In the year of our Lord 1233, Catherine of Somerset is a woman without hope. In an age where women, even of the noble class, were considered property, Catherine has it rougher than most. She passes from a disparaging father to an abusive husband, and finds no reprieve from her husband's death. Rather than enjoy a widow's freedom, she lands in the even worse hands of her diabolical brother-in-law, Eduard, as a substitute pawn in a scheme to bring down Eduard's enemy, Grayson de Camville.

Though the plan horrifies gentle Catherine's sensibilities, she, as for most of her life, has no choice. Eduard's first candidate, his sister, Elise, kills herself rather than submit. Catherine isn't so lucky. To ensure that Eduard will allow her seven-year-old twins, Ian and Isabel, to live, she must become Elise, wed Grayson, and betray him.

Gray himself is tormented by the death of his beloved twin sister. He plans to wed Elise, bed her, and be on his way, unwilling to let himself become vulnerable to love. Yet the bride he is given enchants him, needs him as much as he needs her.

The wedding goes as smoothly as can be expected. Catherine doesn't look like the real Elise, a fact which does not go unnoticed. Accustomed to being overlooked or denigrated, Catherine is not prepared for Gray to find her more than merely attractive. Eduard delivers her a portrait of her twins, to remind her of her mission; a portrait which she must explain, as Gray thinks her untouched. If betraying Gray is hard in theory, it's harder as the two fall deeply, touchingly in love. All the while, Eduard lurks, plots, threatens.

Readers looking for light and fluffy, keep on looking. Those who want to linger in a rich tapestry of medieval romance, pull up a chair and settle in. Mary Reed McCall paints a vivid picture of characters who love, fear, break and heal in a world that is vibrantly real. This is one author to watch.