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The Magnificent Rogue
From the glittering courts of Elizabethan England to the storm-tossed cliffs of the Scottish Highlands comes a dazzling tale of seduction, danger, and desire by one of America’s bestselling and beloved authors, Iris Johansen.
She was a beautiful pawn in a game of love and death...
When Princess Kathryn Kentyre is snatched from a life of captivity by the mysterious Black Robert of Craighdhu, she is torn between absolute terror and soaring hope. He had been chosen to protect her from the dangers surrounding her, yet the moment he swept her away she knew this rogue of a Scottish laird would prove a greater threat than any she faced from her enemies.
He was a warrior-chief torn between duty and desire...
Sensuous as sin itself and wild as his native Scottish Highlands, Robert MacDarren had no intention of settling down with one woman. Yet the agreement he'd struck to keep the peace required he marry the orphaned beauty and bring her back to his castle at Craighdhu for safekeeping. It was to be a marriage in name only—and only for one year. He never suspected that the meek hostage he had been promised would prove to be this firebrand of a woman who would challenge his mind, arouse his passion, and lay siege to his heart.
She was a beautiful pawn in a game of love and death...
When Princess Kathryn Kentyre is snatched from a life of captivity by the mysterious Black Robert of Craighdhu, she is torn between absolute terror and soaring hope. He had been chosen to protect her from the dangers surrounding her, yet the moment he swept her away she knew this rogue of a Scottish laird would prove a greater threat than any she faced from her enemies.
He was a warrior-chief torn between duty and desire...
Sensuous as sin itself and wild as his native Scottish Highlands, Robert MacDarren had no intention of settling down with one woman. Yet the agreement he'd struck to keep the peace required he marry the orphaned beauty and bring her back to his castle at Craighdhu for safekeeping. It was to be a marriage in name only—and only for one year. He never suspected that the meek hostage he had been promised would prove to be this firebrand of a woman who would challenge his mind, arouse his passion, and lay siege to his heart.
385 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
126 people are currently reading
1511 people want to read
About the author
Iris Johansen
228 books7,351 followersIris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
August 8, 2022
Read: 2017-2019
ReRead: 7/4/20
Great! This is IJ at her finest. The H is forced to marry Merry Queen of Scots's illegitimate daughter. Queen Elizabeth orders him to or go back to jail.
He finds the h abused by a fanatical priest. Once she saves her, he plans to marry her than later consummate the marriage. Well, that goes well till a snowstorm hits and they are left alone.
This story goes from England to Scotland and back again. All the while the two fall in love.
The humour in it makes the book. I cringe everytime his brother picks up the bagpipes. Lol.
I highly recommend this book! IJ's other books are fantastic but is one has less blood in this book
ReRead: 7/4/20
Great! This is IJ at her finest. The H is forced to marry Merry Queen of Scots's illegitimate daughter. Queen Elizabeth orders him to or go back to jail.
He finds the h abused by a fanatical priest. Once she saves her, he plans to marry her than later consummate the marriage. Well, that goes well till a snowstorm hits and they are left alone.
This story goes from England to Scotland and back again. All the while the two fall in love.
The humour in it makes the book. I cringe everytime his brother picks up the bagpipes. Lol.
I highly recommend this book! IJ's other books are fantastic but is one has less blood in this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2009
I loved this one, and I am loving discovering Iris Johansen's historical romances. I haven't read a bad one yet!
Kate has spent her life being watched over (and dominated by) Sebastian Landfield, at the request of "the lady", i.e. Queen Elizabeth I. The speculation has always been that Kate is the illegitimate daughter of Mary of Scotland, whom Elizabeth had imprisoned. Elizabeth, seeing the danger that could be posed should someone discover Kate's existence, has spent years trying to find the perfect protector for the girl. She has finally found him in Robert MacDarren. She captures him and orders him to marry Kate and take her to Robert's remote Scottish island of Craighdu.
Though he's not pleased to be summoned and ordered around by an English queen, Robert sets out to fetch Kate, but he has plans of his own to circumvent Elizabeth's will: instead of a church wedding, he will bind himself to Kate in a handfast ceremony, that way he can repudiate the match in a year.
But Kate isn't what Robert expected, and soon her strength, charm, and perseverance have captivated him. However, in keeping Kate, he could lose his home, his life, and his country.
What a great story. At first I was a little disappointed in the illegitimate-daughter-of-a-queen storyline, but once you got to know the circumstances and the characters, it wasn't all that implausible. Kate has spent her whole life tucked away from civilization with guardians who cared more about disciplining her than raising her to be a woman. She's so starved for any kind of life experience that her curiosity can't be controlled. She wants to touch, taste, hear, and see everything. And she drives Robert crazy because of it.
