Joining (Shefford Series)

Wulfric de Thorpe was betrothed at age 13 to 6-year-old Milisant Crispin, daughter of his father's best friend--a "good" match for both families--but their first and only meeting was a disaster. They unwittingly injured each other when he was badly bitten by her falcon and Milisant received a broken ankle in the resulting chaos. Needless to say, the two have fiercely disliked each other ever since. Now 25, Wulfric reluctantly arrives at Dunburh Castle to claim his bride. To his dismay, he finds that although Milisant is now 19 and stunningly beautiful, she is still a sharp-tongued, untamed tomboy who refuses to obey her beloved father, dresses in male clothing, is an expert archer, and has a magic touch with animals of all sorts. Wulfric gloomily decides that his hope for a biddable lady wife is doomed. Just as pessimistic, Milisant fears that marriage to the handsome, powerful Wulfric will mean that "he would smother me, try to break me." Neither Milisant nor Wulfric want to wed, but the two can't bring themselves to refuse and disappoint their respective fathers.

Thrust into each other's company, a powerful attraction grows between them, despite their difficult past. But darker forces have political reasons for preventing the wedding, and they'll stop at nothing to succeed, including murdering Milisant. Will Wulfric be able to keep his new love alive long enough to marry her?

Peopled with complex and often colorful characters; set against the fascinating political background of King John's England; and enriched with a healthy dose of intrigue, passion, and conflict, Joining is another delightful novel from the prolific Lindsey. --Lois Faye Dyer