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MacKinloch Clan #1
Claimed by the Highland Warrior
Bram MacKinloch has spent seven long, torturous years in captivity with only three things to keep him alive—pure brute strength, a thirst for revenge and the memory of his pretty wife's face.
Shock is only one of the emotions coursing through Nairna's body when she sees Bram again. His scars tell of suffering, the hunger in his eyes speak of a burning desire so raw it could consume them both. But a lot has changed since they so innocently wed….
Shock is only one of the emotions coursing through Nairna's body when she sees Bram again. His scars tell of suffering, the hunger in his eyes speak of a burning desire so raw it could consume them both. But a lot has changed since they so innocently wed….
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
101 people are currently reading
1862 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Willingham
201 books624 followersRita® Award Finalist Michelle Willingham has published over fifty books and novellas. Currently, she lives in Virginia with her family and is working on more historical romance novels. When she's not writing, Michelle enjoys baking, playing the piano, and avoiding exercise at all costs. Visit her website at: www.michellewillingham.com or interact with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michellewillinghamfans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 14, 2013
I’m a big fan of Michelle Willingham’s historicals, so when I saw this book, I knew that I just had to have it!
Claimed by the Highland Warrior is the first book in the MacKinloch Clan series and we're introduced to an amazing family and a wonderful supporting cast of friends and clan members. Taking place during the time of William Wallace, Braveheart, it's a historical adventure that could have been bogged down with the necessary world building and character introduction that takes place in most first books in a series, but I didn’t feel any of that. In fact, the story was so well told that I read it in a single day and found the secondary characters to be every bit as important and compelling as our main couple.
Goodreads blurb –
Watching Bram and Nairna deal with what we now know as PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - was at times heartbreaking, but Nairna is such a strong, grounded woman that even though she was dealing with her own tumultuous emotions, she was able to help Bram deal with the memories and nightmares of his years of torture and captivity, while devoting herself to her new clan and her role as a wife. There are so many things to love about this story, but first and foremost were Nairna and Bram, watching as they had to first learn to trust one another and then love.
While there were some slower moments in the story, Claimed by the Highland Warrior is a romantic, passionate, and exciting beginning to the MacKinloch Clan series, one which I’ll continue to follow.
Claimed by the Highland Warrior is the first book in the MacKinloch Clan series and we're introduced to an amazing family and a wonderful supporting cast of friends and clan members. Taking place during the time of William Wallace, Braveheart, it's a historical adventure that could have been bogged down with the necessary world building and character introduction that takes place in most first books in a series, but I didn’t feel any of that. In fact, the story was so well told that I read it in a single day and found the secondary characters to be every bit as important and compelling as our main couple.
Goodreads blurb –
Bram MacKinloch has spent seven long, torturous years in captivity with only three things to keep him alive—pure brute strength, a thirst for revenge and the memory of his pretty wife's face.On his wedding night, Bram left his young bride, Nairna, and went with his father and brothers into battle, having never even consummated the marriage. Then came the news that Bram and his brother, Callum, and their father, were killed, leaving Nairna to mourn a man she cared deeply for. Seven years later as this story opens, Bram has escaped his hellish prison and makes his way back to his wife’s family’s holdings so he can finally claim the woman he loves. Of course Nairna is overjoyed to see him alive, but neither of them are the same people they were when they first married, so she isn’t sure what to expect. Then as if that isn’t enough to contend with, when they make their way to Bram’s family at Glen Arrin, they find the keep in near ruin, the clan divided, and the Laird and his wife barely speaking, but it’s all of these things that make the story so interesting – and keeps Nairna busy!
Shock is only one of the emotions coursing through Nairna's body when she sees Bram again. His scars tell of suffering, the hunger in his eyes speak of a burning desire so raw it could consume them both. But a lot has changed since they so innocently wed…
Watching Bram and Nairna deal with what we now know as PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - was at times heartbreaking, but Nairna is such a strong, grounded woman that even though she was dealing with her own tumultuous emotions, she was able to help Bram deal with the memories and nightmares of his years of torture and captivity, while devoting herself to her new clan and her role as a wife. There are so many things to love about this story, but first and foremost were Nairna and Bram, watching as they had to first learn to trust one another and then love.
While there were some slower moments in the story, Claimed by the Highland Warrior is a romantic, passionate, and exciting beginning to the MacKinloch Clan series, one which I’ll continue to follow.
April 4, 2015
While this is not quite the swash-buckling, bodice-ripper that the title and the cover implies, it is actually quite a soulful highland romance and an enjoyable and engrossing read.
Bram MacKinlock left his new bride Nairna on their wedding night without consummating their marriage in a fit of jingoistic fervour to go and fight the English with his father and brothers. His father was killed and he was taken captive and held for 7 years and everyone believed him to be dead. Now he has finally escaped and returned to reclaim his bride and rejoin his family but everything has changed. Most of all him.
In his absence, Nairna has remarried, lost her virginity and been once again widowed but she has never forgotten Bram and her love for him but they are both very different people now and a large part of this book is given over to these two getting to know one another again, Bram overcoming his PTSD and attempting to rebuild his clan which has fell into rack and ruin in his absence.
This is rather a slow burner but it did just about enough hold my attention. The character development is well done and I found myself invested enough in these two to want them to rekindle that fire that had once burned so bright. They have a lot of near misses, passion burning and almost getting there before one of them turns away - highly frustrating! More than once I wanted to scream at them to get on with it but I did really like them both and completely understood and sympathised with their situation and felt their pain keenly.
