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MacDonell Brides #3
My Shadow Warrior
Acclaimed author Jen Holling presents the stunning final novel in her sensual trilogy, set against the windswept hills of Scotland, about a trio of sisters with witchcraft -- and passion -- in their blood.
Rose, the youngest of the MacDonell sisters, is more concerned with her father's mysterious illness than with her impending marriage to her childhood sweetheart. A gifted but frustrated healer, she decides to beg help from William MacKay -- a reclusive laird who is renowned not only for his ferocity, but also for his healing powers. Denied entry to his fortress in the cold, harsh mountains of the far northwestern highlands, Rose uses cunning to force her way in, and William is duly intrigued with this bold slip of a girl. But securing his help may not be enough to save Rose's father. For there is something darker at work in the glen, something more powerful than William's and Rose's magic combined, and only the soul-deep passion that shadows their mutual desire can help their love prevail.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
23 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
Jen Holling
15 books73 followersJen Holling lives in Oklahoma with her two children, boyfriend, and pets. She spent six years in the Air Force and holds degrees in electronics and behavioral studies. Her interests include reading, exercise, hiking, movies, music, and travel.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 1, 2021
fantasy historical romance that doesn't completely suck god bless
May 15, 2011
Got this book late yesterday and stayed up today until I finished it. I couldn't put it down. I am probably one of the rare ones out there who never knew paranormal romance existed. Set in 1597, this book is about Rose MacDonell, a gifted but frustrated healer, who decides to beg help from William MacKay - a reclusive Scottish laird who is renowned not only for his ferocity but also for his healing powers, to help her father who has a mysterious illness.
Sounds like it could be corny but it is far, far from it. Nothing in this book made me roll my eyes. I loved every minute of it as I became quickly invested in the two main characters and those around them.
There are two other books in the series of the MacDonell sisters, this being the third. I had worried that I might be lost reading the last book before the others but I took a shot anyway because the synopsis on the back of the book grabbed me. So glad I did. Now of course I need to go find the other two, although the heroes in that book will have a lot to live up to after reading about William MacKay. :) Looking forward to reading more by this author. Highly recommend this book to those who like historical romances and/or paranormal romances.
Sounds like it could be corny but it is far, far from it. Nothing in this book made me roll my eyes. I loved every minute of it as I became quickly invested in the two main characters and those around them.
There are two other books in the series of the MacDonell sisters, this being the third. I had worried that I might be lost reading the last book before the others but I took a shot anyway because the synopsis on the back of the book grabbed me. So glad I did. Now of course I need to go find the other two, although the heroes in that book will have a lot to live up to after reading about William MacKay. :) Looking forward to reading more by this author. Highly recommend this book to those who like historical romances and/or paranormal romances.
November 18, 2020
Third in the series, first I read -- that's what happens with library book sale finds -- I'd definitely pick up the others if I run across them.
This is a rich world with magic that's accepted as everyday, both by those who wield it and those who fear/hate it.
The leads are well matched and going to grow powerfully in their magic and love in the years to come. And their bairns will probably be stronger than they are, but with an easier start in life thanks to their care. Nice lingering notions to contemplate.
I like that the leads knew their minds and acted on it, both in concert and at odds. Good simmering chemistry and tension between them and clear they were meant to be from the minute they clapped eyes on each other (earlier, if you consider the letters). Which held up as they got to know, respect, and care for one another. They definitely clicked and fit and knew it, two halves of a whole in so many ways including their magic, but were also given time and events to fall in love over.
I know I'd care about the secondary characters more if I'd read their stories first. With that, I still found them relatable and good supports to the action and main relationship arc.
Not sure the darkest part of the heroine's past was necessary. I kept going over how it might be relevant to the rest and really, it wasn't. I'm glad the hero could help her heal from the memories but aside it being momentary conflict between the heroine and the hero's family, it seemed a touch too grim and pointed without greater plot purpose.
I appreciated how close and connected the hero and his brother were. Gave the hero more depth and the brother was likable and aided the action in various ways.
The ending felt rushed or truncated. After all they went through, I wanted more than a letter briefly sketching where their HEA is now. But they'll for sure have one that lasts, and share that with the wider family on both sides.
This is a rich world with magic that's accepted as everyday, both by those who wield it and those who fear/hate it.
The leads are well matched and going to grow powerfully in their magic and love in the years to come. And their bairns will probably be stronger than they are, but with an easier start in life thanks to their care. Nice lingering notions to contemplate.
I like that the leads knew their minds and acted on it, both in concert and at odds. Good simmering chemistry and tension between them and clear they were meant to be from the minute they clapped eyes on each other (earlier, if you consider the letters). Which held up as they got to know, respect, and care for one another. They definitely clicked and fit and knew it, two halves of a whole in so many ways including their magic, but were also given time and events to fall in love over.
I know I'd care about the secondary characters more if I'd read their stories first. With that, I still found them relatable and good supports to the action and main relationship arc.
