Pearl's World of Romance - Reviews with a Passion: McLeods of Skye Trilogy

Showing posts with label McLeods of Skye Trilogy. Show all posts

February 6, 2008

Highlander Unchained - Monica McCarty

12:13 AM |

Flora MacLeod is determined to avoid the sad fate of her mother—bartered between rival clans through four unhappy, politically arranged marriages. Now Flora, considered the greatest marriage prize in the Highlands, has become a political pawn herself. Despite the determination of no fewer than three powerful Highland Chiefs to force her hand, she has vowed never to become any man’s prize. Flora’s resolve is soon put to the test by the fiercely handsome, enigmatic man who’s kidnapped her for a ransom she’ll never pay…her heart.

Lachlan MacLean has gotten more than he’s bargained for. The battle-hardened Chief has kidnapped the beautiful heiress with the intention of wooing her for marriage. But the gruff Highland chief isn’t used to wooing women, especially not the most exasperating, stubborn woman he’s ever met. And when the curse surrounding an old tragedy puts Flora’s life in danger, Lachlan realizes his ploy may well have cost him a chance at love.

It seems destined to fail, a woman determined never let any man control her, let alone a Highlander and a dominating Highland chief born to rule and control everyone under his responsibility.

Lachlan MacLean is the Highland warrior at his best: rugged, masculine, handsome and fierce but underneath that all there is tenderness, honor and pride. He made my heart flutter with his intensity and passion. Although all the heroes in this trilogy are utterly scrumptious, he is most definitely my favorite. His devil's bargain to regain what is taken from him by Flora's brother turns void when he finds the woman who can make him yield to a love so strong everything fades away in comparison.

Flora McLeod is known as the Holyrood Hellion and she certainly lives up to that title. All the heroines in this trilogy are strong women who won't be controlled or ruled by anyone and Flora is absolutely no exception. She is willful, headstrong, proud, feisty and defiant in every way. Trouble has no problem finding her, even when she is not looking for it. Of the three heroines Flora is the most spirited one and the one who has no regard for the dutiful Highland ways. In her eyes duty equals the misery her mother went through and she vows she'll never end up that way.
The recurring theme of duty and loyalty to the clan versus love applies to Lachlan in this book but not to Flora, her only loyalty is to herself and this may come across as selfish or egotistical but I can assure you that Flora is anything but that. It is the only way to protect herself from the agony she saw her mother live in. Her plans to avoid being pawned of as a marriage prize in the political schemes of her relatives by arranging her own marriage of convenience is irrevocably interrupted by an abduction that will change her life forever. She finds herself wanting the one thing she was always warned for by her mother: a Highland chief and warrior.

After reading only the prologue I knew for certain that the final book in this trilogy was a matter of saving the best for last. This was the most intense and heart wrenching of the three books. At the risk of sounding like a broken record I must again admire the writing skills of McCarty. She is able to describe the feelings and thoughts of the characters with such intensity it had me glued to the pages. Their dialogues and interactions go from sarcastic bantering, to sensual awareness to full-blown passionate without a hitch. The love scenes are lush, enticing and stimulating. Masterfully dosed into the story and contributing to the emotional development of the characters.
But McCarty also has the ability to pull you deep into a historical plot of Highland feuds, this time enhanced with a family curse that hovers over the main couple's head.
The intricate connections between the different clans and families throughout the trilogy also stretch to the family connections surrounding Flora and Lachlan. Puzzling at first but more and more intriguing along the way.

Where in the other two books the plot is disclosed fairly early in the book, in this one she gradually fed me with tidbits of the plot and eventually it all fell into place in an amazing conclusion. This certainly contributes to the intensity of the book, keeping you on the edge of your seat wanting to know how it's going to unravel.
And the descriptions of the Scottish Highlands were equally sublime. Even more than in the previous books the descriptions made me long to see and experience the rugged and magnificent Highland Isles, full of history, for myself.

In short, Monica McCarty is a refreshing and original new voice in the Scottish historical genre who's earned my admiration for her writing skills, her amazing characters and her ability to turn true historical facts into lovely historical romances that stir the emotions.

Quotes:
Lachlan: "Don't play with me, Flora. I'm not one of your pet courtiers. Poke me and I'll bite."

Men had stolen kisses from her, but no man had ever kissed her in a way that made her want to weep, her heart slam into her chest, and her knees go weak all at the same time.

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Labels: awesome reads, Ballantine Books, Historical Romance, McLeods of Skye Trilogy, Monica McCarty, reviews | 0 comments |

February 3, 2008

Highlander Unmasked - Monica McCarty

12:05 AM |

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Meg Mackinnon knows she has to find a loyal, trustworthy husband to support her simple brother as chief. Her father has entrusted her with the decision, and letting him down is not an option. So she leaves for court begin her search. The dark, mysterious outlaw who rescues her on her way meets none of her criteria, but arouses her passions in a way that Meg cannot ignore.

Alex MacLeod claims to be a mercenary, a man with no loyalties. But soon Meg suspects that Alex is not what he seems and she must learn to trust her heart, or risk losing the right man forever.
Driven by the demons of his past, Alex fights against the king’s injustice. But when he uncovers the details of a royal plot to colonize the Highlands with Lowlanders, the last thing he needs is to be distracted by a lass who interferes with his mission at every turn. Thrust into a web of deadly intrigue, which binds him and Meg ever closer together, Alex soon faces the ultimate battle between love and duty.

When Meg MacKinnon goes to the king's court to find a husband to ensure the future of her clan, she sets out to find the right man for her clan but she never thought she would find the man who would capture her heart and soul.
Alex McLeod is at the king's court for his personal mission of redemption and for his mission only. There is no room for a love in his life so he tries to resist the alluring attraction to the lovely Meg, but this is one battle he's sure to lose...

