-1st Place in The Official Awards - Romance- When her only cousin passes away, the orphaned Caitriona finds herself a pawn in her wealthy uncle's political scheming. She is married off to the future Duke Elric, a man who views her only as a child and not as a wife. Their uneasy marriage is only complicated further when war sweeps through the kingdom and Elric is called away to fight far from their home. When he returns, damaged and forever changed from his experiences, Cait must find the strength to protect their marriage--and their lives--from outside forces that would destroy everything she holds dear.