The one thing I can't stand in a Highland romance is a wimpy doormat of a heroine and, thankfully, Nairna is about as far removed from this as it's possible to be. She's determined to stand by her man, to help him rebuild his clan and to try and help him through his pretty obvious PTSD and staggering guilt that he carries. She's as strong as it gets and is exactly what Bram needs. He, for his part, is consumed by guilt at the continuing incarceration of his younger brother, Callum, and the death of his father - he's scarred both physically and emotionally and he's got a lot of healing to do and it was really very engaging to watch how his relationship with Nairna helped him to do this.
As this is the first in a series, there's great world building going on also with a fair few MacKinloch's waiting to tell their stories to us. I'm definitely going to read through the rest of the series. Alex and his troubled marriage is up next although it's definitely the silent Callum and the feisty french Marguerite that I'm most looking forward to.
Great start to a new Highlander series
4 second chance stars
Bram MacKinlock left his new bride Nairna on their wedding night without consummating their marriage in a fit of jingoistic fervour to go and fight the English with his father and brothers. His father was killed and he was taken captive and held for 7 years and everyone believed him to be dead. Now he has finally escaped and returned to reclaim his bride and rejoin his family but everything has changed. Most of all him.
In his absence, Nairna has remarried, lost her virginity and been once again widowed but she has never forgotten Bram and her love for him but they are both very different people now and a large part of this book is given over to these two getting to know one another again, Bram overcoming his PTSD and attempting to rebuild his clan which has fell into rack and ruin in his absence.
This is rather a slow burner but it did just about enough hold my attention. The character development is well done and I found myself invested enough in these two to want them to rekindle that fire that had once burned so bright. They have a lot of near misses, passion burning and almost getting there before one of them turns away - highly frustrating! More than once I wanted to scream at them to get on with it but I did really like them both and completely understood and sympathised with their situation and felt their pain keenly.
The one thing I can't stand in a Highland romance is a wimpy doormat of a heroine and, thankfully, Nairna is about as far removed from this as it's possible to be. She's determined to stand by her man, to help him rebuild his clan and to try and help him through his pretty obvious PTSD and staggering guilt that he carries. She's as strong as it gets and is exactly what Bram needs. He, for his part, is consumed by guilt at the continuing incarceration of his younger brother, Callum, and the death of his father - he's scarred both physically and emotionally and he's got a lot of healing to do and it was really very engaging to watch how his relationship with Nairna helped him to do this.
As this is the first in a series, there's great world building going on also with a fair few MacKinloch's waiting to tell their stories to us. I'm definitely going to read through the rest of the series. Alex and his troubled marriage is up next although it's definitely the silent Callum and the feisty french Marguerite that I'm most looking forward to.
Great start to a new Highlander series
4 second chance stars
November 12, 2020
2020 read - Review to follow
_________________
Original 2016 Read-3.5 stars.
Started off really good then kinda lost it's momentum. Overall it was pretty good and I enjoyed it.
Summary:
The hero
The heroine
Although I enjoyed the story, I had a few problems with it. One is that I didn't "feel" the Scottish-ness of it. It could have used more descriptions of the clothing, could have thrown in a few for nay's aye's donna's ..etc.. but maybe it's just me.
I also had a problem with
The heroine was unrealistic.
It was still enjoyable even with the problems.
Safety:
.
_________________
Original 2016 Read-3.5 stars.
Started off really good then kinda lost it's momentum. Overall it was pretty good and I enjoyed it.
Summary:
The hero
The heroine
Although I enjoyed the story, I had a few problems with it. One is that I didn't "feel" the Scottish-ness of it. It could have used more descriptions of the clothing, could have thrown in a few for nay's aye's donna's ..etc.. but maybe it's just me.
I also had a problem with
The heroine was unrealistic.
It was still enjoyable even with the problems.
Safety:
.
November 26, 2011
You want to know why I liked this series? Because the people were messed up. Completely. Dude is a slave for like 7 years, escapes and the first thing he does is go find his wife. And she's not a perfect little virgin that waited for her. Nope, real life happened while she thought he was dead. I like that. I can relate to that. The guy was so messed up he just wasn't right for most of the book. Which is HOW it is SUPPOSED to be when you're tortured for that long. I can't stand these girly books that the guy/gal suffers but as soon as they get back with their honey it's like magic vagina/penis and having sex just makes it all go away.
This was a much more real version of life yet it was still a love story. There was still good h&h scenes that advanced the story (not just gratuitous stuff). She weaves a very compelling story with good rounded characters that have flaws.
This was a much more real version of life yet it was still a love story. There was still good h&h scenes that advanced the story (not just gratuitous stuff). She weaves a very compelling story with good rounded characters that have flaws.
August 15, 2016
Claimed by the Highland Warrior is my first Michelle Willingham book and it won't be my last! The first half of this book flew by and while the second half lagged a bit, I enjoyed the characters enough to definitely want to continue the series.
This story opens with the hero, Bram, escaping an English prison where he had been tortured and forced into labor for seven years. He is one haunted, messed up guy, which was sad, but also made the romance compelling. Willingham dealt with trauma a lot more realistically in my opinion and the reunion between Bram and his wife (marriage never consummated) was awkward yet filled with glimmers of hope. For the first 65% of the book, I flew through the pages, reveling in the sexual tension, grittiness of the characters as they struggled to rebuild their lives and move on from their pasts.
After the 65% mark when sex starts happening, the story slowed down a little bit. Since this is a Harlequin Historical, I shouldn't have been surprised by the repeated sex scenes, but it was a little disappointing since I felt like the sex scenes caused character development beyond this point to be stunted. It didn't completely compromise the story (hence still 4 stars), but it did keep it from being a top read. In this story, there was some interesting threads. The hero is a virgin since he was only 16 when he married, never consummated the marriage because he went on a raid the same night, and then was imprisoned for 7 years. The heroine, Nairna, actually married (and then was widowed) another man because she thought Bram had died. She had some experience with sex, but it was not pleasurable for her. Therefore, with all the darkness in the story, there was some lightness as the two characters learned new levels of intimacy together.
