The Warrior’s Reluctant Wife by Lissa Morgan

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Warriors of Wales, #1

Release Date: August 22, 2023

When recently widowed Rhianon is ordered to marry Peredur ab Eilyr, she has no choice but to comply, however, she refuses to be a biddable bride, especially to another warrior. She will marry him, but after enduring a brutal childhood and an equally brutal, yet thankfully short marriage, she doesn’t trust men, especially not one like Peredur, a warrior lord with a fierce reputation and who is whispered to have no heart. No, she can’t trust him, despite his kindness to her or her uncle’s admonishment not to believe the things said about him. She is sure that he will eventually show his true colors and it will be a cold day in hell before she yields to him. However, it becomes clear that she is wrong about Peredur, can she overcome her fears and open her heart to him? And more importantly, will he let her?

Known as Peredur Galon Gudd – Peredur of the Hidden Heart, for good reason, just not the one most assume. Peredur was taken in by Eilyr as a young boy and raised as a beloved son, he strives to make his adoptive father proud, and even though he never wanted to marry, he agreed to wed Rhianon when Lord Rhys ap Gruffudd, Prince of Deneubrath and their overlord ordered the marriage between the warring families. He married her to save her from his brutal younger brother, but he plans to keep theirs a marriage in name only. They travel to Castell Abereinion to man the fortress, but when they arrive it is clear that trouble is brewing, starting with the fact that no one is there to greet them. Peredur must find out what is afoot a task made all the harder when his unwanted wife tempts him as no woman ever has!

This was a great start to a new series! The book is well-written, nicely paced, and filled with intrigue. Rhianon and Peredur are both wounded souls who have been ill-used by those who should have loved them, it has made them both wary of trusting others, but they both have good hearts and slowly they begin to open their hearts to the other – but that doesn’t mean that their demons won’t still rear their heads and cause a bit of heartache. Throw in a bit of intrigue, treason, murder, suppressed desire, sassy servants, and evil relatives and you have an excellent story! I loved this book and can’t wait for the next installment!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*