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Sinclare Brothers #4
The Highlander's Forbidden Bride
She will pay for her sins. . .
After being freed from the hellish barbarians who held him captive, Ronan Sinclare knows he must return to his clan to claim his powerful heritage. But first he must destroy the woman who ruined everything. Even as he seizes Carissa and makes her his prisoner, Ronan is tormented by memories of the woman he loved and lost: the gentle Hope, whose death by Carissa's hand he has sworn to avenge.
Carissa knows nothing but survival. Raised by a brutal man, she shows only coldness to the world . . . but inside burns the heart of a woman longing for passion. Forced to hide her true self from the proud, fierce warrior even as she dreamed of someday being his bride, Carissa would do anything to keep her darkest secret. But she cannot hide the truth—or her desires—from her captor forever . . .
After being freed from the hellish barbarians who held him captive, Ronan Sinclare knows he must return to his clan to claim his powerful heritage. But first he must destroy the woman who ruined everything. Even as he seizes Carissa and makes her his prisoner, Ronan is tormented by memories of the woman he loved and lost: the gentle Hope, whose death by Carissa's hand he has sworn to avenge.
Carissa knows nothing but survival. Raised by a brutal man, she shows only coldness to the world . . . but inside burns the heart of a woman longing for passion. Forced to hide her true self from the proud, fierce warrior even as she dreamed of someday being his bride, Carissa would do anything to keep her darkest secret. But she cannot hide the truth—or her desires—from her captor forever . . .
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 10, 2009
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1370 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
April 24, 2010
Ronan Sinclare and his brother, Cavan, were captured and tortured by the barbarian Mordrac and even tortured by his daughter, Carissa. Cavan managed to escape, but Ronan remained and endured even more torture from Carissa. His only relief was from the slave, Hope, who tended his wounds, including his eyes that were swollen shut, preventing him from being able to see her. After being sold to mercenaries by Carissa, Ronan vowed revenge on her, both for his own torture and for his beloved Hope's murder. Ronan succeeds in kidnapping Carissa, but learns that this barbarian is so much more than meets the eye.
Donna Fletcher never fails to disappoint me. I like my heroes to be sweet and loving, and she just writes this type of hero so well! Sure, Ronan is grouchy and even hates Carissa at first, but somehow, Fletcher has him as sweet and romantic as his brothers by the midpoint of the story. I love that even though the leads often butt heads, neither is outright disrespectful or does or says anything that is unforgivable.
I think it's pretty clear that I loved Ronan, and Carissa was an exceptional character as well. She was so complex and the layers of her personality become understandable as we learn her motives.
The Sinclare clan plays a big role in this story. All of the characters feel so familiar by this book, it's like seeing old friends again. I'm not sure if this was the final book in the series, but if there are more, I will be sure to read them too.
While this wasn't my favorite book by Donna Fletcher, it still lives up to what I have come to expect from her as an author- A super sweet romantic story with a hero who has that really rare mix of strength and tenderness. He's head over heels for this woman and he's not afraid to show it!
reviewed for: http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/
Donna Fletcher never fails to disappoint me. I like my heroes to be sweet and loving, and she just writes this type of hero so well! Sure, Ronan is grouchy and even hates Carissa at first, but somehow, Fletcher has him as sweet and romantic as his brothers by the midpoint of the story. I love that even though the leads often butt heads, neither is outright disrespectful or does or says anything that is unforgivable.
I think it's pretty clear that I loved Ronan, and Carissa was an exceptional character as well. She was so complex and the layers of her personality become understandable as we learn her motives.
The Sinclare clan plays a big role in this story. All of the characters feel so familiar by this book, it's like seeing old friends again. I'm not sure if this was the final book in the series, but if there are more, I will be sure to read them too.
While this wasn't my favorite book by Donna Fletcher, it still lives up to what I have come to expect from her as an author- A super sweet romantic story with a hero who has that really rare mix of strength and tenderness. He's head over heels for this woman and he's not afraid to show it!
reviewed for: http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/
December 14, 2022
3.5 stars
This was pretty good! I think the "secret" was pretty obvious from the start, so it was annoying how long it took to come out. But the hero hates the heroine because he thinks she's the reason the love of his life was dead. I really enjoyed the heroine and how much she held her own. I definitely need to go back and read the middle two books in this series!
