Highland Captive

May 27, 2019
McLayne’s fourth Sons of Gregor MacLeod historical (after Highland Betrayal) brings the 15th-century Scottish Highlands to life. Deirdre MacIntyre attends a clan gathering at the insistence of her husband, Lewis, leaving her adopted four-year-old son, Ewan, at home. When she meets fierce warrior Gavin MacKinnon, his resemblance to Ewan makes her think he may be Ewan’s father. Deirdre knows little of Ewan’s origin; Lewis gave the young boy to her two years ago, claiming to have fathered him out of wedlock, and she’s done her best to mother him. After Deirdre leaves the gathering, Gavin, having heard the MacIntyres have his boy, follows her back to her home, abducts her and Ewan, and takes both of them back to his castle. Deirdre and Gavin cannot help falling in love as Gavin reconnects with his son. Sizzling love scenes and a captivating, intelligent heroine make this unusual story sizzle. McLayne’s novel will appeal to those who enjoy expertly paced Highlands historicals with well-developed characters. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary.

August 1, 2019

It's 1453, in Gleann Moireasdan, Scotland. Laird Gavin MacKinnon's young son has been missing for years. Having done everything to try to find him among the neighboring clans, Gavin finally discovers Ewan's possible location, immediately raiding the castle of rival Lewis MacIntyre. Except once found, Ewan doesn't recognize his father and is instead calling for the strange woman claiming to be his mother. Deirdre MacIntyre will do anything to keep her son safe--even if it means giving into Gavin's demand that she return home with him and Ewan. Gavin quickly realizes that if he wants to reconnect with Ewan, he'll have to change his attitude toward Deirdre, which opens the door for other affections. When Deirdre's clan comes to fight for her return, Gavin must come to terms with her place in his life and Ewan's life. VERDICT This fourth book in McLayne's series (beginning with Highland Promise) continues to reveal the larger intrigue befalling the sons of Gregor MacLeod, while giving Gavin and Deirdre a dramatic love story of their own.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati Blue Ash

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2019
A broken and angry Highland warrior must deal with the woman who raised his stolen son. When she was 15, Deirdre MacIntyre's heartless family married her off to a man whose benign neglect left her feeling unwanted, insecure, and lonely. When he gave her a beautiful baby, saying the boy was his son, she found her life's purpose in loving and raising little Ewan. A rare excursion to the spring gathering of the western Highland clans brings Deirdre face to face with Ewan's furious widower father: Laird Gavin MacKinnon, a tough warrior from a prosperous, powerful clan. Gavin searched tirelessly for Ewan after he went missing, and as the days dragged into weeks and years, "he'd changed, become hardened and cruel, imbibed too much and raged at the world." When he finally finds Ewan with Deirdre, he takes them captive, intending to send her away as soon as they are safely back at his castle. Little does Gavin anticipate the unbreakable bond between mother and adopted son. An abundance of the words "doona" and "lassie" aside, the tone is very modern, but the importance of kinship to 15th-century Scottish identity shines through in the warmth, humor, and occasional tough love among Gavin's kin. In the background of Deirdre and Gavin's slow-burn romance are the political consequences of Ewan's kidnapping and the mystery of Deirdre's missing husband. McLayne (Highland Betrayal, 2018, etc.) perfectly balances the raw emotions and pent-up desire at the heart of the romance with the thrilling swordplay and castle intrigue readers expect from their Scottish historical romances. Deeply touching love story between a fierce leader and the timid woman who finds her own strength by standing up to him.

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