Not sure the darkest part of the heroine's past was necessary. I kept going over how it might be relevant to the rest and really, it wasn't. I'm glad the hero could help her heal from the memories but aside it being momentary conflict between the heroine and the hero's family, it seemed a touch too grim and pointed without greater plot purpose.
I appreciated how close and connected the hero and his brother were. Gave the hero more depth and the brother was likable and aided the action in various ways.
The ending felt rushed or truncated. After all they went through, I wanted more than a letter briefly sketching where their HEA is now. But they'll for sure have one that lasts, and share that with the wider family on both sides.
November 20, 2017
Great book
Was an awesome end to a trilogy! The book is older but was still a great read. I plan to read more from this author.
Was an awesome end to a trilogy! The book is older but was still a great read. I plan to read more from this author.
August 22, 2015
DNF
It was an okay read but a number of things just didn't work for me and so I quit. I wasn't about to force myself to finish a book I felt nothing for. Not hate, not anger, not love, nothing. Just: meh.
Here's my main problems with this book(in chronological order):
1) The author depends too much that the reader has read the previous two books (i have not) and so she throws information, characters, and what little world building there is at the reader in the first few pages. After that the story goes on and it's left in the dust. Any questions I have aren't answered and you're forced to just go with. Information is given without explanation or set up and it's frustrating. Since this is a series that has rotating protagonists all in the same world, i think there should be SOME part of the book left to world building and set up but there wasn't. It left me feeling lost and overwhelmed.
2) The hero/heroine got too attached too quickly on very little. They had hardly any time together at the beginning and seemed to have nothing in common when they DID talk about each other. This made their "romance" come off forced and unbelievable.
3) There wasn't enough time to get to know about the characters and thus I ended up not caring about them. They weren't "bad". I just simply didn't care about them.
4) Contradicting/forced writing: one minute the heroine is determined to do something but in the next line she's given up. One minute the hero is about to die and everyone is freaking out about it and literally two seconds later they're resigned and saying "he always gets through these things". The hero agrees to do something for the heroine and in the next breath takes it back. Why? So they can argue. Why? Because (to me) the author wanted to progress the plot so she forced things to do a complete 180 instead of letting them progress naturally.
5) Nothing interesting happens for a very long time. As a romance lover, this shouldn't have bothered me. I'm someone that can survive a long time on nothing happening as long as the characters are interesting or at least their interactions with other characters are. But for this book that wasn't the case. I didn't care about the characters, their interactions felt forced and played out, and so that left little motivation for me to finish this book.
At this point (100 pages or so) i saw no reason to continue. I didn't feel the need to finish it, either out of hate or love for the material simply because i didn't CARE. Nothing in this book was emotional or entertaining.
It was an okay read but a number of things just didn't work for me and so I quit. I wasn't about to force myself to finish a book I felt nothing for. Not hate, not anger, not love, nothing. Just: meh.
Here's my main problems with this book(in chronological order):
1) The author depends too much that the reader has read the previous two books (i have not) and so she throws information, characters, and what little world building there is at the reader in the first few pages. After that the story goes on and it's left in the dust. Any questions I have aren't answered and you're forced to just go with. Information is given without explanation or set up and it's frustrating. Since this is a series that has rotating protagonists all in the same world, i think there should be SOME part of the book left to world building and set up but there wasn't. It left me feeling lost and overwhelmed.
2) The hero/heroine got too attached too quickly on very little. They had hardly any time together at the beginning and seemed to have nothing in common when they DID talk about each other. This made their "romance" come off forced and unbelievable.
3) There wasn't enough time to get to know about the characters and thus I ended up not caring about them. They weren't "bad". I just simply didn't care about them.
4) Contradicting/forced writing: one minute the heroine is determined to do something but in the next line she's given up. One minute the hero is about to die and everyone is freaking out about it and literally two seconds later they're resigned and saying "he always gets through these things". The hero agrees to do something for the heroine and in the next breath takes it back. Why? So they can argue. Why? Because (to me) the author wanted to progress the plot so she forced things to do a complete 180 instead of letting them progress naturally.
5) Nothing interesting happens for a very long time. As a romance lover, this shouldn't have bothered me. I'm someone that can survive a long time on nothing happening as long as the characters are interesting or at least their interactions with other characters are. But for this book that wasn't the case. I didn't care about the characters, their interactions felt forced and played out, and so that left little motivation for me to finish this book.
At this point (100 pages or so) i saw no reason to continue. I didn't feel the need to finish it, either out of hate or love for the material simply because i didn't CARE. Nothing in this book was emotional or entertaining.
