Magnus MacKay is the ultimate Highlander: tough, proud, able to master any terrain and to best his enemies. Called “the Saint” for his refusal to discuss women, as well as for his cool and steady leadership, Magnus hides a painful truth. It isn’t virtue or piety that keeps him silent, but a wound of love and loss that cuts so deep he cannot bear to speak of it. But when the woman who refused him is betrothed to his friend and fellow Guardsman, Magnus is tested by love’s battle cry.
 
A wild and innocent beauty, Helen chose family duty over her desire for Magnus. Now the anger in his eyes mirrors the tormented regret in her heart. But as deadly subterfuge stalks the King and his Guard, Helen vows to right her youthful mistakes with a woman’s determined spirit. Still, Magnus harbors secrets and an iron will not to weaken to temptation—or heartache—again. But as danger looms, it’s the kiss not of a saint, but of a sinner, that can save them.

Elizabeth and Thom had met when he was almost nine and she was six. They had forged a bond and became friends . As time went on Thom grew to love Elizabeth and he believed she loved him. When Thom goes to Elizabeth and asks her about them getting married as she had said they would when they were younger and she just said she had been joking that they were friends and Thom knew that. So finally Thom tries to move on and finds a woman who wants to marry him for him himself. But Elizabeth gets upset and says nooooo….

I just just didn’t like Elizabeth at all . She was spoiled and selfish. Not wanting Thom to find happiness with someone else. I just didn’t enjoy this story.

I received an Arc of this story for an honest review.

of Galloway- last of the significant Scots opposition of robert The Bruce’s kingship. Dugald was responsible for the death of over seven hundred men. Even was eoin’s partner in the Highland guards . Eoin has the nickname Striker among the elite warriors of the King’s secret Highland Guard. This was Dugald’s daughters wedding day and Eoin was sure Dugald would not miss that. The guard had found out by missive that Maggie was to marry and out of nine kids Maggie was Dugald’s only daughter. Maggie had been married one time before and had a five year old son -Eachann who was like his father who had been serious and contemplative. His eyes were also similar to his father’s who had died or so Maggie thought. Then as Maggie was to marry Eoin objected when the priest asked anyone objected to the marriage. Eoin had fell in love with his enemy’s daughter he had been torn between Maggie and his loyalty to his king. But then Maggie had betrayed him or so Eoin believed Eoin being part of the Highland Guard yet he couldn’t tell Maggie Eoin is a great strategist and his cousin to Robert The Bruce. At the wedding after seeing Maggie he realizes his feelings aren’t dead but also that he has a son. The first part of this story goes back to Maggie and Eoin meeting and falling in love. The second half appropriately was at Maggie’s second wedding. Dugald escapes takes Eachann with him now Maggie and Eoin must work together to get their son back.

Excellent story really enjoyed it. I like how the author went back to show you how Eoin and Maggie met and fell in love despite their beliefs. I don’t usually like going to the past in a story but for some reason this was written just so and I didn’t mind at all. It was wonderful to see Eoin’s bitterness and distrust fade and love to return to him as well as Maggie even though she was to remarry it was for the safety of her son. So all and all a great story with great characters. I liked all the twists and turns Maggie and Eoin went through. I highly recommend.

I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.

The last book in the series (crying hysterically) is greatly anticipated; it focuses on Alex "Dragon" Seton and Joan "Ghost" Comyn. The ghost was the silent member of the Highland Guard that we didn't know the true identity of (for sure), though there were hints. Alex left the guard two years ago, fed up with how the war was going and how it was being waged. He wanted to make a difference, to try and end the war. Where this book picks up is two years after his defection and instead of being the "Englishman" in the group he is now the "Scot" in the group- he can't win in that sense. He is also coming to realize that his goal of ending the war isn't going as he hoped it would and is regretting his decision to leave.

Joan is getting more and more bold in her attempts to extract the necessary information Bruce needs to win the war. When she sees Alex she knows who he is and he also recognizes her, but they play it off as "oh, I remember seeing you...". They are attracted to each other, but she doesn't trust him and knows what he did two years ago, so she sees him as a traitor and as the last person she should get close to. He is drawn to her but when he finds out about her reputation he is disappointed in her and tries to forget her, but can't. He tries to play the knight in shining armor and protector of her. She doesn't want or need his protection. Plots become complicated; he is charged with finding the spy, and she has to use him to get valuable information (though she doesn't want to by that point, because she is acknowledging to herself that she is attracted to him).

