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Highland Burn #1
Graham
Their love defied king and clan…
Battle scarred, war hardened, and ruthless when it comes to the welfare of his people, Graham MacCleod is determined to gain back for his clan the stability and wealth stolen from them. Marriage to the MacKintosh Miracle is the first step in his plan. That the Laird MacKintosh doesn’t regard Graham as a worthy suitor for his spoiled daughter is a minor hurdle. The MacCleods didn’t earn their fierce reputation as the Black Raiders by cowering at a challenge. MacCleods fight for what they want. Not that Mary MacKintosh’s kidnapping was much of a fight. The rebellion the laird let flourish in his daughter dropped her right into Graham’s lap. Kidnapping her was as easy as snatching her out of the pond. Keeping her will be equally as simple. Or so he thinks.
Stunning. Intelligent. A prize beyond price. Mary MacKintosh has heard it all as sole heiress to the MacKintosh Clan’s fortune and political power. From birth, she’s known her responsibility. In these unstable times, she must secure her clan’s position within both the Scottish and English courts by marrying well. The only problem is that none of the bachelors her father has gathered at the castle are men who have what it will take to fulfill her duty. She needs a man with a strong arm and a strong sense of purpose. One whose dedication surpasses his greed. One who understands the concept of loyalty the way a MacKintosh does. She needs a man she is very afraid does not exist.
But when, on the eve of her engagement announcement, Mary is kidnapped by the infamous Black Raider, her perspective changes as fast as her circumstances. Graham MacCleod isn’t anything like she’d expected. Fair and balanced in his approach, Graham is a Scottish warrior to the bone. From captor to husband, he takes her along a journey that both liberates her spirit and convinces her that she might just have found the man both she and her people need. If her father and the crown can be convinced…
Battle scarred, war hardened, and ruthless when it comes to the welfare of his people, Graham MacCleod is determined to gain back for his clan the stability and wealth stolen from them. Marriage to the MacKintosh Miracle is the first step in his plan. That the Laird MacKintosh doesn’t regard Graham as a worthy suitor for his spoiled daughter is a minor hurdle. The MacCleods didn’t earn their fierce reputation as the Black Raiders by cowering at a challenge. MacCleods fight for what they want. Not that Mary MacKintosh’s kidnapping was much of a fight. The rebellion the laird let flourish in his daughter dropped her right into Graham’s lap. Kidnapping her was as easy as snatching her out of the pond. Keeping her will be equally as simple. Or so he thinks.
Stunning. Intelligent. A prize beyond price. Mary MacKintosh has heard it all as sole heiress to the MacKintosh Clan’s fortune and political power. From birth, she’s known her responsibility. In these unstable times, she must secure her clan’s position within both the Scottish and English courts by marrying well. The only problem is that none of the bachelors her father has gathered at the castle are men who have what it will take to fulfill her duty. She needs a man with a strong arm and a strong sense of purpose. One whose dedication surpasses his greed. One who understands the concept of loyalty the way a MacKintosh does. She needs a man she is very afraid does not exist.
But when, on the eve of her engagement announcement, Mary is kidnapped by the infamous Black Raider, her perspective changes as fast as her circumstances. Graham MacCleod isn’t anything like she’d expected. Fair and balanced in his approach, Graham is a Scottish warrior to the bone. From captor to husband, he takes her along a journey that both liberates her spirit and convinces her that she might just have found the man both she and her people need. If her father and the crown can be convinced…
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2017
18 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Sarah McCarty
56 books1,068 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)romance author
Sarah has traveled extensively throughout her life, living in other cultures, sometimes in areas where electricity was a concept awaiting fruition and a book was an extreme luxury. While she could easily adjust to the lack of electricity, living without the comfort of a good book was intolerable. To fill the void, she bought pencil and paper and sketched out her own story. In the process, Sarah discovered the joy of writing.
Sarah writes what she loves to read; fast paced stories with vivid dialogue, intense emotion and well developed characters. Her attention to detail in her stories has earned her multiple awards and a reserved spot on Keeper shelves everywhere.
Sarah writes for Ellora's Cave, Harlequin HQN, Harlequin SPICE, Berkley HEAT and Berkley SENSATION.
(1)romance author
Sarah has traveled extensively throughout her life, living in other cultures, sometimes in areas where electricity was a concept awaiting fruition and a book was an extreme luxury. While she could easily adjust to the lack of electricity, living without the comfort of a good book was intolerable. To fill the void, she bought pencil and paper and sketched out her own story. In the process, Sarah discovered the joy of writing.
Sarah writes what she loves to read; fast paced stories with vivid dialogue, intense emotion and well developed characters. Her attention to detail in her stories has earned her multiple awards and a reserved spot on Keeper shelves everywhere.
Sarah writes for Ellora's Cave, Harlequin HQN, Harlequin SPICE, Berkley HEAT and Berkley SENSATION.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 12, 2022
I was curious about this story because of the A. Bad Reviews B. A review stating the heroine was raped on her wedding night. I enjoy dark books & I love highlander books so I figured I would give this book a shot.
✔️First, I think this is a good story- it’s got witty characters who all are striving to survive in medieval Scotland. The story flows well and it has an intriguing plot for the timeframe.
✔️Second, This is not done in a “bad” way — he doesn’t purposely hurt her.
✔️Third, I believe there is a difference between medieval marriage beds & actual rape. IMO the heroine is not raped at any time during the story.
