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Highland Guard #2
The Hawk
Handpicked by Robert the Bruce to help him in his quest to free Scotland from English rule, the elite warriors of the Highland Guard face their darkest days. When Bruce is forced to flee, his bid for freedom rests on the shoulders of one extraordinary warrior.
Erik MacSorley is a brilliant seafarer who has never encountered a wind he could not harness or a woman he could not win—until he drags a wet, half-naked “nursemaid” out of the waters off the Irish coast. Ellie’s ordinary appearance belies the truth: She is in fact Lady Elyne de Burgh, the spirited daughter of the most powerful noble in Ireland. Worse, this irresistible woman is determined to prove herself immune to Erik’s charms—a challenge he cannot resist.
Her captor may look every inch a rugged warrior, but Ellie vows that it will take more than a wickedly suggestive caress to impress her. Yet Erik will sweep away Ellie’s resistance with a desire that resonates deep within her heart. Still, he is a man driven by loyalty, and she is a woman with secrets that could jeopardize Bruce’s chance to reclaim his throne. As the battle for king and country sounds across the shores, will Ellie’s love be enough to finally tame the legend known as the Hawk?
Erik MacSorley is a brilliant seafarer who has never encountered a wind he could not harness or a woman he could not win—until he drags a wet, half-naked “nursemaid” out of the waters off the Irish coast. Ellie’s ordinary appearance belies the truth: She is in fact Lady Elyne de Burgh, the spirited daughter of the most powerful noble in Ireland. Worse, this irresistible woman is determined to prove herself immune to Erik’s charms—a challenge he cannot resist.
Her captor may look every inch a rugged warrior, but Ellie vows that it will take more than a wickedly suggestive caress to impress her. Yet Erik will sweep away Ellie’s resistance with a desire that resonates deep within her heart. Still, he is a man driven by loyalty, and she is a woman with secrets that could jeopardize Bruce’s chance to reclaim his throne. As the battle for king and country sounds across the shores, will Ellie’s love be enough to finally tame the legend known as the Hawk?
382 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 31, 2010
About the author
Monica McCarty
68 books2,986 followersWhat do you get when you mix a legal career, a baseball career, motherhood, and a love of history with a voracious reader? In my case, a Historical Romance Author.
Like most writers, I’ve always loved to read. Growing up in California there was always plenty to do outside, but all too often I could be found inside curled up with a book (or two or three). I started with the usual fare: The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume. Once I cleared off my bookshelf, I started swiping books from my mom. Some, like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, probably weren’t the most appropriate choice for a pre-adolescent—although they were definitely illuminating. I can still remember the look of abject horror on my mom’s Catholic-girl-face when I asked her what a virgin was. After that rather brief conversation, she paid a little closer attention to what had disappeared off her book shelf, and steered me in the direction of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances. I was hooked. I quickly read through the inventory of the local library and was soon buying bags of romances at garage sales.
In high school, with the encouragement of my father (who I think was a little concerned about the steady diet of romances), I read over eighty of the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written—including Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare. Some of them were tough going for a teenager, but the experience would prove an invaluable foundation for college. After reading War and Peace, I wasn’t easily intimidated.
For some reason Monica decided to go into writing and not fashion.
After graduation, I loaded up the VW (Jetta not Bus) and trekked down I-5 to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English (see why all that reading helped!). I joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and when I wasn’t studying or at football games, did my best to support the local bartending industry. Ah, the good old days.
With that kind of fun, four years of college wasn’t quite enough. So leaving Tommy Trojan behind, I traveled back up north to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School. Once I survived the stress of the first semester, law school proved to be one of the best times of my life—garnering me a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball. (See “The Baseball Odyssey” below).
Law School was also where I fell in love with Scotland. In my third year, I took a Comparative Legal History class, and wrote a paper on the Scottish Clan System and Feudalism. So I immediately dropped out of law school and went on to write Scottish Historical Romances…well no, not quite. You see, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My father was a lawyer, I was a “poet” (i.e., not into math), and I love to argue. It seemed natural.
So I finished law school, got married, passed the CA bar, moved to Minnesota (with a few stops along the way), waived into the MN bar, worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, moved back to CA, had a couple of kids, realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year (due to husband's career) would be extremely difficult, and THEN decided to sit down and write.
And how did I end up writing romance? It’s not as divergent as it seems. What I loved about being a lawyer are the same things I love about being a writer—research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
Like most writers, I’ve always loved to read. Growing up in California there was always plenty to do outside, but all too often I could be found inside curled up with a book (or two or three). I started with the usual fare: The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume. Once I cleared off my bookshelf, I started swiping books from my mom. Some, like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, probably weren’t the most appropriate choice for a pre-adolescent—although they were definitely illuminating. I can still remember the look of abject horror on my mom’s Catholic-girl-face when I asked her what a virgin was. After that rather brief conversation, she paid a little closer attention to what had disappeared off her book shelf, and steered me in the direction of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances. I was hooked. I quickly read through the inventory of the local library and was soon buying bags of romances at garage sales.
In high school, with the encouragement of my father (who I think was a little concerned about the steady diet of romances), I read over eighty of the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written—including Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare. Some of them were tough going for a teenager, but the experience would prove an invaluable foundation for college. After reading War and Peace, I wasn’t easily intimidated.
For some reason Monica decided to go into writing and not fashion.
After graduation, I loaded up the VW (Jetta not Bus) and trekked down I-5 to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English (see why all that reading helped!). I joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and when I wasn’t studying or at football games, did my best to support the local bartending industry. Ah, the good old days.
With that kind of fun, four years of college wasn’t quite enough. So leaving Tommy Trojan behind, I traveled back up north to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School. Once I survived the stress of the first semester, law school proved to be one of the best times of my life—garnering me a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball. (See “The Baseball Odyssey” below).
Law School was also where I fell in love with Scotland. In my third year, I took a Comparative Legal History class, and wrote a paper on the Scottish Clan System and Feudalism. So I immediately dropped out of law school and went on to write Scottish Historical Romances…well no, not quite. You see, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My father was a lawyer, I was a “poet” (i.e., not into math), and I love to argue. It seemed natural.
So I finished law school, got married, passed the CA bar, moved to Minnesota (with a few stops along the way), waived into the MN bar, worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, moved back to CA, had a couple of kids, realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year (due to husband's career) would be extremely difficult, and THEN decided to sit down and write.
And how did I end up writing romance? It’s not as divergent as it seems. What I loved about being a lawyer are the same things I love about being a writer—research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews
August 23, 2012
Can I just say how much I'm in love with all the covers from this series? 
I want one of those!! 
The story in this one takes place (mostly) on Spoon Island
After her sister persuades her to go to an annual ritual swim in the sea, Ellie gets kidnapped by Viking pirates (well, at least that's what she thinks
)
Hawk was at a meeting, securing more troops to Bruce's cause, when they spotted Ellie. Not being able to risk it if she were a spy, he takes her with him on his ship as a hostage, but promises her safe return home.
He doesn't know that's she's the daughter of a powerful man, the earl of Ulster, and she thinks he's nothing but a pirate.
After a few escape attempts and then rescues, they manage to actually like each other, and see beyond their appearances.
