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The MacGrough Clan #1
Highland Light
** In order to retain the flavor of the time this book uses a modified Scots vernacular. The real thing would make reading difficult.**
The story of the MacGrough clan begins in "Highland Light".
Not pretty, Ailene knows her suitors only want the glen. She refuses them all. Her father knows she must have a husband, a laird for the small clan. The 18 Knights Templar who secretly negotiate with Robert Bruce must quietly marry into the clans loyal to him. Among the Knights is Gideon. A ward of the Master, barely a man, the warrior knows nothing else. He is as unprepared as she is ready.
Ailene has seen the young man she wants. She will have him and no other. Gideon has honored the vows of chastity. He has no knowledge of women. He and Ailene must learn together.
But Gideon owes his new King service. No matter how much he wishes to stay with his wife, he has a duty. Scotland is fighting for its life against England. At the same time, Gideon's new home is locked in a vicious internal struggle for power. Enemies are everywhere. The clan is in danger from all sides. The small bedroom they share is the only place where the young couple can find peace.
The story of the MacGrough clan begins in "Highland Light".
Not pretty, Ailene knows her suitors only want the glen. She refuses them all. Her father knows she must have a husband, a laird for the small clan. The 18 Knights Templar who secretly negotiate with Robert Bruce must quietly marry into the clans loyal to him. Among the Knights is Gideon. A ward of the Master, barely a man, the warrior knows nothing else. He is as unprepared as she is ready.
Ailene has seen the young man she wants. She will have him and no other. Gideon has honored the vows of chastity. He has no knowledge of women. He and Ailene must learn together.
But Gideon owes his new King service. No matter how much he wishes to stay with his wife, he has a duty. Scotland is fighting for its life against England. At the same time, Gideon's new home is locked in a vicious internal struggle for power. Enemies are everywhere. The clan is in danger from all sides. The small bedroom they share is the only place where the young couple can find peace.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2013
6 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Cherime MacFarlane
101 books616 followersAlthough born in New Orleans, I am proud to call myself an Alaskan. I have lived here for 37 years, I have survived -40 degrees, hauled water, made bear bacon and live in a cabin. I used a fish wheel to catch salmon coming up the Copper River. I was my second husband's chief mechanic's helper and only roadie. I cut firewood on shares, worked as a cocktail waitress, then as a paralegal for over 26 years. I hold the #80 press card as a reporter for the Copper Valley Views newspaper which ceased publication in the 1980s. I've been writing stories since junior high. Retired now, I can devote my time to what I love.
I came to Alaska by way of Arizona and California. I experienced the building of the pipeline up close. Then my second husband and I moved to Wasilla to get warm. It hardly ever drops past -25 in South Central Alaska. I never thought I would love it so much I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. I lost my first husband to alcohol. My second husband, the love of my life died as a result of disease. We were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years . I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with.
I came to Alaska by way of Arizona and California. I experienced the building of the pipeline up close. Then my second husband and I moved to Wasilla to get warm. It hardly ever drops past -25 in South Central Alaska. I never thought I would love it so much I never want to leave. The beauty of Alaska is a draw I cannot resist. I love the people and the history. I have been captured by a place I came to under duress. Life does play some interesting tricks on one. I lost my first husband to alcohol. My second husband, the love of my life died as a result of disease. We were not apart more than 24 hours for 20 plus years . I never wanted to be anywhere but with him. He was a man to run the river with.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 3, 2017
Gideon has been the ward of The Masters of the Knights Templar since he was ten years old. But things are about to change. The Knights' have been forced to flee from Philip the Fair of France, and as the Pope has already excommunicated The Bruce, Scotland seems as safe a place as any to seek sanctuary.
Ailene MacGrough is headstrong, fiercely independent and a courageous young woman. She has so far rejected every suitor that has been presented to her, but there was something about Gideon that caught her eye.
Determined to put an end to the brutality of Edward Longshanks and his claim to the throne of Scotland, The Bruce organises a secret meeting between his supporters and the Templars. Bruce commands that the only way he will offer sanctuary to the Templars is if they marry an eligible Scottish maiden, which will then make them the citizens of this war torn country.
Gideon knows nothing of women but suddenly finds himself with a wife, a family, and a country to protect.
Can Gideon and Ailene's new-found love survive the horror of the Scottish War of Independence — only time will tell.
Oh. My. Days...! I would like to call Highland Light a romance, but it is so much more than that. It is an epic story about innocent young love, set in the backdrop of war. MacFarlane did a staggering job of bringing 14th Century Scotland back to life, and her attention to detail must be commended. A thoroughly well researched and breath-taking read.
