Review: Conquered by a Highlander by Paula Quinn

BOUND BY DUTY

Colin MacGregor was born to fight-for his beliefs, his king, and his family's honor. After years away from his beloved Scotland, he yearns to return to its lush, green hills-and he can, after he completes one final mission for the king. Sent to infiltrate a traitor's home, Colin is determined to expose the treasonous plot and triumph on the battlefield . . . until he meets a sensual lass who tempts him towards other pursuits . . . .

BETRAYED BY PASSION

Lady Gillian Dearly is no stranger to temptation. Cast out of her family for bearing an illegitimate child, she's now the ward of a barbarian conspiring against the king. Her only desire: freedom for her son and for herself at any cost, even if it means making a deal with the devil. Yet when a mysterious Highlander appears in their midst, his braw strength and smoldering gaze give her hope for a future beyond the castle walls-and promise a desire unlike any she's ever known. But passion comes at a price . . .

Review:

I am completely in love with Paula Quinn’s MacGregor clan! While the 1^st three books in the Children of the Mist series are all happening around the same time, this book takes place 3 years in the future, which allows Colin to become more experienced and grow from his 19 years in the first few books.

Colin is the youngest son of the infamous Devil MacGregor and has prided himself to become as strong of a warrior as his father and has devoted himself to the war that is brewing to rid England of a Catholic king. He has strongly believed in his cause, until recently when he’s not so sure that he believes in King James’ motivations anymore. After a brief visit home where he sees each of his siblings married and with kids, he’s off to one last task where he will disguise who his is and infiltrate his one of his enemy’s stronghold to seek out information before his army comes to destroy them. This is where he meets Gillian, cast out of her father’s home for becoming pregnant out of wedlock and forced into the custody of her disgusting cousin, who wants her so much but does everything he can to break her to his will.

Colin has never been a man to be swayed by a woman or anything to veer him off his path once it’s set, and his only focus has been battle and protecting his kin. He is a very smart and cunning warrior and General in the king’s army but something about Gillian and 3 year old Edmund draws him in. Gillian is one tough girl and I loved how devoted to her son she was and the lengths she was willing to go to in order protect him.  Now Colin isn’t necessarily my favorite MacGregor off spring (I mean come on, he has some sexy older brothers, it’s not his fault) but he has definitely had me pondering him from the beginning with how closed off his was and how strict his focus is. I liked how we get to see a new side to Colin, one he didn’t even know he possessed, as he slowly falls for Edmund and then Gillian. It warms my heart whenever these big strong men show so much affection for children in stories, must be the mother in me.

As I said I am in love with the MacGregor clan and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to discover these books. I would recommend these books to anyone who likes Historical Romances; I mean seriously, you cannot go wrong with some crazy hot warrior Scotsmen ;) I will be eagerly looking forward to reading anything else that Paula Quinn writes in the future!