AN ALLURING LASS

Emmaline Grey spends her days with her beloved dog, dreaming of the sea-until a brawling Highlander shatters her quiet life to pieces. Though her blindness prevents her from seeing his face, his voice is a warm blend of velvet and silk, and his rakehell ways unmistakable. Risking the wrath of a rival clan as she nurses him back to health, Emma soon realizes the real danger is the magnetic pull she feels to this half-naked Scot recovering in her bed.

A RECKLESS ROGUE

With his rugged handsomeness and wicked charm, Malcolm Grant wants nothing more out of life than whisky, women, and the occasional war. The only lass he’s ever trusted left him with more scars than a battlefield. Yet now at the mercy of this sweet stranger, Malcolm can barely resist the gentle hands that make him feverish with desire-until Emma, the one he will never have, is the only woman he wants . . .

Tracy’s review of The Taming of Malcolm Grant (The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #4) by Paula Quinn

Malcolm and his brother Cailean head to a brothel so that Caileen (age 21) can finally lose his virginity. Malcolm is quite familiar with the brothel as he and the owner, Harry Grey, once saved each others lives. When the two men arrive, almost immediately, Cailean has his eye on a red-headed beauty named Alison. Unfortunately she’s already spoken for for the night by a man from the Winther family. Unfortunately the man, Andrew Winther, treats Alison very poorly and Cailean takes offense. He throws the man out of the brothel but Harry is concerned as Andrew is the brother of the Baron of Newcastle and the Baron is a very vindictive and violent man. He had a right to be worried as Andrew returns that same night and brings extra men with him. After a fight Andrew is dead and Malcolm and Cailean are fighting for their lives.

Emmaline Grey, Harry’s sister, has been staying with her brother for a short time. She found him after many years – years that he thought she was dead. She is blind from the fever that Harry thought killed her but she’s smart and an independent person. She knows her herbs and loves healing – it comes second nature to her. She takes care of Cailean and Malcolm and she saves their lives. The women of the brothel speak of Malcolm’s beauty but Emma only sees the inside of the man and what she sees she starts to fall in love with.

Harry won’t let Malcolm and Emma spend time together as he believes Malcolm is the man that he was many years ago. Malcolm has changed however and in that changing has become a better man. He doesn’t believe in love – the love the men in the family spout on and on about – until it happens to him.

I started reading about the MacGregor’s and way back in 2007. I got distracted and didn’t end up finishing the series so I haven’t read a Quinn novel since 2011! This the 4^th book in this part of the series but when I saw the blurb for this book I was enthralled by the idea of Emmaline being blind and snapped it up. Quinn didn’t disappoint. The story had all of the interesting and exciting elements I remember Quinn’s novels having and it was a very good book. I certainly didn’t feel like I was missing anything by not reading books 1-3 in this part of the series.

Emmaline was amazing. She was written so well and I loved almost everything about her. She was blind but certainly not stupid so saw underneath the skin of just about everyone. She knew by the tone of voice when the other women in the brothel were being mean or condescending. She tried to stay out of their way but when they kept going to visit Malcolm (while he was fighting for his life) she couldn’t completely avoid them. She loved healing but the woman who had taught her everything she knew had been accused of being a witch and was killed for it. This was a fear for Emma – that the same thing would happen to her – but Malcolm soon put her mind at ease. She was skilled and not afraid to use all of her knowledge to help anyone who needed it. Emma was just an awesome heroine and I loved reading about her.

Malcolm wasn’t too bad either for that matter. It broke my heart that he honestly believed that he was almost empty inside and not capable of love. He gave it with such vigor to his family so to not be able to give it to a woman confused him. Meeting Emma was one of the best things to happen to the man and he wasn’t afraid to finally show a woman his feelings. He treated her with honor and watching them together warmed my heart.

Overall this was a wonderful book and one I definitely recommend. Cailean’s story is next and since his part of Malcolm’s book ended in tragedy I’m looking forward to seeing who Quinn comes up with for him to love.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This title is available from Forever Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.