ABOUT THE BOOK

Joshua Sinclair was once the fiercest and most notorious warrior of the mighty Sinclair clan of Northern Scotland. But now there’s nothing and no one that can make him take up arms again. Except a beautiful woman, it seems.

When Kára Flett, daughter of a fallen Norse chief, finds herself unexpectedly sheltering the strongest, most brutal warrior in the land, she throws together a risky and outrageous plan to bring him to her side. Threats of violence bounce right off him. Offers of gold seem to entice him even less. Desperate enough to use the pleas of the village children to sway him, she’s shocked when he’s completely unmoved. There’s only one tactic left for her: seduction. 

Her hasty proposition falls completely by the wayside, though, as she and the Highlander come together in a carnal inferno. But bringing him into her life also brings his enemies to her clan’s doorstep—the very clan Kára is trying to protect. And as their feelings deepen, Joshua will have to decide between duty and love once and for all.

MY REVIEW

I was contacted by Entangled Publishing to review this wonderful book even though I had not read anything by Heather McCollum before. Also, I had not read Highland Conquest, book 1 of the series, until a few days ago. Now, I’m hooked. I love Ms. McCollum’s writing with her strong and powerful heroes and her fierce warrior heroines. Her characters are dedicated to their people and will risk everything to save them. 

Joshua Sinclair, the Horseman of War, has studied war his whole life and only knows how to win. After losing a precious life after a battle that should not have been fought, and after completing his training for Lord Robert Stuart’s men to fight, Joshua realizes war is not all he wants anymore and he prepares to go home to the Sinclair clan of Northern Scotland. But fate has it that a fierce and determined young woman would change the course of his life.

Kára Flett, Norse queen, is committed to her people. So much so, she would seduce the fearsome Horseman of War to lead her people to victory against Robert Stuart. The very army he just finished training. But she doesn’t know he is done fighting wars. Especially a war that would mean sure death for her small village.  Until the unthinkable happens, and his growing affection for her and her people calls him to battle again and the performance of his life.

I have enjoyed Joshua’s mischievous side since book 1, though you don’t see it as much in this book. It humanizes him and lessens the God’s horseman mystique which he uses to his advantage in war.  In addition, we get to see his vulnerable side as he struggles with guilt from something he thought he could prevent.  Kára is also a great force in his life that he didn’t expect and he refers many times to her presence giving him peace. Can you say soulmate? There is no better ally and companion for a formidable man than a brave female warrior who can steal his clothes, weapons, and heart in one fell swoop.

Of course, Ms. McCollum includes a fun and diverse group of supporting characters who complement this fast-paced suspense-filled story.  The siege on Robert Stuart’s castle is an exciting high-point where I cheered for all, as well as the nail-biting ruse at the end that had me guessing what would happen.

I recommend this lovely Highlander romance novel that can be read as a standalone, but I suggest you read from the beginning because you will enjoy all of the characters and the amusing family dynamics.  I can’t wait to read more about the Sinclair clan. 

Thank you to Ms. McCollum, Entangled Publishing, and Netgalley, for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hello! I’m a mom of three spirited kids, dog-mom of one rescued golden retriever, and a sugar glider-mom of a rescued marsupial. I love chai lattes, homemade hot chocolate, baked goods that I shouldn’t eat, dragonflies, and the British Baking Show. When I’m not running around being “Mom” or writing Scottish historical romance, I’m usually educating women about ovarian cancer. I’m a 9-year survivor and very fortunate to be alive to love my family.

My first publication was in my local, small-town newspaper when I was in second grade. My Christmas story had the word “tiptoed” in it which amazed my teacher and sky-rocketed me to publication. But I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be a writer. After all, there was baton twirling, hula dancing, comedy, and all sorts of other careers vying for my attention.

My grandmother gave me my first romance novel when I was fourteen, The Flame and The Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. The heroine’s name is Heather and I fell in love with Captain Brandon Birmingham. I read it over and over and then began to devour all of Ms. Woodiwiss’s books. Not only did I fall in love with her stories, but I also fell in love with the romance genre. In a teenager’s world, where so many events seem like tragedies, whether they really are or not, romances guaranteed a happy ending. So I sat in our pre-Civil War Virginia farmhouse with my five rescued dogs and the ghosts (fodder for my ghost stories to come) and read.

Every essay I had to write in high school had a happy ending and a kiss. Most of my teachers advised me to major in English, including my chemistry teacher who still remembered the time I accidentally sparked a small fire in his room. So people were surprised when I flew off to a small college in Maine to major in Marine Biology. I was set on saving dolphins, snails, and ecosystems. Writing was too subjective, I said. With science, answers were right or wrong.

I met my Captain Brandon my second year up in Maine, a six-foot-four-inch dark-haired Scot. After four years of being muddy, wet, and frozen while I tromped across mudflats with him, I earned my degree in Biology and headed to Grad school in the Southeast with my then fiancé. It didn’t take long before I realized that I liked working with people more than Petri dishes and I dropped out, found a job, and continued to read happy endings.

I married my Captain Brandon and settled down with two spunky Yorkshire Terriers. It was just before Christmas and we’d moved into a rental house. The front living room stood empty since we didn’t have enough furniture. So my DH set up a computer in the corner.

I sat down at that old computer . . . and began to type. Once the gates were opened I couldn’t stop. I continued to work, read romance, cuddle my dogs, and love my DH. But something had changed. I could sit before the screen and transport back in time to sweeping Scottish landscapes, and all the anxieties of the day would fade. 

Now twenty+ years later, I am fortunate to be able to write every day, creating adventures full of love and happily-ever-afters!

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