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Highland Guard #5
The Saint
Robert the Bruce consolidates lands and loyalty in a bold war for Scotland’s independence, as his elite team of warriors, the Highland Guard, fight for king, country . . . and love.
Magnus MacKay is the ultimate Highlander: tough, proud, able to master any terrain and to best his enemies. Called “the Saint” for his refusal to discuss women, as well as for his cool and steady leadership, Magnus hides a painful truth. It isn’t virtue or piety that keeps him silent, but a wound of love and loss that cuts so deep he cannot bear to speak of it. But when the woman who refused him is betrothed to his friend and fellow Guardsman, Magnus is tested by love’s battle cry.
A wild and innocent beauty, Helen chose family duty over her desire for Magnus. Now the anger in his eyes mirrors the tormented regret in her heart. But as deadly subterfuge stalks the King and his Guard, Helen vows to right her youthful mistakes with a woman’s determined spirit. Still, Magnus harbors secrets and an iron will not to weaken to temptation—or heartache—again. But as danger looms, it’s the kiss not of a saint, but of a sinner, that can save them.
Magnus MacKay is the ultimate Highlander: tough, proud, able to master any terrain and to best his enemies. Called “the Saint” for his refusal to discuss women, as well as for his cool and steady leadership, Magnus hides a painful truth. It isn’t virtue or piety that keeps him silent, but a wound of love and loss that cuts so deep he cannot bear to speak of it. But when the woman who refused him is betrothed to his friend and fellow Guardsman, Magnus is tested by love’s battle cry.
A wild and innocent beauty, Helen chose family duty over her desire for Magnus. Now the anger in his eyes mirrors the tormented regret in her heart. But as deadly subterfuge stalks the King and his Guard, Helen vows to right her youthful mistakes with a woman’s determined spirit. Still, Magnus harbors secrets and an iron will not to weaken to temptation—or heartache—again. But as danger looms, it’s the kiss not of a saint, but of a sinner, that can save them.
418 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 27, 2012
204 people are currently reading
2724 people want to read
About the author
Monica McCarty
62 books2,971 followersWhat do you get when you mix a legal career, a baseball career, motherhood, and a love of history with a voracious reader? In my case, a Historical Romance Author.
Like most writers, I’ve always loved to read. Growing up in California there was always plenty to do outside, but all too often I could be found inside curled up with a book (or two or three). I started with the usual fare: The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume. Once I cleared off my bookshelf, I started swiping books from my mom. Some, like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, probably weren’t the most appropriate choice for a pre-adolescent—although they were definitely illuminating. I can still remember the look of abject horror on my mom’s Catholic-girl-face when I asked her what a virgin was. After that rather brief conversation, she paid a little closer attention to what had disappeared off her book shelf, and steered me in the direction of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances. I was hooked. I quickly read through the inventory of the local library and was soon buying bags of romances at garage sales.
In high school, with the encouragement of my father (who I think was a little concerned about the steady diet of romances), I read over eighty of the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written—including Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare. Some of them were tough going for a teenager, but the experience would prove an invaluable foundation for college. After reading War and Peace, I wasn’t easily intimidated.
For some reason Monica decided to go into writing and not fashion.
After graduation, I loaded up the VW (Jetta not Bus) and trekked down I-5 to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English (see why all that reading helped!). I joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and when I wasn’t studying or at football games, did my best to support the local bartending industry. Ah, the good old days.
With that kind of fun, four years of college wasn’t quite enough. So leaving Tommy Trojan behind, I traveled back up north to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School. Once I survived the stress of the first semester, law school proved to be one of the best times of my life—garnering me a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball. (See “The Baseball Odyssey” below).
Law School was also where I fell in love with Scotland. In my third year, I took a Comparative Legal History class, and wrote a paper on the Scottish Clan System and Feudalism. So I immediately dropped out of law school and went on to write Scottish Historical Romances…well no, not quite. You see, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My father was a lawyer, I was a “poet” (i.e., not into math), and I love to argue. It seemed natural.
So I finished law school, got married, passed the CA bar, moved to Minnesota (with a few stops along the way), waived into the MN bar, worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, moved back to CA, had a couple of kids, realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year (due to husband's career) would be extremely difficult, and THEN decided to sit down and write.
And how did I end up writing romance? It’s not as divergent as it seems. What I loved about being a lawyer are the same things I love about being a writer—research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
Like most writers, I’ve always loved to read. Growing up in California there was always plenty to do outside, but all too often I could be found inside curled up with a book (or two or three). I started with the usual fare: The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume. Once I cleared off my bookshelf, I started swiping books from my mom. Some, like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, probably weren’t the most appropriate choice for a pre-adolescent—although they were definitely illuminating. I can still remember the look of abject horror on my mom’s Catholic-girl-face when I asked her what a virgin was. After that rather brief conversation, she paid a little closer attention to what had disappeared off her book shelf, and steered me in the direction of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances. I was hooked. I quickly read through the inventory of the local library and was soon buying bags of romances at garage sales.
In high school, with the encouragement of my father (who I think was a little concerned about the steady diet of romances), I read over eighty of the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written—including Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare. Some of them were tough going for a teenager, but the experience would prove an invaluable foundation for college. After reading War and Peace, I wasn’t easily intimidated.
For some reason Monica decided to go into writing and not fashion.
After graduation, I loaded up the VW (Jetta not Bus) and trekked down I-5 to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English (see why all that reading helped!). I joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and when I wasn’t studying or at football games, did my best to support the local bartending industry. Ah, the good old days.
With that kind of fun, four years of college wasn’t quite enough. So leaving Tommy Trojan behind, I traveled back up north to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School. Once I survived the stress of the first semester, law school proved to be one of the best times of my life—garnering me a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball. (See “The Baseball Odyssey” below).
Law School was also where I fell in love with Scotland. In my third year, I took a Comparative Legal History class, and wrote a paper on the Scottish Clan System and Feudalism. So I immediately dropped out of law school and went on to write Scottish Historical Romances…well no, not quite. You see, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My father was a lawyer, I was a “poet” (i.e., not into math), and I love to argue. It seemed natural.
So I finished law school, got married, passed the CA bar, moved to Minnesota (with a few stops along the way), waived into the MN bar, worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, moved back to CA, had a couple of kids, realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year (due to husband's career) would be extremely difficult, and THEN decided to sit down and write.
And how did I end up writing romance? It’s not as divergent as it seems. What I loved about being a lawyer are the same things I love about being a writer—research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 367 reviews
December 1, 2011
I must say I was sadly disappointed with this one and I was so looking forward to it. I just didn't like Helen. I found myself scanning ALOT. There was too much inner monologue - "how can I win him?", "what should I do?", "why won't he look at me?", "I will not let my brothers tell me what to do", blah, blah, blah....it was frankly annoying. I was actually more interested in Will and Muriel's story.
It started off great, the past history between Helen and Mackay and where they end up now left me wanting more. They were both young when Mackay asked Helen to marry him, being young and naive and controlled by her brothers, she refused him. Flash forward, she is now engaged to his best friend Temple (though Helen and Temple don't know of their connection and Helen and Temple have met only a few times, with no love between them), ok still good.
After seeing Saint at her pre-wedding party, she decides to go for it and talk to him about how she feels. Being a good friend, Saint tells her there is nothing to say and walks away. She is more determined to win him back, despite her brothers' hatred for Saint and interference, but and this is where I start to lose it.....after he tells her he doesn't love her anymore, she STILL goes ahead and marries Temple - STRIKE 1. So much for her love of Saint and not letting her brothers run her life. Shortly there after Temple realizes their history and offers her an out, but before they can get an annulment, Temple is gravely injured and Saint is left to kill him and deface him before the enemy finds him (way too early in the book in my opinion).
Now Helen is more determined to win him back, she goes after him repeatedly and he repeatedly rebukes her (kudos to her for her tenacity), she keeps saying that her brothers were not going to run her life and she was choosing Saint, but she refuses to confide her suspicions of the King being poisoned in him (she goes to her brother, who tells her not to tell anyone (especially Saint)). - STRIKE 2
Saint finally relents and gives into her pursuits. Things seem to be looking up and when he asks her to marry him, she refuses AGAIN, because Saint can't forget about his best friend and her husband that he had to kill to keep her protected. - STRIKE 3! She won't marry him until he can excise Temple's ghost - REALLY, a bit selfish don't you think after chasing the man for months, throwing yourself at him, and knowing Temple and Saint were best friends and knowing what Saint had to do in order to keep everyone's identity hidden and protected, she still denies him, because of HER past failings and mistakes.
And another part I found annoying was her constant defense of her brothers (after repeatedly saying that she wasn't going to follow them anymore) when it is clear that Kenneth looks for any excuse to taunt and rile and fight Saint and Helen, just says, well they're protective, their my brothers, their my family. So what is it, are your going against their wishes and demands to stay away from Saint or are you with Saint? It does take the patience of a saint to put up with their crap, having it rubbed in your face and be unable to defend or say anything for fear of exposing yourself. And Helen keeps defending her brothers behaviors to Saint like it is his fault - she could have been a bit more forceful and told her brothers to shut the hell up. - STRIKE 4
Yeah, now that I'm rehashing my hangups, I'm thinking closer to 2 stars. Like I said, I was more interested in Will and Muriel's history and story. Maybe if the Saint, Temple, Helen drama was drawn out a bit more before Temple dies (opening the story a few months before the wedding, instead of at the wedding and having the characters interact more before hand).
Still love the series and while I'm skeptical about liking Kenneth - and I completely don't want him to be Saint's new partner, in the Guard fine, but partner no - too much history, too much hatred, I know the Guard is about setting aside differences for the greater good, but I just don't see it with these two. I liked the sneak peak offered and will most likely read it.
It started off great, the past history between Helen and Mackay and where they end up now left me wanting more. They were both young when Mackay asked Helen to marry him, being young and naive and controlled by her brothers, she refused him. Flash forward, she is now engaged to his best friend Temple (though Helen and Temple don't know of their connection and Helen and Temple have met only a few times, with no love between them), ok still good.
