps around. Ugh
2. Hero's attitude towards said past lovers
Hero is the type to sleep with other women and them look down on them for having sex. So Hero and Heroine are staying at a widowed Chatelaine's castle, currently taken over by an earl, and there's a guest who is promiscuous.
When it comes to securing a room for the heroine, hero asks the chatelaine for a room and when she hesitates,
Why be so mean-spirited towards someone when they have nothing against you?
3. Hero is very handsy
Hero brushes aside the heroine's refusals. A lot. It's nothing overly serious, but it bugged me nonetheless.
And of course, the heroine secretly likes it and blames her "traitorous body." Ick.
4. Hero CONSTANTLY hides stuff from the Heroine
I generally don't mind secrets and can understand if it's done moderately. But the hero does it over
and over
and over
and over
I swear, this goes on for atleast 10% of the book, and it wasn't until 55-57% that he actually tells her stuff. I got on my nerves so much because he had a lot of opportunities to simply talk to her (he keeps dropping into her bedchamber uninvited because she left the window open) but he doesn't.
5.TSTL heroine
The last time I complained about a TSTL heroine was when I was reading The Officer and the Bostoner But after this, Rowena makes Allison look like a goddamn scholar. I don't have a specific quote to pull for this, but the amount of dumb decisions she makes throughout the book would've been funny if I wasn't so vexed by it all.
All that being said, I don't think it would bother others as much as it did to me. I just have certain pet peeves and this book unfortunately managed to contain all of them and became a complete mess. The plot moves slows down a bit in the middle but starts picking up in the last quarter. The Hero never does anything too objectionable and the heroine has (only one) clever moment, so I can see how some would enjoy it. But this just wasn't for me.
I picked up this book because it was a second-chance/reunion type of romance. Hero and Heroine are separated as teenagers and reunite six years later. I was interested in seeing how it'd work out in a medieval setting and it was good for the most part, but ever so often something came along that just...irked me. Not enough to dnf, but it was always on the back of my mind.
1. Hero's past(-ish) lovers
Lion and Roanna were in love as teenagers and she finds out she's pregnant. She goes to meet him but is informed that he's already left the country. She is offered marriage by another laird, Padruig, and she accepts to save her reputation. We later find out the Hero didn't actually leave but was recovering from injuries and by the time he healed, the heroine was already married. Instead of talking to her to understand what was going on, he sleeps with other women for the next six years.
He'd gorged himself on women when he'd learned his Rowena had wed another, but none of them had captured his heart or satisfied his soul the way she could.
And while the hero was sleeping around, the the heroine and her husband did not have sex even once in their marriage of six years. How unrealistic is that!? The author gives some poor excuse about the husband having a mistress:
"He was wed to you and kept another woman?"
"Aye. It chafed on my pride some[...]but actually, I was grateful, for it meant Padruig did not seek my bed."
Lion tipped her chin up so their eyes met. "Never?" When she nodded, his eyes twinkled.
It's like the author is bending over backwards to keep the heroine "pure" while the hero sleeps around. Ugh
2. Hero's attitude towards said past lovers
Hero is the type to sleep with other women and them look down on them for having sex. So Hero and Heroine are staying at a widowed Chatelaine's castle, currently taken over by an earl, and there's a guest who is promiscuous.
Selena was newly arrived at Blantyre, but rumor had it she was a talented and inventive bedmate. Had she approached him the day before, Lion would have been tempted. As it was, he felt scant interest in the lush curves she pressed close to him...
When it comes to securing a room for the heroine, hero asks the chatelaine for a room and when she hesitates,
"You'd just as soon not see (the room) misused by some careless trollop." He looked pointedly at Lady Selena, who leaned close to the earl as she refilled his ale
Why be so mean-spirited towards someone when they have nothing against you?
3. Hero is very handsy
Hero brushes aside the heroine's refusals. A lot. It's nothing overly serious, but it bugged me nonetheless.
"Nay." She put her hands over her ears, body shuddering in the grip of the same emotions that sent his own heart racing.
"Aye." Impatient, he took her shoulders and gazed deep into the eyes that had haunted his dreams for years. "Much has changed in six years, but this hasn't." He brought his mouth down on hers, hard, demanding a response.