I love Robert, there's really nothing more to say. He's rough and tough on the outside, but he can't refuse Kate's smallest request.
The supporting characters are just as interesting: Gavin, the man at arms who is more equipped to be a bard; Deirdre, the termagant housekeeper who really reminded me of my mom's oldest sister; Jock, the silent, hard but fair father-figure in Robert's life.
There wasn't a bad part to this book. A
Kate has spent her life being watched over (and dominated by) Sebastian Landfield, at the request of "the lady", i.e. Queen Elizabeth I. The speculation has always been that Kate is the illegitimate daughter of Mary of Scotland, whom Elizabeth had imprisoned. Elizabeth, seeing the danger that could be posed should someone discover Kate's existence, has spent years trying to find the perfect protector for the girl. She has finally found him in Robert MacDarren. She captures him and orders him to marry Kate and take her to Robert's remote Scottish island of Craighdu.
Though he's not pleased to be summoned and ordered around by an English queen, Robert sets out to fetch Kate, but he has plans of his own to circumvent Elizabeth's will: instead of a church wedding, he will bind himself to Kate in a handfast ceremony, that way he can repudiate the match in a year.
But Kate isn't what Robert expected, and soon her strength, charm, and perseverance have captivated him. However, in keeping Kate, he could lose his home, his life, and his country.
What a great story. At first I was a little disappointed in the illegitimate-daughter-of-a-queen storyline, but once you got to know the circumstances and the characters, it wasn't all that implausible. Kate has spent her whole life tucked away from civilization with guardians who cared more about disciplining her than raising her to be a woman. She's so starved for any kind of life experience that her curiosity can't be controlled. She wants to touch, taste, hear, and see everything. And she drives Robert crazy because of it.
I love Robert, there's really nothing more to say. He's rough and tough on the outside, but he can't refuse Kate's smallest request.
The supporting characters are just as interesting: Gavin, the man at arms who is more equipped to be a bard; Deirdre, the termagant housekeeper who really reminded me of my mom's oldest sister; Jock, the silent, hard but fair father-figure in Robert's life.
There wasn't a bad part to this book. A
May 5, 2018
A Scottish Rogue to Love, a Tale to Savor—a Keeper!
Set in 16th century England and Scotland, this is a magnificent tale of strength born of hardship and love that develops even when denied.
He was the Black Robert of Craighdhu, a remote island castle in Scotland, where he was laird. Half Spanish and experienced in their tortures as well as their pleasures, he'd been a pirate and had incurred both the praise and anger of Queen Elizabeth, who has now seized him for another assignment: The Queen wants him to wed Kathryn Kentyre who, he is told, is Queen Mary's illegitimate daughter.
Kathryn ("Kate"), now 16, has been raised in seclusion by a vicar who is going insane and beats her. She is bent on escape. But Robert McDarren will find her and handfast with her and then sweep her away to his castle in the Highlands where he intends to keep her for only a year. For he knows who she is threatens Craighdhu and he will do anything to protect his lands and his people.
You won't regret reading this one. It is well written, the characters are wonderful, and the plot believable. The action will draw you into the world of treachery, envy, betrayal and deception that existed at the time of Queen Elizabeth and King James.
A romance well worth re-reading—a keeper!
Set in 16th century England and Scotland, this is a magnificent tale of strength born of hardship and love that develops even when denied.
He was the Black Robert of Craighdhu, a remote island castle in Scotland, where he was laird. Half Spanish and experienced in their tortures as well as their pleasures, he'd been a pirate and had incurred both the praise and anger of Queen Elizabeth, who has now seized him for another assignment: The Queen wants him to wed Kathryn Kentyre who, he is told, is Queen Mary's illegitimate daughter.
Kathryn ("Kate"), now 16, has been raised in seclusion by a vicar who is going insane and beats her. She is bent on escape. But Robert McDarren will find her and handfast with her and then sweep her away to his castle in the Highlands where he intends to keep her for only a year. For he knows who she is threatens Craighdhu and he will do anything to protect his lands and his people.
You won't regret reading this one. It is well written, the characters are wonderful, and the plot believable. The action will draw you into the world of treachery, envy, betrayal and deception that existed at the time of Queen Elizabeth and King James.
A romance well worth re-reading—a keeper!