After seeing Saint at her pre-wedding party, she decides to go for it and talk to him about how she feels. Being a good friend, Saint tells her there is nothing to say and walks away. She is more determined to win him back, despite her brothers' hatred for Saint and interference, but and this is where I start to lose it.....after he tells her he doesn't love her anymore, she STILL goes ahead and marries Temple - STRIKE 1. So much for her love of Saint and not letting her brothers run her life. Shortly there after Temple realizes their history and offers her an out, but before they can get an annulment, Temple is gravely injured and Saint is left to kill him and deface him before the enemy finds him (way too early in the book in my opinion).
Now Helen is more determined to win him back, she goes after him repeatedly and he repeatedly rebukes her (kudos to her for her tenacity), she keeps saying that her brothers were not going to run her life and she was choosing Saint, but she refuses to confide her suspicions of the King being poisoned in him (she goes to her brother, who tells her not to tell anyone (especially Saint)). - STRIKE 2
Saint finally relents and gives into her pursuits. Things seem to be looking up and when he asks her to marry him, she refuses AGAIN, because Saint can't forget about his best friend and her husband that he had to kill to keep her protected. - STRIKE 3! She won't marry him until he can excise Temple's ghost - REALLY, a bit selfish don't you think after chasing the man for months, throwing yourself at him, and knowing Temple and Saint were best friends and knowing what Saint had to do in order to keep everyone's identity hidden and protected, she still denies him, because of HER past failings and mistakes.
And another part I found annoying was her constant defense of her brothers (after repeatedly saying that she wasn't going to follow them anymore) when it is clear that Kenneth looks for any excuse to taunt and rile and fight Saint and Helen, just says, well they're protective, their my brothers, their my family. So what is it, are your going against their wishes and demands to stay away from Saint or are you with Saint? It does take the patience of a saint to put up with their crap, having it rubbed in your face and be unable to defend or say anything for fear of exposing yourself. And Helen keeps defending her brothers behaviors to Saint like it is his fault - she could have been a bit more forceful and told her brothers to shut the hell up. - STRIKE 4
Yeah, now that I'm rehashing my hangups, I'm thinking closer to 2 stars. Like I said, I was more interested in Will and Muriel's history and story. Maybe if the Saint, Temple, Helen drama was drawn out a bit more before Temple dies (opening the story a few months before the wedding, instead of at the wedding and having the characters interact more before hand).
Still love the series and while I'm skeptical about liking Kenneth - and I completely don't want him to be Saint's new partner, in the Guard fine, but partner no - too much history, too much hatred, I know the Guard is about setting aside differences for the greater good, but I just don't see it with these two. I liked the sneak peak offered and will most likely read it.
April 12, 2015
Well, it's been a LONG time since I picked up a book from Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series. My last review for the Viper was October 2011 - three and a half years ago. This is a fabulous series and Monica is possibly the queen of the Highlander Romance genre so I'm racking my brains as to why I left it this long to catch up. I think I just fell out with the whole historical romance thing after a couple of lacklustre heroines (pet peeve in a novel) and moved on but the TV adaptation of Outlander has rekindled that love that once burned so bright and I'm back with a vengeance and now Monica has four novels and a novella for me to totally binge on. Happy Days!
Now, that I'm back in the fold as it were, I was eager to get back into this series and when I read the blurb, I was struck by comparisons to Jane Austen's Persuasion. A young couple very much in love, a match frowned on my her family, she turns him down and years pass before they meet again and when they do that passion is still there but unacknowledged by the man himself. Persuasion is my FAVOURITE Jane Austen so I hesitated no longer and dived straight in. Like Austen's Captain Wentworth, I was half agony, half hope as Monica ramps up the angst factor in this one.
Our heroine, Helen, is still very much in love with Magnus who has now grown into a huge and fearsome warrior and they meet again on her wedding day to his best friend. AWKWARD! But, when her new husband is killed just days after their nuptials, Helen eventually sets about attempting to convince Magnus that her love has held fast and that she made a mistake in refusing him all those years ago and in agreeing to marry William. Magnus is having none of it - a connection to him would put her in danger and he had promised her dying husband to watch over her, after all.
I loved this book - there's just so much going on, so much suspense. The story zips along at an incredible pace and I was enthralled from beginning to end. Helen's attempts to get Magnus to succumb to her charms at once made me laugh and squirm. The big warrior is very stoic and resolutely refuses to notice her and even flirts with a serving wench at one point as we're subjected to a highly angsty love story. There's so many secrets between these two, explanations as yet untold and so many obstacles in their way that sometimes a match between them seemed impossible and yet Helen was SO determined and I had to admire her tenacity as she went after the man she loved and tried to prove that true love really does conquer all.
Magnus - be still my beating heart. What a fearsome warrior this man is and how hard did I fall for him. I loved his steadfastness, his determination to do what is right and to honour his King and his oath despite that this could quite possibly cost him his only chance at true happiness. He's fiercely loyal, incredibly strong - a true Highland hunk and yet another fantastic addition to the Highland Guard Hall of Fame.
Alongside the fabulous romance, is a story rich with skulduggery, deception and treachery as Helens' abilities to heal see her taken along with the King on his progress accompanied by Magnus. I did work out who the traitor was early on but this just increased my expectation of a thrilling finale which I definitely got.
My only problem with this book is the secondary romance - I am really NOT a huge fan of this in romance novels. I did love their story but I would much rather that this was just hinted at and told in a novella at a later date. Theirs was a beautiful story which didn't get a huge amount of page time and served mostly to distract me from the main event of Helen and Magnus and I would have preferred to get deeper into this at a later date and enjoy their story rather than rushing over their pages to get back to the main storyline. I would have loved to have read a novella dedicated to these two.
For fans of the Highland Guards we've fallen for in previous novels, we get to see them all again with their women and catch up with what is going on in their relationships and I hope to see plenty of Magnus and Helen in the subsequent novels in this series.
I have to confess to a rabid crush on Gregor 'Arrow' MacGregor and I'm dying to read his book. He's like the pin up of the Highland Guard and if Scottish maidens had posters on their chamber walls, it would be of this man. Supposedly, he has the most gorgeous face in all of Scotland and not to mention that the guy is well hench and an awesome warrior. I am all anticipation!! Bring. It. On.
4.5 saints and angels stars
Now, that I'm back in the fold as it were, I was eager to get back into this series and when I read the blurb, I was struck by comparisons to Jane Austen's Persuasion. A young couple very much in love, a match frowned on my her family, she turns him down and years pass before they meet again and when they do that passion is still there but unacknowledged by the man himself. Persuasion is my FAVOURITE Jane Austen so I hesitated no longer and dived straight in. Like Austen's Captain Wentworth, I was half agony, half hope as Monica ramps up the angst factor in this one.
Our heroine, Helen, is still very much in love with Magnus who has now grown into a huge and fearsome warrior and they meet again on her wedding day to his best friend. AWKWARD! But, when her new husband is killed just days after their nuptials, Helen eventually sets about attempting to convince Magnus that her love has held fast and that she made a mistake in refusing him all those years ago and in agreeing to marry William. Magnus is having none of it - a connection to him would put her in danger and he had promised her dying husband to watch over her, after all.
I loved this book - there's just so much going on, so much suspense. The story zips along at an incredible pace and I was enthralled from beginning to end. Helen's attempts to get Magnus to succumb to her charms at once made me laugh and squirm. The big warrior is very stoic and resolutely refuses to notice her and even flirts with a serving wench at one point as we're subjected to a highly angsty love story. There's so many secrets between these two, explanations as yet untold and so many obstacles in their way that sometimes a match between them seemed impossible and yet Helen was SO determined and I had to admire her tenacity as she went after the man she loved and tried to prove that true love really does conquer all.
Magnus - be still my beating heart. What a fearsome warrior this man is and how hard did I fall for him. I loved his steadfastness, his determination to do what is right and to honour his King and his oath despite that this could quite possibly cost him his only chance at true happiness. He's fiercely loyal, incredibly strong - a true Highland hunk and yet another fantastic addition to the Highland Guard Hall of Fame.
Alongside the fabulous romance, is a story rich with skulduggery, deception and treachery as Helens' abilities to heal see her taken along with the King on his progress accompanied by Magnus. I did work out who the traitor was early on but this just increased my expectation of a thrilling finale which I definitely got.
My only problem with this book is the secondary romance - I am really NOT a huge fan of this in romance novels. I did love their story but I would much rather that this was just hinted at and told in a novella at a later date. Theirs was a beautiful story which didn't get a huge amount of page time and served mostly to distract me from the main event of Helen and Magnus and I would have preferred to get deeper into this at a later date and enjoy their story rather than rushing over their pages to get back to the main storyline. I would have loved to have read a novella dedicated to these two.
For fans of the Highland Guards we've fallen for in previous novels, we get to see them all again with their women and catch up with what is going on in their relationships and I hope to see plenty of Magnus and Helen in the subsequent novels in this series.
I have to confess to a rabid crush on Gregor 'Arrow' MacGregor and I'm dying to read his book. He's like the pin up of the Highland Guard and if Scottish maidens had posters on their chamber walls, it would be of this man. Supposedly, he has the most gorgeous face in all of Scotland and not to mention that the guy is well hench and an awesome warrior. I am all anticipation!! Bring. It. On.
4.5 saints and angels stars
February 22, 2017
4'5 Estrellas. Me ha gustado mucho, y eso que me ha durado más de lo que pensaba (mea culpa, se me han presentado semanas difíciles para dedicarme a la lectura). En éste caso tenemos la historia de Magnus MacKay (Santo), y Helen Sutherland.
Ambos protagonistas se conocían desde su adolescencia y se enamoraron, pero sus clanes eran enemigos, y cuando fueron sorprendidos por los hermanos de ella, hubieron de separarse. El caso de Magnus ya lo conocemos, se unió a la Guardia de los Highlanders, y su nombre fue dado porque nunca hablaba de mujeres con el resto del grupo. Y no, no hablaba de mujeres porque ya había una en su vida, y lo mantuvo en secreto.
El peor mazazo para ésta historia romántica llegó cuando Helen fue prometida a William Gordon (Templario), y mejor amigo de Magnus, por tanto éste estaba atado por fidelidad y honor a su amigo y no pudo hacer nada.
El libro empieza de una manera bastante fuerte, y en la que ocurre algo que no te gustaría que ocurriera bajo ninguna circunstancia, pero que al final he acabado entendiendo por qué ocurre, aunque no me gustara. La historia entre los protagonistas ha sido de ésas historias bastante difíciles, ambos están enamorados, pero sus circunstancias les impiden estar juntos, primero ella atada a un hombre que no ama, porque está enamorado de otro, y él con una actitud bastante esquiva y evasiva (quizás demasiado para mi gusto), hacia la protagonista debido al respeto, la fidelidad y el honor que le guarda a su amigo. Esto no quiere decir que no me haya gustado, al revés, me gustan las historias románticas con todas las dificultades que puedan surgir para su romance (siempre que sea totalmente verosímil), pero me hubiese gustado un poquito más, me ha faltado algo más de amor, conversación y comprensión de sus protagonistas.
En cuanto al resto de la historia la verdad que me ha encantado, tiene bastante acción, y mucha, mucha aventura. Realmente pasas por momentos muy angustiosos y me ha enganchado muchísimo, la segunda mitad del libro se lee en un suspiro. Hago especial hincapié en que me ha encantado la aparición del rey Robert Bruce en casi todo el libro, ha sido un personaje secundario bastante entrañable. Y por supuesto a un nuevo recurso de ésta autora y que no me suena haberle visto emplearlo en otros de sus libros, y ha sido la inclusión de un romance secundario, anecdótico pero a la vez muy bonito.
Poco más puedo añadir salvo que es uno de los libros de la serie que más me ha gustado, el honor de ser el que más sigue siendo para "El Guerrero", pero entre "Santo" y "Guardián" no se llevan mucho. Espero ponerme en breve con el siguiente de la serie, pero admito que no me ha dejado con muchas ganas por el protagonista, Kenneth Sutherland me ha parecido un grano en el culo durante todo éste libro.
Ambos protagonistas se conocían desde su adolescencia y se enamoraron, pero sus clanes eran enemigos, y cuando fueron sorprendidos por los hermanos de ella, hubieron de separarse. El caso de Magnus ya lo conocemos, se unió a la Guardia de los Highlanders, y su nombre fue dado porque nunca hablaba de mujeres con el resto del grupo. Y no, no hablaba de mujeres porque ya había una en su vida, y lo mantuvo en secreto.
El peor mazazo para ésta historia romántica llegó cuando Helen fue prometida a William Gordon (Templario), y mejor amigo de Magnus, por tanto éste estaba atado por fidelidad y honor a su amigo y no pudo hacer nada.
El libro empieza de una manera bastante fuerte, y en la que ocurre algo que no te gustaría que ocurriera bajo ninguna circunstancia, pero que al final he acabado entendiendo por qué ocurre, aunque no me gustara. La historia entre los protagonistas ha sido de ésas historias bastante difíciles, ambos están enamorados, pero sus circunstancias les impiden estar juntos, primero ella atada a un hombre que no ama, porque está enamorado de otro, y él con una actitud bastante esquiva y evasiva (quizás demasiado para mi gusto), hacia la protagonista debido al respeto, la fidelidad y el honor que le guarda a su amigo. Esto no quiere decir que no me haya gustado, al revés, me gustan las historias románticas con todas las dificultades que puedan surgir para su romance (siempre que sea totalmente verosímil), pero me hubiese gustado un poquito más, me ha faltado algo más de amor, conversación y comprensión de sus protagonistas.
En cuanto al resto de la historia la verdad que me ha encantado, tiene bastante acción, y mucha, mucha aventura. Realmente pasas por momentos muy angustiosos y me ha enganchado muchísimo, la segunda mitad del libro se lee en un suspiro. Hago especial hincapié en que me ha encantado la aparición del rey Robert Bruce en casi todo el libro, ha sido un personaje secundario bastante entrañable. Y por supuesto a un nuevo recurso de ésta autora y que no me suena haberle visto emplearlo en otros de sus libros, y ha sido la inclusión de un romance secundario, anecdótico pero a la vez muy bonito.
Poco más puedo añadir salvo que es uno de los libros de la serie que más me ha gustado, el honor de ser el que más sigue siendo para "El Guerrero", pero entre "Santo" y "Guardián" no se llevan mucho. Espero ponerme en breve con el siguiente de la serie, pero admito que no me ha dejado con muchas ganas por el protagonista, Kenneth Sutherland me ha parecido un grano en el culo durante todo éste libro.
November 21, 2021
Edit to add steam stats (11/20/21)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes
Original review (8/25/20):
Safety warnings attached at the end.
Finally have finished book 5! I am reading this series in order. Be very, very proud of me. I do think this series is best in order. Events happen in chronological order with a large number based on historical fact. Characters make appearances. But, if you really don't care about that, this is probably okay as a stand alone.
Our hero, Magnus, has been dubbed “the saint” because he never discusses women with others or loses his temper. This is because he's been utterly in love with Helen since he was 19. And he is a master at controlling his emotions. The prologue includes a heartbreaking scene that leads to their 3 year separation. When they see each other again, Helen is 21 and Magnus is 26. (There's a few more shorter separations in the book as it progresses.) Helen is betrothed to his best friend, William Gordon, and Magnus is somehow roped into attending the wedding.
Helen is a healer and hones her skills throughout the book. She thinks she's in love with Magnus, but is extremely naive and uncertain in the beginning of the book. Helen annoyed me so bad in the beginning of the book. I thought she was pretty demanding of Magnus, especially after how she had treated him and I didn't like her feeling sorry for herself. She did get better to me as the book went on, though she still made some decisions I wasn't in love with.
Give this book a try if you're in the mood for
-Highlanders
-Medieval romance during the wars of Robert the Bruce - 1308
-Second chance – heroine and hero have been courting for 4 years in secret since hero was 19 and heroine was 14 but are separated for a number of years
-Rival Families – the MacKays and Sutherlands have been feuding for a number of years
-Medium steam – a few kisses, a few further scenes, and 1 full love scene
-Mix of action and romance – there's danger, missions, and attacks that take up a little over half of the story
This book was frustrating to me. I could not believe how slow the beginning was. By almost 100 pages in, Helen and Magnus had only had 3 short conversations. 100 pages!!! By 150 it was 4 very short conversations!! And they were all about the same thing!! Then. THEN. A secondary romance is introduced. I usually can't stand them because I just want to focus on the main couple. But in a book where literally nothing was happening between the main characters, it was unacceptable to me.
This book definitely picked up for me towards the middle and had a lot I liked. But still, Helen and Magnus seemed to only have the same, repeated conversation throughout the entire book. It never seemed to progress beyond that. The only thing I really loved about this book was the sex scenes and kisses. I adore the way MM writes them. I feel utterly absorbed. They are so hot with all the feels for me as well as the explicitness I love.
I wasn't super in love with either character really. Helen was annoying mostly and didn't have the depth I got from the other heroines in this series. I did like Magnus, but I think I could have and should have gotten more emotional attachment to him considering everything he went though. But somehow I didn't feel it like I should have. So he's not exactly forgettable but not at the top of memorable heroes for me.
I really struggle with what to rate this one. Compared to other McCarty books I feel like this is 3 stars. But I have rated other books rounded to 4 that I liked less. McCarty sets the bar high and to me she didn't meet her standards with this one.
It did have something I love and might be kind of weird or undesirable to others (sex spoiler)
Safety warnings (possible spoilers)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes
Original review (8/25/20):
Safety warnings attached at the end.
Finally have finished book 5! I am reading this series in order. Be very, very proud of me. I do think this series is best in order. Events happen in chronological order with a large number based on historical fact. Characters make appearances. But, if you really don't care about that, this is probably okay as a stand alone.
Our hero, Magnus, has been dubbed “the saint” because he never discusses women with others or loses his temper. This is because he's been utterly in love with Helen since he was 19. And he is a master at controlling his emotions. The prologue includes a heartbreaking scene that leads to their 3 year separation. When they see each other again, Helen is 21 and Magnus is 26. (There's a few more shorter separations in the book as it progresses.) Helen is betrothed to his best friend, William Gordon, and Magnus is somehow roped into attending the wedding.
Helen is a healer and hones her skills throughout the book. She thinks she's in love with Magnus, but is extremely naive and uncertain in the beginning of the book. Helen annoyed me so bad in the beginning of the book. I thought she was pretty demanding of Magnus, especially after how she had treated him and I didn't like her feeling sorry for herself. She did get better to me as the book went on, though she still made some decisions I wasn't in love with.
Give this book a try if you're in the mood for
-Highlanders
-Medieval romance during the wars of Robert the Bruce - 1308
-Second chance – heroine and hero have been courting for 4 years in secret since hero was 19 and heroine was 14 but are separated for a number of years
-Rival Families – the MacKays and Sutherlands have been feuding for a number of years
-Medium steam – a few kisses, a few further scenes, and 1 full love scene
-Mix of action and romance – there's danger, missions, and attacks that take up a little over half of the story
This book was frustrating to me. I could not believe how slow the beginning was. By almost 100 pages in, Helen and Magnus had only had 3 short conversations. 100 pages!!! By 150 it was 4 very short conversations!! And they were all about the same thing!! Then. THEN. A secondary romance is introduced. I usually can't stand them because I just want to focus on the main couple. But in a book where literally nothing was happening between the main characters, it was unacceptable to me.
This book definitely picked up for me towards the middle and had a lot I liked. But still, Helen and Magnus seemed to only have the same, repeated conversation throughout the entire book. It never seemed to progress beyond that. The only thing I really loved about this book was the sex scenes and kisses. I adore the way MM writes them. I feel utterly absorbed. They are so hot with all the feels for me as well as the explicitness I love.
I wasn't super in love with either character really. Helen was annoying mostly and didn't have the depth I got from the other heroines in this series. I did like Magnus, but I think I could have and should have gotten more emotional attachment to him considering everything he went though. But somehow I didn't feel it like I should have. So he's not exactly forgettable but not at the top of memorable heroes for me.
I really struggle with what to rate this one. Compared to other McCarty books I feel like this is 3 stars. But I have rated other books rounded to 4 that I liked less. McCarty sets the bar high and to me she didn't meet her standards with this one.
It did have something I love and might be kind of weird or undesirable to others (sex spoiler)
Safety warnings (possible spoilers)
October 31, 2014
It was okay.
Man, I'm bummed about this book. I've loved this series til now, but this one was just off for me. The heroine could have been a great character and a strong woman, but she sunk low in my esteem fairly quickly. I loved how she stayed with her family and didn't make snap decisions about her life like Magnus initially wanted her to. She went against the norm for women back then and learned the art of healing.
However, she turned around and became a sixteen year old with a boy obsession for nearly the entirety of the book. Magnus couldn't stay away from her...more like couldn't get away from her, actually. She chased him and chased him, literally begging him at one point, to be with her. It turns me off when a woman won't stop doing that. Have some pride, have some dignity.
Had Magnus showed some real intent toward Helen aside from lustful intentions, I wouldn't have had such an aversion to her actions. But the man was downright mean and hateful to her for most of the book! What was it that she loved about him so much? I don't get it.
Moving on. I know this author can write better romances. The history is still pervasive, which I actually really like in this series in particular, even if it's a lot of fictional circumstance. It's fun to read about things that "could" have been true.
Will still definitely continue the series. I hope this was a fluke for me.
Man, I'm bummed about this book. I've loved this series til now, but this one was just off for me. The heroine could have been a great character and a strong woman, but she sunk low in my esteem fairly quickly. I loved how she stayed with her family and didn't make snap decisions about her life like Magnus initially wanted her to. She went against the norm for women back then and learned the art of healing.
However, she turned around and became a sixteen year old with a boy obsession for nearly the entirety of the book. Magnus couldn't stay away from her...more like couldn't get away from her, actually. She chased him and chased him, literally begging him at one point, to be with her. It turns me off when a woman won't stop doing that. Have some pride, have some dignity.
Had Magnus showed some real intent toward Helen aside from lustful intentions, I wouldn't have had such an aversion to her actions. But the man was downright mean and hateful to her for most of the book! What was it that she loved about him so much? I don't get it.
Moving on. I know this author can write better romances. The history is still pervasive, which I actually really like in this series in particular, even if it's a lot of fictional circumstance. It's fun to read about things that "could" have been true.
Will still definitely continue the series. I hope this was a fluke for me.
February 1, 2019
Şetcem sonra
July 25, 2016
Contains spoilers!
Right, what could have been a very nice 'Second chances' story, ended as an utterly exhausting and frustrating read to me.
The book starts with a classic Romeo & Juliet setting. Boy meets girl, girl meets boy, they fall in love, but the family feud stands in between. Boy, then, asks the girl to run away with him and get married, girl hesitates just a moment too long, so that her brother sweeps in and convinces her not to leave and reminds her of her obligations. Boy is hurt because, although, she had confessed her love to him, it wasn't strong enough to run away with him. Boy now hates (or maybe not) girl.
Ok. Fast forward 3 years, and the book falls apart for me. Helen (our girl) is forced into an arranged marriage with none other than Magnus's (our boy) best friend. Magnus hates her even more (I think) because she goes through with the wedding. Not that we live in medieval times, and women, especially noblewomen, were nothing but properties of their fathers/brothers, traded for alliances, etc. No, this noblewoman should have, according to Magnus, refused!!! William, the best friend, sees his new bride pining away for his best friend and...whoops awkward!
At this stage, I was getting really, really pissed off. William didn't deserve that, and the scenes right after he finds out that his bride and his best friend still love each other were difficult to read. I'd had four books worth of time to get to know and care for William enough, to feel truly sorry for him. As William so nicely puts it, one word from Magnus and he would have never gone through with it. And Magnus, if he had been as noble as he was being described throughout the books, should have at least had the decency to say 'Hey, look, we used to be an item. If I were you, I'd check if she's over it. I don't want you to marry a girl who won't love you.' Sounds all modern, right? But hey, the tone was set from the get-go when Magnus expected Helen to act like a 21st century woman rather than a woman living in 1308-09. William is the only noble person so far here, and tells Helen that she has the choice if she wishes for an annulment and leaves her virginity intact.
Conveniently, a crisis comes up on the wedding night and parts of the Highland Guard, including William and Magnus, are sent on a mission on which, sadly, William dies.
Let the mindfuck games begin! Now, I don't have that much of a problem with the Big Misunderstanding trope, because misunderstandings do happen, people do not always say what they truly feel or think, either because they're not great at expressing them or because they don't want to get hurt, etc. But this book was taking the piss, or rather Helen and Magnus. Magnus suffers from survivor's guilt(ish), Helen doesn't understand, tries to convince him of her love, he doesn't believe her, really, and even if she does, she's his best friends widow, secrets ladida. Funny enough, pretty much at the beginning of the book, we are being told that Helen opposed the arranged marriage, but neither her brothers nor her father would listen. But she never tells Magnus about this. Instead, wannabe martyr that she is, she blames herself for not stopping the marriage, and Magnus, very conveniently, goes along with that. And God forbid, if Helen ever tried to defend her brothers. We were put straight back to square one and Magnus's idiotic way of thinking 'She doesn't love me enough!' You could argue that they were not defendable, but hey, we're talking about years and years of a clan feud between those two families. If her brothers are idiots, so is Magnus. Back and forth, we go and we read this and I start feeling like a martyr myself. To what cause, I don't know, but reading through this book was becoming truly painful.
By the end, I didn't care for either of them. The only thing that redeems this book (somewhat!) is Monica Mcarty's ability to put everything into the historical background very nicely.
Right, what could have been a very nice 'Second chances' story, ended as an utterly exhausting and frustrating read to me.
The book starts with a classic Romeo & Juliet setting. Boy meets girl, girl meets boy, they fall in love, but the family feud stands in between. Boy, then, asks the girl to run away with him and get married, girl hesitates just a moment too long, so that her brother sweeps in and convinces her not to leave and reminds her of her obligations. Boy is hurt because, although, she had confessed her love to him, it wasn't strong enough to run away with him. Boy now hates (or maybe not) girl.
Ok. Fast forward 3 years, and the book falls apart for me. Helen (our girl) is forced into an arranged marriage with none other than Magnus's (our boy) best friend. Magnus hates her even more (I think) because she goes through with the wedding. Not that we live in medieval times, and women, especially noblewomen, were nothing but properties of their fathers/brothers, traded for alliances, etc. No, this noblewoman should have, according to Magnus, refused!!! William, the best friend, sees his new bride pining away for his best friend and...whoops awkward!
At this stage, I was getting really, really pissed off. William didn't deserve that, and the scenes right after he finds out that his bride and his best friend still love each other were difficult to read. I'd had four books worth of time to get to know and care for William enough, to feel truly sorry for him. As William so nicely puts it, one word from Magnus and he would have never gone through with it. And Magnus, if he had been as noble as he was being described throughout the books, should have at least had the decency to say 'Hey, look, we used to be an item. If I were you, I'd check if she's over it. I don't want you to marry a girl who won't love you.' Sounds all modern, right? But hey, the tone was set from the get-go when Magnus expected Helen to act like a 21st century woman rather than a woman living in 1308-09. William is the only noble person so far here, and tells Helen that she has the choice if she wishes for an annulment and leaves her virginity intact.
Conveniently, a crisis comes up on the wedding night and parts of the Highland Guard, including William and Magnus, are sent on a mission on which, sadly, William dies.
Let the mindfuck games begin! Now, I don't have that much of a problem with the Big Misunderstanding trope, because misunderstandings do happen, people do not always say what they truly feel or think, either because they're not great at expressing them or because they don't want to get hurt, etc. But this book was taking the piss, or rather Helen and Magnus. Magnus suffers from survivor's guilt(ish), Helen doesn't understand, tries to convince him of her love, he doesn't believe her, really, and even if she does, she's his best friends widow, secrets ladida. Funny enough, pretty much at the beginning of the book, we are being told that Helen opposed the arranged marriage, but neither her brothers nor her father would listen. But she never tells Magnus about this. Instead, wannabe martyr that she is, she blames herself for not stopping the marriage, and Magnus, very conveniently, goes along with that. And God forbid, if Helen ever tried to defend her brothers. We were put straight back to square one and Magnus's idiotic way of thinking 'She doesn't love me enough!' You could argue that they were not defendable, but hey, we're talking about years and years of a clan feud between those two families. If her brothers are idiots, so is Magnus. Back and forth, we go and we read this and I start feeling like a martyr myself. To what cause, I don't know, but reading through this book was becoming truly painful.
By the end, I didn't care for either of them. The only thing that redeems this book (somewhat!) is Monica Mcarty's ability to put everything into the historical background very nicely.
April 16, 2012
read my review on Demon Lover's Books & Moret
4.5
Once again, Monica McCarty blends a vivid world rich in history with a lovely romance.
Helen and Magnus were sweet on each other for years during their teens. I thought the flashbacks were wonderful-I love the childhood sweethearts story. But when your clans hate each other with a passion, what are two young lovers to do? For magnus, it’s simple-run away together. He’s pretty sure his family will be supportive, even though Helen’s family is the enemy.
But Helen, once put on the spot by her family (who’s telling her that she’s young and silly) and Magnus (who has just asked her to marry him), decides to stay with her family. Magnus is beyond hurt. His pride has taken a blow, and his heart is broken. Helen’s family betroths her to someone they deem acceptable as soon as they possibly can, and unfortunately for Magnus, that man is his best friend William Gordon.
The first time Magnus and Helen set eyes on each other after that awful encounter where she chose her family over her love, just happens to be at her wedding to Gordon. Magnus doesn’t want to ruin the day, and he thinks he’ll be able to handle seeing her; after all, it’s been several years. Seeing Helen is a like a blow to the stomach, but he remains steadfast that Gordon will never know how much he loves Helen. Helen, for her part, never realized how badly she hurt Magnus and expected him to come for her years ago. She can’t let go of her feelings, so right before she walks down the aisle, she finds Magnus and tries to get him to admit his feelings. But he tells that he absolutely doesn’t want her and to go marry Gordon.
So she does. She actually married Gordon. I won’t spoil anything, but Magnus and Helen’s road to love is not easy and it’s going to take a lot for Magnus to admit his feelings for his friend’s wife.
There is a lot of history woven throughout the plot, and I really think that it enriches the imagery and the intensity of the story. However, that being said, the book has a few slow parts. I felt at times that the book dragged in places. But the reader is rewarded when the action scenes come. Ms. McCarty has a talent for detail and for amping up the pace once fighting breaks out.
