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.

This book had twists and turns at every corner! That being said they were fairly predictable.
The book was about Cull the Nameless and his life's mission to get a name, land, and a home. He's been training all his life to be a warrior. Well, all his life since he was purchased from the Venetian slave ship he was on. He's part of the King's Guard now and does his battling for Scotland. He gets sent to lead a battle....along the way he may fall in love and get everything he desires....or he might lose it all with one sword swing. You'll have to read to find out. LOL. What?! I had to! It's only fair.
It was an entertaining read and pretty fast paced. The romance was there but I didn't feel like it was in the fore front of this book. I felt like the battle of Cull the Nameless was the main story line here. And...I think I kind of liked that.
If you want a book heavy on the "steamy" parts, I don't think this book is for you. But if you like struggle and fight to lead up to a bit of a romance here and there...check this out!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased honest review.

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**

Derryth MacClaren is sent away from Inverhaven by her sister Elspeth for her own protection, rumors suggest that the Earl of Buchan aka the Wolf has once more set his sites on Inverhaven, so she is being sent home until the threat has passed. But their plan is thwarted when a few hours into the journey, they are captured - by Cull the Nameless, a member of the King's Guard.

Cull saves Derryth from being raped but he cannot let her or her kinsmen go, he takes her back to his tent to keep her safe and tells her she and her kinsmen will be set free once they have taken the castle. Cull is acting on orders from Buchan, the man who rescued him from slavers as a child and trained him as a warrior. He hasn't seen the orders to take Inverhaven, but he trusts Buchan.

Derryth keeps her identity a secret and at first tries to escape Cull, but when that doesn't work she torments him. When Cull arranges for her to see Fiona and Deargh, Deargh suggests that she could be useful by keeping her eyes and ears open for information that will help her family beat Buchan. She changes her tact with Cull and soon discovers he is not the beast she thought he was. As they grow closer and she learns of her, her secrets weigh on her - she cares for Cull and desires him, but giving into her desire would be a betrayal to her family.


Cull is falling for Derryth, when he learns part of her secret, he will have to decide if his loyalty to Buchan and the promise of his greatest desire is worth more than his love for her. But when he believes Derryth has betrayed and used him, he tries to forget her and focuses on taking Inverhaven and the promised reward that comes with his success. However, all is not as it seems and when Robert (Buchan's son) questions the orders to take Inverhaven, Cull realizes he is being used and goes to see Buchan for answers. When he gets to Craven, he finds more than he ever imagined and the truths he has known his entire life will be turned upside down. Truths will be revealed, promises will be made, secrets will be shared, jealousy will be rampant and others will interfere to keep our lovers apart and help will come from an unexpected source.

Of the three books, this one is far and away my favorite, it is a well written, fast paced, steamy read with a lot of secrets, twists and turns, betrayal, shocking revelations, a little heartbreak and finally a very satisfying HEA. There are a couple of things that kept this from being a 5 star read for me, but none of them are major, a dropped storyline, a couple of scenes that did nothing to move the story along and an unbelievable love scene - nothing that ruined the story, but did distract me, but please note, the copy I read was an uncorrected edition, so issues I encountered, may well be corrected before publication. This is the third book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone title. I am happy to recommend the book and hope Ms. Blackwood is planning a story for Robert, because that is a book I definitely would like to read!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

I have always enjoued lily Backwoods books and this one is not the exception. Lots of action and main characters are very well devolped . I am looking forward her next book!

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I had read the first two books in this serious previously and really enjoyed them. I've waited awhile for the conclusion of this series and I'm so glad I finally got to read it! The premise behind this book series is one that fascinated me, three brothers torn apart by fate from each other and their home, only to be reunited at last. Cull (the last missing brother, Cullen) believes himself an orphan, purchased years ago from a slave ship by the evil Buchan. I found the plot of this one to be especially interesting as I knew who Cull really was and I was eager for the rest of the characters to figure it out. I also really loved the development of the two main characters of this book - Cull and Derryth were both great, fierce, and loyal characters. And the build up of their relationship and the emotional tension between their two characters was really well done also, I was on the edge of my seat to find out what was going to happen next. I honestly didn't want to put this one down. I really enjoyed this series overall (all three books) and I'd definitely recommend it. I can't wait to see what this author comes out with next!

