Love in the Roses by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 15th Century England and in the time of the War of the Roses where Isabel lives with her parents in rural Suffolk, they are a loving unit and she has no want to leave their side, however, she has come of age and is now told by her mother that she needs to start thinking about her future and the marriage that this will entail. Isabel is shocked and cannot believe that her parents are thinking of this and it makes her anxious and unable to concentrate on her daily lessons, she asks about her intended and is disheartened when no information is forthcoming, apart from that her father is travelling a long way to make the intended match and that it is a good one. As the days pass and her father returns from his travels, he makes the announcement that he has made an arrangement and that she has indeed been promised to a young knight, Sir William, however, when she overhears that it is a match with a family on the wrong side of the War of the Roses, she cannot believe what she is hearing and her anxiety ramps up a notch or two.

As her anxieties increase and the day of her wedding approaches, Isabel’s mother comforts her with words of wisdom, as do the Good Women whom she has grown up around, but she is still a little scared at the idea of her father giving her away to a Lancastrian supporter when all she has known is the Yorkists, but she puts it aside and tries to make the best of the situation. As she approaches the aisle and sees her betrothed for the first time, she is satisfied by how handsome and polite he is and doesn’t let her emotions run away with her as they exchange vows and celebrate with the friends and family surrounding the newly wed couple. The hardest part of it all is leaving her family the next day to travel to her new home, with a trip to visit another relative of her husband, however, tensions run high on the journey, but she keeps her opinions as much to herself as she can, even if this means increasing tensions between the newlyweds.

This continues on the long journeys they embark on as they make their way slowly to their new home, but what kind of reception will they receive and will love be able to remove the barriers the opposing alliances create? In a time of unrest, lies, secrecy and danger, 15th century England is not the easiest place to build a new life, but these young partners do their best to be a good husband and wife to the other in every way, emotionally, physically and mentally as they embark on a new life in this captivating historical romance.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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