Great main characters and that includes not only good people in the story ad the bad guys too. The evil was well portrayed and it was intense. This story does have violence and a fair amount of sex in it, just to let you know.
Annora was a beautiful, smart, kind, good woman and I loved that name. She has learned how to survive in less than hospitable places and being at the Keep with her cousin has really honed that skill. It doesn't help that the lecherous brute of a man, Egan was forever panting after her and constantly chasing after her. And with the full approval of her cousin Donnell MacKay the supposed laird. That just made things so more dangerous for her and her virtue.
James, has been through quite the wringer as he has been falsely accused in a clever way and things are stacked pretty high against him. As he searches for the truth, he also encounters unpleasant surprise after unpleasant surprise. He is a good man though and has quite the skill as a woodcarver which he uses to get closer into the Keep and hopefully closer to the way to clear his name. I liked how things developed between James and Annora and even Meggie.
Margaret or Meggie as she was called was one savvy, little girl who has had to learn to make herself as invisible as possible. She learned fear from a really early age having lived at the Keep under MacKay's thumb. And to top it off she' s pretty sure he's not her father as he claims. The relationship between Annora and Meggie was so sweet and enjoyable to read.
Big Bertha the long-time cook at the Keep is another really interesting character. Watch for her, she's been keeping her eyes on things and knows more than she lets on at least at first.
Powerful picture chosen for the eBook cover right? It also represented the truth in the book that a lot of what people are seeing is not as it appears.
This book is intense throughout so don't expect that intensity to end until things get resolved in the end. There is also a nice Epilogue to wrap things up.

Annora Mckay and James Drummond find the answers to secrets held and injustice in this highland tale of romance and intrigue. Enjoyed the characters and story line that are connected to the Murrays.

ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

Wolf finally returns to reclaim his birthright and his daughter. On arrival he finds something else he wants to claim, the Bonnie Annora. Theirs’ is a relationship that is fraught with danger, but their passion for each other override everything. Eventually with the help of his family and friends the enemies are vanquished and they are able to bring their relationship into the light and make their family whole.

Annora is living at Dunncraig with her cousin Donnell MacKay. Donnell plans on becoming the new laird on Dunncraig and killed everyone in his way. James Drummond plans to find out what really happened. Will Annora help him? Fast-paced historical read with lots of drama and suspense. The characters have great chemistry and the story held my interest throughout.

Several years ago I read through all of Hannah Howell's books up to the last few. I remember this one and it has not changed in reading again. A tale of a man who has lost everything and a woman who is caught in a terrible situation. Can they save each other? James lost his wife and child in a fire and to make matters worse, he was accused of murder by Sir Donnell MacKay who then took his castle, Dunncraig Keep and declared James an outlaw. Annora is the poor cousin of MacKay and has come to Dunncraig to care for his daughter. Unfortunately Donnell treated her and his daughter terribly.
James finally comes out of hiding three years later and it determined to find the truth. So he comes in disguise to the castle and everything takes off from there.
Can he rescue his daughter and Annora? Will he be caught and hanged for a crime he did not commit?
As in all of Hannah's stories, this one will keep you on the edge, waiting to find out what happens. The entire Murray Family series is wonderful so don't miss this one!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I was some what confused when I got this from Netgalley with a release date of October 30, 2019, then started to read the book and realized that I recognized the characters in the book! I did not know that this was a re-release in the Murray family series.

I enjoyed the romance and the intrigue of the book as I do with most of the Murray family books. It is fun to see the drama unfold and how the characters handle the adversity as they fall for each other.

Always glad for the HEA and when James regains his status. I do agree with other comments that even if James waited three years, where was his family?

I enjoy historical romances and this one was very interesting. James Drummond is a fully developed character that keeps you hoping for the best as he fights to reclaim his land and his daughter. There is humor and drama throughout the book. Will James reclaim all that was stolen from him or will he accept his fate.

