Gripping Tale of Love and Betrayal

Sara MacDonald is a pawn in the power play between two rival clans. The MacDonalds and the MacLeods. Her father is ruthless and will use Sara and her betrothal to Laird MacLeod to achieve his devious plans. Having no stomach for senseless slaughter, Sara helps her rivals, betraying her father and leaving herself completely vulnerable.

Her self sacrifice is treated with suspicion. If this wasn’t dire enough, Sara begins to have feelings for her betrothed’s brother, Rory MacLeod. A forbidden romance becomes the main focus causing more tension, thrill and suspense to an already gripping tale.

This story was well written with an intriguing storyline. Forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, historical romance, betrayal and redemption. Overall, a great story that pulls you into another time and era full of drama and adventure.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was a very intriguing story. There was a lot of twist and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat, and not wanting to put it down till the very end. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys history and suspense.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

THE BANTER WAS SO GOOD! I absolutely loved this book. I already want to read it again. I love an historical fiction, especially the Romeo and Juliet vibes that I saw in this one. Who doesn't love a forbidden romance? I cannot wait to read more by this author!

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This was my first Heather McCollum book, and it will not be my last one. I loved this author’s writing style. It was engaging historical romance, with a lot of action, romance, betrayal, and secrets. I thought the author wrote an excellent historical romance, she made it so I could picture everything that was happening and nothing seemed off to me when reading it.

This starts with two clans that have been in raging wars for years, they have come up with a plan to marry their oldest to each other. Rory is the second child to the MacLeod clan, and he has been back from being a captive in the war with England, he was there with 4 other clan members and one of them being Sara’s other brother. The 4 men escape from the prison and try to make it back to normal day clan life but it's not easy with Rory’s brother being married to a MacDonald. One day on the beach Sara and Rory run into each other not knowing who each of them is until later that day at the wedding. Of course, the wedding is a wreck, and someone is trying to murder a whole clan. Can Rory and Sara make it past all the bloodshed, the betrayals, and come out on the other side?

This book was action packed and the way that the author wrote the scenes had me loving every moment of it. I loved the twists and turns that the story took with the betrayal and the lies, I was on the edge of my seat wondering who was the real person that was feeding all the information to the other clan if it wasn’t Sara. I liked how the author made it come out and how she made sure that Rory was the one that saved Sara this time… You know when you read the book what I am talking about.

The characters were well developed. I liked the character growth of both Sara and Rory but even the side characters that came around to liking Sara even though who her father was. I liked the fact that Sara was a strong character, but you can see that she still has flaws, which made her more human to me. I found her attitude for knowing the truth to be refreshing and exciting to watch her trying to figure out all the issues.

Rory was a typical highlander but at the same time he wasn’t. He wanted to heal from the wars and learn to join the clans of Scotland together because he knew that one day there would be a war against them and that they would all need to be together. I was a little mad at him when he would think the worst about Sara, but I could understand because of his past but at the same time I wanted to shake him, and say come on this is someone totally new lol. Overall, I really liked these characters and the side characters in this book, and I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

I want to thank NetGalley and Entangled publishing for the opportunity to review this book

Wow wow wow!! I love Heather McCollum’s writing but this is my new favorite. It was a serious page turner that I could not put down. Historical romance set in the Highlands puts us in the perfect setting for this adventure. McCollum creates characters that are so complex and addictive. You want to be part of the story and with her writing you feel like you're there. To make it all even more amazing the story is her own twist on Romeo and Juliet. Families against each other, false promises, and love and passion that tears everyone apart. Is that love meant to be? Is the passion and love strong enough to overcome it all? You will love this adventure.
In this story Rory Macleod was taken prisoner, escaped and has returned home just to be led into a trap again. Lady Sara Macdonald is betrothed to the MacLeod laird. After her terrible father turns on the MacLeods during the wedding and leaves them to die Lady Sara comes to their rescue. Now she must rely on her enemy to save and protect her. When her betrothed s life is hanging on by a thread her connection to Rory becomes stronger. He soon realizes he is drawn to her, but can he trust her?
This story is full of twists, action and the perfect amount of passion creating a story you won’t forget. I didn’t want it to end.
I received this as an ebook ARC but I will have to add it to my home collection. 1000 stars from me!