In the story, there was some highland politics involved, but I didn't find the extra details too heavy. I'm not an expert on Scottish history during this time, so I cannot speak to its accuracy, but it read believably to me and there were several times I winced at the brutality of it all.
Willingham also introduced other characters, all of whom have stories in the series that I'm now interested in reading. She introduced the characters naturally and I felt like they added to the story instead of just being present as a pitch for the next book.
Overall, I thought this was a nice story of recovery from PTSD, rebuilding of family ties, tough choices that are made during warfare, and healing from love. I recommend it for an easy, short read that actually has some meat on its bones--and plenty of sex scenes for those who are into that :)
This story opens with the hero, Bram, escaping an English prison where he had been tortured and forced into labor for seven years. He is one haunted, messed up guy, which was sad, but also made the romance compelling. Willingham dealt with trauma a lot more realistically in my opinion and the reunion between Bram and his wife (marriage never consummated) was awkward yet filled with glimmers of hope. For the first 65% of the book, I flew through the pages, reveling in the sexual tension, grittiness of the characters as they struggled to rebuild their lives and move on from their pasts.
After the 65% mark when sex starts happening, the story slowed down a little bit. Since this is a Harlequin Historical, I shouldn't have been surprised by the repeated sex scenes, but it was a little disappointing since I felt like the sex scenes caused character development beyond this point to be stunted. It didn't completely compromise the story (hence still 4 stars), but it did keep it from being a top read. In this story, there was some interesting threads. The hero is a virgin since he was only 16 when he married, never consummated the marriage because he went on a raid the same night, and then was imprisoned for 7 years. The heroine, Nairna, actually married (and then was widowed) another man because she thought Bram had died. She had some experience with sex, but it was not pleasurable for her. Therefore, with all the darkness in the story, there was some lightness as the two characters learned new levels of intimacy together.
In the story, there was some highland politics involved, but I didn't find the extra details too heavy. I'm not an expert on Scottish history during this time, so I cannot speak to its accuracy, but it read believably to me and there were several times I winced at the brutality of it all.
Willingham also introduced other characters, all of whom have stories in the series that I'm now interested in reading. She introduced the characters naturally and I felt like they added to the story instead of just being present as a pitch for the next book.
Overall, I thought this was a nice story of recovery from PTSD, rebuilding of family ties, tough choices that are made during warfare, and healing from love. I recommend it for an easy, short read that actually has some meat on its bones--and plenty of sex scenes for those who are into that :)
September 13, 2013
This one is not for me. Skimmed through the last 50%.
Bram MacKinloch, fueled by bravado joined his father and brothers in battle, leaving his young bride on their wedding bed. The news spread that they all had been killed, leaving Nairna a widow with only memories of the tender love they shared. Seven years later, Bram returns-scarred by his captivity in an English prison-to claim his wife and his place in the clan. At Bram's birthplace, Glen Arrin he finds a desolate keep on its way to ruin, a warring clan consisting of only menfolk, and a Laird with his own marital woes.
The bulk of the plot lends itself to dealing with Bram's PTSD and his and Nairna's struggle to discover love again. The plot is weighed down by unnecessary descriptions. The author invokes Braveheart at beginning, but there is nothing other than the non-existence of kilts and the Scots accent to suggest it- Claimed by the Highland Warrior could've taken place in any other era.
The story was too bland to hold my interest. This one's a skip.
Bram MacKinloch, fueled by bravado joined his father and brothers in battle, leaving his young bride on their wedding bed. The news spread that they all had been killed, leaving Nairna a widow with only memories of the tender love they shared. Seven years later, Bram returns-scarred by his captivity in an English prison-to claim his wife and his place in the clan. At Bram's birthplace, Glen Arrin he finds a desolate keep on its way to ruin, a warring clan consisting of only menfolk, and a Laird with his own marital woes.
The bulk of the plot lends itself to dealing with Bram's PTSD and his and Nairna's struggle to discover love again. The plot is weighed down by unnecessary descriptions. The author invokes Braveheart at beginning, but there is nothing other than the non-existence of kilts and the Scots accent to suggest it- Claimed by the Highland Warrior could've taken place in any other era.
The story was too bland to hold my interest. This one's a skip.
just-not-for-me-stay-away-hell-no
March 30, 2016self note: just not for me
August 10, 2024
3,75 - Ci troviamo in Scozia, nel 1300, e il clan dei MacKinloch rischia di scomparire, stretto tra il predominio inglese e le scorribande dei clan nemici.
Questo primo volume è un romance medievale con buon ritmo e due bei personaggi: il giovane Bram, educato per divenire guida della sua gente, riesce finalmente a fuggire dopo anni di prigionia e trova la sua promessa già sposata a un altro e suo fratello a capo del clan. Un ritorno a casa impegnativo, insomma, ma il nostro highlander dimostra parecchia lealtà e una capacità di perdono niente male.
Questo primo volume è un romance medievale con buon ritmo e due bei personaggi: il giovane Bram, educato per divenire guida della sua gente, riesce finalmente a fuggire dopo anni di prigionia e trova la sua promessa già sposata a un altro e suo fratello a capo del clan. Un ritorno a casa impegnativo, insomma, ma il nostro highlander dimostra parecchia lealtà e una capacità di perdono niente male.