This was an enthralling read, although it did lack a little pace near the beginning it certainly made up for it after. I liked the main characters of Annora and James. Annora had a hidden strength that she needed to use. James was determined to recover his name and lands. This story had action, treachery and a few twists and surprises which made it an engaging read. I hadn’t read any of the previous books in this series but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book as relevant facts were explained. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I read this book when it first came out in 2008 and loved it, so I was very happy to win a review copy from NetGalley so that I could reread it. This is the story of James Drummond, the adopted son of Eric and Bethia Murray (Highland Promise), all grown up and with troubles of his own. He was the laird of Dunncraig Keep until he was betrayed by his wife's cousin. Accused of murdering his wife and declared an outlaw, James fled for his life, hiding out for three years. Now he's had enough and is determined to clear his name and regain his home, his lands, and his daughter. He disguises himself as a one-eyed woodcarver to gain access to the keep, where he meets Annora.

Annora MacKay is the poor-relation cousin of Donnell MacKay, the man who stole Dunncraig Keep. She was brought to Dunncraig to care for Meggie, the little girl that Donnell says is his daughter. Her cousin is ruthless and vicious, and Annora does what she can to protect Meggie from him, frequently suffering abuse because of it. The longer she is there, the more suspicious she becomes of just how Donnell acquired the property. These suspicions are reinforced by her ability to sense the feelings of others, and she feels the evil that surrounds Donnell. She soon senses a new emotion in the keep - rage - and it is centered on the woodcarver who has taken up residence there.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between James and Annora. There was no denying the sparks that flew between them from the moment they met, though both tried to ignore them at first. James doesn't want the distraction from his goal of finding proof of his innocence, plus pursuing the attraction could make him vulnerable to discovery. Annora is closely watched by her cousin and his second-in-command, Egan. Egan wants Annora for his own and would kill any man who touched what he considered his "property." But James and Annora can't stay away from each other, especially after James saves her from Egan's advances. James grows to trust Annora, and when she stumbles onto him out of his disguise, he takes her into his confidence. The more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings for each other become, but there are big obstacles to their being together. The biggest, of course, is James's being an outlaw. Another is Annora's conviction that she is not good enough for James, with him being a laird and her being a landless, bastard-born orphan. I loved how James's Murray upbringing made it easy for him to recognize that Annora is his other half, the mate that was destined to be his. They are also responsible for his easy acceptance of her "gift," something that she did not expect at all. I did get a little frustrated at Annora's refusal to believe that James would want her for more than a brief fling.

The storyline of James's search for proof of his innocence was well done, with plenty of tension, twists and turns, and action. Donnell was a villain who was very easy to hate, with his cruelty, selfishness, and deceit. I liked how James and Annora teamed up, with Annora's "gift" and knowledge of both Donnell and James's late wife, Mary, providing new and startling insight into what had gone on. I loved the arrival of Sir Simon Innes and James's brother Tormand, and their intent to assist James. Sir Simon's presence is especially significant. When the danger to Annora becomes too high, James attempts to get her and Meggie to safety, but their escape is thwarted. I was on the edge of my seat from there to the end, as both their lives were in extreme danger. I ached for Annora and everything she went through. I was incredibly impressed with her determination and strength of will in spite of her pain and loved what she was able to do. James's situation was even more dire, and I was glued to the pages during that final confrontation. The resolution was extremely satisfying and brilliantly executed.

The only thing left was for James to win his fair lady. Annora was determined to avoid him and leave as soon as she could. She couldn't bear to see him marry another, and was certain he would marry for wealth and position. James's frustration was obvious, and his brother's teasing made me laugh out loud. James's big moment at the end was sweet and romantic, and definitely worthy of being a Murray. The epilogue was great, with Tormand once again providing both support and torment in James's hour of need.

The secondary characters were terrific, with the best ones being Big Marta and little Meggie. As the longtime cook at Dunncraig, it wasn't surprising that she quickly saw through James's disguise. I loved her support of both James and Annora. Meggie was quite the little piece of work. She was very observant for a five-year-old, but the life she'd lived for the past three years had made her so. I loved her instant connection with James, even without connecting him to her vague memories of her real father. I loved her relationship with Annora, and the obvious love they had for each other. I liked that she wasn't perfect - there were a few instances of more typical childish behavior, but she was never mean or purposely naughty.

