The Defiant Bride

William is one of those men who has a way with words, "I will not force you. It goes against my nature. But, woman, I want you as I have never wanted anything before in my life. We are husband and wife. Can you not try?" William knows how to give a good compliment, "not underdressed, love, since even less would suit me more.” He leered at her." The parts of this book I loved the most was when these two let the outside world go and are at ease with each other, "well, I was trying to tell you last night, but your animal lust intervened,” she teased." I enjoyed this book I liked it.

Dariana is told that the King has given her hand in marriage to a Spaniard. She appeals to her father but he can do nothing, he risks his title, land and wealth. Dariana just can't marry this stranger so she fakes her own death with the help of her friend Tamara.

She lives in a small cottage by the forest for about a year and Tamara helps her with basic food supplies. One day she comes across a man, a injured man. He has been shot by an arrow. She cleans him up and binds his wound and then Tamara takes the man to her home.

The man William remembers "the beautiful angel" but Tamara tries to convince him he was hallucinating. William stays until he is well enough to travel and then goes home. He tells his sister about this woman and vows to find her. As he tells his sister about Dariana, she remembers hearing a story about a woman....Dariana's own story.. They also know that the King had rescinded her marrying the Spaniard just a week before her "death" but she did not get word in time.

William goes back and finds Dariana and brings her to his home. She doesn't want to go because she is afraid of punishment by the King. The King who made the original decision, Henry VII has dies and Henry VIII is now king. William is madly in love with Dariana and she has not stopped thinking about him since she met him..

William plans their marriage and tricks her into marrying him. He also didn't tell her about Melissa, his betrothed. She is very angry but finds it hard to stay mad at him, especially when he tells her that Henry VII had rescinded her marriage plans to the Spaniard.

William knows someone tried to kill him and only one person comes to mind. His half brother, a bastard child who believes William cheated him out of what he is entitled to.

Will William and Dariana find happiness?

This is a good book. I felt like I was reading a fairy tale at times but with spunk and sex. Dariana is very agreeable and easy to get along with but she does have a stubborn streak. She and William were perfect for one another. The "bad guys/girls" in the story really are cold hearted people with no redeeming qualities.

The characters were well developed and the book caught my attention right away and kept it. I would recommend this book!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

This story is a sweet romance written in the time period of the 16th century. The heroine in this story is very courageous. Dariana stages her death so she will not have to marry a man that King Henry VII has picked for her. By saving the life of a knight and putting her own life in danger and that of her friends and family. It was love at first sight for the Hero William. He had to find the mysterious beautiful woman who saved his life. Once he found her again he promised to protect her. This is a love story that will stay with you long after you are finished reading. This book has it all intrigue, attempted murder, and a great romance. I will be looking for more books by this author. I received this book by Net Galley for an honest review.

Dariana's father informed her she had to marry as declared by the King. She decided to go into hiding until William was hurt and she tended to his wound and disappeared. William went on a search for Dariana. He found her and she reluctantly married him. Enemies wanted revenge. Despite the enemies attempt to separate them love prevail. Love Dariana'sDariana's spirit. I recommend this book.

Refreshing tale of a Lady willing to defy her king, even to the extent of faking her own death, to escape being used as a political pawn. Lady Dariana has no interest in marriage to another man, especially to one who she has never met. he escapes and seeks shelter in the forrest hoping to never be found

for herself. When William, a warrior knight, is felled by an arrow, she saves his life and arranges his rescue before fleeing to avoid discovery. William awakes from his injury to be told he imagined the beautiful woman in the forest. Besotted and determined to make her his own, he hunts her down and tricks her into marrying him, intent on turning her defiance into love. But even as he begins to succeed, their enemies join forces to end the marriage—even if it means that Dariana must die. When Dariana is abducted, William must track her down to fight for her life and their happiness. And, Dariana, once the most defiant of brides, must channel her own strength of will into survival, both for herself—and for the child she now carries.

I will highly recommend this book and author for any title she releases

fast paced, enjoyable, intense. I liked

Lady Dariana fakes her death to avoid being sent to Spain to marry a stranger. She receives the help of her friend to escape to the forest and live on her own. When she saves William, a wounded knight, he wants her for his own. Will Lady Dariana forgive her new husband or will old enemies end their chance at love. Excellent historical read! Fast paced, fun and sexy, a great way to escape into a world of Ladies and Knights. Great Read!

I really, really enjoyed this story. I enjoyed every minute of it. Ariana was a heroine to be admired. She didn't just bend or didn't go meekly to her fate. She was creative, ingenious in her plan to outwit the King's command; a warrior. OK, she had also been a privileged, spoiled, deeply cared for woman. She wasn't perfect. What were you expecting? William was an honorable man who became so besotted with Ariana that he pursued her and pushed things into the conclusion he wanted. She saved his life, she was his Angel and he was going to make her his. Then when he re-found her, he took off with her and tricked her into marriage. So not quite as honorable an action of a knight but he figured he could win her over, It might have helped had he taken the time to woo her, something he later admitted. She had fought so hard to keep her freedom, to marry for love and not be forced into a marriage not of her choosing. What a wonderful cast of supporting people in the story too. Too many to name, but not confusing in their addition to the story. There were also plenty of people who were villains in the story as well. Each with their own cruel, selfish motives of course. Most of them hated William and coveted Ariana. Those who hated William had no real reason to except in their own twisted minds. Plenty of drama, mystery, some deaths and some married sex, of course.

From the frying pan into the fire

I enjoyed reading The Defiant Bride. It reminded me of my earlier years when I read all things historical romance. Like the romances from earlier years this one had more of a narrative feel to it. There was plenty of action and court intrigue involved. The prose and the dialogue definitely give you the sense of stepping back in time. Like most of my favorite historical romances The Defiant Bride gives you a rebellious heroine and an arrogant warrior knight who saves the day… that is when the heroine isn’t busy saving it herself. I also like the glimpse of Henry the VIII before he started his mad reign of beheading unfortunate wives.

The Defiant Bride starts with Dariana being ordered by Henry VII to marry a Spanish noble to further alliances between England and Spain. Defiant to her core Dariana plots her own “death” rather than comply. After a lonely year learning to survive in the wilderness she stumbles upon a knight who has been shot and left for dead. After being cared for by this angel of mercy William is told she is a mere delusion of his illness and recovery. William isn’t so accepting of this theory. He’s besotted and determined to find his savior. When he does find her he’s adamant they’ll be wed and he’ll protect her from any fall out with the crown. So from one frying pan where she was being forced to marry, Dariana is tossed in the fire of another. Anger and animosity ensue but so too does desire and love.

More than one villain graces the pages. Both ex-betrotheds, the Spaniard and a spiteful money grabbing Melissa are nothing compared to the evil exuded by one covetous bastard brother, Cedric. When they gang up on the Dariana and William things get a bit dicey for the couple. Never to fear though because both William and Dariana aren’t without quick wits and enough gumption to handle what life dishes out. The same can’t be said for their enemies.

Overall this was an enjoyable spicy read even if I did want to turn the heat up just a bit more. I received a copy of this ARC via Net Galley for an honest review.

Great book fab story line everything you want and more in a romance such as this.