Review & Giveaway: The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

Title: The Guardian
Series: Return of the Highlanders #1
Author: Margaret Mallory
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction










Description via Goodreads:


Four young Highlanders - Connor, Ian, Alex and Duncan - hurry home from France after hearing news of the disastrous Battle of Flodden against Henry VIII's forces. With his father among the dead, Connor must take his place as chieftain. Before he can lead his clan through the perilous times ahead, however, he must first dislodge the usurper who has taken his family's castle and claimed leadership of the clan.

Connor's cousins and best friend, Ian, Alex and Duncan, will stand shoulder to shoulder with him in every fight. They are willing to give their lives for their clan and their new chieftain. But taking wives to serve the clan's interests is a different matter altogether...

My thoughts:

The Guardian begins a fascinating new series from the very talented Margaret Mallory. The story primarily focuses on the story of Ian and Sileas. They were forced to marry before he left Scotland for five long years. He planned to return and encourage Sileas to find a new husband, but when he discovers what a beauty she has become he begins to change his mind. Sileas finds it difficult to trust Ian after the hurt and humiliation he caused her, but after loving him her entire life she hopes the man she once knew is still inside him. She doesn’t want to spend her life in a loveless marriage and has concocted a plan to end their union if Ian can’t love her the way she deserves, even if it will break her heart to see it end. 

I was completely drawn in by the story of Ian and Sileas. Sileas is a character with so much heart. After being dealt so much pain in her life I wanted to see her find her HEA. Ian is a character who managed to be both frustrating and endearing. As the circumstances that set their forced union into motion came to light, it was so much easier to understand Ian’s frustrations and Sileas’s fears. Sileas was just a child when the marriage took place, and Ian was a young Highlander ready for a life on the battlefield. I was wholeheartedly rooting for them even when Ian’s actions were less than noble. 


I also fell in love with Ian’s family. There was so much development of not only the key players, but also the secondary ones. This story left me longing for more time with the fascinating characters the author created. If you like strong and sassy heroines you’ll love this book. There is a scene involving an angry Sileas and a frying pan that is not to be missed ;) The Guardian is a stellar series debut, and I can’t wait to get to know the other Highlanders as it progresses. The romantic elements paired with a bit of political intrigue and laugh out loud moments, created a thoroughly engaging look into the Highlander life.

Margaret Mallory takes a mix of fact and fiction, and weaves a magnificently romantic tale. Her love of Scotland and history is apparent when reading her stories.   She was one of my first experiences with historical romance, and one of the reasons I’m hooked today. If you are a fan of historical romance this is an author you do not want to miss! 

My Rating:

Margaret Mallory on the web:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Fun Extras:

Excerpt from The Guardian

Bonus Content:

We Love Scotland

Giveaway:

I have 3 copies of The Guardian up for grabs courtesy of Hachette Book Group!

Rules:

Open to residents of the U.S & Canada

No P.O Boxes please

Books will ship directly from publisher

All winners are subject to the 1 copy per household rule

Ends 5/28

Please fill out the form to enter

Comments are appreciated, but will not count as an entry :)

Blog Tour, Review x 2, & A Giveaway: From Scotland, With Love

Title: Seduced by Destiny

Author: Kira Morgan

Available: Now

Genre: Historical Romance

Reading Level: Adult

Description via Goodreads:

SWORN TO REVENGE

All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.


SHROUDED BY SECRECY

On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...


My thoughts:


Drew is an Englishman golfing his way around Scotland under the guise of a Highlander. Josselin is one tough cookie who is determined to avenge the brutal slaying of her mother. When Josselin and Drew meet they have no clue how their pasts intertwine.


Josselin and Drew just might be one of my favorite couples. The banter that took place between these two had me grinning even when I shouldn’t have. Saucy characters, undeniable chemistry, a beautiful setting, and a dash of intrigue. Seduced by Destiny encompassed everything I look for in a historical romance novel.

Kira Morgan on the web:

Website | Facebook

Title: Highland Master

Author: Amanda Scott

Available: Now

Genre: Historical Romance

Reading Level: Adult

Description via Goodreads:


When eighteen-year-old Lady Catriona Mackintosh discovers a wounded man in the forest near her Highland home, little does she know that he has sworn a sacred oath to kill her father and other members of the powerful Highland confederation known as Clan Chattan. Nor does she realize that she has met her soul mate. Independent, competent, intelligent, fiercely proud of her heritage, determined always to live near her own family, and known to her family as the "wee wildcat" because of her quick temper, Catriona is the daughter of a Highland chieftain and granddaughter of the even more powerful Chief (or Captain) of Clan Chattan. But her life changes forever when she persuades Sir Finlagh Cameron to return with her to her home to recover from his wounds.

Sir Finlagh "Fin" Cameron is on a mission for the heir to Scotland's throne, who has sent him to the Highlands to persuade the Chief of Clan Chattan to arrange a secret meeting for him with two other great lords (the Lord of the Isles and the Lord of the North). Until Fin meets Catriona, however, he has no idea that her father was the Clan Chattan war leader who led them in the battle that wiped out many of Clan Cameron's best warriors, including Fin's own father. The sole survivor of that battle, Fin accepted a bequest of vengeance from his dying father, providing him with a dilemma to face as he begins to fall in love with Catriona. He is not the only one enticed by her charms, either. There are two other contenders, one of whom is his own master, the heir to Scotland's throne. With royal mischief afoot, if Catriona and Fin are ever to find happiness, they must first avoid disaster that could change Scotland's history, and find ways to be open and honest with each other.

My thoughts:

Sir Finlagh Cameron finds himself swearing an oath of revenge after a bloody battle that left him the sole survivor of his clan’s side. When he unexpectedly comes in contact with the daughter of the man he promised to kill, he finds that carrying out that oath might be difficult considering he is falling in love with the daughter of his enemy.

I was absolutely taken with the setting and characters in Highland Master. Catriona aptly nicknamed “wildcat” was a pleasure to get to know. I loved her sass, curious nature, and independence. Not an easy task in a predominantly male household. Love interest Fin is delicious. I’m crushing hard on the Highland hottie. I love a man that can maintain a strong and powerful front, but with a kind heart inside. The love match between him and Catriona was perfection. I’ll admit the political aspects of the plot were confusing. It took me a good 150 pages to really grasp all the players and their goals. Even with my confusion I found this novel completely engaging and difficult to put down. I hope I’ll get the chance to know some of the secondary characters better in future novels.

Amanda Scott on the web:

Website | Author Bio

Check out the We Love Scotland bonus content!

I have 3 sets of both Highland Master & Seduced by Destiny up for grabs thanks to Hachette Book Group!

Open to residents of the U.S & Canada

No P.O Boxes please
Winners are subject to the one copy per household rule
Please fill out the form to enter
Comments are always appreciated, but will not count as an entry

Ends 3/20