This was pretty good! I think the "secret" was pretty obvious from the start, so it was annoying how long it took to come out. But the hero hates the heroine because he thinks she's the reason the love of his life was dead. I really enjoyed the heroine and how much she held her own. I definitely need to go back and read the middle two books in this series!
January 6, 2021
This series was so sweet and I just enjoyed it so much. I teared up a few times. So sweet and heart warming.
I love how it all wrapped up.
I love how it all wrapped up.
May 17, 2012
It's been a while since I've read a true 5, but here it is!!!! I loved this book, it was fresh, funny, sexy.... I could go of forever about it! It was a solid four until the last few pages, I cried and I fell harder for this book.. This is my first Donna Fletcher and for sure will not be my last!!!
July 8, 2022
great ending to the series.
This book shows that love & hate are very closely connected ❤️🔥❤️🔥
This book shows that love & hate are very closely connected ❤️🔥❤️🔥
January 22, 2021
This was such a great enemies to lovers!!
I feel like this was a good conclusion to this companion series.
I really wish that there were more books to this series though!
I feel like this was a good conclusion to this companion series.
I really wish that there were more books to this series though!
May 27, 2015
I started the book with great enthusiasm, of course. All the raving reviews. I finished the book feeling rather disappointed. it is not a bad book. But it is not the wonderful story I was led to believe.
The hero is not the typical alpha male you usually see in such books. He is of course a warrior but has a soft heart. He was tortured in the heroin's home by her father. She acted like a bitch to everyone, knowing that whenever she showed any tenderness toward anything or anybody, the object of her affection would suffer at the hand of her father. Heroin helped the hero in his imprisonment anonymously. He fell in love with her, not knowing who she was, but knowing her by a fake name given by the heroin. He escaped, not knowing that he owed his escape to the heroin and believing that the woman he fell in love with was killed because of the heroin. He made a vow to avenge his lost love by killing the heroin. Then of course hero and heroin met, more lies, more struggles, they were even trapped together in a cabin, then finally the big a-ha moment: it was you??
I mean the plot line was rather cool. But I could not become interested in them. The chemistry is off between them. I don' particularly like their intimate scenes, nor am I convinced that the hero fell in love with the heroin after his bitter realization that his lost love, only not lost and was his enemy.
The biggest problem for me was I was not able to form an emotional attachment to the principal characters. Other than that the story was ok and the writing ok too. I won't go as far as saying that it is a bad story because it is not bad. But I cannot say that I enjoyed it either. So solid 3 stars.
The hero is not the typical alpha male you usually see in such books. He is of course a warrior but has a soft heart. He was tortured in the heroin's home by her father. She acted like a bitch to everyone, knowing that whenever she showed any tenderness toward anything or anybody, the object of her affection would suffer at the hand of her father. Heroin helped the hero in his imprisonment anonymously. He fell in love with her, not knowing who she was, but knowing her by a fake name given by the heroin. He escaped, not knowing that he owed his escape to the heroin and believing that the woman he fell in love with was killed because of the heroin. He made a vow to avenge his lost love by killing the heroin. Then of course hero and heroin met, more lies, more struggles, they were even trapped together in a cabin, then finally the big a-ha moment: it was you??
I mean the plot line was rather cool. But I could not become interested in them. The chemistry is off between them. I don' particularly like their intimate scenes, nor am I convinced that the hero fell in love with the heroin after his bitter realization that his lost love, only not lost and was his enemy.
The biggest problem for me was I was not able to form an emotional attachment to the principal characters. Other than that the story was ok and the writing ok too. I won't go as far as saying that it is a bad story because it is not bad. But I cannot say that I enjoyed it either. So solid 3 stars.
January 26, 2013
I loved this story so so sooooo much!! More than both Artair's and Lachlan's story but not as much as the first one ;) a great ending to the series :) the brothers uniting with the women they love and even their mother having found a new one :) captivating stories.. loved how those two struggled to get where they are at the end!!
A beautiful read :)
A beautiful read :)
July 9, 2013
I am glad that I read this book after Return of the Rogue. This book had a much deeper background story, and its characters were more developed. Although still a tad predictable, I liked how the author dealt with the existing conflict that existed between the 2 main characters.
