SOLVED. Historical romance: forced marriage, Scotland? [s]

[Bobbi]

A girl is forced to marry a lord who has a reputation for being cold and cruel. When she marries him she slowly discovers that he is a good man but his father was a bad man, hence the reputation. I believe she was not of his social level, or at least from a different clan or region.

Seems like it took place in Scotland, only because I think I remember her wanting a different marriage ceremony, one that took place at a crossroads and involved the tying of a rope with their feet or something. It was called handfasting I think. Hope I'm not getting it mixed up with another book there, though.

I must have read this about 5 or 6 years ago, but it was a library book and not new at the time.

I also seem to remember his castle or manor was at the top of a cliff and the land sloped steeply up to it. Village was at the base of the hill. The cliff I think was on the cover, as well as a bodice-ripper sort of embracing couple.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

There are a LOT of books like this Bobbi. Are there any PN elements to it? Or is it straight-forward Historical?

[Bobbi]

I know it's a common trope! :/
Straight up historical.

[Anna]

Lots of pages or more of a Harlequin-pocket book?

[Bobbi]

Seems like the paperback copy was around 400 pages.

[Bobbi]

I found it! It's The Unwilling Bride for anyone interested. I'll move this to solved.