A Review of Border Storm

BORDER STORM by Amanda Scott
Reviewed by Lynne Remick (UnderCoverReader@aol.com)
Zebra Historical Romance, 2001
ISBN No.: 0-8217-6762-3, 334 Pages, $5.99
[****]

Ignited by the BORDER FIRE in Amanda Scott's previous novel, the passion between Sir Quinton Scott and Janet Graham continues to burn in Broadhaugh, Scotland. Meanwhile, Scrope--England's cruel and calculating warden, stirs a storm in the Border town of Liddlesdale. As a result, peace-loving Sir William Halliot--Scotland's warden, must restore order to the Borders from the Scottish side.

As deputy warden for Scrope, Sir Hugh of Brackengill holds no favour for the Scots. However, when Scrope's army wreaks havoc upon Liddlesdale's women and children, Sir Hugh wants no part of it. His loyalties stretched thin, he conceals the location of a beautiful Scottish lass, unaware she bears the family name Halliot.

Lady Laura Halliot escapes the English but fares worse with her stepfamily. Blanche Halliot blames Laura for her daughter May's unhappiness--for only when Laura weds will doors open for May to follow suit. Worse, yet, May takes matters into her own hands and runs off with one of Scrope's soldiers.

May's reckless and impulsive actions resound throughout the already turbulent. In the eye of the storm, Scrope seeks out May for murder as May disappears without a trace. Laura finds herself caught in a tangled web of deceit and the arms of an Englishman--Sir Hugh of Brackengill.

Inspired by Border ballads including "The False Sir John," "The Elf King," and "Issac-a-Bell & Hugh the Graeme," BORDER STORM recants a story of love borne in the midst of intolerance. In addition, a strong, intricately woven plot, adds to the intrigue of this novel.

As a romance hero, Sir Hugh proves a tough customer, but that sets him apart from others. After witnessing his tough exterior in BORDER FIRE, watching him soften up to Laura's beauty provides a pleasant diversion. While I found Laura's initial appearance to be "too" childlike [she turns out to be two seasons past marriageable age], this distraction did not take away from the substance of this character.

From a historical perspective, BORDER STORM presents a bird's eye view of the hatred that existed between the English and the Scots, without being overpowered by an overwhelmingly mushy romance. From a romantic perspective, Scott clearly portrays the attraction and sexual tension between Laura and Sir Hugh from the very onset, although it does not come to fruition until nearly the end of the book.

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