Alex is the brother of Rory, the hero in book 1 of this trilogy and he also made an appearance in book 1 but to be honest I didn't pay much attention to him then and now I wish I had. He turned out to be an amazing character and a hero to die for. He's a mercenary and warrior to the backbone. He is compelling, honorable and intelligent.

Meg McKinnon is the epitome of a Highland lass: dutiful and brave, but also pragmatic and outspoken. She is blown away by Alex's fierceness and masculinity. She approaches everything with logic, but logic goes right out the window when she meets Alex. She is a lovely heroine you have no choice but to sympathize with.

Meg and Alex are very alike though you wouldn't say so at first glance. They both put their duty to their clan above anything else, including their own happiness. Until they discover that love is not only stronger than duty but is also empowering, giving them the strength to do their duty.

The attraction between them is instant and sizzling and can't be denied. But their story is one of the choice between love duty and love against the background of the battle between the Highlanders and the Lowlanders. A story of treason and loyalty laced with Highland politics and schemes

The characters, both primary and secondary are top-notch. Intense, emotional, charming and entrancing. Every connection falling into place along the way and every character has his or her role in the plot. And still despite every character being appealing Alex and Meg are the stars of the show. They carry the plot and book in a formidable way. Nonetheless I’m hoping for books on the Campbell siblings Jamie and Elizabeth. They made quite an impression and I hope they will be featured in McCarty’s new trilogy coming in the beginning of 2009.

The sensual tension is build up gradually and slowly but nevertheless with intensity that make the beautifully written love scenes sensual and seductive, emotional and touching. McCarty has real talent for describing the feeling and emotions so vividly it just comes of the pages, holding your attention in a tight grip.

The book is character based with the focus on their feelings but still the emphasis is very much on the mix of a character based love story and the historical plot. Neither outweighing the other but rather contributing to the perfect balance. The alternation between the characters and their feelings and the plot is more present than in book 1 but this didn't bother me at all, it all blends perfectly together.

Again this is not an action driven plot, which absolutely doesn't mean there is no action in it. On the contrary: The battle scenes are enthralling with the battle on the Isle of Lewis as the breathtaking climax. McCarty knows how to write these scenes with so much intensity and accuracy it left me with a pounding heart and holding my breath.

With this trilogy (and I have yet to read book 3) McCarty has definitely put her stamp on the genre of Scottish historicals. Both the romance and the historical background are captivating and fascinating.
This trilogy is another hidden treasure on my bookshelves! Thoroughly researched and masterfully written again I was taken to the Highlands of King James in the 17th century. McCarty's thorough research makes her settings and characters utterly real and believable.

Quote:
His pulse hitched and then broke out in a full race when a slow, sensual grin played across her lips. "Now it's my turn," she said. "I wonder if I can make you beg?"

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Labels: Ballantine Books, great reads, Historical Romance, McLeods of Skye Trilogy, Monica McCarty, reviews | 0 comments |

September 9, 2007

Highlander Untamed - Monica McCarty

6:11 PM |

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Rory McLeod is a bold and powerful Highland Chief with only one allegiance, to his clan. He vows revenge against the rival MacDonald caln, though duty demands a handfast marriage to Isabel MacDonald, a bride he does not want and has no intention of keeping. But Rory couldn't have anticipated the captivating woman who challenges his steely control and unleashes the untamed passion simmering beneath his fierce exterior.

Blessed with incomparable beauty, Isabel MacDonald is prepared to use every means possible, including seduction, to uncover her husband's most guarded secrets. Instead Rory awakens Isabel's deepest desires and her sweetest fantasies. Now Isabel has found the happiness she's always dreamed ofwith the very man she must betray, and discovers that passion can be far more dangerous than revenge.

What a wonderful book! History and romance mixed into a classical scottish story.
The story of Isabel and Rory is based on true historical facts and McCarty really knows how to write a compelling and lovely story able to pull you in to Scotland in the beginning of the 17th century.
Mingled beautifully with an intense and emotional love-story you discover a lot about the ways and customs of the Highlanders during that time-period. Reading this book made me long to go explore the Highlands myself and maybe stumble upon one of the scrumptious McLeods.
I felt really trown back into the rugged Highlands at the time of King James.

Both main and secondary characters complement each other, all of them being crucial to the plot.
Isabel tries to be demure and sweet but her true self, feisty and quick-minded has to come out and those were the moments I liked her the most!
Rory is a true Highlander: a tough, raw, manly and dominant warrior. Loyal to nothing but his clan. But little by little Isabel warms his cold heart.

The book is character-oriented, focusing mainly on Rory and Isabel and their feelings and emotions. I haven't read many of these and found it a pleasant change compared to the action-/plot-driven books I've read lately.
But this definitely does not mean there is no plot in the book, there absolutely is and it's a good plot but the feelings and emotions have the upper hand.

You can almost feel the impact Rory and Isabel have on each other at the first glance and this feeling just keeps building and building towards a climax both literally and figuratively.
McCarty really does a great job of describing what they feel in a very intense way.
She also has a way of building up the sexual tension between Isabel and Rory in such a magnificent way it blew me away. It's incredibly intense and sensual. Beautifullly written and emotion stirring in a major way!

I'm really glad this trilogy is being released back to back because I can't wait to read about Rory's siblings and their love-matches.

Quotes:
Her response turned his mind to black. The swift kick of pure lust hit him hard, and desire gripped him like an iron claw as he descended in the realm of no return.

Rory overwhelmed her senses, rendering her limp with desire, unable to form a coherent thought other than hunger for the man holding her.

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