Moira MacDonald loved Duncan with all the passion and faith a seventeen-year-old brought to bear, which made his desertion all the more painful. By the time he returned, she was married five years gone to a viscous brute of a man in Ireland, Sean MacQuillan. She will never forgive him for not trusting in her love to save them from the wrath of her father. Now her only goal is to free herself and her young son from the danger posed by her unpredictable and devious husband. Even as she awaits her chance for escape, he is plotting treachery with her family's ancient enemies, the Macleods.

The light in Duncan Ruadh MacDonald's world was extinguished the day Moira's father and eldest brother met him after his and Moira's final tryst. He was sent to France to train with his good friend and second son of the laird, Connor, the words of a seer the only thing that allowed him to keep his life. Barely a fortnight after his departure, Moira was married to the son of an Irish chieftan. It made no difference to his love despite her inconstancy. Now that Connor is laird the loyalty Duncan owes him demands he obeys the command to go to Ireland despite the pain awaiting in any encounter with his love and her husband.

Mallory knows how to ratchet up the excitement in this third installment of The Return of the Highlanders series. Her action scenes set the standard in my opinion, perfectly timed and executed for maximum impact. The love scenes are gentle and healing and imbued with passion. The peril Moira's young son is in leaves the reader on tenterhooks until that part of the story line is resolved. As always happens when I encounter a writer who throws her heart into her characters, I fall a bit in love with almost every one. In addition, thorough research into phrases and setting adds depth to her sixteenth century Highlanders and their world. THE WARRIOR is a solid, enjoyable read any lover of Scottish historicals will enjoy. I am definitely looking forward to number four, The Chieftan, due out in February, 2013.