Thistle in the Mistletoe by Margaret Izard is a historical romance set in the late 1700s. To end the feud between the MacDougal and Comyn clans, the king orders the new MacDougal laird to marry the daughter and only child of Robert Comyn. Mary Comyn only wants peace and agrees to the king’s terms, as does Roderick MacDougal, the new laird. The MacDougal clan is still in mourning over the loss of their laird, Ian, and they are not happy to receive the enemy’s daughter into their home. Even though Roderick wants Mary to be his wife, he finds it hard to trust her when it becomes clear that a traitor is in their midst. Mary wants to prove her loyalty to her new clan but she encounters obstacles and it becomes clear that someone is out to cause problems. When raids continue to threaten the tenuous peace between the MacDougal and Comyn clans, an unlikely alliance is formed to restore calm.

Margaret Izard offers an exciting and suspenseful historical Christmas romance. The characters are well-rounded and very relatable and the story develops at a good pace, keeping the reader eager to discover what the story has to share. The details and customs add to the success of the plot’s development and will resonate with fans of historical romance. The roles of the lady of the castle and laird of the clan are creatively relayed to the reader; the diplomacy needed and the dangers of the time. Thistle in the Mistletoe is the first in the Stones of Iona series. The story of Mary and Roderick precedes the events of The Stone of Love and will add to the enjoyment of the second book. The author is talented in writing and relaying her story easily and entertainingly. This is one of my favorite historical romance authors.

Margaret Izard brings us a perfect novel for the holidays in Thistle in the Mistletoe, part of the Stones of Iona series. We are transported to the eighteenth century. When the war between the Comyn and MacDougall clans seems too much to bear, the king orders Mary Comyn to marry Roderick MacDougall. They have to produce a child within a year as well to ensure peace between the clans. Failure to do so means death to the lairds. Taken from her home to live with strangers, Mary tries her best to obey the king’s orders. Her attraction to Roderick is surprising as Mary navigates a clan loyal to their laird. Will they accept her as their new lady? Or will they forever see Mary as the enemy?

Author Margaret Izard has brought a little of the past to us in this wonderfully rich novel. Sensory stimulation is abundant with delicious smells and magnificent scenery. The writing in the third-person narrative gives us more clues about the thoughts and feelings of our duo. Due to the intimate scenes, this book is not suitable for younger readers. Characters are described with great details which make them so much more likable and relatable. I loved getting a glimpse of our protagonists before their mention in the first Stones of Iona book, Stone of Love. Thistle in the Mistletoe builds the foundation for the rest of the series and ties the books together beautifully. The plot is well developed and you will be unable to stop reading.