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Isles/Templars #2
Lord of the Isles
When formidable twin brothers set out to build an empire for their clan, they consider every detail except one—the power of love to upset the best-laid plans.
Lady Cristina Macleod, eldest daughter of a Highland chieftain, is in a fire situation. Her superstitious father insists that she marry before her sisters, and he has forced her into a scheme: to trick Hector "the Ferocious" MacLean into taking her for his wife. Yet Cristina wonders about the true reason she obeys. Is it because of duty to her father? Or her secret attraction to Hector? In matters of war, he is as fearsome as the battle-axe that hardly ever leaves his side. But to women, his face is temptation itself and his charm weaves a powerful spell. Now facing the wrath of her new husband, Cristina refuses to bow to it, fueling his anger and a new threat emerges, Hector realizes he could very well lose his "wrong bride" ...and vows to fight for her with all his warrior heart.
Lady Cristina Macleod, eldest daughter of a Highland chieftain, is in a fire situation. Her superstitious father insists that she marry before her sisters, and he has forced her into a scheme: to trick Hector "the Ferocious" MacLean into taking her for his wife. Yet Cristina wonders about the true reason she obeys. Is it because of duty to her father? Or her secret attraction to Hector? In matters of war, he is as fearsome as the battle-axe that hardly ever leaves his side. But to women, his face is temptation itself and his charm weaves a powerful spell. Now facing the wrath of her new husband, Cristina refuses to bow to it, fueling his anger and a new threat emerges, Hector realizes he could very well lose his "wrong bride" ...and vows to fight for her with all his warrior heart.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2005
22 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Scott
175 books383 followersAmanda Scott, USA Today Bestselling Author and winner of Romance Writers of America’s RITA/Golden Medallion (LORD ABBERLEY'S NEMESIS) and Romantic Times’ Awards for Best Regency Author and Best Sensual Regency (RAVENWOOD'S LADY), Lifetime Achievement (2007) and Best Scottish Historical (BORDER MOONLIGHT, 2008), began writing on a dare from her husband. She has sold every manuscript she has written.
Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian, who was born and raised in Salinas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in British History, before obtaining her Master’s in History from California State University at San Jose. She now lives with her husband and son in northern California.
As a child, Amanda Scott was a model for O’Connor Moffatt in San Francisco (now Macy’s). She was also a Sputnik child, one of those selected after the satellite went up for one of California’s first programs for gifted children. She remained in that program through high school. After graduate school, she taught for the Salinas City School District for three years before marrying her husband, who was then a captain in the Air Force. They lived in Honolulu for a year, then in Papillion, Nebraska, for seven. Their son was born in Nebraska. They have lived in northern California since 1980.
Scott grew up in a family of lawyers, and is descended from a long line of them. Her father was a three-term District Attorney of Monterey County before his death in 1955 at age 36. Her grandfather was City Attorney of Salinas for 36 years after serving two terms as District Attorney, and two of her ancestors were State Supreme Court Justices (one in Missouri, the other the first Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arkansas). One brother, having carried on the Scott tradition in the Monterey County DA’s office, is now a judge. The other is an electrician in Knoxville, TN, and her sister is a teacher in the Sacramento area.
The women of Amanda Scott’s family have been no less successful than the men. Her mother was a child actress known as Baby Lowell, who performed all over the west coast and in Hollywood movies, and then was a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet until her marriage. Her mother’s sister, Loretta Lowell, was also a child actress. She performed in the Our Gang comedies and in several Loretta Young movies before becoming one of the first women in the US Air Force. Scott's paternal grandmother was active in local and State politics and served as president of the California State PTA, and her maternal grandmother was a teacher (and stage mother) before working for Monterey County. The place of women in Scott’s family has always been a strong one. Though they married strong men, the women have, for generations, been well educated and encouraged to succeed at whatever they chose to do.
Amanda Scott’s first book was OMAHA CITY ARCHITECTURE, a coffee-table photo essay on the historical architecture of Omaha, written for Landmarks, Inc. under her married name as a Junior League project. Others took the photos; she did the research and wrote the text on an old Smith-Corona portable electric. She sold her first novel, THE FUGITIVE HEIRESS - likewise written on the battered Smith-Corona in 1980. Since then, she has sold many more books, but since the second one she has used a word processor and computer. Twenty-five of her novels are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820). Others are set in 15th-century England and 14th- through 18th-century Scotland, and three are contemporary romances. Many of her titles are currently available at bookstores and online.
Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian, who was born and raised in Salinas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in British History, before obtaining her Master’s in History from California State University at San Jose. She now lives with her husband and son in northern California.