I can’t tell you how much I loved the ending. I also think that it's testament to Ms. McCarty's writing skill that she made me care for a character who I wasn't sure I liked. I loved the side romance between Will and Muriel, I absolutely loved it. I think Helen grew into an amazing heroine, especially considering I wasn't sure she’d grow up. This was a wonderful addition to the Highland Guard series and while there were some major shocks and upsets within the Guard, I can’t wait for the next book!
4.5
Once again, Monica McCarty blends a vivid world rich in history with a lovely romance.
Helen and Magnus were sweet on each other for years during their teens. I thought the flashbacks were wonderful-I love the childhood sweethearts story. But when your clans hate each other with a passion, what are two young lovers to do? For magnus, it’s simple-run away together. He’s pretty sure his family will be supportive, even though Helen’s family is the enemy.
But Helen, once put on the spot by her family (who’s telling her that she’s young and silly) and Magnus (who has just asked her to marry him), decides to stay with her family. Magnus is beyond hurt. His pride has taken a blow, and his heart is broken. Helen’s family betroths her to someone they deem acceptable as soon as they possibly can, and unfortunately for Magnus, that man is his best friend William Gordon.
The first time Magnus and Helen set eyes on each other after that awful encounter where she chose her family over her love, just happens to be at her wedding to Gordon. Magnus doesn’t want to ruin the day, and he thinks he’ll be able to handle seeing her; after all, it’s been several years. Seeing Helen is a like a blow to the stomach, but he remains steadfast that Gordon will never know how much he loves Helen. Helen, for her part, never realized how badly she hurt Magnus and expected him to come for her years ago. She can’t let go of her feelings, so right before she walks down the aisle, she finds Magnus and tries to get him to admit his feelings. But he tells that he absolutely doesn’t want her and to go marry Gordon.
So she does. She actually married Gordon. I won’t spoil anything, but Magnus and Helen’s road to love is not easy and it’s going to take a lot for Magnus to admit his feelings for his friend’s wife.
There is a lot of history woven throughout the plot, and I really think that it enriches the imagery and the intensity of the story. However, that being said, the book has a few slow parts. I felt at times that the book dragged in places. But the reader is rewarded when the action scenes come. Ms. McCarty has a talent for detail and for amping up the pace once fighting breaks out.
I can’t tell you how much I loved the ending. I also think that it's testament to Ms. McCarty's writing skill that she made me care for a character who I wasn't sure I liked. I loved the side romance between Will and Muriel, I absolutely loved it. I think Helen grew into an amazing heroine, especially considering I wasn't sure she’d grow up. This was a wonderful addition to the Highland Guard series and while there were some major shocks and upsets within the Guard, I can’t wait for the next book!
September 20, 2022
Daha çok 4,5
Bu sefer uzun uzun yorum yazmak istemiyorum. Tek söylemek istediğim şey bu seriyi alın ve okuyun!!😍 Aziz seri içindeki favori kitaplarımdan biri ve bu kitabı 272727. kez okuduğum için çok mutluyum. Öneriyorum ama erkek karakter Magnus’un tam bir odun olduğunu bilin. Kitabı sevmeyen de sevmez yani…
Bu sefer uzun uzun yorum yazmak istemiyorum. Tek söylemek istediğim şey bu seriyi alın ve okuyun!!😍 Aziz seri içindeki favori kitaplarımdan biri ve bu kitabı 272727. kez okuduğum için çok mutluyum. Öneriyorum ama erkek karakter Magnus’un tam bir odun olduğunu bilin. Kitabı sevmeyen de sevmez yani…
March 24, 2012
As a fan of the Highland Guard series and Monica McCarty’s entire books, I am always excited about any upcoming releases. With the release of The Saint, the 5th book in this series, I was excited but wasn't salivating for it as much as I was for The Viper. I didn't have any high expectations or over-hype about the storyline building in my head. All I knew was I would enjoy it because the fact is, Monica has become an author I trust. I'd follow her wherever she would like to take me as a reader. I want to go on record as stating that I freaking love, love, love the snot out of this book. This was hands down my favorite book of this series and probably my top two books of all of Monica's books. It's always the quiet and unassuming ones that surprise you and this is the perfect descriptive for this book and the hero.
Magnus the hero has always been the steady and quiet one. He didn't sit around the campfire boasting or talking about the next bed partner conquest hence his nickname the “Saint”. He is always in control, was the impression I got in the previous books, so to see him so unglued when it came to Helen was funny and sweet. Monica really puts his character through the ringer. I could never imagine having to make the choices and do the things Magnus had to do in this book. My heart broke for him as I watched him battle his feelings for Helen because he wasn’t able to forgive himself for the decisions he had to make. Magnus’s character is very endearing. I fell deeply in love with him right along with Helen. Monica gave the readers another hero to fall in love with. With each book I find that I can’t help falling for each of these guards. Magnus is steady, caring, loyal and tough but there is this side to him when he lets his guard down around Helen that had me captivated. And oh my goodness he is sexy. Ladies when he lets his control go hold on to your panties. I wanted to groan and nod my head right along with Helen during the seduction scenes!
Helen is my favorite heroine of all of Monica’s books. Her character is so relatable and lovable. She realizes that she made a mistake when she walked away from Magnus so when she gets her second chance boy she goes for it. Her fears of rejection never stopped her from putting her heart out there for Magnus. She sets to prove to him that their second chance at happiness is possible and does all in her power to convince him he could trust her with his heart. Helen is one of the most kickass heroines of Monica’s heroines. She can think fast on her feet and is resourceful. Helen has been studying healing from the healer in her clan so this skill was useful in many of the situations she found herself in. As tough as she was, she had a vulnerable side that captures your heart. Because of her interest in healing and her tendency to speak what is on her mind she finds that she doesn’t fit in well with other ladies. Helen is someone I would love to hang with. She is caring, loyal, smart and a beautiful spirit.
The romance between these two was so sweet. I love how the story unfolded during a course of over a year. I was deeply invested and was rooting them along the way as they both stumbled and then finally found their way to each other again. I loved the glimpses of their childhood romance. They didn’t see each other much but when they did you could feel how much they truly cared for each other. How special their connection was. The chemistry was off the charts. Boy did the scenes where they give in to each other rock my world with so much emotion and steam. You can literally feel how much these two love and want each other. The connection is poignant and sweet. The road to their happiness is filled with many funny moments as well as tragedies. When I closed the book on their story I felt such happiness as if I was the one who got a happy ending. What a fantastic couple Monica gave the readers in this book. I didn’t want their story to end. I wanted to know more and see more.
Monica also gave us a secondary romance that I really enjoyed as well. The romance is between Muriel the healer of the Sutherland clan and William Helen’s eldest brother. Readers get enough background stories on these two that you’ll be invested. We also meet Kenneth the second eldest brother of Helen. I can’t wait to see what Monica has in store for him. The Saint also gives readers a glimpse at the lives of the other couples and we catch up on what's been happening to them. I was excited that the previous heroines made an appearance. It was nice to see them all together and learn how they have bonded and become so close. The Saint continues to entertain with the action packed storyline full of battles and intrigue. The fight continues onto the next phase in the battle for Scotland’s freedom and takes a tragic turn for the guards. The guards will come face to face with enemies that will have too many similarities to their fighting tactics.
The Saint has some plots in it that definitely is a game changer in the series. The twists and turns that have been subtly alluded to will come to fruition in this book. I was on a roller-coaster ride of emotions reading The Saint. I cried...oh how I cried, then I laughed and then I sighed. I have to say this is the first book by Monica that has made me cry. This book had me captivated from prologue all the way through the excerpt of the next book. I was flipping pages so fast and speed reading like a demon that once I closed the book I had to go back and re-read it again the next day.
Monica's highlander stories are like crack for me! When I am in the mood for stories about those hot blooded and virile men of Scotland, I know I can count on her books to fulfill that need. I am still amazed at how effortlessly and seamlessly Monica incorporates real live historical events and creates these fictional romantic story lines. Her books each and every one of them has a place on my keeper shelf. This book will go right up there along with the rest. I HIGHLY recommend this book and series to historical romance fans that love these sexy highlander stories. You can’t go wrong when you pick up her books.
Magnus the hero has always been the steady and quiet one. He didn't sit around the campfire boasting or talking about the next bed partner conquest hence his nickname the “Saint”. He is always in control, was the impression I got in the previous books, so to see him so unglued when it came to Helen was funny and sweet. Monica really puts his character through the ringer. I could never imagine having to make the choices and do the things Magnus had to do in this book. My heart broke for him as I watched him battle his feelings for Helen because he wasn’t able to forgive himself for the decisions he had to make. Magnus’s character is very endearing. I fell deeply in love with him right along with Helen. Monica gave the readers another hero to fall in love with. With each book I find that I can’t help falling for each of these guards. Magnus is steady, caring, loyal and tough but there is this side to him when he lets his guard down around Helen that had me captivated. And oh my goodness he is sexy. Ladies when he lets his control go hold on to your panties. I wanted to groan and nod my head right along with Helen during the seduction scenes!
Helen is my favorite heroine of all of Monica’s books. Her character is so relatable and lovable. She realizes that she made a mistake when she walked away from Magnus so when she gets her second chance boy she goes for it. Her fears of rejection never stopped her from putting her heart out there for Magnus. She sets to prove to him that their second chance at happiness is possible and does all in her power to convince him he could trust her with his heart. Helen is one of the most kickass heroines of Monica’s heroines. She can think fast on her feet and is resourceful. Helen has been studying healing from the healer in her clan so this skill was useful in many of the situations she found herself in. As tough as she was, she had a vulnerable side that captures your heart. Because of her interest in healing and her tendency to speak what is on her mind she finds that she doesn’t fit in well with other ladies. Helen is someone I would love to hang with. She is caring, loyal, smart and a beautiful spirit.
The romance between these two was so sweet. I love how the story unfolded during a course of over a year. I was deeply invested and was rooting them along the way as they both stumbled and then finally found their way to each other again. I loved the glimpses of their childhood romance. They didn’t see each other much but when they did you could feel how much they truly cared for each other. How special their connection was. The chemistry was off the charts. Boy did the scenes where they give in to each other rock my world with so much emotion and steam. You can literally feel how much these two love and want each other. The connection is poignant and sweet. The road to their happiness is filled with many funny moments as well as tragedies. When I closed the book on their story I felt such happiness as if I was the one who got a happy ending. What a fantastic couple Monica gave the readers in this book. I didn’t want their story to end. I wanted to know more and see more.
Monica also gave us a secondary romance that I really enjoyed as well. The romance is between Muriel the healer of the Sutherland clan and William Helen’s eldest brother. Readers get enough background stories on these two that you’ll be invested. We also meet Kenneth the second eldest brother of Helen. I can’t wait to see what Monica has in store for him. The Saint also gives readers a glimpse at the lives of the other couples and we catch up on what's been happening to them. I was excited that the previous heroines made an appearance. It was nice to see them all together and learn how they have bonded and become so close. The Saint continues to entertain with the action packed storyline full of battles and intrigue. The fight continues onto the next phase in the battle for Scotland’s freedom and takes a tragic turn for the guards. The guards will come face to face with enemies that will have too many similarities to their fighting tactics.
The Saint has some plots in it that definitely is a game changer in the series. The twists and turns that have been subtly alluded to will come to fruition in this book. I was on a roller-coaster ride of emotions reading The Saint. I cried...oh how I cried, then I laughed and then I sighed. I have to say this is the first book by Monica that has made me cry. This book had me captivated from prologue all the way through the excerpt of the next book. I was flipping pages so fast and speed reading like a demon that once I closed the book I had to go back and re-read it again the next day.
Monica's highlander stories are like crack for me! When I am in the mood for stories about those hot blooded and virile men of Scotland, I know I can count on her books to fulfill that need. I am still amazed at how effortlessly and seamlessly Monica incorporates real live historical events and creates these fictional romantic story lines. Her books each and every one of them has a place on my keeper shelf. This book will go right up there along with the rest. I HIGHLY recommend this book and series to historical romance fans that love these sexy highlander stories. You can’t go wrong when you pick up her books.
January 13, 2023
Bu çok sevdiğim seriye uzun, upuzun... tam 6 yıllık bir aradan sonra döndüm! Zaman böylesine akıp geçmiş olmasına rağmen hiç unutmamışım ve bu kitabına da severek okudum.
Konusu: Aziz lakaplı Magnus MacKay, gençlik yıllarından beri düşman klanın kızı Helen Sutherland'i sevmektedir. Ne yazık ki yolları Helen ile tatsız şekilde ayrılıyor ve yıllar sonra savaşın diğer tarafında yer alan Sutherlandler'in Kral Bruce'un safına geçmesi ile tekrar karşılaşıyorlar. Hem de Helen ve Magnus'un en yakın arkadaşı, ortağı Gordon'un düğününde.
Not: 1300lü yıllar için ilişkiye dair düşünceler fazla günümüzden kaçmamış ya? haha :)
Konusu: Aziz lakaplı Magnus MacKay, gençlik yıllarından beri düşman klanın kızı Helen Sutherland'i sevmektedir. Ne yazık ki yolları Helen ile tatsız şekilde ayrılıyor ve yıllar sonra savaşın diğer tarafında yer alan Sutherlandler'in Kral Bruce'un safına geçmesi ile tekrar karşılaşıyorlar. Hem de Helen ve Magnus'un en yakın arkadaşı, ortağı Gordon'un düğününde.
Not: 1300lü yıllar için ilişkiye dair düşünceler fazla günümüzden kaçmamış ya? haha :)
December 13, 2016
I had high hopes for this book because reading about Magnus and his Helen in The Viper made me really curious. This is just the kind of story I like.
I admit to mild disappointment, thought I did like Magnus and Helen. First of all I agree with other reviewers, I don't get the secondary romance between Helen's brother William and the clan healer Muriel. It adds nothing to Magnus and Helen's story and does give the impression that Monica McCarty needed more material to fill the pages. I did not particularly like William and Muriel either. They were empty characters who just showed up out of nowhere from chapter to chapter.
The book opened with a fantastic beginning. I immediately was drawn to Magnus and Helen. They are both endearing characters. Up until Helen's marriage to William Gordon, Magnus's partner and best friend, everything was great. This was very early on in the book. The tension was ever present. Magnus's conflict between friendship and love, Helen's pain from doing her family duties because the man she loved was unwilling to give her a second chance. And poor William Gordon, such a merry character but died so young.
After William Gordon died, the story took a turn for the worse. I always think it is important that readers know, if the characters make a decision to de-prioritize the romantic relationship, they did not do it because they had another personal relationship prioritized. This could be a parent-child relationship, or a best-friend relationship. What followed Gordon's death definitely de-prioritized the romantic relationship for Magnus. It was more important to Magnus that he did not "betray" his friendship with Gordon by furthering his relationship with Helen. That totally "tainted" the story for me.
Overall I think it is quite a shame how the story turned out. Magnus and Helen had a really good thing going. I really like them as characters and feel that their relationship could have been much better than the story. The story pales in comparison to Magnus and Helen as characters. They deserve a better story. Monica McCarty has Helen "chasing" Magnus because he was so set on "not betraying" his friend by wanting his wife then widow. I think that bit was overdone. The story would have been much better if Magnus showed more "wanting".
The political intrigue did not complement the relationship as much it usually does in her other books. I am so saddened by this. Magnus and Helen totally had what it required to make a great second change romance. But the unnecessary second romance, Helen's annoying brother Kenneth, and Magnus's determination that Helen was the only woman he could not have were too frustrating. There were bits and pieces where the readers get to see how Magnus showed his feelings for Helen, but more often than not, Helen was the one who was trying her butt off to impress Magnus. On my second read, I guess I understand why Monica McCarty wrote it that way. She wanted to say that because Helen refused Magnus's proposal the first time, his pride was pricked and could not trust that Helen could really choose him this time. I guess she was going for something like "you have to win my trust and I will not make it easy for you"? But again, that is also overshadowed by William Gordon's death. I mean, after Gordon died Magnus and Helen were just not the same anymore. I would have preferred to see Gordon alive, so that the 3 of them could somehow figure out something.
I am giving the book 4 stars for Magnus and Helen. I wish the story had allowed their relationship to reach its full potential. Alas, this was not the case.
I admit to mild disappointment, thought I did like Magnus and Helen. First of all I agree with other reviewers, I don't get the secondary romance between Helen's brother William and the clan healer Muriel. It adds nothing to Magnus and Helen's story and does give the impression that Monica McCarty needed more material to fill the pages. I did not particularly like William and Muriel either. They were empty characters who just showed up out of nowhere from chapter to chapter.
The book opened with a fantastic beginning. I immediately was drawn to Magnus and Helen. They are both endearing characters. Up until Helen's marriage to William Gordon, Magnus's partner and best friend, everything was great. This was very early on in the book. The tension was ever present. Magnus's conflict between friendship and love, Helen's pain from doing her family duties because the man she loved was unwilling to give her a second chance. And poor William Gordon, such a merry character but died so young.
After William Gordon died, the story took a turn for the worse. I always think it is important that readers know, if the characters make a decision to de-prioritize the romantic relationship, they did not do it because they had another personal relationship prioritized. This could be a parent-child relationship, or a best-friend relationship. What followed Gordon's death definitely de-prioritized the romantic relationship for Magnus. It was more important to Magnus that he did not "betray" his friendship with Gordon by furthering his relationship with Helen. That totally "tainted" the story for me.
Overall I think it is quite a shame how the story turned out. Magnus and Helen had a really good thing going. I really like them as characters and feel that their relationship could have been much better than the story. The story pales in comparison to Magnus and Helen as characters. They deserve a better story. Monica McCarty has Helen "chasing" Magnus because he was so set on "not betraying" his friend by wanting his wife then widow. I think that bit was overdone. The story would have been much better if Magnus showed more "wanting".
The political intrigue did not complement the relationship as much it usually does in her other books. I am so saddened by this. Magnus and Helen totally had what it required to make a great second change romance. But the unnecessary second romance, Helen's annoying brother Kenneth, and Magnus's determination that Helen was the only woman he could not have were too frustrating. There were bits and pieces where the readers get to see how Magnus showed his feelings for Helen, but more often than not, Helen was the one who was trying her butt off to impress Magnus. On my second read, I guess I understand why Monica McCarty wrote it that way. She wanted to say that because Helen refused Magnus's proposal the first time, his pride was pricked and could not trust that Helen could really choose him this time. I guess she was going for something like "you have to win my trust and I will not make it easy for you"? But again, that is also overshadowed by William Gordon's death. I mean, after Gordon died Magnus and Helen were just not the same anymore. I would have preferred to see Gordon alive, so that the 3 of them could somehow figure out something.
I am giving the book 4 stars for Magnus and Helen. I wish the story had allowed their relationship to reach its full potential. Alas, this was not the case.
April 21, 2012
Dear Ms. McCarty,
The Saint is the first of your books I’ve read and, if they are all like this, it will be the last. This book combined the worst of the two components of historical romance. The history, of which there is a ton, is info-dumped in large swathes into your prose—I began to feel as though I were studying for a test– and the romance is so frustrating, by the novel’s end, it would have suited me just fine had Helen and Magnus (known as Saint), the star-crossed lovers of the tale, ended up apart.
The book takes place in the era of the famed Bruce: Scotland in the early 1300’s. Saint is a MacKay and Helen is a Sutherland and, of course, the two clans share a long and bloody feud. Helen and Saint first meet at the Highland games when she is fourteen and he is nineteen. The two fall in love, despite only seeing each other for a few moments when the Games are held each year, but keep their love a secret. Finally, when Helen is 18 and old enough to wed, Saint, at the 1305 games, finally beats his Sutherland nemesis Munro for the first time. After the match, Saint finds Helen, gives her a long hard kiss–her first–and asks her to marry him. She, unable to choose him over her family, turns him down. Saint, instantly a man ruined for life, immediately accepts a dangerous offer by the Bruce to become one of the Kings’s newly formed secret elite Highland Guard created to defeat the English.
One chapter and three years later, Saint, feeling as though he’d rather be tortured by the English Crown’s vilest knaves, is headed to his best friend’s wedding. William “Templar” Gordon, a member of the Highland Guard and a close friend of Helen’s brother Kenneth, is marrying Helen. Even though Saint and Templar are best friends and are partners in the secretive Highland Guard, Templar has never mentioned his courtship—albeit scant—of Helen to Saint. So William has no idea that his best friend Saint—so called because he never whores around—holds an inviolate tendre for Helen. Nor does he have any idea that Helen, whose brother has pushed her upon William, is still profoundly in love with Saint.
Saint shows up Dunstaffnage Castle, Helen’s home, the night before the wedding is to take place. The two have not seen each for three years, not since she rejected his proposal, and when they lay eyes upon one another, both realize they are still madly in love. Helen, who has known for some time she should have chosen love over family, finds Magnus and asks him for another a chance. He, full of (arrogant) duty and honor, blows her off, telling her he feels nothing for her. Helen then marries William who, as the ceremony is taking place, suddenly gleans the feelings of his bride and best friend. On their wedding night, William, the hero in all this, refuses to take Helen’s maidenhood given that she loves his best friend. In the morning, he, Saint, and the Guard leave for an undercover mission to save the Bruce’s brother Edward from a siege in Galloway. William is essentially killed on the excursion although, since he’s only (to steal a phrase from The Princess Bride) mostly dead, in keeping with Guard code, Saint has to actually finish him off and make him unidentifiable. This latter action leaves him with enough guilt to ruin the rest of the novel.
This is a partial review. To read the rest, please go to DearAuthor.com:http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
The Saint is the first of your books I’ve read and, if they are all like this, it will be the last. This book combined the worst of the two components of historical romance. The history, of which there is a ton, is info-dumped in large swathes into your prose—I began to feel as though I were studying for a test– and the romance is so frustrating, by the novel’s end, it would have suited me just fine had Helen and Magnus (known as Saint), the star-crossed lovers of the tale, ended up apart.
The book takes place in the era of the famed Bruce: Scotland in the early 1300’s. Saint is a MacKay and Helen is a Sutherland and, of course, the two clans share a long and bloody feud. Helen and Saint first meet at the Highland games when she is fourteen and he is nineteen. The two fall in love, despite only seeing each other for a few moments when the Games are held each year, but keep their love a secret. Finally, when Helen is 18 and old enough to wed, Saint, at the 1305 games, finally beats his Sutherland nemesis Munro for the first time. After the match, Saint finds Helen, gives her a long hard kiss–her first–and asks her to marry him. She, unable to choose him over her family, turns him down. Saint, instantly a man ruined for life, immediately accepts a dangerous offer by the Bruce to become one of the Kings’s newly formed secret elite Highland Guard created to defeat the English.
One chapter and three years later, Saint, feeling as though he’d rather be tortured by the English Crown’s vilest knaves, is headed to his best friend’s wedding. William “Templar” Gordon, a member of the Highland Guard and a close friend of Helen’s brother Kenneth, is marrying Helen. Even though Saint and Templar are best friends and are partners in the secretive Highland Guard, Templar has never mentioned his courtship—albeit scant—of Helen to Saint. So William has no idea that his best friend Saint—so called because he never whores around—holds an inviolate tendre for Helen. Nor does he have any idea that Helen, whose brother has pushed her upon William, is still profoundly in love with Saint.
Saint shows up Dunstaffnage Castle, Helen’s home, the night before the wedding is to take place. The two have not seen each for three years, not since she rejected his proposal, and when they lay eyes upon one another, both realize they are still madly in love. Helen, who has known for some time she should have chosen love over family, finds Magnus and asks him for another a chance. He, full of (arrogant) duty and honor, blows her off, telling her he feels nothing for her. Helen then marries William who, as the ceremony is taking place, suddenly gleans the feelings of his bride and best friend. On their wedding night, William, the hero in all this, refuses to take Helen’s maidenhood given that she loves his best friend. In the morning, he, Saint, and the Guard leave for an undercover mission to save the Bruce’s brother Edward from a siege in Galloway. William is essentially killed on the excursion although, since he’s only (to steal a phrase from The Princess Bride) mostly dead, in keeping with Guard code, Saint has to actually finish him off and make him unidentifiable. This latter action leaves him with enough guilt to ruin the rest of the novel.
This is a partial review. To read the rest, please go to DearAuthor.com:http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
October 9, 2025
Re read! This was another excellent book! This is an amazing series. Plot 8.5(1-10) steaminess 8(1-10)
Highlanders, Alpha Males , great plot, with an adequate amount of steam!
Highlanders, Alpha Males , great plot, with an adequate amount of steam!
December 17, 2022
Highland Guard serisine kaldığım yerden devam edeyim dedim. Demez olaydım Magnus tüketti beni. Her sayfayı çevirişimde söylendim. İtinayla inat nasıl yapılır onu okuduk. Bir yerden sonrada "hay senin inadına sıç***m" moduna girdim. O yüzden serinin bu kitabı şu anlık en sevmediğim kitap oldu.
October 23, 2018
Aksi düşünülemez idi güzel bir seri aksiyonu bol bir serüven idi. Çok özlemişim bu seriyi lütfen devamı çabuk gelsin.
April 8, 2012
I’m hard pressed to give The Saint anything other than five stars because I just love this series….hard pressed to think of any other novels comparable. In saying that there were a few little things that niggled at me during this story. I found it hard to really connect with both Magnus and Helen until we were almost at the end.
Magnus McKay (Saint) and Helen first met when she was 14. There has been a strong attraction between them and as their families were enemies Magnus and Helen would sneak away to meet each other. Magnus was indeed honourable in the way he treated Helen and did no more than kiss her chastely. When Helen is 18, Magnus bests the Sutherland henchman, Donald Munro in a challenge at the Highland Games and feels he has proven himself and could finally ask Helen to marry him. She is surprised and delighted by his proposal but after a confrontation with her brother Kenneth turns down his offer of marriage as she doesn’t feel she can leave her ailing father and go against her family. Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick then proposes McKay join his secret band of warriors and McKay agrees.
Fast forward 3 years and McKay has returned to Dunstuffnage to witness the marriage of his best friend and fellow Guardsman William Gordon (Templar) to Helen. Once Helen sees McKay again she realizes she can’t marry William as she still loves McKay. She confronts McKay and he tells her she still loves him and he tells her it was all in the past and he feels nothing for her. She goes through with the marriage. At the wedding feast Helen realizes McKay does still feel something for her. William has no idea of McKay’s feelings for Helen until after the wedding ceremony.
I understood Magnus’ loyalty to his friend William. It was just a little frustrating throughout most of the book how they would make some kind of small reconnection and McKay would continue to push Helen away. I thought it was unreasonable for McKay to be so angry that she went through with the marriage and suggested if she truly loved him she wouldn't have married Gordon. A woman of her station would have little option but to follow her family's wishes for her marriage. She did confront him (albeit the day of the wedding) and he refused to acknowledge his feelings for her.
This book was saved for me by a few of the secondary characters such as Helen’s brother William and her friend Muriel. I also liked Helen’s brother Kenneth and will be interested to see what is to become of him in the next book. The King Robert the Bruce really added an extra something to The Saint, portraying him with a sense of humour and certainly as an Honourable King to Scotland. I am most looking forward to Gregor "Arrow" MacGregor's story at this point because he's such a charmer...I can't wait to see which lucky lass Monica has in store for him.
One of the things I truly love about Monica McCarty’s novels is how she seamlessly blends history and fiction together. I highly recommend this series as a must read to anyone who has a love for Scotland.
Waiting is torture but I am eagerly anticipating the release of The Recruit in October this year.
Magnus McKay (Saint) and Helen first met when she was 14. There has been a strong attraction between them and as their families were enemies Magnus and Helen would sneak away to meet each other. Magnus was indeed honourable in the way he treated Helen and did no more than kiss her chastely. When Helen is 18, Magnus bests the Sutherland henchman, Donald Munro in a challenge at the Highland Games and feels he has proven himself and could finally ask Helen to marry him. She is surprised and delighted by his proposal but after a confrontation with her brother Kenneth turns down his offer of marriage as she doesn’t feel she can leave her ailing father and go against her family. Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick then proposes McKay join his secret band of warriors and McKay agrees.
Fast forward 3 years and McKay has returned to Dunstuffnage to witness the marriage of his best friend and fellow Guardsman William Gordon (Templar) to Helen. Once Helen sees McKay again she realizes she can’t marry William as she still loves McKay. She confronts McKay and he tells her she still loves him and he tells her it was all in the past and he feels nothing for her. She goes through with the marriage. At the wedding feast Helen realizes McKay does still feel something for her. William has no idea of McKay’s feelings for Helen until after the wedding ceremony.
I understood Magnus’ loyalty to his friend William. It was just a little frustrating throughout most of the book how they would make some kind of small reconnection and McKay would continue to push Helen away. I thought it was unreasonable for McKay to be so angry that she went through with the marriage and suggested if she truly loved him she wouldn't have married Gordon. A woman of her station would have little option but to follow her family's wishes for her marriage. She did confront him (albeit the day of the wedding) and he refused to acknowledge his feelings for her.
This book was saved for me by a few of the secondary characters such as Helen’s brother William and her friend Muriel. I also liked Helen’s brother Kenneth and will be interested to see what is to become of him in the next book. The King Robert the Bruce really added an extra something to The Saint, portraying him with a sense of humour and certainly as an Honourable King to Scotland. I am most looking forward to Gregor "Arrow" MacGregor's story at this point because he's such a charmer...I can't wait to see which lucky lass Monica has in store for him.
One of the things I truly love about Monica McCarty’s novels is how she seamlessly blends history and fiction together. I highly recommend this series as a must read to anyone who has a love for Scotland.
Waiting is torture but I am eagerly anticipating the release of The Recruit in October this year.
July 9, 2013
Another amazing addition to Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series. Magnus was wonderful, a strong alpha warrior hero. Helen was a great heroine, she gets brownie points for not crying when the going gets tough, and for being smart and resourceful.
The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read IMO was the weakness of the actual romantic conflict. There was a lot of inner dialogue (should I trust him? does he love me? does she love me enough?). Also I also disliked Helen's brothers' constant interfering, I found it grating. The story between William and Muriel was ok but it sometimes detracted from the main storyline.
The best part of the book is the author's attention to historical details, her descriptions and blending of fact and fiction are breathtaking. She makes me feel like I'm right there inside the story, ready to brandish a sword and follow Robert the Bruce. The ending was wonderful, much better than I anticipated. Looking forward to the next one!
The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read IMO was the weakness of the actual romantic conflict. There was a lot of inner dialogue (should I trust him? does he love me? does she love me enough?). Also I also disliked Helen's brothers' constant interfering, I found it grating. The story between William and Muriel was ok but it sometimes detracted from the main storyline.
The best part of the book is the author's attention to historical details, her descriptions and blending of fact and fiction are breathtaking. She makes me feel like I'm right there inside the story, ready to brandish a sword and follow Robert the Bruce. The ending was wonderful, much better than I anticipated. Looking forward to the next one!
September 4, 2012
Proud Highland Warriors didn’t beg.
The flashback were wonderful and it's held me till 1 am. I understand Helen undying love for Magnus. I was NOT disappointed. Monica has such a way with her characters and the history blend well with the story and that leave me wanting more. I absolutely loved it.
There was a secondary romance about Will and Muriel. I found it interesting and it was beautifully written. Oh I wish it's longer.
Hard to put down once you start reading!!
Magnus tells Helen that Castle Varrich is where they will live if she accepts his proposal.
Dunnottar Castle is the location of the Highland Games where Magnus and Helen first meet in their youth, and Helen helps save Magnus's beloved dog "Tail.
The flashback were wonderful and it's held me till 1 am. I understand Helen undying love for Magnus. I was NOT disappointed. Monica has such a way with her characters and the history blend well with the story and that leave me wanting more. I absolutely loved it.
There was a secondary romance about Will and Muriel. I found it interesting and it was beautifully written. Oh I wish it's longer.
Hard to put down once you start reading!!
Magnus tells Helen that Castle Varrich is where they will live if she accepts his proposal.
Dunnottar Castle is the location of the Highland Games where Magnus and Helen first meet in their youth, and Helen helps save Magnus's beloved dog "Tail.
September 16, 2014
4.5 stars!!!
It's always a delight to read one of McCarty's stories. This book is a masterful mix of emotions and wonderful historical details. THE SAINT was an enjoyable read for me. I couldn't hardly put it down. Ms. McCarty captures the spirit of the time.
Magnus McKay is one yummy hero to read about. He's everything I love about heroes- tall, dark, and handsome. He's part of the Bruce's secret Highland Guard. Yeah, he makes my pulse stutter. ;)
Helen is a wonderful and endearing heroine. I loved her! She's a redhead, smart, courageous, and determined. Everything the "Saint" loves.
It's such a sweet and tender romance between the two characters and so vibrant that they seem to leap off the pages. This story will absolutely captivate you. Highly recommended for its exceptional storytelling and its unforgettable characters.
I cannot wait to start the next in the series!
It's always a delight to read one of McCarty's stories. This book is a masterful mix of emotions and wonderful historical details. THE SAINT was an enjoyable read for me. I couldn't hardly put it down. Ms. McCarty captures the spirit of the time.
Magnus McKay is one yummy hero to read about. He's everything I love about heroes- tall, dark, and handsome. He's part of the Bruce's secret Highland Guard. Yeah, he makes my pulse stutter. ;)
Helen is a wonderful and endearing heroine. I loved her! She's a redhead, smart, courageous, and determined. Everything the "Saint" loves.
It's such a sweet and tender romance between the two characters and so vibrant that they seem to leap off the pages. This story will absolutely captivate you. Highly recommended for its exceptional storytelling and its unforgettable characters.
I cannot wait to start the next in the series!
June 1, 2016
Not the best of the Highland Guard series but still a lovely book. Monica McCarty can weave a good Scottish romance. I have just one big complaint: the overshadows (rightly) the whole romance. I feel like the author took the easy way out and created conflict and angst for the heroes and also set Helen free in an easy way with that plot line. It felt frustratingly contrived to me. It took a bit out of the book for me!
It was also entirely too long with characters who are entirely too stubborn. It was just the same arguments over and over again. I actually liked Muriel and Will's story more than Helen and Magnus'. It's much more passionate and fascinating.
Overall it was a well written book and I enjoyed it.
It was also entirely too long with characters who are entirely too stubborn. It was just the same arguments over and over again. I actually liked Muriel and Will's story more than Helen and Magnus'. It's much more passionate and fascinating.
Overall it was a well written book and I enjoyed it.
February 16, 2019
Pile on the angst!!! Loved the H and h's star crossed love story; the love, the separation, h's irritating brother ... hated that William Gordon dies ... but loved the way H was tortured over his friend ... and loved h for her bravery and the way she tried to hard with the H ...
July 11, 2014
Helen and Magnus fell in love with they were both young, but their familes are rivals and enemies. They family trusts the other. Magnus once gave his heart to Helen, but she chose her family over him, and so he turned his back and didn't look back even though there will always be a place for Helen in his heart. Magnus then joins the Highland Guard, a elite force of men that aid in Robert Bruce and his campaign. Now Magnus has come to a wedding of one of his closest friends, but then is shocked to discover the woman he has always loved, is the woman to marry his closest friend and comrade. Helen is torn between her past and future, and has no idea where Magnus fits. She has loved him since she was a teenager, but she had to make a difficult choice...her family needed her or her father might have died, or go with Magnus and never see her family again. She has regretted the way she hurt Magnus, but now she has a chance to redeem them both, and find a love with a man that could save her heart, body and soul...
The Saint is the fifth book in this Highland Guard series by Monica McCarty. Now if any of you have yet to read Monica McCarty you are missing out on a adventure of a lifetime. The Saint is Magnus's story, and what a story...I just loved it. It begins with seeing the scene that broke these two up in the first place. Then it jumps to the betrothal and wedding...and well these two could match fireworks to light up the whole sky. Both Magnus and Helen are very passionate. Magnus, is a warrior and a able fighter, and fierce in his passions. He knows that he can never have a future with Helen, but he doesn't realize how determined Helen will be in her pursuit of him. Helen is now a widow, but there is one man she aches to be hers, the bold Magnus MacKay. When Magnus and Helen are put together again, and surrounded by danger and trying to protect the King, they can't resist the passion. I love the way that Helen pursues Magnus. She is bold and not afraid of his temper and cold nature toward her. Helen knows that she made a mistake all those years ago, and she is determined to prove to him how much she loves him and would choose him.
The characters in this story were wonderful and everything you look forward to in a romance. Magnus, is alpha with a sword and kilt. Magnus is brooding, stubborn, and possessive. He is very resistant to Helen having any part of his life. But boy can he kiss, I almost had a stroke when reading some of the more heated scenes. Helen, is the type of heroine that seems human, normal and very easy to relate to. As I was reading I couldn't help but say 'oh I recognize that about myself'. She has made some mistakes, and at first you can't understand her decision. But the more you read through the story, you many qualities where you begin to like her more and more. Helen is a fighter, she doesn't give up easy, and I cheered her on from the moment she starts to fight for Magnus, even though Magnus is more stubborn than a mule.
This was such a wonderful story, with a tremendous plot, and characters to capture you. The Saint is a tale of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of true love in the midst of turmoil, traitors and danger. EXCITEMENT WITH EACH PAGE!!!
The Saint is the fifth book in this Highland Guard series by Monica McCarty. Now if any of you have yet to read Monica McCarty you are missing out on a adventure of a lifetime. The Saint is Magnus's story, and what a story...I just loved it. It begins with seeing the scene that broke these two up in the first place. Then it jumps to the betrothal and wedding...and well these two could match fireworks to light up the whole sky. Both Magnus and Helen are very passionate. Magnus, is a warrior and a able fighter, and fierce in his passions. He knows that he can never have a future with Helen, but he doesn't realize how determined Helen will be in her pursuit of him. Helen is now a widow, but there is one man she aches to be hers, the bold Magnus MacKay. When Magnus and Helen are put together again, and surrounded by danger and trying to protect the King, they can't resist the passion. I love the way that Helen pursues Magnus. She is bold and not afraid of his temper and cold nature toward her. Helen knows that she made a mistake all those years ago, and she is determined to prove to him how much she loves him and would choose him.
The characters in this story were wonderful and everything you look forward to in a romance. Magnus, is alpha with a sword and kilt. Magnus is brooding, stubborn, and possessive. He is very resistant to Helen having any part of his life. But boy can he kiss, I almost had a stroke when reading some of the more heated scenes. Helen, is the type of heroine that seems human, normal and very easy to relate to. As I was reading I couldn't help but say 'oh I recognize that about myself'. She has made some mistakes, and at first you can't understand her decision. But the more you read through the story, you many qualities where you begin to like her more and more. Helen is a fighter, she doesn't give up easy, and I cheered her on from the moment she starts to fight for Magnus, even though Magnus is more stubborn than a mule.
This was such a wonderful story, with a tremendous plot, and characters to capture you. The Saint is a tale of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of true love in the midst of turmoil, traitors and danger. EXCITEMENT WITH EACH PAGE!!!
March 31, 2012
I loved The Saint. Monica McCarty does not disappoint. Every book gets better and better, and The Saint is no exception. I loved the two main characters. Helen is my favorite heroine yet. I loved her attitude and determination. She is a girl who knows what she wants and goes for it. Magnus is caring, strong and just absolutely swoon-worthy. Their relationship was beautifully written. The new twists that Monica McCarty added into the story were also a pleasant surprise. She delivers a wonderful story full of suspense, action and romance. I'm very looking forward to the next book in the series, The Recruit, coming out in October.
August 20, 2023
I loved this book. I'm reading the series sequentially so another favorite may surface after this one 😉 This had just enough angst, heat, mysteries, danger, plot twists and more. I don't want to give much away but the hero was wonderful - masculine, restrained, fighting with years of yearning for a woman he loves - just the way I like them! (Of course I'm loving that this author is always calling on historical events and explaining them in notes at the end of the books.)
May 23, 2012
This book needs to come out sooner.
April 13, 2012
Great finish, although a slow start, and now I can't wait til the next! Full review soon.
October 23, 2016
Good book. It was a little confusing keep some of the characters straight for some reason. I'm also not sure what the point of the side story of Muriel and the Earl was. First I thought it was going help him be open to accepting Magnus, but that wasn't the case. It was like a short story mixed in.
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