Fourteen year-old Isabella Montgomery refused to marry the man her father had chosen for her an evil man, Juan Garcia. Charles Montgomery had literally sold his daughter for power and position. Because her mother was dead, Montgomery sent Isabella to the Convent of the Sisters of Charity for training in the wifely arts. She has been there for 4 years and her father has died. Juan wants the contract completed immediately and says he will take her from the convent on or around her 18th birthday (the following week).
Juan was so proud of the woman he would soon possess that he bragged about her to people he met. One of those people was Rafael McKenzie. He has a problem; he needs a wife. He has promised his dying father that he would wed within the year; the year is nearly over. Rafe has looked over the local women of the New Mexico Territory and is not satisfied.
Rafe decides to go to the convent to see this paragon of beauty, grace and goodness. He falls in love with Isabella on sight. He and his men decide to rescue Isabella from the convent and make her his bride.
Isabella is anxious because she knows Juan will be at the convent soon. He is known for his rough treatment of women. Isabella is looking for a way to avoid marriage to Juan. When Rafael snatches Isabella, she's relieved it isn't Juan but is put off by Rafe's insistence that she marry him as soon as they get to the family's Diamond Ranch.
Unfortunately, there's a lovely woman taking care of Rafe's home, Lucia. She plans to marry Rafe and will do anything to get her wish. While Rafe is trying to convince Isabella to marry him; Lucia is plotting to get rid of her rival.
I had a problem with one of Isabella's actions; it was not in character with her fear and loathing of Juan Garcia. I thought the interactions between Rafe's father and Isabella were touching. Otherwise, the story seemed rather average.