May 14, 2015
Honestly, I was disappointed with this story. It started really great and I really liked it, but somewhere along the road to Craighdhu it all went down for me. It could be that the main heroine wasn't lovable to me, or stuff that came out of her mouth, or that I didn't feel that HR bliss of struggle/denial when it comes to love/passion, or that the main hero was actually sweet and not so much rogue as you expect. I also had a problem which I never had till now. I know that in HR heroines are rarely above 18 years old, but here I felt like it was so expressed that I really couldn't connect to her as a serious character. I know, I know that she behaves like a mature person and all that, and that she had awful past... But, I just couldn't connect to it at all. She simply irritated me. And I know that I have a problem and tendency that heroines irritate me a lot, but I just can't help myself. She was portrayed as a strong female with backbone, but all I saw was some immature child that behaves like she has a wisdom of some Druid.
August 3, 2022
Простичка, линейна история с елизабетинска епоха за фон. Без недоразумение и незрялост, макар героите да са съвсем младички. Правят, каквото могат, и поемат с пълно съзнание отговорността от изборите си. Заслужен хепи енд.
Отговорността е нещо, което по-старото поколение авторки на любовни романи използват доста по-реалистично и драматично в сюжетите си. Не знам на кскво се дължи, но сегашната вълна такива четива сякаш просто не е наясно, че тръшкането и детинщините в зряла възраст, плюс съвършено вредна и неуместна политкоректност спрямо епоха, герои и читатели хич не са романтични. Дори и за плажа…
Отговорността е нещо, което по-старото поколение авторки на любовни романи използват доста по-реалистично и драматично в сюжетите си. Не знам на кскво се дължи, но сегашната вълна такива четива сякаш просто не е наясно, че тръшкането и детинщините в зряла възраст, плюс съвършено вредна и неуместна политкоректност спрямо епоха, герои и читатели хич не са романтични. Дори и за плажа…
January 21, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this one. At first, I thought "Hey this isn't so bad" (Mind you, I had just DNFed two books, by that point my standards are low) So I was determined to finish this one. I didn't regret it, but I wasn't loving it either.
Kathryn is this young girl around sixteen that has been abused all her life, and then, recent events made her be wed to a Scot. Robert doesn't sound like a scot at all. In the first half of the book, I liked him very much. He has character and has shown incredible kindness to the heroine. But I think as the book goes on, it delves too much into the politics that the hero and heroine's character just... disappeared into "irrelevant" territory. I read romance FOR the romance.
Oh you feel insecure? Save it. There's an army coming our way. There is no time for swooning and sweet words (or anything that you look for in romance), you just get worried about the conflict too much. In short:
And maybe that's the reason I lost interest along the way. Most of my favorite romance novels has made me laugh and feel safe. I like the first half of this book because I thought Kate was safe. As the story goes on... I realized yeah that wasn't happening because...
I had been searching for royalty novels since the first time I read romance. This book cleared things up for me: I didn't want royalty books, I want royalty romance slash fairy tale books. In other words, I don't like politics mixed with romance. This story is too tied up with the royal drama that we seldom get a chance to fall in love with the main characters. Well, I am curious about the story of the royalties but my sole purpose is for the hero and heroine to get together.
I don't even know if the history is the least bit accurate. I didn't really care. I was just there to read the romance. I was there to be presented with romance as the main dish, not the side dish. I keep waiting for breadcrumbs on the relationships conversations. I grew tired of eating breadcrumbs like a pigeon when I could be served a whole ass cake.
At some point, I was so tired of the politics that I just went "yeah, yeah, a whole army. Blackmail, confessions, witness, blood. Whatever bro"
I was more than a little disappointed that I almost DNFed this one. I enjoyed parts of it... and I didn't DNF it so that's an accomplishment in itself. It's just not for me.
So, to be clear, this earned mid ratings because I expected it to be a romance that I would laugh and swoon over. It didn't swoon me, nor did it make me laugh. It's a good book. They focus more on the lusty part of the romance. I wasn't too happy about that. Instead, I get a political romance story about a girl used as a pawn or whatev. YEah, I'm quite over this, and I suspect I would forget.
Anyways, that doesn't mean this book is bad. It's just not for me.
Kathryn is this young girl around sixteen that has been abused all her life, and then, recent events made her be wed to a Scot. Robert doesn't sound like a scot at all. In the first half of the book, I liked him very much. He has character and has shown incredible kindness to the heroine. But I think as the book goes on, it delves too much into the politics that the hero and heroine's character just... disappeared into "irrelevant" territory. I read romance FOR the romance.