✔️Fourth, I probably would have rated this a 4 star book if: A. It didn’t end in a total cliffhanger, B. If it had an epilogue, C. If it had some proofreading & line editing. Don’t get me wrong the editing isn’t horrible but there are a few times the subject of a sentence was mixed up & the author contradicts herself.
Overall - this is a good story, it’s got a trace of darkness. I don’t see where book two is forthcoming and it looks like the author switched to American Historical Romance, so that’s a little annoying because of the cliffhanger.
3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
✔️First, I think this is a good story- it’s got witty characters who all are striving to survive in medieval Scotland. The story flows well and it has an intriguing plot for the timeframe.
✔️Second, This is not done in a “bad” way — he doesn’t purposely hurt her.
✔️Third, I believe there is a difference between medieval marriage beds & actual rape. IMO the heroine is not raped at any time during the story.
✔️Fourth, I probably would have rated this a 4 star book if: A. It didn’t end in a total cliffhanger, B. If it had an epilogue, C. If it had some proofreading & line editing. Don’t get me wrong the editing isn’t horrible but there are a few times the subject of a sentence was mixed up & the author contradicts herself.
Overall - this is a good story, it’s got a trace of darkness. I don’t see where book two is forthcoming and it looks like the author switched to American Historical Romance, so that’s a little annoying because of the cliffhanger.
3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Want to read
October 31, 2013Anyone know if this book is actually published? According to Goodreads the publish date was August 28th 2012, but I cannot find this book anywhere on the Internet to buy.
January 24, 2018
I really, really hope there will be more books in this series!
June 10, 2020
I dont think this series ever continued? But who knows with Sarah McCarty, she updated her Promises series 14 years after the first after all.
I read it a long time ago. Graham and his men were branded outlaws after escaping a culling of Highlanders through battle based on the real life Battle of the North Inch (Clan Battle of 1396).
I figure if I remembered the details this vividly even years later, I mustve liked it 😂.
I read it a long time ago. Graham and his men were branded outlaws after escaping a culling of Highlanders through battle based on the real life Battle of the North Inch (Clan Battle of 1396).
I figure if I remembered the details this vividly even years later, I mustve liked it 😂.
January 10, 2018
Graham MacCleod is determined to gain back for his clan the stability and wealth stolen from them. Marriage to the MacKintosh Miracle is the first step in his plan. That the Laird MacKintosh doesn’t regard Graham as a worthy suitor for his spoiled daughter is a minor hurdle. Stunning. Intelligent. A prize beyond price. Mary MacKintosh has heard it all as sole heiress to the MacKintosh Clan’s fortune and political power. From birth, she’s known her responsibility. In these unstable times, she must secure her clan’s position within both the Scottish and English courts by marrying well. The only problem is that none of the bachelors her father has gathered at the castle are men who have what it will take to fulfil her duty. She needs a man with a strong arm and a strong sense of purpose. One whose dedication surpasses his greed. One who understands the concept of loyalty the way a MacKintosh does. She needs a man she is very afraid does not exist. Mary is kidnapped by the infamous Black Raider, her perspective changes as fast as her circumstances. Graham MacCleod isn’t anything like she’d expected. Fair and balanced in his approach, Graham is a Scottish warrior to the bone. From captor to husband, he takes her along a journey that both liberates her spirit and convinces her that she might just have found the man both she and her people need. If her father and the crown can be convinced…
A long wait for a book by this favourite author. A new twist on her usual books. I enjoyed the book. Some areas I felt I wanted to know more – from falling over a cliff – whole rescue was missing. Rather abrupt ending - I can only think that it will continue in the next book. I do hope so, as I was starting to enjoy Mary's drawing together the clan and there were some other strong characters in whom I could see in a future story. There was humour, romance and history mixed together. I won't put pressure on Sarah McCarty - but I look forward to the next chapter of Graham and Mary and the Clan.
August 25, 2019
Wait, I want more.
The characters are well developed and interesting to read about. The story line is intriguing with some nice switches to make it unique. I had two issues. The first is he poor copy editing, i.e., the error in her eye color and whether it was morning or night as well as some repeated and misplaced words that were a distraction for me as a reader. The second issue was that I didn't want the story to be over. I could read about Graham and Mary's life on into old age. Thank you to the author for a warm and wonderful story.
The characters are well developed and interesting to read about. The story line is intriguing with some nice switches to make it unique. I had two issues. The first is he poor copy editing, i.e., the error in her eye color and whether it was morning or night as well as some repeated and misplaced words that were a distraction for me as a reader. The second issue was that I didn't want the story to be over. I could read about Graham and Mary's life on into old age. Thank you to the author for a warm and wonderful story.
September 18, 2018
TOTAL DNF!!! h was raped by H!!!! RAPED!!!!!
October 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this story, but would have liked a more complete ending. I felt like it could have had a bit more!
September 3, 2022
Great Read
Another fandabbidozi read..Sarah McCarty has done it again...kept my attention from start to finish can't wait to read the next one...I think Graham will be kept on his toes by "his Mary Mine"
Another fandabbidozi read..Sarah McCarty has done it again...kept my attention from start to finish can't wait to read the next one...I think Graham will be kept on his toes by "his Mary Mine"
December 21, 2019
Cliffhanger ending; actually the book just kinda stops. Had it had an actual ending it would've been a 3 star book for me.
October 14, 2022
After finishing Luke’s Cut, I had to bump the ones I needed from this author’s backlist up in priority. So ordered this straight away! Will get to real soon ;)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews