Book:The Warrior of Clan Kincaid
by Lily Blackwood

Series: (Highland Warrior #3)

Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook of Tartan Book Reviews, Purple Tulip Book Reviews and Celtic Barb's Tartan Book Review Blog

Book Release Date: July 31, 2018

Heat Rating: Sizzling hot🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Scottish Highlands
Inverhaven, March 1390

Derryth MacClaren, sister of Elspeth Braewick and sister-in-law to Niall Braewick, Laird Kincaid. She was most unhappy being made to leave Inverhaven in the middle of a cold rainy night. As her sister was set to deliver her first child at anytime now. Yet a serious threat was made again by the the Wolf. As Kings men, Buchan’s men were seen on nearby hill.

That only meant the Wolf was waiting to attack and go after the clan Kincaid again, to finish what he started all those years ago. The man, Alexander Stewart, the Earl of Buchan who organized the murders of his family and stolen his home, lands and clan. He organized the brutal murder of Niall’s parents and youngest brother all those years ago.

Elspeth and Niall want to keep Derryth out of harm's way. Yet even sending her with Niall’s second in command, his best warriors, in the disguise as farmers under another clan name. They would actually be going to the MacClaren stronghold-where her widowed stepmother and young adolescent sisters lived. The undercover story was they would be helping with the farming in the fields of another allied clan name. This was to keep them off track and to keep hidden their true identities and destination. Elspeth would join her as soon as she delivered the baby.

Yet their party ambushed by wild highlanders working for the Wolf. Yet she is saved by Cul the nameless, the Kings Guard sworn to serve the Scottish King. He is also called commander, best warrior and Knight. He has no trust of this group of peasant travelers, so keeps them under his protection. The mud covered girl is separated and must stay with him in his sleeping quarters. He feels it is the only way this party will not escape as he has no trust of them. He even suspects they could be Kincaids! So until he has taken over Inverhaven he will keep them as guests.

Cul had been rescued on his slavers ship and a Kings man ask him his name. He says Boy as he doesn't have any memory since forced to be slave at eight years old. So when this Kings man offers to train him as warrior, to work for the Scottish king and to be free. Twelve year old Cul jumps at the chance.

Now as a man, the only thing Cul the nameless wants is a home, lands wealthy heiress and bairns and a name. The Wolf dangles Inverhaven in front of him but also his recent prize, Derryth. He only has to destroy the Kincaids and all his dreams will come true! Yet now Cul the nameless Warrior has fallen deeply in love for his prize, the little captive peasant. As derryth doesn’t expect to fall for her jailer. A man with no memory who will do anything to possess a home, lands, heiress wife and mostly a name.

However, his rival the Wolf's son Duncan is extremely jealous of his father's favorite warrior Cul-the-nameless. So after Duncan does some investigating, he plans in doing some deadly damage to Cul’s favorite peasant and keep her for himself.

In addition Derryth realizes too late that Cul might be the third missing Kincaid brother. That would be Cullen Braewick, the youngest son. From what she thought was what Cul thought was a slavers mark was not that at all. Derryth realizes was a mark he and all the Braewick brothers were given at birth! The problem is she is not certain, never seeing these precious tattoos up close. That would be Cullen Braewick, the youngest son. Yet Cul fears if he gets his vengeance against the man who put him on a slavers ship and then just acts like his rescuer to train him as a King’s man and make him a free man.

Just as the Wolf’s dark twisted plan is for Cul to destroy his own family. Yet as a Kings man Cul has to listen to orders!Are they the Kings orders or just a madman's plot for vengeance? In addition his main priority is to keep the woman of his heart safe from harm. What will Cul do?

Will these star crossed lovers find a happily ever after? Will it end with the man she loves stealing her home and slaughtering all those she loves? Will her love turn into hate? Or will Cul finally be reunited with a family he never knew he had? If that possibility can ever become a reality.

Plus many people want to divide and conquer Cul’s prize from threats and jealousy. Find out how this serie finale ends in a shocking conclusion that will curl your toes!

I highly recommend this brilliant masterpiece. One of my favorite books of the year! A fast paced page turner! Another riveting adventure with non stop action, murder, treachery, mayhem, villains, vengeance, betrayal, brotherly love, passion, honor, forgiveness and love. All the elements that Scottish historical romance readers love! It will melt your heart and touch your soul!


Sadly this is the third book and finale of the Highland Warrior Series. I so loved all three novels, all brilliantly written. I think The Warrior of Clan Kincaid might be my favorite of the series. You can read this as well as a stand alone book. I personally like connecting the dots between each brother and previous book characters. I have also read each book in this series in under twenty-four hours which is rare and means its another Lily Blackwood masterpiece! I certainly hope this author has more scottish historical stories to tell.

This exhilarating book will absolutely blow you away! The setting is beautiful, dialogue is breathtaking, swoon worthy hero and protective heroine. A woman who will do anything to care for those she loves! Brilliant plotting, holding my breath with anticipation not knowing what could possibly happen next!

Lily Blackwood is a truly gifted author that I can’t recommend enough!

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Clan-Kincaid-Highland/dp/1250084849/ref=mp_

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-warrior-of-clan-kincaid/id1176324567?mt=11

https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-warrior-of-clan-kincaid-lily-blackwood/1124362979

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-warrior-of-clan-kincaid

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250084859

The Highland Warrior Series
By Lily Blackwood

1)The Beast of Clan Kincaid - Niall And Elspeth
2)The Rebel of Clan Kincaid - Faelan and Tara
3)The Warrior of Clan Kincaid - TODAY 7/31/2018 Cullen and Kerryth



I received this book From Saint Martin’s Press publishers for a fair and honest review. I voluntarily agreed to read, review, blog and promote through netgalley. All words, ideas and thoughts are my own.

I Am So In Love With This Book! So undeniably, unequivocally, irrevocably in love with this book. It was fantastic! From the first chapter I felt myself beginning to fall. Everything about this storyline and the characters captivated me. It’s filled with all the heat and humor, I crave, and all the heartwarming, heartbreaking emotion that I can’t get enough of.
Derryth and Cull are delicious together. Their personalities, their conversations, their chemistry.....my my my! I was a goner, charmed beyond words, hooked. This was a one sitting read for me, so engaging in so many ways. I think I was born in the wrong century, because I want my own Cull. Lol.
This is so well written. Lily Blackwood sure knows how to capture and secure the heart of her readers. She is an excellent writer. This is the first time I have read one of her books, and I am so glad that I found her. This had all the things I live for in Romance Stories. I can’t recommend this enough. There aren’t enough stars for this one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of this book to read from a NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Warrior Of Clan Kincaid is the final book in Lily Blackwood’s Kincaid Brothers trilogy. It could be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the other two books first. Niall Kincaid heard that an evil nobleman named the Wolf is planning to attack his castle and so sends his sister-in-law Derryth MacClaren off to safety with trusted warriors, unfortunately they are almost immediately captured by the enemy. Cull the Nameless who has been charged with leading the siege against the Kincaids can’t help but be fascinated by the beautiful peasant girl his men have captured. Kept as a prisoner Derryth fears for her family and dares not reveal who she really is. Lies and betrayal will make the path to HEA very difficult for these two.
An exciting story that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Very steamy. Publishing Date July 31, 2018. #NetGalley #TheWarriorOfClanKincaid

This is the first book I have read by author Lily Blackwood and it most definitely will not be the last.
The author has written a very entertaining book that will have you staying up late not wanting to put it down.

Cull is a Kings Guard and every inch a chivalrous Knight and.stands by those codes. When he was.a.small child he was taken from his home and sold into slavery. He has no memory of who he is or who his parents were. At age 14 a man bought him from the slavery who held him and promised to teach him to fight. Now an adult he is very well known for his fighting skills. Buchan has called on him to take a castle of his sworn enemies the Kincaids. He questions why he is even been called to take the Kincaid castle, but no one seems to know is the reason why even Duncan and Robert who are the sons of Buchan.

