The Highlander’s Stolen Bride by Eliza Knight-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour
THE HIGHLANDER’S STOLEN BRIDE
The Sutherland Legacy #2
by Eliza Knight
Release Date: July 31, 2018
Genre: adult, historical, Highland, romance
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date
Magnus “Strath” Sutherland, Laird of Dornoch, refuses to marry after being betrayed by his betrothed’s father. Needing to distance himself from the Highlands, he accepts a commission at the Scottish border by the king, where he must squelch an English lord’s plans to lay siege. What he finds is the Scots’ enemy about to wed a most alluring English lass. What better way to torment his enemy than by defeating his army and stealing his beautiful bride?
Eva de Clare, youngest daughter of the Earl of Northwyck is about to be pledged in matrimony to a cruel lord who has blackmailed her family, when a terrifying Highlander interrupts the ceremony. The horror stories she’s heard about the warriors of the north must be true, but none seem to compare when she is literally plucked from where she stands and whisked across the Scottish border.
At first, Strath intends to toss the Sassenach lass into a dark cell and forget about her, but there is something about the way she defies him that he finds captivating, not to mention how very much he’d like to kiss her. Eva isn’t about to be made into a prisoner of war, and she’s definitely not going to be sent back to England to marry her enemy. Though at first the Highlander frightened her, she sees kindness beneath his hard exterior. Perhaps the key to her survival will be convincing this warrior to take her for himself. And perhaps Strath, just might have found the only woman who could warm his hardened heart.
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REVIEW: The Highlander’s Stolen Bride is a wonderful historical romance.
The story begins with Magnus “Strath” Sutherland, Laird of Dornoch and Earl of Strathnavor, going on a mission for his king, Robert the Bruce. The mission has a couple of objectives. The first is to stop the raids and burning of Scottish villages by an English lord, and the second is to try to find out information as to whether the daughter of Lord Northwyck was dead as had been claimed.
Typical of the period, Eva de Clare, the heroine in this story, is the youngest daughter of the Earl of Northwyck and the last one remaining unmarried. She has been pledged in marriage to a horrible and cruel man, Lord Belfinch, by her weak and not so loving father.
That’s pretty much the set up for the start. I don’t do spoilers, I feel people should enjoy the story for themselves. What I can tell you is that I loved the characters, both the female and the male. The secondary characters are also well developed. I like the way Eliza Knight writes in the background and information a little at a time, so you begin to get the gist of their character as the story develops. She unfolds motives and the past brilliantly.
I found this story to be a wonderful read! Eva is what, I feel, was a typical female for the times. She has no say in who she marries, but untypically she also has the heart of a lion and will escape in whatever way she needs to. She’s brave and kind with many talents. I really liked her. The male lead is a dutiful son who loves his family and people and is proud to serve his king. He’s been hurt before and is cautious, but open enough to realize love when it happens. He’s strong and capable. He was so easy to fall for!
If you love the highlander style of stories and love good romance, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this one. It’ll leave you quite warm and fulfilled!
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Georgianna S
Magnus “Strath” Sutherland, the Laird of Dornoch and Earl of Strathnavor, sat on his horse in the woods just beyond the perimeter of Northwyck Castle. He’d been sent south on a mission by his King, Robert the Bruce. One, to determine if the daughter of Lord Northwyck was dead as had been claimed, and also to stop a certain vile Sassenach lord from his continued raids at the border, who may or may not be holding her captive. That man was in the castle before him.
A plan to ambush Belfinch and his men on the road had been thwarted when the whoreson disappeared. Unfamiliar with the land this far past the English border, Strath and his men had found their quarry on the moors riding at a clipped pace toward this castle. This turnabout would work in their favor it seemed, since he could now take care of both of his king’s requests at once.
The keep was only about four stories high, if he had to guess, and the wall was about half that. There was a thin moat around the perimeter, and a village to the west. Smoke filtered out of a few chimneys in the village, but it was only late afternoon, so most of the peasants would likely be in the fields working. Smoke came from several chimneys in the castle keep.
From the intelligence Strath had been able to gather, this was the home of another man, the Earl of Northwyck. None of Belfinch’s men had waited outside, which meant the Earl of Northwyck was used to the men coming here, or he’d been forced. But Strath was betting on him being an ally. If that were the case, which seemed likely, it would behoove him and his men to remove all the threats.
This was war, after all. And if he let them go, they’d only continue the border raids he’d been sent to stop. Strath wasn’t about to disappoint his king. As to why the king cared about a lass, that was a question he’d have to leave unanswered, for his liege had not offered the information.
“What did ye find?” he asked when Tomaidh, his finest scout and best mate, returned.
“Two entrances that I could make out. The main gate has a wide drawbridge over the moat, still lowered from when Belfinch’s men went inside, and a postern gate that looks to be accessible only by a narrow drawbridge, but it was not lowered. The walls are guarded by a dozen men, more concentrated on the front gate with only a few at the postern. And I think one spotted me.”
“Damn.” Strath, as any warlord about to lay siege, much preferred the element of surprise.
“I was careful, but when I mounted my horse by the woods, I think my sword hilt caught the sun just when there was a break in the clouds. I heard a horn blown in the distance, which I’m guessing was the warning. I didn’t come straight here. I rode in the opposite direction and circled back through the woods in case they sent anyone out to follow me.”
“Ye did good.”
“I’m sorry, laird.”
“Dinna fash over it, Tomaidh. We’ll wait then. If they spotted ye, they’ll likely be preparing for an unwanted guest. With enough time, they will think spotting ye was nothing more than someone riding through. They will let their guard down.” Probably not all the way, but enough so he could still attack with success.
And he would succeed.
Eliza Knight is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical, time-travel and contemporary romance novels. Under the name E. Knight, she pens rip-your- heart-out historical fiction. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses and two very naughty puppies.
Connect with Eliza at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram
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Acclaimed author Mary Wine has written over 30 works of Scottish Highland romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. An avid history-buff and historical costumer, she and her family enjoy participating in historical reenactments. Mary lives in Yorba Linda, California with her husband and two sons
