My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Neither of them wanted what was being thrust upon them. However, in order to save his clan, as the chief's son, Adam MacGregor is forced to marry a royal heir. The woman is none other than Sina de Arenberg, who has but no choice than to follow the queen's order and marry the Highlander. However, she is in love with a man from England named William, and cries her way through the whole ceremony.

Sina has always believed the Highlanders to be savages, and now she is married to one. However, despite keeping Adam at arms' length, she reluctantly begins to see how wonderfully civilized the clan is. A true family. Something she was denied most of her life. Could there possibly be a future between her and her hunky Highlander? What of William? Sina gets the chance to find out when circumstances change and she is called back to England.

There was so much to be enjoyed in this story. How can a woman torn from her home and her love find joy while in an entirely new, and definitely untenable situation? What about Adam? How in the world can a man work both at being future clan chief and a husband who can love a wife who is a total stranger?

I love how this story was developed. It was a pleasure watch these two grow on one another only to be torn apart due to a serious change that ultimately affected Sina. What would they do? Watching their actions were enjoyable. Furthermore, the hounds that accompanied the Highlanders, especially, Adam's, Goliath, found a warm place in my heart as well.

Having gone a long spell without reading historical romances then reading about a dozen in rather quick succession, including these four Paula Quinn novels, tested my merit as a lover of romance. I keep my ear to the ground, so to speak, and know some people see the formulas done in these books as "tropes". The formulas may indeed be repeated, but what brings satisfaction to me as a reader is when the author is exceptional. Paula Quinn is just that. She writes with flair, shifts the plot lines at just the right times, and brings in characters that we cannot help but love and respect.

I am saddened that this is likely the last book in the delightful Highlander Heirs series. However, Adam has a pair of twin brothers, so one can always hope. As a matter of fact, their portion of the included family tree is not filled in. The other books in the Highland Heirs series are A Highlander's Christmas Kiss, The Scot's Bride and Laird of the Black Isle. The previous two series, MacGregegors and MacGregors Highland Heirs, all all connected.

Many thanks to Forever for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.

Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com. ( )

I'd actually give this book a 4.5-star rating

I understand this is the last book in this excellent series and I’m sorry to see it end. It has been an excellent series with wonderful characters. This addition to the story is well-written, well-plotted and the characters are memorable – not to mention that it includes nice visits with former heroes and heroines.

In the first few chapters, I thought I didn’t like Sina at all. However, as I thought about it, her reactions were very true-to-life. She was a young lady not accustomed to anything other than court-life. She was betrothed to a man she loved and all was right in her world. Then, in the dead of night, she is taken, at the order of Queen Anne, to be married to a Highland savage. She was just taken – no time to pack or even say goodbye. As soon as she arrived, she was expected to marry a man she had never met but greatly feared. She showed quite a bit of spunk trying to fight the marriage but finally had no choice. Was she unhappy – you bet! Did she make everyone aware of her unhappiness – you bet! Could she have had more sympathy for Adam -- yes she could have. Adam was in the same situation as Sina, he was forced into the marriage as well, but at least he didn’t have to leave his home, family, friends and live in a place where everything and everyone made you afraid. So, I came to like and respect Sina even though I thought the thing with ‘loving’ William went on a little too long.

Melusina (Sina) de Arenburg is a Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Anne (last of the Stuart monarchs). She is also the illegitimate daughter of the future king, George (first of the Hanoverian monarchs). Sina and Anne have become close during Sina’s tenure as Lady-in-Waiting – at least Sina thought they had. Then, when Anne had Sina gathered up and taken to the Scottish Highlands to be wed to a Highland savage, she couldn’t believe Anne would betray her like that. When she arrived at Camlochlin Castle she was terrified, but not so terrified that she couldn’t at least try to get out of it – but – to defy the Queen. Oh! What a dilemma. Well – she might have to marry him, but she didn’t have to make it easy on him and she surely didn’t have to consummate the marriage.

Adam MacGregor is the oldest son of the clan chief. Adam is tall, strong, handsome as sin, and loves his life as a single man. He has no ambition to follow as clan chief and is actively promoting his sister to fill that role. Then, a coach arrives with a female aboard and orders for him to marry her. Although Adam has no desire to marry, especially not a stranger, he knows he must follow the Queens orders so he can keep his clan safe. The MacGregors have been proscribed, but they have been mostly left alone because of the MacGregor’s relationship with Queen Anne. This marriage is Anne’s way of keeping the MacGregor’s safe after she dies. Adam sucks it up and decides to make the best of the marriage. Since they have no choice but to wed, they might as well make the best of it and try to be happy. Well – he might as well try, because apparently, Sina has no intention of cooperating.

I loved watching Adam slowly but surely wooing Sina. Who could resist him? He’s wonderful, thoughtful, caring and interested. Sina fights the attraction, but it is useless. Just as Sina comes to the conclusion that she cares, Queen Anne dies, Sina’s father becomes King and he demands Sina’s return to court. How can Adam let her go when she has come to mean so much to him? How can Sina leave when Adam has come to mean so much to her? Again, they have no choice.

Half of this novel takes place at Camlochlin Castle on the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands and the other half takes place in London. It was fun watching Adam show up all of those dandy London Lords. Could Adam win over the King and leave London with his wife? You’ll definitely be rooting for Adam and Sina to find their HEA.

I hope you’ll enjoy the book as much as I did. If you find yourself disliking Sina in the beginning, just remember who she is and what has happened to her – and – put yourself in her place. Would you handle that any better than she did? I wouldn’t.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher." ( )