I’m a huge fan of Julie Garwood and her historical romances. They have provided me with hours of entertainment through out the years. One of my favorite books of hers is The Wedding-#2 in her Laird’s Fiancees series. While I adore a good smex scene, sometimes the best parts are either  the events leading up to the scene or what happens afterwards…especially when your dealing with an quirky  lovable heroine and a grumpy silent hero who are unsure exactly how to deal with one another.

In The Wedding, we are introduced to Lady Brenna and Connor MacAlister.  Lady Brenna is headed to Scotland to marry Laird MacNare, a man she has never met. She hasn’t any real feelings about the situation either way and seeks only to obey her father.

Laird Connor MacAlister has spent his life seeking proof against the man whom he believes murdered his father.  When hears news MacNare is taking a bride, he quickly moves to  intercept the woman and begin his plans of revenge. But he never met anyone like Brenna and soon his life is turned upside down by a woman who doesn’t quite see the honor she is being given by him claiming and marrying her.

“If my father blames me for this marriage, you’re going to have to set him straight. I didn’t plan this, and you’re going to tell him so. Promise me you will.”

He didn’t answer her. She knew he’d heard every word, though, because she’d shamelessly raised her voice. “Promise me,” she demanded again.

He lifted her onto her horse, and while that was very thoughtful of him indeed, she didn’t thank him.

She grabbed his hand as he let go of her waist. “Promise me?” she asked yet again.

“‘Tis doubtful you’ll ever see your family again. Your concern is foolish.”

He thought he was very reasonable.

She thought he was deliberately cruel. Tears filled her eyes over the very idea that she might not see her family again.

She pushed his hand away. “I will see them again. You cannot expect me to… Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s rude to walk away from someone when she’s talking to you?”

Connor couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. She had actually criticized him. No one had ever spoken to him with such open disapproval before, and a woman addressing him in such a fashion was simply beyond his comprehension.

Honest to God, he didn’t know how to react. If she were a man, he knew exactly what he would do, of course, but she wasn’t a man, and that made his dilemma confusing. Brenna certainly wasn’t like any of the women he’d known. Most avoided him, and those who had more courage kept their heads lowered and their bearing humble in his presence.

His reaction to Brenna was bewildering. She made him feel like smiling, even when she was frowning at him. In truth, she was such a refreshing change from all of the others, he couldn’t even begin to imagine her cowering before him, and though her bizarre behavior pleased him, he knew it would be a mistake to let her think she could always get away with such defiance. It would be a poor beginning at best. He was going to be her laird, and she needed to understand exactly what that meant. Appreciation would come later. He decided to be understanding now, so he put his hand on her thigh, gently squeezed, and stared into her eyes.

“You don’t understand yet, and for that reason, I will be patient with you.”

“Exactly what don’t I understand?”

“Your position in my household. Soon you’ll learn to value the great honor I’ve bestowed on you by marrying you.”

Her eyes turned a deep violet blue. Lord, she was pretty when she was angry.

“I will?” she asked.

“You will.”

She put her hand on top of his and began to squeeze. She wasn’t at all gentle.

“Perhaps you should bestow this great honor on someone who does understand,” she suggested.

Love, laughter, and forgiveness are the main themes of this story that keeps the reader enraptured to the very end.

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