Well. I liked the story, the idea of it, although it could have been better at some points :S For instance, Ellie, a young girl swimming, is kidnapped by some terrifying emormous Viking-looking men. Normal reaction for those days? Fear of rape and/or murder I'd say. Here? Someone grabs her from behind, she doesn't even see his face, but manages to notice his timbre of voice, how it's soothing and what not. Umm, ok.
I get that Hawk is an ultra hot dude-warrior, but hey, she just got kidnapped and is alone on a ship full of men, but she still admires his skills as a seafarer? Umm, ok.
One other thing, there was a ridiculous sex scene in this book, I didn't know whether to laugh at it or cry
I loved everything else in the book though
There was a big historical part in here as well, with Robert Bruce, some chapters from his POV too :) Kinda different, but I liked it :)
And yes, this really does have a feel like a historical Black Ops book
Love it!
The characters
Hawk is very charming, knows his good looks, and was always successful with women. The problem is, his usual charm doesn't work on Ellie. And it's frustrating
But what's more frustrating is that he actually wants her to like him. That's why most of the time he treats her like a jerk
and the rest of the time he tries to seduce her
Ellie is not so immune to his charm, but she just doesn't show it. She's attracted to him, and realises he's not the usual pirate, if he is one at all. Having led a quite boring life for years, she likes the adventure she gets with Hawk, and trusts him eventually that he'll return her home. Only that after some time, she finds she doesn't want to return.
One thing that was a major bother with their story, Hawk's self-sacrifice. OMG! I mean, what kind of Viking/Highlander was he? They should take what they want, or at least fight for it somehow, not take the noble way out
Bad Hawk! I just wanted to kick him after he did it!
Aaaaaanyway, I couldn't help but really, really like this book, even if there were some parts that were silly and ridiculous XDXD I guess it's the Highlander romance + historical + an awesome hot warrior as male lead and so on
Off to the next one!
I want one of those!! 
The story in this one takes place (mostly) on Spoon Island
After her sister persuades her to go to an annual ritual swim in the sea, Ellie gets kidnapped by Viking pirates (well, at least that's what she thinks
)Hawk was at a meeting, securing more troops to Bruce's cause, when they spotted Ellie. Not being able to risk it if she were a spy, he takes her with him on his ship as a hostage, but promises her safe return home.
He doesn't know that's she's the daughter of a powerful man, the earl of Ulster, and she thinks he's nothing but a pirate.
After a few escape attempts and then rescues, they manage to actually like each other, and see beyond their appearances.
Well. I liked the story, the idea of it, although it could have been better at some points :S For instance, Ellie, a young girl swimming, is kidnapped by some terrifying emormous Viking-looking men. Normal reaction for those days? Fear of rape and/or murder I'd say. Here? Someone grabs her from behind, she doesn't even see his face, but manages to notice his timbre of voice, how it's soothing and what not. Umm, ok.
I get that Hawk is an ultra hot dude-warrior, but hey, she just got kidnapped and is alone on a ship full of men, but she still admires his skills as a seafarer? Umm, ok.
One other thing, there was a ridiculous sex scene in this book, I didn't know whether to laugh at it or cry
I loved everything else in the book though
There was a big historical part in here as well, with Robert Bruce, some chapters from his POV too :) Kinda different, but I liked it :)And yes, this really does have a feel like a historical Black Ops book
Love it!The characters
Hawk is very charming, knows his good looks, and was always successful with women. The problem is, his usual charm doesn't work on Ellie. And it's frustrating
But what's more frustrating is that he actually wants her to like him. That's why most of the time he treats her like a jerk
and the rest of the time he tries to seduce her
Ellie is not so immune to his charm, but she just doesn't show it. She's attracted to him, and realises he's not the usual pirate, if he is one at all. Having led a quite boring life for years, she likes the adventure she gets with Hawk, and trusts him eventually that he'll return her home. Only that after some time, she finds she doesn't want to return.
One thing that was a major bother with their story, Hawk's self-sacrifice. OMG! I mean, what kind of Viking/Highlander was he? They should take what they want, or at least fight for it somehow, not take the noble way out
Bad Hawk! I just wanted to kick him after he did it!
Aaaaaanyway, I couldn't help but really, really like this book, even if there were some parts that were silly and ridiculous XDXD I guess it's the Highlander romance + historical + an awesome hot warrior as male lead and so on
Off to the next one!
December 22, 2009
Review posted at Demon Lover's Books & More
Okay, for all you who know me, we all know I'm a huge Monica McCarty fan- this book is no exception. I just love Erik MacSorley. He is half-Viking/half-Highlander and super hot! Erik is one of Robert Bruce's new elite Highland Guard. We met him in The Chief, and I loved him then-he's always got a joke and a ready come-back, but something about him makes me think it's a front.
This is a small quote about Erik that shows his devil-may-care attitude. He's playing a deadly game of chicken with a British ship, and his crew are wagering which way the English will turn, if they'll capsize, piss themselves in fear, you get the idea, they're boys being boys.
"Ellie would never understand men:how could you jest and wager at a time like this? They'd die going to the bottom of the sea and make a contest of who got there first."
I had to laugh because I swear that's my husband and my brother-in-law. So true of men!
Now in The Hawk, we see Erik dealing with Irish mercenaries and trying to get them to fight for the Bruce...and the Scottish crown. For those of you who haven't read The Chief, this series takes place immediately following William Wallace's execution. By the time we're reading The Hawk, Robert Bruce is battle-weary and demoralized. In fact his whole company of men is, except the Highlanders, "Bruce didn't think recognize fear if Lucifer himself opened up the fiery gates and welcomed them to hell."
Erik, or Hawk as everyone calls him, is at home on the sea, and his job is to get the Irish to fight for Bruce, and then to take them to the rendezvous point to meet with the Scottish forces. It is during this meeting that the Irish leader hears a sound. Sending out his men they find a wet and bedraggled lass eavesdropping. Unfortunately for her, the Irish want to kill her, but Erik steps in and saves her, although he saves her by suggesting he and his men want to have fun with her first.
Enter Ellie, or should I say Lady Elyne de Burgh? Her father is the most powerful earl in Ireland, loyal to English king Edward, and father-in-law to Robert Bruce. And so begins the complicated twists and turns of Ellie and Erik's story. Ellie doesn't fall for Erik's big baby blues, and he has no clue what to do with a lass who doesn't swoon at his smile. Not to mention, Ellie hasn't told him who she is, and he's let her believe he's a pirate. Usually misunderstandings on identity annoy me, but Monica McCarty wove hers seamlessly into the story and I was on pins and needles for the majority of the book! In fact, I fear that I now have a heart condition from the anticipation and tension that this book put me through!
I also loved Ellie. She may have been innocent, but she rarely came across as naive, and never once as idiotic-my biggest pet peeve in historical romances is when the heroine is portrayed as so naive she ends up coming off stupid. But Monica always writes strong heroines, and I find that incredibly impressive being that The Hawk takes place in the early 1300s.
During Ellie's "captivity" with Erik, she gets under his skin like no other. Constantly portrayed as merely "passably pretty" Ellie made me love her almost instantly. She was great, and I could absolutely identify with her. Even after she and Erik had been intimate, she still didn't tell him who she really was. And it broke my heart that her reason was to see if a gorgeous, sex-god of a man could actually care for her as she is, not because of her title, or dowry, or some misguided notion that he should marry her out of chivalry. And when he turned her away? I wanted to cry for her! I love me a good Alpha male (who doesn't?), but the female heroine can make or break a story for me. Ellie was me, and I was in love with Erik, and I wanted him to say yes to me. And he didn't. And Erik broke my heart too.
