THE HIGHLANDER by Terry Spear is Book 5 in this author's Highlandersseries. Niall MacNeill and his friend Gunnolf are charged with finding a certain Frenchwoman and escorting her to Niall's cousin, Laird James MacNeill, for her own protection. The lady's father had saved James' life once during the Crusades.
The search takes the warriors to the Lowlands of Scotland. At the opening of the book, Niall is just regaining his senses after he and Gunnolf were ambushed and attacked by Murray clansmen. He is grievously injured and there is no sign of his friend. He eventually makes his way to a cottage and rests.
When shepherdess Anora comes home, she finds that not only is there somebody sleeping in her bed, but he's also a very attractive half-naked man. Luckily for her, Niall is a good guy as well as being hot. There are some humorous scenes when they first meet, caused by the fact that Niall wants to keep her from alerting others of his presence while he heals -- a pitchfork is involved. Right away, Niall is impressed by Anora's nerve and then later, her kindness in taking care of him and his injuries. During his convalescence, he grows more and more attached to Anora, even as he suspects she's actually the woman he's seeking.
If she is that woman, he worries that her taking her rightful place as a countess will impede their romance. That being said, he never tries to do anything shady to try and keep her to himself. He also doesn't play the martyr and try to push her away "for her own good", as so many romance heroes would do in that situation. With Niall, what you see is what you get.
He's a genuinely nice guy, cares about family, a strong warrior, good-humored, and doesn't have any hang-ups or emotional baggage. I really liked the heroine as well. Anora can relate to Niall's being an orphan because she came to a foreign country at a very young age and would have been all alone if not for the man and his sister who took her in.
There is a little intrigue and some action in this story, but it never overshadows the romance. While Niall is injured, there is the constant threat of the Murray clan coming after him to finish him off, talk of French spies, as well as the threat of anybody else that might try and take Anora for one reason or another.
There is also a potential romantic rival in the form of Matthew, the local butcher's son. Anora's dog Charlie and the puppy Zara made for some sweet moments -- especially those with Gunnolf. I really enjoyed THE HIGHLANDER and look forward to more books in this series -- especially Gunnolf's story and Allison's.
Anora, the shepherdess, finds a half-naked man in her bed,
so what's a woman living alone in a cottage in the Lowlands
of Scotland supposed to do? Prod him with her pitchfork to
chase him off! Only the man is not just a traveler seeking
her bed for a rest-but a wounded Highlander, who fights
back, swinging his sword!
Niall MacNeill is searching for a Frenchwoman of nobility to
escort to his cousin's castle for safekeeping, when he and
his friend, Gunnolf, are attacked by another Highland clan,
seeking the same woman. The other Highlanders wish to sell
her to the highest bidder-English or French-it does not
matter.
Niall takes refuge in a sheepherder's cottage to heal up
from his wounds and discovers the shepherdess taking care of
him may very well be the woman he seeks. He has no intention
of doing anything but what his cousin requests of him-ensure
her safety on their way to Craigly Castle-but when the lass
so bravely wields her pitchfork at him, he is thinking of
other, more interesting possibilities.
No excerpt available.
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