Series:
Highlander Brides (Book 11)
An invigorating swim in the loch was exactly what Calan
Campbell, Laird of Kilcairn, needed after defeating his enemies in battle. What
he didn't need was a thief running away with his plaid while he swam. Calan
gave chase and managed to catch the lad, only the lad turned out to be a lass,
and obviously a lady. Having hit her head when he tackled her to the ground,
the woman was unconscious and couldn't explain how she had ended up bruised and
naked in his woods. He'd have to take her back to his castle and tend her
wounds to learn that.
Kidnapped and forced to wed her clan's enemy, Allissaid
MacFarlane had risked death to escape. But after a struggle over a plaid she
tried to “borrow,” she awakens in a strange bed with a strange man seated in a
chair beside her. Unsure if he is friend or foe, she does not remember her name
or how she'd come to be in the clearing. However, the more time she spends with
Calan, the more she falls for this strong, honorable laird. She soon decides
she can trust him with her life. . . but can she trust him with her heart?
Terrific book with a great balance of romance and
suspense. This book picks up where the previous book (
Highland Wolf) ends.
Allissaid MacFarlane is the sister of the heroine in that book, and when the
villain in that book is foiled, he immediately kidnaps Allissaid to continue
his efforts to steal her family's lands. Allissaid is no meek-hearted miss and
risks her life to escape, even though she's badly injured. When she attempts to
steal, umm.. borrow a plaid left on the shore of the loch, its owner catches
her, and in the struggle, she loses consciousness.
Calan is taking a quick dip in the loch when he sees a
lad running off with his plaid. However, once he tackles the lad, he discovers
the lad is a lass and a lady. Because she's unconscious and to protect her
reputation, he sneaks her into his room at the castle. He'll straighten things
out once she's awake and he knows who she is. When she awakens, Allissaid has
no idea if she's in the home of a friend or foe, so she pretends she doesn't
remember anything, including who she is. Calan's instincts to protect are
aroused, and he's determined to keep her safe.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between
Allissaid and Calan. Since his father's death eight years earlier, Calan has
been busy learning to be a laird and taking care of his lands and people, with
neither time nor inclination to look for a wife. But Allissaid drew his
interest from the start, and I loved seeing this tough Highland warrior show his
softer side as she wormed her way into his heart. It doesn't take long for
Allissaid to realize that Calan is an honorable man and that she can trust him.
Most of the book's action occurs in Calan's bedroom,
where Allissaid is hidden to keep her presence secret until MacNaughton can be
dealt with. Calan won my heart with his sensitivity, from the late-night snack
scene to his understanding of her fears for her family. He falls for her more
every day and is soon determined to have her for his own. Allissaid falls
equally hard for him and starts hoping he feels the same. There are some
blatant matchmaking vibes from Calan's mother and sister, so it's no surprise
their growing attraction puts them into a compromising situation with
predictable consequences. There is a hilarious scene with Calan and his mother
regarding the wedding night, and Calan's reactions had me laughing out loud.
The ending was fantastic, and I look forward to seeing more of them in future
books.
The story's suspense was good, keeping Allissaid's danger
present without overwhelming the romance. The more we hear about MacNaughton's
actions and intentions, the more Allissaid's peril is evident. Calan and his
family have had issues with MacNaughton and are determined to keep her safe. I
liked seeing the steps taken to mitigate the threat and how clan relationships
and alliances make that possible. There is suspicion that MacNaughton has spies
planted in the various households, intensifying the need for secrecy. The final
confrontation was a nail-biter as an unexpected (by them) player entered the
game and put Allissaid in danger. The ending was well done, with Calan to the
rescue.
The secondary characters were terrific, too. I liked
Calan's sister Inghinn. Like Allissaid, she is intelligent and strong. I liked
her quick understanding of the danger Allissaid was in and her efforts to keep
her safe. I laughed at her mother's blatant matchmaking attempts with Alick and
am interested in seeing if anything comes of it. Calan's mother was great. I
liked her obvious caring for Allissaid and wasn't surprised at her attempts to
bring her and Calan together. It was fun to see Calan's confusion when she
didn't react as he expected her to.
Calan's cousin and best friend, Gille, had an intriguing backstory, and
I'd love to see him get his own story. I loved seeing more Buchanans and
hearing about other clans and characters from earlier books.
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