Without giving any spoilers away, this book was delicious and enjoyable and their love affair had most of the characteristics we expect and want in a Monica McCarty romance. The intense emotional turmoil wasn't as intense in this one as in others. He doesn't betray her or condemn her (not really), though he does disappoint her and he still leaves (for a time). In the end there is an epic final battle against Bruce's forces and Edward II's forces, and the love story has its happy ending (you will just have to wait to find out how when you read). Questions are answered about whether Alex will be brought back into the fold or stick to his knightly moral code and remain with the English forces. What happens after the war with each couple was beautifully done and everything ends wonderfully.

I don't want the series to end and would love to have a spin off series with all of the kids and the next chapter of English/Scottish history. This was a very enjoyable read and I am so excited that I got to read it.

These just get better and better!

I swear each time I finish a book in in the series I am sure it's my absolute favorite, then I read the next and feel the same. I was so looking forward to reading Thom story. I can't believe McCarty managed to exceed my expectation - AGAIN.

Well, this one definitely is my favorite in the series...

.. for now

;)

Funny enough I read this right With Every Breath- and I would have told you before I started this, the two books could not be more different. One is a new adult set in Patagonia and this is a historical set in Scotland. But there are many parallels between the two books and why I liked them. First both heroes- are broody, melancholic dudes- ripped and super hot... Both are from the Highlands and both are mountaineers.

Why am I mentioning this?

Weeeeelllll... I think I got a new favorite genre: Scottish mountaineer hottie romances

I really think it's a thing. Seriously, it defo beats the usual highlander romps. Any day.

But seriously, both books are set in mountains. Both heros love them and both of them a climbers. And both authors  get the setting and the whole environment, the feelings, the quiet and the majesty of the mountains just right. Both books have beautiful descriptions, made my heart ache and leap, are well written and clearly extremely well researched. While Riley chose a setting that is on my bucket list, McCarty's setting is well known to me.

I lived in Scotland for a while. I even did some of the climbs she describes. And let me tell you, it was like revisiting them.

In fact this made me wonder once again how much time McCarty has spent in the Highlands.

Her descriptions are gorgeous and so accurate, it's like I was there again. I can not stress how awe inspiring that is for me. McCarty clearly is a master of her craft.

I fell in love with this series, because of her beautiful prose. So there is no surprise there. But each and every book manages to surprise me, with it's beautiful descriptions of Scotland, the  clever weaving of the fictional with the historical and the great character building.

The Rock wowed me even more. First the mountain-climbing aspects were awesome. But more than that- this book is set between different events and between previous books. If you read the other books of the series, you know about the two MCs already.Elizabeth and Thom both make appearances in other books. Thom more so than Elizabeth, and I was super excited to read about Thom's story. Since he featured in the last two books- and I took an instant liking to him. So I had quite high expectations of this one. Possibly higher than usual... Still McCarty managed to surprise me and exceed my expectations. The historical aspects of the series are getting better and better in my opinion. McCarty interweaves the historical with the fiction in such a clever way it feel extremely real. Her stories though fictions seem possible. I find myself wishing they were true- which in itself surprises me, because we all know I am way too unromantic for something like that. But McCarty manages to bring the romantic out even in me.

While the setting is historically driven- and again extremely well done- the story line to a degree is driven by those historical events. On top of that McCarty adds her romance story. This one, like all the others is in some ways your usual romance. But McCarty does give it her own twist each time. And  romance in The Rock is about trying to breach different social standing. To be honest, I don't actually think that Thom and Elizabeth would have had much of a chance in the real world, simply because their relationship would have been a total faux-pas. But McCarthy does kinda make me believe it would have been possible. Well, she makes me hope so at least. See? She brings out the romantic in me!

The character building is just like always, really well done. I didn't like Elizabeth much for most of the book- but I did get where she was coming from.

Thom on the other hand-- gosh, I don't think I liked any of McCarthy's heros better than him. And let's just make that clear, I love them all! But Thom. SIGH. As I said before I seem to have something for melancholic, broody, stubborn, honourable, mountaineering Highlanders.

Just like in the previous books, I loved to get glimpses of the rest of the crew. McCarthy is brilliant at showing a different side to the characters when seen from a different POV. Each book makes me wonder how the Bruce really was, I like to believe, he was like McCarthy describes him. In fact I feel like someone, who was there, told me about that time and those people. That's how flawless her character building is.

So officially my favorite book by McCarthy and An absolute must read!