This is an interesting story that takes the reader to Scotland when it was a wild country ruled by clans who were warriors more than farmers. Women were nothing more than chattel to be traded or stolen, used as breeders, and not always married.

I found the story easy to read and the plot plausible if not wholly realistic. Fiction it is and the author pays good attention to some details and skims around others as authors will do in historical fiction. I didn't find glaring and unforgivable issues, but then, I'm not an historian so my knowledge may be vague enough to forgive things others might not.

The romance between James and Annora is hot and sweet both. Difficult to do, but well done nonetheless. Annora was fortunate indeed to remain untouched for as long as she did in those days of no real morals when a man saw a woman he wanted. Her rank supposedly kept her protected, but her family didn't seem too concerned with where she was and what labor she was required to do to earn her keep. That part was realistic to the era, she would have had to do whatever the laird demanded wherever her family/clan sent her. She was simply lucky enough to be used as a pawn by a scheming laird who held her up as a prize to keep his lieutenant in line.

I would recommend this book to lovers of historical romances...it will not disappoint.

This is another great read from this truly gifted author. She weaves a story that pulls you in and keeps your attention until the end. This is James and Annora's story. It it a riveting story with endearing characters. There is danger, suspense and intrigue all interwoven into an amazing read. I would definitely recommend this amazing book.

4.25 Stars
Annora MacKay senses a disturbing evil in Dunncraig Keep, the estate acquired by her cousin Donnell MacKay, a cruel and ruthless man. Only her affection for Meggie the tiny girl he claims is his daughter stops her from fleeing. Then a mysterious woodcarver arrives at the castle. James Drummond, an outcast, wants what was stolen from him his good name, his lands, and his child. His disguise for getting into Dunncraig is step one of his plan, but the enticing raven-haired woman who cares for his daughter is an unwelcome surprise. For he has come seeking justice, not love.
This is the fifteenth book in the series & could certainly be read on its own however be aware that this is a re issue from about ten years ago. James & Annora are strong characters & I really liked them, the story of them falling in love & the road to their HEA isn't easy but I was engrossed in their journey. The characters are well fleshed & the pace is good. There are revelations that were unexpected. I did wonder why the Murray clan hadn’t used their power to help James, leaving him to be ‘on the run’ for years with him living in caves didn't sit well with me. I certainly will be reading more from the series

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

3.5 Stars
Highland Wolf by Hannah Howell is book 15 in the Murray Family series. This is the story of James Drummond and Annora MacKay. This can be a standalone book if you wish to do so.
James was accused of killing his wife about three years ago. James went on the run but is now back to clear his name and claim his daughter back. Annora cruel cousin has taken over the Dunncraig Keep where he has also claimed a little girl as his daughter which Annora has come to care for. Jame and Annora spark some feelings from the start and she goes forward with trying to help him clear his name and reclaim his life.

Highland Wolf is the 15th volume in the Murray Family series in which I only read the 21rst, Highland Chieftain.. Here we see James, former laird charged with the murder of his wife, trying to prove his innocence with the help of his enemy’s cousin.

James is a hero without big surprise in character as in behavior. He’s proud, a bit stubborn, and quickly attracted to Annora. He was raised in the Murray family where they believe we recognize our mate as soon as we see her/him, so he admits to himself fast and without big difficulties what he feels for the heroine. The point that annoyed me is the fact he spent three years hidden after being accused of murder when he’s supposed to come from a very solid and powerful family. There’s just a sentence at one time saying he didn’t want to involve them for them not to have problems. I don’t know about you, but if I was falsely accused and condemned to death I would probably use all possible means instead of hiding in a cave. But the story would have been different.

Annora is an endearing heroine who had an unpleasant life. Illegitimate, she’s been the whipping girl for the different family members who took her in, et for the last three years she’s caring for the daughter of her cousin who has become the new laird of James’ clan. She thinks she’s weak and useless when she’s in fact strong and tenacious. We’re said she can feel the feelings of people around her, but it’s not really used in the story and has no real utility. She also thinks that as a bastard she has no value and so she repeats herself often she will leave James when he takes back his title as she’s not good enough for him. I hate this thinking in romance.

The attraction between them is very fast, they yield to it quickly, trust the other quickly too, and admit internally feeling love for the other too fast when they don’t really know each other yet.