MacFarlane gives her readers just the right amount of detail. Whether that be with regards to the love making scenes— in this case, less is certainly more — and the battle scenes, which gives her readers a sense of what it must have been like in the heat of battle, but without going overboard with the detail.
This is a truly addictive read — once you start you are so not going to want to stop. I couldn't wait to get back to the book every evening to find out what was going to happen next.
Do I Recommend? You bet ya! A fantastic 5* read.
Ailene MacGrough is headstrong, fiercely independent and a courageous young woman. She has so far rejected every suitor that has been presented to her, but there was something about Gideon that caught her eye.
Determined to put an end to the brutality of Edward Longshanks and his claim to the throne of Scotland, The Bruce organises a secret meeting between his supporters and the Templars. Bruce commands that the only way he will offer sanctuary to the Templars is if they marry an eligible Scottish maiden, which will then make them the citizens of this war torn country.
Gideon knows nothing of women but suddenly finds himself with a wife, a family, and a country to protect.
Can Gideon and Ailene's new-found love survive the horror of the Scottish War of Independence — only time will tell.
Oh. My. Days...! I would like to call Highland Light a romance, but it is so much more than that. It is an epic story about innocent young love, set in the backdrop of war. MacFarlane did a staggering job of bringing 14th Century Scotland back to life, and her attention to detail must be commended. A thoroughly well researched and breath-taking read.
MacFarlane gives her readers just the right amount of detail. Whether that be with regards to the love making scenes— in this case, less is certainly more — and the battle scenes, which gives her readers a sense of what it must have been like in the heat of battle, but without going overboard with the detail.
This is a truly addictive read — once you start you are so not going to want to stop. I couldn't wait to get back to the book every evening to find out what was going to happen next.
Do I Recommend? You bet ya! A fantastic 5* read.
March 8, 2014
Lame
there was little plot to the book and the end was terrible like the book dragged on to much so she cut it off
there was little plot to the book and the end was terrible like the book dragged on to much so she cut it off
December 7, 2018
The Scottish Highlands is rich in history, none more exciting than during the time of Robert The Bruce. The MacGrough clan have a small holding and are loyal to Robert The Bruce while many of the neighboring clans are on the opposing side. Cadell, the leader of the MacGrough clan has but one daughter, Aileen. Though she has received numerous marriage proposals she refused them all. But she meets a young member of the Knights Templar who are searching for asylum throughout the highlands. Gideon is soon wed to the determined, independent Aileen but his past is shrouded in secrets. Two complete strangers, their lives completely altered in the midst of a war which is tearing the country apart.
This is a richly detailed historical romance. The life and times of the early fourteenth century Scottish Highlands along with religious persecution makes a stunning backdrop for this wonderful tale. Well-written with great character development. Highly Recommended.
This is a richly detailed historical romance. The life and times of the early fourteenth century Scottish Highlands along with religious persecution makes a stunning backdrop for this wonderful tale. Well-written with great character development. Highly Recommended.
December 12, 2018
This book will make you feel like you have been taken back through time. It is realistic and believable. I have no idea if it is historically accurate and I don’t care. I am happy to accept that it is without requiring any evidence. Having said that, it did grip me enough to make me look up Robert the Bruce to find out what happened to him.
It’s a captivating story that makes you want to keep reading. The language takes a little getting used to, but, having known a few Scotsmen, it makes it a lot more authentic and give the book another dimension. There are no parts which are so violent you are put off reading or are close to X-rated. Every scene is described in enough detail for you to easily know what is happening without it being explicit. Overall it is thoroughly enjoyable.
It’s a captivating story that makes you want to keep reading. The language takes a little getting used to, but, having known a few Scotsmen, it makes it a lot more authentic and give the book another dimension. There are no parts which are so violent you are put off reading or are close to X-rated. Every scene is described in enough detail for you to easily know what is happening without it being explicit. Overall it is thoroughly enjoyable.
December 10, 2018
An Excellent read:
This is the first time I read for Cherime MacFarlane and I enjoyed her book very much that I’m sure I will be reading more in the future. Highland Light by Cherime MacFarlane is a captivating, well- written, historical romance that took place during the 14th- Century (The Scottish War for independence). I liked so much the romance that developed between Ailene and Gideon. The author did a remarkable job developing this young love into a mature beautiful romance.
This is the first time I read for Cherime MacFarlane and I enjoyed her book very much that I’m sure I will be reading more in the future. Highland Light by Cherime MacFarlane is a captivating, well- written, historical romance that took place during the 14th- Century (The Scottish War for independence). I liked so much the romance that developed between Ailene and Gideon. The author did a remarkable job developing this young love into a mature beautiful romance.
July 5, 2019
I can actually smell the heather!
