The Chieftain was everything that Mallory promised it to be
and made
this series even better. As book four of Mallory's Return of
the Highlanders series, I expected a lot from this book. I
expected a hero I would love, I expected a somewhat sassy
heroine with a mind of her own. What did I get? I got a hero
like no other hero before him. This guy made me laugh, then
he broke my heart, and he even made me want to wring his
neck at different times throughout the book! I got a heroine
that stood on her own two feet while backpedaling and
running away, but she also seemed to get her punches in
there toward the end. THE CHIEFTAIN is just another reason why I
simply cannot get enough of Margaret Mallory.
All heroes are not perfect in life and that is one of the
things that I loved about THE CHIEFTAIN; Conner is not
perfect. He makes mistakes, he makes the wrong choices, and
he learns as he goes. Being Chieftain comes with
responsibility, most especially when you are the cursed son
of a witch. There are rival clans, relatives even plotting
to take over all that Connor holds and it is his duty to
marry for an alliance, for the very men that the MacDonalds
can use to fight for them. Conner has always turned to Ilysa
for advice, for guidance, for running his home, for
everything. Yet when he finally realizes the beauty hiding
beneath her plain clothes he realizes that he wants far more
than a simple friendship from her. The problem is just how
can he mix duty and pleasure? Will Conner be forced to give
up the one thing he truly wants for his clan?
Ilysa is a woman with her own agenda...Conner. Ilysa has never
wanted simple friendship from the Chieftain. Being the
younger sister to the Chieftain's best friend has never been
easy. No one really seemed to notice her. For years she has
looked after Connor's home, his servants, his people, and
his self from behind the scenes. Now just when he finally
sees her Ilysa knows that the end will come all too soon.
Ilysa has the sight, which always works when it wants to.
She knows that Conner's bride will pick him, but will it be
her or some other lass from another clan?
THE CHIEFTAIN was full of surprises. There was never one
moment when I knew for sure what twist was going to end this
way and which way that storyline was going to go. Even when
I thought I knew -- I didn't know! I love a story that isn't
quite like any other. A story that keeps me intrigued,
entertained, and in the dark enough that I don't get bored.
Typically I can skip pages, paragraphs, or even chapters
because I already know what's going to happen next. This has
never been the case with Margaret Mallory and I am glad to
say that THE CHIEFTAIN did not disappoint me.
The Scotland described in Mallory's books is everything that
I have ever imagined Scotland to be. I can smell the
heather, see the faery mounds, and even the vivid colors of
green rolling across the fields. I love that Mallory stays
true to herself and her writing style. Mallory clearly has a
very unique way of mixing words that create the most vivid
pictures in my mind. She has a way with building characters
that come to life on the pages and make them real for the
reader.
Every single time I open one of her books I remember why I
fell in love with Scotland, why I fell in love with the
Highlands, and most of all I remember why I fell in love in
the first place.
Connor, chieftain of the MacDonalds of Sleat, holds the fate
of his people in his hands. Rival clans are plotting to take
over his lands, and duty determines whom he will fight,
trust . . . even marry. Seeking guidance, Connor turns to
Ilysa, a young lass with the gift of foresight, who reveals
an approaching danger-and a passion that burns only for him.
But the warrior must make a powerful marriage alliance, and
Ilysa\'s bloodline is far too humble.
With her powers to heal and see evil where others cannot,
beautiful Ilysa dresses plainly, speaks softly, and loves
her chieftain from afar. Yet when Connor finally stokes the
embers of desire that have so long burned within her, Ilysa
feels bliss unlike any she\'s ever known. Now as he is forced
to place duty before happiness, Ilysa senses Connor is in
grave peril. Can she find a way to prove she is the woman he
needs by his side?
Excerpt
Tension coiled in Connor\'s belly and spiraled down his
limbs. It was wrong to hold her like this, wrong to even
think of kissing her. He knew it, and yet he wanted to feel
her lips. This once, he wanted to be reckless. To do
something that was just for him. And how could he help
himself when he could feel her body drawing to his?
What harm could there be in one simple kiss?
\"Ilysa.\" He breathed her name as he lowered his head.
One innocent kiss, and then he would put this behind him
and do his duty, as he always did. But the moment her lips,
soft and trembling, touched his, fire burned in his belly.
And yet, he might have had the strength to pull away if
she had not curled her fingers into his shirt and pulled
him closer. Hot jolts of lust shot through him from every
point her body touched his. He thrust his tongue into her
mouth and was vaguely aware that he had startled her, but
she did not pull away.
When she made a high–pitched sigh against his
mouth, he knew it was a lost cause. He pulled her hard
against him and gave her deep, hungry kisses that should
have frightened her. Instead, she returned them with an
urgency that matched his own.
He could never trust a woman to want him, the man,
rather than the chieftain. But he trusted Ilysa utterly and
completely. She knew him, with all his flaws and
shortcomings. She would not be in his arms for any reason
except that she wanted him.
And, by the saints, he wanted her. Without lifting his
mouth from hers, he backed her up to his bed. He refused to
think, refused to let his conscience catch up with him. For
once, he was giving in to blind passion.
Part of him wanted her to say no, to be the sensible
lass she usually was and push him away. Instead, Ilysa
melted into his arms. He pressed her against the side of
the bed with his body and devoured her mouth for long
minutes. He only tore his mouth away from hers to run his
lips and tongue along the divine curve of her throat, which
he had been longing to kiss without knowing it.
But as he reached to pull back the bed curtain, guilt
reared its ugly head. This is Ilysa. Duncan\'s sister. If
ever there was a lass who deserved honorable treatment and
his protection, it was she.
Connor unclasped her hands from around his neck. Her
breathing was uneven, and her eyes held a dark passion that
spoke to the erotic dreams he harbored. And yet, he forced
himself to pull away. It was his duty to protect her, even
from his own desire—and hers.
Confusion clouded her eyes. If Connor looked into them
another moment, he would lift her onto the bed, and they
would not leave it for a long, long time.
\"This is wrong,\" he said and turned his back on
her. \"Forgive me.\"
\"I don\'t understand,\" she said, and her light touch on
his shoulder pulled him like an undertow.
\"\'Tis my fault,\" he said. \"I beg ye, Ilysa. Go quickly.\"
***
...Ilysa touched her fingertips to her lips. She had
dreamed of this, but it had been more wonderful than she
ever imagined. While Connor held her, she had felt as if
anything was possible.
Still, she understood Connor could never be hers, not
truly and not for long. That did not keep her from wanting
however much of him he would give her. Connor had not
wanted to stop any more than she had. His kisses did not
lie. His sense of honor stood in her way. He had only
turned away from her out of some misplaced sense of duty.
Ilysa may not have Connor for long, but she did mean to
have him. Then, for the rest of her life, she would have
that to remember.
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