You'll have to read it yourself to find out what happens from there. But I will say that anyone new to Monica McCarty will enjoy this book, and any of you Monica McCarty fans out there know to expect her usual- she'll deliver, and you'll love Erik and Ellie too.
Okay, for all you who know me, we all know I'm a huge Monica McCarty fan- this book is no exception. I just love Erik MacSorley. He is half-Viking/half-Highlander and super hot! Erik is one of Robert Bruce's new elite Highland Guard. We met him in The Chief, and I loved him then-he's always got a joke and a ready come-back, but something about him makes me think it's a front.
This is a small quote about Erik that shows his devil-may-care attitude. He's playing a deadly game of chicken with a British ship, and his crew are wagering which way the English will turn, if they'll capsize, piss themselves in fear, you get the idea, they're boys being boys.
"Ellie would never understand men:how could you jest and wager at a time like this? They'd die going to the bottom of the sea and make a contest of who got there first."
I had to laugh because I swear that's my husband and my brother-in-law. So true of men!
Now in The Hawk, we see Erik dealing with Irish mercenaries and trying to get them to fight for the Bruce...and the Scottish crown. For those of you who haven't read The Chief, this series takes place immediately following William Wallace's execution. By the time we're reading The Hawk, Robert Bruce is battle-weary and demoralized. In fact his whole company of men is, except the Highlanders, "Bruce didn't think recognize fear if Lucifer himself opened up the fiery gates and welcomed them to hell."
Erik, or Hawk as everyone calls him, is at home on the sea, and his job is to get the Irish to fight for Bruce, and then to take them to the rendezvous point to meet with the Scottish forces. It is during this meeting that the Irish leader hears a sound. Sending out his men they find a wet and bedraggled lass eavesdropping. Unfortunately for her, the Irish want to kill her, but Erik steps in and saves her, although he saves her by suggesting he and his men want to have fun with her first.
Enter Ellie, or should I say Lady Elyne de Burgh? Her father is the most powerful earl in Ireland, loyal to English king Edward, and father-in-law to Robert Bruce. And so begins the complicated twists and turns of Ellie and Erik's story. Ellie doesn't fall for Erik's big baby blues, and he has no clue what to do with a lass who doesn't swoon at his smile. Not to mention, Ellie hasn't told him who she is, and he's let her believe he's a pirate. Usually misunderstandings on identity annoy me, but Monica McCarty wove hers seamlessly into the story and I was on pins and needles for the majority of the book! In fact, I fear that I now have a heart condition from the anticipation and tension that this book put me through!
I also loved Ellie. She may have been innocent, but she rarely came across as naive, and never once as idiotic-my biggest pet peeve in historical romances is when the heroine is portrayed as so naive she ends up coming off stupid. But Monica always writes strong heroines, and I find that incredibly impressive being that The Hawk takes place in the early 1300s.
During Ellie's "captivity" with Erik, she gets under his skin like no other. Constantly portrayed as merely "passably pretty" Ellie made me love her almost instantly. She was great, and I could absolutely identify with her. Even after she and Erik had been intimate, she still didn't tell him who she really was. And it broke my heart that her reason was to see if a gorgeous, sex-god of a man could actually care for her as she is, not because of her title, or dowry, or some misguided notion that he should marry her out of chivalry. And when he turned her away? I wanted to cry for her! I love me a good Alpha male (who doesn't?), but the female heroine can make or break a story for me. Ellie was me, and I was in love with Erik, and I wanted him to say yes to me. And he didn't. And Erik broke my heart too.
You'll have to read it yourself to find out what happens from there. But I will say that anyone new to Monica McCarty will enjoy this book, and any of you Monica McCarty fans out there know to expect her usual- she'll deliver, and you'll love Erik and Ellie too.
October 4, 2017
I couldn’t put this book down!! I loved it. The banter between Erik and Ellie was brilliant. I liked how she didn’t put up with any of his bs!! Have I mentioned how much I love highlander themed books?? Hahaha.
June 4, 2017
Realmente me ha gustado, quizá no tanto como el primero, pero continuaré leyendo la saga :)
June 28, 2010
Dont'cha just hate it when the first book in a series is amazing, then the second one falls flat? This one doesn't exactly fall flat, but it's a far cry from the wonderful story in "The Chief". The writing is not nearly as good and the story falls short.
Problem #1: How many times must we hear about how incredibly, perfectly, handsome, ripped, sexy etc. Eric is? Well, it seems at least once on every page! Not just a mention either, it takes at least 3-4 observations, sometimes even a paragraph per page to make us understand his outstanding 'virilness'. Every time Ellie looks at him, every time Ellie thinks about him, every time anyone else looks at or thinks about him, descriptions of perfection pop up. One chapter, fine - two chapters, OK - half a book, GAG!! WE GET IT, ALREADY!
Problem #2: (Related to problem # 1, however not as extensive) Ellie's LACK of perfection, her ordinary-ness is also a topic of oft repeated conversations. The fact that she is ordinary looking is actually refreshing but after being bludgeoned by his beauty, we are never allowed to really understand in a believable way what makes him fall for her. We are told in a surface sort of way but it is never explained so that we feel it and can actually believe (we are too busy reviewing his perfection.)
Problem #3: The history part of the story seemed more like a lesson than a story. Whenever "real" history comes into focus it turns into a long and drawn out "dump" rather than a thread in the overall tapestry.
So, why the three stars? because the basic idea of a "medieval special ops." is still cool and the story kept me turning pages in spite of the annoyances.
Problem #1: How many times must we hear about how incredibly, perfectly, handsome, ripped, sexy etc. Eric is? Well, it seems at least once on every page! Not just a mention either, it takes at least 3-4 observations, sometimes even a paragraph per page to make us understand his outstanding 'virilness'. Every time Ellie looks at him, every time Ellie thinks about him, every time anyone else looks at or thinks about him, descriptions of perfection pop up. One chapter, fine - two chapters, OK - half a book, GAG!! WE GET IT, ALREADY!
Problem #2: (Related to problem # 1, however not as extensive) Ellie's LACK of perfection, her ordinary-ness is also a topic of oft repeated conversations. The fact that she is ordinary looking is actually refreshing but after being bludgeoned by his beauty, we are never allowed to really understand in a believable way what makes him fall for her. We are told in a surface sort of way but it is never explained so that we feel it and can actually believe (we are too busy reviewing his perfection.)
Problem #3: The history part of the story seemed more like a lesson than a story. Whenever "real" history comes into focus it turns into a long and drawn out "dump" rather than a thread in the overall tapestry.
So, why the three stars? because the basic idea of a "medieval special ops." is still cool and the story kept me turning pages in spite of the annoyances.
January 5, 2018
The romance was frustrating with the H/h pushing each other away or not revealing/communicating their true feelings up until the very end. A lot of page time spent on medieval history/battles, and while I like a little bit of that I ended up skimming those bits, because it became too much for me.