I enjoyed this story of a warrior, Cull, and his captive, Derryth, who were on opposite sides of an anticipated battle in the Scottish Highlands in the late fourteenth century. Derryth is a member of a Scottish laird’s family being sent from her sister’s home to avoid being caught up in a siege. While she and her protection are enroute they are captured by the enemy. But they aren’t hurt, they are merely detainted and pressed into service until the events unfold, for a number of reasons. But Cull is not the evil adversary Derryth has imagines, and she is not just some village girl on her travels- both have secrets- and a heated attraction to each other.
The plot thickens as other characters become involved, and secrets and lies begin to unravel. Cull and Derryth become enthralled with each other, despite the knowledge that their feelings for each other are disloyal to their people. Will they be able to overcome a multitude of barriers to have their hea?
This is a thoroughly entertaining historical romance for readers who enjoy intrigue and action with some heat. I would definitely recommend it.

Derryth is being sent from her Kincaid castle because, her brother-in-law believes the castle is about to be attacked. While traveling with guards and her friend, they are taken by Highlanders to a camp. The head of the group, Cull, takes her to his tent to keep her safe from the other men. A seriously Alpha male and, a fiercely determined woman in regency times- makes for s STEAMY read!!!
This story was fast-paced, endlessly fascinating and, one I didn't want to end!

ARC provided by Netgalley. I’ll take a half star off because of how many times this final volume’s publication date has been pushed back ... and half a star for the place in the book where the characters identity is finally revealed to him. 😕 Overall, I really liked this series and it was a satisfying conclusion to an interesting and fairly fast moving historical.

I really liked this one! I waivered back and forth between 4 and 5 stars, so let’s call it a 4 ½. (I am so stingy with those 5 stars) So, I had read the first book in the series and enjoyed it but I liked this one even more! In fact, after reading this one, I immediately got the 2nd book in the series (why hadn't I already done this I wondered) so I wouldn't have withdrawals. This book is about Derryth, family to clan Kincaid, and Cull, sent to fight said family Kincaid. Oops! This is where the conflict comes in! But oh how I loved Derryth and Cull! Cull the nameless? Who cares what his name is! He was my kind of hero. A sexy strong highland warrior who really just wants a home and family. He has integrity and isn’t just out to fight and kill everyone. Plus, he treated Derryth with respect, even when she was his prisoner. Even when she played some pretty funny tricks on him (meow), he never got mad. Plus I appreciated all the little things that he did for her that made her, and us (ok, at least me) fall in love with him. This book had me hooked from the beginning all the way through the end. I wanted to pace myself but ended up reading this book in two sittings! I would love to read about these characters again and highly recommend this book. I received a free copy from the publisher for my honest review, and here it is! Get it, read it, love it!

4 1/2 stars!

In a word: satisfying

The Warrior of Clan Kincaid is the final book in the Kincaid Brothers Trilogy, and it was a very satisfying and fitting finale. I would consider the first book in this trilogy to be one of my favorite historical romances in recent years; this one comes pretty close to matching it, in my opinion.

In this concluding installment, the focus is on Sir Cull the Nameless. Cull's earliest memories are of being a slave aboard a ship where he suffers many abuses and witnesses the worst of mankind. At around age 13, his life changes for the better when he is bought by the Earl of Buchan (known as "The Wolf") who claims to want to free him to fight for the Scottish king. From that point forward, Cull lives from then on only to train as the fiercest warrior and earns a position with the elite King's Guard. He has been recruited by The Wolf to lead a siege on a castle that is occupied by "imposters"... the castle held by Niall Kincaid, the first born son of the Kincaid whose land was stolen by neighboring clan lairds and who executed his father and mother. It was believed at the time that the three Kincaid sons were also slain; however, it is revealed in the first book of this series that they were taken by various trusted clansmen to secure their safety; in the process, they were lost to one another. While the first 2 sons have been reunited, the third and youngest of the trio is thought to have perished. The Wolf insists that all three boys were murdered, and that the ones claiming to be Kincaids are imposters who have deceived the crown and must be usurped from their positions. What The Wolf does not know, however, is that each of the true sons of the Kincaid bear a mark that proves them to be the true heirs.

Derryth is the younger sister of Niall Kincaid's beloved wife Elspeth. She has lived with her sister and brother-in-law, but Niall has determined it is best for her to be sent to her stepmother who is removed from harms way as they anticipate a siege and further treachery to occur. Derryth is loathe to leave as she adores her sister's family, but she reluctantly agrees to go. Not long after they embark on the journey (using the less traveled routes disguised as peasants), they are surrounded by militia who attack their meager caravan. As Derryth flees the nefarious intentions of the men who have her pinned down, Cull comes to her rescue and saves her from certain ruin. She is covered in mud and thought to be a nuisance child at first, but once the filth is removed from her person, Cull realizes she is a stunning woman. Both captive and captor do their utmost to their attraction and growing feelings for one another as they are "enemies."

What I liked:
--- Cull was always honorable and forthright regardless of the corruption that surrounded him; he was a perfect hero in that sense
--- Derryth was very likeable as a leading lady; she was just feisty enough to be believable, and her struggle with remaining true to her family while falling in love with the man she believes to be her enemy was well developed by the author
--- The plot was exciting and fast-moving
--- Oh the steamy goodness -- never graphic, but always very passionate with a physical and emotional connection felt by the reader

What I didn't like as much:
--- There was what I felt was probably not necessary angst with the main characters being separated --- I would have preferred to have spent that time enjoying the mcs as a couple
--- There was a secondary character (Nathan) who was one of the men captured with Derryth's traveling party that kept popping up throughout the book, and I was never quite sure why --- his intentions were not clear (Did he have feelings for Derryth? Was he just an a-hole who didn't care, which wouldn't make too much sense that Niall would have included him in the party with his beloved sister-in-law?) His constant involvement seemed to warrant a little more explanation that the reader was provided

Overall, a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to an engaging trilogy about brothers who lost each other but were finally reunited and enjoying an HEA with the women they love.

Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level --- 3.5/5
Violence --- none graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd throughout slanted from the perspective of the MCs at times

Really enjoyed Cull’s story, it was one I had been waiting for and certainty did not disappoint. Hope Robert gets a happy ever after.

At last, we discover what happened to the third Kincaid brother who disappeared as a child while his family’s castle was attacked, and their parents killed. It was worth the wait!

Derryth MacClaren has been visiting her sister, Elspeth, and her husband Niall Braewick, Laird Kincaid at their castle. Woken in the night, dressed as a serf and told she was being sent home she fears for her pregnant sister and understands they may face a siege from Niall’s enemy Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan. She heads home with her brother-in-law’s men as her escort. They are caught by Buchan’s men and held as Cull the Nameless, one of the leaders, decides who they are. He plans to have them work for now and takes Derryth to his tent. She will also work, and he will try to keep her safe.

Cull is loyal to Buchan because he rescued him some years ago from a Venetian ship where he was a slave. He was then trained to be a soldier and eventually named a King’s Guard. He doesn’t understand the hatred for the Kincaids but follows the orders he was given. Eventually, he learns more of his history. I won’t ruin the rest of this wonderful, complex story. I highly recommend this book.

The Warrior of Clan Kincaid is the first Lily Blackwood book I've read but it definitely won't be the last. I have a soft spot for historical novels featuring Scots so maybe I"m a bit biased but overall this was an excellent read. The main characters (Cull the Nameless and Derryth) were interesting and their chemistry was off the charts. From the very first page I was sucked into the story. I definitely did not see the twist coming at the end. Lily Blackwood definitely goes on my "favorite authors" list.

I didn’t realize this was the end of a trilogy. I guess that is why I figured out who Cull the Nameless was early on. This story is about a highland warrior who is brought up by a son of the king after being purchased as a slave. The warrior is tasked with taking over the Kincaid castle and killing all of the reminding family. Along the way, he meets a woman that is escaping the very raid he is performing. As the story unfolds, of course, there is love and passion, and the discovery that this warrior may not be acting on the kings orders, nor is he truly nameless.