I'm so enjoying Heather McCollum's Highland Isles series, and this is yet another fantastically written, adventure laden story that grips from the beginning and won't let you go until the end.

This time we see Mairi MacLean, Tor from the first book's sister and Alec MacNeil and follow them on their journey of ups and downs

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley and I voluntarily leave my own opinion

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle, by Heather McCollum is a captivating historical highlander romance.

Alec MacNeil is also known as the Wolf of Kisimul Castle, and he's ready to take revenge against those who murdered his wife, so he secretly kidnaps his enemy's bride on her wedding day.

Even though Mairi Maclean is preparing for her wedding, she's not in love with her groom. However, she never expected to be kidnapped, especially by a man with two adorable children - one of my favorite aspects of the book!

As the story unfolds, Alec and Mairi are forced to deal with plenty of secrets and ensuring dramatic events. However, Mairi is still considered Alec's prisoner, until she agrees to marry him. Even though it's the third book in the Highland Isles series, it's not necessary to read the books in order. 

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle is geared towards those who enjoy reading highly entertaining historical romances, particularly stories involving highlanders.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Alec MacNeil has a simple plan for revenge: kidnap his enemy’s bride on her wedding day and marry her himself. But Mairi Maclean is no wilting flower. She challenges him, tempts him, and isn’t about to give in and marry some man just because he says so. But even though she’s his captive, it’s not long before Mairi is breathing new life into Alec’s home. And the longer the two of them are around one another, the more difficult it becomes for them to resist their mutual attraction…

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle is one of the most fun books I’ve read in a long time. I can’t count the number of times Mairi and Alec made me grin and Heather McCollum’s writing just plain charmed the heck out of me.

Mairi is a strong, resourceful woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. When taken captive she doesn’t faint with fright, but defies Alec and makes herself comfortable in his dungeon. I loved Mairi’s cleverness, attitude, and warm heart. Kisimul Castle is a dark and depressing place when she arrives and she – along with Alec’s adorable children – turn it into a home. As for Alec, though he’s determined to avenge his wife’s murder, he’s no monster. He’s a kind and loving father and a leader who wants to do what’s best for his people. I adored both Alec and Mairi, which made it easy to become invested in their love story. Their romance is lively and fun; every part of it crackles with energy. The sparks that fly from their first meeting keep flying all through the book which made this a wonderfully satisfying romance.

Some books just make you happy when you read them, and that’s definitely the case for me with The Wolf of Kisimul Castle. This is the first book of Ms. McCollum’s that I’ve read and her style reminded me of vintage Julie Garwood. I couldn’t have been more entertained by Mairi and Alec’s story and I cannot wait to go back and read Ms. McCollum’s first two Highland Isles tales!

I jumped into The Wolf of Kisimul Castle without having read the first two books in the Highland Isles series with no problems at all. The story for Alec and Mairi stands completely on it's own. Although the plot is simple and straight forward, I still enjoyed seeing the story unfold. There is a good balance between the inevitable romance between Mairi and Alec and the trouble that led Alec to kidnap her and the fall out and action that takes place afterward. McCollum provides enough tension between Mairi and Alec to help make their burgeoning relationship interesting, but without making their actions and decisions unbelievable or unrelatable. 

Mairi isn't stubborn to the point that she is reckless, and Alec isn't overbearing to the point that he is a jerk and unlikable, which is a bonus when it comes to historical romance. It is nice that Mairi isn't an overly innocent virginal heroine trying to escape a horrible situation. Instead, she is a widow, who is doing what she initially feels is best for her family, even if it's not an exciting prospect for her personally. 