I did enjoy the author's note at the end detailing some of the actual historical events and how they contrasted or paralleled with this fictional story. I look forward to the next book even though this installment was just "okay" for me.
I did enjoy the author's note at the end detailing some of the actual historical events and how they contrasted or paralleled with this fictional story. I look forward to the next book even though this installment was just "okay" for me.
August 31, 2010
I had time to finish this book before work after all. I LOVED this book! The hero Hawk was just to irresistible not to love. The heroine was smart, brave and had lots of courage. The story was really good with lots of action. I loved reading how the H&H fell in love as the story moved a long. The love scenes were really good and I could feel the love between them even when they would not admit it to themselves.
The next book in this series The Ranger is also a must read for me. Monica McCarty is a FANTASTIC writer and whatever she writes, I will read.
The next book in this series The Ranger is also a must read for me. Monica McCarty is a FANTASTIC writer and whatever she writes, I will read.
March 29, 2010
Dear Monica, were you on crack when you wrote this?
Seriously. Some of the situations this couple found themselves in - I rolled my eyes more with this story than in the last ten silly reads put together. I was hanging right with you until "the boat scene". I actually threw my copy at the wall. A first! A real wallbanger!
How many times must we know that Erik is known as Hawk? Or that he's working for The Bruce? Or who "The Chief" is? You alternately let Erik treat Ellie as a treasure and a trial to be suffered. I realize he's a cad, but come on. And to let Ellie let him? I know she's a bit naive but no one is that hard up for a man. And then "the boat scene". Really? Really Ms McCarty? Even I, who love paranormal and urban fantasy, had a hard time swallowing that one.
I'm going to give you one more shot in this series, because I HAVE liked your previous work. I'm really hoping this was a one off because I know you can do better. Please don't disappoint me.
- A disgruntled fan who's glad she didn't pay money for that book
Seriously. Some of the situations this couple found themselves in - I rolled my eyes more with this story than in the last ten silly reads put together. I was hanging right with you until "the boat scene". I actually threw my copy at the wall. A first! A real wallbanger!
How many times must we know that Erik is known as Hawk? Or that he's working for The Bruce? Or who "The Chief" is? You alternately let Erik treat Ellie as a treasure and a trial to be suffered. I realize he's a cad, but come on. And to let Ellie let him? I know she's a bit naive but no one is that hard up for a man. And then "the boat scene". Really? Really Ms McCarty? Even I, who love paranormal and urban fantasy, had a hard time swallowing that one.
I'm going to give you one more shot in this series, because I HAVE liked your previous work. I'm really hoping this was a one off because I know you can do better. Please don't disappoint me.
- A disgruntled fan who's glad she didn't pay money for that book
September 1, 2020
I kind of set my expectations too high for this one but I overall enjoyed the passion and intensity between the two characters. The ending was a bit wishy washy with him leaving her alone for months and him just brewing in his own emotions without realizing he loves her. But it was cute, sexy, and fun. Definitely will go back and read book 1 and the whole series.
January 5, 2019
Oh this book was AMAZING. I swear I liked it more than the first in the series (The Chief). However, when I reread The Chief I’ll probably say that’s my favorite. Be prepared for lots of favorites as I read this series 😂
Hawk captures Ellie to protect her from death when she is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Much of the book takes place on the aisle of Spoon.
McCarty does a wonderful job of, well, everything. The history is so intriguing and written in a way that is not boring or dry in any way. In fact, it always inspires endless research in me to know more about the places and people where she got her inspiration from. I love her author notes at the end of the book detailing the history and changes she made in dates and character.
She balances action with the relationship perfectly.
She writes damn steamy sex scenes. 😂
I will say I loved the heroine so much in this book. (This may be a reason I feel I enjoyed it more than The Chief, as I wasn’t as attached to that heroine) Their relationship forms without the burden of names. Well, true names. They honestly just fall in love with each other. And it’s wonderful to watch. In a time when marriages are arranged for power and identities are hidden to protect, plan, and spy for a war this is a treasure.
My only complaints are I felt the separation was a little long at the end, but I absolutely loved the ending.
Also there is a scene where Ellie is almost rescued by the English and I wish it was done from Hawks perspective. Being done from Ellie’s I felt rather sad about the whole thing, but from Hawks it would have been heart wrenching. Thinking of this though, a lot of the book is from Hawks perspective. And I really really love books that do that.
Tons of feels, I fell in love, my heart clenched, totally keeping this book to grope forever
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Hawk captures Ellie to protect her from death when she is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Much of the book takes place on the aisle of Spoon.
McCarty does a wonderful job of, well, everything. The history is so intriguing and written in a way that is not boring or dry in any way. In fact, it always inspires endless research in me to know more about the places and people where she got her inspiration from. I love her author notes at the end of the book detailing the history and changes she made in dates and character.
She balances action with the relationship perfectly.
She writes damn steamy sex scenes. 😂
I will say I loved the heroine so much in this book. (This may be a reason I feel I enjoyed it more than The Chief, as I wasn’t as attached to that heroine) Their relationship forms without the burden of names. Well, true names. They honestly just fall in love with each other. And it’s wonderful to watch. In a time when marriages are arranged for power and identities are hidden to protect, plan, and spy for a war this is a treasure.
My only complaints are I felt the separation was a little long at the end, but I absolutely loved the ending.
Also there is a scene where Ellie is almost rescued by the English and I wish it was done from Hawks perspective. Being done from Ellie’s I felt rather sad about the whole thing, but from Hawks it would have been heart wrenching. Thinking of this though, a lot of the book is from Hawks perspective. And I really really love books that do that.
Tons of feels, I fell in love, my heart clenched, totally keeping this book to grope forever
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
August 7, 2012
Erik MacSorley, called Hawk by his fellow warriors, is an amazing seaman and exhibits his skills when he eludes three English ships off the coast of Ireland after having abducted a so called nursemaid. It was actually Lady Elyne de Burgh, the daughter of the most powerful noble in Ireland, who had inadvertently witnessed a private meeting between Hawk and some mercenaries being hired for Bruce's cause.
Hawk and Ellie begin sparring from the outset and he wasn't accustomed to having any woman resist him. It was imperative that he meet up with Bruce at an appointed time but the English were relentless in their chase of Hawk, who didn't know that their doggedness was due to who he had captured. I liked Ellie and Hawk was absolutely formidable as a warrior. Though it took some time to develop, their romance was exciting and spirited with plenty of steamy moments and well worth the wait. The action was exciting and tension filled and I continue to appreciate the mix of historical fact and fiction in this series.
I loved this story with its perfect balance of action and romance. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Hawk and Ellie begin sparring from the outset and he wasn't accustomed to having any woman resist him. It was imperative that he meet up with Bruce at an appointed time but the English were relentless in their chase of Hawk, who didn't know that their doggedness was due to who he had captured. I liked Ellie and Hawk was absolutely formidable as a warrior. Though it took some time to develop, their romance was exciting and spirited with plenty of steamy moments and well worth the wait. The action was exciting and tension filled and I continue to appreciate the mix of historical fact and fiction in this series.
