“Defend yourself or die!” is now one of my all time favorite book quotes. Connie Mason brings together two memorable fighting Scottish clans in this tumultuous romance. Soon these brave Highlanders find out that it is hard to feud when ones heart is involved in an all-consuming love.

As a woman, Gillian McKay should never have been on a battlefield wielding a sword. Yet there she was in the thick of things, challenging Ross of clan MacKenna with a loud war cry. Thankfully for Gillian’s safety, The MacKenna didn’t wish to fight a woman; a fact which angered her deeply because she wanted to be respected as a fighter in her on right and help her clan against their hated enemy. That day as in each brutal encounter of the generation long feud, both sides of the clans lost precious loved ones. Laird Angus McKay had had enough. He was not about to lose his only daughter in the futile feud as he had lost sons. The flame-haired warrior had to be dragged away from the battlefield by her father. Gillian vowed to meet the MacKenna again.

Later after the dead had been buried, Angus traveled to Ravenscraig Tower, the MacKenna stronghold to make a desperate deal with their Laird. He proposed to the MacKenna that he and his daughter unite in marriage to end the feud.

Surprisingly, Ross was agreeable to the match, Gillian as expected was not. But once married, she takes her vows seriously and begins to open up her heart to Ross. The thing I liked most about this book was the insight into the struggles of their marriage. Desire though plentiful, was not enough to build a life together. Trust had to come into play. Once they realized they wanted a real life together, Ross and Gillian had to truly work out their marital problems. Their main problem was the distracting interference from their clans. As they found out, marriage isn't easy. Their journey together is tumultuous. Ross is the one who can’t trust Gillian or his burgeoning feelings for her. As determined as she was on the battlefield, strong-willed Gillian puts that same energy into trying to save her marriage and the future of both clans. Her character kept the book lively.

The story is filled with plot twists, intrigue and suspense. Someone doesn’t want peace between the Mckay’s and the MacKenna’s. Outside factors threaten to destroy the fragile truce between the clans that is apt to disintegrate at any moment. Connie Mason shows that anything is possible in love and war. ( )