After hitting the hero in the back of the head with a rock to save her brother, the heroine finds herself and her home under siege from the hero and his knights. He's been sent by the prince to gain her hand in marriage but he's only one of three so he must marry her quick. Despite this, he finds himself engaged in a battle of wills with his would be bride. She's rational, mannerly but possesses a stubborn streak and a quiet willfulness. I did find myself frustrated with just how calm and complacent she was to that idea of her hand being forced to this stranger but I had to remind myself that she's perfectly in character for a woman of her times. She's not immature or childish and knows that she must wed some time but she just wants the hero to love her. And I did smile at all the times she won the battles between them. The hero is selfish, vain and a very accomplished liar. But he's weak and rendered blind by the blow to the head so his plans go off track as he attempts to heal himself without his knights knowing how damaged he is. Though there's no doubt that even injured he's a powerful man both mentally and physically. He's a spy and he holds his secrets tightly to his chest but it's hinted throughout the book that he may be a doubt agent for the rightful King. He's rather cold in his handling of the heroine but not ruthless or unkind, just unfeeling. Though he begins to slowly feel something deeper for her as the story goes on, it's not his motivation for marriage. He doesn't immediately get his way however, as circumstances impede their marriage and what starts off as an easy plan turns into a full length war that spans the entire book. I did find it charming that the heroine hates her beautiful features and thinks them a curse but the hero, with his limited eye sight mistakes her for a plain, unappealing girl despite the fact that everyone around her remarks at her stunning features. All the hero can see is at times a glimpse of vibrant green eyes the like he's never seen before. The heroine gets her wish that a man can love her for her and not her appearance. This is a paranormal but it's muted and nothing magical shows up until almost half way through the book. It comes in the form of a magical ring that grants the heroine visions. ( )