This latest edition of Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series is the story of the warrior Ewen Lamont; the chief of a minor clan, and who is loyal to the leader of the Scottish rebellion, Robert the Bruce. He is known as Hunter for his exceptional tracking and evading skills. Ewen is given the assignment of finding a missing courier, and making sure that vital information gets safely to Robert Bruce. This is no common courier, however; but an Italian nun called Sister Genna. Finding her is the easy part. Keeping her safe and getting her and her information safely to Bruce is another matter entirely.

Sister Genna is in reality Janet of Mar, long thought dead in the burning and collapse of a bridge. She had tried to gather men together to try to save her twin sister Mary, who was being held hostage in the court of the English king. Janet is also a loyal and true Scot, acting as spy and courier to do whatever she can to aid in the Scottish rebellion against an unjust tyranny. Having been betrothed twice, she has no interest in marriage. She wants to aid Robert Bruce's rebellion in any way she can, and knows that marriage would curtail her dangerous endeavors; so she keeps her identity and spying secret to all.

Trouble begins brewing the instant these two meet. English agents have begun to suspect that the church is being used as spies and couriers, putting Janet/Genna's safety in grave danger. There is also an instant attraction between the two. Ewen is horrified at the carnal pull he feels for what he believes to be a true nun. Even as Ewen puts aside his lust and tries to guide Sister Genna to safety, she is determined to break away from him to see one of her contacts in a town teeming with English soldiers. She escapes Ewen, but is nearly captured by an English emissary. Ewen rescues her, and they are soon on the run from English soldiers who are hot on their heels. The attraction between the two grows; but even as Ewen learns that Janet is not truly a nun there is an even greater threat to their growing love, a threat that Ewen is powerless to defy.

THE HUNTER is another strong addition to an excellent ongoing series about the lives and loves of the Highland Guards during a time of great strife and trouble in Scotland's history. The research of the time period is very well done, and with an earnestly believable personal story woven in seamlessly. This is another highly enjoyable action-filled read for fans of the series, but can easily be read standalone.