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle is a quick historical romance that provided an enjoyable reading escape to another time and place. It's been a little while since I have read a historical romance, and I'm glad that I picked this one up.

when mairi maclean is kidnapped on her wedding day she's understandably upset. it's not that she was all that excited about marrying greg mcinnes. but it has been her choice. being kidnapped puts her on the no power end of things. and when alec macneil informs her that he intends to make her his bride, she's decidedly noncompliant. but for a kidnapper alec is not all that comfortable with the idea of forcing someone to do something against their will.

marrying mairi would solve a whole host of problems for alec. for one, the mclean clan won't be out for blood. for another, his kids need someone to mother them. and he's also so damnably lonely. he might be the wolf of kisimul castle, but he's also a man. and mairi is beautiful, but more than that, she is kind and she is challenging. and knowing her has changed his entire perspective on things.

in some ways it's as if she releases him from a self-imposed prison. she is the first person to recognize the loneliness in him, maybe because she is guilty of the same stubbornness that he is. it almost derails things, that stubbornness. neither of them is willing to give in, they are both too proud, too steadfast in their beliefs, in what they believe their duty to be. it's not until they are forced to face the strength of those convictions that they are able to see that maybe there is another way.

love will always give you another way if you want it enough. this is the kind of sweeping, epic scottish romance that i love. there is drama and thrills outside of the romance, which i love because enjoy it when the characters recognize their feelings early on and never doubt them. external obstacles can always be overcome and watching true love beat all is why i read romance  novels.

I received a copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Mairi, who is a widow, is about to marry again. No love involved, it's a marriage of political gain. That wedding is about to be interrupted...

Alec has come to kidnap a bride and that bride is Mairi. The man Mairi is to marry is responsible for the death of Alec's wife so in Alec's eyes, a bride for a bride. So he kidnaps Mairi and brings her back to Kisimul Castle.

Will Mairi consent to be his bride and share his life? Will there be retribution?

I really loved this story! I didn't want to put it down once I started reading it. The flow of the story is great and I was pulled right into it.

Mairi is not a pushover and she does not have a problem expressing her opinion. Alec really is a good man. He doesn't look for war he only wants to live on his land and keep his people happy.  As Mairi gets to know him she realizes he is not the man he portrayed himself as when he kidnapped her.

Kisimul Castle is said to be cursed also, will this finally be proven true or untrue?

I would recommend this story for anyone who is a Highlander story fan!

'The Wolf of Kisimul Castle by Heather McCollum is Book Three in the "Highland Isles" series. This is the story of Mairi Maclean and Alec MacNeil.  I have read the other book in this series (and LOVED THEM!) but feel this can easily be a standalone book. 
Mari first marriage was for family alliance, which turned out very bad.  Mari first husband was an older and hateful man. Whose son mistreated her when he was away.  But now her husband is dead and she has returned to her brother. Tor Maclean (who we met in the first book).  But now Mari has willing agreed to marry again for family alliances but this time she thinks that it a safe choice. But she is taken by Alec before she can marry. 
Alec has two children who are left with no mother after Mairi husband killed his wife, In addition, the clan and neighboring towns people feel that his Castle is cursed.  So most of the house workers are gone and the Castle is falling apart inside.  So Alec thinks a Wife For a Wife and takes Mairi.  But Mairi is a headstrong women who isn't easily talked into going along with his command of Marriage.
I so enjoyed this book and this series!  Ms. McCollum has a way to make you feel apart of the story.  I love watching Mairi build a relationship with the kids who were sad and neglected. Mari truly became the heart of Kisimul Castle! I also love with you have such great secondary characters that you hope you will see more of them soon in another story!!
Just Loved it!!
Highland Isles:,
Book 1: The Beast of Aros Castle ,
Book 2: The Rogue of Islay Isle,
Book 3: The Wolf of Kisimul,
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."

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Third volume in the Highland Isles series of which I already reviewed the second, The Rogue of Islay Isle (here ), The Wolf of Kisimul Castle features Mari, a young widow who accepted to marry her late husband’s  heir to secure an alliance between their two clans, when she’s kidnapped by an enemy just before her wedding.

Mairi is a strong heroine who suffered a lot during her first marriage. She’s also kind a very stubborn, to the point her brother says he tends to advise her the opposite of what he wishes her to do to be sure she’ll comply. She doesn’t wallow in self-pity but does everything she can to improve her situation.

Alec is a clan chief who suffered a lot by abandon all through his life. He lives in an impregnable castle on an island away from his clan with his children and two very close friends. The castle is considered to be haunted and nobody wants to live there. He first kidnaps the heroine to get revenge because his wife was killed by Mairi’s first husband. As soon as he sees her he changes his mind and decides to marry her, and while waiting for her to agree he locks her up in the dungeon. Even if he’s firm with her he’s also kind and tolerant, and he feels guilty when he sends on a false lead those who are looking for her.

The attraction between them is almost immediate, and there are several sensual and/or romantic scenes throughout the novel. It’s too bad the lack of communication spoils their understanding; I felt at times the need to shake them to get their heads straight.

The secondary characters are not numerous, and Alec’s children are the most present. Orphans who suffer from the death of a mother who wasn’t very attentive, they are thirsty for love and gratitude and do their most to appear useful to their father, who doesn’t really know how to manage them and tends to use on them the same methods he uses on his dogs. They’re quickly going to create with Mairi a link that will grow all through the story.

The beginning is quite linear, showing the couple growing closer, with some funny and light moments, and then the story takes a darker turn as they are attacked by an enemy who suddenly shows his true colors, allowing some captivating and/or moving scenes, and the intervention of the heroes from the previous volumes.

All in all in spite of some flaws, especially a live scene that I found too modern, I had a good reading time with this cute story.

I actually had to check NetGalley to see if this was a republish of a past novel. As I was reading I almost put it down because it was oddly familiar like I had read it before. To be honest I have read this before just not under this title or by this author. The plot and flow of the book was oddly similar to Captured by the Highlander by Julianne MacLean. The circumstances are different but the basic plot is the same. Someone kills someone elses wife and for revenge the husband steals someone elses bride to be and holds them prisoner. I am honestly unsure how to rate or review this as like I said it is extremely similar to another title.

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle by Heather McCollum
Highland Isles Series #3

Another stellar story from Heather McCollum! I loved Mairie and Alec and the story of their wooing. That first scene, the kiss, the kidnapping and along the way saving a few dogs…all in the name of revenge – a bride for a bride – right – that is what Alec thinks as he kidnaps Mairie and steals her away on her wedding day taking her to Kisimul Castle with plans to take her as his wife. 

The introduction was superb. Meeting Alec’s friends, family and children a delight and the interaction Mairie has with each person she meets always entertaining. Alec and Mairie do eventually begin to like one another and their relationship heats up but with her family looking for her, a baddie on the prowl, intrigue and an impostor creating trouble it is not easy sailing for either hero or heroine. What was once considered cursed by some is found to be the heart of Kisimul by another and to that person it becomes a haven rather than a prison. With the love Alec and Mairie feel for one another only good things are foreseen for them, Alec’s son and daughter and the MacNeil Clan. 

Thank you to NetGalley and  Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review. 

5 Stars

Mairi Maclean is kidnapped on her wedding day by the enemy of her dead husband. She at first thinks it’s her new husband’s way of testing her, but she soon learns Wolf of Kisimul Castle, Alec MacNeil is set on revenge.  It’s a bride for a bride when he tells her expects to marry her. Mairi feels like docile pawn in this game of war between neighboring Scots, but will she grab her chance at happiness or become another pawn and marry for the good of her Clan. Passions that flares between Alec and Mairi and threatens to tear Alec’s strategy to shreds and he starts to wonder will Mairi’s will just show up at the church like an obedient bride. I loved this book it was very entertaining and captured my interest right from the start. I voluntarily read this eBook from Net Galley and this is my honest opinion and review.

Mairi Maclean is about to get married for the second time.  Both times have been for the good of her clan.  Her brother has been trying to talk her out of it,  and has  schemed to tempt her. 
Alec MacNeil will take from the MacInnes what was taken from him.  The big difference being,  he will not murder anyone to do it.  Alec's castle is an impenetrable fortress, but it's cursed.  Can he make it a place that a woman could be happy in?. 
Danger, and intrigue haunt the castle.  Laughter and happiness are needed to bring it to life.  Our hero is a good but lonely man with heavy burdens and responsibilities.  Our heroine is sometimes too stubborn for her own good. 
This is part of a series but easily read as a stand alone.  I now want to go and find the other books to read.  I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Maira is about to be married to another McInnes, Geof, to make an alliance between the clans. She is kidnapped before the wedding by Alec MacNeil, the Lone Wolf and head of his clan. He takes her to his fortress on an island, Kisimul Castle. There she meets his two children and learns about the curse of Kisimul Castle. Maira and Alec feel a strong attraction for each other as the story branches into warring clans and deceit from supposed friends. This historical romance is a fast, satisfying read that has likable characters and an interesting story that keeps you engaged throughout. Enjoyed it and recommend it to lovers of this genre.

