Sarah McKerrigan

What can I say, I adore female warriors. Deirdre was no exception - although to be honest I LOVED Helena. She was so bloodthirsty - it was fantastic. The humour in this was good. The characters all seemed pretty interesting. Deirdre was a little all over the place - but then I guess practical vs. emotion will do that to a person. The plot was well paced and the pages flew by. Already bought the next one - because Helena anyone? Although I'm even intrigued to read about Miriel and her show more secrets. Just a really great read and hopefully - a great series. show less

Passion's Exile is a great beach read for the upcoming summer. It has a cast of quirky and fun characters and the hero and heroine are, of course, destined to live happily ever after. It just takes them a bit to get there....

Sir Pierce lives with the memory of an action he cannot forget and he now travels as a mercenary called Blade with his good friend Wilhem. While waiting in a tavern they hear of a plot to kill the young heir of a laird. They decide to join a pilgrimage to St. Andrews to show more save the boy from harm - and to get a reward.

Rosamund of Averleigh sees something no young betrothed lady should see and she flees her home. She is smart, courageous and figures if she can join the pilgrims she can join the nunnery and escape an evil marriage.

The two meet and despite the supposed difference in their stations fall in love. But it is not something they can share as they each have their reasons. That does not keep them from the falling though and that is the fun of these classic romance novels. Ms. Campbell does a fine job with storytelling and an unconventional heroine for her times. The passion is very much present as these two slowly get to know one another.

It's a very fast and engaging read with two very likable leads. show less

Florie Gilder is a goldsmith by trade. She travels to a market to sell her wares, and also search for her birth father. While at the market her assistant unknowingly sells her only proof of her paternity. After trying to reason with the women who bought it, Florie resorts to returning the money quickly, grabbing the item, and running. While fleeing through the woods in search of sanctuary at a nearby church, Florie takes an arrow in the thigh when a huntsman mistakes her for an animal. The show more huntsman, Rane, is a gorgeous Scot from Viking decent, and also an excellent shot. He redirected the arrow at the last minute so as to not kill the woman, and carries her to the church which was her destination. Now he feels he owes her his protection even when the sheriff appoints him as her guard during the 40 days she claimed sanctuary.

Rane’s good heart gets him far with the ladies, but he has no desire to settle down. Florie is jaded when it comes to love after witnessing the heartbreak experienced by her mother and stepfather. Rane and Florie both find themselves reevaluating their feelings as the days in sanctuary pass.

I loved this book. Rane is a gentle and caring soul, but still maintained the masculinity I find appealing in my historical romance heroes. It was so nice to see such a kindhearted man as the leading love interest. Florie’s independence and spunk sets her apart from many other women in historical fiction. I found it fascinating that she had a trade typically suited for a man and excelled at it. The mysterious elements of the plot were well constructed, but the romance was front and center. Rane is my newest literary crush. A Vikings build with a Scottish brogue? Yes, please! I can promise his actions will make you swoon. Not as steamy as other books from this genre, but still one I recommend for all the die hard romantics out there. show less

** 3.5 Stars **

This book takes place at the same exact time as the first book in the series, Bride of Fire. I haven’t read that book, but I imagine that the opening scene in that book is likely the same as this one – but with the focus on a different heroine. I don’t feel that I was ‘left out’ because I didn’t read that first book – this one is totally standalone. Although, having read that book might have helped me to understand why a Highland Laird would want to move his clan show more to a lowland castle on the border with England.

Hallidis Cameliard is the future Laird of her clan – and she’s currently acting as Laird during her parent's absence. Hallidis’s clan has a long-standing claim against Creagor and was surprised when it was granted to the nephew of the last Laird at Creagor. While Hallidis’s parents were petitioning King Malcolm to grant Creagor to them, her cousin Jenefer snuck out via the secret entrance to lay siege (or something) to the newly arrived Laird Morgan Mor mac Giric whose uncle was the former Laird of Creagor. Hallidis and another cousin, Feiyan, left Rivenloch to stop Jenefer and return her home. Except – all three of them end up captured. Hallidis manages to escape and also manages to capture a prisoner to use to bargain with Morgan Mor mac Giric to get her cousins released. That prisoner turns out to be Morgan’s right-hand-man, Colban an Curaidh – which means Colban the Champion.

During his ‘imprisonment’ (which consisted of being held in the Lairds chamber), Colban soon endeared himself to Hallidis’s three brothers and her sister Isobel. Her siblings took great delight in thwarting Hallidis’s plans to treat Colban as an enemy prisoner. Of course, he soon endears himself to Hallidis as well. They come to love each other and commit to marriage. Then, the unthinkable happens and she ends up having to marry another. How can they ever get to a HEA with her married to someone who is not The One? There are lots of twists and turns before they ever make it.

I went into this book thinking it was going to be filled with action – LOTS of sword fights, sieges, and battles – I mean – the series is WARRIOR Daughters of Rivenloch, so you’d expect lots of ‘warrior-ing’ and I didn’t see as much of that as I’d expected. The first 65-70% was much slower paced than I expected, so I found myself putting it down frequently and not being in any hurry to pick it back up. The book picked up after the 60% or so mark and I enjoyed it much better. It was well written, just, to me, overall, slower-moving than I expected. However, what really got me – and it isn’t mentioned anywhere in the book blurb – is that there is a serious, active, sexual deviant in the story – in a pivotal role. It doesn’t matter to me if he got his punishment or not – his proclivities had too much page time for my taste – at least his activities did. A mention of his ‘ways’ would have been sufficient; I didn’t need to see them all in print. I was happy to have met Hallidis and Colban – and I LOVED Ian, Isobel, Brand, and Gellir.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. show less