A Highlander’s Christmas Kiss (The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #5) by Paula Quinn-Review and Book Tour
A HIGHLANDER’S CHRISTMAS KISS
The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #5
by Paula Quinn
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Genre: historical, Highland romance
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 27, 2016
A STRANGER’S SMILE
Christmas may be coming to Linavar, but Temperance Menzie is far from joyful. Grief-stricken over the death of her father at the hands of the Black Riders, she almost didn’t see the wounded stranger in the woods. And now she’s determined to give this braw, brooding Highlander the help she couldn’t give her father. But there’s a secret lurking in the depths of his blue-gray eyes. And Temperance won’t rest until she uncovers it . . .
A LOVER’S KISS
A killer for hire. It’s the last thing Cailean Grant ever thought he’d become, but being part of the Black Riders was his only way to survive. Now, his guilt grows day by day, along with his desire for the beautiful, brave lass nursing him back to health. As Christmas, the season of miracles, draws near and the truth of his identity threatens to come out, Cailean must risk the only thing he has left to lose-his heart.
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REVIEW:
5 out of 5 for this reader folks!
Before I get into the meat of this review, I have to say this entire series is one of my fave historical highlander romances. Paula Quinn has written 3 generation series that follows the romantic adventures of two families that have merged into one. Nothing wrong with picking up this book and enjoying the story without previous knowledge of this series. Paula ensures that her reader will not feel lost in any way, BUT, it’s very satisfying as a reader to have enjoyed the back stories of her characters. It’s wonderful to revisit previous characters who have aged and fulfilled the kind of life you had hoped for them to have. So I strongly recommend you go back and start at the beginning. 🙂
A Highlander’s Christmas Kiss is the 5th book in Paula Quinn’s “The MacGregors: Highland Heirs” series. As I have mentioned above, this series is a branch off two previous series.
Cailean Grant has had a rough go as of late. He lost a woman whom he was falling in love with in the previous book, and he has decided to stew in his anger and bitterness by joining a disgusting vigilante group called “The Black Knights”. Believing this is a better option than burdening his family with his dark heart, he is placed in a situation that he will soon regret. Cailean gives the fateful “nod” to killing a man in front of his family during a celebration. Just so happens this man is a Menzie, a long time enemy of the Grant’s and MacGregors, and a man that Cailean believes attacked his cousin Patrick.
Temperence Menzie is a strong highland lass who believes in honour, family bonds and doing what one must to ensure the survival of the Menzie name. When her father is killed in front of her eyes by the hated members of “The Black Knight” she vows to take her revenge. Little does she know, the man she is about to save, is the man she wants to kill.
Temperence finds Cailean severely wounded and close to death on her families land. Being a kind hearted woman, she brings Cailean into her home and nurse him back to health not having a clue that he is the man that gave the order for her father’s death. Before long, a romance blooms and both are pulled out of their darkness. What happens though, when Temperence discovers that Cailean is a hated Black Knight, and the man she is in love with?
I love Paula Quinn’s writing. Every time she releases a new book I am always eager to get my hands on it. She is a visual writer, meaning every scene is crisp in my mind and I feel the emotions that are portrayed. I feel the dread of truths being revealed, and I feel the angst and love between her characters. It doesn’t hurt that she also tends to write her loves scenes on the “hotter side”. It is easy to swoon over her men, and root for her woman.
I loved the way this story came together, and the way it resolved many issues from previous books. The title suggest Christmas, and yes Christmas is present, but it didn’t take over the entire story the way some Christmas books can. Actually it was just icing on top of an already yummy cake. LOL
If you are looking for a yummy highland historical romance, you have found it. I guarantee you will giggle, get angry, fall in love and close your book with a sigh! LOL
HAPPY READING! 🙂
Copy supplied through Netgalley
Reviewed by Rachel T
What? What had he said? He realized quickly enough, scowled, and then smiled, giving in to what his heart was telling him. “Ye are—” He paused, not truly sure what to say. He hadn’t wanted to care for her, but he did. He’d let her in, but how could he have denied her entrance? She’d been through much, thanks to him, and yet she still smiled, she still sang, she still had compassion to help him heal.
He began again, reaching for her. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her plaid- encased body, shielding her from the wind. “Ye are my candle in the dark.” He stopped again to take her in. He smiled. “I’m better at puttin’ a quill to m’ words than I am at speakin’ them.”
Her wide, beautiful eyes glittered like the snow dusting the braes. He wanted to lose himself there in the expectant hope that lit her gaze.
“You’re doing just fine,” she assured him softly. “Continue, please.”
He shoved aside everything on his mind but her. What was left scared the hell out him. “I canna—”
She waited in silence while he fought his demon for her. Her hope began to fade to disappointment.
It made him smile to think her hope was to be with him and she was waiting to hear him tell her.
“I canna take my gaze from ye, lass. No matter what I’m doin’, m’ eyes find their way back to yer rich dark hair fallin’ over yer flawless jaw, the relaxed curl of your bottom lip that tempts my legs to bring me to wherever ye are. I lay awake at night imaginin’ yer soft inhalations of breath. They fill my heart with something other than mortar and fury. I want to bring ye to me but I’m unworthy of yer dreams. Still, I want to be in them, as ye are in mine.”
“You see?” she said breathlessly. “Just fine.” She closed her eyes and parted her lips when he dipped his head to hers.
He moved his mouth over hers, basking in the intimacy of kissing her, capturing her short, eager breaths. His senses came alive and he used each one of them to fill himself with her. She tasted like passion and innocence. When he slipped his tongue over hers, she opened her arms and coiled them around his neck, covering them both in his plaid. He listened to her heart beating like ancient drums. Or was it his own heart he was hearing? He withdrew a hairbreadth so he could look at her again. The sight of her dreamy-eyed and wanting more nearly drove him mad. He brushed his nose across her temple to her hair, drinking in the scent of her, like the familiar fragrance of peat and pine. “Ye’re bringin’ me back to life, lass.”
He kissed her again, barely holding back the passion raging inside him to be released.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times bestselling author Paula Quinn lives in New York with her three beautiful children, three over-protective chihuahuas, and a loud umbrella cockatoo. She loves to read romance and science fiction and has been writing since she was eleven. She loves all things medieval, but it is her love for Scotland that pulls at her heartstrings.
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Great review, Rachel. You have made this sound like a fun sexy read.
Hi Barb, thanks for stopping by! I hope you get a chance to read it 🙂 Btw, I LOVE your little profile pic. Alexander Skarsgard! Swoon!
Wonderful review Rachel, looks like a great series. Congrats to Paula on the new release.
Hi Sandy, thanks so much for stopping by and thank you for your well wishes! Good luck in the giveaway!
Rachel, thank you so much for hosting the release of A Highlander’s Christmas Kiss on your blog! I’m so glad you enjoyed Cailean and Temperance’s story! Thank you for the wonderful review! Good luck to all in the giveaway!
Thanks for the fantastic review Rachel. Love the Highlander stories. Congrats to Paula.
It is a fantastic review! I’m thrilled. Thank you, Sassy!
Very nice review,thanks Rachel. Thanks for the excerpt. Congratulations Paula on the new release
Alicia, thank you!
Thanks for the great review, Rachel.
Wonderful review, Rachel. I love anything with Highlanders.
wonderful review, rachel. i can’t wait to read this book.
Great review thanks Rachel. congrats to Paula
Excellent review, thanks Rachel.
Wonderful review, Rachel. I cannot wait to read this one.