April 20, 2021
Je sors de cette lecture avec un sentiment mitigé. J'ai eu du mal à accrocher au personnage de Bram, qui est plutôt éloigné du highlander classique, même si il est tout à fait normal d'être perturbé par ce qu'il a vécu. L'histoire est elle-même un peu différente des récits habituels puisqu'ici les héros sont déjà mariés. Mais ils ne se connaissent quasiment pas et ont été séparés pendant des années. Une histoire un peu décevante pour moi,mais qui se relève un peu sur la fin.
April 19, 2011
The first word that comes to mind after I finished this book is "pleasant.” Which is not necessarily a bad thing, but at the same time, the book is missing something. I wanted a little more emotional “oomph” throughout. I don’t want my highlander’s to be just pleasant darn it! I want some excitement! Some dirty kilt lifting! I want OOMPH! This book doesn’t quite deliver that.
The story starts with Bram MacKinloch escaping from his captors after seven years of imprisonment. His brother is still there, so Bram heads back to his family’s land to gather reinforcements. Before he makes it though, he is captured again, but this time he lands at his wife’s house. Bram married Nairna seven years ago, right before he ran off to battle, and her memory has been the only think that has got him through these awful several years.
Nairna can’t believe her husband is home. Although she married someone else three years after Bram disappeared, that husband has since died and Nairna doesn’t feel like she has a place to go. Until now. Bram and Nairna never consummated their marriage and both are nervous to take that step. Nairna never found pleasure in bed with her previous husband, and Bram has many scars – both internal and external that make him shy away from the marriage bed. I liked that Bram had these scars that made him nervous in bed. He also deals with flashbacks – almost like he is sleeping with his eyes open – where he finds himself back in prison. He acts out though during these flashbacks but I wanted more. I wanted to see his pain and violence that is inside of him, erupting.
Nairna spends much of the book trying to help her husband readjust to life outside of prison. I think if Bram had rebelled more or just shown more of these internal scars he was suppose to have, I would have connected with these characters. Like I said, they are nice characters but come across a bit flat.
There is a nice side story with Bram’s other brother Alex and his wife Laren who have lost the romance in their marriage and we watch them struggle with their distance. Many of the women have left leaving for safer land fearing more attacks from the English, and Nairna and Laren both slowly come to terms with this issue and each other.
Claimed by the Highland Warrior is a nice story, but falls a little short for me..
Rating: C
The story starts with Bram MacKinloch escaping from his captors after seven years of imprisonment. His brother is still there, so Bram heads back to his family’s land to gather reinforcements. Before he makes it though, he is captured again, but this time he lands at his wife’s house. Bram married Nairna seven years ago, right before he ran off to battle, and her memory has been the only think that has got him through these awful several years.
Nairna can’t believe her husband is home. Although she married someone else three years after Bram disappeared, that husband has since died and Nairna doesn’t feel like she has a place to go. Until now. Bram and Nairna never consummated their marriage and both are nervous to take that step. Nairna never found pleasure in bed with her previous husband, and Bram has many scars – both internal and external that make him shy away from the marriage bed. I liked that Bram had these scars that made him nervous in bed. He also deals with flashbacks – almost like he is sleeping with his eyes open – where he finds himself back in prison. He acts out though during these flashbacks but I wanted more. I wanted to see his pain and violence that is inside of him, erupting.
Nairna spends much of the book trying to help her husband readjust to life outside of prison. I think if Bram had rebelled more or just shown more of these internal scars he was suppose to have, I would have connected with these characters. Like I said, they are nice characters but come across a bit flat.
There is a nice side story with Bram’s other brother Alex and his wife Laren who have lost the romance in their marriage and we watch them struggle with their distance. Many of the women have left leaving for safer land fearing more attacks from the English, and Nairna and Laren both slowly come to terms with this issue and each other.
Claimed by the Highland Warrior is a nice story, but falls a little short for me..
Rating: C
September 5, 2012
Hmmmm, only one book of Ms. Willingham's read. Not a fan, I have to say. Really didn't like her writing style. The character dialogue was written in a way that gave no indication there was a Scottish accent - except for the name MacKinloch, I wouldn't have known I was reading a Highlander romance. Also, it flowed very strangely in that commas were used to string together two different concepts. This isn't an actual example from the book, but there were passages that went something like, "Bram paced the floor of the great hall, the fire roaring in the grate." It was just weird like that. Flow is very important to me, so I found this a distracting feature.
Quite the paradox, there was so much sex and not enough at the same time - lots of descriptive foreplay but it took forever for the MCs to actually get there. It got boring after a while. And I didn't believe the author's justification for why it took so long for them to get there. Other strange plot elements and assumptions about the time I really didn't get or didn't like. Example, Marguerite - so she's betrothed to a cruel English guy and kept practically imprisoned in his fortress. Yet when she's freed, she asks for her rescuers to find her father (a french nobleman), for he will save her ... in what historical reality was a nobleman not the one to arrange his daughter's betrothal? Why would he have any reason to save his daughter from the man he (in historical reality, not in the story) chose for her to marry?
I found this one poorly executed. I feel bad for saying it, but there it is.
Quite the paradox, there was so much sex and not enough at the same time - lots of descriptive foreplay but it took forever for the MCs to actually get there. It got boring after a while. And I didn't believe the author's justification for why it took so long for them to get there. Other strange plot elements and assumptions about the time I really didn't get or didn't like. Example, Marguerite - so she's betrothed to a cruel English guy and kept practically imprisoned in his fortress. Yet when she's freed, she asks for her rescuers to find her father (a french nobleman), for he will save her ... in what historical reality was a nobleman not the one to arrange his daughter's betrothal? Why would he have any reason to save his daughter from the man he (in historical reality, not in the story) chose for her to marry?