I loved this story with its perfect balance of action and romance. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 16, 2020
SERİNİN EN EN EN EN İYİSİ!!😍
Erik Fucking MacSorley >>>>🛐
Sabaha kadar bu kitapla ilgili konuşurum ve asla sıkılmam. Karakterleri, kurgusu, olayların akışı… her şey ama her şey tam olarak hayal ettiğim gibi yazılmıştı. Serinin ilk kitabında bana yeterli gelmeyen her şey Tutsak kitabında yerli yerine oturdu. Yazar sanki ilk kitaptaki Tor’a bakmış, ben bu adamın tam tersini yazsam nasıl olur acaba demiş ve ortaya Erik çıkmış. 😂 Gerçi ilk kitabın içinde de Erik’i görüyorduk ve bu derece eğlenceli biri olacağını tahmin ediyordum ama hem karakter hem kitap tahminlerimin de üstündeydi. Kadın karakter Ellie zaten tam bir alfa kraliçe, tek bir kusuru yok. Bayılıyorum ona. Ve çiftimizin kitaptaki uyumları da mükemmel. Kitabı bu kaçıncı okuyuşum artık bilemiyorum bile. Bildiğim tek şey her seferinde hiç düşünmeden verdiğim ve hak ettiği puanı… BEŞ BEŞ BEŞ!!
Erik Fucking MacSorley >>>>🛐
Sabaha kadar bu kitapla ilgili konuşurum ve asla sıkılmam. Karakterleri, kurgusu, olayların akışı… her şey ama her şey tam olarak hayal ettiğim gibi yazılmıştı. Serinin ilk kitabında bana yeterli gelmeyen her şey Tutsak kitabında yerli yerine oturdu. Yazar sanki ilk kitaptaki Tor’a bakmış, ben bu adamın tam tersini yazsam nasıl olur acaba demiş ve ortaya Erik çıkmış. 😂 Gerçi ilk kitabın içinde de Erik’i görüyorduk ve bu derece eğlenceli biri olacağını tahmin ediyordum ama hem karakter hem kitap tahminlerimin de üstündeydi. Kadın karakter Ellie zaten tam bir alfa kraliçe, tek bir kusuru yok. Bayılıyorum ona. Ve çiftimizin kitaptaki uyumları da mükemmel. Kitabı bu kaçıncı okuyuşum artık bilemiyorum bile. Bildiğim tek şey her seferinde hiç düşünmeden verdiğim ve hak ettiği puanı… BEŞ BEŞ BEŞ!!
October 30, 2013
I really liked Hawk and Ellie and the development of their relationship. I also enjoyed the historical aspect of the book although sometimes is was a little much (what could have been 1-2 pages of historical info here and there was more like 3-5, and I found myself skimming some - and I was a Medieval history minor in college). I will definitely read the next one.
September 24, 2017
3,5
Konu historical ise önceliğim İskoç elbette ama Adalı, Viking, İrlandalı da her zaman kabulümdür. 😏
Kitabın başında o kadar gereksiz ara cümle vardı ki bir-iki kere uyuyakaldım. Yoksa Monica her zamanki gibi yazmış.
Konu historical ise önceliğim İskoç elbette ama Adalı, Viking, İrlandalı da her zaman kabulümdür. 😏
Kitabın başında o kadar gereksiz ara cümle vardı ki bir-iki kere uyuyakaldım. Yoksa Monica her zamanki gibi yazmış.
Read
June 6, 2023I'm not going to pretend this is a stunning insight or anything, but I really dislike it when a heroine is called plain ad nauseam and that is the main source of the conflict. Like, cool, they have different levels of attractiveness! Give me something else to work with, I can only care so much.
October 26, 2018
4.25 ☆
Un libro muy original y diferente en cierta forma respecto a todo lo que he leído en este género. Me ha encantado la ambientación. Increíble.
Un libro muy original y diferente en cierta forma respecto a todo lo que he leído en este género. Me ha encantado la ambientación. Increíble.
December 24, 2024
Reread- audiobook
This is where the series takes off, book one is good but it's a lot of setup. I love a silver tongues devil may care warrior with little respect for his life and health. Eric is like a Scottish Thor and when he accidentally kidnaps the daughter of a powerful enemy, all kinds of shenanigans ensue including a very hot sex scene in a sauna 🥵
I don't personally know of historically rich and well researched series like this being pubbed today, and I wish they'd make a comeback. There's no wallpapering of history here, the reader is immediately immersed in Robert the Bruce's fight. It's a special talent when an author can both include a historical background and also keep the romance front and center. Authors Notes at the end of books will never fail to make my nerdy heart happy.
The narrator isn't great and I really wish these books could be redone with dual narration because lackluster narration is doing it no favors.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
Kidnapping
Fake Identity
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden love
This is where the series takes off, book one is good but it's a lot of setup. I love a silver tongues devil may care warrior with little respect for his life and health. Eric is like a Scottish Thor and when he accidentally kidnaps the daughter of a powerful enemy, all kinds of shenanigans ensue including a very hot sex scene in a sauna 🥵
I don't personally know of historically rich and well researched series like this being pubbed today, and I wish they'd make a comeback. There's no wallpapering of history here, the reader is immediately immersed in Robert the Bruce's fight. It's a special talent when an author can both include a historical background and also keep the romance front and center. Authors Notes at the end of books will never fail to make my nerdy heart happy.
The narrator isn't great and I really wish these books could be redone with dual narration because lackluster narration is doing it no favors.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
Kidnapping
Fake Identity
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden love
January 27, 2015
The second book in the Highland Guard series by Monica McCarty. Hawk aka Erik MacSorley is one of Robert the Bruce's Highland Guards and a pirate and is sent to Ireland to hire mercenaries. There he is forced to take a wet young woman when she is discovered near the meeting. Ellie aka Lady Elyne de Burgh, hides her identity from her captor.
It has been quite a while since I read the first book in the series but I remember the main plot line of the Highland Guards and a few other key details. I didn't like this as much as the first book but it was a good read. I have a few more in this series to read soon.
It has been quite a while since I read the first book in the series but I remember the main plot line of the Highland Guards and a few other key details. I didn't like this as much as the first book but it was a good read. I have a few more in this series to read soon.
January 3, 2018
What ruined this book for me was the hero. The book was as well written as the first in the series, but the playboy personality of the hero, and his treatment of the heroine was annoying and even despicable at times. When he says I will marry her despite her being a nobody but I will get a mistress in the side after, I lost my patience with him. The heroine was ok but not all that great either. The reasons for hero's refusal of love and marriage rang hollow. I honestly didn't expect much better from this book just because of the hero. My rating reflects more my preference for the content and characters than the quality of writing.
January 19, 2026
I loved this and could not put it down. Hawk (AKA Erik) is one of Robert the Bruce's super squad in his fight against the English for Scotland. Ellie is the daughter of the most powerful earl in Ireland, who is betrothed to an English lord. She is caught potentially overhearing plans, gets taken just in case, and makes the logical leap that her captors are pirates. She smartly tells them she's a nursemaid in the household (she is responsible for rearing her siblings, true enough!) so she doesn't get ransomed or killed or whatever.
This book is just one long take on my very favorite microtropes all together in a Jody-pleasing salad. "Erik loved women. All women." and he doesn't mean, all types or whatever, he means he wants to love them all. He's not going to settle down, he doesn't do attachments, he keeps it breezy. So first of all, we have the "plain" to "passably pretty" to "beautiful" pipeline, which is my fave. Ellie isn't his type, which is large breasted and lush, but for some reason "Something about the lass set him on edge" gosh I wonder why? Could it be that she's not playing along with his flirty nature that he uses to charm everyone?