As a child, Amanda Scott was a model for O’Connor Moffatt in San Francisco (now Macy’s). She was also a Sputnik child, one of those selected after the satellite went up for one of California’s first programs for gifted children. She remained in that program through high school. After graduate school, she taught for the Salinas City School District for three years before marrying her husband, who was then a captain in the Air Force. They lived in Honolulu for a year, then in Papillion, Nebraska, for seven. Their son was born in Nebraska. They have lived in northern California since 1980.
Scott grew up in a family of lawyers, and is descended from a long line of them. Her father was a three-term District Attorney of Monterey County before his death in 1955 at age 36. Her grandfather was City Attorney of Salinas for 36 years after serving two terms as District Attorney, and two of her ancestors were State Supreme Court Justices (one in Missouri, the other the first Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arkansas). One brother, having carried on the Scott tradition in the Monterey County DA’s office, is now a judge. The other is an electrician in Knoxville, TN, and her sister is a teacher in the Sacramento area.
The women of Amanda Scott’s family have been no less successful than the men. Her mother was a child actress known as Baby Lowell, who performed all over the west coast and in Hollywood movies, and then was a dancer with the San Francisco Opera Ballet until her marriage. Her mother’s sister, Loretta Lowell, was also a child actress. She performed in the Our Gang comedies and in several Loretta Young movies before becoming one of the first women in the US Air Force. Scott's paternal grandmother was active in local and State politics and served as president of the California State PTA, and her maternal grandmother was a teacher (and stage mother) before working for Monterey County. The place of women in Scott’s family has always been a strong one. Though they married strong men, the women have, for generations, been well educated and encouraged to succeed at whatever they chose to do.
Amanda Scott’s first book was OMAHA CITY ARCHITECTURE, a coffee-table photo essay on the historical architecture of Omaha, written for Landmarks, Inc. under her married name as a Junior League project. Others took the photos; she did the research and wrote the text on an old Smith-Corona portable electric. She sold her first novel, THE FUGITIVE HEIRESS - likewise written on the battered Smith-Corona in 1980. Since then, she has sold many more books, but since the second one she has used a word processor and computer. Twenty-five of her novels are set in the English Regency period (1810-1820). Others are set in 15th-century England and 14th- through 18th-century Scotland, and three are contemporary romances. Many of her titles are currently available at bookstores and online.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 21, 2025
at least mariota died ❤️
January 29, 2025
This story didn’t immediately catch my attention. Trying to read this over Christmas break but the story and pacing didn’t take off for me for a while. Maybe half way in.
The start of this is kind of like a Jacob and Leah/Rachel from the Bible marriage trick. Hector wants the second daughter but is given the oldest daughter Cristina in a trick. An interesting concept but it took a while to even get thru that first part.
Once the story does get going we all learn that Mariota is the absolute worst sister and person. Hector eventually prefers Cristina, or realizes she’s the better one to have married — Some of that in the storyline is fun to read and the rest more tedious.
The start of this is kind of like a Jacob and Leah/Rachel from the Bible marriage trick. Hector wants the second daughter but is given the oldest daughter Cristina in a trick. An interesting concept but it took a while to even get thru that first part.
Once the story does get going we all learn that Mariota is the absolute worst sister and person. Hector eventually prefers Cristina, or realizes she’s the better one to have married — Some of that in the storyline is fun to read and the rest more tedious.
June 24, 2013
I appreciate her attention to historic detail and story weaving. would read more of her stuff.
February 12, 2019
D: Ja, ich habe das Buch in Deutsch gelesen. Hach, romantisch, spannend und packend! Amanda Scott versteht ihr Handwerk. Die politischen Zusammenhänge waren manchmal etwas zäh, aber es war sehr spannend, dass es auf tatsächliche Personen und Ereignisse basiert!
E: I actually love these times when fierce Highland warriors could also sing ballads (and were no polished ballroom dandies and of course, no everyday businessmen). Hector and Christina were just such an amazing couple! Christina is not the dazzling beauty neither a feisty tomboy neither a genius, but just a responsible, caring, sweet young woman. The take on the "villain" was refreshing. Sister rivalry is a good topic and reminded me of "The other Boleyn Girl". But who stole my heart was little Isobel. Gosh, I need to read her book "Prince of danger". And I wished to get more from the two little kitten - they vanished from the story somehow ...
