A wonderful page turner!!!!
Isobel MacLean and Grant MacDonald are forced to marry in an attempt of their claims to try to prevent a war, but they enter the marriage extremely distrustful of each other. Isobel thinks he and his claim don't do enough to protect the people entrusted in their care, and Grant think she is an irresponsible hellion and blames her for awful things that happened to a person he was close to and holds a grudge because she makes him remember his most beloved uncle who was murdered too.
As time passes and they have to work together to think of ways to make peace between all and stop a dangerous villain, they began to see that what they thought of one another wasn't true and start falling in love with each other. This was an amazing story, the author's writing was great and I just couldn't put this book down. I fell in love with the couple and got to understand both points of view, and was looking forward to the solving of their problems so that they could finally have their happy ending.

Highland Obligation is book 5 in Lori Ann Bailey’s Highland Pride series. This is a wonderful series of books but they can be read as stand alone works. I think the heroine in this story is one of my favorite characters. Isobel MacLean is a feisty spitfire but she has a vulnerability and innocence that I haven’t encountered in a “Highland lass”before. Too many authors of Scottish romance make the mistake of portraying their heroines as headstrong, stubborn, royal B’s. They are not likeable nor are they relatable. Bailey gives her heroine strength but also touchable weaknesses - ways that we can relate to Isobel’s trials. The hero Grant MacDonald has his own past and hurts with which to contend. He is portrayed as a peace seeking man, who isn’t afraid of taking up arms if push comes to shove. When Grant discovers he is to be betrothed to a woman he blames for his best friend’s death, he is dead set against the union. Isobel has held a dangerous position in the ranks of the Royalist Resistance. How can he ever trust a woman like her? “He pulled a white shirt over the broad expanse of his shoulders, the sinew and curves that only hours ago had held her and made her feel safe in the dark the ones her fingertips had memorized.” There are a number of steamy sex scenes in this book. Overall, a magnificent work by Bailey. I was given a copy of this book.

Grant does have a romantic side, “dinnae let the past blind ye to what I see so clearly. I wouldnae want to do this if I didnae think ye were the most beautiful lass in all of Scotland.” I liked this book, I loved Grant.