I found this one poorly executed. I feel bad for saying it, but there it is.
August 12, 2011
I liked this a lot. It was unexpectedly emotional,thought provoking and more firmly based in reality than any other highlander series I have read so far. This is a reasonably melancholy read, but that is only to be expected when times were cold and hard, and war was always just around the corner.
It was really heart wrenching to watch Bram struggle with what was obviously some kind of post traumatic stress disorder. My usual highlander fare consists of warriors of superhuman strength and ability and so to read something this realistic was very original to me.
I found Bram and Nairna's communication issues a little frustrating to begin with, but then I realised that this is exactly what it would have been like. Of course you would have trouble re-connecting with a near stranger.
When reading romantic fiction I sometimes forget that you can't read people's minds and deal with things in the ideal way, emotions run high, feelings are easily hurt and near virgin's do not have multiple orgasms on their first time. Once I accepted what this author was trying to do, I really enjoyed the journey that these characters took together.
I will definitely read more of this series. I'm hoping to see Callum recovered and to find a way to be with Marguerite and to see Dougal grow into a man. Next up is Alex and his troubled marriage.
It was really heart wrenching to watch Bram struggle with what was obviously some kind of post traumatic stress disorder. My usual highlander fare consists of warriors of superhuman strength and ability and so to read something this realistic was very original to me.
I found Bram and Nairna's communication issues a little frustrating to begin with, but then I realised that this is exactly what it would have been like. Of course you would have trouble re-connecting with a near stranger.
When reading romantic fiction I sometimes forget that you can't read people's minds and deal with things in the ideal way, emotions run high, feelings are easily hurt and near virgin's do not have multiple orgasms on their first time. Once I accepted what this author was trying to do, I really enjoyed the journey that these characters took together.
I will definitely read more of this series. I'm hoping to see Callum recovered and to find a way to be with Marguerite and to see Dougal grow into a man. Next up is Alex and his troubled marriage.
April 5, 2012
Such a emotional read from Michelle Willingham. I ended up staying up way too late last night.
Try this book and you won't be able to put the book down from beginning to end.
Can't wait for the next book in this great series.
Try this book and you won't be able to put the book down from beginning to end.
Can't wait for the next book in this great series.
December 21, 2011
The hero was so whiny! The heroine was annoying. The story was bland. I did not enjoy this one.
January 11, 2026
This plot made no damn sense and made these highlanders seem like idiots.
To start off, Bram is supposed to be shy and quiet, yet somehow he's also supposed to be a hothead. It almost felt like the author was trying to make Bram seem more interesting than he actually was. Then there's the whole thing where Bram and Nairna blow hot and cold the first half of the book. One day one of them is DTF, then all of a sudden that person changes their mind. The next day, it's the other one pulling the same shit. And not really having a good reason for why--very confusing for the reader.
Bram escapes slavery, and the thing that had me scratching my head the WHOLE TIME, is that if his captor knew who Bram was, he could have just gone and got him back. Bram wasn't hiding. He went directly home. And without giving spoilers, I'll just say the ending made Nairna and them all look like amateurs. They didn't even plan well for the blowback.
It was a boring read TBH, but i did read all the way through because I wanted to see how it ended.
To start off, Bram is supposed to be shy and quiet, yet somehow he's also supposed to be a hothead. It almost felt like the author was trying to make Bram seem more interesting than he actually was. Then there's the whole thing where Bram and Nairna blow hot and cold the first half of the book. One day one of them is DTF, then all of a sudden that person changes their mind. The next day, it's the other one pulling the same shit. And not really having a good reason for why--very confusing for the reader.
Bram escapes slavery, and the thing that had me scratching my head the WHOLE TIME, is that if his captor knew who Bram was, he could have just gone and got him back. Bram wasn't hiding. He went directly home. And without giving spoilers, I'll just say the ending made Nairna and them all look like amateurs. They didn't even plan well for the blowback.
It was a boring read TBH, but i did read all the way through because I wanted to see how it ended.
July 25, 2016
I had to read another story from Michelle Willingham and what better book to read than a highlander story.
First book in the MacKinloch series.
The story is starting wih Bram MacKinloch running from his prison on his way to his wife after 7 years of slavery and with Naira, remembering her dead husband/ love - Bram - and her marriage with another man -Iver-.
We get a preview of the past of Nairna and Bram courtship and marriage day.
On his wedding night, after weeks of quiet courtship, Bram 16 left his young bride, Nairna 15, and went with his family into battle, before consummating his marriage.
Nairna receives the news that Bram was killed, leaving her young widow.
Now, 7 years later Bram reaches his wife and both of them discover that neither of them are the same people they were when they first married. Nairna didn't hesitate to follow Bram back to his family where more surprises await them: the keep is in ruin, the is clan divided, and the Laird Alex and his wife Laren barely speak to each other.
Watching Bram and Nairna deal with the nightmare of his imprisonment and the after effects brought me to tears. Bram is one of the sweetest male characters that Michelle wrote till date. I love the fact that Nairna was a stong woman, decided to make her marriage work and help Bram and his clan.
I was sad to see that the book towards the end was focused more on finding Callum and there was no epilogue. It felt a bit rushed to end instead of getting more about Bram and Nairna and yes, I was hoping for a child.
Great secondary characters and I am looking forward to their stories.
First book in the MacKinloch series.
The story is starting wih Bram MacKinloch running from his prison on his way to his wife after 7 years of slavery and with Naira, remembering her dead husband/ love - Bram - and her marriage with another man -Iver-.
We get a preview of the past of Nairna and Bram courtship and marriage day.
On his wedding night, after weeks of quiet courtship, Bram 16 left his young bride, Nairna 15, and went with his family into battle, before consummating his marriage.
Nairna receives the news that Bram was killed, leaving her young widow.
Now, 7 years later Bram reaches his wife and both of them discover that neither of them are the same people they were when they first married. Nairna didn't hesitate to follow Bram back to his family where more surprises await them: the keep is in ruin, the is clan divided, and the Laird Alex and his wife Laren barely speak to each other.
Watching Bram and Nairna deal with the nightmare of his imprisonment and the after effects brought me to tears. Bram is one of the sweetest male characters that Michelle wrote till date. I love the fact that Nairna was a stong woman, decided to make her marriage work and help Bram and his clan.
I was sad to see that the book towards the end was focused more on finding Callum and there was no epilogue. It felt a bit rushed to end instead of getting more about Bram and Nairna and yes, I was hoping for a child.
Great secondary characters and I am looking forward to their stories.
September 9, 2013
Özgürlüğe Hasret
Michelle Willingham
Orjinal adı: Claimed By The Highland Warrior
Goodreads Puanı : 5/3,87
Puanım: 5/4
Michelle Wiilingham'ın en koyu fanlarındanım diyebilirm..Bu yazara bayılıyorum...Ne yazsa okurum...Özgürlüğe Hasret orjinal adı Claimed By The Highland Warrior olan MacKinloch serisinin ilk romanında Bram'ın hikayesi idi..Çok dokunaklı bir hikaye idi..Çaresizlik,esaret ile kurgulanmış bir romandı..
16 Yaşında iken evlendiği gün savaşa giden Bram yedi yıl süren bir esaretten kaçarak geride kalan kardeşini kurtarmak için klanına geri dönüyordu..
Karısı Nairna'dan ayrı kaldığı yıllar içinde esirken hep onun varlığına tutunup hayatta kalmayı başaran Bram geri döndüğünde bıraktığı her şeyin eskisi gibi bulmayı beklemese de karısının başkası ile evlendiğini görmeyi ummuyordu..
Hikayede aile bağları sadakat temaları ile süslü idi.Biraz anlatımı durağan bulsam da sevdim hikayeyi bir çırpıda bitirdim..
Gelecek hikayeleri daha çok merak ediyorum..İkinci Hikaye oranca kardeş Alex'in sorunlu evliliğini üçüncü roman da geride esir düşen Callum MacKinloch'un hikayesi asil İngiliz Lady Marguerite de Montpierre ile..
Historical,Orta Çağ temalarını seviyorsanız üstelik İskoç Hikayeleri meraklısı iseniz bu hikaye tam size göre...
MacKinloch Clan
1. Claimed by the Highland Warrior (2011) Özgürlüğe Hasret
2. Seduced by Her Highland Warrior (2011)
3. Tempted by the Highland Warrior (2012)
http://hulyami.blogspot.com/2013/09/m...
Michelle Willingham
Orjinal adı: Claimed By The Highland Warrior
Goodreads Puanı : 5/3,87
Puanım: 5/4
Michelle Wiilingham'ın en koyu fanlarındanım diyebilirm..Bu yazara bayılıyorum...Ne yazsa okurum...Özgürlüğe Hasret orjinal adı Claimed By The Highland Warrior olan MacKinloch serisinin ilk romanında Bram'ın hikayesi idi..Çok dokunaklı bir hikaye idi..Çaresizlik,esaret ile kurgulanmış bir romandı..
16 Yaşında iken evlendiği gün savaşa giden Bram yedi yıl süren bir esaretten kaçarak geride kalan kardeşini kurtarmak için klanına geri dönüyordu..
Karısı Nairna'dan ayrı kaldığı yıllar içinde esirken hep onun varlığına tutunup hayatta kalmayı başaran Bram geri döndüğünde bıraktığı her şeyin eskisi gibi bulmayı beklemese de karısının başkası ile evlendiğini görmeyi ummuyordu..
Hikayede aile bağları sadakat temaları ile süslü idi.Biraz anlatımı durağan bulsam da sevdim hikayeyi bir çırpıda bitirdim..
Gelecek hikayeleri daha çok merak ediyorum..İkinci Hikaye oranca kardeş Alex'in sorunlu evliliğini üçüncü roman da geride esir düşen Callum MacKinloch'un hikayesi asil İngiliz Lady Marguerite de Montpierre ile..
Historical,Orta Çağ temalarını seviyorsanız üstelik İskoç Hikayeleri meraklısı iseniz bu hikaye tam size göre...
MacKinloch Clan
1. Claimed by the Highland Warrior (2011) Özgürlüğe Hasret
2. Seduced by Her Highland Warrior (2011)
3. Tempted by the Highland Warrior (2012)
http://hulyami.blogspot.com/2013/09/m...
March 11, 2020
I’m going to begin this review by saying I love books where a major character is an introvert. And when I learnt Bram was one, oh I fell in love with the book instantly! I loved their gentle courting story as kids and it sold the book to me even more. At chapter 2 I was already so excited about the book.
While I liked Nairna I never understood why she was reluctant to consummate her marriage to Bram. At first from the writer’s description it’d seem like she wanted him as much as he wanted her but then in the blink of an eye it’d be mentioned that she was reluctant. And I didn’t understand why because they obviously really liked each other,
I also didn’t like reading about the dirty keep. For someone like me who is basically a neatness freak I just bristled at the idea of them living in a dirty place for so long. Somehow I wished Nairna had gathered the men and that few pages into the book they’d have transformed it into a neat place. Then gone to work and fixing it soon after.
