Colin MacLean has always felt like a black sheep—especially after his brothers are slain before his eyes in the Battle of Culloden. A smuggler by trade, Colin makes for an embarrassing chieftain. He can’t even save his friends from their British pursuers without getting himself captured. But before he is martyred by the hangman’s noose, Colin escapes with his cellmate, a brave lad he’s come to admire. It’s only in the depths of the Highlands that Colin discovers the lad is a lass—and a bonnie one at that.

Raised by her older brothers, Maggie Sinclair can drink a pint in no time flat and wield a dagger with the best of ’em. Still, men have always excluded her and women have always shunned her. Colin makes her feel different. His wild spirit and rugged good looks have Maggie reconsidering her less than ladylike ways. For the first time, she’s tempted to put on a gown, just to see how Colin would react. She can only imagine what might happen next: a kiss . . . a touch . . . and perhaps enough sultry heat to melt a cold Highland night.

Colin is imprisoned after Culloden when he purposely puts himself in the path of the red coats to save a friend.  He’s in prison for weeks with a mostly silent young boy.  He is let free with the help of an unlikely helper and decides to take the boy with him.  Colin is quite sick when he escapes and soon collapses.  The young boy, who Colin soon finds out is actually a woman, Maggie Sinclair, nurses him back to health as best she can and then they set off for Sinclair lands.

Colin has what he believes is an unhealthy attraction to Maggie and that gets him into trouble a time or two.  He’s not happy with Maggie’s brother who tries to marry her off to an English sympathizer but he didn’t plan on marrying her himself.  That’s exactly what he ends up doing.  Maggie and Colin then set off for MacLean lands but is then informed that Captain Abbott, the man who took such satisfaction from beating Colin when he was imprisoned has taken over the MacLean stronghold.  Colin’s not sure he can get back what’s been taken but with the help of Maggie and his clansman he’s determined to try.

This was a lovely follow up to Sutherland’s Secret.  Though it didn’t have quite the same effect on me as book one in the series it was still good.

I’m not a huge fan of women in my historical novels dressing like men but in this case I thought it was well done.  Maggie had been brought up by her brother and since he was just about a kid himself when their parents died he did the best he could.  It amused him to see Maggie in breeches and he loved teaching her to fight.  Of course when she became a woman he realized his mistake and tried to change her.  She was determined to not let that happen.  I loved her fight and her strong-will.  Though her brother said some pretty hurtful things she was always willing to stand and make her opinion known.  I loved that about her.  She was also scared several times throughout the book but didn’t let that stop her from her goals.  She was a great heroine and I loved reading about her.

Colin, apparently, had been beaten down verbally by his parents and his siblings.  Because of this he didn’t have very good self-esteem and when it came to fighting for what was his he wasn’t completely convinced that he could do it.  He kept hearing his family’s voices in his head telling him how he was no good.  This bothered me some.  I’m not sure what it was about it but it just didn’t seem logical.  Yes, he’d been stubborn growing up from what I read and strong-willed, but to be told over and over that you’re no good and won’t amount to anything?  IDK it just didn’t seem right for as much as he loved his brothers.  Maybe it was me but it just seemed like something was off.  Anyway, Colin ended up being a strong character as well and I loved the way he adored Maggie for who she was and didn’t plan on changing her at all.

In the end the book was a good one with just a few issues.  I look forward to reading more in this series in the future.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5