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle by Heather McCollum will be available August 14, 2017 from Entangled Publishing, LLC. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

This is the first book I've read by Heather McCollum and it didn't disappoint. This book was different than most of the Historical Romances that I typically come across. It's rare to stumble upon a historical romance written in the 1500's, at least for me; most of the books I pick up are anywhere from the late 1700's to the late 1800's. Yes, she's taken hostage which is kinda common in historical romances but what's different is, Alec gives her pretty much 100% freedom once she's at castle Kisimul, considering the story takes place in 1523, I think that's pretty rare.

Also, you don't have to have read the previous books in this series to enjoy this one, which is a plus considering this is the third book in this series. That being said, let's get into what I liked & didn't like about this one...

What I Liked:

The Relationship Development- Mairi & Alec had an undeniable chemistry. In the beginning, there's a scene that I thought was pretty cute. Without giving anything away it involves their first kiss. After that, it's one of my favorite tropes, a enemies-to-lovers relationship. Now, let's delve a little deeper into the enemies-to-lovers trope in this story... In the beginning there was quite a bit of snark and an I'm not gonna take that kind of treatment from you thing going on, which I really admired about Mairi! (Can you imagine, it's 1523 and well...women weren't treated as they are nowadays.) Then as time went on and Alex & Mari grew to know each other it slowly went from snarky to humorous, they both had me laughing out loud. I loved their undeniable chemistry I mentioned above. Once they were comfortable with each other things heated up quite a bit and they were adorable together! 

The Characters- Not only did I love Alec & Mairi but I just adored Alec's children Weylyn & Cinnia. Alec is such a good father and it was heartening to see his love for his children throughout the story. 

The Setting- This story takes place in Scotland, the year of 1523. What I absolutely loved was the castle actually exists! There's a scene that takes place on a beach with wildflowers and the beautiful way in which it was written really brought it to life; I felt like I was there with the cool breeze hitting my cheek, the biting cold waves with that salty tang in the air plus the fragrant smell of wildflowers in the air!

All-in-All- A unique historical romance with snark, humor and swoons! Oh and a action-packed ending that will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Heather McCollum has done it again, my fellow Scottish romance book-loving friends. Book 3, The Wolf of Kisimul Castle, was just as intriguing and engaging as the previous two books in her Highland Isles series.

Honestly, I can’t think of a single thing I didn’t love about this romantic tale. Alec, the hero, played his role perfectly as the lone wolf, widowed laird struggling to raise two children in a mostly abandoned castle many claim to be cursed. Surprisingly his knucklehead act of revenge backfired in a verra surprising way.  Mairi, the feisty, sassy heroine, may have been the captive here, but she certainly soon captured Alec’s lonesome heart. Yeah, this bonny lass gave as good as she got. She constantly kept him on his toes and wondering what she was bloody well up to next. I loved her feistiness, kind heartedness, and willingness to put her life on the line to save those she loved. She also gets a high five from me for holding out until the halfway mark before becoming intimate with him. 

If you haven’t read the previous books, well, I suggest you get right on that. Cameo appearances of main characters from those books appear in this one and add to the sense of family and drama as a heated, intense, life threatening scenario unfolds near the end.

Overall, I give this one a loud wolf whistle and a big round of applause for being so delightfully entertaining, folks. Here’s to hoping you’ll feel the same.

Title: The Wolf of Kisimul Castle, Series: Highland Isles (Book 3), Author: Heather McCullom, Pages: 229, stand-alone but part of a series, alpha good guy hero who gets got up in revenge, sassy heroine who stands up for herself, a touch of Scottish brogue, some violence, intense life-threatening situation.

