“Married to Her Enemy” is the debut book by Jenni Fletcher, and it is a historical romance for those who love history. This is not your typical historical romance; the scope of the story and the history set it apart.

The Story-

Aediva is a Saxon lord’s daughter is in the midst of the Norman invasion. Her sister, Cille, has returned from her castle which has been sacked, only to give birth just as their family home is being invaded.  When the invading Norman mentions taking her back as a bride for the Norman commander, Aediva decides to stand-in for her sister to protect her. Svend is not truly a Norman, but he cannot return to his homeland, and he is searching for a home and for a place to put down roots. When he begins to bond with his prisoner, past betrayals remind him to guard his heart.

My Thoughts-

All of the characters in this story are well-developed with realistic motivations and actions.  One of my favorite things about reading books set in a different time period is the chance to learn something about that time. This book accomplished that as I really hadn’t considered the people involved in the Norman invasion of England before.  You visit these big crumbling towers, and it isn’t always easy to imagine the lives of the people who lived there.  Fletcher does a great job of bringing them to life.  My only issue was something near the end that I’m not sure was needed, and that the heat level, while not closed door, is somewhat tame in comparison to many current releases. That being said, I enjoyed this book thoroughly.

The Bottom Line-

Jenni Fletcher has written a very good debut novel, and I look forward to reading more from her.  This historic romance is a fresh departure from our beloved rakes and rogues with realistic characters that breathe life into another time.  It whisked me off to another place and time: a perfect escape, which is exactly the reason I read romance. 4 stars

Buy it on amazon here