Release Week Review: The Highlander's Untamed Tempest (The Brothers of Wolf Isle #5) by Heather McCollum

A stranger walks among the Macquarie clan. But is she their destiny…or their doom? Don’t miss the alluring fifth Brothers of Wolf Isle book from USA Today bestselling author Heather McCollum

Eagan Macquarie doesn’t believe in love—nor does he want a wife. There is an entire world beyond Wolf Isle, and mo Dhia, he will seek it out. But the Macquarie curse will continue to haunt his family unless Eagan finds a suitable bride to break the hex once and for all. Now he must choose between a marriage he does not want or abandoning his family…until a comely stranger catches his eye.

Claudette Tempest Ainsworth—known as Tessa—is a learned French midwife who’s been waiting for her father to come fetch her from the harsh winds and sea of Scotland and return her to her beloved France. But with Eagan, she finds something unexpected: a flame of desire, hot and almost terrifying in its intensity. But even the brightest fires cannot sustain the inevitable distance that’s soon to follow…

Tessa seems to have bewitched them all. But when danger threatens Wolf Isle and the Macquaries, Eagan discovers that the love he never believed in might be his clan’s salvation…or its devastating downfall.

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What I thought about The Highlander's Untamed Tempest

The Brothers of Wolf Isle series comes to a close with the story of the youngest, Eagan Macquarie who has the choice of either breaking the long standing curse against the family or bringing it to a happier conclusion.  This is a romance, so you know how it's going to go, but the fun is in the story and the characters, especially with this installment of the series.

Eagan is ready to leave his family when he meets Tessa, a young woman who some suspect as being a witch.  I don't want to give any more details, but the beginning of this story just pulled me in.  I've read a few in this series, and they work very well standalone, while also whetting the appetite for others in the series. 

There's plenty of steamy scenes here.  I liked that Tessa knew what she was doing in this area, and while they fall pretty hard pretty fast, I thought she was perfect for Eagan, especially since he had his life planned out until he meets Tessa and all those long term plans come into question.

What I love about this series including this book, and this author is that these stories are a perfect  escape into another time, they are fun and sweet, with just the right touch of danger and darkness to make it interesting.  

About the Author:

 

I’m Heather McCollum, writer of 16th century Scottish romance full of intrigue and sprinkled with humor, history, & spice. Brawny Highlanders with golden hearts & feisty heroines are my favorites! I’m a mom of 3, dog-mom of 1, & wife of a 6’4” Highlander. I love kilted heroes, dragonflies, watching birds, chai lattes, & eating popcorn for dinner on Friday nights.  

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Exclusive Excerpt: Highland Justice (Sons of Sinclair #3) by Heather McCollum

 Highland Justice is coming from Heather McCollum and Entangled on April 26th! 

Check out the exclusive excerpt and be sure to preorder your copy today!

Title: Highland Justice
Author: Heather McCollum
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: April 26th

About Highland Justice:

 As the new chief of Clan Mackay, Gideon Sinclair knows the importance of maintaining order at any cost. To keep the conquered clan in line, Gideon must mete out ruthless justice or risk losing their precious new peace. But from the moment he meets Cait Mackay—aye, from the moment the sweetness of her lips captures his—all of Gideon’s careful objectivity is well and thoroughly compromised.

 

Cait knows that kissing the brawny Highlander is a dangerous game. It was bad enough she picked his pocket to feed the children in her care, but sometimes a desperate woman must disguise her crimes any way she can. Only her act of deception has made things worse… Because one kiss with the Highland’s most brutal chief leaves her breathless and out of her depth.

 

Now Gideon must choose between his duty and his heart when his lovely thief is accused of treason against the king himself.

 

Each book in the Sons of Sinclair series is STANDALONE:

* Highland Conquest

* Highland Warrior

* Highland Justice

 

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Catching Up with the Series:

Highland Conquest

Highland Warrior

 

Exclusive Excerpt:

Bloody hell! What was she doing? Gideon certainly wouldn’t let a lass dupe him like Ella had tricked his oldest brother with a kiss, to escape him when they first met.

Fingers tugging his hair, she pressed her lips hard against his. The kiss was clumsy, frantic, like a virgin caught in her first storm of passion. But when her warm palms caught his face, and she slanted across his mouth, deepening the kiss, he wondered if she possibly had some experience.

She stroked fingers through his hair, her warm lips moving over his, and her frantic desperation began to calm. As the stiffness he’d felt in her faded, so did his thoughts about Ella tricking Cain and whether this soft creature in his arms was a maiden or not. Even the questions about how she got in and her ultimate purpose washed away with the growing warmth of her response. Perhaps it was the darkness, or the mystery of who she was, or the scent that plucked at his memory, but fire ignited inside Gideon. His arms encircled her, pulling her soft body against his hard frame.

