Hero: Graham Grant
Heroine: Claire Stuart
Grade: 4.5 out of 5
Defending Her Was His Duty…
Skilled with a sword and quick with her wit, Scottish rebel Claire Stuart cannot be tamed. And nothing can deter her from rescuing her beloved sister and saving them both from arranged marriages–not even the handsome Highlander who vows to protect Claire. His scorching gaze and fiery kiss bring her to the brink of surrender, but she belongs to no man…
Seducing Her Would Be His Reward…
Graham Grant has had his share of lasses. But he has never met one as headstrong or as bonnie as Claire–or one with such desperate, dangerous plans. Helping her could betray his honor, his country and more. Graham can’t claim her. Yet everything in him says: Take her, make her yours, teach her pleasure, and never let her go.
I’ve never read anything by Paula Quinn before but I do remember reading Isabel’s review of Laird of the Mist and thinking, alright I don’t really want to read this book but then this book came out and Holly sent it to me and I’m grateful that she did because I enjoyed Paula Quinn’s Highlanders in this story.
Claire Stuart is part of a small rebel force who is trying to take out the “Roundheads” who she assumes is behind the murder of her beloved brother, Connor. Those stupid Roundheads have her sister Anne and is going to arrange marriages between the sisters to bring peace to the lands, or that is their hope anyway. Claire, being the proud, stubborn warrior princess that she is (think Xena, because this girl can kick some serious butt) isn’t having any of it.
Robert Campbell was sent to find Connor Stuart and bring him back to his superior, Monck. He believes in the cause that he’s fighting for and it’s admirable to see the honor within him because I really enjoyed Robert’s character. Anyway, Robert and his best friend, Graham Grant (Commander of the MacGregor Clan) are sent to find Connor and they find Connor’s sister instead. They take her to her other sister and charged with the care and protection of both sisters while they journey to other places.
Robert is supposed to wed Claire and Anne (the other sister) is supposed to wed Connor’s best friend, James Buchanan but passions fly and the story’s dramatics start to fly. Graham is torn because he wants Claire more than he’s ever wanted anyone in his life but she’s promised to his BEST FRIEND and he does not want to betray his best friend, even though the attraction is totally mutual between him and Claire…then we have Robert who is falling fast for Anne and nothing is ever easy in stories like these but all of those little drama’s added to the story and made for some entertaining reading.
Graham is a great hero and a delicious one at that. I’ve always had a soft spot for historical Highlanders and nothing changed in this story. I loved me some Graham, I thought he was such a hunky hero and everything he stood for: brotherhood and honor made me love him all the more. The way he tried to fight his attraction to Claire when she was promised to Robert was swoonworthy because he really tried to stay away from her. I really loved the way that he was with Claire, with Robert and with his men. He was a good leader and his instincts were great and I just really, really loved his character.
Claire got on my nerves a bit throughout the book but I didn’t hate her. She didn’t step over into that TSTL line because she knew what she was doing, she did what she thought was best and she knew what she could and couldn’t do, what she was and wasn’t capable of doing and she knew when to back down and for that, I liked her. She knew what she knew and she was loyal to you until she found you unworthy of her trust and her loyalty. She was a great heroine, a strong heroine who loved and cared for those she loved and I just really liked her because of those things.
This book is a solid book. It’s one of those books that won’t take you but a couple of hours to finish and Paula Quinn does a good job of weaving a story that you can get lost in. You should definitely give this series a go. I’m wanting to read the other PQ book that Isabel liked, one mans trash is another man’s treasure so I’m hoping that will be the case with that book.
This book is available from Grand Central Publishing. You can buy it here .
Paula Quinn is a great author! I’m reading this one now, so I didn’t read the whole review in case of spoilers. Lord of Seduction was really great, it’s one of my faves. Paula will be guested on our website in a few days with a giveaway next week most likely. Definitely read more of her!
I could do with another Highlander author to read.
I liked Laird of the Mist despite it’s over the topedness in some areas- I’m def. gonna have to read this one because these boys were already introduced in it!
This sounds pretty good, but I think I’ll have to pick up the first book before this one – I’m anal that way.
Thanks for the review…I really like this series and I’m looking forward to reading this one.