Secrets of a Highlander’s Heart
Julie Johnstone
Medieval Romance
Will the truth of the past destroy the hope of their future?
How far will he go for vengeance?
Brus Stone remembers nothing of his life before he was rescued at the age of five summers and brought to live as part of the Northern Watch. Having been told his mother abandoned him, he’s about as willing to give his trust to a woman as he is to hand his sword to his enemy during battle. So when he’s tasked with accompanying a group of highlanders through the treacherous lands he helps patrol and he encounters a bonny lass who proves to be as brave as any warrior he’s ever met, he’s surprised by his pull to the lass and more than wary because of it. He steels himself against lowering his guard, but her open nature bemuses him, and her caring heart entices him. Each time he touches her he finds himself further drawn to the warmth she exudes and the possibility that believing in her will not result in betrayal. But a shocking revelation about his past obliterates everything he holds true and leaves him with a choice—give unwavering faith to the daughter of the enemy he didn’t know he had or raise his guard once more and secure the ultimate revenge.
How much will she lose for love?
Grace MacDonald is starting to wonder whether she’ll ever meet a man who sees her as an equal and not simply a potential wife to do as he bids. To complicate matters, her father wishes her to wed her childhood friend and fortify an important alliance between their clans. Though she wants to please her beloved father, her friend does not stir her heart or her desire, so she’s reluctant to accept his offer of marriage. When the party she’s travelling with is attacked and a Scottish warrior rescues her, she’s immediately drawn to the powerfully compelling man. Not only does he display a gentle caring side, but he also listens to what she says and seems to value her opinions. His every look, touch, and kiss ignite her in the way she’s been waiting for all her life. But Brus will not completely let her in. He has erected a barrier between them, and the harder she tries to breach it, the more withdrawn he becomes. She’s determined to prove to him that he can count on her, so they can grasp the glorious love she’s sure awaits them. Yet when a devastating secret comes to light, she must decide whether her loyalty remains with the father she’s always trusted or whether it belongs with the man she’s certain is her destiny.
Uncaged Review: This is a nice start to a new series, and this one focuses on Ross and Grace, and the many secrets that have been kept from both of them. When Grace and her sister want to get to her father, she sways her friend from a clan her father wants an alliance with to take her, but they are attacked on the journey and Errol is injured. Ross and Conal from the Northern Watch save them, and are tasked with taking the women to their father safely. But there are a lot of secrets, and some could destroy the love that Ross and Grace are findng in each other.
There was a good deal of action, and watching the love build throughout the book was a good touch and the book keeps a decent pace. This story will keep you reading until the last page and I’m looking forward to the series continuing. Reviewed by Cyrene
4 Stars