She stiffened, her gasp of shock and, likely, outrage muffled by his kiss. She tried to twist free. He wouldn't let her go. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
And of course, the heroine secretly likes it and blames her "traitorous body." Ick.
"Nay." Ashamed and frightened of what she'd almost done, of the way her body had turned traitor to her mind, she pushed weakly against him. "Let me go."
4. Hero CONSTANTLY hides stuff from the Heroine
I generally don't mind secrets and can understand if it's done moderately. But the hero does it over
To you, mayhap, but I do not care one wit for a—"
"This is no whim. Lives are at stake."
His anxiety pierced her anger. "What is going on?"
"I cannot tell you."
and over
"Please, Rowena," Lion whispered. "This is your chance to save hundreds of men, women and bairns."
"How?"
"I will tell you later."
and over
"I will not mind leaving here at all," he confessed.
"When will you go?"
"When my work is done, my ends accomplished."
"What work? What are you trying to do?"
Lion shook his head in silent warning just as they reached her chamber. "Ah, here we are." He opened the door and whisked her inside before she could say a word. As he closed the portal, he cut off Dunmore Gunn's protest.
"What—?" Rowena exclaimed.
Lion pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth with his.
and over
What is it? Is something wrong?"
He looked down at her, the sun behind him, hiding his expression in shadow. "Now what could be wrong on such a fine day?" he asked, grinning.
He was waiting for something or someone.
Rowena did not know how she knew, she just did. She thought suddenly of the men who had attacked them on the stairs. Her pulse jumped in alarm. She wanted to ask him if he'd learned anything, he'd been adamant about keeping the incident a secret.
I swear, this goes on for atleast 10% of the book, and it wasn't until 55-57% that he actually tells her stuff. I got on my nerves so much because he had a lot of opportunities to simply talk to her (he keeps dropping into her bedchamber uninvited because she left the window open) but he doesn't.
5.TSTL heroine
The last time I complained about a TSTL heroine was when I was reading The Officer and the Bostoner But after this, Rowena makes Allison look like a goddamn scholar. I don't have a specific quote to pull for this, but the amount of dumb decisions she makes throughout the book would've been funny if I wasn't so vexed by it all.
All that being said, I don't think it would bother others as much as it did to me. I just have certain pet peeves and this book unfortunately managed to contain all of them and became a complete mess. The plot moves slows down a bit in the middle but starts picking up in the last quarter. The Hero never does anything too objectionable and the heroine has (only one) clever moment, so I can see how some would enjoy it. But this just wasn't for me.
June 9, 2008
I had some fond memories of Suzanne Barclay's books I had read a few years ago and when I discovered this one at the bottom of the TBR pile I decided to give it a go.
A BROKEN PROMISE -- A BINDING VOW . . .
Rowena Gunn was ever ruled by these echoes from the past to protect her son and safeguard his future. But the past was now embracing her in the very present form of
Lion Sutherland, the Highland laird who alone could storm her defences and besiege her cloistered heart!
Though hailed as a braw warrior, Lion Sutherland was nearly undone when his bonnie Rowena wed another. But now the fates had reunited them, and he'd be damned if anything --- even the protests of the lady herself! -- would destroy their newfound chance at love!
I'm happy to say I found it a very enjoyable read. Rowena and Lion were first separated by a near tragedy. The difference in their status led Rowena to believe she had been abandoned by her lover. With a child on the way she accepted a marriage of convenience with a childless man.
When they meet a again a few years later the attracting is still there but Rowena is more worried with protecting her son's life and heritage from his evil uncle and has no time or inclination to dwell on the past and the lover she believes abandoned her.
I really liked that Lion kept pursuing her. Even thinking she had forsaken his love to marry another man he knows he still loves her and now that she is a widow he wants another chance. It's not often we have a hero so clear headed as this one, there's no misunderstandings, he knows what he wants and makes it clear. Rowena, however, is keeping the secret of her child's parentage and while what separated them in the past is not clarified she doesn't feel she can trust him. They do talk with each other and what keeps them apart for longer is the political situation they're in.
A really nice and sweet story with interesting and real characters with a good feel of Scotland's political situation and social organization as Lion and Rowena's son are both heirs to important clans.
Grade B
A BROKEN PROMISE -- A BINDING VOW . . .
