The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel

This was a charming historical romance that tugged at my heartstrings and made me want to slug the male protagonist throughout most of the novel.

It’s loosely based on events surrounding Robert the Bruce and his rise to the throne of Scotland. The author obviously knew her history of Scotland because she did a great job of convincing me that the events of this book could have really happened. I liked that she included, at the end of the book, a little history of Robert the Bruce and how she entwined her story into it.

A secret plan is made and Bruce’s supporters want to get the best warriors of Scotland or at least of the Highlands and the islands of Scotland together to form and secret unbeatable team that will fight in more of the show more ways of guerilla warfare than traditional ways of meeting on the field to battle BUT…they have to convince the one they want to lead the team to do it first.
Tor MacLeod is the ultimate Scottish warrior. He is the chief of his clan on his own island. He has kept peace for his clan for the last twenty years and has no intention of taking sides in the war between Scotland and England. He was tricked into marrying Christina Frasier, daughter of a man who hates England’s King Edward and everyone knows it. Now, King Edward will be questioning his loyalties and both sides will try to force him to choose.

He agrees to secretly train the elite squad of warriors and hand them off to another once they are trained. He has always put the needs of his clan before anything else not even his wife. He keeps his own council and doesn’t tell his secrets to anyone. He thinks marriage should be a contract that benefits his clan and a wife is for bedding and having children although she should be treated with respect and never abused. He thinks love is impractical and could ruin a leader’s ability to make good choices.

Christina Frasier has been forced by her abusive father to trick Tor MacLeod into marrying her. Before the ceremony she gets her future husband to agree that if she wants to end the marriage contract that he will allow her to go live at a nunnery and take the veil. She always was a dreamer, reading romantic novels about Lancelot and Lady Guinevere. She dreams of a knight in shining armor for her very own but now she has been forced to marry a fierce warrior who is nothing like Lancelot. Her new husband barely notices her except when he visits her bedroom where they are both passionate for each other but then he leaves her soon afterwards to sleep in the great-room with his clansmen. She has fallen in love with Tor and she thinks she sees that he cares for her. She wants to get him to love her but it might be a lost cause and she doesn’t think she can stay with him if she has to live a life without love.

It was a good book although it is not my regular genre of paranormal romance. I did download the second book, The Hawk, and started reading it but it started out with the POV of Robert the Bruce and focused too much on politics and war maneuvering so I lost interest right away. A little too much history and not enough romance. I’m going to give it a little more time. I like to get to at least 15% of a book before I give up on it. We’ll see how it goes.

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Eesh. I had seen a couple reviews saying that the heroine drove them up a wall with her idiocy, but in the start she was just young, and sheltered, and had a romantic tendency, I was willing to overlook some poor choices. But good grief. She just kept getting worse! **She was like a modern 13 year old dropped back in history. No understanding for nearly any aspect of life at the time, over emotional, entitled, determined to squeeze a man into a pre-formed notion of her ideal. It was actually painful.** Every time the hero would give her an inch she would try to force a mile, inevitably make a giant mistake (often putting lives at risk), and then get indignant when things didn't work out just how she'd wanted. Seriously, just painful. show more I'm hesitant to read the next in the series, but surely McCarty wouldn't make all of her heroines such disasters! Besides the heroine, it wasn't a bad story. show less

The Chief
5 Stars

Synopsis
Following the death of William Wallace, Robert Bruce realizes that he cannot defeat the English King, Edward I, with traditional tactics and decides to establish an elite fighting force. The man chosen to train and lead these warriors, Tormod MacLeod, is dedicated to his clan and has not intention of being drawn into Scotland's war, not even to have the beautiful Christina Fraser. However, fate and trickery have different plans and Tor finds himself wed to a woman who weakens his resolve to never love again.

Review
Compelling premise and brilliant execution.

The historical research is detailed and fascinating and the medieval setting realistic and believable. This time period is a favorite of mine, however, show more readers uninterested in Scottish history and politics may find it difficult to get into the story.

Tor and Christina's romance is riveting. Their chemistry is intense and passionate. Tor is an exceptional leader but hides his heart behind a cool and distant facade for fear of loving and losing. He struggles against the incomprehensible feelings Christina evokes in him but finds her sweet and giving personality impossible to resist.

Christina is an endearing heroine whose spirit slowly emerges. She works hard to thaw the ice around Tor's heart (sometimes too hard perhaps but this is consistent with her romantic nature). She definitely comes into her own as the story progresses and is ultimately the perfect match for Tor.

The plot revolving around the training of an elite group of warriors during the time of Scottish Independence is very appealing and the secondary characters are intriguing - each has a unique skill but they must all come together as a unit despite their differences both political and personal.

Overall, an incredible beginning to a promising series and I cannot wait to continue reading. show less

This book very much serves to set up the series, and as such, the romance does suffer a bit in terms of its coverage within the novel. Most of the book covers the founding and training of the Highlanders. Despite that, McCarty does do a good job of representing the relationship between Tor and Christina, as well as their respective feelings and struggles with those feelings. There is growth for both characters, and I felt for them deeply.

