Fast...Slow....Fast.

This is my first of Donna Fletcher's and though it was an OK read, I expected more.

Moira Maclean has been in a convent for 17 of her 29 years. She is content with her life as it is however fate has other plans. A stranger by the name of Ian Cameron comes to the convent in the dead of the night bringing a message from her "late" father that they wed. Why she asks and Ian explains that this union will unite the clans and save lives. She is apprehensive and questions him about her age. He is well aware of her age and to her surprise he is only 25!

Moira gave in and they were married fast followed by an even faster marriage consummation. Soon she hears a voice she thought dead, it was her father! He was not dead after all and to her dismay, she has just married his enemy. He is furious with her. She feels betrayed. As if her feelings aren't wounded enough her father tells Ian to abandon Moira because she is contempt with her life. Furthermore she is too old and barren, she will never give you a babe he says. Ian reluctantly leaves and further damage is done. He abandoned her, without a word but he did leave her with something. Two months later, her father is proven wrong.

We start to learn how smart Moira really is, how the convent depends on her knowledge to thrive. Though with child, and no sight of her husband she is content with life. Out of the blue, Ian comes back to claim his bride and to remove her from the convent for she is not safe. A fellow nun called Anne whom has not yet taken her vows is also going along for the trip. It is from her, in a sudden outburst to set Ian straight that he finds out his wife is with child. Sparks fly and emotions run raw all the while, someone is trying to kill Moira, but why?

Readers will see that Ian has a good heart. A little too soft for a laird but a nice hero all the same. He is very romantic and appears to really want things to work out with his wife. Moira is strong, intelligent and unforgiving. She struggles with how their union came about for she feels betrayed. Used. No matter how much Ian makes her blood boil, she can not forgive him, or can she? Secondary characters Anne and Blair, Ian's right hand man is just what the book needed to give it a boost.

Now my problem with the book, it starts out really fast, then its as cold as a fish. Not much action. The h/h don't have sex again until MUCH later in the book, closer to the end even. Then in a burst of energy, the book becomes interesting again towards the end. It appeared that the conversations between the characters were redundant at times. Her age was constantly spoken of with the word "barren" hand in hand. Also, the fainting got really old. I was hoping that there would be some reason for such frequent swooning. There is mischief but it soon becomes evident. Bottom line, an OK read but not the best. I'll try her Highlanders Bride before giving up on this author.

Likable h/h and great secondary characters give this book the edge with a 3.5

6/10