Oh you feel insecure? Save it. There's an army coming our way. There is no time for swooning and sweet words (or anything that you look for in romance), you just get worried about the conflict too much. In short:
And maybe that's the reason I lost interest along the way. Most of my favorite romance novels has made me laugh and feel safe. I like the first half of this book because I thought Kate was safe. As the story goes on... I realized yeah that wasn't happening because...
I had been searching for royalty novels since the first time I read romance. This book cleared things up for me: I didn't want royalty books, I want royalty romance slash fairy tale books. In other words, I don't like politics mixed with romance. This story is too tied up with the royal drama that we seldom get a chance to fall in love with the main characters. Well, I am curious about the story of the royalties but my sole purpose is for the hero and heroine to get together.
I don't even know if the history is the least bit accurate. I didn't really care. I was just there to read the romance. I was there to be presented with romance as the main dish, not the side dish. I keep waiting for breadcrumbs on the relationships conversations. I grew tired of eating breadcrumbs like a pigeon when I could be served a whole ass cake.
At some point, I was so tired of the politics that I just went "yeah, yeah, a whole army. Blackmail, confessions, witness, blood. Whatever bro"
I was more than a little disappointed that I almost DNFed this one. I enjoyed parts of it... and I didn't DNF it so that's an accomplishment in itself. It's just not for me.
So, to be clear, this earned mid ratings because I expected it to be a romance that I would laugh and swoon over. It didn't swoon me, nor did it make me laugh. It's a good book. They focus more on the lusty part of the romance. I wasn't too happy about that. Instead, I get a political romance story about a girl used as a pawn or whatev. YEah, I'm quite over this, and I suspect I would forget.
Anyways, that doesn't mean this book is bad. It's just not for me.
April 29, 2023
I'm sure I read this back in the day but I can't remember it so I'm adding to the list.
May 30, 2021
3.5 -4 stars. Read this for Regan Walker’s monthly theme/blog, May is Scots & Highlanders month. The beginning of this book was a little up-and-down for me. I thought the first chapter was really promising, but once the heroine was introduced to the H I wasn’t so sure. However, her personality began to develop over the course of the book and it became much better and I liked both the H/ h. There is a twist at the end and all in all I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it.
December 29, 2021
This was an enjoyable historical fiction read. I've read a bit about Mary Queen of Scots as well as The Virgin Queen Elizabeth but this offered new perspectives and insights. It is definitely a romance though, which is not a frequent choice in genre for me.
June 16, 2012
He was Black Robert of Craighdhu, a rogue of the highest order, answerable to no one except the people of Craighdhu. There was nothing he wouldn't risk and nothing more important to Robert MacDarren than his Scottish Highland home. A man who really cares nothing for the political intrigue and machinations of the current "Royal Pains," he is caught in the middle of just such machinations. Forced to marry and protect a young woman, who has been placed in hiding, apparently, for her royal bastardly birth, Black Robert takes her to his home with intentions only of keeping a safe distance between this woman, himself, and especially from his home and people. He knows anything "Royal" has nasty side effects, and even this meek, innocent-appearing young female can be more deadly than the fiercest warrior. Princess Kathyrn Kentyre becomes anything but meek, and her "Royalty" has taught her everything, but innocence. Is she everything Robert says she is? OR is she worse?
This romance has a good overall story line with captivating "royal" intrigue. However, I only rated it a 3 because it was seriously lacking in the "romance" category. I started out really into the rough, wild, Scottish rogue, Robert MacDarren, but his character did not seem to evolve and gain the depths that capture the heart of the reader. In fact, in the romance category, he was more of a "Wam, Bam, Thank-you Mam!" type of lover (if you can call that a lover?) Even Kathyrn, the heroine, although young and physically innocent, was anything but emotionally innocent. She was a virgin of the body, but not of the spirit. Yet, she accepted her first sexual encounter with a very matter-of-fact attitude and little emotion when one would expect her to have an extreme abhorrence or fear of physical intimacy due to her abusive childhood. It all just didn't add up. I was left not only unsatisfied, but truly confused by the characters' actions and attitudes. I just couldn't relate, couldn't bring any compassion to the characters' plight, and left more disgusted than anything else.
This romance has a good overall story line with captivating "royal" intrigue. However, I only rated it a 3 because it was seriously lacking in the "romance" category. I started out really into the rough, wild, Scottish rogue, Robert MacDarren, but his character did not seem to evolve and gain the depths that capture the heart of the reader. In fact, in the romance category, he was more of a "Wam, Bam, Thank-you Mam!" type of lover (if you can call that a lover?) Even Kathyrn, the heroine, although young and physically innocent, was anything but emotionally innocent. She was a virgin of the body, but not of the spirit. Yet, she accepted her first sexual encounter with a very matter-of-fact attitude and little emotion when one would expect her to have an extreme abhorrence or fear of physical intimacy due to her abusive childhood. It all just didn't add up. I was left not only unsatisfied, but truly confused by the characters' actions and attitudes. I just couldn't relate, couldn't bring any compassion to the characters' plight, and left more disgusted than anything else.
February 19, 2013
The heroine is the illegitimate daughter of MQS and for me rates a buy for presenting an interesting plot idea. The surprising twist in the end fulfills the buy. The secondary female characters and the heroine work to fulfill a modern goal that feels terribly out of place in sixteenth century Scotland. Men admiring strong women in this place and time is simply not credible.
May 19, 2015
*Buddy (re)-read with V <333*
April 17, 2023
The year is 1587 and Queen Elizabeth charges Robert MacDarren with marrying Queen Mary Stuart’s, unknown, daughter. Robert surmises Elizabeth is finally ready to execute Mary so she needs her daughter, again unknown to the public, out of reach of Mary's supporters so they don’t rally around her. Robert agrees to protect his beloved island home, Craighdu.
Meanwhile, Kate has been raised by a vicar and his wife. The vicar rails against Kate calling her all kind of names, hiding his attraction to her now that she’s grown up. Robert picks up Kate, along with his best friend Gavin, and they traipse off to Craigdhu. Initially Robert doesn’t want to sleep with Kate lest he get her pregnant but his attraction and curiosity about her outweigh this initial decision. Kate comes from a lonely and abusive background so she vacillates between wanting to get closer to Robert and pushing him away when he hurts her feelings. Robert struggles in kind yet Kate wins him over with her straightforward charm and zest for life now that she’s escaped the vicar. While Elizabeth did push Kate on Robert they do a handfast ceremony that can be renounced in a year. Plus they have to contend with court politics and hope no one discovers Kate’s true identity.
I enjoyed reading this and I kind of like that we had a fictionalized Queen Elizabeth and James Stuart, the king in Scotland who succeeds Elizabeth. I hope I can explain this well, but Johansen writes a character interpreting another character’s actions. She’ll put it in dialogue often where characters openly talk about their intentions or their own character. Every writer does that to some extent but I found this style interesting. I liked Kate and Robert and the style of interpreting actions works here where Kate will make a decision and then Robert will do something and then she’ll kind of rally herself and go down a new thought pathway. I have a feeling this isn’t Johansen’s best work, and I don’t mean that as a bad thing because I enjoyed this a lot, so I’d like to read more from her.
Meanwhile, Kate has been raised by a vicar and his wife. The vicar rails against Kate calling her all kind of names, hiding his attraction to her now that she’s grown up. Robert picks up Kate, along with his best friend Gavin, and they traipse off to Craigdhu. Initially Robert doesn’t want to sleep with Kate lest he get her pregnant but his attraction and curiosity about her outweigh this initial decision. Kate comes from a lonely and abusive background so she vacillates between wanting to get closer to Robert and pushing him away when he hurts her feelings. Robert struggles in kind yet Kate wins him over with her straightforward charm and zest for life now that she’s escaped the vicar. While Elizabeth did push Kate on Robert they do a handfast ceremony that can be renounced in a year. Plus they have to contend with court politics and hope no one discovers Kate’s true identity.
I enjoyed reading this and I kind of like that we had a fictionalized Queen Elizabeth and James Stuart, the king in Scotland who succeeds Elizabeth. I hope I can explain this well, but Johansen writes a character interpreting another character’s actions. She’ll put it in dialogue often where characters openly talk about their intentions or their own character. Every writer does that to some extent but I found this style interesting. I liked Kate and Robert and the style of interpreting actions works here where Kate will make a decision and then Robert will do something and then she’ll kind of rally herself and go down a new thought pathway. I have a feeling this isn’t Johansen’s best work, and I don’t mean that as a bad thing because I enjoyed this a lot, so I’d like to read more from her.
December 27, 2018
#206 for 2018
Genre: Historical Romance
Genre: Historical Romance
June 6, 2025
2.5 rounded up
October 25, 2025
I reread this book and love it just as much as the first time I read it. ❤️
December 5, 2017
2.5 Stars
I could take it or leave it. There were parts of it that I enjoyed, but the ending went a little off the rails and that's where it lost me.
