When Darach MacKenzie spies his enemy Laird Fraser abducting an unconscious female, he springs to her rescue regardless of the repercussions. Even if he'd known before hand what the cost of rescuing Caitlin would be, he still wouldn't have left a female in Fraser's grasp.
Caitlin is an innocent in all sorts of ways. She is like a breath of fresh air into the tight family group. It was fun seeing how she could shake up their daily lives just by being herself. At first it appears that she has been rescued by Darach MacKenzie, but as the story continues, I began to wonder who was doing the rescuing.
Darach and his four brothers were raised by their foster father Gregor McLeod with very little female influence. They are all well versed in caring for the safety of their clans, but they know little of the emotional needs of their families. Caitlin has much to teach them.
Author Alyson McLayne makes great use of humour in this book, she had me laughing along with the characters, especially with the perplexed Darach. The addition of the wee kitten was heart warming.
While the story mostly focused on Caitlin and Darach, we are introduced to his foster brothers. I learned just enough about them to want to read more. Fortunately, this is the first book in a five part series, The Sons of Gregor MacLeod, one book for each brother. Yippee.
Once I knew that the men were wearing kilts in this story, I was all over it, but those who need a bit more persuasion, following is an excerpt from Highland Promise.
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| Author Alyson McLayne |
EXCERPT
“I’ll
not be marrying the lass, Oslow, but if I did, she’d more than likely give me
daughters. All of them looking like her, causing trouble. I’d be an old man in
my grave before I was forty.”
“Nay.
She’d give you sons. Braw lads as strong-minded and fearless as her. But if
you’re not interested in the lass, I’ll introduce her to my Angus. He needs a
wife, and I’m sure he’d be as smitten with her as Gare and Brodie.”
The
blood heated in Darach’s veins, flushing his face. He looked toward the field,
trying to make out what Caitlin and the two younger men were doing. Naught of
consequence. Just playing with the kittens.
Playing
with the kittens—like hell. Brodie was a right rogue
with the lasses, and Gare was such a pitiful lad, caught betwixt man and boy,
she’d want to save him just like she’d saved the baby bird. Most likely he’d
try to make himself look as pathetic as possible with the hopes of ensnaring
her, the devil.
Darach
stood abruptly and made his way across the rocky shore to the field. Lachlan’s
snort followed him. Sure enough, Gare and Brodie sat beside her, hanging on to
every word. Scoundrels, both of them. He frowned, and they jumped to their
feet. Let Caitlin see who was master
and laird here—the most dominant MacKenzie male.
After
sending them to Oslow, he sat on the grass beside her. She looked pleased to
see him. Maybe now would be the time to tell her the kittens were going to the
miller’s. He willed himself to begin, but one of the cats tumbled into his lap
and mewed up at him. Bloody fiend.
“Och,
would you look at that. He loves you, Darach. Maybe he will be called Justice,
for he is drawn to you and you are the most just man I know.”
He
puffed up and deflated at the same time. ’Twas a good decision to send the cats
to the miller. Not only did it show Justice, but also Prudence, Fortitude, and
Temperance. Surely she would see the right of it.
The
kit ran up his body and batted his hair. Darach started in surprise. Grabbing
it, he held the wee thing in front of him. The cat reached out and swatted his
chin.
Caitlin
fell sideways onto the grass, laughing. “You’ve ne’er had a cat before, have
you?”
Darach
grunted and brought the kitten closer. He had to admit it was sweet—big eyes
and downy, soft fur. It suckled the stubble of his beard, and his heart turned
over.
“They’re
starved, poor babies,” she said. “He’s trying to nurse. All we had was water.
It helped, but their bellies are empty.”
There
would be lots of milk at the miller’s.
“Caitlin,
I doona think…”
She
gazed at him, her eyes wide, trusting. A happy glow surrounded her, and the
words stuck in his throat. Maybe she could keep the kits ’til they were old
enough to be on their own. House them in the kitchens and out of his sight and
the sight of his dogs for a week or two. Then they could go to the miller.
“Aye,
Darach?”
“’Tis
naught, lass. We’ll be home soon and they can have their meal.”
Picking
up a kitten, she held it close. “I think this little lass will be Temperance,
for she’s the only female and needs to have much restraint to live with three
brothers. It must be a trial, doona you think?”
“I
lived with four brothers, and aye, ’twas a trial.”
A
wistful look crossed her face. “I did so wish for a brother. Or a sister. But
my parents were not blessed with bairns after me. Instead, I had lots of
pets—cats, dogs, horses, and pigs.”
“Pigs?”
“Aye,
pigs are wonderful pets. Although I caused such a fankle when my father wanted
to butcher the dear thing, I was ne’er allowed to bond with a pig again.”
“And
what happened to it?”
“I
doona know. I lost more than just my parents the night of the fire. Verily,
’twas a torment. I longed for pets after that, but I feared to show favor to
any creature, lest my uncle hurt the animal. I was verra careful when I fed
Cloud apples. The guards who followed me knew, I’m sure, but one older guard in
particular didn’t mind.” She turned to smile at the stallion tethered with the
other horses. “I’m thankful you saved him too.”
His
stomach soured at the insight into her life after her parents’ death, at how
afraid, alone and sad she must have been. Yet she’d shown none of that to him
or his men. And he knew she must have felt it—her heart was as big as the loch.
“I
want you to have, Cloud,” he said suddenly. It was the least he could do.
Her
eyes grew round. “Truly?”
“Aye.
But wait to ride him until we return to the keep. I doona want him to spook and
throw you out here. Let him get used to you in the stables first, aye?” Where
he could have a healer on hand and spread out some hay to soften her fall.
With
an excited holler, she threw her arms around his neck and almost knocked him
backward. One arm settled around her waist, the other hovered just above her
hair. The devil take him, he wanted to touch her, to hold her still for his
kiss.
Cover image and author photo courtesy Sourcebooks.
I received and advanced readers ecopy of this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.
#indigoEmployee
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