August 15, 2025
A-MAZ-ING! The heroine, a gifted healer, sets out on a quest to find the hero who's rumored to possess divine healing powers after she's unable to heal her dying father. The hero, a recluse in self-exile, is tortured by his guilt and hunted as a demon by his town’s folk. At first, he refuses to see her but she's stubborn and desperate and finally she gains audience with him. He has good reason to deny her pleas along with everyone else's, but he's lonely and develops a kinship toward the beautiful woman. He's not selfish, nor evil but his gifts have brought him nothing but loathing and heartache. He agrees to help her and they set off towards her keep. The way the characters spoke to each other and acted around one another was nothing short of brilliance. They possessed such chemistry and spark and balanced each other out so perfectly that I don't think I've read about two characters who I've loved more. I'm a sucker for a man with grey hair and the hero, though young, has peppered silver streaks thanks to his healing gifts. The heroine, though betrothed to another, falls in love with him the first time she's meets him as he poses as a servant, though she doesn't know it. As the reader, you're taken on a spectacular journey as two lost and damaged souls find each other at the most desperate times of their lives and struggle to keep their passions from having dire consequences. I can't even express how much I loved this book and am counting down the days until I can read it again.
March 3, 2012
What a wonderful end to a great plot! Even thought I figured out by the end of the first book that someone had cursed the dogs, I still was fuzzy on who was doing it. I wasn't sure if it was the uncle or the guard to Alan. But Rose was a good character. But I just loved William. Im not sure who I liked more, the dark Nicholas or the wizard William. There just something about those men who have magic and it makes their hair turn white, lol (just like Hugh from Sleepless in Scotland). That and the fact he can heal is it the perfect bit of fantasy mixed with the romance. The best love scene was on the battlement when they were making out. It was more intense and hotter than when they did finally have sex. Which it seems to be that way most of the time for me.
September 2, 2016
I loved this book it's a great paperback small but mighty it's got romance, plots,heart aches, twists and I loved it I could see the emotions in all the characters and I really loved William and squirrel (deidra)it was a lovely father and daughter bond but I'd like to have seem more interest with rose and deidra considering she loves her dad but apart from there little interest at the lake where rose assumes negativity of drake there's not much relationship with them to otherwise it was brilliant x
October 8, 2007
09/24/05 #167
TITLE/AUTHOR: MY SHADOW WARRIOR by Jen Holling
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Historical Romance, 2005, 370 pgs
COMMENTS: 3rd in the trilogy -- 3 sisters sent in Medieval
Scotland who are witches w/ different powers. Rose MacDonnell is a healer and can not determine what is ailing her father. She begs William McKay -- the wizard healer -- to come to her family's home to heal her father. Very good series!
TITLE/AUTHOR: MY SHADOW WARRIOR by Jen Holling
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Historical Romance, 2005, 370 pgs
COMMENTS: 3rd in the trilogy -- 3 sisters sent in Medieval
Scotland who are witches w/ different powers. Rose MacDonnell is a healer and can not determine what is ailing her father. She begs William McKay -- the wizard healer -- to come to her family's home to heal her father. Very good series!
February 23, 2014
This third installment of the "MacDonnell Brides" Scottish paranormal romance series may be the best one! It's still not perfect (plot twists announce themselves hundreds of pages before their arrival, the characters' naivete is hard to swallow at times, certain parts drag a tiny bit, etc.), but the book is thoroughly engaging and satisfying. I'll certainly be seeking out this author's later work.
Read
July 27, 2011Rose is a witch. Her gift is healing but she is unable to help her ailing father so she goes to bring a great wizard to help. William is a very gifted healer, but at great cost.
Together, they are able to overcome devasting obstacles and find a deep binding love.
A very good story.
Together, they are able to overcome devasting obstacles and find a deep binding love.
A very good story.
December 19, 2010
This is the last book in the MacDonnell Brides trilogy and my first series by this author. I liked the second book the best but this book ties it all up nicely. I look forward to the author's other books.
Plot = B+
Romance = B
Sensuality = B+
BOOK = B+
Plot = B+
Romance = B
Sensuality = B+
BOOK = B+
March 22, 2008
how embarassing. I couldn't put this down. literally. I stayed up way to late at night to finish this. Read it all in about 5 hours.
It finished the trilogy nice.
It finished the trilogy nice.
March 5, 2016
Great Scottish book involving witches and witchhunters -- also healers and wizards. Not as weird as it sounds -- actually very entertaining and a sweet love story. I liked it.
May 4, 2008
Book 3 in series. Good.
August 20, 2010
I'd read more Jen Holling books. I really liked the characters and the storyline.
July 29, 2011
It was a pretty good book, I did feel it was a bit slow though. It is a very good weekend read though.
March 2, 2012
Rose can heal the sick, Wizard William is her chosen one but he will not have anything to do with magic and healing.
September 22, 2014
Rose and William's story.
September 29, 2015
This was a wonderful conclusion to the Macdonell sister's trilogy.
Read
February 26, 2016D.N.F.
nothing special. just a read to pass time if you like.
nothing special. just a read to pass time if you like.
September 20, 2013
stayed up all night reading it
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews