Name: A Sword Upon the Rose
ISBN: 9780373778850

Brenda Joyce

When she saves an enemy warrior from death, Alana, the bastard daughter forgotten to the mighty Comyn family, must keep her identity a secret even as she is swept up into a forbidden affair that forces her to choose between love and loyalty. Original.

A Sword Upon the Rose

Lover of Romance 

I received a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review 
 
Alana, is known as the bastard daughter and has been hidden away, and along with her gift or foresight, she is feared among many, and used by her own family. She is the niece of the leader of the Comyn family, but is hardly treated as such. When Robert Bruce and his forces start attacking her families' holdings, her uncle is desperate to find a way to stop him, with using Alana as the means of doing it. But when she has a vision, of a fierce warrior being betrayed and almost killed, she knows that she must save him, she doesn't know why, she just knows that she must. While answering summons, Alana and her grandmother, come across a battle on a holding, and she sees the man from her vision, and manages to barely save his life, and a fierce attraction between Alana and the infamous Iain of Islay begins. Alana withholds her true identity from him and her gift, knowing that he could very well hand her over to Bruce and have her killed. So she must keep silent. But when they meet again, a sensual embrace turns into a love affair that will take Alana and Iain amid the dangers of the war that could tear their love apart, or bring about a match never to be broken...

A Sword Upon The Rose is the second book in this series, and it follows up where the first book left off. I have to say that this story aroused many sensations, and it is pack with plenty of historical information, that only adds a certain depth to this romance, which leaves a feeling of intensity from beginning to end. It begins with Alana having a vision of the infamous Iain. Then she meets him for the first time shortly after, and for the first time Alana feels the tender touch of a man, a man who is powerful and a warrior and fighting with Bruce, but treats her far better than anyone except for her grandmother has ever done. As tensions rise between the two armies, Alana soon faces a difficult choice, the loyalty to her family or loyalty to the only man she has ever loved. Alana feels torn in two, but she knows in her heart who has her loyalty and her heart, and no matter what the future holds, she knows she needs to take a chance on that one person who cares more for her than anyone ever has.

The characters in this story are very moving and there seems to be a pull the readers feels for them, almost without fully realizing it. The hero, Iain, is a hardened warrior, loyal and has had to make difficult choices. He is very sensual and possessive and is the type to give you weak knees. Alana hasn't had the easiest life either. Being born a bastard, and has always felt unloved most of her life, but she has such a inner strength that is admirable and I couldn't help but find myself endeared to both of these characters, they seems so good for each other. However it isn't all roses and daisies, this story isn't for the faint of heart, its not a light romance, but has a deep and is full of turmoil and conflict, but is one of the most satisfying romances I have ever read.

Rich in history significance, intense in the engaging plot, powerful in this love story that tugs at those heart strings, and will create a beyond memorable experience of stepping back in time, and feeling every riveting display of emotion that engages the reader from the beginning. A GLORIOUS TALE TO TREASURE!!

A Sword Upon the Rose

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