Juliana is the poor relation and she is trying to understand the ways of the nobility. Rufus is trying to be part of the nobility to which he has recently become a part, being the last in his line. He could not say no to a wager that brings him into Juliana's life. She cannot believe he wants to pay attention to her. As they get to know each other, they fall in love until the wager and lies come between them. I recommend this story.

I received a copy of this story, and this is my unsolicited review.

 

 

(St. Michael the Arch-Angel's Day -- Michaelmas, Sept 29)

 

"Ten years ago, Michaelmas. Summer hours fading into dusk, day dying slow. I had fallen out of the straight path into a place of harsh rocks and broken brambles, like the legend tells Satan fell from heaven on St. Michael’s Day. But I had fallen from no heaven, and those who pursued me were no angels."

 

— from the novel Sinful Folk

 

 

 

(St. Michael the Arch-Angel's Day -- Michaelmas)

 

"Ten years ago, Michaelmas. Summer hours fading into dusk, day dying slow. I had fallen out of the straight path into a place of harsh rocks and broken brambles, like the legend tells Satan fell from heaven on St. Michael’s Day. But I had fallen from no heaven, and those who pursued me were no angels."

 

— from the novel Sinful Folk

 

I enjoyed this second installment in the Burren series about a female Brehon, or judge, Mara. This time there are a cascade of murders, one seemingly leading from another. When the murderer doesn't admit to his killing, Mara investigates. It's a good read but I found the relationship with the king Turlough as distracting as the back cover suggests Mara was with him, it also wasn't really fleshed out all that well, while there were moments where the relationship sparked there were also moments where it just fell a bit flat. I love the quotations from the different law texts at the beginings of the chapters as well, all of which relate to the plot. I'm not sure that they weren't chosen first rather than afterwards.