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theeclecticreview's review against another edition
4.0
Secrets of a Highland Warrior is the fourth and final book in the Lochmore Legacy series and can be read as a standalone.
The feuding Lochmore and McCrieff clans have come up with a plan to stop the bloodshed for now by marrying off two reluctant parties. Rory, son of the Lochmore chief, is trying to secure the lands owed to his clan by the King, and Ailsa, daughter of the acting chief of the McCrieffs, is trying to protect her people. As you can expect the pairing is greeted with resentment and filled with secrets and mistrust.
I’ve always enjoyed enemies to friends romances and this book is no exception. The added plot line of who poisoned Rory’s friend Paiden gives the story a great mystery to solve as well.
It was nice to read about an intelligent hero and heroine that don’t go off half-cocked at every given moment though they are enemies at the start. Also, the big love scene is not at the very beginning so when it happens, it is definitely worth the wait.
Overall this was a great end to a series and as a fan of highland romances, I enjoyed the unique romantic mystery.
Thank you to Ms. Locke for giving me the opportunity to review this book without expectation of a positive review.
The feuding Lochmore and McCrieff clans have come up with a plan to stop the bloodshed for now by marrying off two reluctant parties. Rory, son of the Lochmore chief, is trying to secure the lands owed to his clan by the King, and Ailsa, daughter of the acting chief of the McCrieffs, is trying to protect her people. As you can expect the pairing is greeted with resentment and filled with secrets and mistrust.
I’ve always enjoyed enemies to friends romances and this book is no exception. The added plot line of who poisoned Rory’s friend Paiden gives the story a great mystery to solve as well.
It was nice to read about an intelligent hero and heroine that don’t go off half-cocked at every given moment though they are enemies at the start. Also, the big love scene is not at the very beginning so when it happens, it is definitely worth the wait.
Overall this was a great end to a series and as a fan of highland romances, I enjoyed the unique romantic mystery.
Thank you to Ms. Locke for giving me the opportunity to review this book without expectation of a positive review.
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent conclusion to the series, as the last pieces of the puzzle begun in the first book are revealed. The year is 1293, and there have already been generations of hostility between the Lochmores and McCrieffs. Now that the English king granted a piece of the McCrieff's land to the Lochmores, it is time to claim that land. After months of their missives being ignored, Rory Lochmore, heir to the clan chief, is on the way to confront the leader of the McCrieffs. Fully expecting to meet resistance, Rory is deeply disturbed by the lack of it.
Rory has spent all his life trying to prove his worth to his father and feels that successfully handling this matter will go a long way toward doing so. When he arrives at the McCrieff castle he is met by the chief's second-in-command, the Tanist, as the chief is dying and invited in for a meal instead of a battle. There he discovers that the Tanist is prepared to accede to the king's demands, under one condition - that Rory marries his daughter, Ailsa.
Ailsa, besides being his daughter, is also the clan's healer and has been caring for the gravely ill chief. She is beautiful, headstrong, and blunt, and none too happy with her father's plans. But Ailsa is also very intelligent and loves her people, and after considering the ramifications agrees to the marriage. When Rory's best friend is poisoned right after the marriage announcement, she must race against time to save him and prevent all-out war.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Ailsa and Rory. Ailsa is no meek and obedient miss but is keenly observant and outspoken when she needs to be. Neither one trusts the other at first, thanks to the long-standing feud between their clans. I thoroughly enjoyed Rory's reactions to Ailsa's words, as he is unused to having women speak their minds quite so freely. However, it doesn't take long for him to appreciate her honesty and inability to beat around the bush. Rory is cautious about the marriage, unsure of his father's reaction, and tries to keep Ailsa at a distance. This is increasingly difficult, as the sparks between them are impossible to ignore, and when they finally give in, the results are incendiary. But there are obstacles that hold Ailsa and Rory slightly apart. Rory has some deep-seated insecurities stemming from his doubts over his place in his family. Ailsa, who is privy to some explosive secrets learned from the previous healer, suspects that some of what she thought was myth is, in fact, true. I ached for Rory, who hesitated to take Ailsa home, believing that his parents disapproved. There were some tense moments upon their arrival back at Lochmore, with a roller-coaster of emotions as secrets were finally laid to rest. I adored Ailsa's support of Rory during this time and loved the effect it had on him and his confidence in who he was. It was easy to see how this couple became the legend that they were for both families through the ages.
The epilogue was written by Janice Prescott, author of the first book in the series. It was beautifully done, bringing the story in a full circle. The depth of emotion as Rory and Ailsa were finally reunited was incredible, and I loved seeing how all four couples had a part in it. Lachlan and Flora's final words were perfect.
Rory has spent all his life trying to prove his worth to his father and feels that successfully handling this matter will go a long way toward doing so. When he arrives at the McCrieff castle he is met by the chief's second-in-command, the Tanist, as the chief is dying and invited in for a meal instead of a battle. There he discovers that the Tanist is prepared to accede to the king's demands, under one condition - that Rory marries his daughter, Ailsa.