I could take it or leave it. There were parts of it that I enjoyed, but the ending went a little off the rails and that's where it lost me.
Read
February 28, 2023DNF at 45%
May 6, 2012
I discovered this book via a rant on SBTB. The sample I downloaded on kindle intrigued me but didn't convince me to ante up the price. However, my library had an e-copy (score!).
This is an enjoyable read. Set in Elizabethan times (but not perhaps with the language) with Elizabeth starring herself we follow the life of Kate the illegitimate daughter of a queen. She has been "sheltered" with an abusive cleric and is now given/married to Robert MacDarren the Earl of Craig Dhu (a scottish highland island fortress). MacDarren is blackmailed into the marriage and gets around it by offering a "handfast" - marriage for a year instead of a binding marriage before God. Kate's identity gets discovered and power players attempt use her in a bid to get the throne.
Kate was a great character. You see her develop from a child being given her first taste of freedom to a woman intent on saving what she loves no matter the cost. Robert is a complex character with his own issues. The two together are a great couple.
I enjoyed reading this book and am definitely contemplating it's purchase.
This is an enjoyable read. Set in Elizabethan times (but not perhaps with the language) with Elizabeth starring herself we follow the life of Kate the illegitimate daughter of a queen. She has been "sheltered" with an abusive cleric and is now given/married to Robert MacDarren the Earl of Craig Dhu (a scottish highland island fortress). MacDarren is blackmailed into the marriage and gets around it by offering a "handfast" - marriage for a year instead of a binding marriage before God. Kate's identity gets discovered and power players attempt use her in a bid to get the throne.
Kate was a great character. You see her develop from a child being given her first taste of freedom to a woman intent on saving what she loves no matter the cost. Robert is a complex character with his own issues. The two together are a great couple.
I enjoyed reading this book and am definitely contemplating it's purchase.
December 31, 2012
I loved this book. Robert was not such a rogue when compared to other Highlanders. Found him a really sweet guy although I couldn't really get a fulll grasp on his character. Throughout the book I found him a bit elusive. Loved the story, enjoyed the romance. Had a bit of issue with the clean scents and clean linen description especially when Rob donned a garment after playing sweaty ball or cutting down and logging all those branches to the cave. A bit amazed too at how quickly Kate was able to grasp the political situation for someone who has been sheltered all her life. A fun read though which I would recommend.
August 18, 2013
A wonderful highlander to fall for. Kathryn has been in the less than tender care of a religious zealot most of her life. She has been told she will never deserve love and kindness because she is a born strumpet and destroyer.
When Queen Elizabeth releases Sir Robert from the tower she insists he take Kathryn as his wife and keep her far in the highlands on his island home. Niether of them like being forced to bend to another's will. A wonderful highland romancce with lots of action and political intrigue. I loved it.
p.s. I don't know where a Scottish Laird could have seen a muddy gopher. l.o.l.
When Queen Elizabeth releases Sir Robert from the tower she insists he take Kathryn as his wife and keep her far in the highlands on his island home. Niether of them like being forced to bend to another's will. A wonderful highland romancce with lots of action and political intrigue. I loved it.
p.s. I don't know where a Scottish Laird could have seen a muddy gopher. l.o.l.
December 20, 2010
She was a Princess who was taken away from a life of beatings, cruelty byBlack Robert of Craighdu. She deals with terror and hope for her future with Robert.
Black Robert was a arrior chief Scot, torn between durty and desire the Princess he must now marry. Together their lives change in oh so many ways!!! A great story!!! Queen E even makes a visit!!!
Black Robert was a arrior chief Scot, torn between durty and desire the Princess he must now marry. Together their lives change in oh so many ways!!! A great story!!! Queen E even makes a visit!!!
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February 17, 2014I'm at 65% on my Kindle and I just can't bring myself to complete this book. It'd be torture, complete and absolute torture! There is no love or romance or passion or tenderness. I don't find Robert to be very magnificent. I find him quite bland. So, I'm done.
December 11, 2015
started reading this book to help me get over the Outlander series of books. Unfortunately it doesnt come close to the quality of writing that I had got used to with Diana Gabaldon. Still not a bad read I suppose the trick is not to make it a rebound book (especially after Outlander).
July 24, 2022
A historical romance set in the final years of reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The heroine was a 16 years old girl with a mysterious background. She grew up in the care of a vicar and his wife, who abused her terribly physically and emotionally.
Queen Elizabeth personally forces the hero through blackmail to marry the heroine, whom she „hints“ to be Mary Stuart’s illegitimate daughter, whose existence nobody should find out about. The hero himself is also quite young - he is 25.
I liked the fact that the heroine did not let herself be made into someone meek and pliable. She always took care of her own destiny- as far as she could of course. For example, when she was unfairly treated because she showed, that she longed for a loving environment (she peeked into someone‘s window to watch their loving interactions as a family- the vicar beat her. Her response was to burn down his house.
The hero went also through a less than ideal childhood because of his religiously fanatical mother and her brother, who abused him physically and emotionally.
So both main characters had a similar horrible upbringing, but they developed differently: the heroine became stronger and did not lose her hope for better days, did not stop dreaming. The hero on the other hand became disillusioned and closed up.
This led to a weir beginning of their relationship: the heroine was eager to become close to the hero, but it didn’t feel romantic, rather pathetic. The hero was pushing away the heroine emotionally all the time, so the story did not feel good, not at all. And I did not like the political intrigues around this romance, it was too distracting and disturbing.
The heroine was a 16 years old girl with a mysterious background. She grew up in the care of a vicar and his wife, who abused her terribly physically and emotionally.
Queen Elizabeth personally forces the hero through blackmail to marry the heroine, whom she „hints“ to be Mary Stuart’s illegitimate daughter, whose existence nobody should find out about. The hero himself is also quite young - he is 25.
I liked the fact that the heroine did not let herself be made into someone meek and pliable. She always took care of her own destiny- as far as she could of course. For example, when she was unfairly treated because she showed, that she longed for a loving environment (she peeked into someone‘s window to watch their loving interactions as a family- the vicar beat her. Her response was to burn down his house.
The hero went also through a less than ideal childhood because of his religiously fanatical mother and her brother, who abused him physically and emotionally.
So both main characters had a similar horrible upbringing, but they developed differently: the heroine became stronger and did not lose her hope for better days, did not stop dreaming. The hero on the other hand became disillusioned and closed up.
This led to a weir beginning of their relationship: the heroine was eager to become close to the hero, but it didn’t feel romantic, rather pathetic. The hero was pushing away the heroine emotionally all the time, so the story did not feel good, not at all. And I did not like the political intrigues around this romance, it was too distracting and disturbing.
October 27, 2020
Another winner by Iris Johansen.
Queen Elizabeth asks Robert MacDarren, the earl of Craighdhu, Scotland, to be a bridegroom for Kathryn Abbe Kentyre, the illegitimate daughter of Mary, Queen of Scots. Elizabeth wants to protect England from a contender to the throne in case something happens to Mary. James already shares the ruling of Scotland. (Kate would be James sister.) That in a nutshell is the underlying plot. The story is the HOW all this is going to take place.
Robert is proud and loves Craighdhu more than anything. Kate has spent 16 years as a ward to a cruel clergyman who doesn't spare the whip. The whip failed to tame her. Gavin is comic relief and a lovable character. He has a love as well but her father doesn't like him. Trouble there. Did I mention that Kate comes with an old horse. She won't go without him. God help them on the long ride to Scotland and Craighdhu during a spell of early winter in the highlands.
Robert chooses handfasting as an acceptable marriage. This leaves both he and Kate with a way out in case it didn't work between them. And it doesn't look promising with two strong willed persons constantly knocking horns.
So how do Robert and Kate fall in love? You'll cheer Gavin in trying to wed his bride. And you'll cry, too.
And finally, who is Kate for real???????
You'll just have to read the book. Count on some long nights.
Queen Elizabeth asks Robert MacDarren, the earl of Craighdhu, Scotland, to be a bridegroom for Kathryn Abbe Kentyre, the illegitimate daughter of Mary, Queen of Scots. Elizabeth wants to protect England from a contender to the throne in case something happens to Mary. James already shares the ruling of Scotland. (Kate would be James sister.) That in a nutshell is the underlying plot. The story is the HOW all this is going to take place.
Robert is proud and loves Craighdhu more than anything. Kate has spent 16 years as a ward to a cruel clergyman who doesn't spare the whip. The whip failed to tame her. Gavin is comic relief and a lovable character. He has a love as well but her father doesn't like him. Trouble there. Did I mention that Kate comes with an old horse. She won't go without him. God help them on the long ride to Scotland and Craighdhu during a spell of early winter in the highlands.
Robert chooses handfasting as an acceptable marriage. This leaves both he and Kate with a way out in case it didn't work between them. And it doesn't look promising with two strong willed persons constantly knocking horns.
