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MacLeods of Skye Trilogy #3
Highlander Unchained
Lachlan Maclean will do whatever it takes to protect his clan—even if it means abducting the most willful woman in the Highlands with the secret intention of wooing her for marriage. A searingly sensual born leader possessing brute strength and an imposing command, Lachlan is unprepared for the beautiful spitfire, Flora MacLeod, who jeopardizes his plans to save his clan, and digs beneath his hard, chiseled exterior to expose a tenderness that may be his undoing.
The greatest marriage prize in the Highlands, Flora is determined at all costs to avoid her mother's fate of being bartered away as a political pawn. Vowing to make her captor pay for his ruthlessness, she boldly engages him in a battle of wills, sweetening the challenge with dangerous passion—even as the lingering curse and deadly ghosts of a past tragedy reach out to thwart a tender love that has yet to be spoken.
The greatest marriage prize in the Highlands, Flora is determined at all costs to avoid her mother's fate of being bartered away as a political pawn. Vowing to make her captor pay for his ruthlessness, she boldly engages him in a battle of wills, sweetening the challenge with dangerous passion—even as the lingering curse and deadly ghosts of a past tragedy reach out to thwart a tender love that has yet to be spoken.
363 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 25, 2007
102 people are currently reading
2671 people want to read
About the author
Monica McCarty
61 books2,964 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 205 reviews
February 7, 2021
i really loved the story at the beginning of the book-the curse she put on that guy. it was a nice buildup for the story.
however, i did have some problems with this story.
first and foremost, i cant stand when they have a mistress in the book! it's bad enough when authors usually mention thier sexual conquests and all that crap, but to have the girl in there so our characters actually meets her is just beyond my comprehension. why would anyone want that in their romance book?!
&instead of being all mean to her, the main characters all nice and blushes at her blunt comments and all that crap. can people,for once, act how their supposed to act? how people would normally act in that situation!?
&then his old mistress is like,he HAD to take your clothes off to get your body temperature back up.first of all, anyone could have done it, so let's just calm down on all the dramatics!
she acts like flora was just freaking out about it.gently bred girls would have had a problem about it.we're not all sluts like you.(that's aimed at the mistress,who's name i cant think of rite now)
&then when the guy goes to break it off with his mistres he's all 'maybe he owed her more than an explanation'. you don't owe her crap! you're about to be married, you sleezeball!
&he sleeps with her,like days before he goes to capture his future wife.
this had my blood boiling! i hate when stuff like that is in a book!
however, i did have some problems with this story.
first and foremost, i cant stand when they have a mistress in the book! it's bad enough when authors usually mention thier sexual conquests and all that crap, but to have the girl in there so our characters actually meets her is just beyond my comprehension. why would anyone want that in their romance book?!
&instead of being all mean to her, the main characters all nice and blushes at her blunt comments and all that crap. can people,for once, act how their supposed to act? how people would normally act in that situation!?
&then his old mistress is like,he HAD to take your clothes off to get your body temperature back up.first of all, anyone could have done it, so let's just calm down on all the dramatics!
she acts like flora was just freaking out about it.gently bred girls would have had a problem about it.we're not all sluts like you.(that's aimed at the mistress,who's name i cant think of rite now)
&then when the guy goes to break it off with his mistres he's all 'maybe he owed her more than an explanation'. you don't owe her crap! you're about to be married, you sleezeball!
&he sleeps with her,like days before he goes to capture his future wife.
this had my blood boiling! i hate when stuff like that is in a book!
November 29, 2020
geçen yine barbar fakat şefkatli, hödük ama romantik, duygusuz ama aşık bir highlandli istiyorum (sanki sürekli istemiyorum asdfasdfasdf) tuttum bunu açtım.
sonuç olarak yine bana hüsran yine bana kurşunlar.
tamam fena değil ama ilk kitaba yazdığım gibi tekrar eden 'şehvetli' betimlemeler beni yordu.
bi de sikerler görevini yani istediği kadar hector'un önünde diz çökmüş olsun
kıza da gıcık oldum
belki de ben biraz her şeye gıcıklaşmaya başlayıp ölmek istiyoken kurtarılmayı bekliyo da olabilirim
sonuç olarak yine bana hüsran yine bana kurşunlar.
tamam fena değil ama ilk kitaba yazdığım gibi tekrar eden 'şehvetli' betimlemeler beni yordu.
bi de sikerler görevini yani istediği kadar hector'un önünde diz çökmüş olsun
kıza da gıcık oldum
belki de ben biraz her şeye gıcıklaşmaya başlayıp ölmek istiyoken kurtarılmayı bekliyo da olabilirim
August 23, 2022
I’m going to keep this short… I’m WAY behind on reviews and there’re several out there. Highlander Unchained follows Flora MacLeod, a beauty that was raised to rebel against duty, and Lachlan Maclean, a laird struggling to protect/provide for his clan and rescue his brother. Lachlan has been engaged in a long conflict with Flora’s evil ½ brother and has allied with her other ½ brother (H from book 1) and her cousin to defeat said evil bro and save his brother from imprisonment.
I LOVED the prologue. It grabbed my attention and made me very curious of the real-life tale that this story was built upon. (The author has a very informative note detailing her research at the end of the book) Keeping with the excitement, we jump right in with the h being kidnapped by the H. YUM… but things started to fall off a bit for me because the plot started to feel like a hamster wheel, and I got bored.
A huge hunk of the plot is made up of Flora raging against her captivity while lusting after Lachlan. Sprinkled in with her making unintelligent/TSTL decisions that put her in danger… then desperately hoping/waiting for Lachlan to save her. His ex-leman is lurking about, but she causes minimal drama and disappears rather than receiving comeuppance for her part in Flora’s latest impulsive plan.
Bottom Line- Ok, but not great. I enjoyed it but needed more conflict/drama to keep me engaged.
I LOVED the prologue. It grabbed my attention and made me very curious of the real-life tale that this story was built upon. (The author has a very informative note detailing her research at the end of the book) Keeping with the excitement, we jump right in with the h being kidnapped by the H. YUM… but things started to fall off a bit for me because the plot started to feel like a hamster wheel, and I got bored.
A huge hunk of the plot is made up of Flora raging against her captivity while lusting after Lachlan. Sprinkled in with her making unintelligent/TSTL decisions that put her in danger… then desperately hoping/waiting for Lachlan to save her. His ex-leman is lurking about, but she causes minimal drama and disappears rather than receiving comeuppance for her part in Flora’s latest impulsive plan.
Bottom Line- Ok, but not great. I enjoyed it but needed more conflict/drama to keep me engaged.
September 21, 2011
4.5
Highlander Unchained follows Flora, Rory & Alex’s younger half-sister. We didn’t see too much of her in the first two novels, her story is pretty separate from the first two but Rory does make an appearance towards the end.
McCarty brings Flora and Lachlan to life with a flourish. Lachland McLean, Laird of Coll, has many responsibilities as his clan’s chief, some of which pull him in different directions. And one that leads him to kidnapping Flora McLeod, a pampered lady of the court who is determined to make her own choices in life, not be dictated to by her brothers and cousin, and most importantly, not be used for her wealth and position. Flora is headstrong and oft times, too set in her ways. She frustrates Lachlan to no end with her childish behavior and as the reader I sympathized with his feelings and the dilemmas he finds himself in when it comes to the ethereal beauty, Flora.
Lachlan is a brooding, protective and devastatingly sexy. His and Flora’s passion will singe you from the pages. The emotional turmoil between the characters kept me on edge and it became incredibly gut wrenching towards the end. I love a story that can put your heart through such acrobatics as what I have found in McCarty’s writing.
Monica McCarty does incredible work with her research and I love the little historical notes at the end of each novel. To know that these characters where actual real people and something along the story’s lines could of happened to them is simply fascinating.
What it all comes down to though is that the MacLeods of Skye Trilogy is a must-read series that you should not pass up.
See full series review at http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
Highlander Unchained follows Flora, Rory & Alex’s younger half-sister. We didn’t see too much of her in the first two novels, her story is pretty separate from the first two but Rory does make an appearance towards the end.
McCarty brings Flora and Lachlan to life with a flourish. Lachland McLean, Laird of Coll, has many responsibilities as his clan’s chief, some of which pull him in different directions. And one that leads him to kidnapping Flora McLeod, a pampered lady of the court who is determined to make her own choices in life, not be dictated to by her brothers and cousin, and most importantly, not be used for her wealth and position. Flora is headstrong and oft times, too set in her ways. She frustrates Lachlan to no end with her childish behavior and as the reader I sympathized with his feelings and the dilemmas he finds himself in when it comes to the ethereal beauty, Flora.
Lachlan is a brooding, protective and devastatingly sexy. His and Flora’s passion will singe you from the pages. The emotional turmoil between the characters kept me on edge and it became incredibly gut wrenching towards the end. I love a story that can put your heart through such acrobatics as what I have found in McCarty’s writing.
Monica McCarty does incredible work with her research and I love the little historical notes at the end of each novel. To know that these characters where actual real people and something along the story’s lines could of happened to them is simply fascinating.
What it all comes down to though is that the MacLeods of Skye Trilogy is a must-read series that you should not pass up.
See full series review at http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
January 2, 2022
Flora, the heroine, was beyond annoying. I'm positive that Lachlan would have regretted his "Devil's Bargain" on more than one occasion, if he were a normal man and not a "hero". I did enjoy the very well researched aspects of this story and Monica McCarty does an excellent job of portraying life in 1600's Scotland and the politics of that time.
Flora MacLeod is spoiled, rich and stubborn. She was raised by her mother who hated the Highlands and, in particular, Highland Men, especially her four husbands who used her for her wealth and as a political pawn. She raised Flora to view all arranged marriages the same way. Since her mother died, Flora's brothers and very influential cousin have been maneuvering to marry her off. Flora will have none of that. She is determined to make her own choice of husband.
Lachlan Maclean is Laird of his clan and as such his personal desires matter little. He is a strong leader and a real hottie, but he may have met his match in the willful Flora. He needs her and her position and her wealth, so he kidnaps her. He had the idea that after a little wooing, she would be more than willing to marry him. Guess again. She will settle for nothing less than is whole heart.
3 1/2-Stars
Flora MacLeod is spoiled, rich and stubborn. She was raised by her mother who hated the Highlands and, in particular, Highland Men, especially her four husbands who used her for her wealth and as a political pawn. She raised Flora to view all arranged marriages the same way. Since her mother died, Flora's brothers and very influential cousin have been maneuvering to marry her off. Flora will have none of that. She is determined to make her own choice of husband.
Lachlan Maclean is Laird of his clan and as such his personal desires matter little. He is a strong leader and a real hottie, but he may have met his match in the willful Flora. He needs her and her position and her wealth, so he kidnaps her. He had the idea that after a little wooing, she would be more than willing to marry him. Guess again. She will settle for nothing less than is whole heart.
3 1/2-Stars
January 11, 2024
This was a reread.
I downgraded it to a 4 star.
I found the heroine at times to be a little too much for me.
I downgraded it to a 4 star.
I found the heroine at times to be a little too much for me.
December 2, 2021
ilk İskoçuma bakarken uzun zamandır kendimi İskoçsuz bıraktığımı idrak ettim. püüüü bana! acil doz İskoç takviyesi yazıyorum kendime. hem de tam olarak bunu 😈
April 22, 2023
Eleştirecek hiç bir şeyim yok resmen aşık oldum 🥹
January 13, 2016
Overall I like Highlander Unchained. As usual you can count on Monica McCarty to write a very good storyline with lots of sensual scenes and engaging characters. The storyline moves quickly enough and there is good back story for each character. My complaint of this story was an annoying heroin Flora MacLeod oh boy was she a nuisance brat. She was 24 which is old and on the shelf for this ear in time, but she acted like a 18 year old. The hero Lachlan MacLean had two sister Mary and Gillie 15 and 17 which were more mature then Flora. The author really should not have written her so old for the character she betrayed. The story was a bit repetitive. These are the reasons I didn't give it 5 stars. I liked the legend about the curse and the epilog was very good. So Overall this was a very good story!! I highly Recommend the MacLeods of Skye series!!
April 9, 2017
Para mi gusto este es el mejor de la trilogía. Flora me cae muy bien y Lachlan mmmm.
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October 12, 2011
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
Umm, this book is all about Lachlan ‘the delish’ MacLean without a doubt. He was great, intense, sexy and hawwwwt, just the type I like. Yah he was a bit of a blockhead about a few things, which bugged me but ultimately, I ended up liking him and the story too. I liked Flora for the 1st half of the story, the 2nd half and the big misunderstanding part just pissed me off because I thought she was being totally stupid. Anyway, first, I’d like to talk about Lady’s Rock and the curse of the amulet, as the prologue will tell you.
The story of the curse of Elizabeth Campbell to the MacLean clan with an amulet was simply marvelous. I was a bit confused at first about the names (you know Jamie’s sister is also Elizabeth of the Campbell trilogy). But soon I realized it’s about ancestors to both Lachlan and Flora. Lachlan MacLean (Elizabeth’s husband) wanted to kill her so he left her in a small rock near the Isles of Mull (and Coll) so that she would drown by night. The reason behind it was horrible, also the fact that Elizabeth loved her husband and raised his two kids (from an earlier marriage) as her own. It was so heart wrenching, her thoughts and despairs, from which she finally curses the MacLeans; that the MacLeans would always be bound to the Campbells, only a true love between the two clans and the handover of the amulet could break it. She was saved by some fishing boat/people from her own clan when MacLean left her that night. A few days later, MacLean goes to the Campbells’ to give them the sad news only to find Elizabeth waiting for him. MM has been almost true to the story, only the curse and the amulet part weren’t true with the names of the characters.
Flora won’t marry on anybody’s order. She won’t be a marriage prize, no matter what. Her mother set the idea in her head, since she herself was a marriage prize; bartered away in marriage with various men for greed and for political gains. Janet Campbell was wealthy and beautiful who trusted the men of her clan with her future, which was totally destroyed with the course of time. She was married 4 times, to men much older than her and brutish. 1st MacLean, she never liked. 2nd MacLean died soon after the marriage. 3rd MacIan she never talked about. 4th was Rory’s father, the MacLeod she has neither loved, nor hated. She never wanted this for Flora, who’s her last and only child with the MacLeod. Janet hated the ‘wild, brutish and bloodthirsty’ Highlanders so much that she never really let Flora visit her brothers and sisters from both sides. They lived in the Lowlands and were used to the court life. Flora is also Argyll’s cousin. Flora has it all stored in her head so she planned to elope with a Lowland lord and marry on her own wishes. With her mother dead, Flora must marry for protection. She knew even though Rory wouldn’t force her, Argyll and Hector (her mother’s son from her 1st MacLean marriage) wouldn’t be so nice. Flora isn’t really close to her siblings, 4 brothers and 3 sisters in all (from both her parents), the reason obvious. The day she elopes with Lord Murray is the day she’s kidnapped by a Highlander, on their way to Falkirk. I kinda liked those scenes, seeing how she fought and knew she had fire. Flora is known throughout the court not only for her beauty and wealth (and a marriage prize) but also for her hoyden self. She’s been to any number of misadventures that everyone knows about her. We see a little of that along the way, in Lachlan’s castle too.
Lachlan needed to seduce and marry Flora because of his clan and his brother John. Lachlan isn’t a man who sprouts poetry. There’s no use for pretty words and flowers for him. He’s very serious in life, being a Laird in a very early life. Money has been a problem for them for sometimes now. Whatever I read of his childhood, it was a happy one but he lost his parents very early, within months of each-other. Apart from younger brother John, the two younger sisters Mary and Gillian are his family. They, along with his clan are all he cares about so he’d do his duty by them, no matter what. When King James asked for the annual summoning of the Highland Lairds, for some reasons (possibly some problem with Hector because their rivalry/hatred for each-other is well-known), Lachlan sent John in his stead. The King, of course, didn’t take it lightly and threw John in prison. Lachlan didn’t care for court life, ever and doesn’t care for the Lowlanders too. Historically, I think the MacLean of Coll is supposed to bow down to the MacLean of Duart (in Mull). But Lachlan (Coll) doesn’t care for this since he’s his own law so Hector (Duart) wasn’t happy about it. He wanted Lachlan dead, no matter what. So when Lachlan was negotiating with Argyll, with whom he has the bindings of manrent, Hector stormed the Breacachadh castle in Coll and took it. Now Lachlan not only has to free John but also the castle. Argyll tells him he’ll use his influence with the King to help him at least with John’s release, only if he captures Flora (the news of her elopement just arrived) and marry her. It’ll also help Lachlan financially. So Lachlan agrees and abducts her. On his way to Drimnin (in Falkirk? I wasn’t sure) castle, where Lachlan was staying at the moment, he got a few facts straight: Flora is as beautiful (blond and blue-eyed) and as willful as the court gossips say. He also learns Argyll wasn’t kidding when he said Flora would be some work for him. She actually injures his side with a dirk when her ‘suitor’ Murray ran away!
Flora is totally incensed by this new development. Even though the voice and nearness of her Highlander captor sets her heart to flutter, she’s not going to bow down to him. She learns that it was the MacLean of Coll whose party abducted her but she didn’t know that Lachlan himself was the big Highlander whom she injured. But, from the way he endures pain (as other warriors were sealing his injury with a hot knife) she knew this man isn’t the vain, peacock type she met in court. Oh but the man is very handsome, ruggedly so, with dark hair and bright blue eyes. In Drimnin, she meets Mary and Gilli. They like each-other on spot. Gilli is more like herself, all vivacious in spirit and beauty. Mary is beautiful too, but she’s the subdued type. It’s also very apparent that Mary is harboring a tendre for Allan, Lachlan’s captain. Flora is very interested in the match since its apparent these two are very much in love. She also learns that Lachlan wants to marry her, to which Flora doesn’t agree. There’s no way she’s marrying by force, to a Highlander no less! Her mother’s words on bloodthirsty, brutish Highlander is always there in her mind but gradually, she begins discovering a very different man underneath all those gruff, rugged and stubborn exterior of the equally fascinating Laird. He totally loves his sisters, albeit not showing it well. Flora, at first, tries some misadventures such as putting too much salt in his meals or oiling his weapons with smelly oil and so on just to rile him up. But Lachlan is not so easily provoked. He’s patiently waiting, which Flora doesn’t know. They share a few kisses and touches that set them both on fire, especially Lachlan, who has a very healthy sexual appetite. He himself admits that he’s never kept his lust in check, for any reason. This is why I was very uncomfortable to know that in Drimnin, the healer woman of the clan was his current mistress. Flora got to know it from a... let’s say, quite a graphic way.
Soon, Lachlan throws a feast for his forthcoming nuptials. Flora doesn’t agree but she knew she has to attend. That day, while she was getting out of her bath, Lachlan comes in without thinking and … well you can guess, seeing Flora in a thin linen, Lachlan is all gone. He was already tethering on the edge, thinking about visiting his mistress but this is just sheer torture for him. Let me tell you that I absolutely HATE it when the hero fantasizes about the heroine and then goes to f*ck his mistress. I felt pretty uncomfortable thinking he’ll do the same, since the woman is always around the castle. I think she lived there. She was also invited to the feast and knew why it was thrown. When Lachlan saw her, he thinks about going to her again and to offer explanations about his upcoming marriage. WTF? The woman was bold, to my utter disgust. She was never shown the door throughout the story and the development of Lachlan-Flora’s relationship. This bugged me to no end. Ultimately, I couldn’t get over it even though they weren’t living in Drimnin by then. Anyway, seeing Flora drives all the thought of that woman from Lachlan’s mind. He’s now determined, more than ever, to win her. He realized it wasn’t only about the bargain anymore; he really wants Flora to be his wife. Flora is also very charmed by the Laird, though he’s not the charming kind. But she notices one woman keep giving him inviting glances. She’s not sure what to think but her answers come the next morning. Lachlan, goes to see the woman to tell her about the marriage. The woman dared to throw tantrum at this and then touched him intimately while inviting him, reminding him of their ‘intimate times’. Lord but that was utterly disgusting to read. Lachlan was actually thinking of giving in (again) when he realizes how calculating she was and breaks off from her, threatening her not to make trouble in his marriage. Flora saw the whole thing from a window (immediately understanding her relationship with Lachlan) as she was about to go talk to Mary, who was moping because Lachlan forbade her match with Allan. Flora is hurt but she knows she shouldn’t be. Flora kinda endured the woman all through the book, I don’t know why and I didn’t think she was bothered by this fact at all. But, I’m not so nice so it pissed me off royally!
Flora tries talking to Lachlan about Mary and Allan, also telling him about her mother and why she won’t be a marriage prize. It seems like Lachlan understands but he’s determined to have her nonetheless. Flora doesn’t know that Lachlan is halfway there, falling for her. In the meantime, Hector’s message arrives, asking Lachlan to release Flora. This scene was heart tugging, how Flora realizes that Lachlan can’t read the Scots language and Hector, knowing the fact, sent it in Scots to humiliate him because the only person in this castle knew Scots was Flora. Flora was already giving lessons on Scots to Mary and Gilli. I wish she’d do the same to Lachlan but it was never mentioned again. Lachlan understood that Flora is not scorning him or anything, that she’s totally sympathetic that his financial situation stopped him from acheiving higher educations. In the meantime, Flora plans an escape as she and Lachlan fought over their mutual disagreement on the marriage. She knew how close Hector is now so she decides to go to him. A boat ride would be the easy way out. But Flora doesn’t know how to swim. Either way, she makes an escape and takes an old fishing boat to Breacachadh castle. She didn’t know anything about Hector or how disgusting the SOB was or what his plans were for her. Flora just thought being a brother, he’ll help out. But we get to learn how Hector is abusing the people in the Breacachadh, because he hates Lachlan and the people of Coll in general. There was a scene with him and a maid servant, it was so utterly vile, the way he treated the woman that I wanted to cut off his balls! I still feel shudders when I think of it. Not only this one but another scene suggested that he wanted to rape a young girl because the older sister (the aforementioned maid) was not available. Though I saw nothing of it later on, it gave me chills, how he was forcing their mother to bring one of the girls.
Flora’s escape plans go awry when the boat begins to sink. Lachlan, in the meantime, wanted to apologies in his way to her. As he checks in her room, he finds out she’s gone. Search parties are immediately sent to all directions. Lachlan panicked like he’s never panicked in his life. Oh, I knew the guy has fallen already. Then, with his superb intuition, he understands how Flora might escape. His nightmare comes to life as he finds Flora floating somehow on the water. He also realized that she can’t swim. This was some scene. He rescues her and takes care of her cold by warming her himself. Oh my! I was already fanning myself with the delectable kissing scenes, along with hot little interludes but this was sexy though he didn’t do a thing, other than softly kissing her. Next morning, when Flora awakes finally, she realizes what happened finding herself naked in Lachlan’s bed. At that time, the healer woman comes in. She checks on Flora and then asks her about the marriage. Flora vehemently denies of marrying Lachlan. The woman dared to subtly threat her with ‘I’ll be waiting when he’s tired of chasing you’-type words. OMG! Shut up and get the hell outta my sight b*tch! But that was only my reaction while Flora was nothing but a little uncomfortable with this situation. That’s not all, as I soon found out in the story. Lachlan soon takes Flora to a nearby pool to teach her how to swim. It was a place where he used to frequent as a boy. This is where also they end up making love because Flora now wanted to claim him as her own. Lachlan asks about marriage but Flora is still determined not to marry. She also feels Lachlan is hiding something from her, since whenever his brother’s topic comes up, all the siblings changes it ASAP. Lachlan threatens Flora that he’ll make her agree with his marriage proposal. And he does, my my! Flora was totally swept away by the onslaught of his sensual attentions, along with touches and innuendoes. But he won’t make love unless she agrees to the marriage. I just LOVED the scene in the Solar, where Lachlan just came to her from behind and ummm... well, this scene has some significance in the later part of the story. Flora can’t take it anymore.
Together, they go to the pool again, this time with Mary and Gilli and a few clansmen to protect them, which includes Allan. In this outing, Lachlan could see Flora’s reasoning on Mary and Allan might be true. He kinda thought of reconsidering. When Flora was changing her clothes, some men attack her. She realizes they’re Hector’s men, came to take her away. Flora, this time, doesn’t want to go so she tries to talk to them. But Gilli comes upon them and alerts Lachlan. Then there is this crazy fight where Lachlan is almost killed. Flora throws herself on him and asks the men to leave. With this incident, she realizes she loves him and would marry him. Soon they exchange ILU and some hooot love scenes and a betrothal. One scene I’d like to mention here, where Flora talks to him about her uncertainly of him taking a mistress. Lachlan was smirking thinking she was jealous of the healer woman. How disgusting! Flora taunts him too, with talks of other men, which makes Lachlan mad immediately. I mean talk about being hypocritical. He tells Flora he’d never disrespect her by taking a mistress. But Lachlan, don’t you think flaunting the woman every time there’s an injury in the castle would be disrespect to her? As the blockhead didn’t realize this, Flora should’ve demanded that he get rid of her but Flora never does, to my utter frustration. Now, Lachlan is very happy yet restless thinking of the outcome of when Flora learns of the bargain. To avoid his bargain with Argyll, he even tries to rescue John with the support of his men but fails. This time he knew there’s no way he could avoid the bargain. Next came another scene in the Solar, a really hot love scene, the best of the book I think. I absolutely loved it. Hell, the guy was so damn sexy! Anyway, afterwards, Flora finds out a few nice things: like a gift from Lachlan along with all her clothes, brought back from Edinburgh. Also that he’s given Mary the permission to marry Allan. Flora knew, on their wedding night, she’ll hand over the cursed Campbell amulet to Lachlan, as a token of their love. She has so far worn it around her neck, as it was bestowed by her mother to her.
Things go smoothly, almost. Rory and Argyll was already in the castle for the ceremony. I loved the way siblings met, would’ve loved the see Alex but I read in the beginning that Meg was about the deliver their 2nd child so... Anyway, Flora was initially a bit suspicious, the way Argyll was very accommodating but she tells them she’s willing to marry Lachlan and Lachlan sort of announces to them about their intension. Flora didn’t know that this announcement, in Highlands, is as good as being married. At night, they make love, which ultimately consummates it too. But Flora was oblivious to it all. On the day of the wedding things go horribly wrong. After the contract signing, Rory leaves but Argyll and Lachlan talk. Someone slid a note under Flora’s door, something that confuses her. As she goes to talk to Lachlan, she hears it all. Oh boy, I knew there’s a mess ahead but I was equally angry that she dismissed everything that’s been between them and downright accuses him of betraying her. Lachlan never lied. But Flora was stuck in her little theory about the Highlanders and now, won’t marry him. Then Lachlan reluctantly tells her the truth. I know she should be angry, very logical but WTF did she do next? I’ll be there shortly. They marry. At night, she bars the door on Lachlan. He breaks in (ok, that was HOT) and kisses her wildly. Flora says some really awful things to him just to hurt him. WTF! Lachlan is angry but leaves to bring John home. And what does Flora do? She presses the healer woman to help her (are you frigging kidding me?) and runs away to Hector! I mean talk about being a fool! How could Flora go to her and tempt her with a revival of her and Lachlan’s previous relationship? Is this love to you Flora: to distrust the man you love the 1st moment he’s under suspicion and tempt his ex-mistress with a boon such as this? WOW, you lost me there totally!
I lost my interest in the ending after that but it was nice. Instinctively, I knew how brave Lachlan would be to save Flora from Hector’s dirty machinations. I wish Flora learned how Hector abused the maids but she had ample reasons herself to hate the man. She also learned why her mother never talked of her 3rd husband. It was because of Hector, another sad story of Janet Campbell’s life. Historically speaking, as the author’s note will tell you, these incidents are true. MM may have altered a name here and there to avoid confusion. Again, I totally loved this note and all the historical facts in it. At night, Flora gives Lachlan the amulet with all her heart and they beg forgiveness of each-other for all the misunderstandings. The epilogue was sweet. 4 stars and my favorite (story wise) in the trilogy.
My research on a few things:
On Flora or Florence MacLeod
Her husband was one Lauchlan MacLean, no mention of any kids.
Is this the Lauchlan I was looking for?
I’m not sure. In the MacLeans’ website I found no Lauchlan MacLean, born around 1580s whose wife was Florence. How sad!
Here’s something about the Lady’s Rock from Wikipedia
Finally, a picture of the Breacachadh Castle on the Isle of Coll...
Umm, this book is all about Lachlan ‘the delish’ MacLean without a doubt. He was great, intense, sexy and hawwwwt, just the type I like. Yah he was a bit of a blockhead about a few things, which bugged me but ultimately, I ended up liking him and the story too. I liked Flora for the 1st half of the story, the 2nd half and the big misunderstanding part just pissed me off because I thought she was being totally stupid. Anyway, first, I’d like to talk about Lady’s Rock and the curse of the amulet, as the prologue will tell you.
The story of the curse of Elizabeth Campbell to the MacLean clan with an amulet was simply marvelous. I was a bit confused at first about the names (you know Jamie’s sister is also Elizabeth of the Campbell trilogy). But soon I realized it’s about ancestors to both Lachlan and Flora. Lachlan MacLean (Elizabeth’s husband) wanted to kill her so he left her in a small rock near the Isles of Mull (and Coll) so that she would drown by night. The reason behind it was horrible, also the fact that Elizabeth loved her husband and raised his two kids (from an earlier marriage) as her own. It was so heart wrenching, her thoughts and despairs, from which she finally curses the MacLeans; that the MacLeans would always be bound to the Campbells, only a true love between the two clans and the handover of the amulet could break it. She was saved by some fishing boat/people from her own clan when MacLean left her that night. A few days later, MacLean goes to the Campbells’ to give them the sad news only to find Elizabeth waiting for him. MM has been almost true to the story, only the curse and the amulet part weren’t true with the names of the characters.