Gideon lifted her, backing her against the wall. She was all womanly curves and softness. His fingers tangled in the twist of hair at her nape. Pins fell, plinking on the stone window frame next to her, and her heavy braid slipped down over one shoulder. He pressed his face to it, inhaling along the thick length as they both pulled shallow breaths. It was silky and fragrant, tugging at that memory that wouldn’t reveal itself. Who was she? Would she stay the night?

His mouth fell upon her neck, tasting the light saltiness there as he trailed kisses over her smooth skin. Her head tipped back against the wall, her breath coming in shallow rasps. He moved back to her parted lips where the kiss swept them both up again. The woman’s scent, her warmth and curves, the mystery around her… It all ensnared him. Like a siren in Homer’s Odyssey.

He held her between him and the stone wall beside the open window. Cold air had no effect on him with such fire growing inside at her response. He captured her face in his hands, feeling the mask. It was wool and tied tightly. He reached behind her head to pluck at the knot. As if the lass had been under the same spell as he, his tugging on the ties startled her into action. She gasped, turning her face away before he could free the knot. She shoved at his chest, her knee rising, but he shifted so she missed his groin.

“Hold still,” he said, but her hand whipped out toward him, and Gideon felt the sting of a blade across his arm. Surprise made him release his hold for a second. Apparently, that was all the time the lass needed to hurl herself out of his window.

“Nay!” he yelled as she disappeared, leaping to her death.

 

About the Author:

 

I’m Heather McCollum, writer of 16th century Scottish romance full of intrigue and sprinkled with humor, history, & spice. Brawny Highlanders with golden hearts & feisty heroines are my favorites! I’m a mom of 3, dog-mom of 1, & wife of a 6’4” Highlander. I love kilted heroes, dragonflies, watching birds, chai lattes, & eating popcorn for dinner on Friday nights.  

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Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Highland Warrior (Sons of Sinclair #2) by Heather McCollum

 

HIGHLAND WARRIOR

by Heather McCollum Sons of Sinclair, #2
Publication Date: April 27, 2021
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden Love
Genres: Adult, Entangled: Amara, Historical, Highlander, Romance

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SYNOPSIS

Joshua Sinclair was once the fiercest and most notorious warrior of the mighty Sinclair clan of Northern Scotland. But now there’s nothing and no one that can make him take up arms again. Except a beautiful woman, it seems.

When Kára Flett, daughter of a fallen Norse chief, finds herself unexpectedly sheltering the strongest, most brutal warrior in the land, she throws together a risky and outrageous plan to bring him to her side. Threats of violence bounce right off him. Offers of gold seem to entice him even less. Desperate enough to use the pleas of the village children to sway him, she’s shocked when he’s completely unmoved. There’s only one tactic left for her: seduction.

Her hasty proposition falls completely by the wayside, though, as she and the Highlander come together in a carnal inferno. But bringing him into her life also brings his enemies to her clan’s doorstep—the very clan Kára is trying to protect. And as their feelings deepen, Joshua will have to decide between duty and love once and for all.

What I thought about Highland Warrior

What's a war chief to do when the leader of the clan decides to pursue peace? Joshua Sinclair is about to find out, since his brother isn't interested in waging war. Unhappy with his situation, Joshua leaves home and finds a position training others in the art of warfare.

It's here that his viewpoint begins to change as he sees the consequences of aggression and his association with widowed Kara Flett, who is no stranger to war time. She's got her own agenda for the war chief that includes seduction and more! When Joshua realizes her desperation he goes along with her plan and ends up finding there is more to Kara, especially in the bedroom.

This was a terrific historical escape that captured the time period and ethnicities well and I appreciated that. As a romance, there's plenty of chemistry between the main characters. I was drawn into this series after reading the first book and I've been invested in how each of the Sinclair clan with find their HEA. So overall, a nice escapist historical romance with interesting characters and entertaining action to keep things moving along.

ABOUT HEATHER MCCOLLUM

Heather McCollum is an award winning, historical paranormal and YA romance writer. She earned her B.A. in Biology, much to her English professor’s dismay. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood of 2009 Golden Heart finalists. The ancient magic and lush beauty of Great Britain entrances Ms. McCollum’s heart and imagination every time she visits. The country’s history and landscape have been a backdrop for her writing ever since her first journey across the pond. When she is not creating vibrant characters & magical adventures on the page, she is roaring her own battle cry in the war against ovarian cancer. Ms. McCollum recently slayed the cancer beast and resides with her very own Highland hero, rescued golden retriever & 3 kids in the wilds of suburbia on the mid-Atlantic coast.

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Release Day Review & Excerpt: The Highlander's Unexpected Proposal by Heather McCollum

 

Today we have the blog tour of
Heather McCollum’s
The Highlander's Unexpected Proposal!

Check out this gorgeous new romance and be sure to get your copy today!