Anyway, soon he's feeling more attracted to her than he's ever felt before, and rationalizing that being her first kiss would be "doing her a favor. One side of his mouth lifted in a wicked curve. Call it his Christian duty." OK Erik. Meanwhile of course that kiss knocks him for a loop while she (pretends) isn't affected at all. "Someone had been rattled by that kiss, but is sure as hell didn't seem to be her."
Anyway, of course she gets to know the real him behind the facade of jokes and flirting, "He used his affability as a mask to keep everyone at a distance. All these people who thought they knew him so well probably didn't know him at all." They have a solid connection but he can't think of marrying her because when he does marry it will have to be to someone who could "enhance the wealth and prestige of his clan" (like an earl's daughter??). And she doesn't want to marry someone who doesn't love her and only wants her because of her connection and fortune, because if she wanted a loveless marriage for those reasons, she IS already betrothed. Besides, Erik can't marry, it wouldn't be fair to all the ladies he hasn't been with yet! Even though Ellie is perfect for him and matches his "adventurer's spirit" and makes him feel content.
Bless her heart, Ellie really just walked around this camp for weeks thinking, wow these pirates are super good at fighting, and they sure do act like noble warriors instead of pirates, and I wonder why this obvious lord is a pirate with them. It's not until she sees Robert the Bruce's literal brother with them that she puts all the pieces together. And to her credit it doesn't phase her at all, after all, her sister is married to Bruce, she gets it.
So a great thing about this book (other than all the "why does my chest hurt?" "why am I attracted to this person I shouldn't be?" "why does the thought of her taking the passion I showed her and using it on other men make me want to shmurder?" which are all my faves), the great thing is that they are both lying to each other about their true identities for good reason. She figures him out (finally) but wants him to love her for her before she drops the whole surprise I'm an heiress and a great get. And then when he has the nerve to be upset she's like OK, PIRATE, and he's like, yeah solid point.
Anyway, she loves him and won't marry him because he made it clear he likes her but that's it, and she doesn't want to be in the position of her mother, married to a man with LOTS of affection to give every lady. Meanwhile, everyone keeps pointing out that he loves her, which he TOTALLY doesn't. "Of course, he didn't love her. The passion, the fierce possessiveness and protectiveness, the strange connection, the irrational fear that came over him when he thought of losing her, were because he cared about her." OK buddy.
She knows her worth and dips (slash saves his mission), they are both miserable, she super sleuths and saves the day AGAIN by telling Bruce about attack plans, thus matching him in loyalty (and exceeding because she catches him with a wench with roaming hands on his lap), and finally the literal King of Scotland has to take time out of his busy kinging schedule to be like, Dude get a grip and get your girl.
Also this book was very funny, and Ellie was great and take no gruff the entire time, and Erik was so delusional (lol the gap between his expectation of how his proposal would be greeted and reality), and we learned a little history along the way. Five stars because when I wasn't reading it I just wanted to be reading it. Is it a five star read? IDK, it was gripping.
This book is just one long take on my very favorite microtropes all together in a Jody-pleasing salad. "Erik loved women. All women." and he doesn't mean, all types or whatever, he means he wants to love them all. He's not going to settle down, he doesn't do attachments, he keeps it breezy. So first of all, we have the "plain" to "passably pretty" to "beautiful" pipeline, which is my fave. Ellie isn't his type, which is large breasted and lush, but for some reason "Something about the lass set him on edge" gosh I wonder why? Could it be that she's not playing along with his flirty nature that he uses to charm everyone?
Anyway, soon he's feeling more attracted to her than he's ever felt before, and rationalizing that being her first kiss would be "doing her a favor. One side of his mouth lifted in a wicked curve. Call it his Christian duty." OK Erik. Meanwhile of course that kiss knocks him for a loop while she (pretends) isn't affected at all. "Someone had been rattled by that kiss, but is sure as hell didn't seem to be her."
Anyway, of course she gets to know the real him behind the facade of jokes and flirting, "He used his affability as a mask to keep everyone at a distance. All these people who thought they knew him so well probably didn't know him at all." They have a solid connection but he can't think of marrying her because when he does marry it will have to be to someone who could "enhance the wealth and prestige of his clan" (like an earl's daughter??). And she doesn't want to marry someone who doesn't love her and only wants her because of her connection and fortune, because if she wanted a loveless marriage for those reasons, she IS already betrothed. Besides, Erik can't marry, it wouldn't be fair to all the ladies he hasn't been with yet! Even though Ellie is perfect for him and matches his "adventurer's spirit" and makes him feel content.
Bless her heart, Ellie really just walked around this camp for weeks thinking, wow these pirates are super good at fighting, and they sure do act like noble warriors instead of pirates, and I wonder why this obvious lord is a pirate with them. It's not until she sees Robert the Bruce's literal brother with them that she puts all the pieces together. And to her credit it doesn't phase her at all, after all, her sister is married to Bruce, she gets it.
So a great thing about this book (other than all the "why does my chest hurt?" "why am I attracted to this person I shouldn't be?" "why does the thought of her taking the passion I showed her and using it on other men make me want to shmurder?" which are all my faves), the great thing is that they are both lying to each other about their true identities for good reason. She figures him out (finally) but wants him to love her for her before she drops the whole surprise I'm an heiress and a great get. And then when he has the nerve to be upset she's like OK, PIRATE, and he's like, yeah solid point.
Anyway, she loves him and won't marry him because he made it clear he likes her but that's it, and she doesn't want to be in the position of her mother, married to a man with LOTS of affection to give every lady. Meanwhile, everyone keeps pointing out that he loves her, which he TOTALLY doesn't. "Of course, he didn't love her. The passion, the fierce possessiveness and protectiveness, the strange connection, the irrational fear that came over him when he thought of losing her, were because he cared about her." OK buddy.
She knows her worth and dips (slash saves his mission), they are both miserable, she super sleuths and saves the day AGAIN by telling Bruce about attack plans, thus matching him in loyalty (and exceeding because she catches him with a wench with roaming hands on his lap), and finally the literal King of Scotland has to take time out of his busy kinging schedule to be like, Dude get a grip and get your girl.
Also this book was very funny, and Ellie was great and take no gruff the entire time, and Erik was so delusional (lol the gap between his expectation of how his proposal would be greeted and reality), and we learned a little history along the way. Five stars because when I wasn't reading it I just wanted to be reading it. Is it a five star read? IDK, it was gripping.
June 10, 2020
Макар, че първата книга не можах да я оценя високо, нямаше как да не прочета и втора и да приключа с тази поредица (все пак само две преведени книги на български, явно и издателството е решило да приключи с нея). Този път не започнах с големи очаквания, не започнах с никакви очаквания. Но тази част беше по-хубава, по-реалистична и с повече чувства и емоции. Отново Шотландия в началото на 14-ти век, когато отделните кланове се съревновават помежду си, но и английският крал Едуард не позволява на шотландците да имат самоуправление - трудни, сурови времена, времена на тежки битки и яростни сражения до смърт. Шотландският крал Брус търпи поражение след поражение и е на път да се предаде на отчаянието. Но неговите планинци са готови на всичко за него. Един от тях е Ерик Максорли, по известен като Ястреба - не само смел и самоотвержен планинец, но и най-добрият мореплавател. При странни обстоятелства по време на мисия той се озовава с пленница - тя не е коя да е, но крие произхода си, за да се предпази. Наред с военните планирания, морските приключения, тук имахме и една любовна история, която се разви съвсем по между другото и без нито един от двамата да го е искал или очаквал. Ели е скучна и отговорна, прекалено организирана и не мислеща за забавления, дори на пръв поглед грозновата, Ястребът е нейна противоположност - силен, красив, но и фриволен, шегобиец и радващ се на живота. Той приема всичко на игра, на майтап и не вярва, че сериозно може да пострада или негова мисия да се провали. Освен всичко друго всяка жена пада в краката му и никога не остава без женска компания. Някоя да му се противопостави е нещо ново за него, или пък не дай Боже да не му обърне внимание и да не му се върже на глупостите. Но Ели е точно това - тя е имунизирана срещу флирта му, не се подава на чара му и той е озадачен, но и заинтригуван. Състезателят в него е готов да приеме предизвикателството и разбира се на края пада в собствения си капан. Очарователна любовна история, с шотландски привкус, много по-добра от първа част.
August 23, 2023
Amazing, captivating, sensual. Can't wait to read more of this series!
July 14, 2017
This was fairly good but I had really loved McSorley in The Chief and had been expecting so much more from The Hawk. Maybe Monica could have given him a less insecure heroine? Elyne was just average. I didn't like her as much as I liked Christina ( my fav ) from The Chief, Roslyn ( my second fav ) from The Raider, Anna ( my third fav ) from The Ranger and Maggie from The Stryker. These women were so beautiful and far more vibrant and suited to their respective highland guard heroes than Elyne was to Eric. Elyne was just too blah for McSorley.
October 13, 2015
Из страниците на романа ще намерите не само една чудесна любовна история, забавни ситуации, но и добро описание на част от суровата действителност на 14 в., в която мъже с различна националност участници в ожесточена битка за властта в Шотландия. Книгата изобилства от любов и страст, а и е засегната успешно темата за забранената любов, която винаги ми е интересна. Бих казала, че романът е едно достойно продължение на "Вождът" и заслужава да му дадете шанс.
June 5, 2018
Well....huh.....
I guess, just read Ivy’s review, lol.
I felt exactly the same way. I was a bit letdown by the heroine in this book, I wanted Hawk, my pirate to have someone incredibly dynamic! He was a great character but Ellie, was, well blah.
In fact towards the end of the book I was hoping for more of Matty & our widower, and I never got more.
So........huh.
I guess, just read Ivy’s review, lol.
I felt exactly the same way. I was a bit letdown by the heroine in this book, I wanted Hawk, my pirate to have someone incredibly dynamic! He was a great character but Ellie, was, well blah.
In fact towards the end of the book I was hoping for more of Matty & our widower, and I never got more.
So........huh.
September 2, 2020
I really didn’t like this book but I didn’t figure out how much until I finished, maybe because the writing was done so well. The hero was a real arse hole most times and the heroine, while I wanted to sympathize with her for having to deal with the hero, she got a bit too self righteous sometimes.
The Hawk just didn’t work for me.
The Hawk just didn’t work for me.
June 20, 2019
Dear Hawk ... you can take me prisoner any day!
I am devouring these books. One by one, day by day the Highland Guard are becoming my world.
I should be working or ... being a parent ... but not, I'm too busy with my Highlanders. The best thing is that each story just gets better.
I am devouring these books. One by one, day by day the Highland Guard are becoming my world.
I should be working or ... being a parent ... but not, I'm too busy with my Highlanders. The best thing is that each story just gets better.
September 11, 2012
Müthiş bir kurgu ,gerçek tarihi mekanlar.Nefes kesici bir aşk..MOnica Mccarty bu ne diyebilirim ki.Her zamanki gibi yine çok iyi iş çıkarmış.Romanlarında gerçek kahramanları kullanması kitabı okurken ayrı bir zevk veriyor..Çeviri bence çok iyi idi..Yazar ile arama girmediği gibi yazarın oya gibi işlediği kurguyu serpiştirdiği mizanseni çok iyi yakalamıştı bence..
Karakterlerin tahlilleri,duygu yoğunluğu özellikle erkek karakter Şahin lakaplı İskoç Muhafız Birliği Başı Erik MacSorley'in biraz taş kafalılığı,oldukça kendini beğenmişliği,kadınlara karşı olan aşırı öz güveni bazen ben gerdi ve kızdırdı.. ..Kadınlar için kendini bir nimet olarak görmesi ise deli etti..Ama sonunda kadının fendi erkeği yendi kuralı değişmedi..Bunun için kanının son damlasına kadar mücadele etse de..Kadın karakterimiz Ellie yani Lady Elyne De Burgh görünüşte silik ama derinliği olan bir kadın karakterdi..O sabır ve bilgeliği,Erik'i dize getirmesini çok sevdim..Karakterin kendisini de çok sevdim kendime çok yakın hissettim..
14.Yüzyıl başlarında geçen bu macera'da İki Ateş Arasında'dan tanıdığımız Tor MacLeod'da hikayenin başında vardı..Yıl 1307 İngiltere Kralı I.Edward İskoçya'yı I.Robert Bruce'dan alıp kendini İsloçya Kralı ilan ederek onu kaçak durumuna düşürür..Bu olaylardan sonra ikisi arasında inanılmaz bir savaş başlar..Erik MacSorley Robert Bruce'ın emrinde çalışan İskoçya Muhafızlarından idi..Lakabı ise Şahin idi..Ve Hikaye ile ilgili diğer bilgi Kadın Kahramanın ablası Robert Bruce ile evli idi..Yani devrik İskoçya kralı Ellie'nin eniştesi oluyordu..
İrlanda Kıyılarında Ellie ile Erik'in karşılaşmaları bu şartlarda oluyordu..Elyne De Burgh yüzerken yakalandığı Erik MacSorley'den kimliğini gizlemeye karar vermesi anlık tepki idi..Birde sözde bakıcı kadın olduğunu söylemesi orada tecavüze uğrayıp denize atılabilme olanağı varken Erik'in onu kurtarıp ailesine kendi elleri teslim etmeye söz vermesi bir anda olmuştu.. Fakat kimliğini gizleyen sadece kendisi değildi..O da Erik'i basit korsan olarak biliyordu..
Ellie'yi başta pek de güzel bulmayan ERik'in zaman geçtikçe ondan daha fazla etkilenmeye başlaması..Şimdiye kadar onu pohpohlayan ve çarpıcı güzel kadınlara alışık olan Erik Elli'nin derinliğini,mizahi yönünü,sivri diline görünce şaşırsada aralarındaki didişme bazen çok komik bazen de çok romantik sahnelere hiddetten köpürten sahneleri sizi boğabiliyordu..
