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Hunted by the Cruel Highlander: A Medieval Historical Romance Novel

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“I caught ye, so ye’re mine now.”

Gabriella has to life in slavery… or death.
She chose death.
But as she prepares to throw herself off the ledge,
the cruelest Laird grabs her.
Now she’s his - and she will do anything to escape him.
***
When Laird Hector participated in the Hunt, he meant to destroy it.
He didn’t plan on claiming a prize…
nor it being the most beautiful lass he has ever seen.
He promises to free her - but then, he becomes obsessed.
Hector will either make her his… or lose his head.

Hunted by the Cruel Highlander is a steamy Scottish historical romance novel, written by Keira McCain and published by Cobalt Fairy.

No cheating, no cliffhangers, lots of steam and a happy ending.

Get "Hunted by the Cruel Highlander" today to discover Keira's splendid story!

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2025

71 people are currently reading
11 people want to read

About the author

Keira McCain

6 books6 followers

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5 stars
102 (67%)
4 stars
41 (27%)
3 stars
6 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
10 reviews
October 22, 2025
Gabriella Patterson and three other women were kidnapped and were going to be hunted. Gabriella was planning to die by falling off a cliff rather than be caught. When the hunt started, they scattered and ran as fast as they could in different directions.

Hector, who was Laird McCullough discovered that these hunts were being held on his land so he and three other lairds decided they were going to try to free them. They were in the hunt and were successful in capturing the four girls. Hector kept Gabriella and each of the other lairds kept the ones they caught. Their plan was to free the girls, but all of them were in bad shape because they had been starved and beaten, so they medical treatment.

The girls were terrified and did not know what was going to happen to them. They did not trust any men. When Gabriella arrived at Hector’s castle, she could not understand why he was treating her kindly and what his expectations were, thinking he had another plan in mind. She was trembling.

Hector took her to the healer and treated her with kindness but she still mistrusted him. Hector had a bad experience with a fiancé in the past. The potential marriage was arranged for an alliance, not for love. Lady Caitlin Grant was her name and she dumped him for another laird, so, he also had a mistrust of women but really was attracted to Gabriella. He also struggled with the responsibility of being a Laird, taking care of his people and didn’t want to be distracted.

Louis Hogg, who recently bought a tavern where Gabriella worked used it as a base to procure girls and was the key person in kidnapping women and arranging the hunts. He was incensed that the lairds had rescued them and vowed revenge. Those lairds were messing with his lucrative plans.

The story was a sweet one that was engaging. The characters were great and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I loved the book!
Profile Image for Angela.
569 reviews
November 6, 2025
Early in the book was too soon for Gabriella to find attraction in the man who rescued her. She was abused, she was held captive for 6 months. She fought off men. Then a highlander grabbed her without her knowing he was her rescuer. Already mentioned she thinks he's handsome. So weird and so not right at the time.

Maybe write about her being rescued, her thinking and feeling hard to believe when the rescuer told her that he was saving her. Once he took her to the castle, let her see things for herself. And maybe feel attraction and fall in love.

I know this isn't my book. But just saying it was too soon and doesn't seem feel right.

Also while I read the story, I was most annoyed about the capital letters in the 1st Sentence In Every Paragraph. Some first sentences have some lower cases after the capital ones. Here are the examples straight from her book:

"JUST KILL ME," she whispered. "Please. have mercy and be done with it."

HIS BREATHE STIRRED her hair as he leaned closer.

"I GOT YE, lass. I willnae let anyone hurt ye."
149 reviews1 follower
October 11, 2025
Hector, Laird of Castle McCullough, rescues Gabriella from a cruel slave trafficking hunt and takes her back to his home. Gabriella believing that she has traded one prison for another gathers what little strength and sass she has and tries to escape Hector on the way. After showing him that she would rather die than become his sex slave, Hector realizes that she is only weakened by physical condition not by mental determination. Promising Gabriella that after she regains her strength she will be free to go and he will pay for her to do so. This begins their journey of trust, which leads to feelings neither want to address. After several attempts from the former slave traffickers to kidnap Gabriella they realize that their feelings are true. This author write's characters that are truly believable and have chemistry off the charts. Highly recommend this author!
Profile Image for Michele.
1,542 reviews9 followers
October 13, 2025
What to say about this fantastic book! I read this book in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. The author knows how to draw you in and keep you glued to the story. You are transported right into the storyline!! Now, a little bit about the book. Hector, Laird of Castle McCullough, rescues Gabriella from a cruel slave trafficking hunt and takes her back to his home. There these two wrestle with their feelings and fears about themselves and each other. All the while the slave traffickers try to get her back. This brings out the worst( best) of Hector. And from there these two find out what destiny has planned for them. Does Gabriella choose death or has Hector proven he is different from all she knows of men? Can they have a HEA ? Check this book out and see for yourself. I highly recommend this book! I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for An.
428 reviews1 follower
October 15, 2025
Gabriella meets Hector under dire circumstances. She has no reason to trust men and Hector is no different.
However, Hector shows her a side of himself few get to see.
With Gabriellea's safety uncertain and Hector's quest to topple an illegal enterprise, there is much suspense and intrigue.

