Blurb
1263, Scotland
Simon
MacCoinneach’s vengeance runs deep. The blade is the only way to end
the blood-thirsty Nordmen’s reign upon Scottish soil. His soul might be
lost, but the mystical Healer he kidnaps from the isles could be the
answer for his ailing mother…and his heart.
Isles-born Gwyn
reluctantly agrees to a marriage alliance with this heathen Scot in
return for the sanctuary of her younger brother from her abusive Norse
father. Her brother’s condition is beyond the scope of her Ancient
power, for larger healings steal breaths of life from her own body.
As
Simon and Gwyn fight to outwit her madman father and a resentful Norse
betrothed, Gwyn softens Simon’s heart with each merciful touch. Gwyn’s
Seer sister foresees a bloody battle—and an end to the Nordmen—but Simon
will also die. Will Gwyn save Simon on the battlefield even if it means
losing her last breath?
Review
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brother, and their men to the Isles to trade with a clan of Nordmen, but the
time for peace is over. His brother dies in the ensuing battle, and Simon is
injured. The last thing he expected is a beautiful, guileless woman to offer
him help, but he doesn’t trust easily.
anyone who needs it. Her father is a vicious man who has terrorized her
community and subjected her family to much pain. After she heals Simon, he
kidnaps her in order to force her father into peace.
selfless, and determined to save her younger brother, but her desire to save
everyone, even murderers and rapists, was aggravating.
I couldn’t connect with Simon. He was bitter and war-hungry, especially in the
beginning. After his back-story was revealed and he started to feel guilty
about his actions, I finally understood him and began to like him.
did a great job with the Scottish and Norse accents. Granted, I’m not sure what
Vikings would’ve sounded like back in the day, but I liked her voices for them.
pacing slowed at times since the H/h kept arguing about the same things.
Repetition tends to happen, however, when you have two stubborn characters that
won’t agree or relent to the other’s will. I prefer this rather than having a
wimpy heroine that kowtows to a man. Gwyn was definitely not weak!
The epilogue was the perfect ending for this story and a great preview for the
last book in the trilogy.
Hundred Kisses and should be read or listened to first, even though both
books are standalones. I listened to Kisses first by mistake, so I
learned some spoilers about the prequel. In my opinion, the main characters
from one romance book should still be alive and in love in the following book.
Killing off the hero or heroine is a big no-no for me, and it completely ruins
the HEA. That’s just a pep peeve of mine. While Simon and Gwyn have a HEA at
the end of their story, their life together is cut short long before the next
book begins.
a lot, but I wish Simon and Gwyn would’ve had decades together, not just 13
years.