Rowena Gunn was ever ruled by these echoes from the past to protect her son and safeguard his future. But the past was now embracing her in the very present form of
Lion Sutherland, the Highland laird who alone could storm her defences and besiege her cloistered heart!
Though hailed as a braw warrior, Lion Sutherland was nearly undone when his bonnie Rowena wed another. But now the fates had reunited them, and he'd be damned if anything --- even the protests of the lady herself! -- would destroy their newfound chance at love!
I'm happy to say I found it a very enjoyable read. Rowena and Lion were first separated by a near tragedy. The difference in their status led Rowena to believe she had been abandoned by her lover. With a child on the way she accepted a marriage of convenience with a childless man.
When they meet a again a few years later the attracting is still there but Rowena is more worried with protecting her son's life and heritage from his evil uncle and has no time or inclination to dwell on the past and the lover she believes abandoned her.
I really liked that Lion kept pursuing her. Even thinking she had forsaken his love to marry another man he knows he still loves her and now that she is a widow he wants another chance. It's not often we have a hero so clear headed as this one, there's no misunderstandings, he knows what he wants and makes it clear. Rowena, however, is keeping the secret of her child's parentage and while what separated them in the past is not clarified she doesn't feel she can trust him. They do talk with each other and what keeps them apart for longer is the political situation they're in.
A really nice and sweet story with interesting and real characters with a good feel of Scotland's political situation and social organization as Lion and Rowena's son are both heirs to important clans.
Grade B
May 25, 2014
Found this book as I was re-organizing by bookshelves. I loved reading this book. The story was easy to read with not to many twists and turns. A very nice historical romance. Very glad I rediscovered this book.
October 13, 2019
It's an inspiring story of a young woman with a child trying to survive in a medieval, male-dominated world. Even in the worst of times, the protagonist keeps a loving heart. I got this book for Christmas when I was a teenager. It helped me through a bad time in my life. It reassured me that life is not as bleak as it sometimes feels. There is always light and love in the world; you just have to find it.
March 31, 2020
I liked it very much. actually I've read that in 2 days
August 1, 2023
The first romance novel that I ever read (at 13! 😬) and the one that got me hooked on the genre. 5 star rating purely for the nostalgia and the fact that I remembered it all these years later!
November 23, 2023
Quarto volume da série Lions.
O heroi deveria ser canonizado... só assim para aguentar Rowena cuja imbecilidade alcança níveis estratosféricos.
Dispensável.
O heroi deveria ser canonizado... só assim para aguentar Rowena cuja imbecilidade alcança níveis estratosféricos.
Dispensável.
February 11, 2024
more crazy things happened in two pages of this book than have happened in my entire life
March 4, 2017
Rowena was in love with Lion Sutherland and expecting his child when he suddenly left for France. She believed he'd grown tired of her and broke her heart...so having no choice, she marries Padruig Gunn, who offers to accept her child as his heir. Only Lion hadn't run off. He'd nearly been killed and was on his deathbed when Rowena married another, breaking his heart. So when they're faced with each other again 5 years later, Rowena is a widow and looking to secure her son's inheritance. Lion is determined to woo her back, but Rowena swore an oath to see her son Lord of Padruig Gunn's holdings and Lion is not a part of that future. Nor is she ready to forgive him for running off...nor is she willing to hear his explanations (silly woman).
Lion was a good sort. He was honorable, respectable and all around liekable. The fact that he struggles with his dislike of Rowena's (as yet unseen) son, believing he was sired by another, and apologizes to her for it speaks a great deal for his character. He certainly is not an ass. Rowena was a bit more frustrating, but certainly likeable enough. I hated that she refused to listen to or believe his explanations and that afterwards she was so stubborn about her belief that they COULD NOT be together if she was to uphold her vow. She was downright inflexible about it. I felt so bad for Lion that he didn't understand and she wasn't quite forthcoming about her reasons for not marrying him. And it was interesting how they worked their way out of that little conundrum...and Padruig's role in all that. This was a fairly enjoyable story and I'd be interested to read the earlier titles in this series.
