Elspeth, daughter of the Saxon Lord Odolf, tried to hide herself amongst the serfs after the Norman attack. Her beauty was her downfall as she was placed in the unenviable position of layman for her Norman conqueror. Stripped of her home, raped and forced to work alongside her former servants, her hatred for her new overlord festered. That is, until her guardian angel came to claim her former lands as his own. His unorthodox kindness compelled her to revise her initial antagonism, allowing a fragile truce between Saxon and Norman to reign.

Lord Guillume Arnaud had earned the interest of William the Bastard. Awarded lands in Saxony for his efforts, he arrived to see whether the preparations were well in hand for his wife. What he discovered was a carte blanche of rape and plunder, something he was determined to be rid off. Taking the reigns of control, grudging acceptance was replaced by reluctant respect from those he now ruled. However, when his pregnant wife arrived, all that he had worked hard for started to unravel as she and her maids caused unrest.

When cultures clashed, there was a wealth of misunderstanding to overcome, and different customs to accept. Elspeth found herself increasingly attracted to her new overlord, regardless of the fact that he had a pregnant wife. Lord Arnaud, although keeping his marriage vows physically, had broken all of them mentally as his fascination for the Saxon beauty grew each and every day-regardless of the fact that she was pregnant with his brother's child. This mutual attraction had consequences neither of them could ever have envisaged.

Conquest of the White Rose, although medieval, is not predictable. Goldie McBride has mapped out her plot thoroughly, cleverly leading the reader along as the book progresses. Of course we can guess at what the outcome is going to be, but the unexpected turns in her tale draw us in-hook, line and sinker. Her knowledge of history for that period is sound and credible. Ms. McBride's ability to allow us a glimpse into 11th Century living as it really was is a talent to be applauded, showing us that most marriages are not love matches, but political ones. Conquest of the White Rose lets us believe that true love will conquer all. I look forward to reading more of Ms. McBride's offerings in the future. This offering is awarded four slippers.

Reviewed by Emilie Spargo
© July 2004