Derryth is the sister-in-law of Laird Kincaid and when the Kings men were spotted by a Kincaid farmer Derryth is dressed in disguise and is sent away to safety, but before she and her escourts can get there they are attacked.by some of the men who are part.of the army set to attack the Kincaid castle, Derryth is saved from the attack by Cull who thinks she is a peasant. Even so he protects her while she is in camp. Cull promises to release her and her escorts before they attack her brother in laws castle, but she is determined to find out everything she can about the attack she can. But the best laid plans have their flaws.

This was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Even though I am sad to have missed the first two books of this series, I am ever so glad to have read the third and final book of this bewitching trilogy. Lily Blackwood brings to life a stunning romance where a headstrong heroine finds herself head to head with a legendary warrior. A man whose name is synonymous with courage and strength. A man who is just as much a legend among women as he is among men on the battlefield.

Derryth doesn’t want to leave her sister when she is just on the brink of giving birth but her sister insists and so she sets off with a few warriors and her elderly nursemaid to visit her younger sisters. On her way she is taken hostage by Cull the Nameless and his men who are on their way to lay siege to Derryth’s brother- in-law’s castle. She may try to deny and fight her growing attraction to Cull but it is seems that her efforts are futile as Cull seems to have captured not only her body, but also her heart and soul.

Cull’s only childhood memories consist of his time on a Venetian slave ship. He is indebted to the Wolf for having saved him and given him the chance to find his path and passion. But he is left at an impasse when he finds himself between the woman he loves and her clan and the man whom he owes his life to. But all is not as it seems as we discover that Cull is not Nameless after all.

A beautiful highland romance that is sure to bring more heat to your summer’s night ;)

The Warrior of Clan Kincaid is so amazing. It's A Kingdom of Dreams and Lord of the Black Isle rolled into one amazing Scottish romance. Lily Blackwood concludes the Highland Warrior trilogy which reunites three lost brothers by a distinguishable mark. It's only by chance that Derryth MacClaren is sent away from home in order to avoid danger, only to be captured by Cull, who leads the forces advancing on her home.

Once a captive, Derryth and Cull remain in close proximity to one another and the sparks start flying. Initially sparks of anger and fear keep Derryth on the defense as she tries to escape and keep her people safe. Twists and turns abound as the plot thickens and Blackwood offers readers a romance between two strong characters. Derryth gains strength even though she's pampered and unused to living outdoors, or being surrounded by dangerous, lethal killers. The desire to warn her people and keep the ones captive with her safe fuels her and makes her an admirable heroine. Cull is a hard character but little by little Derryth chips away at his icy exterior.

I loved watching these two characters discover each other. Every step of the way they have to contend with outside forces trying to tear them apart. This adds to the excitement of the plot and keeps you intrigued to the very end! Don't be afraid to jump into this story even if you haven't read the previous two entries. There's enough revealed that doesn't give away the plot of the first two stories, but you are able to come to a full understanding of the situation. It's a little complex, but what story with royals and politics isn't?

It's full of heart and passionate romance, too bad it's also the last in this series. The Warrior of Clan Kincaid is definitely one of those stories you'll be coming back to again and again!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

when derryth maclaren is sent away for her own protection given the likelihood that her sister's keep is about to be held under seige by troops representing the dreaded wolf, it is exceedingly unlucky that she ends up in enemy hands. the warrior of clan kincaid is one of those sweeping highland stories that has it all, sexy scotsmen and political intrigue and swooning.

saved from assault by a commanding officer named cull. derryth fights to escape, even as everything cull does is intended to keep her safe at the army camp. she's a beautiful young woman, one whose strategic value he isn't even aware of, and cull who only memories of childhood are of being a slave and having no name, is sensitive to her plight.

sharing a tent means that the crazy sexual tension between them is pretty much off the charts. but she's an innocent, and cull isn't the type to take advantage.

and then everything goes haywire and the way these two characters commit to each other and love each other is so swoonworthy and dreamy. they keep getting backed into corners, but the way they have faith in one another is just so good. i really enjoyed this highland story.