Lion was a good sort. He was honorable, respectable and all around liekable. The fact that he struggles with his dislike of Rowena's (as yet unseen) son, believing he was sired by another, and apologizes to her for it speaks a great deal for his character. He certainly is not an ass. Rowena was a bit more frustrating, but certainly likeable enough. I hated that she refused to listen to or believe his explanations and that afterwards she was so stubborn about her belief that they COULD NOT be together if she was to uphold her vow. She was downright inflexible about it. I felt so bad for Lion that he didn't understand and she wasn't quite forthcoming about her reasons for not marrying him. And it was interesting how they worked their way out of that little conundrum...and Padruig's role in all that. This was a fairly enjoyable story and I'd be interested to read the earlier titles in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2025
Pop (a small bit of) the confetti, I've done it: read through all the harlequin historicals in my stack of romances. Away they'll go to the nabe little library and nice to have that achieved, until I run into more at library sales and invariably add back more lol. And, several books toward my 2022 challenge racked up at a fair clip. Good things.
The plot is almost too twisty to be believed, but it holds together. It also allows the leads an otherwise impossible out to the ridiculous vow that threatens to keep Rowena forever separate from Lion. I do like what it allows though; both of them always wanting and loyal to the other without fail, an us-against-the-world unspooling of revelations, rather than either getting the wrong idea about something and stomping off.
I wish Rowena had more to do than repeat that she can't be with Lion ~for reasons~ but then pine for him and eventually give in BUT still can't be with him in the future ~for reasons~. That gets wearing. I'm glad she had a few breakthroughs in action, thought, agency, but she's a bystander to most of what happens and that's too bad.
Lion I liked a lot. Almost too good to be true, contrasted to him 'gorging himself on women' after he thought Rowena lost to him--while looking down on easy women natch--was an eyeroll. Just let a man stay "pure" and only wanting the heroine, same as she's forced to do for him, for once. lol
Lots of good action and intrigue. The middle really drags as it goes over the same ground several times in similar iterations. But Barclay offers a good sense of place, scene geography, and character, and I appreciated all of that. If I saw another book of hers, I'd snag it.
The plot is almost too twisty to be believed, but it holds together. It also allows the leads an otherwise impossible out to the ridiculous vow that threatens to keep Rowena forever separate from Lion. I do like what it allows though; both of them always wanting and loyal to the other without fail, an us-against-the-world unspooling of revelations, rather than either getting the wrong idea about something and stomping off.
I wish Rowena had more to do than repeat that she can't be with Lion ~for reasons~ but then pine for him and eventually give in BUT still can't be with him in the future ~for reasons~. That gets wearing. I'm glad she had a few breakthroughs in action, thought, agency, but she's a bystander to most of what happens and that's too bad.
Lion I liked a lot. Almost too good to be true, contrasted to him 'gorging himself on women' after he thought Rowena lost to him--while looking down on easy women natch--was an eyeroll. Just let a man stay "pure" and only wanting the heroine, same as she's forced to do for him, for once. lol
Lots of good action and intrigue. The middle really drags as it goes over the same ground several times in similar iterations. But Barclay offers a good sense of place, scene geography, and character, and I appreciated all of that. If I saw another book of hers, I'd snag it.
December 4, 2012
Rowena Gunn married to give her unborn child a name and a childless Laird an heir. When she meets her son’s true father, Lion Sutherland, 6 years later, shortly after her husband is killed, they are both is bad positions politically. They need to tread warily to protect the heir from a murderous uncle and maneuver against a possible usurper to the throne. Lots of secrets and intrigues. Others in the series have been better, but this was ok.
June 22, 2016
This was my first Historical Romance....book I read and loved every minute of it...I hope to find this book in paperback somewhere real soon...a definite recommendation. ....I have to find the first 3
January 3, 2011
i really liked it very scandalous
November 10, 2011
I really loved this book.. one of my old favourites.
But I have a problem with the cover. My book has the same art but her dress is GREEN??!?! Wtf?!?!
But I have a problem with the cover. My book has the same art but her dress is GREEN??!?! Wtf?!?!
May 27, 2014
I read this book along time ago in paperback...i actually got it at a yardsale in a box of books i bought and it was an awesome book...my hats off to madam Barclay....
January 16, 2015
This book was awesome...and it was my first ever historical romance...and definitely well worth it...definitely a must reread...when i get the chance!!!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews