The story is set in Scotland, during the famous time of the invasion of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the attempts of the king’s son, the Duke of Cumberland, to defeat him.

Isabeau is a delightful heroine—young with the stubbornly one-sided loyalties common in those of her age. She travels with her twin brother, Robbie, to join the other Jacobites in fighting the Duke of Cumberland’s forces. When her brother is killed, Isabeau bravely decides to continue with his task and deliver a treasonous note to the Jacobite forces.

Instead, fellow Scots capture Isabeau. Not only are they of high rank, they, like the majority of Scots, support King George and fight with his son the Duke. Upon reading the treasonous note, the men decide it’s best to kill the little rebel they believe is a boy. Their leader, Alistair Campbell, is hesitant. The “boy” is so young and defiant in his beliefs, despite the danger it has cast him into. Alistair decides they will deliver him to the proper authorities.

In morning light when Alistair realises he is dealing with a female rebel—half-starved and, despite her insolence, well-frightened—he relents and takes her home to become his prisoner until the war is finished and it is safe for her to return to her people. Isabeau, however, does not go quietly, and Alistair is quite put out when she manages to get the better of him in a fight. His size, however, wins out in the end, and Isabeau must accept her defeat.

Petite and beautiful, yet determined, strong, and relentlessly loyal, Isabeau fascinates Alistair, and he finds himself falling in love with her. She, at first, hates him, for he represents everything she abhors in a Scotsman, and is on the side of the people who murdered her brother. Since he intends to keep her until the fight is over, Isabeau thinks the only way she’ll know peace is to fight herself.

After several attempts, the determined Isabeau manages to escape Alistair’s castle. She doesn’t get far, however, because of a betrayal, and is captured by the English who torture her for information about the treasonous letter.

In a time when life was precarious, families were split apart and clans pitted against each other, Isabeau and Alistair must put aside their prejudices and fears to somehow find a life together. Now, to discover if they manage this and whether their enemies allow it, you will simply have to grab a copy of Isabeau and enjoy some historical fiction by a terrific Australian author.