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.
The war for Scotland’s freedom continues as King Robert the
Bruce battles on. At his command is an elite army of trained
warriors, soldiers dedicated to their king, their country—
and to the remarkable women they love.
Prized for his unbeatable tracking skills, Ewen “Hunter”
Lamont accepts a dangerous assignment: locate a missing
undercover courier. But this is no ordinary target. Ewen has
met his prey before as “Sister Genna,” a fiery, forbidden
woman forever etched in his memory after one stolen, sinful
kiss. Now that he knows her real identity, he’s more
determined than ever to keep her safe. But without the
protection of the veil between them, fighting the allure of
the beautiful lass may be the toughest battle this
extraordinary warrior has ever faced.
After her ill-fated attempt three years ago to rescue her
twin sister, Janet of Mar has found salvation acting as a
royal messenger—until she surrenders to a darkly handsome
warrior whose rough, sensual kisses stir feelings the woman
in her can’t deny. But when betrayal leads to danger, and a
crucial communiqué is put in jeopardy, Janet has no choice
but to put her faith in the hunter who can find anything—
perhaps even her heart.