The little girl has a behavior and a way of speaking that seems too mature for a five-years-old kid. The bad guys are especially mean, and the book’ general atmosphere is dark and violent. The heroine is beaten often by her cousin, and she’s almost raped several times by her cousin’s right-hand man who decided to marry her. There are also regular allusion to physical abuses and murders done by the cousin and his men.

What’s more, just like in the other book I read (but I had forgotten this detail unfortunately) the author wants so much to emphasize the Scottish accent that the dialogs are seasoned with unusual words difficult to understand even read out loud for someone who doesn’t know them: ken, ye, dinnae, weel, verra, ne’er, …, and so there are sentences for which we guess the meaning instead of understanding it as in "Nay, we ken weel that that would be a verra bad thing". That’s a big contrast with the story parts which are written “without accent.”

The good side is that the gradual revelations about the conspiracy that led to James’ accusation are well-thought and interesting. All in all a pleasant book if we disregard the decoding of the accent but it won’t go down in history.

I like a Scottish historical setting. This book felt like the plot was a bit rushed. The central relationship evolved in a blink.

*** PSA *** This is a re-re-release, so you may have already read it even though nothing in the blurb has made this clear. I believe it was originally published in 2008 and then re-released in 2014 and now again. Still a great book by a great author.

Sir James Drummond’s whole world was destroyed three years ago. He was accused of murdering his wife, then he was declared an outlaw and all of his lands were taken from him – even his small daughter was taken. He’s been on the run, living in caves and wherever else he could find. Now, it is time to end it. He’s back, in disguise, and he fully intends to find the proof he needs to prove that he is innocent and to reclaim his lands, his clan, and his daughter.

The man James believes killed his wife, Sir Donnell MacKay, is also the man who took James’ lands and claimed his daughter as his own. The man is cruel beyond belief and is very free with his beatings – it doesn’t matter to him who the recipient is – man, woman or child.

Annora MacKay is a poor, illegitimate, and unwanted cousin to Donnell MacKay. He brought her to Dunncraig Castle to care for the child he claims as his own. Annora is frequently on the receiving end of Donnell’s beatings and would be long gone if she didn’t love little Meggie so much. Annora feels something just isn’t right with Donnell’s sudden riches and lands, but she has no idea what it is that isn’t right. Also, how did he come to have this wonderful child? Annora has a gift, she can sense others’ emotions and it does often help her to keep herself and Meggie out of danger.

Annora soon comes to believe that there is more to the new woodcarver (James/Rolf) than meets the eye. Once she discovers his secret she works to help him. As they work together and their attraction grows, things get more and more dangerous for both of them.

I loved watching James and Annora’s journey into love and their HEA. But, I didn’t understand why his huge and powerful Murray family hadn’t already done more to help him. Yes, I understand that he asked them not to because he feared for their safety and that a couple of them still tried and were almost found out – but – they just did basically nothing and left little Meggie with the monster that was Donnell.

Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview

"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

James and Annora’s story is fast paced with a lot of steamy love scenes. It does have Some triggers for both physical abuse and rape. It has everything from action, mystery, and a HEA. All and all I enjoyed it. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading this arc.

This is my fair and honest review in return for this ARC. Hannah Howell writes such amazing tales from Scotland. This one had me in near tears more times that I could count. What a great story of two souls who go through absolute hell before finding their peace. Loved it.

I had the opportunity to re-read this book for review for Netgalley.
I don't love or hate this book. 4 stars because Ms. Howell writes an awesome book. This story-line was decent. However, it may not be for everyone.
There is talk of rape, often. There is lots of deceit going on.
James was smart on how he dealt with all that was going on, at times though he wanted to act right away. Understandably.
*not my favorite by this author.

I have enjoyed many of Ms. Howell's books in the past, but I just couldn't get into this one. I don't mind a little dialect, but this book was so hard to understand what the characters were saying. It was just too much. I stopped reading around 25%. I get that Donnell MacKay was evil as it was mentioned way too many times every time we were in Annora was mentioned. I was disappointed in this book. However, that won't stop me for trying future books from Ms. Howell.