Flora won’t marry on anybody’s order. She won’t be a marriage prize, no matter what. Her mother set the idea in her head, since she herself was a marriage prize; bartered away in marriage with various men for greed and for political gains. Janet Campbell was wealthy and beautiful who trusted the men of her clan with her future, which was totally destroyed with the course of time. She was married 4 times, to men much older than her and brutish. 1st MacLean, she never liked. 2nd MacLean died soon after the marriage. 3rd MacIan she never talked about. 4th was Rory’s father, the MacLeod she has neither loved, nor hated. She never wanted this for Flora, who’s her last and only child with the MacLeod. Janet hated the ‘wild, brutish and bloodthirsty’ Highlanders so much that she never really let Flora visit her brothers and sisters from both sides. They lived in the Lowlands and were used to the court life. Flora is also Argyll’s cousin. Flora has it all stored in her head so she planned to elope with a Lowland lord and marry on her own wishes. With her mother dead, Flora must marry for protection. She knew even though Rory wouldn’t force her, Argyll and Hector (her mother’s son from her 1st MacLean marriage) wouldn’t be so nice. Flora isn’t really close to her siblings, 4 brothers and 3 sisters in all (from both her parents), the reason obvious. The day she elopes with Lord Murray is the day she’s kidnapped by a Highlander, on their way to Falkirk. I kinda liked those scenes, seeing how she fought and knew she had fire. Flora is known throughout the court not only for her beauty and wealth (and a marriage prize) but also for her hoyden self. She’s been to any number of misadventures that everyone knows about her. We see a little of that along the way, in Lachlan’s castle too.
Lachlan needed to seduce and marry Flora because of his clan and his brother John. Lachlan isn’t a man who sprouts poetry. There’s no use for pretty words and flowers for him. He’s very serious in life, being a Laird in a very early life. Money has been a problem for them for sometimes now. Whatever I read of his childhood, it was a happy one but he lost his parents very early, within months of each-other. Apart from younger brother John, the two younger sisters Mary and Gillian are his family. They, along with his clan are all he cares about so he’d do his duty by them, no matter what. When King James asked for the annual summoning of the Highland Lairds, for some reasons (possibly some problem with Hector because their rivalry/hatred for each-other is well-known), Lachlan sent John in his stead. The King, of course, didn’t take it lightly and threw John in prison. Lachlan didn’t care for court life, ever and doesn’t care for the Lowlanders too. Historically, I think the MacLean of Coll is supposed to bow down to the MacLean of Duart (in Mull). But Lachlan (Coll) doesn’t care for this since he’s his own law so Hector (Duart) wasn’t happy about it. He wanted Lachlan dead, no matter what. So when Lachlan was negotiating with Argyll, with whom he has the bindings of manrent, Hector stormed the Breacachadh castle in Coll and took it. Now Lachlan not only has to free John but also the castle. Argyll tells him he’ll use his influence with the King to help him at least with John’s release, only if he captures Flora (the news of her elopement just arrived) and marry her. It’ll also help Lachlan financially. So Lachlan agrees and abducts her. On his way to Drimnin (in Falkirk? I wasn’t sure) castle, where Lachlan was staying at the moment, he got a few facts straight: Flora is as beautiful (blond and blue-eyed) and as willful as the court gossips say. He also learns Argyll wasn’t kidding when he said Flora would be some work for him. She actually injures his side with a dirk when her ‘suitor’ Murray ran away!
Flora is totally incensed by this new development. Even though the voice and nearness of her Highlander captor sets her heart to flutter, she’s not going to bow down to him. She learns that it was the MacLean of Coll whose party abducted her but she didn’t know that Lachlan himself was the big Highlander whom she injured. But, from the way he endures pain (as other warriors were sealing his injury with a hot knife) she knew this man isn’t the vain, peacock type she met in court. Oh but the man is very handsome, ruggedly so, with dark hair and bright blue eyes. In Drimnin, she meets Mary and Gilli. They like each-other on spot. Gilli is more like herself, all vivacious in spirit and beauty. Mary is beautiful too, but she’s the subdued type. It’s also very apparent that Mary is harboring a tendre for Allan, Lachlan’s captain. Flora is very interested in the match since its apparent these two are very much in love. She also learns that Lachlan wants to marry her, to which Flora doesn’t agree. There’s no way she’s marrying by force, to a Highlander no less! Her mother’s words on bloodthirsty, brutish Highlander is always there in her mind but gradually, she begins discovering a very different man underneath all those gruff, rugged and stubborn exterior of the equally fascinating Laird. He totally loves his sisters, albeit not showing it well. Flora, at first, tries some misadventures such as putting too much salt in his meals or oiling his weapons with smelly oil and so on just to rile him up. But Lachlan is not so easily provoked. He’s patiently waiting, which Flora doesn’t know. They share a few kisses and touches that set them both on fire, especially Lachlan, who has a very healthy sexual appetite. He himself admits that he’s never kept his lust in check, for any reason. This is why I was very uncomfortable to know that in Drimnin, the healer woman of the clan was his current mistress. Flora got to know it from a... let’s say, quite a graphic way.
Soon, Lachlan throws a feast for his forthcoming nuptials. Flora doesn’t agree but she knew she has to attend. That day, while she was getting out of her bath, Lachlan comes in without thinking and … well you can guess, seeing Flora in a thin linen, Lachlan is all gone. He was already tethering on the edge, thinking about visiting his mistress but this is just sheer torture for him. Let me tell you that I absolutely HATE it when the hero fantasizes about the heroine and then goes to f*ck his mistress. I felt pretty uncomfortable thinking he’ll do the same, since the woman is always around the castle. I think she lived there. She was also invited to the feast and knew why it was thrown. When Lachlan saw her, he thinks about going to her again and to offer explanations about his upcoming marriage. WTF? The woman was bold, to my utter disgust. She was never shown the door throughout the story and the development of Lachlan-Flora’s relationship. This bugged me to no end. Ultimately, I couldn’t get over it even though they weren’t living in Drimnin by then. Anyway, seeing Flora drives all the thought of that woman from Lachlan’s mind. He’s now determined, more than ever, to win her. He realized it wasn’t only about the bargain anymore; he really wants Flora to be his wife. Flora is also very charmed by the Laird, though he’s not the charming kind. But she notices one woman keep giving him inviting glances. She’s not sure what to think but her answers come the next morning. Lachlan, goes to see the woman to tell her about the marriage. The woman dared to throw tantrum at this and then touched him intimately while inviting him, reminding him of their ‘intimate times’. Lord but that was utterly disgusting to read. Lachlan was actually thinking of giving in (again) when he realizes how calculating she was and breaks off from her, threatening her not to make trouble in his marriage. Flora saw the whole thing from a window (immediately understanding her relationship with Lachlan) as she was about to go talk to Mary, who was moping because Lachlan forbade her match with Allan. Flora is hurt but she knows she shouldn’t be. Flora kinda endured the woman all through the book, I don’t know why and I didn’t think she was bothered by this fact at all. But, I’m not so nice so it pissed me off royally!
Flora tries talking to Lachlan about Mary and Allan, also telling him about her mother and why she won’t be a marriage prize. It seems like Lachlan understands but he’s determined to have her nonetheless. Flora doesn’t know that Lachlan is halfway there, falling for her. In the meantime, Hector’s message arrives, asking Lachlan to release Flora. This scene was heart tugging, how Flora realizes that Lachlan can’t read the Scots language and Hector, knowing the fact, sent it in Scots to humiliate him because the only person in this castle knew Scots was Flora. Flora was already giving lessons on Scots to Mary and Gilli. I wish she’d do the same to Lachlan but it was never mentioned again. Lachlan understood that Flora is not scorning him or anything, that she’s totally sympathetic that his financial situation stopped him from acheiving higher educations. In the meantime, Flora plans an escape as she and Lachlan fought over their mutual disagreement on the marriage. She knew how close Hector is now so she decides to go to him. A boat ride would be the easy way out. But Flora doesn’t know how to swim. Either way, she makes an escape and takes an old fishing boat to Breacachadh castle. She didn’t know anything about Hector or how disgusting the SOB was or what his plans were for her. Flora just thought being a brother, he’ll help out. But we get to learn how Hector is abusing the people in the Breacachadh, because he hates Lachlan and the people of Coll in general. There was a scene with him and a maid servant, it was so utterly vile, the way he treated the woman that I wanted to cut off his balls! I still feel shudders when I think of it. Not only this one but another scene suggested that he wanted to rape a young girl because the older sister (the aforementioned maid) was not available. Though I saw nothing of it later on, it gave me chills, how he was forcing their mother to bring one of the girls.
Flora’s escape plans go awry when the boat begins to sink. Lachlan, in the meantime, wanted to apologies in his way to her. As he checks in her room, he finds out she’s gone. Search parties are immediately sent to all directions. Lachlan panicked like he’s never panicked in his life. Oh, I knew the guy has fallen already. Then, with his superb intuition, he understands how Flora might escape. His nightmare comes to life as he finds Flora floating somehow on the water. He also realized that she can’t swim. This was some scene. He rescues her and takes care of her cold by warming her himself. Oh my! I was already fanning myself with the delectable kissing scenes, along with hot little interludes but this was sexy though he didn’t do a thing, other than softly kissing her. Next morning, when Flora awakes finally, she realizes what happened finding herself naked in Lachlan’s bed. At that time, the healer woman comes in. She checks on Flora and then asks her about the marriage. Flora vehemently denies of marrying Lachlan. The woman dared to subtly threat her with ‘I’ll be waiting when he’s tired of chasing you’-type words. OMG! Shut up and get the hell outta my sight b*tch! But that was only my reaction while Flora was nothing but a little uncomfortable with this situation. That’s not all, as I soon found out in the story. Lachlan soon takes Flora to a nearby pool to teach her how to swim. It was a place where he used to frequent as a boy. This is where also they end up making love because Flora now wanted to claim him as her own. Lachlan asks about marriage but Flora is still determined not to marry. She also feels Lachlan is hiding something from her, since whenever his brother’s topic comes up, all the siblings changes it ASAP. Lachlan threatens Flora that he’ll make her agree with his marriage proposal. And he does, my my! Flora was totally swept away by the onslaught of his sensual attentions, along with touches and innuendoes. But he won’t make love unless she agrees to the marriage. I just LOVED the scene in the Solar, where Lachlan just came to her from behind and ummm... well, this scene has some significance in the later part of the story. Flora can’t take it anymore.