Ailsa, besides being his daughter, is also the clan's healer and has been caring for the gravely ill chief. She is beautiful, headstrong, and blunt, and none too happy with her father's plans. But Ailsa is also very intelligent and loves her people, and after considering the ramifications agrees to the marriage. When Rory's best friend is poisoned right after the marriage announcement, she must race against time to save him and prevent all-out war.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Ailsa and Rory. Ailsa is no meek and obedient miss but is keenly observant and outspoken when she needs to be. Neither one trusts the other at first, thanks to the long-standing feud between their clans. I thoroughly enjoyed Rory's reactions to Ailsa's words, as he is unused to having women speak their minds quite so freely. However, it doesn't take long for him to appreciate her honesty and inability to beat around the bush. Rory is cautious about the marriage, unsure of his father's reaction, and tries to keep Ailsa at a distance. This is increasingly difficult, as the sparks between them are impossible to ignore, and when they finally give in, the results are incendiary. But there are obstacles that hold Ailsa and Rory slightly apart. Rory has some deep-seated insecurities stemming from his doubts over his place in his family. Ailsa, who is privy to some explosive secrets learned from the previous healer, suspects that some of what she thought was myth is, in fact, true. I ached for Rory, who hesitated to take Ailsa home, believing that his parents disapproved. There were some tense moments upon their arrival back at Lochmore, with a roller-coaster of emotions as secrets were finally laid to rest. I adored Ailsa's support of Rory during this time and loved the effect it had on him and his confidence in who he was. It was easy to see how this couple became the legend that they were for both families through the ages.
The epilogue was written by Janice Prescott, author of the first book in the series. It was beautifully done, bringing the story in a full circle. The depth of emotion as Rory and Ailsa were finally reunited was incredible, and I loved seeing how all four couples had a part in it. Lachlan and Flora's final words were perfect.
emmalb1984's review against another edition
5.0
“The McCrieff-Lochmore Great Feud continues between us. Except…we could end it. Between us.”
The fourth and final instalment of the excellent Lochmore Legacy series finds Nicole Locke taking the reader back to 1293 and the story of Rory Lochmore and Ailsa McCrieff’s marriage of convenience that becomes a beautiful romance.
Readers of the previous instalments of this series will be familiar with Rory and Ailsa and their part in the wider Lochmore story, and here, we find out the origins of their relationship amidst an intriguing sub-plot of poisoning, and yet more history of the centuries old Lochmore-McCrieff feud which, as we know, is destined to continue through the generations.
In Rory and Ailsa, Nicole Locke has created two likeable and interesting characters who, despite their mistrust of each other, also have an almost instant connection, and from the moment a convenient marriage is suggested by Ailsa’s father, there is a strong sense the marriage could become something much more than convenient if the two could learn to see beyond the feud. Indeed, Rory’s reaction to Ailsa catches him off guard from the outset, and, somewhat surprisingly, he finds that he quite likes her strong-willed and outspoken nature as they navigate their way through unexpected circumstances.
Furthermore, Rory is also a complex character in that he wants his people to see him as a strong leader, but beneath this, there is an air of vulnerability and sensitivity which Ailsa soon sees, and uses to help her understand her new husband. The fact that both of them soon begin to look beyond the feud and think about a future together propels the story forward, and there is a strong, believable romance which develops as the plot progresses.
Aside from the romance, there is an intriguing sub-plot involving the poisoning of Rory’s friend Paiden which adds to the sense of mistrust between the clans, and also a mystery regarding Rory’s origins which Ailsa begins to unravel, and adds weight to why events that will later take place (in Elisabeth Hobbes excellent ‘A Runway Bride for the Highlander’) happened in another element of the feud. The poisoning adds an element of danger to the plot as the reader starts to wonder who can be trusted, and moreover, who does not want the feud to be settled.
As with the previous books in the series, there is a nice symmetry that, once again, the main characters have a key scene in and around the Lochmore Castle crypt, and, for Rory and Ailsa it leads to a powerful conclusion to their story.
An excellent, powerful romance with a strong air of mystery and intrigue, this is a fitting conclusion to the Lochmore Legacy.
Finally, special mention must go to Janice Preston who concludes the series with an excellent, tear-jerking epilogue that takes the series full circle. It would spoil the contents to say any more, but, tissues at the ready, it provides a fitting end to this excellent series.
Thank you to Nicole Locke for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The fourth and final instalment of the excellent Lochmore Legacy series finds Nicole Locke taking the reader back to 1293 and the story of Rory Lochmore and Ailsa McCrieff’s marriage of convenience that becomes a beautiful romance.
Readers of the previous instalments of this series will be familiar with Rory and Ailsa and their part in the wider Lochmore story, and here, we find out the origins of their relationship amidst an intriguing sub-plot of poisoning, and yet more history of the centuries old Lochmore-McCrieff feud which, as we know, is destined to continue through the generations.
In Rory and Ailsa, Nicole Locke has created two likeable and interesting characters who, despite their mistrust of each other, also have an almost instant connection, and from the moment a convenient marriage is suggested by Ailsa’s father, there is a strong sense the marriage could become something much more than convenient if the two could learn to see beyond the feud. Indeed, Rory’s reaction to Ailsa catches him off guard from the outset, and, somewhat surprisingly, he finds that he quite likes her strong-willed and outspoken nature as they navigate their way through unexpected circumstances.
Furthermore, Rory is also a complex character in that he wants his people to see him as a strong leader, but beneath this, there is an air of vulnerability and sensitivity which Ailsa soon sees, and uses to help her understand her new husband. The fact that both of them soon begin to look beyond the feud and think about a future together propels the story forward, and there is a strong, believable romance which develops as the plot progresses.
Aside from the romance, there is an intriguing sub-plot involving the poisoning of Rory’s friend Paiden which adds to the sense of mistrust between the clans, and also a mystery regarding Rory’s origins which Ailsa begins to unravel, and adds weight to why events that will later take place (in Elisabeth Hobbes excellent ‘A Runway Bride for the Highlander’) happened in another element of the feud. The poisoning adds an element of danger to the plot as the reader starts to wonder who can be trusted, and moreover, who does not want the feud to be settled.
As with the previous books in the series, there is a nice symmetry that, once again, the main characters have a key scene in and around the Lochmore Castle crypt, and, for Rory and Ailsa it leads to a powerful conclusion to their story.
An excellent, powerful romance with a strong air of mystery and intrigue, this is a fitting conclusion to the Lochmore Legacy.
Finally, special mention must go to Janice Preston who concludes the series with an excellent, tear-jerking epilogue that takes the series full circle. It would spoil the contents to say any more, but, tissues at the ready, it provides a fitting end to this excellent series.
Thank you to Nicole Locke for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
jessbookishlife's review against another edition
5.0
This is the last novel in the series and what a perfect ending. I have no idea if there is ever going to be s spinoff of this series, but if it ever happens, I will get very excited. I loved the concept of the entire series and for someone that, like me, hasn't read a lot of books in some particular eras, like medieval times, this is a great opportunity to expand our knowledge.
There are a couple of things that I found out about myself thanks to reading Historical Romances, one is that I do love a good marriage of convenience story. So many possibilities of drama and excitement, and Nicole Locke brought us that.
Rory and Ailsa and their love story was one I was very curious about and I was not disappointed. The fact that we had to go back in time through out the books in this series until we could read this one was such an adventure. The feisty interactions and the melting moments... Learning more about this couple and seeing the relationship change as they grow closer.
I haven't read many medieval era novels, compared to the amount of regency ones I have read, so I was very curious about the descriptions and the feel of this book. And I just loved it! It was as vivid as the previous ones. The way the setting was describe, as well as the characters and the society, it had this raw feel to it, maybe because of the time period.
It had drama, danger and mystery that gave the story some action and gave me the need to keep reading not even caring if it was 3 a.m. I love when a book grabs my attention in this way, and Nicole's storytelling combined with the plot of the novel, was what was needed to keep me focus and forgetting I was tired.
Overall, this was an amazing ending for a series and I didn't expect any less. Definitely a series I highly recommend, despite being it possible to read as a standalone, I would recommend the reader to follow the order of the books so they can experience the rollercoaster to it's fullest, and so they can get to this story with much more excitement as the one they started with.
There are a couple of things that I found out about myself thanks to reading Historical Romances, one is that I do love a good marriage of convenience story. So many possibilities of drama and excitement, and Nicole Locke brought us that.
Rory and Ailsa and their love story was one I was very curious about and I was not disappointed. The fact that we had to go back in time through out the books in this series until we could read this one was such an adventure. The feisty interactions and the melting moments... Learning more about this couple and seeing the relationship change as they grow closer.
I haven't read many medieval era novels, compared to the amount of regency ones I have read, so I was very curious about the descriptions and the feel of this book. And I just loved it! It was as vivid as the previous ones. The way the setting was describe, as well as the characters and the society, it had this raw feel to it, maybe because of the time period.
It had drama, danger and mystery that gave the story some action and gave me the need to keep reading not even caring if it was 3 a.m. I love when a book grabs my attention in this way, and Nicole's storytelling combined with the plot of the novel, was what was needed to keep me focus and forgetting I was tired.
Overall, this was an amazing ending for a series and I didn't expect any less. Definitely a series I highly recommend, despite being it possible to read as a standalone, I would recommend the reader to follow the order of the books so they can experience the rollercoaster to it's fullest, and so they can get to this story with much more excitement as the one they started with.
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