**the warrior of clan kincaid will publish on july 31, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/st. martin's press in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher's Description:

The stunning and dramatic final book in the Kincaid brothers' trilogy set in the wilds of Scotland.

LOVE TAKES NO PRISONERS

Derryth MacClaren is on the run—having been sent from her castle home to avoid capture by the vicious nobleman known as the Wolf, who has vowed revenge against the Clan Kincaid. When a surprise attack leaves her vulnerable, Derryth ends up in the hands of an enemy warrior who claims her, with the Wolf’s blessing, as his prize. But her captor’s gentle words and touch seduce her heart—and body—completely. . . and when she discovers the tattoo on his arm that proves him to be the legendary, long-believed dead son of the murdered Laird of Kincaid, Derryth knows she must find a way to alter his fate—and her own. . .

Cull has no memory of his family or past—all he knows is the life of a warrior, trained to fight on behalf of the Scottish king. But now that Derryth has informed him of who he really is—Cullen Braewick, the youngest son of the slain laird—he is torn. If Cull exacts revenge against the Wolf, who executed his father, he stands to lose the precious lass who he has come to love. What is he willing to sacrifice for Derryth to keep her safe. . .and in his arms?

The Warrior of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood is not one to miss!

My Thoughts:

Although I have now read this whole series I still can't give this one more than a 4.5 star rating.
This is the third and final book in this series by Lily Blackwood previously published as Lily Dalton, the RITA Nominated author of Regency romance. The conclusion answers many of the questions left hanging in the first two books.

This third book in this trilogy was a long time in the making coming out more than a year and one half after book #2. There is a need to have read the other two books to get a full enjoyment of this one. The last book was however published in December of 2016 so you may need to re-read the first two books as they were both published that year.

The Warrior of Clan Kincaid can be read as a standalone, but I really believe that you’re missing out if you start with book #3. Each brother has a story to tell, and to be truly absorbed in this book you need to read the series from book #1.

Now we know what happened to the third brother. Most people assumed they all had perished in the attack that took their parents, but not so. Kidnapped and used as a slave and then sold as one to a man who made him into a warrior, our hero has quite a back story.

Our heroine is quite the spoiled sister of laird Kincaid's wife,
The story of how these two became a couple is a very convoluted tale.

There are many twist and turns in this plot but again they are more enjoyable if you read the series from book #1.

I gave this book 4.5 stars for storyline and characterization, better than either of the first two books which I felt left the story hanging though not in the traditional cliffhanger way. I gave it a heated sensual rating of 4.25 of 5.0 flames. Our couple becomes intimate rather early on in this book.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but all opinions provided are my own.

3.5 stars.

Lily Blackwood’s The Warrior of Clan Kincaid is a tender, compelling love story with a finely developed backdrop—tumultuous fourteenth-century Scotland. When members of the hated Buchan’s army are seen approaching Castle Kincaid, Derryth, our heroine, is sent from her sister and brother-in-law’s side to supposed safety. However, during her travels she and her guards are captured by the very soldiers they want to escape, led by a formidable member of the King’s Guard. Cull the Nameless, said member of the King’s Guard, was once a slave and believes that he owes a great debt to Buchan, the man who bought his freedom and who is responsible for the siege on Derryth’s family’s castle and for past atrocities in the Highlands. Though Derryth keeps her true identity hidden from Cull, it’s clear that she hates Buchan. This tension should make it impossible for Derryth and Cull to be attracted to one another, but they both sense something worthy in the other, and their attraction refuses to be denied. The Warrior of Clan Kincaid is a passionate and adventure-filled romance with a keen sense of danger and drama (that was sometimes too much for my taste). Still, this is a grand love story between two people who see the best in one another and whose love makes them both stronger.

I found The Warrior of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood, book three of her Highland Warrior series, to be an amazing and moving story. We have Cull the Nameless who had no memory of his family or past before his time as a slave on a sailing ship. Once removed from slavery, he was trained to be a warrior and fight on behalf of the Scottish king. Derryth MacClaren was sent away from her castle home to avoid capture by a vicious nobleman who vowed revenge against the Clan Kincaid. But a surprise attack has her captured and she ends up under the protection of Cull. His gentle words and touch seduces her and allows her to feel safe among the enemy. Derryth notices a tattoo on Cull’s arm that was not from his slave days but that proves him to be the legendary, long-believed dead son of the murdered Laird of Kincaid. Before she can inform Cull of this fact she is kidnapped and held hostage by the Wolf’s jealous son. Will Cull be able to find and save Derryth? Will he learn the truth of who he really is and once he knows how will he deal with the Wolf and his lies? How much is he willing to sacrifice to keep Derryth safe and along his side?

Ms. Blackwood wrote a wonderful and emotional story that is not to be missed. She drew me into the lives of her characters, making me forget the world around me. I kept hoping the Cull would be able to save Derryth despite the obstacles and jealousies they encountered along the way, so they could find their happy ever after. I struggled putting this book down, turning page after page, not letting go until I turned the last page. I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book on the behalf of the publisher through Netgalley.

Book #3 in the series Highland Warrior, The Warrior of Clan Kincaid can be read without knowledge of the previous books (my case), although I got very curious about the series and I'll certainly catch up with the previous books.
Derryth MacClaren is traveling under guard, trying to escape a possible attack by the Wolf to her brother-in-law's clan. On her way to meet her half-siblings, her group is attacked and made prisoners.
Cull, one of the most powerful warriors fighting with the Wolf, claims Derryth, believing she's a peasant. Cull has no memory of his past as a small child - his oldest memories being a 8-year-old slave on a ship and having the Wolf "buying" him to train as a warrior.
Soon, Derryth and Cull get closer, but the two of them have secrets and their loyalty to their clans may tear them apart.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book just sucked me in from the very first heartbreaking scene, and held me all the way through to the jaw-dropping ending. This is a true historical romance, full of sparks, political intrigue, swashbuckling action, and a sexy warrior that rises above everything to be the hero he was born to be.

Derryth is a brave young woman, standing up to her captors and sacrificing whatever she must to protect her companions. The only thing she hates more than Cull, the commander in charge, is the way that she doesn't hate him at all. I loved the way that she saw past his public presence to see the genuine man underneath, and I admired her for being loyal to what's right regardless of where her heart wanted to go.

Cull is everything we want in a Highland Warrior. Strong and true, intelligent and compassionate, he quickly assesses his prisoner and knows immediately that he has to protect her, even while knowing she's the enemy. He's a man of honor above all else, and when all the secrets come out, his response was nothing short of breathtaking.

This book was an emotional adventure, set in the late 14th century Scotland, and it was brilliant from start to finish. This book is one I'll read again and again. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Derryth MacClaren has been sent from her sister's home for her own safety. An enemy of Derryth's new brother-in-law is coming after him and his family, and they want Derryth out of harm's way. Little do they know that by sending Derryth away, they will be putting her directly into the hands of their enemy. Derryth is determined to escape her captor and get word to her family. Unfortunately, her captor is just as determined not to let her go.

All Cull remembers is being a slave. Cull owes everything to The Wolf for saving him from his circumstances and helping him become the warrior he is today. When Cull runs into a group he believes to be Kincaids, enemies to The Wolf, he captures them. He keeps the woman, Derryth, in his tent to protect her from the men and puts the rest to work. Cull has no idea just who he has in his very grasp. He plans to let them go after he and his army overtake the Kincaids' hold. What will happen when he learns the truth about Derryth?

Author Lily Blackwood is new-to-me, but I am very much enjoying her writing style. Her characters are complex and real, her stories are entertaining and believable. Her HIGHLAND WARRIOR series has been captivating from the start. It consists of three books, THE BEAST OF CLAN KINCAID, THE REBEL OF CLAN KINCAID and THE WARRIOR OF CLAN KINCAID. Each novel adds something special to the overall story about three brother's whose parents were murdered and nearly killed themselves due to one man's greed. Finally, they all three reunite in book three, THE WARRIOR OF CLAN KINCAID. I was very moved by their instant connection, emotion and camaraderie between the Braewick siblings. Cullen finally found where he belongs. THE WARRIOR OF CLAN KINCAID is a highly recommended read! There's just so much to love about this novel.

Derryth MacClaren is fleeing her sister’s castle home to avoid capture by the vicious nobleman known as the Wolf. When a surprise attack leaves Derryth vulnerable, she ends up in the hands of Cull, an enemy warrior who claims her. Cull’s gentle ways and touch seduce her heart—and body—completely...and when she discovers the tattoo on his arm that proves him to be the legendary, long-believed dead son of the murdered Laird of Kincaid, Derryth knows she must find a way to alter his fate—and her own.

Cull has no memory of his family or past—all he knows is the life of a slave then trained as a warrior, to fight on behalf of the Scottish king. If Cull can help the king’s law officer, the Wolf of Badenoch, defeat the Highlanders, Cull will earn a name and land plus keep possession of Derryth. But now that she has told him who he really is — Cullen Braewick, the youngest son of the slain laird—he is torn. If Cull exacts revenge against the Wolf, who executed his father, he stands to lose the precious lass who he has come to love. What is he willing to sacrifice for Derryth to keep her safe...and in his arms?

A very sensual love story between the two protagonists as they come to trust another and recognize the feelings each inspires in each other. The betrayals of the Wolf and his treacherous games and son are part of what made this story so fast paced and full of suspense. It was fun to see Derryth’s attempts to aggravate Cull into sending her back to the other hostages and his reactions to her tricks. Great characterizations of all including the villains who were really nasty! The romance was terrific and loved the entire story !

Marilyn Rondeau

When sent away for protection when the enemy Kincaid family was almost upon them, young, privileged Derryth was captured by the enemy while trying to keep her true identity secret. Enter Cull, who was once a slave and thus shows unending loyalty to the enemy warrior Wolf, who got him out of this dreadful situation. Thus, Cull offered undying loyalty to Wolf. After saving the peasant from what he believes will be a rape, Cull discovered the peasant he has rescued to be a gorgeous woman who proceeded to test him in ways he has never been tested before.

Cull was the ultimate loyal warrior. He was brave, loyal, as I said, and showed a great feeling of pride and understanding of his role. Though said to be spoiled, Derryth showed a lot of warmth and a wonderful heart, not the typical attributes of a spoiled girl. The story of Cull and Derryth brought back any images and/or feelings about medieval romance a reader might have, as both were spot on fantastic characters and well-developed by the author. Historical romances are not normally my thing, but I found myself totally enveloped by this story. It caught me at the outset and kept me interested until the very end. Though this is book 3 of Highland Warrior Series, it reads well as a stand-alone book. Still, the rest of the books in the series are equally as good, and, if you enjoyed this one, I recommend them. NetGalley gave me this book to read and review.

Clan Kincaid is getting ready for a war and traveling under heavy guard Derryth MacClaren is on the run only to be captured by Cull the nameless, the Wolf of Badenoch commander. Cull has no memory of his family or past, all he knows is he was rescued from a slave ship by the Wolfe and ever since he’s lead the life of a warrior, trained to fight on behalf of the Scottish king. At first Cull thinks he’s captured is a peasant, but once Cull really see Derryth for who she is he’s instantly attracted to her. Cull maybe ruthless, but he’s man with honor and loyalty to his King and country who saved him. At first Derryth and Cull have a strained relationship of captor and slave that soon turns into much more as Cull tries to find a way to keep Derryth and capture the castle to? Derryth figures out that Cull could be the missing brother of Laird Kincaid. She suspects there’s more going on than a king’s law officer of the North sent defeat a rebellious faction of Highlanders in this story filled with adventure, intrigue and smoldering romance. This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

4.5*
A slave boy with no memory, now a man with no name, Cull “The Nameless” and head of The Kings Guard. On a mission that will give him things he’s longed for most, a castle and lands but most of all a name.
Derryth MacClaren sister of Laird Kincaid’s wife, feels shame and uselessness for being sent home from the Kincaid castle on threat of a possible attack. Attached on the way by that threat, Derryth is saved by Cull and held captive. Traveling as peasants Cull has no idea who Derryth and group truly are.
This is the third book in the series but read as a stand-alone Book. I did not feel I missed anything from not reading the first two books. Cull is a strong and honorable man doing what he feels right by the King. When Derryth comes into his life he feels things he’s never felt and finds someone who gives him a new purpose. Derryth is stronger and fiercer then she believes. She sees past Cull’s purpose to the man himself and a love that both are willing to lay their lives on the line for. A touching romance with nail biting suspense and a heartbreaking past.

The Wolf had vowed revenge against Clan Kincaid and is bringing a small army to lay siege to the castles held by the clan. Derryth MacLaren is sent from the castle she is staying in to avoid capture, but is unfortunately found by the very army they were hoping to bypass. Cull the Nameless is in charge of the army and claims her as his prize in order to keep her safe from lecherous warriors intent on assaulting her. That puts them in close proximity so that they get to know each other, and Derryth learns secrets that others would prefer stay hidden.

The official summary of the book stresses one of the secrets that isn't even revealed until three-quarters of the way through the book: Cull is actually Cullen Braewick, the youngest of the three sons of the slain laird. I don't feel bad about giving away that twist in the plot because of that! We spend most of the book in the clash of wills between Derryth and Cull and seeing what an invading army for the time period is like. Of course, we know that the two will have an instant attraction that grows into love, and that conflict will separate them. There are several layers of conflict and misunderstandings that serve to separate the two of them, and it really is no fault of theirs. Cull is unaware of the Wolf's motives in pushing him to lead, and there is a lot of jockeying for power around him.

Overall, this is a solid historical romance with a happily ever after that gives everyone in the book what they deserve.

I love a story set in medieval times so I was especially excited to read this one. It starts out pretty fast with Darreyth having to flee into the night with the threat of danger looming over her sister’s home. Unfortunately, she is sent directly into the path of the very army that they were trying to protect her from.

Cull rescues her from a horrible fate at the hand of paid mercenaries and thinks she is nothing but a child, covered in mud. I love when the hero doesn’t recognize the heroine for who or what she is so I settled in to enjoy it. Once Cull lays eyes on the grown woman Darreyth, he’s a goner though he continually reminds himself to get it under control. It doesn’t work. He falls hard and fast, as does she.

And that is where I felt a bit disconnected to the story. They are falling and yet they’ve barely spoken. There is internal monologue showing strong feelings but nothing to support those feelings. I did try to push it aside but I couldn’t help that I didn’t feel real chemistry between these two. And I like an insta-love story but, in my opinion, it just didn’t work with this one.

However, I did like the intrigue that is the focal point of the story. I was curious how this couple would find their HEA since Cull was pretty much assigned to kill Darreyth’s family. There was a bit of a twist that, while it didn’t completely surprise me, was a very nice touch.

This is a fast paced read with some nice secondary characters. The villains were within reason of the era while the other characters help to lead the story where it needed to go. There were still some loose ends that didn’t get tied up and I’m not sure if they will be dealt with in future books. The steam was pretty intense and the humor low. The angst was medium first due to the heroine being a “prisoner” as well as her secret and then due to the battle between good and bad.

Overall, this was a nice read and I would certainly try another book by this author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked the idea of a secret identity playing out in the Highlands, so I was pretty eager to read this one.

Derryth and Cull are very bland. They seem to be good people who want the best for others, but everything I learned about them could fit in a thimble. There were no deep revelations of feelings towards each other. It read like they fell into lust because there was nothing else to do.

Plot wise, it was dull. I expected battles and sword fights and maybe an axe and there was nothing. The build up is non-existent and the ending was fairly lackluster.

Overall, it was a quick read and did have an intriguing premise. Sadly, the execution wasn’t for me.

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing the arc free of charge**