Together, they go to the pool again, this time with Mary and Gilli and a few clansmen to protect them, which includes Allan. In this outing, Lachlan could see Flora’s reasoning on Mary and Allan might be true. He kinda thought of reconsidering. When Flora was changing her clothes, some men attack her. She realizes they’re Hector’s men, came to take her away. Flora, this time, doesn’t want to go so she tries to talk to them. But Gilli comes upon them and alerts Lachlan. Then there is this crazy fight where Lachlan is almost killed. Flora throws herself on him and asks the men to leave. With this incident, she realizes she loves him and would marry him. Soon they exchange ILU and some hooot love scenes and a betrothal. One scene I’d like to mention here, where Flora talks to him about her uncertainly of him taking a mistress. Lachlan was smirking thinking she was jealous of the healer woman. How disgusting! Flora taunts him too, with talks of other men, which makes Lachlan mad immediately. I mean talk about being hypocritical. He tells Flora he’d never disrespect her by taking a mistress. But Lachlan, don’t you think flaunting the woman every time there’s an injury in the castle would be disrespect to her? As the blockhead didn’t realize this, Flora should’ve demanded that he get rid of her but Flora never does, to my utter frustration. Now, Lachlan is very happy yet restless thinking of the outcome of when Flora learns of the bargain. To avoid his bargain with Argyll, he even tries to rescue John with the support of his men but fails. This time he knew there’s no way he could avoid the bargain. Next came another scene in the Solar, a really hot love scene, the best of the book I think. I absolutely loved it. Hell, the guy was so damn sexy! Anyway, afterwards, Flora finds out a few nice things: like a gift from Lachlan along with all her clothes, brought back from Edinburgh. Also that he’s given Mary the permission to marry Allan. Flora knew, on their wedding night, she’ll hand over the cursed Campbell amulet to Lachlan, as a token of their love. She has so far worn it around her neck, as it was bestowed by her mother to her.
Things go smoothly, almost. Rory and Argyll was already in the castle for the ceremony. I loved the way siblings met, would’ve loved the see Alex but I read in the beginning that Meg was about the deliver their 2nd child so... Anyway, Flora was initially a bit suspicious, the way Argyll was very accommodating but she tells them she’s willing to marry Lachlan and Lachlan sort of announces to them about their intension. Flora didn’t know that this announcement, in Highlands, is as good as being married. At night, they make love, which ultimately consummates it too. But Flora was oblivious to it all. On the day of the wedding things go horribly wrong. After the contract signing, Rory leaves but Argyll and Lachlan talk. Someone slid a note under Flora’s door, something that confuses her. As she goes to talk to Lachlan, she hears it all. Oh boy, I knew there’s a mess ahead but I was equally angry that she dismissed everything that’s been between them and downright accuses him of betraying her. Lachlan never lied. But Flora was stuck in her little theory about the Highlanders and now, won’t marry him. Then Lachlan reluctantly tells her the truth. I know she should be angry, very logical but WTF did she do next? I’ll be there shortly. They marry. At night, she bars the door on Lachlan. He breaks in (ok, that was HOT) and kisses her wildly. Flora says some really awful things to him just to hurt him. WTF! Lachlan is angry but leaves to bring John home. And what does Flora do? She presses the healer woman to help her (are you frigging kidding me?) and runs away to Hector! I mean talk about being a fool! How could Flora go to her and tempt her with a revival of her and Lachlan’s previous relationship? Is this love to you Flora: to distrust the man you love the 1st moment he’s under suspicion and tempt his ex-mistress with a boon such as this? WOW, you lost me there totally!
I lost my interest in the ending after that but it was nice. Instinctively, I knew how brave Lachlan would be to save Flora from Hector’s dirty machinations. I wish Flora learned how Hector abused the maids but she had ample reasons herself to hate the man. She also learned why her mother never talked of her 3rd husband. It was because of Hector, another sad story of Janet Campbell’s life. Historically speaking, as the author’s note will tell you, these incidents are true. MM may have altered a name here and there to avoid confusion. Again, I totally loved this note and all the historical facts in it. At night, Flora gives Lachlan the amulet with all her heart and they beg forgiveness of each-other for all the misunderstandings. The epilogue was sweet. 4 stars and my favorite (story wise) in the trilogy.
My research on a few things:
On Flora or Florence MacLeod
Her husband was one Lauchlan MacLean, no mention of any kids.
Is this the Lauchlan I was looking for?
I’m not sure. In the MacLeans’ website I found no Lauchlan MacLean, born around 1580s whose wife was Florence. How sad!
Here’s something about the Lady’s Rock from Wikipedia
Finally, a picture of the Breacachadh Castle on the Isle of Coll...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2012
3rd and last book in the McLeod clan trilogy and my favourite of them all.
In this we meet Flora (Rory and Alex's sister) and Lachlan Laird of the Maclean clan.
Oh and Lachlan, sigh he was the best part to this book :)
Flora doesnt want to be used as a pawn by her family members to make a marriage they want her to make so she decides to elope with a Lowlander. On the way she is kidnapped by Lachlan and his men and held in one of his keeps.
He means to marry her himself and she is admanent it wont happen.
Not that she knows thats what he wants to do, he makes a point of trying to "woo" her in order to gain her acceptance and her hand.
He also needs her in order to get to his enemy who happens to be her brother. He has stolen his castle and he wants to get it back.
Anyway the inevitable happens they fall in love.
Lachlan is terrified that Flora will find out the real reasoning behind why he took her and doesnt want to ruin what they have.
Throw in her horrible brother Hector, the feud Lachlan has with me, some more kidnapping attempts etc and this is a really good read.
Lachlan....well what can I say about him. He is hard and stubborn, but does admit to being wrong when he is and does try to change some of his ways in order to prove to Flora what she means to him. He isnt a flowers and roses type of guy, he says I love you and he really truly means it.
Flora...became really annoying at times. She was really stubborn and willful, these werent her faults. But she was full of prejudice because of the way her mother had been treated. She had the opinion that all Highlanders were barbarians and basically no way in hell would she marry any of them. And I found her infuriating at times the way she was towards Lachlan because of this. And when she found out his secrets, I can honestly understand being upset but she would not listen to anything he had to say and heard what she wanted to hear to prove to herself she was right all along. She also kept running away which always annoys me in all HR books.
I loved the beginning of this book...altho got a bit confused esp with the character name Elizabeth Campbell as thought it was the one mentioned in previous books, turns out it was just ancestor and a curse. Was interesting, I think it could have been expanded on more though.
I also loved the small reappearance of Rory (sigh!) but sorry to Rory but Lachlan overtook him in my affections...and if Flora doesnt want him I certainly would take him off her hands hehe
For me his character is what makes it my favourite book, there were feuds, fighting, curses and romance, what more could a girl ask for.
9 stars for me if i could rate it 9 :)
In this we meet Flora (Rory and Alex's sister) and Lachlan Laird of the Maclean clan.
Oh and Lachlan, sigh he was the best part to this book :)
Flora doesnt want to be used as a pawn by her family members to make a marriage they want her to make so she decides to elope with a Lowlander. On the way she is kidnapped by Lachlan and his men and held in one of his keeps.
He means to marry her himself and she is admanent it wont happen.
Not that she knows thats what he wants to do, he makes a point of trying to "woo" her in order to gain her acceptance and her hand.
He also needs her in order to get to his enemy who happens to be her brother. He has stolen his castle and he wants to get it back.
Anyway the inevitable happens they fall in love.
Lachlan is terrified that Flora will find out the real reasoning behind why he took her and doesnt want to ruin what they have.
Throw in her horrible brother Hector, the feud Lachlan has with me, some more kidnapping attempts etc and this is a really good read.
Lachlan....well what can I say about him. He is hard and stubborn, but does admit to being wrong when he is and does try to change some of his ways in order to prove to Flora what she means to him. He isnt a flowers and roses type of guy, he says I love you and he really truly means it.
Flora...became really annoying at times. She was really stubborn and willful, these werent her faults. But she was full of prejudice because of the way her mother had been treated. She had the opinion that all Highlanders were barbarians and basically no way in hell would she marry any of them. And I found her infuriating at times the way she was towards Lachlan because of this. And when she found out his secrets, I can honestly understand being upset but she would not listen to anything he had to say and heard what she wanted to hear to prove to herself she was right all along. She also kept running away which always annoys me in all HR books.
I loved the beginning of this book...altho got a bit confused esp with the character name Elizabeth Campbell as thought it was the one mentioned in previous books, turns out it was just ancestor and a curse. Was interesting, I think it could have been expanded on more though.
I also loved the small reappearance of Rory (sigh!) but sorry to Rory but Lachlan overtook him in my affections...and if Flora doesnt want him I certainly would take him off her hands hehe
For me his character is what makes it my favourite book, there were feuds, fighting, curses and romance, what more could a girl ask for.
9 stars for me if i could rate it 9 :)
February 23, 2010
Flora MacLeod swore to herself she would never be forced into marriage like her Mother had so many times in the past to her eventual heartbreak. When she discovers her distant half-brothers are plotting to do just that, she takes matters into her own hands and plans an elopement.
One Laird Lachlan Maclean will stop at nothing to ensure his marriage to the most sought after woman in Scotland- even by thwarting her quickie elopement and taking her hostage. He desperately needs this marriage, not only for the sake of his clan who have labored under a destructive curse all these many years but to save a beloved brother.
Upset beyond belief at Lachlan's interference, Flora is determined to make him pay. She battles him at every turn even as a burning passion for the handsome Laird begins to take root inside her heart
When the dust settles both are shocked to find a deep affection for each other. Will the love between them, desperate to be unchained, survive the secrets Lachlain has kept hidden from her or will it forever remain unspoken and crash apart under the crushing tides of political machinations of men?