November 28, 2021
Yet another reminder on why I should stay away from medevial romances!
This story was all over the place!
The first half focus on the hate to love boring romance, and the 2nd half start with some fight between mercenaries and random attacks...
The savagery!!
Gave up around 75%
This story was all over the place!
The first half focus on the hate to love boring romance, and the 2nd half start with some fight between mercenaries and random attacks...
The savagery!!
Gave up around 75%
February 14, 2021
No one can convince me that enemies-to-lovers isn't the superior trope.
December 13, 2020
4.25 stars!
I think this one and the first one in the series were my favourites, i can't choose between them.
Ronan and Carissa had an amazing chemistry, i just loved them together, and that tension at the begginning was so appealling to me.
Carissa alone is absolutely fantastic! I really really loved her and felt for her. She went through so much...I'm happy that in the end she was able to find love and comfort, she deserved it!
I think this one and the first one in the series were my favourites, i can't choose between them.
Ronan and Carissa had an amazing chemistry, i just loved them together, and that tension at the begginning was so appealling to me.
Carissa alone is absolutely fantastic! I really really loved her and felt for her. She went through so much...I'm happy that in the end she was able to find love and comfort, she deserved it!
July 7, 2013
Sebagai sebuah cerita pemungkas, novel terakhir ini bisa dibilang perfect. Di sini semua rahasia yang membayangi dari buku pertama terbongkar--mulai dari apa saja yang dialami Ronan sewaktu menghilang, siapa jati diri sebenarnya Carissa, anak dari pemimpin suku barbar yang menawan Ronan & Cavan, gimana kehidupan Sinclare brothers bersama istri-istri dan anak-anak mereka. Bahkan ibu mereka pun juga punya cerita romantis di buku ini. Karakter yang sangat menarik di buku ini adalah Carissa alias Hope. Saya anggap menarik karena di sepanjang buku Carissa berusaha menemukan jati dirinya, seolah dia punya dua kepribadian dan ini yang membuat cerita di buku ini lebih berat dan rumit dari buku-buku sebelumnya, meski tidak se-angsty buku pertama. What a perfect ending!
March 19, 2017
This historical romance just wasn't my taste. It started with so much animosity and the big reveal was obvious. I skipped to half way when the hero was getting a clue and heavily ruminating about it. I then read sporadically but nothing was interesting enough to go back and really read the book. Warrior Ronan goes after Carissa who tortured him when he was a prisoner of her father.
July 8, 2022
DNF at 64%. Very frustrating characters, with so much back and forth. This is an enemies to lovers, but it the hero and heroine were terrible towards each other for more than half the book. If only the heroine was honest from the beginning 🤦🏻♀️
Side note: This is not a standalone. The book is based off the events that happened during the first book, when Ronan and his brother were imprisoned. I was so confused about why he hated Carissa so much and why the book started with him wanting to kill her. The point is, make sure to read the books in order or you’ll be scratching your head in confusion.
Side note: This is not a standalone. The book is based off the events that happened during the first book, when Ronan and his brother were imprisoned. I was so confused about why he hated Carissa so much and why the book started with him wanting to kill her. The point is, make sure to read the books in order or you’ll be scratching your head in confusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
More of a 1.5 ⭐️ for me.
I made the mistake of picking this up without reading the other books in the series and was super confused in the beginning. Eventually, I understood what was happening, but I really didn't care about anything. Some parts were so cheezy that my eyes hurt from rolling them.
I made the mistake of picking this up without reading the other books in the series and was super confused in the beginning. Eventually, I understood what was happening, but I really didn't care about anything. Some parts were so cheezy that my eyes hurt from rolling them.
April 26, 2010
Scotland is one of my favorite places. This was an easy read and I did enjoy it. I would have preferred to have more in the way of Scottish history at the time this took place. There was a wee bit of sex in it, not overly much, but some might find it too much.
January 14, 2020
the book was very repetitive and simply written. every other page spelled out the plot. characters were constantly rehashing the same inner and outer monologues. we get it carissa had to hide her true kind nature and ronan wants revenge and hope gave hope and blah blah blah.
