Michele Sinclair
fascinated and entertained Scottish Historical Romance fans with her
debut, "The Highlander's Bride." In this sequel, the story of the
McTiernay family continues with the youngest and first to marry
McTiernay brother, Colin McTiernay, a highlander who married into a
lowlander clan for political alliance and was briefly mentioned in the
first book. Colin finds himself once again single, widowed, and being
pushed by his father-in-law to marry his wife's sister, Makenna
Dunstan, in order to keep the Dunstan clan strong and defended.
The strong and handsome leader still has not been accepted by the
Dunstan clan, despite his previous marriage to Makenna's sister Deidre.
Besides his problems with the Dunstan people's mistrust and the
surrounding laird's greed in wanting Dunstan, he cannot believe he is
being forced into marriage with Makenna, who he constantly was at odds
with during his marriage, and feels another marriage is not required to
be a strong laird. Deidre was blonde, blue-eyed, and meek; a woman
trained to run a large keep and be an important laird's wife, but she
was also very fragile. Colin loved Deidre in his own way, but his heart
was not really engaged. Thus, it was a comfortable marriage. Now he is
being offered a red-haired, green-eyed, tomboy, termagant, to deal with
and marry, who is willful, can wield a sword as well as, or better
than, many of the Dunstan men, and worst of all, has no idea how to do
woman's work.
Makenna has many of the same feelings as Colin. She is afraid of him
and her own feelings and lack of confidence to step into Deidre's
place. She has seen Colin as the huge bellowing man that has done
nothing but make her life miserable by not allowing her to sword
practice and instead forced her to train at ladies work, where she was
a complete failure and ridiculed by many of her people. From the time
of the marriage and through the trials of running the Dunstan clan,
Colin begins to see the colorful beauty and strength of Makenna and
falls deeply in love with her, while at the same time, Makenna sees
Colin as the strong leader needed for the clan, as well as one to
awaken her womanly passions in bed. Can Colin convince Makenna that she
is truly his first true love and save Dunstan at the same time?
This is a well-written, interesting, and entertaining story that is
packed with suspense. Adding to the suspense and mystery is that there
are many enemies within, trying to sabotage the keep and Makenna and
Colin's budding desire, passion and love. As Colin struggles with his
leadership and feelings of a true marriage of passion and love, Makenna
struggles as well with her growing womanhood and homemaking skills.
They soon grow to realize that Makenna's father made the true match the
second time around and that Colin and Makenna are perfect for each
other, not only in bed, but in keeping the Dunstan clan strong, united,
and protected from dangers within and without.
As there are many McTiernay brothers, Scottish romance readers have
more fun to look forward to in the future as the series continues.
Michele Sinclair has a talent to keep the reader engaged with
interesting storylines and unforgettable characters. A real Highland
and Lowland treat!
Publisher: Zebra
(July 2008)
Reviewed
by Beverly,
Beverly Romance Books