Although this, the third book in McCarty's Highlander series, follows closest to many excellent Highland Historical Romances out there, I found it to be the least engaging.
Don't get me wrong, the hero is one hunky Scottish Highlander and you can't ask for more in the way of strength, nobility and kindness in a romance novel hero. Even the heroine appealed to me with her grit, feistiness and determination- plus these two burn up the sheets when they get together!
I also liked the curse and the overcoming of it by the h/h in Highlander Unchained, even though that has been done before in too many other historical romances out there- especially the ones with Celtic settings.
The overwhelming burden this novel labors under however, is the "big misunderstanding" plot device. If "the curse" is tired and too "done before", then "the big misunderstanding" is the mother of all worn out hooks, even if plotted believably- which it was in this novel.
Plentiful sizzling bedroom scenes and likable h/h's withstanding, HU gets a 4 out of 5 from me.
One Laird Lachlan Maclean will stop at nothing to ensure his marriage to the most sought after woman in Scotland- even by thwarting her quickie elopement and taking her hostage. He desperately needs this marriage, not only for the sake of his clan who have labored under a destructive curse all these many years but to save a beloved brother.
Upset beyond belief at Lachlan's interference, Flora is determined to make him pay. She battles him at every turn even as a burning passion for the handsome Laird begins to take root inside her heart
When the dust settles both are shocked to find a deep affection for each other. Will the love between them, desperate to be unchained, survive the secrets Lachlain has kept hidden from her or will it forever remain unspoken and crash apart under the crushing tides of political machinations of men?
Although this, the third book in McCarty's Highlander series, follows closest to many excellent Highland Historical Romances out there, I found it to be the least engaging.
Don't get me wrong, the hero is one hunky Scottish Highlander and you can't ask for more in the way of strength, nobility and kindness in a romance novel hero. Even the heroine appealed to me with her grit, feistiness and determination- plus these two burn up the sheets when they get together!
I also liked the curse and the overcoming of it by the h/h in Highlander Unchained, even though that has been done before in too many other historical romances out there- especially the ones with Celtic settings.
The overwhelming burden this novel labors under however, is the "big misunderstanding" plot device. If "the curse" is tired and too "done before", then "the big misunderstanding" is the mother of all worn out hooks, even if plotted believably- which it was in this novel.
Plentiful sizzling bedroom scenes and likable h/h's withstanding, HU gets a 4 out of 5 from me.
May 28, 2012
In Highlander Unchained, Flora uses smelly Fulmar oil from her brother Rory's Isle of St. Kilda to oil Lachlan's swords
Much much better than the 2nd ones. It has certainly made my Monday enjoyable. Highly recommended.
November 16, 2019
4.5
"Necesitaba que la dejase marchar para poder decidir por sí misma si quedarse o no."
Me ha encantado Flora, de verdad, qué protagonista tan acertada en una novela de este tipo. Voy a leer todo lo que Monica McCarty escriba, qué maravilla de mujer, qué bien lo hace y qué interesante todo lo que se documenta...
"Necesitaba que la dejase marchar para poder decidir por sí misma si quedarse o no."
Me ha encantado Flora, de verdad, qué protagonista tan acertada en una novela de este tipo. Voy a leer todo lo que Monica McCarty escriba, qué maravilla de mujer, qué bien lo hace y qué interesante todo lo que se documenta...
March 16, 2017
" Evlilik bana sahip olmadığım neyi verebilir ki? "
Flora Maclean is my spirit animal. Yani ne söyleyebilirim ki Harikaydı! Yani Rory ve Alex'in kardeşinden daha azını da beklemezdim ama yürü be Flora! Skye MacLeodları serisi historical sevenler için okumadan ölmemeniz gerekenlerden biri ve nedenini bilmediğim bir sebepten ötürü kitabı okurken sürekli Outlander dizisinin intro müziği olan The Skye Boat Song çaldı beynimde. Başka ne diyebilirim bilmiyorum okurken çok eğlendim karakterleri çok sevdim özellikle Flora'yı, Lachlan'ı çileden çıkarmak için yaptığı uslanmaz minik sabotajlarını, ayartmalarını, cesaretini ve kural tanımaz halini. Highlander in Heels! Go Girl!
Flora Maclean is my spirit animal. Yani ne söyleyebilirim ki Harikaydı! Yani Rory ve Alex'in kardeşinden daha azını da beklemezdim ama yürü be Flora! Skye MacLeodları serisi historical sevenler için okumadan ölmemeniz gerekenlerden biri ve nedenini bilmediğim bir sebepten ötürü kitabı okurken sürekli Outlander dizisinin intro müziği olan The Skye Boat Song çaldı beynimde. Başka ne diyebilirim bilmiyorum okurken çok eğlendim karakterleri çok sevdim özellikle Flora'yı, Lachlan'ı çileden çıkarmak için yaptığı uslanmaz minik sabotajlarını, ayartmalarını, cesaretini ve kural tanımaz halini. Highlander in Heels! Go Girl!
October 10, 2020
Termino con la trilogía con quizá la historia que más me ha gustado.
No obstante, las tres librosson totalmente independientes, especialmente este tercero.
Me ha encantado Lachlan y también Flora, aunque un pelín cabezota...
No obstante, las tres librosson totalmente independientes, especialmente este tercero.
Me ha encantado Lachlan y también Flora, aunque un pelín cabezota...
September 1, 2018
Horrible. Will we really never get a passably decent treatment of historical heroines?
Highlander Unchained was a disappointing conclusion to an equally disappointing trilogy, barely saved from total wreck by a few redeeming moments, mostly in the quality of the erotic scenes. Otherwise, the whole series is yet another bland and utterly forgettable attempt at the domineering bodice ripper and the headstrong, "independent" girl, whose only visible streak of "independence" was her independence from common sense.
I can't find anything positive to say about this book. McCarty's treatment of her heroines is, by and large, just deplorable. Worse, she's not alone. Are these women authors so deeply ashamed of their own sex that they'd take every available opportunity (and make some if there isn't) to disparage, discredit, and just summarily dismiss womenkind? Because, as a whole, there doesn't seem to be a single, functional brain cell in the pretty (of course) heads of their female protagonists.
Do they really have so little regard for women that McCarty and her ilk just patently seem unable to produce a remotely decent heroine for their stories?
I have nothing to say about Flora MacLeod as a character, the heroine of Highlander Unchained. She played up the "dumb blonde" trope to almost quintessential perfection, with only one teensy-weensy hiccup in the beginning when she acted fast and fought back against her kidnappers and actually looked like she had a promise of basic personality. But, of course, once that "feisty" personality was written out, it had outlived its purpose and McCarty tossed it into a furnace and scattered the ashes in the ocean.
Naturally.
Because if the heroine can take care of herself, good heavens, what ever will the hero do in 20+ chapters of a story set in one of the most exciting periods of history???
McCarty described Flora as a woman who doesn't want to be a pawn in the men of her family's power play, and was adamantly against an arranged marriage, even going as far as elopement to avoid being forced into matrimony. Wow, she seems to have personality--right? Wrong. Of course Flora'd go against 24 years of conditioning and well-founded biases within the span of a few weeks because, naturally, she had to be kidnapped (coerced, taken against her will, etc. etc.) by a "ruggedly handsome highlander", a man who embodied everything she stood against, to whom she was so darned (inconveniently) attracted that she just throws away a lifetime of lessons and convictions because she just has to bone him--and because Lachlan (the hero) decides she belongs to him and she will eventually realize that.
Like some kind of stray puppy he picked up.
The worst thing about McCarty's writing is that she really doesn't flesh out the heroines as anything other than the hero's property. And I wish I could say this is just my liberal-feminist-hate-all-men streak rearing its ugly, misandrist head but--no. McCarty did actually write that. Lines like "she belongs to him", "she was his", and, my personal favorite, "her body was made for a man's pleasure". Like she's some kind of LEGO project he assembled to play with.
Flora consistently made dumbass (utterly idiotic, and there's no nice way to phrase that) decisions because McCarty couldn't have possibly done anything in her power to put a decent head on her heroine's shoulder. Not a single moment for character development was given to her in the near-300 pages of Flora's own story. McCarty didn't even use the easiest tool she has to give Flora dimension--Flora's mother who was horribly abused by the patriarchal system, and has well-founded (well-earned) bitter resentment against men and their "high-handed" ways (a nice way of saying out-and-out misogyny) and has taught Flora that she musn't be forced to marry. Mrs. MacLeod (forgot her name; she was so forgettable despite the many times she's been mentioned in the story) never took the time to teach her daughter just WHY Flora should be cautious of marriage, and what she could do to avoid the pitfalls of matrimony when she's such a valued marriage prize, and the men in her family would make grabby-hands for her single state.
Flora never even stood a chance. She would never have been able to make any remotely smart decisions that showed the character the author wished she had for her, because McCarty never wrote her as something other than a pretty porcelain doll to be "protected" and "cared for", like she's not an actual human being capable of seeing to her own needs.
But hey--it's a historical piece, so of course authors have to have the values and belief systems of the middle ages, right?
What "women"? Oh, you mean those dumb animals that kind of look like men, except, without a penis, they also clearly don't have a brain? Yeah, that.
Lame.
(PS: Lachlan is his own definition of emotionally abusive. And he has the personality of a blank sheet of printer paper, which isn't even of a particularly good quality, and maybe has about 20 gsm of depth.)
Highlander Unchained was a disappointing conclusion to an equally disappointing trilogy, barely saved from total wreck by a few redeeming moments, mostly in the quality of the erotic scenes. Otherwise, the whole series is yet another bland and utterly forgettable attempt at the domineering bodice ripper and the headstrong, "independent" girl, whose only visible streak of "independence" was her independence from common sense.
I can't find anything positive to say about this book. McCarty's treatment of her heroines is, by and large, just deplorable. Worse, she's not alone. Are these women authors so deeply ashamed of their own sex that they'd take every available opportunity (and make some if there isn't) to disparage, discredit, and just summarily dismiss womenkind? Because, as a whole, there doesn't seem to be a single, functional brain cell in the pretty (of course) heads of their female protagonists.
Do they really have so little regard for women that McCarty and her ilk just patently seem unable to produce a remotely decent heroine for their stories?
I have nothing to say about Flora MacLeod as a character, the heroine of Highlander Unchained. She played up the "dumb blonde" trope to almost quintessential perfection, with only one teensy-weensy hiccup in the beginning when she acted fast and fought back against her kidnappers and actually looked like she had a promise of basic personality. But, of course, once that "feisty" personality was written out, it had outlived its purpose and McCarty tossed it into a furnace and scattered the ashes in the ocean.
Naturally.
Because if the heroine can take care of herself, good heavens, what ever will the hero do in 20+ chapters of a story set in one of the most exciting periods of history???
McCarty described Flora as a woman who doesn't want to be a pawn in the men of her family's power play, and was adamantly against an arranged marriage, even going as far as elopement to avoid being forced into matrimony. Wow, she seems to have personality--right? Wrong. Of course Flora'd go against 24 years of conditioning and well-founded biases within the span of a few weeks because, naturally, she had to be kidnapped (coerced, taken against her will, etc. etc.) by a "ruggedly handsome highlander", a man who embodied everything she stood against, to whom she was so darned (inconveniently) attracted that she just throws away a lifetime of lessons and convictions because she just has to bone him--and because Lachlan (the hero) decides she belongs to him and she will eventually realize that.
Like some kind of stray puppy he picked up.
The worst thing about McCarty's writing is that she really doesn't flesh out the heroines as anything other than the hero's property. And I wish I could say this is just my liberal-feminist-hate-all-men streak rearing its ugly, misandrist head but--no. McCarty did actually write that. Lines like "she belongs to him", "she was his", and, my personal favorite, "her body was made for a man's pleasure". Like she's some kind of LEGO project he assembled to play with.
Flora consistently made dumbass (utterly idiotic, and there's no nice way to phrase that) decisions because McCarty couldn't have possibly done anything in her power to put a decent head on her heroine's shoulder. Not a single moment for character development was given to her in the near-300 pages of Flora's own story. McCarty didn't even use the easiest tool she has to give Flora dimension--Flora's mother who was horribly abused by the patriarchal system, and has well-founded (well-earned) bitter resentment against men and their "high-handed" ways (a nice way of saying out-and-out misogyny) and has taught Flora that she musn't be forced to marry. Mrs. MacLeod (forgot her name; she was so forgettable despite the many times she's been mentioned in the story) never took the time to teach her daughter just WHY Flora should be cautious of marriage, and what she could do to avoid the pitfalls of matrimony when she's such a valued marriage prize, and the men in her family would make grabby-hands for her single state.
Flora never even stood a chance. She would never have been able to make any remotely smart decisions that showed the character the author wished she had for her, because McCarty never wrote her as something other than a pretty porcelain doll to be "protected" and "cared for", like she's not an actual human being capable of seeing to her own needs.
But hey--it's a historical piece, so of course authors have to have the values and belief systems of the middle ages, right?
What "women"? Oh, you mean those dumb animals that kind of look like men, except, without a penis, they also clearly don't have a brain? Yeah, that.
Lame.
(PS: Lachlan is his own definition of emotionally abusive. And he has the personality of a blank sheet of printer paper, which isn't even of a particularly good quality, and maybe has about 20 gsm of depth.)
September 3, 2012
This story begins with a prologue drawn from one of the most ass-kicking priceless moments in the history of wronged women. Ages ago, a MacLean laird married a Campbell woman. When she turned out to be barren, he picked out a younger model and then he and his men rowed his first wife out to a rock, tied her to a buoy, and left her at the mercy of the incoming tide. With the last of her breath, she cursed him and his family, warning that no MacLean would prosper without a Campbell at his side, and that, until a MacLean gave his life for a Campbell. A stroke of good fortune brought this woman some justice before she died, as well as an amulet that was passed down through her daughters, to become part of the legend surrounding that curse. The curse and amulet are McCarty's invention, but the basic story is true—and
Now to the plot of this book: Flora Macleod, the daughter of a Campbell woman, is cousin to the Earl of Argyll, and half-sister to Rory MacLeod and Hector, chief of the MacLeans. The menfolk in her life have called her on the carpet and she knows that they plan to arrange her marriage. A wealthy heiress, Flora's mother was bartered in marriage four times, always unhappily. All four of the men her mother married were Highlanders, big, mean louts who bullied her about, so Flora's not especially keen on arranged marriages or on any man her Highlander half-brothers might choose for her. Determined to control her own destiny, she decides to elope with a fashionable lowland gentleman named William.
Unfortunately, they're carriage-jacked by a gang of kilty-boys. Flora puts up a hell of a fight, stabbing the leader with a dagger. William, for his part, is better with lacy doily collars and shoes that would do Beth Shak proud than with the fancy, jeweled decorative sword he carries on his person. So when faced with a chance to man up and fight for his intended, he soils his trunkhose and runs away, leaving Flora to her fate.
Turns out the brigands were not just there to steal the stylish carriage and any other riches they might find. They were specifically after Flora. Their leader, Lachlan MacLean, leads her to believe he's ransoming her to her half-brother Hector for return of a castle Hector stole from him, but we get hints that there's more to it. What he never bargained for is Flo's aversion to forced marriage and particularly to Highland males.
Turns out, too, that Flo's half-brother Hector is a nasty, rapey creep who murdered her mum's third husband, but Flo doesn't know that until it's too late.
And it turns out that, while Flo imagined that she was independent, pretty much everybody in her family was spying on her activities and trying to manipulate events to their own advantage.
Tie it all together and the result is a pretty darned good bride-napping, "you're-not-paranoid-they-ARE-out-to-get-you" Highlander romance. It's no wonder that after only eleven books thus far, McCarty already has a rabid following. Four stars and a keeper.
Now to the plot of this book: Flora Macleod, the daughter of a Campbell woman, is cousin to the Earl of Argyll, and half-sister to Rory MacLeod and Hector, chief of the MacLeans. The menfolk in her life have called her on the carpet and she knows that they plan to arrange her marriage. A wealthy heiress, Flora's mother was bartered in marriage four times, always unhappily. All four of the men her mother married were Highlanders, big, mean louts who bullied her about, so Flora's not especially keen on arranged marriages or on any man her Highlander half-brothers might choose for her. Determined to control her own destiny, she decides to elope with a fashionable lowland gentleman named William.
Unfortunately, they're carriage-jacked by a gang of kilty-boys. Flora puts up a hell of a fight, stabbing the leader with a dagger. William, for his part, is better with lacy doily collars and shoes that would do Beth Shak proud than with the fancy, jeweled decorative sword he carries on his person. So when faced with a chance to man up and fight for his intended, he soils his trunkhose and runs away, leaving Flora to her fate.
Turns out the brigands were not just there to steal the stylish carriage and any other riches they might find. They were specifically after Flora. Their leader, Lachlan MacLean, leads her to believe he's ransoming her to her half-brother Hector for return of a castle Hector stole from him, but we get hints that there's more to it. What he never bargained for is Flo's aversion to forced marriage and particularly to Highland males.
Turns out, too, that Flo's half-brother Hector is a nasty, rapey creep who murdered her mum's third husband, but Flo doesn't know that until it's too late.
And it turns out that, while Flo imagined that she was independent, pretty much everybody in her family was spying on her activities and trying to manipulate events to their own advantage.
Tie it all together and the result is a pretty darned good bride-napping, "you're-not-paranoid-they-ARE-out-to-get-you" Highlander romance. It's no wonder that after only eleven books thus far, McCarty already has a rabid following. Four stars and a keeper.
March 6, 2013
Monica Mccarty benim için vazgeçilmez yazarlarımın başlarında artık..Kır Zincirleri Mcleods serisinin son kitabı bu hikaye ile bu seri bitiyor..Ben bu seriyi bir bütün olarak düşünüyorum çünkü hikayeler birbirini tamamlıyor..Kır Zincirlerini de çok beğendim ..Tam anlamı ile boyunduruktan kurtulma hikayesi idi..
Başından sonuna kadar büyüleyici bir hikaye idi..Hikaye başında çok ilginç bir hikaye ile başlıyor..Kadın kahramanımız Flora'yı derinden etkileyen bir olay bu..Ve Bu hikaye aslında bir gerçek Monica Mccarty'nin hikayeleri gerçek hikayelere dayanıyor zaten..Elizabeth Campbell’in gerçek hikayesi bu Ama efsaneleşmiş bir hikaye..
Maclean klanının reisi,karısı olan Elizabeth Cmphell'ıbir kayanın üstünde ölüme terkediyor..
Romanın ana kahramanları Lachland McLean ve Lady Flora McLeod ..
Lachlan Mclean oğlan rehin tutulan oğlan kardeşini kurtarmak ve kendisinden alınan kalesini geri almak ve arkasında güçlü müttefik kurmak için için Florayı kaçırır..
Flora ise istemediği bir evliliğe mecbur edilmememek bu evliliğin sdece kendi kararı olmasını sağlamak için anlaştığı soylulardan Lord Murray ile evlenmek için kaçmıştır..
Lachland ile tam bu esnada yolları kesişiyor..Lachland Flora'nın kuzeni ile anlaşarak Florayı evlenmek için kaçırır..Florayı zorla elinde tutar...
Ama ikilinin arasında başından itibaren oluşan çekim,tutku çok çarpıcıydı..Lachlan'ın zor günler geçiren yok olma tehditi altındaki klanının sorumluluğu,doğruyu yapma isteği,Floraya karşı oluşan adını tanımlayamadığı tutkusu tanımlayamadığı duyguları arasındaki gelgitleri..
Floranın ise başından geçen dört evliliğe rağmen hiç mutlu olamamış annesinin nasihatları aklından hiç gitmezken.annesine sevmeden kesinlikle evlenmeyeceği hakkında söz vermesi,bu nedenle yaşadığı gelgitleri yazar çok güzel yaşattı..
Bu romanda en sevdiğim ve etkilendiğim sahneler vardı..Lachlan'dan kaçarken bindiği kayığın su alması ile boğulma tehlikesi geçiren Flora'yı kurtarmaya çalışan Lachlanın duyguları,hissettikleri,korkusunu yazar çok güzel vermişti..
Lachlan'ın Flora'ya misafir olarak kalmasını istediği sahne,harikaydı..
Sevdiği adamın ona ihanet ettiğini sandığı sahnede boğazımda bir yumru oluştu..çok etkilendim..
İkisinin de birbirlerine ait oldukları ve sevdiklerini anladıkları sahne harika idi..
Özetle Monica Mccarty yine yaptı yapacağını ve beni büyüledi!!!..
Bu seriden hangi kitabı sevdin diye sorarsanız kesinlikle ayırt edemem..hepsi birbirinden güzeldi..Kesinlikle tavsiye ederim..Çünkü bu yazar bence harikulade bir yazar..Kalemi insanı büyülüyor!!..
Başından sonuna kadar büyüleyici bir hikaye idi..Hikaye başında çok ilginç bir hikaye ile başlıyor..Kadın kahramanımız Flora'yı derinden etkileyen bir olay bu..Ve Bu hikaye aslında bir gerçek Monica Mccarty'nin hikayeleri gerçek hikayelere dayanıyor zaten..Elizabeth Campbell’in gerçek hikayesi bu Ama efsaneleşmiş bir hikaye..
Maclean klanının reisi,karısı olan Elizabeth Cmphell'ıbir kayanın üstünde ölüme terkediyor..
Romanın ana kahramanları Lachland McLean ve Lady Flora McLeod ..
Lachlan Mclean oğlan rehin tutulan oğlan kardeşini kurtarmak ve kendisinden alınan kalesini geri almak ve arkasında güçlü müttefik kurmak için için Florayı kaçırır..
Flora ise istemediği bir evliliğe mecbur edilmememek bu evliliğin sdece kendi kararı olmasını sağlamak için anlaştığı soylulardan Lord Murray ile evlenmek için kaçmıştır..
Lachland ile tam bu esnada yolları kesişiyor..Lachland Flora'nın kuzeni ile anlaşarak Florayı evlenmek için kaçırır..Florayı zorla elinde tutar...
Ama ikilinin arasında başından itibaren oluşan çekim,tutku çok çarpıcıydı..Lachlan'ın zor günler geçiren yok olma tehditi altındaki klanının sorumluluğu,doğruyu yapma isteği,Floraya karşı oluşan adını tanımlayamadığı tutkusu tanımlayamadığı duyguları arasındaki gelgitleri..
Floranın ise başından geçen dört evliliğe rağmen hiç mutlu olamamış annesinin nasihatları aklından hiç gitmezken.annesine sevmeden kesinlikle evlenmeyeceği hakkında söz vermesi,bu nedenle yaşadığı gelgitleri yazar çok güzel yaşattı..
Bu romanda en sevdiğim ve etkilendiğim sahneler vardı..Lachlan'dan kaçarken bindiği kayığın su alması ile boğulma tehlikesi geçiren Flora'yı kurtarmaya çalışan Lachlanın duyguları,hissettikleri,korkusunu yazar çok güzel vermişti..
Lachlan'ın Flora'ya misafir olarak kalmasını istediği sahne,harikaydı..
Sevdiği adamın ona ihanet ettiğini sandığı sahnede boğazımda bir yumru oluştu..çok etkilendim..
İkisinin de birbirlerine ait oldukları ve sevdiklerini anladıkları sahne harika idi..
Özetle Monica Mccarty yine yaptı yapacağını ve beni büyüledi!!!..
Bu seriden hangi kitabı sevdin diye sorarsanız kesinlikle ayırt edemem..hepsi birbirinden güzeldi..Kesinlikle tavsiye ederim..Çünkü bu yazar bence harikulade bir yazar..Kalemi insanı büyülüyor!!..
January 25, 2014
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FAVORITE QUOTES
"It's either my hand or I can tie you up." He gave her a long look, one that made her think he would like nothing more. 'You decide."
Mortified heat burned her cheeks. She lifted her chin an little to glare at him. "Hand."
"Good decision. But if you try to run again, I will not be so generous."
"Generous." She made a sharp sound of derision. "You are kidnaping me. Am I supposed to thank you?"
"You're welcome."
"I was not . . ."
~Lachlan and Flora
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"You shouldn't be carrying me. You'll reopen the wound."
"Since you're the one who put it there, I'm surprised you care."
"I didn't mean-" She stopped. "Well, I did, but . . . well . . . Forget it. You can bleed to death for all I care."
"Your concern is touching."
~Flora and Lachlan
January 24, 2013
Currently re-reading.
May 27, 2020
Much better than the other two stories in the trilogy.
I think the romance was more interesting to see developing and the main characters more appealing too, despite the continuous predictability associated with how the characters are supposed to behave in medieval times.
I think the romance was more interesting to see developing and the main characters more appealing too, despite the continuous predictability associated with how the characters are supposed to behave in medieval times.
July 2, 2021
a good read until the end (like within the last chapter) because of which i had to put the book down because Lachlan truly is a machiavellian piece of shit.
the prologue was AMAZING and hooks you in, the protagonist-Flora-is so fun plus she stabs the guy when she first meets, which is total #girlboss energy. HOWEVER,i truly believe that Flora is in the right and that even though Lachlan has good motives doesnt mean he wasnt in the wrong-the fact that her concerns are viewed as trivial is infuriating and the ends dont justify the means!
the prologue was AMAZING and hooks you in, the protagonist-Flora-is so fun plus she stabs the guy when she first meets, which is total #girlboss energy. HOWEVER,i truly believe that Flora is in the right and that even though Lachlan has good motives doesnt mean he wasnt in the wrong-the fact that her concerns are viewed as trivial is infuriating and the ends dont justify the means!
August 7, 2022
I was so into the story but towards the end, I was a tiny bit annoyed with the heroine, therefore decided not to continue with the book.
It was not enticing enough for me to continue. Sorry, when I no longer liked any of the characters of the book, I wouldn't waste my time and my eyes reading.
It was not enticing enough for me to continue. Sorry, when I no longer liked any of the characters of the book, I wouldn't waste my time and my eyes reading.
March 8, 2019
3.5 stars
Big, tough H who was also manipulative ... bratty h but also very generous ... but they worked together ... worth reading ...
Big, tough H who was also manipulative ... bratty h but also very generous ... but they worked together ... worth reading ...
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December 15, 2021uykusuzluktan bayılmak üzere olduğum için finishleyip uykuya geçiyorum, hemencik yorum girilecek!
February 23, 2024
we love flora
March 13, 2018
It’s been awhile since I have loved s book this much. I felt all the emotions with the main characters and never wanted the story to end.
June 29, 2015
Good Story, but too much Sexual Innuendo!
This was a really good story, and, but for all the sexual innuendo I would have given it 5 stars. It's nicely written with an engaging plot and likeable, well developed characters. The story is set in the early 1600's when Scotland and England were both under the rule of King James; this is the beginning of civilization within the Highlands, unfortunately! Sigh. You know what I mean, the King was determined to bring peace among the clans and stop all the clan fighting. Personally, I prefer stories set in the medieval period, early 1500's or earlier.
Anyhow, Lachlan is in a bind. His brother has been wrongly imprisoned by the King and he needs the Campbell influence to get him out. Furthermore, he is in the middle of a clan dispute with another faction of the McLean clan who has taken possession of his primary keep. In desperation he turns to the Earl of Argyll, cousin to the heroine, Flora. While meeting with Lachlan, Argyll learns of Flora's impending elopement plans. He then proposes a plan to Lachlan, one that will solve both their problems. Lachlan must prevent Flora from eloping and convince her to marry him instead. He can't force her; she must agree. In return, Argyll will use his influence with the King to get Lachlan's brother released and have the King order his lands returned. The deal is struck; Lachlan doesn't like it, but he has no other choice.
Flora is a marital prize. She is half-sister to two of the most powerful lairds in the Highlands and cousin to the influential Earl of Argyll--easily the most powerful man in Scotland. Add to that, Flora is extremely wealthy; we are told that she is worth a king's ransom. Flora is determined not to follow in her mother's footsteps. Her mother had married out of duty four different times, none of which resulted in a happy marriage. On her death bed, Flora's mother extracted a promise from her daughter that she would marry for love. Not believing that she will be able to fulfill her promise to her mother, Flora decides that at the very least she will marry a man of her choice.
On the night of her would be elopement, Flora's carriage is stopped and she is abducted by Lachlan and his men. Subsequently Lachlan takes Flora to his keep and a planned wooing begins. LOL The story that unfolds is pretty engaging, but there is an overabundance of mutual admiration between Lachlan and Flora. She's always thinking how virile Lachlan is, how handsome, how beautiful, and on and on. While he is always thinking how beautiful she is and is in a constant state of hardness whenever he's around her. Truly it became tiresome and, after a while, I started to skip over the sexual encounters, some of which lead to sex some not. If you took out all passages describing how sexy they each found one another, and how hot they got for one another the book would be a good 100 pages shorter! I'm being facetious, but you get my point.
Eventually Lachlan develops real feelings for Flora and feels badly about his scheme, but he has no choice but to follow through with the plan for the good of his brother and clan. When Flora finds out she is devastated and Lachlan must make amends and prove to his lady love that is devotion to her is real. I have to say that I found the end of this story very satisfying. When Flora first discovers the truth she is understandably upset, and I for one did not appreciate Lachlan's reaction. On the one hand he was remorseful for having hurt Flora, but on the other he felt like she was overreacting. But Flora is no wilting flower and if Lachlan thinks she'll just sit and accept her fate, he's in for a rude awakening. ROTFL
As you might expect, this is not a clean romance; far from it, in fact. LOL There are a few graphic sex scenes, and a whole ton of sexual innuendo. Other than the surfeit of sexual innuendo, the story is actually pretty good. A solid four stars from this reader. Happy reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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