What a powerful read, full of fabulously detailed descriptions that bring 14C Scotland to life. I literally could not put this book down. Pulled an all nighter on it, the intensity of the whole thing keeping me turning the pages until the very end. The romance of it all is spellbinding. The characters felt real, their story believable. The author does a brilliant job with the dialogue too. So well done. A truly breathtaking read!
What a powerful read, full of fabulously detailed descriptions that bring 14C Scotland to life. I literally could not put this book down. Pulled an all nighter on it, the intensity of the whole thing keeping me turning the pages until the very end. The romance of it all is spellbinding. The characters felt real, their story believable. The author does a brilliant job with the dialogue too. So well done. A truly breathtaking read!
December 17, 2018
Cherime is a great storyteller, and I just loved this mix of historical events juxtaposed with the tale of the young lovers. The details of clan life and Scotland of that time wove the story into a fascinating narrative, with just enough of war and baddies to keep...
February 26, 2020
It’s a nice book.
August 15, 2022
DNF
40% in gave up. I felt like it never got going. Hoopla formatting was poor: no real table of contents and it kept returning to first page.
40% in gave up. I felt like it never got going. Hoopla formatting was poor: no real table of contents and it kept returning to first page.
March 2, 2014
Ailene and Gideon captured my attention from the first line and I enjoyed the combination of their unique story with historical facts and Knights Templar myth. The characters were well-written and realistic, with no need for contrived misunderstandings. Such a relief to read an historical that departs from the usual innocent but headstrong miss and the ruthless scoundrel and the many ways they set about deceiving one another!
Ms MacFarlane's use of dialect and her inclusion of details from daily life of the period add authenticity. The narrative style is a bit less intimate than I usually prefer, but is perfect for the time span and the scope of the events. This story reminds me of the strength and determination of my ancestresses, to have survived and preserved their way of life despite war and all the horror that comes with it.
I received this book free for my honest review and will purchase the next in the series ASAP.
Ms MacFarlane's use of dialect and her inclusion of details from daily life of the period add authenticity. The narrative style is a bit less intimate than I usually prefer, but is perfect for the time span and the scope of the events. This story reminds me of the strength and determination of my ancestresses, to have survived and preserved their way of life despite war and all the horror that comes with it.
I received this book free for my honest review and will purchase the next in the series ASAP.
April 20, 2015
Cherime MacFarlane's first book in the MacGrough Clan series, "Highland Light," is a promising start to a rather prolific looking saga.
MacFarlane's characters were interesting, each with their own unique personalities and ways of approaching situations. The twists and turns in the story kept one wanting to know what would happen next.
What I really appreciated was how much of the Scottish culture was accurately portrayed in this book (right down to a glossary of Scottish cultural terms and their meaning). It really lent a sense of authenticity to what one reads on the page.
Overall, this was a great read to just sit and sink into for a while. Fans of the show "Monarch of the Glen," will appreciate a lot of facets about this book.
MacFarlane's characters were interesting, each with their own unique personalities and ways of approaching situations. The twists and turns in the story kept one wanting to know what would happen next.
What I really appreciated was how much of the Scottish culture was accurately portrayed in this book (right down to a glossary of Scottish cultural terms and their meaning). It really lent a sense of authenticity to what one reads on the page.
Overall, this was a great read to just sit and sink into for a while. Fans of the show "Monarch of the Glen," will appreciate a lot of facets about this book.
November 19, 2015
This the first book by Cherime MacFarlane that I've read. Without giving spoilers, I enjoyed the twist in the beginning as well as Gideon's inexperience--that's something not often seen in a romance. You can see the love bloom between Gideon and Ailene, and you come to care about them. While Gideon fights with Robert the Bruce in the war against England, Ailene finds herself keeping the glen safe for him. There are a couple of adventures that had me holding my breath, and the twist at the end was unexpected. I enjoyed reading Highland Light. I think anyone who likes books in this time period will too.
June 19, 2014
I loved Highland Light! One of my favorite genre's to read is historical romance and Cherime MacFarlane's Highland Light is now one of my all time favorites. I could almost picture myself in the story as Ailene and Gideon followed their path. I couldn't put it down and read it in just a few hours (I'm a speed reader lol). I can't wait to read more of Ms. MacFarlane's books. Gideon is one of my perfect book boyfriends now.
February 10, 2014
Highland Light is an adventure you don't want to miss. I had to laugh at myself, I thought there were a few typos... then I found the glossary in the back and discovered that those 1s in front of a few words were meant to be there. I gradh this book.
August 30, 2016
I found Highland Light to be an interesting and compelling romance. The historical details of age-old Scotland really helped bring the story out for me, and the romance angle was well played. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews