Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman

From the publisher:
Born a baron's daughter, Lady Merry Ellison is now an enemy of the throne after her father's failed assassination attempt upon the king. Bold and uniquely skilled, she is willing to go to any lengths to protect the orphaned children of her former village--a group that becomes known as "The Ghosts of Farthingale Forest." Merry finds her charge more difficult as their growing notoriety brings increasing trouble their way.

Timothy Grey, ninth child of the Baron of Greyham, longs to perform some feat so legendary that he will rise from obscurity and earn a title of his own. When the Ghosts of Farthingale Forest are spotted in Wyndeshire, where he serves as assistant to the local earl, he might have found his chance. But when he comes face-to-face with the leader of the thieves, he's forced to reexamine everything he's known.
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I was excited when I saw this book.  The setting and premise of the book was a new one and was intriguing.  A female Robin Hood, if you will, and her band of children.  Dina Sleiman captures your attention with the plot and I believe will hold it as she takes you through this book and leaves you wanting the next book in the series.

This book has many action scenes, from the first page until the last there is action of one sort or another.  That being said, somehow the book felt a bit slow-paced.  There was  plenty of action and conversations that kept me interested however.  

I liked Merry's character.  She was able to be fearless and strong because she closed her heart, and she wrestles with opening her heart to God and romantic love because of it.  Timothy's character was a bit confusing as he seemed to always be flipping back and forth with his emotions, but I supposed that could be realistic.  It just felt that one minute he was saying he loved Merry and would take care of her, and the next he was hardened toward her.  

I really liked Allen's character and Earl Wyndemere.  They were strong and needed characters and I would like to see more about them in the books to come.

I received this book free from Bethany Publishers in exchange for my honest review.