Surprisingly, I had actually dropped this book several months ago. I had been listening to it on audio and found it boring. The way I voraciously read the Kindle version over the last two days is a stark contrast to say the least. A narrator really can make or break a book, and this is a prime example. show more I'm glad I picked this one back up, not only because I have been wanting to read the rest of the series, but also because I appreciate the research that went into creating these books and the new knowledge I've gained of this period about which I had not previously known. show less

I adored this book! It was full of adventure and angsty romance. There were several scenes that caused Tor and Christina to be separated for some length but the story still held my interest. It was like to stories woven together perfectly; the training Tor was doing and the relationship between Tor and Christina. They meshed perfectly and I felt like I had enough of both with each shift. I can not wait to read the next in the series!

The Heroine
Christina had a rough childhood with an abusive father and a sickly sister. She is forced to obey her father and trick Tor into marriage. Christina is a hopeless romantic and is convinced she can make the best of the marriage. She is the sweetest woman and does everything to help Tor and his clan, show more but Tor is reluctant to let her in his world.

The Hero
Tor is a hardened Scottish Warrior. He saw his mother and father brutally killed and has closed himself off from any emotion so he can be the best warrior for his clan that depends on him. Being forced into a marriage is not at all what he wanted, even if there was something felt between him and Christina, he didn't have time for the distraction. But when his hand is forced and he marries her and agrees to train a special elite group of warriors, he has a hard time keeping his hold on his suppressed emotions and his neutrality between England and Scotland.

The Steam
I could so feel the passion between Tor and Christina! They had such chemistry in the bedroom which made me feel even worse for her outside the marriage bed. But the steam was there and it was so very hot!

Tropes
Medieval Era, Scotland Romance, Highland Warriors, Alpha Hero, Tortured Hero, War Hero, Virgin Heroine, Married in Scandal, Marriage of Convenience, Suspense/Danger/Murder, Sunshine & Grump, Three Flame, Five Star show less

"You are never to be ill again." He crossed his arms, looking very chiefly. "I won't permit it."

I've come across some reviews of this series that left me curious so when I saw this one available as an ebook from my library I grabbed it up. I am always up for a so-called Highlander Romance. There is just something about big muscled, strong Scottish men that really gets to me. I don't expect much historical accuracy when reading Highlander books so I was pleasantly surprised that the author actually did some research.

While reading this I loved the main characters, Tor and Christina. After I finish this and reflected on it the more I began to see just how annoyed by them I could be at times. Tor is very strong but very set in his show more ways (so that he can protect his clan). He was an absolute jerk to Christina for a lot of the book. At times it was a bit over-the-top. Christina, on the other hand, was so naive and acted like a little puppy too much. She was just dying for a little affection from Tor that I wished she would have not basically have clung to him as much as she did. I really enjoyed where the two of them ended up in the end.

I wasn't all that sold on the whole Highlander special forces thing but I did enjoy all the action it brought to the story. I also liked reading the parts in which the group was training. I couldn't put this down while reading it but I still haven't decided whether I want to continue with the series. show less

I admit that the first thing that called my attention for this book was the cover (yes, sometimes I'm shallow but it's a great cover :)) and the fact that it was an historical romance.
I must admit that I was very impressed with it; Monica McCarty transformed reality into a delightful romance, full of historical facts, with a great accuracy of what was a knight and/or Highlander, their values and way of life. The fact that she gave a new life to people that did really exist and had a great role in history, Scotland and England history, gives this book an enchantment that few writers achieve.
Well, it's a romance inspired by the Navy Seals of Suzanne Brockmann (another one of my favorites) but it has a light of its own.
For those who like show more their historical with fierce Highlanders mixed with facts, this is the author you want.

It all started with the death of William Wallace at the hands of Edward Plantagenet. Scotland is divided, for some clans Edward is their rightful king, for others the rebellion is the only way to conquer Scotland again.
Robert, the Bruce, is by Scotland "laws" the rightful king of Scotland but he faces some difficulties in the support of all the clans. Raised as a knight, Robert changes tactics to win a war that cannot (almost) be won and with the help of Bishop Lamberton, one of the most powerful Bishops on Christendom, summons a small group of the best Highlanders warriors known by their pirate tactics.
Tor MacLeod has no desire to be involved in the war and answers to no one but when his clan is in danger and when he finds himself in a difficult position, the only way to get peace in his clan is by marrying Christina Fraser, a bride he doesn't want but who brings not only a big dowry but the opportunity to lead a team of the ten greatest warriors in all Scotland.
Christina Fraser is abused by her father and used in an evil scheme to make Tor MacLeod marry her but still she dreams of her Lancelot and love everlasting. By being young and naive, she tries to be the best wife and lady of the keep, but by trying to help and to make Tor love her and notice her, the only thing she does is pushing him away.
In the end, some decisions are going to be made not only in their marriage but also for the good of Scotland. show less