I went into this blind and was immediately hooked on this story - it was hard to put down! I really enjoy historical romances and I liked the mini history lesson at the beginning. It really sets the scene for these characters.

Rory and Sara have this immediate chemistry - and wow do they clash! I loved how they went from enemies to lovers. This story has some great twists and turns. The author did a great job making me feel like I was in 16th century Scotland.

I loved Sara! She is strong and fierce and brave and everything I love in a FMC. I had to warm up to Rory. He was this warrior who had been a POW and he understandably has some serious trust issues. The walls he has up are an issue for Sara throughout this story - it is not smooth sailing!

The side characters in this book are so funny! There are some great one liners and I found myself laughing out loud several times.

✨What to Expect:
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scottish Historical Romance
🔥Enemies to Lovers
🗡️Forced Proximity
💋Strong FMC
❤️‍🔥Steamy
💙Twists & Turns

This book started strong. Both the story and characters were able to capture and retain my interest until probably around 80% of the book. The rest 20% was just okay and that's because of Sara and the twists. Rory, on the other hand, was having a good and steady character growth but plummeted towards the end. I honestly would want a few more pages just for me to see him grovel.

What's not to love? The Highlander's Wild Flame by Heather McCollum is a captivating historical romance set in 16th-century Scotland. The story follows Rory MacLeod, a Highland warrior who becomes a prisoner to save his clan, and Lady Sara Macdonald, who defies her father to rescue Rory and his kin from a fiery trap. Their relationship evolves from mutual distrust to a passionate, forbidden love as they navigate clan conflicts and personal betrayals.

This was the perfect steamy historical romance with great Scottish Highland settings. Loved it.

What was a promising start quickly turned maudlin and fizzled out. I was excited about a quartet of books following a band of friends jailed together in England, traded in place of higher ranking family members. These men escaped together and made their way back to the Isle of Skye where their respective families have been feuding for generations. What a cool premise! Unfortunately the story felt quite shallow, we never really learned much about the characters themselves, there were token bad guys with no layers, and the romance wasn’t very convincing. Pair all this with a saccharine ending that really dialed up the creep factor and it just fell apart. It was really just so unbelievable, I won’t be investing in this series for the library unless it’s specifically requested.

So much intrigue, thrills, passion and retribution
As is her style, Ms. McCollum will jettison the reader into a complex story immediately. In this one we find Rory MacLeod, Kenan Macdonald, Cyrus Mackinnon and Asher MacNicol held in an English dungeon having been starved and beaten. They all were waiting for ransom from their families to be paid to King Henry for their release. It never comes and now they have been imprisoned for more than a year. With help they devise their escape.
These men have all come from separate warring Scottish clans but have pledged their honor and resources to each other. Kenan and Rory find out quite quickly that they are going to test that pledge. Kenan’s sister Sara has been betrothed to Rory’s older brother and chieftain of the MacLeod Clan. They are to marry on this day but Jamie and Sara do not get married and the intrigue begins…
Oh. My. Word! This book is beyond exciting. Who does Sara trust? Who can Rory trust? Toward the end of the book, I was on pins and needles! I am truly looking forward to Kenan’s book next. If you like alpha highlanders finding their one and only with intrigue galore, you must read this book. It was wonderful. More than five-stars-good. Lots of interesting secondary characters too. I loved Gus, John, Simon, and others. John and Simon remind me of the two curmudgeons on Sesame Street who sit and bicker in the balcony. So funny!
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through NetGalley and Entangled publishing.

