How had it ended like this? Could this really be the same Elise? The young and beautiful Dowager Duchess of Wynd, so famous for her haughty wit and for wearing a daringly new and costly dress to every ball she attends, that the press lampoons her antics by calling her the "The Ice Goddess"?

Elise had to be controlled and icy and only Daisy, her steadfast and wise maid, knew why. It was all those secrets she had to carry, and now he dared to call her a vicious liar. If only she had told him right from the start when she first stepped up on the dais to meet that huge and brawny Scottish barbarian. But just as she was introduced to His Grace, Colin MacPherson Rory MacGowan, the Sixth Duke of Gowan, Laird of MacGowan, and ready to give him what for, he turned to his assistant and remarked that she didn't have much meat on her, stunning her with the insult.

You too will want to find out how things got so tangled as you immerse yourself in this gripping tale of 19th century romance. The author, Jackie Ivie, has researched this well and is brilliant at recreating the moods and concerns of the rich and gentry in England as well as the passions and customs of clans and their feuds in Scotland. You will laugh out loud at the humourous interplays and double entendres between Elise and Colin, as the author reveals the true hearts of these two strong-willed and star-crossed lovers while they continue to rail against each other and their own feelings.

While I was a bit bemused by the link to the medieval sounding title of Tender is the Knight, the story's strong plot, wonderful repartee and witty dialogue, including those of the secondary characters, will fully delight and captivate you. This is one book you definitely won't want to put down! A great read!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Audrey Lawrence
February 5, 2006