HIGHLAND HONOR (Wild Thistle Trilogy #3) by Madelyn Hill-Review and Guest Post

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 16, 2018

The final book of the captivating Scottish Historical Wild Thistle Trilogy

Lady Honor MacAllister can heal everything but a broken heart . . .

Lady Honor does not believe in marriage. Her father’s death broke her mother’s spirit and took her from her daughters emotionally well before her own death. When Honor is attacked in the forest, she keeps the event to herself, lest her lairds search for the man and strike him down. As a healer, she’ll do anything it takes not to cause harm. Rumors of attacks in the Highlands forces the lairds to increase guards and security measures. When Bryce Calder is assigned to protect Lady Honor, she fights the burgeoning attraction for the man, knowing she’ll never risk her heart to love.

Warrior Bryce Calder trusts no woman. Women only strive to better themselves through cunning, as his father warned throughout his childhood. When he is asked to escort Lady Honor while she gathers healing herbs, he is vexed. Training the men and protecting the clan are his duties, not following the sharped-tongued lass about the wood. With each passing day, Bryce becomes enchanted by Lady Honor, despite his father’s words, but his unworthiness halts any proclamation of his desire.

An unlikely partnership develops during the frequent trips to the forest and work in the apothecary. The walls each has erected to protect their hearts and their future crumbles. Until a stranger arrives at the keep. Lady Honor’s secret is threatened to be revealed putting in jeopardy the growing romance between the ardent healer and the reluctant warrior-suitor.

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REVIEW: HIGHLAND HONOR is the third and final instalment in Madelyn Hill’s historical, Highland WILD THISTLE romance trilogy focusing on Faith, Hope and Honor of Clan MacAlister. This is Lady Honor MacAlister, and Highland warrior Bryce Calder’s story line. HIGHLAND HONOR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives including Honor and Bryce HIGHLAND HONOR follows the building relationship between is Lady Honor MacAlister, and Highland warrior Bryce Calder. Someone is stalking the forests of the Highlands surrounding Wild Thistle Keep, taking aim at the women in horrific acts of assault. As the family healer Honor MacAlister needs access to the large assortment of herbs and plants growing in the forests surrounding their home but she is no longer allowed to leave the Keep unaccompanied. Enter Highland warrior Bryce Calder, assigned as protector and guardian of Honor MacAlister, and the man with whom Honor will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance between Honor and Bryce, as the members of Clan MacAlister continue to hunt for the person responsible for the attacks against the women surrounding Wild Thistle Keep.

The attraction between Honor and Bryce does not go unnoticed by the people at Wild Thistle Keep but Honor struggles with memories of the past: how her mother suffered following the brutal death of their father; as well as her own secret and shame. Bryce’s attraction to Honor is visceral but his duty is first and foremost as a warrior, and protector of the woman with whom he will fall in love.

All of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters including Lady Faith MacAlister, and Captain Graeme Ross (Highland Faith #2), and Lairds Hope MacAlister and her husband Aidan MacKerry, as well as the return of Nora and old man Connor, a former warrior battling wisdom and age.

Like the previous instalments HIGHLAND HONOR is a story of family, of honor, of hope and of faith. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is clean and sweet; the characters are heart warming and inspiring.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Highland Hope
Highland Faith
Highland Honor

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Creating Memorable Characters

By: Madelyn Hill

Creating memorable characters is the goal of all writers and we all have our favorites from books we treasure. Mine? I love Kit from The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Jane from Jane Eyre, Ave Marie from Big Stone Gap Series. And of course Harry from Harry Potter, in fact most of the characters from Harry Potter! Well-drawn characters stand the test of time, so the task is arduous.

As I create characters, I do a word sketch of their looks, habits, endearing traits, goals, motivation and conflict. If I am still uncertain about their singular focus as a character, I complete a poem called, I Am. This helps flesh out the true nature of the character. In my opinion, these facets must be known prior to writing. Of course there may be shifts along the way when your muse decides to skew the story in some manner, but having the background information completed can help with characterization consistency.

At the beginning of each novel, I add the character sketches before chapter 1 so I have quick access as I am writing. This is done for main and secondary characters. Then I create inspirations boards in Pinterest so I have a visual and can locate research content using an organized, easy to locate tool.

In the Wild Thistle Trilogy, the characters are driven by their father’s dying words: “Through Hope, Faith, and Honor, ye can rule.” These parting words truly direct the goals of each character as well as their conflict. For Hope of Highland Hope, the statement increases her loyalty to the clan and her need to lead them to the best of her ability. For Faith of Highland Faith, the pledge is conflicting. Faith loves adventure and hunting and doesn’t want to remain at the keep, she wants to explore. Both are strong, fierce women who do not let traditional conventions stand in their way. Lady Honor of Highland Honor, is the peacekeeper between her sisters and the clan healer. Her skill directs her thoughts and actions and while her father’s death inspired her position of healer, she does her duty quietly without the fiery spirit of her sisters. But there is surprising strength in the quiet Honor.

And for the men. Ah, the men who have captured the hearts of these heroines, who are strong, loyal, and determined to forge their way in the clan as well as in the heroines’ hearts. Aidan of Highland Hope is determined to take what is rightfully his—the Lairdship—no matter if it means taking it from the beautiful Hope. Graeme of Highland Faith is conflicted between his love of the sea and his need to prove himself to his father. When he stumbles upon Faith as she hunts, he knows her ransom may be the answer to all of his prayers. He is a rogue, to be sure and finds Faith’s strength of character to be one of her best characteristics. And Bryce of Highland Honor, he is a warrior who pledges to protect the clan and clansmen at all cost. He trains the men hard and doesn’t understand why Honor refuses to see the value of his position and skill within the clan.

As a writer, creating memorable characters is a tough, but paramount. What may captivate one reader may annoy another. I feel consistency of characterization is key to ensure your characters are true to their goals, motivation, and conflict. Strong characterization and a compelling plot will create a story which may land your characters on someone’s favorite character list.

To see my inspiration, for each novel of the Wild Thistle Trilogy, click on the links below.

 

Pinterest Inspiration Boards:

Highland Hope: https://www.pinterest.com/madelynhill68/highland-hope-book-1-wild-thistle-trilogy/

Highland Faith: https://www.pinterest.com/madelynhill68/highland-faith-book-2-wild-thistle-trilogy/

Highland Honor: https://www.pinterest.com/madelynhill68/highland-honor-book-3-wild-thistle-trilogy/

Highland Hope: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /

Highland Faith: Amazon. com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk /

Highland Honor: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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I’m a mom, wife, and writer just living life to the fullest. A Michigan native, I’ve moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to marry the love of my life. Life is exciting, exhausting, chaotic and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love writing historical novels with a Celtic flair. Scotland and Ireland are my favorite locations to set my novels. Nothing is better than a hero in a kilt and a strong heroine to give him the run for his money!