Five years ago, Moira, daughter of the Gunn clan's leader, was attacked on the orders of her stepmother, and injured so badly that she was thought dead. Rescued and nursed back to health by an older couple, she has spent the intervening years in hiding, taking on a new name and identity, and doing her best to hide her hideous scars. Now, there are plans for marriage alliance with a powerful neighbouring clan, but rumours are starting to go around that the beautiful women and girls collecting at the castle for the purpose are being sabotaged, so that the only woman who will be available will be the very woman who attempted to have Moira murdered. A chance encounter brings Moira face to face with the man who had been employed to murder her, and she knows that she is no longer safe. But as daughter of the former leader, does she not have some responsibility to her people? Will Moira choose to hide in the dark, or to step into the light?
I've read and enjoyed other books by the author, but this was a complete change from her usual genre. Happily, her good writing and interesting plots have carried across, and I enjoyed this just as much as her others, though it is possibly aimed at a somewhat different audience (fans of historical rather than contemporary fiction). Clean in content and language, this book is suitable for a range of ages, being generally on the light side of historical fiction/romance. I particularly enjoyed Evan's gradual acceptance by his father - though the idea that anyone could treat a son as he was initially is horrible, and I'd like to think unrealistic. The message of needing to stand up for things, regardless of the cost, was also done well. All in all, a good read. Recommended.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.