Further, the attraction between these two is hard to miss. Although they try to fight it, it burns scorching hot and will not be denied.

This was a good plot and the characters were great! I'm looking forward to Erica's story!

This is my first book by this author, but hopefully not my last.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,654 reviews28 followers
October 17, 2025
Hunted by the Cruel Highlander: A Medieval Historical Romance Novel (Lasses of the Highland Hunt Book 1), my second read from author Keira McCain, apparently the first book in a series, 394-pages of Scottish historical romance. I look forward to reading more from this this author with The Highlander's Silent Wife: A Medieval Historical Romance Novel already on my TBR list. “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Profile Image for Caligirl.
173 reviews
October 19, 2025
what a story ….

This is the story of Gabriella and Hector and how they came to be …Gabriella is not a noble, her life was difficult after her father passed … she needed saving and that is what Hector did .. the story was intense at times,I felt that.

The character development was perfection, y the end I felt I knew both of them.. not only their characters, but all the side players were well flushed out to where you felt you knew them also.

This is my first book by Keira, but it won’t be my last 🥂
893 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2026
A titillating tale

This story is exciting from the beginning with a real hunt although it is not one the Laird approved... I kinda felt the title was a misdirection because her Highlander is not really cruel... The cruel ones the pub owner... The story focuses on her learning to trust and him deciding he can not let her go... Once they decide to do the fake wedding it pretty much is just a matter of time... There is a couple times when the bad guy tries to kidnap her... But it ends up with her getting married. Its a good story.
2,752 reviews30 followers
October 12, 2025
“Hunted by the Cruel Highlander” by Keira McCain

-A gripping Highland romance filled with danger, healing, and trust. Hector’s compassion and Gabriella’s courage shine through every page. Their chemistry blazes as they fight past trauma toward love and freedom.

A powerful, emotional read that’s impossible to put down.
44 reviews
October 24, 2025
Wow!

Truly a wonderful love story..A woman so tortured and nearly beaten to death saved by a warrior..so much earlier than Knights even existed...A precursor to what the world would become..A time when women were truly loved and worshiped. I highly recommend this romantic book to all women who have found their true love and to those who are still waiting.
881 reviews4 followers
October 9, 2025
Rescued for security

Hector rescuing Gabriella was a blessing even if she didn't know it at the time. What she has suffered for most of her life is a roller coaster and at one point it was off the track. This is a must read. I can't wait for the next book.
228 reviews
October 11, 2025
Love can remove all obstacles.

This book has a very interesting plot which is like no other book I have read. It reveals the cruelty of several men including Lairds but the fierceness, protectiveness and love of a truly kind and loving man.
Profile Image for Shuvai.
612 reviews12 followers
October 14, 2025
Fast-paced and fiery!
Gabriella escapes a cruel fate thanks to Highland laird Hector. What starts as a marriage of convenience turns into something real—once danger is out of the way, love takes center stage. Suspenseful, steamy, and highly recommended.
107 reviews
October 15, 2025
What a great story

What a great story, truly touches the heart.
Keira McCain brings you a compelling story of rags to riches, her characters brought to life in this remarkable story. Don't miss out.
74 reviews1 follower
October 20, 2025
ragamuffin

From kidnapping, to starvation, running for one’s life, to a Laird’s wife. A truly heart warming story. With everything coming together. He was a ruthless possessive Highland Laird. A true highlanders.
185 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2025
a Scottish romance

An unusual tale of women who were kidnapped and hunted for sport. Each book tells a different woman’s story. This is the tale about Caitlin and her rescuer Hector.
Profile Image for Ellen Fuller.
8 reviews
October 13, 2025
Highlander love

This was a great read. I enjoyed the characters in the story. It kept me wanting to keep turning the pages!
Profile Image for Joan Hartley.
188 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2025
great

A great story of Laird Hector and Gabriella the woman he rescued. This book had a great storyline and well worth a read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
213 reviews
October 21, 2025
Hunted By the Cruel Highlander

Best book I've read in a long time. Looking forward to read the stories of the other three who were hunted.
5 reviews
December 22, 2025
Wow all I can say is Wow

What a good love story. I enjoyed this so much. Thank you Keira McCain for the hard work in writing this book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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