August 11, 2010
I loved cavan n ronan the most..!
October 5, 2010
you have to read to understand, it's sexy and romantic...flawless
November 18, 2011
I keep on re-reading this book. I love how there's so much depth to the characters, especially Carissa.
February 15, 2013
While it was a very predictable book in many ways, I still found that this was one of my favorites of the series.
October 12, 2016
I truly love a strong woman who can defend and stick up for herself , and is extremely smart . A great quick read .
Read
June 18, 2016Hmmm, not sure I liked either of the main characters. Oh and DNF.
March 12, 2021
This was better than book 2 and 3 but something felt missing. Maybe it was the falling in love part. I found it hard to like Carissa because her words were strong and soft at different times and I found that aspect of her confusing as well as hard to love.
It would have been easier for me to relate if the author had written more of when Ronan was captured and taken care of by Carissa. As the author only wrote a short part of it, I found it hard to believe the romance.
This was a enemies to lovers book and I somewhat enjoyed it more than Lachlan’s book which focused too much on the nuns and whatever they were doing. I enjoyed about 3/4 of this book before the last 5 chapters kinda bored me due to the action.
I also didn’t like how Ronan couldn’t keep his hands and body off Carissa before he figured out his true feelings for Carissa.
It’s sad because i really wanted to find out more about Ronan since he’s been missing for 3 books already. Unfortunately, I enjoyed book 1 more than the other books in this series. But I liked that we saw the other couples from the previous books in this book with their children. It was heartwarming.
The author did hint that Ronan and Carissa would have a child but we never did see it happen. It would have been nice if the author did write an epilogue as this book is the last of the series and there would be no ‘continuation/epilogue’ of the previous book in the next book, which the author did for the first 3 books.
It would have been easier for me to relate if the author had written more of when Ronan was captured and taken care of by Carissa. As the author only wrote a short part of it, I found it hard to believe the romance.
This was a enemies to lovers book and I somewhat enjoyed it more than Lachlan’s book which focused too much on the nuns and whatever they were doing. I enjoyed about 3/4 of this book before the last 5 chapters kinda bored me due to the action.
I also didn’t like how Ronan couldn’t keep his hands and body off Carissa before he figured out his true feelings for Carissa.
It’s sad because i really wanted to find out more about Ronan since he’s been missing for 3 books already. Unfortunately, I enjoyed book 1 more than the other books in this series. But I liked that we saw the other couples from the previous books in this book with their children. It was heartwarming.
The author did hint that Ronan and Carissa would have a child but we never did see it happen. It would have been nice if the author did write an epilogue as this book is the last of the series and there would be no ‘continuation/epilogue’ of the previous book in the next book, which the author did for the first 3 books.
May 4, 2024
"She will pay for her sins ...
"After being freed from the hellish barbarians who held him captive, Ronan Sinclare knows he must return to his clan to claim his powerful heritage. But first he must destroy the woman who ruined everything. Even as he seizes Carissa and makes her his prisoner, Ronan is tormented by memories of the woman he loved and lost: the gentle Hope, whose death by Cariss'as hand he has sworn to avenge.
"Carissa knows nothing but survival. Raised by a brutal man, she shows only coldness to the world ... but inside burns the heart of a woman longing for passion. Forced to hide her true self from the proud, fierce warrior even as she dreamed of someday being his bride, Carissa would do anything to keep her darkest secret. But she cannot hid eht truth -- or her desires -- from her captor forever ..."
~~back cover
This book turned me completely off in 4 pages. I mean, the author didn't even spell the clan name correctly. and the plot -- as outlined on the back cover -- seemed so trite ... well, I abandoned the book to move on to one of the 700+ books in my TBR mountain, one I might actually enjoy.
"After being freed from the hellish barbarians who held him captive, Ronan Sinclare knows he must return to his clan to claim his powerful heritage. But first he must destroy the woman who ruined everything. Even as he seizes Carissa and makes her his prisoner, Ronan is tormented by memories of the woman he loved and lost: the gentle Hope, whose death by Cariss'as hand he has sworn to avenge.
"Carissa knows nothing but survival. Raised by a brutal man, she shows only coldness to the world ... but inside burns the heart of a woman longing for passion. Forced to hide her true self from the proud, fierce warrior even as she dreamed of someday being his bride, Carissa would do anything to keep her darkest secret. But she cannot hid eht truth -- or her desires -- from her captor forever ..."
~~back cover
This book turned me completely off in 4 pages. I mean, the author didn't even spell the clan name correctly. and the plot -- as outlined on the back cover -- seemed so trite ... well, I abandoned the book to move on to one of the 700+ books in my TBR mountain, one I might actually enjoy.
July 29, 2019
IT'S NOT LIKE I DISLIKED THIS STORY BUT IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T KEPT ME PACING OR TERRIBLY EXCITED TO FINISH IT.
HERO believes the heroine to be a conniving, mean bitch becuase she killed the woman he loved - the one who took care of him while he was in captivity. Ronan just seemed...I don't know...childish, judgemental and quick to jump to conclusions. Though one can't blame him if you were presented the same facts he was, duped by a smart heroine.
HEROINE was more than meets the eye and it won't take a genius to put two and two, realising that she's the woman the Hero fell in love with while he was momentarily blinded. It took years for her to mask her true self and it wasn't hard for Carissa to make others believe what they want of her.
OVERALL it dragged on a bit too much without much of a drive holding the reins of the story. Characters were average, the chemistry while was written, didn't felt real or cosmic.
HERO believes the heroine to be a conniving, mean bitch becuase she killed the woman he loved - the one who took care of him while he was in captivity. Ronan just seemed...I don't know...childish, judgemental and quick to jump to conclusions. Though one can't blame him if you were presented the same facts he was, duped by a smart heroine.
HEROINE was more than meets the eye and it won't take a genius to put two and two, realising that she's the woman the Hero fell in love with while he was momentarily blinded. It took years for her to mask her true self and it wasn't hard for Carissa to make others believe what they want of her.
OVERALL it dragged on a bit too much without much of a drive holding the reins of the story. Characters were average, the chemistry while was written, didn't felt real or cosmic.
December 15, 2021
This is the fourth book in the series of four Highlander brothers. I have not read the previous three but I was able to easily follow what was happening.
I really liked this story. It was so different from what I have read previously. The whole story line of our male lead having plans to kill the female lead because of had happened to him and the woman who he fell in love with. (Who all along was our female lead)
I loved the angst at the beginning while they were stuck in the cabin because of the weather. It was a five star read for me at that point.
Why the four stars?
I got a little bored towards the end. I wanted more angst and romance.
But I will say that Carissa was such a badass character. What she survived and how she had no fear. Loved it!!
I really liked this story. It was so different from what I have read previously. The whole story line of our male lead having plans to kill the female lead because of had happened to him and the woman who he fell in love with. (Who all along was our female lead)
I loved the angst at the beginning while they were stuck in the cabin because of the weather. It was a five star read for me at that point.
Why the four stars?
I got a little bored towards the end. I wanted more angst and romance.
But I will say that Carissa was such a badass character. What she survived and how she had no fear. Loved it!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2024
My love reading took off with historical romances. It was all about the forbidden love and the pursuit that drew me in.
This is my first time reading Donna Fletcher. This was the fourth book of the series. Some authors incorporate more Scottish language into there historical novels. This was a very English novel meaning if it hadn’t been mentioned that they were in Scotland I wouldn’t have known they were Scottish. Thankfully for me it didn’t change the story.
I loved that this one had a strong dominant woman as a main character plus a male character equally dominate.
This is my first time reading Donna Fletcher. This was the fourth book of the series. Some authors incorporate more Scottish language into there historical novels. This was a very English novel meaning if it hadn’t been mentioned that they were in Scotland I wouldn’t have known they were Scottish. Thankfully for me it didn’t change the story.
I loved that this one had a strong dominant woman as a main character plus a male character equally dominate.
November 16, 2021
This is the book that sent me searching back to the beginning. I had to find out how everything became as it was when I met Ronan and Carissa. This was a beautiful story that kept me praying that Carissa would eventually be vindicated for her brutal treatment of Ronan. These stories seem to be full of life's lessons. The Sinclare family was so well described. The endings are always exciting and fulfilling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews