Series: Brotherhood of the Sword/MacAlister, #3
Traits & Tropes: tortured hero; soldier; strong heroine; forced marriage; hero has never known love; titled hero; illegitimate hero; virgin hero; scarred hero
Publication Date: 02.07.06
Genre/Setting: Historical; Medieval; London, England/Scottish Highlands
Heat Level: 3
Rating: 5 stars
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Taken hostage by the English king, Caledonia MacNeely, daughter of a Scottish laird, finds herself forced into a marriage with a man known only as Lord Sin. The mysterious knight dressed in unrelieved black is feared by all, but Callie can also see the goodness in the man beneath the armor and is determined to make the best of the situation they’re both forced into since it’s the only way to save her clan from the king’s wrath.
This book was rather reminiscent of more classic, old school vibe Highlander romances and I adored it. Sin was the ultimate brooding, tortured hero who’d never known love and had experienced only loathing or dismissal. I loved seeing Callie teach him how to love and hope and allow himself to be open to the things he was feeling for her. It’s rare that I say this, but Callie as the heroine made this book just as much as the hero. She was perfect for Sin, and I loved how open she was to the possibility of them together and how positive she remained and how determined she was to make the best out of a situation they had both been forced into. She immediately saw Sin for the gentle, caring man he truly was beneath the scary black armor, and it was so satisfying to me that she saw the real person and refused to let others mistreat him. Usually in these sorts of books we get a heroine who is not accepted and must earn the good will of the people, but in this case, it was the hero and I loved seeing Sin surprise Callie’s clan at every turn, earning their, admittedly grudging, respect, and eventual acceptance. I especially loved Sin’s dynamic with his brothers and their loyalty to him despite their long separation. This was my first book from this author, but I definitely want to read the other brothers’ stories now.
Sin is now one of my favorite examples of a tortured hero and he and Callie are one of my new favorite couples. I loved their chemistry and steadfastness towards each other, but the best aspect here for me was that it was Callie who stood strong for Sin when he was unsure of himself and how to deal with all the newfound emotions that came with their growing love. They’re both finding themselves and their place in the world but they’re finding it and undergoing that development together, as a team. That dynamic was beautiful to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed their story.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1824228901
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2138619731
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