E: I actually love these times when fierce Highland warriors could also sing ballads (and were no polished ballroom dandies and of course, no everyday businessmen). Hector and Christina were just such an amazing couple! Christina is not the dazzling beauty neither a feisty tomboy neither a genius, but just a responsible, caring, sweet young woman. The take on the "villain" was refreshing. Sister rivalry is a good topic and reminded me of "The other Boleyn Girl". But who stole my heart was little Isobel. Gosh, I need to read her book "Prince of danger". And I wished to get more from the two little kitten - they vanished from the story somehow ...
November 22, 2025
Este libro me hizo enojar muchísimo!!! Realmente desde el principio no toleré a Mariota y odié como toda su familia(a excepción de Isobel) menospreciaba a Christina. Héctor no quería casarse con ella, sino con Mariota, así que le toca ver cómo, a pesar de estar casados, su hermana Mariota le coquetea a Héctor y este los acepta. Le justifica todo y a Christina la regaña. Me dió coraje como se dejaba engañar por Mariota y se tardó mucho en abrir los ojos, pero nunca dejó que nada pasara con Mariota, fue lo que me consoló. Me hubiese gustado un final diferente, donde Mariota pagara sus maldades, pero de otra forma a como ocurrió aquí.
January 5, 2025
Love the Scottish highland stories
Such an interesting story. Writer brings you into the life, fun and trials of the women during a time when men truly ruled over the women. Some were as smart as the men trying to be independent yet subservient. It's nice how the author brings in historical facts at the end of the book explaining a bit of the history.
Such an interesting story. Writer brings you into the life, fun and trials of the women during a time when men truly ruled over the women. Some were as smart as the men trying to be independent yet subservient. It's nice how the author brings in historical facts at the end of the book explaining a bit of the history.
September 4, 2024
I was impressed by how seamlessly historical accuracy was woven into the story. The unexpected events added a layer of intrigue that kept me engaged. Set in Scotland, the story is authentic—expect to encounter a tons of surnames beginning with 'Mac'!
April 3, 2019
Me gustó mucho!!
August 3, 2024
#133 - 2024
Genre: Historical Romance, Highland
Genre: Historical Romance, Highland
December 12, 2024
I’m thinking 3 stars might be generous. Good to see the characters from the first book and that’s about all I’ve got for this one….ugh! 🏴🗡️😑
December 29, 2025
Read it over Christmas break. Took me awhile to really get caught up in it, and it was a fun if predictable read.
November 4, 2015
This was one of the first HR books that I read when I first got into this genre a few years ago, and was such a refreshing breath of fresh air after some very horrible (but guilty pleasures!) books in the beginning. It really was the book that kept me a fan of historical romance. This one had all the elements: Scottish highlands, clan clashes (MacLean, MacLeod, MacDonald, MacKinnon), alpha men, strong heroines, wild weather, one crazy wild woman, a scheming and controlling father, politics, the Steward, thunder and lightning, and even a big rock called Creag an Corps. The writer weaved into the story historical details of the area (Castle Duart, the Isles of Mull and Skye) and the time (13th century). This is one HR book that I grab a few times a year to reread.
March 23, 2010
Ugh I felt like this was written in the 80s! You know those kinds where the hero is an arse and the heroine is a wimp. Well ok the heroine wasn't exactly a wimp here but close enough! The ending was a bit too convenient and predictable. The villain was extremely unbelievable. I wish this book had a bit more depth. This was my first Amanda Scott book and my last.
January 15, 2013
Interesting twists and turn...different take on highland romance and definitely an unique heroine, both vulnerable and strong. Good character development, all of them were three-dimensional;p
But, the ending was a bit abrupt in my opinion...there was still some room for plot development as well as character development...
Overall, 4.5 stars;)
But, the ending was a bit abrupt in my opinion...there was still some room for plot development as well as character development...
Overall, 4.5 stars;)
February 18, 2008
Lord Hector falls for the beautiful Mariota but instead finds himself married to her older sister, Cristina.
Hector is annoying and dense at times, but it's well-crafted.
Hector is annoying and dense at times, but it's well-crafted.
January 5, 2012
Very enjoyable
July 16, 2014
Very good. I liked the part where Hector rescued Maiota when her skirt caught fire.
August 24, 2015
Tricked into marriage by the bride's father and now with an unwilling bride, life has become interesting. Fun romance.
June 6, 2012
A romance novel I will admit to having read :P
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January 6, 2018Lordy...
Hector was awesome when he wasn't being pig headed. I liked the story. I'm a bad person to think her sister got what she deserved. I'm glad Hector said, "I love you," first. I'm looking forward to more by this author.
Hector was awesome when he wasn't being pig headed. I liked the story. I'm a bad person to think her sister got what she deserved. I'm glad Hector said, "I love you," first. I'm looking forward to more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews