Alice is much impressed with Hugh’s business acumen when she discovers he trades heavily in spices. Hugh shows considerable tolerance with both Alice and her younger, crippled brother, even when Alice continually nags, berates, and antagonizes Hugh. The couple recover the crystal, but the mystery follows them to Hugh’s home where it is discovered another would have the stone. The stone is said to be the key to discovering the lost stones of Scarcliff – Hugh’s ancestral keep. In a confrontation with the thief, Hugh discovers that his father had intended to marry his mother before they were both murdered. And, Hugh discovers the missing “Stones of Scarcliff” when he throws the stone against a cave wall in a move to rescue Alice from a dangerous situation.

Mystery, romance, history, and common JAK themes combine effectively in this novel. Hugh is not all he seems, and Alice is indomitable with great courage and stamina. The two find trust and love together despite outside influences, which could easily dissuade one from the other.

My only complaint is that Hugh the Relentless lets Alice walk all over him in a time when she would not have been given that latitude. Perhaps his motives could be clearer or her antagonism less open in an effort to provide a more realistic conflict between the two. Now, I realize, I’m advocating the too-alpha male, but as a whole, this anomaly shoves the book slightly off-kilter for me.

I enjoyed Mystique and the novel is worth a place in any JAK collection, but it is not one of my favorite Amanda Quick novels.

Suzanne Bertish has a rather low female voice and does a wonderful job of conveying both male and female characters.

This story opens with Lady Alice facing a legend Hugh the Relentless and bargaining with him for the return of a stone that he needs to claim his lands and keep his people happy.

Hugh is not called Relentless for nothing. He is absolutely determined to reach his goal of owning his Grandfather's estates and making them profitable again. Alice is on the shelf and quite happy to be there. But she wants her brother to have an education, so she bargains with Hugh. She wants education for her brother and a dowry for a nunnery for herself. Hugh wants her. So he enters a bargain where she is to pose as his betrothed wife. Alice thinks they will break the betrothal; Hugh knows they will wed. This is a wonderful love story of two talented people, who recognize the similar traits between them and appreciate them. Hugh gives Alice the respect and responsibility she needs.

The abridgment of this story is unusually good. The plot points are well covered and the adult conversation between Hugh and Alice is very enjoyable. A lot of the JAK books on tape make you appreciate her clever dialogue even more than reading it does. Hearing it gives a real appreciation of how clever and funny she is. This is a fun listen.