Besides that I love how Bram and Nairna’s Love language was physical touch. It was so sweet. Even when they were at odds they were always touching each other. The end was also really lovely, I have to say this author has her way to suspenseful ends. 5 stars. Will recommend!
While I liked Nairna I never understood why she was reluctant to consummate her marriage to Bram. At first from the writer’s description it’d seem like she wanted him as much as he wanted her but then in the blink of an eye it’d be mentioned that she was reluctant. And I didn’t understand why because they obviously really liked each other,
I also didn’t like reading about the dirty keep. For someone like me who is basically a neatness freak I just bristled at the idea of them living in a dirty place for so long. Somehow I wished Nairna had gathered the men and that few pages into the book they’d have transformed it into a neat place. Then gone to work and fixing it soon after.
Besides that I love how Bram and Nairna’s Love language was physical touch. It was so sweet. Even when they were at odds they were always touching each other. The end was also really lovely, I have to say this author has her way to suspenseful ends. 5 stars. Will recommend!
February 28, 2016
I'd start this review by saying this is not your typical Highlander romance, but then I'd sound like most typical reviews who tend to say the same thing.
So, this is a pretty awesome Highlander romance, about childhood sweethearts, married young and torn apart by war. At 16 years of age, Bram goes off to fight the English on his wedding night, getting captured and enslaved for 7 long years. The book starts with his escape from the English and reunion with his estranged wife, who'd long thought him dead and had since remarried and become a widow a second time. Nairna is wracked with guilt over remarrying while Bram was still alive, and also doubts her worth again as a wife, as she believes she is unable to conceive. Bram and Nairna's story is a story of loss and recovery, and it is not an easy one. The author makes it clear that Bram's 7-year captivity is not one that he will shake off with a "I found true love and now everything's gonna be all right" mentality. Instead, she makes it clear in the story that Bram's recovery will be a long, difficult road, but that the love between the reunited couple will help ease some of the pain.
A very good read. Kudos to the author.
So, this is a pretty awesome Highlander romance, about childhood sweethearts, married young and torn apart by war. At 16 years of age, Bram goes off to fight the English on his wedding night, getting captured and enslaved for 7 long years. The book starts with his escape from the English and reunion with his estranged wife, who'd long thought him dead and had since remarried and become a widow a second time. Nairna is wracked with guilt over remarrying while Bram was still alive, and also doubts her worth again as a wife, as she believes she is unable to conceive. Bram and Nairna's story is a story of loss and recovery, and it is not an easy one. The author makes it clear that Bram's 7-year captivity is not one that he will shake off with a "I found true love and now everything's gonna be all right" mentality. Instead, she makes it clear in the story that Bram's recovery will be a long, difficult road, but that the love between the reunited couple will help ease some of the pain.
A very good read. Kudos to the author.
June 14, 2011
This is the first I have read of this author and I will certainly be looking for more.
I really like Harlequin Historicals because they are quick and easy to read.
Bram MacKinloch has been held prisoner for seven years and when he finally makes his escape, he is forced to leave his younger brother Callum behind. Bram was taken by the English during a battle that saw his father killed. Bram suffers a lot of guilt that it was his actions that caused his father's death, and guilt that he has left his brother behind to suffer.
Bram left his wedding celebrations to go into battle and hasn't seen his wife Nairna in the 7 years he has been away. Nairna had married, and become a widow, in that time, believing that her husband was dead.
I really enjoyed this novel and can't wait for more in the series. There are four brothers and I'm hoping there will be a story for each of them. I will be hanging out to read Callum's story and see what lies in his future and how he recovers from the ordeal he's been through.
Next up though is Alex's story due for release in November.
I really like Harlequin Historicals because they are quick and easy to read.
Bram MacKinloch has been held prisoner for seven years and when he finally makes his escape, he is forced to leave his younger brother Callum behind. Bram was taken by the English during a battle that saw his father killed. Bram suffers a lot of guilt that it was his actions that caused his father's death, and guilt that he has left his brother behind to suffer.
Bram left his wedding celebrations to go into battle and hasn't seen his wife Nairna in the 7 years he has been away. Nairna had married, and become a widow, in that time, believing that her husband was dead.
I really enjoyed this novel and can't wait for more in the series. There are four brothers and I'm hoping there will be a story for each of them. I will be hanging out to read Callum's story and see what lies in his future and how he recovers from the ordeal he's been through.
Next up though is Alex's story due for release in November.
August 7, 2011
Though I generally tend to read mostly other genres, I decided to give this book a try anyway and I fell in love with the characters. They are so human and complicated that you just need to know more about them. The author manages to portray every feeling and moment with such detail that you are transported to the story.
It is a beautiful lovestory with an enticing historical background.
In fact, I loved it so much that as soon as I read it I read book 2 of this saga!
Great book!
It is a beautiful lovestory with an enticing historical background.
In fact, I loved it so much that as soon as I read it I read book 2 of this saga!
Great book!
August 11, 2017
First book I had read by the author, but definitely not the last. The characters tug at the heart, Bram with trying to recover from his captivity and Nairna with her inability to get pregnant. That struck home with me at the time, as I was also having trouble with that and could really identify. but in the end both Nairna and I got our happy endings. I really recommend this to anyone who loves a real love story!
March 12, 2013
a young girl is captured by the young highland warrior who has claimed her home and tries to resist his attentions, and escape his bed till she is rescued,and tries to resist her attraction to this stranger who has claimed her home and insists on making her his wife against her will
September 21, 2013
Michelle üzgünüm ama bizimla değilsın. Bu seferki olmamış.. Hiç beğenmedim!
