Publisher's Synopsis
In 15th century Italy, Francesco del Falco agrees to help Valentina, a young woman who decides she'd rather face a literal siege from an unwanted suitor than accept his offer of marriage. Unfortunately, Valentina's castle is not exactly prepared for action. Francesco makes the best of their limited ammunition and undependable mercenaries, but treachery inside the castle's walls may prove more of a threat than the soldiers that surround them.This early book from Sabatini was a little rough, though still enjoyable. It had some very funny moments, and the whole idea of a runaway bride under siege was great. My main issues were Francesco's inconsistent sense of character judgement and an abrupt ending that let one character off more lightly than he deserved. The pace of the story also dragged a bit between Francesco's early flight and Valentina's escape.
