A Sudden Marriage

The stranger is huge-dark and forbidding. But to honor a deathbed promise to her foster father, Kailey Hewett must marry Simon de Marchand, the king’s sheriff, an intimidating mystery of a man. As they ride away from her home and all she holds dear, Kailey wonders how she can keep her pledge to give this stern man his “heart’s peace”-but she vows to create a new family, no matter what it takes.

An Unexpected Love

This marriage was supposed to be a final reparation for his part in her father’s long-ago death-nothing more. But as Kailey’s generous heart causes her to gather a “family” of endearing misfits around them, Simon unexpectedly finds the walls of his own heart slowly crumbling. By his own harsh sense of justice, though, Simon can never allow himself to accept what he most wants, her forgiveness, and believes he doesn’t deserve the love Kailey offers so freely, a torture as much a pleasure. But as the small, lion-hearted woman whips a huge, stunningly resistant man into an acceptance of love, he finally learns that mercy is as important as justice-and love and forgiveness can heal all.

Reviews

“A passionate, heart-wrenching tale of honor and justice, loyalty and betrayal, and love and forgiveness.” Romantic Times Magazine, April 1998

AMAZON — Heart-wrenching!
Oh man, what a heart-wrenching story. By halfway through it I was head-over-heels in love with Simon (truly a hero!) & totally dreading what was to come for him. By Jojo “jojookla” — May 14, 2003

AMAZON — Poignant and Emotional
The five stars are given on the strength of the last few chapters alone, which is a rollercoster ride of emotions. This is truly a touching book about a man who, to flee from a horrifying guilt in his past, bury himself in honour and justice, becoming one of the King’s most loyal and fair magistrate. It is also about a woman, whose past is intertwined with the man’s, a woman who flees the loneliness of her life by taking in strays and making them her family. . . . After reading this I had to take a deep breath and readjust my equilibrium. This is how powerful the impact of this book has on me. It left me drained, yet a feeling of well-being that could only come from a very good book lingered. By A Customer — June 17, 1998

Linda Needham has written a wonderful love story made more special because it is a love based on evolving trust. Humor, sadness and laughter are intricately woven into the plot and the three-dimensional characters will steal your heart.” 4 (Excellent) –Romantic Times Magazine

“A courageous heroine and a strong, yet tender-hearted hero make this a memorable read.” Editors Recommended Book, Romance Expert, Amazon.com