Shadow Music

Julie Garwood

King John has decreed that Princess Gabrielle of St. Biels is to leave her English home and marry a Highland laird. She knows she has to follow the king's orders and sets off to Scotland with her personal guards from St. Biels. On the way to the abbey of her wedding they come across a group of men trying to bury another alive. Before they are done one of the men is dead and they have the near-dead captive with them. They take him to the abbey in secret.

Once there she waits for the wedding. The two corrupt English barons vying for her hand also arrive at the abbey. But the laird she is to marry does not. He is murdered before he can arrive. Now the two barons are arguing over who has King John's right to order Gabrielle to her next home.

Laird Colm MacHugh comes to the abbey to get his brother, the man who was almost buried alive. He is unable to discover who saved Liam's life. He decides to take the priest who helped save Liam back to his holding to see if he can learn more. When the English barons' attempted rule over Gabrielle has unexpected results, he also rescues her, taking her back with him. To repay a debt, he agrees to marry her and be her protector.

Shadow Music is a romance novel, so the reader knows by the end Colm and Gabrielle will love each other and defeat the present evil of the book. The English barons try their best, especially the one who wants St. Biels' "hidden gold". There are the warring clans in Scotland - always expected in this type of romantic fiction. Yet Julie Garwood is able to add the twists to keep this novel interesting for its genre.

Princess Gabrielle is a strong personality. She doesn't question following the king's orders. Even so, she will live her life as she sees fit within the confines of the culture and beliefs of the time. Colm quickly learns to decipher some of her agreeable words to mean she will do what she pleases in this instance. Colm is the typical, strong Scot laird who is a reluctant bridegroom. He learns that marriage is not the chains he thought.

Shadow Music is part of the current day series about the Buchanan family. It's fairly average for its genre. Julie Garwood fans, especially, will enjoy it.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence; Strong sexual content;

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Killjoy
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Slow Burn
Shadow Dance
Shadow Music
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Sizzle