Ellie'yi babası bir soylu ile sözlemişti..Tam da evlilik arefesinde gerçekleşen İskoçya'lıların eline düşmesi çok da manidar idi ...Zıt kutuplar birbirini her zaman çeker..Erik ile Ellie arasındaki en baştan var olan çekim gittikçe daha fazla ikisini zapt edecektir..İki tarafta görev,sadakat,aşk duyguları ile çok çetin sınava tabii tutulurlar..Ellie hayatının aşkı olarak nitelendirdiği yaşamında güzel bir anı olarak saklamaya niyetli olduğu Erik için hayatını bile tehlikeye atmaktan kendini alamaz...Bu Erik içinde geçerlidir..Birbirlerini bu kadar severken kırmak,canını acıtmak bu çifti daha fazla sevmeme neden oldu..
Bu güzel aşk,savaş,sadakat,mizah ile süslenmiş hikayeyi tavsiye ederim...Yazar gün geçtikçe daha iyi yazıyor kalemi güzelleşiyor...
Karakterlerin tahlilleri,duygu yoğunluğu özellikle erkek karakter Şahin lakaplı İskoç Muhafız Birliği Başı Erik MacSorley'in biraz taş kafalılığı,oldukça kendini beğenmişliği,kadınlara karşı olan aşırı öz güveni bazen ben gerdi ve kızdırdı.. ..Kadınlar için kendini bir nimet olarak görmesi ise deli etti..Ama sonunda kadının fendi erkeği yendi kuralı değişmedi..Bunun için kanının son damlasına kadar mücadele etse de..Kadın karakterimiz Ellie yani Lady Elyne De Burgh görünüşte silik ama derinliği olan bir kadın karakterdi..O sabır ve bilgeliği,Erik'i dize getirmesini çok sevdim..Karakterin kendisini de çok sevdim kendime çok yakın hissettim..
14.Yüzyıl başlarında geçen bu macera'da İki Ateş Arasında'dan tanıdığımız Tor MacLeod'da hikayenin başında vardı..Yıl 1307 İngiltere Kralı I.Edward İskoçya'yı I.Robert Bruce'dan alıp kendini İsloçya Kralı ilan ederek onu kaçak durumuna düşürür..Bu olaylardan sonra ikisi arasında inanılmaz bir savaş başlar..Erik MacSorley Robert Bruce'ın emrinde çalışan İskoçya Muhafızlarından idi..Lakabı ise Şahin idi..Ve Hikaye ile ilgili diğer bilgi Kadın Kahramanın ablası Robert Bruce ile evli idi..Yani devrik İskoçya kralı Ellie'nin eniştesi oluyordu..
İrlanda Kıyılarında Ellie ile Erik'in karşılaşmaları bu şartlarda oluyordu..Elyne De Burgh yüzerken yakalandığı Erik MacSorley'den kimliğini gizlemeye karar vermesi anlık tepki idi..Birde sözde bakıcı kadın olduğunu söylemesi orada tecavüze uğrayıp denize atılabilme olanağı varken Erik'in onu kurtarıp ailesine kendi elleri teslim etmeye söz vermesi bir anda olmuştu.. Fakat kimliğini gizleyen sadece kendisi değildi..O da Erik'i basit korsan olarak biliyordu..
Ellie'yi başta pek de güzel bulmayan ERik'in zaman geçtikçe ondan daha fazla etkilenmeye başlaması..Şimdiye kadar onu pohpohlayan ve çarpıcı güzel kadınlara alışık olan Erik Elli'nin derinliğini,mizahi yönünü,sivri diline görünce şaşırsada aralarındaki didişme bazen çok komik bazen de çok romantik sahnelere hiddetten köpürten sahneleri sizi boğabiliyordu..
Ellie'yi babası bir soylu ile sözlemişti..Tam da evlilik arefesinde gerçekleşen İskoçya'lıların eline düşmesi çok da manidar idi ...Zıt kutuplar birbirini her zaman çeker..Erik ile Ellie arasındaki en baştan var olan çekim gittikçe daha fazla ikisini zapt edecektir..İki tarafta görev,sadakat,aşk duyguları ile çok çetin sınava tabii tutulurlar..Ellie hayatının aşkı olarak nitelendirdiği yaşamında güzel bir anı olarak saklamaya niyetli olduğu Erik için hayatını bile tehlikeye atmaktan kendini alamaz...Bu Erik içinde geçerlidir..Birbirlerini bu kadar severken kırmak,canını acıtmak bu çifti daha fazla sevmeme neden oldu..
Bu güzel aşk,savaş,sadakat,mizah ile süslenmiş hikayeyi tavsiye ederim...Yazar gün geçtikçe daha iyi yazıyor kalemi güzelleşiyor...
September 14, 2010
This book was such a pleasure to read. First, I would like to say "thank you" to Monica McCarty for writing such a well-thought out story. It had everything in it; there was romance, action, a gripping story, strong characters. I was really sad when I was finished reading the book. I LOVED Eric "Hawk" MacSorley. He was a brash, charming, flirtatious rogue of a warrior. He was such a likeable character. He was a breath of fresh air compared to his captain "The Chief" Tor MaCleod. He knew when to have fun and he knew when it was time for war.
His love interest Lady Elyne de Burgh was quite his equal and his match. I loved the fact that she was not easily swayed by his phenomenal good looks and smooth talk. She was fiesty, caring, serious and very smart. She was a formidible choice for a romantic counterpart.
I loved the fact that the story moved very well. The plot was well-conceived and it delivered on all levels. The love story was really done very well, I think that the characters had enough friction and tension to really see that they would make a great couple. I did have one problem with the story and that was the incident when they were in the boat together on the stormy sea. That was a little unbelieveable. That one aspect of the book kept it from being a 5 star read. This book is definitely 4.5 stars.
His love interest Lady Elyne de Burgh was quite his equal and his match. I loved the fact that she was not easily swayed by his phenomenal good looks and smooth talk. She was fiesty, caring, serious and very smart. She was a formidible choice for a romantic counterpart.
I loved the fact that the story moved very well. The plot was well-conceived and it delivered on all levels. The love story was really done very well, I think that the characters had enough friction and tension to really see that they would make a great couple. I did have one problem with the story and that was the incident when they were in the boat together on the stormy sea. That was a little unbelieveable. That one aspect of the book kept it from being a 5 star read. This book is definitely 4.5 stars.
August 19, 2015
3.5 stars
I really liked the characters in this book (much more than in the first one) but the plot was a little boring. The story could have been told easily in 300 pages. Way longer than it needed to be for a romance. It dragged a lot in some parts. First half was slow and annoying that the hero was so easily distracted by the heroine even though a war was hinging on him. Otherwise Erik/Hawk was a great hero. A confident, playboy Highlander. I really liked Ellie's character as well (far more than the heroine of the first book). She's feminine, smart, and strong.
Also Really?! It was a little too much..
Overall a very enjoyable book, but there was just something missing. I can't exactly put my finger on what was missing but something definitely was amiss.
I really liked the characters in this book (much more than in the first one) but the plot was a little boring. The story could have been told easily in 300 pages. Way longer than it needed to be for a romance. It dragged a lot in some parts. First half was slow and annoying that the hero was so easily distracted by the heroine even though a war was hinging on him. Otherwise Erik/Hawk was a great hero. A confident, playboy Highlander. I really liked Ellie's character as well (far more than the heroine of the first book). She's feminine, smart, and strong.
Also Really?! It was a little too much..
Overall a very enjoyable book, but there was just something missing. I can't exactly put my finger on what was missing but something definitely was amiss.
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