Sandra Lee’s debut as a romance author is a fairly good one – her voice for comedy and off-beat characters is a delight, and her earthy prose well suits the medieval setting. This book is well-paced and fun to read for the most part. Where the author gets into trouble, however, is in the Big Misunderstanding she has written as a point of conflict. While no doubt barons were correct to be extremely suspicous of others in days of olde, our hero, the feared Baron of Skyenvic, takes a certain leap of logic that is more the act of a paranoid than it is the conclusion of a rational man. While this conflict does not “infect” this mostly refreshing read, it is troublesome.

Of course, since Gavarnie’s brain has been addled since the arrival of so-called witch Golde, it’s possible that the author concocted his bizarre conclusion on purpose. See, Golde’s grandmother Mimskin is a witch, and the Baron’s second in command, Sir Sperville, has come to her because the Baron is now blind. But instead of going with Sperville to cure him, Mimskin sends Golde, who may or may not have her grandmother’s gifts – for now, at least, she fakes it. Golde, who calls Sperville Sir Spindleshanks, is not happy to be going, and when she discovers the Baron is expecting a nanny for his three hellions and not a healer, she most assuredly is not a happy camper. Not only is the Baron blind, but it is common knowledge he killed his first wife for her infidelities.

Although Gavarnie is pock-marked, Golde is getting lustful feelings. Although Gavarnie mistakenly believes Golde is an old hag, he’s getting them too. Then, in a moment of lustful passion, she practically begs him to relieve her of her virginity and then disappears because she is frightened of her body’s response. At about the same time, he receives a missive reporting a traitor in his midst. She sneaks into the nearby village and begins telling fortunes (mostly bogus). When he finds her and “proves” her fortune-telling is bogus, he incites the villagers to attack her and they beat her senseless, at which point he feels guilt and saves her. On their way back to the castle, they are set upon by brigands and one of his men is killed. For some reason (only Mimskin knows for sure), he regains his sight and though most of his retinue is saved, he decides that Golde must have planned the whole thing – his finding her in the village, his saving her, their being attacked – she must be the traitor.

This bit of preposterousness aside, the remainder of the book is fun, although there are some dark moments. Gavarnie realizes his mistake well before the end of the book, and we are treated to a number of clever scenes and witty, albeit coarsely medieval dialogue. The author has a way with slapstick; if you are looking for sophisticated humor, you won’t find it here. The humor is based on bodily functions, sex, barnyard animals, and the lisp of Gavarnie’s little daughter. The children act as children often do in romances where there’s a new woman in their father’s lives, and, in this instance, contribute to his suspicians of Golde. But it is all done with humor and works in the context of the story.

Of course, there is a real traitor in their midst, and some dangerous moments for our hero and heroine. But the author doesn’t spend too much time on this; mostly we have Golde and Gavarnie, and their “Beast and the Beast” romance. The changes in each, to each other, because of the other (and those pesky children), are a joy to read. They are small and subtle, and Golde and Gavarnie don’t even know what’s happened until afterwards, when they are a family and can admit their true feelings.

I look forward to reading Sandra Lee’s next book. She has a style that is refreshing, and if she can get a handle on this conflict thing, she’ll be even better.