I don't usually like books set in Medieval days, but this one was an exception. The story of Johanna de Pomeroy and Nicholas de Rochambeau, their arranged marriage (that Johanna falsely thinks her father was blackmailed to agree to), their battles, unexpressed love and secret longings (with some lovemaking thrown in), make for entertaining reading, as do the many misunderstandings in their rocky road to true love.

They're even separated for four years, when (after an argument where Johanna convinced him momentarily that she wasn't the innocent maiden he thought) Nicholas takes off for the Crusades, leaving Johanna to manage their estate, which she does very well, proving an expert at handling the accounts. When he returns, Nicholas is reluctantly impressed, and there's a funny break in the drama, where he tries to decipher a code Johanna's worked out, the prize for his success being sex whenever he wants it, and he wins by devious methods!

There's also enough seriousness, like when Johanna and Nicholas are finally on the right track, when there's an attempt on his life, and Johanna's the one accused!

Then, there's the intriguing character of Aubrey, Nicholas's older, illegitimate half-brother, who was a friend and companion to Johanna while Nicholas was away and seemed to always be in his brother's shadow.

I won't give anymore away, except to say that, despite four years apart (and telling themselves it would serve the other right), neither of them cheated, which tells something of their real feelings for each other.

You won't regret reading this one. ( )