The TBR Challenge theme for this month was Holiday Reads. Well, this wasn’t a Christmas read but there was a scene during Christmastide…does that count? lol
Seduced and shamed by Alexander Campbell, the warrior to whom she is betrothed, Lady Mary Mac Lachlan flees to the Campbell stronghold of Castle Lorne and demands sanctuary from Alexander’s father.
Though Alexander seduced Mary for her own protection and his men’s, his actions have greater repercussions than expected. His betrayal destroys Mary’s trust and his belief in himself as a man of honor. Determined to heal the breach, and claim Mary—who now carries his heir—as his wife, he follows her to Lorne and finds himself brought before a council of arbitration on charges of rape.
When Collin Mac Lachlan, Mary’s father tries to coerce her into testifying against Alexander, Mary refuses. But when violence threatens to break out between their clans, Mary is forced to wed him to fulfill their betrothal agreement and save him from the executioner.
Amid the hostilities between their clans and the wounds inflicted on her heart, can Mary find the love and happiness she’s always craved or will she discover she’s been chasing a dream as illusive as Highland Moonlight?
Alexander Campbell and Mary McLachlan have been engaged for 3 years but have finally met. They hit it off and plan on marrying, but when Alexander hears that Mary’s father is planning on sending in a rival clan Laird to seduce and ruin Mary so that he can marry her instead, Alexander makes his move first.
When our book opens Mary is living in a cave so that she doesn’t have to deal with either her bastard father or the man who seduced and shamed her all in the same night. She is pregnant with Alexander’s baby but that won’t stop her from seeking sanctuary from Alexander’s father. But Mary’s father isn’t going to give his daughter – aka his pawn up so easily. He thinks he can get rid of Alexander and then have Mary to do with as he pleases. He doesn’t plan on Mary hating him so much that she chooses Alexander over her father.
Alexander and Mary end up getting married but the road ahead of them isn’t smooth. Mary’s from a rival clan and the women of Alexander’s clan look at her with suspicion as well as the fact that she was pregnant before getting married. Of course Mary’s father doesn’t give up on getting her back and I won’t even start with Alexander’s old lover. Lots of obstacles but love conquers all.
I read a review of this one a while back and was intrigued enough to buy it. The story, in general, is about trust and fear. Mary definitely has feelings for Alexander but she’s afraid of trusting him again. She thought that he truly had feelings for her when he seduced her originally, only to be walked in on and have him tell everyone that he did it on purpose. Alexander really does care for Mary and knows that he messed up but he didn’t want to lose her. He doesn’t actually tell Mary what her father had planned because he wants to take responsibility but he gets a little frustrated with the woman.
I thoroughly understood Mary’s trust issues. I think I would have been fearful as well. I did feel that she took it a little to the limit but that’s just me, I think. Now Mary was a sensible girl but when she was confronted with Alexander’s previous lover she really lost her senses. She did some pretty stupid stuff – especially near the end and I just wanted to throttle her. It all worked out though.
Alexander, for all his blustering, really was a great guy. He loved his clan and his home and yes, Mary. He acted the ass but had good intentions. Yeah, I know, the road to hell and all that – but it worked in this book. I was quite happy when the couple finally found their footing and eventually their HEA.
The story, imho, was a little slow going but pretty realistic in its harshness. The author didn’t beat around the bush or make things seem like they were easier than they actually were. This was medieval times and life was not easy. We got a good taste of that in this book and I liked almost every minute of it.
If you like reading good, solid medieval romances then this one would be a good one not to miss.
Rating: 4 out of 5
