Tag Archives: Highland Isles

The Devil of Dunakin Castle by Heather McCollum – a Review

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The Devil of Dunakin Castle by Heather McCollum – a Review

 

The Devil of Dunakin CastleAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Englishwoman, Grace Ellington, has made a home in Scotland, but to escape from the meddling people around her who seem to think she needs to wed right away—because women need saving, right? —she volunteers to journey north to aid a friend in childbirth. 

Keir MacKinnon, the younger brother of the MacKinnon clan chief, has been raised to strike fear in people, on and off the battlefield. Trained to uphold MacKinnon law, he has hardened into a lethal warrior. Caught in a Highland blizzard with the feisty Grace, Keir realizes the beautiful woman who saved him can also save his nephew’s life. 

Sparks fly when he takes her against her will to his home, and Grace’s courage is put to the ultimate test. Is Keir MacKinnon the passionate, kind man she saved in the Highland blizzard, or is he truly the cruel executioner who seeks to solve all issues by the sword? 

Each book in the Highland Isles series is a STANDALONE story that can be enjoyed out of order. 
* The Beast of Aros Castle
* The Rogue of Islay Isle
* The Wolf of Kisimul Castle
* The Devil of Dunakin Castle

 

Review:

I’ve read and enjoyed the previous book “Wolf of Kisimul Castle.” So I was looking forward to reading The Devil of Dunakin Castle by Heather McCollum, and I wasn’t disappointed.  They are all standalone books, so don’t need to be read in order (but I may just have to go back and read the other two) 🙂

Grace is a feisty and independent woman (we meet her in book 1), she needs no man to complete her life (even though other people seem to want to marry her off). She goes to help her friend (Miari )to give birth. Along the way she meets “The Devil”,  Kier MacKinnon

People wear masks to hide their true selves and Kier is no exception, brought up from an early age, he was taught to be a warrior and then the sword hand of his brother, his job is to uphold the law (even if Keir doesn’t like it) he’s done things he hasn’t liked, and so it’s hardened this man into an unfeeling monster, but like beauty and the beast, the beast is tamed by beauty. 

Kier has been told he needs to bring back a great healer Miari (from book 3) to help his ill nephew, but gets caught in a storm and ends up rescuing a woman from wolves. 

The feelings that both Grace and Kier feel for each other are soon over shadowed when he realizes that he can’t take the pregnant Miari, but Grace could save his nephew, and with that, he takes her against her will to the castle. It doesn’t go down well with Grace

Once Grace helps the clan, other things start to happen and she wonders if the illness wasn’t an illness! 

As with the previous book, Heather McCollum brings the characters to life. The scenes were very well written and I could imagine myself easily in Scotland . 

Reviewed by Julie B.

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Wolf of Kisimul Castle by Heather McCollum – a Review

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The Wolf of Kisimul Castle  by Heather McCollum – a Review

 

The Wolf of Kisimul CastleAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle Mairi Maclean is kidnapped on her wedding day by the enemy of her dead husband. Taken north to the water-surrounded Kisimul Castle, she is held captive in the name of retribution. But The Wolf of Kisimul Castle soon learns Mairi is not a docile pawn in this game of war between neighboring Scots. Nor will she be frightened into walking down the aisle to wed the fierce Highland chief. Alec MacNeil is set on revenge. When he finds his enemy dead, he takes his wife to replace the one that was murdered. An eye for an eye. A bride for a bride. But Mairi is more tiger than kitten and refuses to bend to his will. Set stubbornly against one another, the passion that flares between them threatens to tear Alec’s strategy to shreds.

 

Review:.

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle is the first book I’ve read by Heather McCollum  and I enjoyed it from start to finish.  It is part of a series, but it is not necessary to read the others, as it’s a standalone book.

Mairi Maclean is about to get married for the second time. Her first marriage had been for the good of her clan. It has never been about love; it was all been about duty, and this time it’s the same thing.. what is good for her clan. Her brother tries to tell her it is OK to marry for love, but Mairi thinks this marriage will benefit the clan, so she will “learn” to love her new husband.

Mairi is a strong, and resourceful woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. When Alec takes her captive, she doesn’t cower in fear, but makes a comfy home in the dungeon ( I did have a chuckle at that scene). Alex kidnapped Mairi because he wanted revenge; Alec will take from the MacInnes what was taken from him. A bride for a bride seems fair in his eyes.  Alec’s wife was murdered by the McInnes clan,  but what he got was Mairi, a fiery and sassy heroine, whom he falls for.

Danger, and intrigue haunt the castle. People say its cursed. Is it? Or is it the fact the laird is a lonely and unhappy man, with many duties and responsibilities. Alec and Mairi had amazing chemistry throughout. I absolutely loved the characters. They were all amazing and complemented each other really well. The secondary characters had some great one liners. There were many times the book had me chuckling at their antics or the words they would throw at each other. The Wolf of Kisimul Castle was entertaining and had plenty of twists to keep you reading.

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publsiher

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