So things are a little different today darlings! We're actually doing a joint tour for two lovely authors. Sue-Ellen Welfonder and Margaret Mallory who bring so much yummy Scottish goodness you'll be one very satisfied and contented reader.
So, here's the deal. I split the reviews up into two posts with one joint giveaway that you can enter. I hope you'll visit both because really they were both awesome reads. So, check out the reviews, leave a meaningful comment on each and enter the rafflecopter!
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With her powers to heal and see evil where others cannot, beautiful Ilysa dresses plainly, speaks softly, and loves her chieftain from afar. Yet when Connor finally stokes the embers of desire that have so long burned within her, Ilysa feels bliss unlike any she's ever known. Now as he is forced to place duty before happiness, Ilysa senses Connor is in grave peril. Can she find a way to prove she is the woman he needs by his side?
Type: Historical Romance, Highlanders
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
I think it's safe to say that Margaret Mallory has a new fan and a completely hooked one at that. The Chieftain was filled with stellar characters, surprise connections, terrible betrayals and all of the emotional turmoil they bring and just a lovely romance to top it all off. Like I said. I was hooked. Even if I wanted to strangle a Highland warrior now and again.
The gist is that Connor is a somewhat new Chieftain who's lands are at risk and who is in need of a strong alliance with another clan. He plans on forgoing a marriage for love and using his marriage to form a bond with another clan to ensure their help in defeating his enemies. Yep. You know there's gonna be some drama with that one.
Connor, Lord love him, I spent about half the book wanting to pinch the ever living hell out of the man and then somehow he had me doing that girly contented sigh thing and falling completely in love with him before I even realized it had happened. He really is a good man and I loved the warrior/Chieftain side of him that would do anything for his people. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty and fight with his men. The pinchable side was the way he treated Ilysa the first half of the book where the damnable man just kept dismissing her and being rather flaky in what he wanted from her. Had me getting all grumbly and wanting to give him a smack.
Ilysa though held her own and may just be my favorite heroine of the year. The lass was amazing and while not the strongest physically she definitely had a fighting strength behind her and had determination like you wouldn't believe. What made me fall head over heels for Ilysa was the fire in her. If the men around her dismissed her warnings of danger? Well, the lass would lock their asses in their own dungeon until the danger passed. Seriously. Holy freaking balls! And she just had a great personality and did things you really wouldn't expect.
"He seemed interested in me," she said.
"He is interested," Niall hissed in her ear, "is getting ye under the blankets."
"Truly?" Ilsya said, pressing her hand to her chest. Other lasses were always talking about men attempting to do this, but they never tried with her. "That's exciting. Do ye suppose other men here will try as well?"
"Ilysa!" Niall looked so shocked that she burst out laughing.Really, how could you not love her?
There's really some heart breaking moments once Connor got his act together and started falling for Marjory and the two have to struggle with his need to protect the clan and "do what's right" versus what's really in his heart. I mean. Heart. Breaking. Stuff.
One thing I liked about Mallory's world building was that her Highlanders definitely have a dark side. There's danger lurking everywhere and these Highlanders are brutal. They're fierce in their determination and quests for revenge and things aren't always pretty even when the Chieftain is a good man and honorable.
The ending in this one was one of those "oh shit!" make your hands fooking sweat kind of endings. And yeah I just cursed but it's so my blog and totally merited with this one. I mean seriously. Hands sweating. Fidgeting in my seat. Holding my breath kinda endings. And so damn good. If I hadn't been hooked before that would have done it for me.
I'm really looking forward to checking out all of the earlier books in the series next and love the hint of maybe another book coming into the picture for one of the characters that really won me over throughout the story. If you love Highlanders, "impossible love" stories and damn fine upstanding characters (though some may slip a time or two on that front) you'll love The Chieftain. It comes out at the end of February and is one ye shouldn't miss.
The giveaway will have 2 winners. Open INT
One will win an ecopy of the Chieftain and one an ecopy of Seduction of a Highland Warrior.
Be sure to check out both reviews and leave meaningful comments on each for extra entries!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
