Edmund, Prince of Wales, has never cared what his father thought, but now that he is older, he longs to earn paternal respect. His elder illegitimate brother Kendrick advises that it might impress their father if Edmund were to win a small country. Though Edmund is heir to the throne, he is not in his father's good graces. Kendrick is not in line for the throne and is in his father's good graces; but he has a rakish reputation. In fact, he is a well-blooded, chivalrous warrior, and known for his prowess with women as much as his skill at war. Kendrick's heart is impervious, because it had been broken by a Bregonia, faithless woman.

The brothers decide on Castille as a likely target (remember his brother suggests he win a country, so why not Castille?) because the armies are said to spend their time in ale barrels, and thanks to the laws of hegemony, the Castillian King has only two unacceptable-for-ruling daughters instead of sons. Why unacceptable? Because the elder, Margaret, intends to join a convent and the younger, Isabeau, is known as the Ice Princess. Edmund suggests a wager regarding the women; he the heir, will have to persuade the elder sister that the convent is not for her, leaving the Ice Princess's defenses to be breached by Kendrick. Following the visit, they attack. But when Edmund, Prince of Wales kills King Phillip, Kendrick is captured and mastered by the very woman he intended to seduce.

DESIRE'S PROMISE is a spicy full length novel in the New Concepts line of Historical novels. Watch the tables turn as he masters her; no-she masters him; no . . . who is the captor and who is the prey? What's more, Isabeau is Queen, and there is the loyalty and respect of the Castillian people at stake. Will she choose the man or the country? Kendrick is a sympathetic hero, and not nearly as untouchable as he pretends, particularly where the chaste Isabeau is concerned. Tracy Ranson takes the reader on a journey to an old Castille, a historical novel flavored by Dominance and submission, complicated by a jealous woman and her pet wizard. An entertaining read.

Reviewed By: Allie B
(c) June 2004