Bestselling author Small (Intrigued) introduces another strong-willed heroine in the fourth of her Skye's Legacy series. Flanna Brodie, the only daughter of a Scottish clan and heiress to an important parcel of land, matches wits with Patrick Leslie, duke of Glenkirk and son of the flamboyant Jasmine Leslie. Jasmine, the subject of previous novels, whose extravagant escapades are mentioned briefly here, leaves Glenkirk after her husband dies in service to Charles Stuart's attempt to regain his throne. Before leaving, she advises her eldest son, Patrick, the new duke of Glenkirk, to find a wife and to have nothing to do with the Stuarts because every time the Leslies have come to their aid, family death has been the result. Small intertwines historical events—here the mid-17th-century conflict between the royal Stuarts and Cromwell over the status of the British monarchy—with her larger-than-life characters. Though Patrick initially marries Flanna only for her land, romance grows between them, replete with the author's typically brutal sexual encounters. Sparks fly between husband and wife when Flanna decides to challenge her husband's reluctance to get involved with Charles II and comes up with her own plan to support the king's mission. Curiously, the author backs away from her ambitious plot when Flanna becomes pregnant and abandons her idea to help the future king out of loyalty to her husband. Also, Patrick's sudden spell of jealousy when he accuses his wife of bearing the king's child feels contrived. Yet Small's legions of fans will be easily seduced by this page-turning historical romance. Author appearances in New York City area. (Feb.)
