Leading Her to Heaven

Kayleigh Jamison

Publisher:
Tease Publishing LLC

Release Date:
September 25, 2006

Genres:
Erotica Historical Romance

ISBN:
eBook
9781934678442
Print
ISBN
Kindle
No ISBN

Bookmark Rating:

Reviewed by
Jennifer Ray

Review Posted:
May 2008

Lady Susanna Cavendish, the daughter of an English earl, has been promised in marriage by King Henry to Blair Ruthven, the laird of a Scottish clan, in order to forge a political alliance between the two countries.  Everything she has ever heard of the Scots brands them as savage barbarians, but she resigns herself to the match for the good of her people and her family. 

Blair Ruthven is understandably nervous about his upcoming nuptials, although he has the advantage of at least having seen a small portrait of his betrothed before meeting Susanna.  He still doesn’t understand why he let King James talk him into the match, but nevertheless is determined to make the best of the marriage. 

When Susanna is betrayed by her guards and kidnapped while traveling to their rendezvous, Blair arrives just in time to save her innocence and her life.  Susanna is grateful, but wary of the fierce warrior who killed so easily, even if it was in her defense.  Knowing this, Blair keeps his true identity from her, hoping the journey to his home will allow her the time to learn to trust and maybe love him. 

But his lies threaten their future as much as his clan’s feud with the Murrays.  Can they stay alive long enough to find true love together?

I first learned of Leading Her to Heaven when the author, Kayleigh Jamison, posted an excerpt to a Yahoo Group I am a member of.  The excerpt she posted that day captured my interest immediately and I began counting the days until the book’s release date.  When that day finally came, I bought it and read the entire book in on evening, reluctant to put it down until the end.  The excerpt I had read was fantastic, but the whole book was phenomenal! 

The author has created an almost perfect role model in heroine Susanna, a woman who is very progressive and learned for her time.  In addition, she is strong, caring, and just with a delicious wit.  That said, Susanna makes some questionable choices at times, which serves to keep her character believable rather than iconic.  After all, who of us always makes the right choices?  These flaws ensure Susanna is a woman we can readily identify with. 

Blair makes his share of mistakes as well, but all along we are allowed omniscience to each of the lead characters thoughts, and see that his mistakes were made with the purest of motivations.  Knowing his heart makes him absolutely endearing and our heart breaks with his as he searches for a way to make his intended bride, Susanna, fall in love with him as deeply as he has for her. 

Jamison carries us through a range of emotions throughout the story, at times inciting laughter and at other times bringing us to tears with the depth of these characters' commitment and sacrifice.  While there is some non-sexual violence in the story, it is never gratuitous, and serves to further the story appropriately. 

I will remember Blair and Susanna for a long time, and re-read their story time and time again. 

Note:  This review was originally written by Jennifer Ray for another review site.  It is being reposted at Wild on Books.

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