Book 1 - The Beast of Aros Castle, (Tor and Ava), Pages: 266, 2/20/17
Book 2 - The Rogue of Islay Isle, (Cullen and Madeleine), Pages: 238, 5/15/17
Book 3 - The Wolf of Kisimul Castle (Mairi and Alec), Pages: 229, 8/14/17

(This review is based on an advanced reader copy distributed via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. No compensation was provided to this reviewer, nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher/NetGalley. It will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads, NetGalley, Barnes & Noble, and Edelweiss.)

In return for being given this ARC, I agreed to give a fair and honest review.  Wow, what a great tale.  Characters that make you long to be there with them.  You have got to love a great Scottish tale.  Cursed castles, bride kidnapping, open meadows and stars.  Truly romantic.

Mairi MacLean is a widow, who is about to be married again. But a man appears, Alec MacNeil and sweeps her away. 
This is a very exciting story. I was caught in the first page and could not put it down. There is murder, mayhem, betrayal and all kinds of evil floating around. Alec takes her to Kisimul Castle, which is a small isle. There Mairi and Alec must withstand the trails that come their way. It was fun, sad and a little scary for the people involved. There is a couple of racy parts. I loved this book and was so glad I got the chance to read it.  This the first time I have perused this author. The author is marvelous and wrote a story that is engaging and well worth the time to read. I received a copy from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed this book.

Publisher's Description:

Mairi Maclean is kidnapped on her wedding day by the enemy of her dead husband. Taken north to the water-surrounded Kisimul Castle, she is held captive in the name of retribution. But The Wolf of Kisimul Castle soon learns Mairi is not a docile pawn in this game of war between neighboring Scots. Nor will she be frightened into walking down the aisle to wed the fierce Highland chief.

Alec MacNeil is set on revenge. When he finds his enemy dead, he takes his wife to replace the one that was murdered. An eye for an eye. A bride for a bride. But Mairi is more tiger than kitten and refuses to bend to his will. Set stubbornly against one another, the passion that flares between them threatens to tear Alec’s strategy to shreds.

My Thoughts:

A bride who is abducted on her wedding day, a laird bent on revenge, children who know nothing of a loving parent, this is only the start of this well written if convoluted tale by Heather McCollum.
Alec McNeil knows nothing about the care and nurturing of his children so he needs a wife to accomplish what he can not. His soon to be bride has been killed by his enemy so he will avenge her murder. An eye for an eye so to speak. So when he finds that enemy dead he abducts the man's wife.
Mairi was wed to that enemy and has been promised to the new laird, even though the match is not to her liking. She is abducted on her wedding day by a neighboring laird and ensconced in his dungeon when she refuses to do his bidding and marry him. His children have been assigned to her care and due to their lack of supervision they soon have the dungeon cell looking like a luxurious bed chamber instead of the dank cell Alec assumes she is in.
Will these two enemies come to an understanding and will that lead to love?
I enjoyed this read. Particularly the characterization of the two children. This story would not be the same without their inclusion.
I gave this book 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a high sensual rating of 4.5 of 5.0 flames.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title via NetGalley from the publisher to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I have read and reviewed voluntarily.

I really loved this book ! 

A bride for a bride. Alec McNeil had revenge on his mind when he kidnapped Mairi Maclean. The lonely highlander found his perfect match in fiesty spitfire Mairi. I adored this charming couple and the quick witted banter that flew between them, and Alec's children were adorable. 

This was a very romantic story that had everything it needed to keep me captivated. The characters were amazing and the plot was emotional. It even had a couple of twists and some suspense. The author delivered a wonderfully written romance that has me looking forward to more of her books.

3.5*

While I have enjoyed books by Heather McCollum before, this was not my favorite. There were parts of the story that seemed familiar to me, and when I read about Alec's whistle, I suddenly saw Captain Von Trapp, and some of the familiarity started to make sense.

I also felt the language was too modern, as we're many of the actions. It kept me from fully engaging with the story. Overall an OK book, in my opinion, but not a keeper for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for the opportunity to read and review The Wolf of Kisimul Castle by Heather McCollum.