June 20, 2011
I enjoyed this story of love lost, and found. I adored Michelle's Irish Warrior MacEgan series, and was looking forward to her switching the backdrop to Highland Scotland.
This is a fine beginning. The hero Bram MacKinloch escapes prison, after seven long years of torture and brutal treatment. He was but a fresh faced lad of seventeen when captured, and newly wed. So newly wed he didn't even have a chance to consummate his marriage to the equally young Nairna. What a bummer.
But what must be an absolute downer to Bram is to find his wife, thinking him dead. remarried, and has a daughter. She is however, now a widow.
Bram is the tortured hero here, literally. He finds it hard to vocalize anything, let alone his emotions. So Nairna has her work cut out for her. Michelle thoroughly delves into what Bram is suffering, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The poor man has been put through hell. Watching them have to fall in love all over again, after so much had changed, was very moving.
Nairna was a fine heroine, strong, loving and very patient.
A lot of secondary characters and adventures, some of it unresolved, as there are a few more books in this series. I am interested in brother Callum, as he was captured the same time as Bram, and seems in worse shape. Younger brother Alex had to take over as Chieftain in Bram's absence, and his marriage is not the best.
Stir into this mix guilt, as Bram's father was killed in the battle that saw Bram and Callum be taken prisoner, and you have almost insurmountable odds of Bram ever leading some sort of life.
Enjoyable read, lots of deeply felt emotion and turmoil, and well drawn secondary characters that show promise for the continuing series.
3.5 stars out of 4 for the book
This is a fine beginning. The hero Bram MacKinloch escapes prison, after seven long years of torture and brutal treatment. He was but a fresh faced lad of seventeen when captured, and newly wed. So newly wed he didn't even have a chance to consummate his marriage to the equally young Nairna. What a bummer.
But what must be an absolute downer to Bram is to find his wife, thinking him dead. remarried, and has a daughter. She is however, now a widow.
Bram is the tortured hero here, literally. He finds it hard to vocalize anything, let alone his emotions. So Nairna has her work cut out for her. Michelle thoroughly delves into what Bram is suffering, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The poor man has been put through hell. Watching them have to fall in love all over again, after so much had changed, was very moving.
Nairna was a fine heroine, strong, loving and very patient.
A lot of secondary characters and adventures, some of it unresolved, as there are a few more books in this series. I am interested in brother Callum, as he was captured the same time as Bram, and seems in worse shape. Younger brother Alex had to take over as Chieftain in Bram's absence, and his marriage is not the best.
Stir into this mix guilt, as Bram's father was killed in the battle that saw Bram and Callum be taken prisoner, and you have almost insurmountable odds of Bram ever leading some sort of life.
Enjoyable read, lots of deeply felt emotion and turmoil, and well drawn secondary characters that show promise for the continuing series.
3.5 stars out of 4 for the book
December 9, 2014
3.5 stars. This story packed more into it than I'd expected. Separated on the wedding day, Bram goes to war with his dad and is imprisoned for seven years and is assumed dead. Nairna tries to move on and eventually remarries, losing that husband some years later. Bram escapes his prison and finds himself back with more than shocked Nairna.
The story deals much with Bram's PTSD, his fight to get well physically, the plan to retrieve his brother, still in the English prison, and Nairna's struggle to put the keep back to rights and figure out how to deal with her husband.
Highland stories are not a favorite of mine and I appreciated that it didn't go too dark. The ending is a bit Pat and the underlying issues with the keep not addressed but I enjoyed Nairna and Bram and their interactions together.
Not a series I'll continue as I don't follow this theme but glad I took the time with this one.
The story deals much with Bram's PTSD, his fight to get well physically, the plan to retrieve his brother, still in the English prison, and Nairna's struggle to put the keep back to rights and figure out how to deal with her husband.
Highland stories are not a favorite of mine and I appreciated that it didn't go too dark. The ending is a bit Pat and the underlying issues with the keep not addressed but I enjoyed Nairna and Bram and their interactions together.
Not a series I'll continue as I don't follow this theme but glad I took the time with this one.
February 14, 2013
I give this a solid 3.5 stars. It kept me turning the pages, that's for sure.
While I enjoyed seeing these two people find their way back together after a seven year separation, the writing was a bit hit and miss. I'd love how the story was going, then something would be out of place and it would kick me right out of the story.
I'm hoping that since this is a series, those loose plot threads and holes will be filled in by the later books.
Having said that, I wanted to see Bram and Nairna overcome their broken hearts, and bodies. And what a journey it was. I kept wanting to hug them both.
And Callum, Bram's brother...I want to see good things for him in a future book!
Have to say, loved the DOG in this...
While I enjoyed seeing these two people find their way back together after a seven year separation, the writing was a bit hit and miss. I'd love how the story was going, then something would be out of place and it would kick me right out of the story.
I'm hoping that since this is a series, those loose plot threads and holes will be filled in by the later books.
Having said that, I wanted to see Bram and Nairna overcome their broken hearts, and bodies. And what a journey it was. I kept wanting to hug them both.
And Callum, Bram's brother...I want to see good things for him in a future book!
Have to say, loved the DOG in this...
January 8, 2017
This lacked a great deal of character development. The narration could have been better and I found it difficult to discern and understand the characters' motivations for doing a certain thing. It also felt like it dragged, but was rushed at the same time? We could've gotten a better look at the hero and heroines histories, as young children, and what it was like for them to be apart, instead of having a million scenes of the heroine not understanding what the hero wanted and vice versa. It was incredibly repetitive and the writing was pedestrian. Don't think I'll look into anything else this author writes if this book is an accurate indicator. It wasn't interesting even though the story line had potential.
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