Sensuality: 7
Scottish rebel Juliana Lindsey and Gawain Avenel, a knight sworn to the English King, share a dangerous past. Twice their paths have crossed and each time, one saved the other's life. When Juliana is captured and paraded before the English court dressed as the legendary Swan Maiden, Gawain feels compelled to save her once again. But the King demands that Gawain marry and tame the beautiful rebel, and faced with no alternative, Gawain complies.
Trapped in a relationship neither wants, these two wary souls agree to keep the marriage platonic and work together to find an answer to their dilemma. But the longer they're together, the more deeply in love they fall. Neither can imagine a happy solution, however, for each hides dangerous secrets and if the English king learns the truth about either of them, their lives may be forfeit.
Deeply romantic, Susan King's The Swan Maiden blends a mix of creative legend, political intrigue, and high adventure with heart-stopping feats of daring bravery. King has established a sterling reputation for historical accuracy and detail, and she expertly applies both to this tale with beautiful imagery and vivid settings that make the world of 1300s Scotland come alive. For all readers who love fine historical romance, The Swan Maiden is not to be missed.--Lois Faye Dyer