Born to Trouble
Regan Walker
Scottish Historical
In the turbulent landscape of 15th-century Scotland, Alexander of Islay, Lord of the Isles and heir to the earldom of Ross, welcomes King James home after a long captivity in England. Yet behind the façade of royal approval lies a web of treachery. Alexander’s father triumphed at the Battle of Harlaw, securing for his son the title Earl of Ross, but Alexander must navigate a perilous court where loyalty is a fleeting shadow if he is to keep it.
The nobles defeated at Harlaw, threatened by Alexander’s growing power, whisper in the king’s ear, urging him to curb the formidable Lord of the Isles. Once an ally, King James turns against Alexander, imprisoning him in the grim confines of Tantallon Castle. Yet Alexander holds the unwavering loyalty of the Highlanders and Islesmen, who will rise in rebellion for the wrongs done to their beloved lord.
In a life fraught with conflict and trouble, Alexander captures the attentions of three women—each vying for his affection. But only one truly holds his heart. As alliances shift and passions ignite, can Alexander claim his rightful title and the woman he loves while navigating the treachery surrounding him?
Uncaged Review: Alexander “Sandy” Macdonald, Lord of Islay, was used to trouble. King James summoned all the highland chiefs to a parliament meeting at Inverness. When Sandy enters the castle, he is arrested by the king’s men along with his mother. Alexander is then taken to Tantallon castle and held prisoner, but is eventually released due to good behavior. The king then forces Alexander to marry Elizabeth Seton, daughter of a Lowland baron, despite the fact that Sandy is already married and remains indifferent to her because of his first wife. Still, Sandy fights against the king’s edicts. Sandy then goes to Applecross where he meets Margaret O’Bealon, who he falls for instantly and decides that she must be his wife despite him already having two wives, but Margaret becomes his one true love. When the King asks Alexander to fight for the Earldom, Sandy agrees but knows that this fight could also be the one thing that might end up destroying him and his clan.
This historical fiction novel is truly a phenomenal tale! The book is wonderfully written with such three-dimensional characters that instantly come alive! 15th century Scotland is vividly portrayed, and the landscape is not hard to imagine either. When I first read of Alexander, he was a young boy, so I was eager to read about his adult life. Of course, you really don’t have to read the books in sequence, but it might help to understand his character a little better. I didn’t agree with how he treated Elizabeth and him having three wives did kind of not set well with me because I didn’t really understand how that was even possible, but the more I read I kind of ignored it. I felt bad for both Catherine and Elizabeth. I would have felt better if Catherine had died, making Alexander a widow instead. I also didn’t like how the King treated everyone and just chalked it up to him treating everyone badly. Alexander really had no choice but to go along with it. While Margaret might have been young, she really understood Sandy better than anyone. Ms. Regan Walker really wrote a captivating tale filled with upheaval, betrayal, war but a peaceful resolution that I am eager to read more of books because she just pens amazingly fantastically stellar stories that are well worth the read! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst
4.5 Stars