Title: The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal
Author: Heather McCollum
Genre: Historical Romance

About The Highlander's Unexpected Proposal:

A lass begging to marry him might top the list of “oddest things to happen,” but Chief Adam Macquarie is desperate. And no matter how much he hates to do it, he’s not above lying to get what he wants. Starting with the fact that he just omitted the truth about the situation back at his home—where there are no women and only a handful of other people. Because he has a secret need for a wife himself, one she won’t be too happy about when she finds out.

Lark Montgomerie is thrilled the brawny chief agrees to save her from her drunken father’s machinations of wedding her off to the first fool that agrees. He’s easy on the eyes and no one can be worse than her current options. Now a new life awaits her, on an exciting Scottish isle no less, and nothing will dampen her spirits. That is, until she arrives in her new homeland and realizes more than a few things are amiss…

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Excerpt

“I am not… I do not woo lasses like Beck. My whole focus has been on starting our clan over, building it up, so I never learned to be clever while talking to lasses.”

“You do not need to be clever,” she said, her mouth softening as she turned toward him. “Just say what you are thinking.”

The shadows and shards of firelight played over her high cheekbones and lovely chin. Lord, how he wanted to run his finger over that soft skin. Say what he was thinking? Can I throw up your skirts right here and kiss every inch of your lush body? Then carry you into that castle and make you scream my name as you burst with pleasure?

He opened his mouth and paused. “Uh… Are ye hungry?” Bloody hell.

“No,” she said with a shake of her head.

“Do ye need to use the privy?”

She shook her head again, her lips turning up slightly.

They stared at each other for another breath, and he curled his hand around her small one. It felt fragile in his large palm and yet he knew how strong Lark was. “Can I kiss ye?”

The world around him vanished into darkness as he waited for her answer. She gave a small nod, and he inhaled. Stepping into her, his lips bent toward her, and he waited to see if she would pull away. Lark kept her head tipped up to him, her eyes open, and he pressed a gentle kiss on her soft mouth.

The heat of her body soaked into him. He wasn’t sure if he’d pulled her into him or she’d melted forward, but his arms were around her so that he could feel the softness of her curves pressed into him. Softness to mold against his hardness.

The feel of her, the delicious smell of her, mixed with the detailed memories of his dreams, erupted a firestorm within him. He stroked down her back. She trembled slightly, and Adam caught her face with one hand, guiding her against him to deepen the kiss. She was letting him touch her! Slow. Keep it slow. Do not ruck up her skirts and rut with her against the chapel wall.

His rational thoughts faded quickly to fragmented whispers. He’d been so close to her, yet she’d been untouchable, for days and uncomfortable nights. But now… now he would touch her. “Lark,” he managed to say against her lips as she spread a trail of fire with her fingers down his chest to the hardness beneath his kilt. Through the wool wrapping, she stroked over him. He inhaled swiftly, her touch robbing him of his mind.

Pent up raw want funneled through Adam as he held her to him. She fit him perfectly, and the fact that she hadn’t pulled away at the feel of him released his worry over bedding a virgin. Lark was brave and soft with a good dose of wild.

 What I thought about

The Highlander's Unexpected Proposal

 

When chief Adam Macquarie finds a young woman hiding in a tree, he quickly gets the notion she doesn't want to marry the two suitors out looking for her.  Intrigued by her, he helps her out of the predicament and in the process, ends ups finding himself as her husband.

 

Lark Montgomerie is going to make the best of her situation, and she's all-in until she discovers the conditions of her new home.  It's not that she's worried about hard work -- she's got a secret that could raise havoc for her husband's clan and herself if the truth comes out. To say that these two are less than honest with each other at first is an understatement.

I did enjoy the interactions between Lark and Adam and when they are on page together, I couldn't help but root for them. Adam is respectful and considerate of Lark and I loved that about him. And Lark is fiesty and fun, and it's easy to see why Adam falls for her.

There's a bit of action at the end that brings some tension but is resolved quickly. The story is fairly predictable, but entertaining all the same.  It's a classic historical romance, from the almost arranged marriage to the acceptance of their future. I really liked Lark and Adam, and that made it all worth the read.

Overall, a good start and I'll be looking for more from Macquaries on Wolf Isle. 

An ARC was provided. This is my honest review.

 

About Heather McCollum:

 

Heather McCollum is an award-winning, historical romance writer. With over twenty books published, she is an Amazon Best Seller and a Readers’ Choice winner.

The rugged beauty and rich history of Great Britain captivates Ms. McCollum each time she visits. The country’s history and landscape have been a backdrop for her stories since her very first book.

When she is not creating vivid characters and settings, she spends her time educating women on the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. She is a survivor and resides with her very own Highland hero and three spirited children in the wilds of suburbia on the mid-Atlantic coast.

 

Connect with Heather:

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