Seraphina MacDonald was being married to make an alliance between her father and a rival clan, the Macleod's. She saw Rory Macleod prior to the wedding when he was walking with his dog, Gus along the water and wondered if he was the groom she was to marry. After the wedding, Sara was shocked to find that Rory was the brother to the man she married, Jamie the leader of clan Macleod. After her father, brother and his men locked her new husband, his brother and some of their people in the church and then set it afire, Sara helped them escape by finding a way out. While the leader of clan Macleod was recuperating, Rory assumed charge and Sara was faced with accusations that she along with her family planned to murder the chief and Rory to take over Castle Dunvegan, their home. A very complex, interwoven set of secrets, unknown to both Rory and Sara, make their interactions with each other trying and difficult to overcome as they are both unsure if they can trust each other. Thankfully, Rory and Sara's brother, Kenan have a bond they forged while in captivity in England which helps them navigate the treacherous plots and plans that were hatched between Kenan's father and younger brother. A good start to a new series by Heather and I am looking forward to reading Kenan's story next.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Entangled and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

4.5 stars

I read this pretty quickly (the sign of a good book). For the most part, I enjoyed the characters. Although the MMC was a bit wishy washy in the middle of the story, the FMC was solid. Loved the phoenix imagery. Definitely want to read Kenan's story next.

There are a lot of Highlander novels out there, but this one was well done. It was unique and such a wonderful historical romance. The beauty of the Scottish Highlands is breathtaking on its own, add in Lady Sara and Rory, a Highland warrior, and the romance would be more than enough to carry you through, but wait….there’s more….

If the slow burn of their romance doesn’t draw you in; if Rory asking Sara “May I love ye lass?” doesn’t melt you on the spot then the mystery of the Fairy Flag as well as some of the more magical influences of the Highlands is enough to keep you to the end.

This was one of the best Highlander Scottish romances I have read, and the beginning of this new series by Heather McCollum left me in anticipation of book 2.

The prologue sets the stage for Heather McCollum's newest series, The Brotherhood of Solway Moss. Book 1, The Highlander's Wild Flame, is an extraordinary book full of personal discovery and forbidden attraction that is clouded with distrust, and betrayals. Heather's books are always well written and fully set in time period with historical events as a foundation.
Her characters are multi layered men and women who act true to the personalities that are revealed as the story unfolds. the characters have solid backstories that are interesting and believable. Her supporting characters are written in the same manner allowing the reader to understand the motivations behind the behaviors!
As it begins, Rory MacLeod, the Lion of Skye, is settling back into his life after being away from the clan for over a year. He is the second son and the leader of the clan's warriors. He carries physical and emotional scars and is struggling to understand his father's and brother's reason for not helping him when he needed. The safety of his clan is his focus but he dreams of the day when the clans of the Isle of Skye united instead of fighting among themselves.
Lady Sara MacDonald, daughter of the clan chief, is a pawn in her father's hands. She has come to the MacLeod keep to marry the new Laird, Jamie, Rory's older brother, in order to bring peace between the clans. What she doesn't know sets off a chain of reactions that endangers her life and threatens to bring war between the MacLeod and the MacDonald clans. Who can she trust and how does she survive?
This is an enemies to lovers trope filled with humorous banter and steaming chemistry. I loved the story and the relationship that grew between Rory and Sara. Rory, however was a bit aggravating with his inability to completely trust Sara but the heart stopping last chapters made it all worth all my frustration!
Heather McCollum's Scottish Medieval stories are filled with everything a reader wants in a book! There are 3 more members of the Brotherhood of Solway Moss and I am looking forward to reading their stories soon!

They see each other at the beach and the attraction seed is sown, but Sara Mcdonald is unfortunately marrying Rory Mcleods brother.

A betrayal by Sara's clan and their abandonment of her puts her in a touch position with the McLeods. However, the attraction seed grows and slowly Rory learns to trust Sara and live blossoms. Sara is truly a good person, having been abused by her father throughout her life for being born with a large birthmark. She is against by her clans deception and works hard to build trust.

A very deeply moving and emotional book, but wonderfully descriptive.

#netgalley #thehighlanderswildflame #highlanderromance

My heart belongs in the Scottish Highlands. Any time I read a story set in Scotland… especially when it’s a historical romance… I feel like it changes me. I think it’s in my blood.. actually it is in my blood, I have mostly Scottish ancestry. These stories call to me and I love nothing more than to answer back.

The Highlander’s Wild Flame by Heather McCollum is a historical romance that will literally take your breath away.

This story follows fearsome Highland warrior Rory, and Lady Sara.

Rory was taken prisoner for over a year, and he risked everything for freedom. But upon his return home… he did not receive the warm welcome he was expecting… he also encounters Lady Sara… who is being forced to marry his brother…

As hunger blazes to life between Rory and Sara—unbidden, untamed, and hotter than the fires of Beltane—they quickly find themselves caught between honor and a love that will turn blood against blood.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most romantic stories I have ever read. This romance literally burns.

This story is incredibly well thought out. There’s mysteries playing out, intense political discussions, ravenous maddening desire, and just a hint of something more. Something whimsical and perhaps touched with magic.

I love the overarching theme of faith. Have faith. Believe in what is real, what feels right, and trust who your heart pulls you to.

There is a scene where Rory says to Sara “May I love ye, lass?” And I melted immediately.

This really is a slow burn. It makes you feel desperate for these characters to get the happy ending they deserve and want. You are truly put through the wringer. Parts of this book are scary, parts are emotional, it’s just everything I could ever want from a beautiful historical romance.

I am so happy this is book one in a new series… and the fact that I went to this author’s website and found that she has multiple finished series already out… I’m talking a lot of Scottish historical romances… she’s written them all… I’m going to read them all… if you need me… my mind will be in the 16th century with a beautiful Scottish highlander… you should stop by sometime :D

I really enjoyed part of this book, but the main male character did not do it for me. I enjoyed his backstory but felt like it was setting up for something bigger and it wasn't so that was a let down. I did enjoy the way the female main character acted and her bravery. However, it feels a little like there was so much build up and the last third of the book was where the action happened. I also did not like the quick HEA at the end. He needed to grovel more and do more. She forgave him way too fast, but that's just me. Honestly, the dynamic reminded me a lot of Jane Eyre and I ended up re-reading that to compare. Overall, good book.

˗ˏˋ3.25 ★ ˎˊ˗

This book started strong. Both the story and characters were able to capture and retain my interest until probably around 80% of the book. The rest 20% was just okay and that's because of Sara and the twists. Rory, on the other hand, was having a good and steady character growth but plummeted towards the end. I honestly would want a few more pages just for me to see him grovel.

A story with drama and families that feud through the years. Mistrust and spies will keep you on the edge of your seat. The minor characters are great ones. The action will also have your attention. The interaction between Rory and Sara is slow and then it is fast. This is a great start to the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Publisher and leaving a review by my own choice.

The Highlander’s Wild Flame by Heather McCollum
Brotherhood of Solway Moss #1

Great introduction to new series ~ Four men who forge a bond under duress in prison, work together to escape, and become allies instead of enemies.

What I liked:
* The prologue that sets the groundwork for the series
* Rory MacLeod: survivor, warrior, strong, lethal, dedicated to the clan, has misperceptions of a past event, treated badly by his father and brother, rather taken with Sara
* Sara Mcdonald: daughter of a clan chief, betrothed to Jamie MacLeod, saves a wedding party from being burned alive, loving, kind, feisty, not a pushover, loyal, rather taken with Rory
* Morag: Sara’s aunt, considered a witch by some, has pet crows…possibly familiars, twin sister to Sara’s mother, wise, communicates well, like her
* The backstories of both main characters and how their past impacts them as adults
* The story of the twins separated at birth
* The idea of the phoenix rising from the ashes, the wings, and the way Seraphina’s name plays a part in the story
* Some of the supporting characters and the parts they played
* That it was easy to dislike the bad guys and was happy that most were dealt with by the end of the story
* That I did NOT live in this era
* Knowing there is another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how horrible the fathers and elder brothers of both characters were

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

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

4-5 Stars