So how do Robert and Kate fall in love? You'll cheer Gavin in trying to wed his bride. And you'll cry, too.
And finally, who is Kate for real???????
You'll just have to read the book. Count on some long nights.
September 13, 2021
It has been many many years since I last read this book (I’m going with decades, to be honest). I remembered that I loved this book a lot, along with The Beloved Scoundrel, back in the 90s when I first read it.
Now, I could see as I was rereading, why I did like it so much at the time. There was some great dialogue in there between Kate and Robert, and the story was interesting with her connection to the throne and how that played out (I had entirely forgotten the twist at the end and did not see that coming, so that was great and well done).
I’ve always liked historical fiction – Barbara Erskine etc. and I was reading them a lot more back in the 90s than I do today, so this book would have appealed to the younger me.
The older me saw a lot of problems with it, but I saw the stuff that worked as well.
The romantic development wasn’t great. The fact that Kate was SIXTEEN was definitely terrible. And I think this book is, in a lot of ways, a product of its time.
It’s not the kind of book that I could love now, but it certainly held a place in my heart back in the earlier days of my romancing reading, and I think I’ll always think on it kindly for that reason.
Now, I could see as I was rereading, why I did like it so much at the time. There was some great dialogue in there between Kate and Robert, and the story was interesting with her connection to the throne and how that played out (I had entirely forgotten the twist at the end and did not see that coming, so that was great and well done).
I’ve always liked historical fiction – Barbara Erskine etc. and I was reading them a lot more back in the 90s than I do today, so this book would have appealed to the younger me.
The older me saw a lot of problems with it, but I saw the stuff that worked as well.
The romantic development wasn’t great. The fact that Kate was SIXTEEN was definitely terrible. And I think this book is, in a lot of ways, a product of its time.
It’s not the kind of book that I could love now, but it certainly held a place in my heart back in the earlier days of my romancing reading, and I think I’ll always think on it kindly for that reason.
November 3, 2021
Still a favorite
I reread this as I couldn't recall many details. After reading, I'm wondering how I could've forgotten such a strong heroine, an alpha but fair hero and lovely side characters. Of course, we have a few villains all woven into a story with historical context and palace intrigue. I loved the growth in Kate as she goes from a sheltered, abused and mistreated loner to a great queen in the making (she doesn't really become queen but she had the instinct and moxy to be a great leader!) Our hero, Robert, grows as a character also. He's gruff, abrupt, all alpha bordering on being cruel, but can also be kind, caring and fair.
Forced to marry Kate by order of Queen Elizabeth, Robert knows this puts his beloved land in danger. He gets around this edict by announcing a handfast; that way he and Kate will be free of each other in a year. Well, predictably nothing goes as planned but it was such an enjoyable journey as these two to fall in love. I will keep this on my "Favorites" shelf and will be doing a reread in the future. Definitely recommend!
I reread this as I couldn't recall many details. After reading, I'm wondering how I could've forgotten such a strong heroine, an alpha but fair hero and lovely side characters. Of course, we have a few villains all woven into a story with historical context and palace intrigue. I loved the growth in Kate as she goes from a sheltered, abused and mistreated loner to a great queen in the making (she doesn't really become queen but she had the instinct and moxy to be a great leader!) Our hero, Robert, grows as a character also. He's gruff, abrupt, all alpha bordering on being cruel, but can also be kind, caring and fair.
Forced to marry Kate by order of Queen Elizabeth, Robert knows this puts his beloved land in danger. He gets around this edict by announcing a handfast; that way he and Kate will be free of each other in a year. Well, predictably nothing goes as planned but it was such an enjoyable journey as these two to fall in love. I will keep this on my "Favorites" shelf and will be doing a reread in the future. Definitely recommend!
February 5, 2024
The Magnificent Rogue was my first step into Iris Johansen’s world and won’t be my last. From chapter one until the last she had me enthralled. It’s a historical romance but not over cheesy, I honestly wasn’t a fan on the man protagonist at some points; she was just portraying him how he would’ve been not in a he’s beyond ‘reproach’ way a lot of writers tend to overly do. This book got me out of my historical romance slump.
November 10, 2025
This one started out a little bit rough for me. The FMC is 16, and you can definitely see her age in the earlier parts of the book. The first parts of their romance feel icky, especially from the MMC perspective. She does gain a lot of confidence and starts to act a lot more like woman instead of a child about half way through the book, in a way that feels realistic and organic. I love their relationship from this point. It's well-written and generally enjoyable.
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