The Arrow – Highland Guard #9

This is probably my favorite book of the series so far. I probably have said that before so…if I did…this one tops it. The half of the book was slow but the last half of the book kept me so captivated that I couldn’t stop reading. I stayed up until 6:00am so I could finish the book.

We’ve met Gregor MacGregor (no kidding, that’s his name) in the previous books of the series. He’s said to be the ‘most handsome man in Scotland’ and he is also the best archer in Scotland. Women fall at his feet so he has no lack for bed partners. That’s good since he only keeps them for one or two nights. Gregor is part of a secret elite group of warriors called the Highland Guard. Each warrior has his own specialty. Gregor’s specialty is his archery. The Highland Guard is known to the rest of Scotland and England as Bruce’s phantoms because of their dark clothing and how they fade in and out of the mist (rumors and stories have made them larger than life). Nobody knows who they are or if they actually even exist and they want to keep it that way to keep their family and friends safe.

Cate was fishing when she heard soldiers in her village. When she got to the village, the soldiers were killing everyone including women and children. She knew it was because the villagers had given refuge to Robert the Bruce and his men. When she got to her home, a soldier was raping her mom who was eight months pregnant. Cate hit the soldier with a hoe but the soldier killed her mom and then threw her in a well to make her suffer by starvation before she died.

Cate is small for age from malnutrition so when some of Bruce’s soldiers find her in the well, the only survivor of the village, they believe she is twelve years old. She says nothing and lies to them about who she really is, giving them her step-father’s last name instead of her noble father’s last name. Her noble father left her years ago so she was teased about being a bastard all of her life.

Gregor MacGregor takes her to live with his family. His mother always wanted a daughter. Gregor is rarely there but goes home to visit on occasion. His brother John teaches Cate how to fight like a man so she will never be helpless again. She wants vengeance on the man who killed her mother and Gregor has told her that he would find him for her. She asks him every time he visits if he’s found him but Gregor always tells her that he hasn’t. Gregor is lying. He knows who the man is but the man has been safe in London for years and he fears Cate will do something rash like travel to London to kill him.

Lately, Gregor’s aim has been a little off which has never happened to him. He’s afraid he is losing his skill. Bruce sends him home for a much needed rest until after the New Year but once he sees Cate, he knows there will be no rest. Cate has grown up and has her heart set on loving him. He’s had many women in love with him and has had to let them down easy but he fears he may feel something for Cate in return and he doesn’t want to fall for the girl who has been his ward for over five years.

Spoiler Alert!

My heart breaks for Cate many times throughout this book. When Gregor kisses the girl who has been mean to her for years to get Cate to stop pursuing him, I felt so bad for her. But it’s what he does after they get together that made me want to cry. My heart literally felt tight and heavy while reading that part. I kept thinking how that was the end of their relationship forever and grieved with Cate when her heart broke and her love died for him. I knew he would regret it. And that was before he shot her and almost killed her.


The men in this series, whether they are trying to discourage someone from loving them or whether they think they have been betrayed, do some cruel things that I don’t think I would ever forgive but the women who love them do forgive them or see through what they are trying to do.
I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I’ve looked it up and know it’s about Striker and that it will be out sometime in 2015 but not when in 2015. I hope I don’t have to wait too long. Highland Guard withdrawals are going to be rough.
( )

I immediately checked this out after listening to the Scotland episode of the Fated Mates podcast last night. Cate is an ultimate heroine: a BAMF who is completely honest and lovely. I was two thirds in before the conflict pissed me off—dumb men being dumb, but the hero groveled appropriately for a good HEA. I’m not sure if I’ll read the others in the series, but this was a great standalone read. ( )

****Full Review****

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This is book nine in the Highland Guard series and it's a foregone conclusion I'm going to do everything in my power to get my greedy little hands on the previous books. I would also like to say, as someone who hasn't read the other books, the list of characters, who they were, and the foreword relaying the back story was very much welcomed.

Gregor "Arrow" MacGregor has fought alongside Robert the Bruce for seven years in the war against England for Scotland's independence. He is part of the Highland Guard, also known as Phantoms, an elite group of warriors; his special skill is marksmanship with the bow. (His mother's name is Lady Marion so I imagine there is a sly wink to a certain mythical hero) He is also "The Most Handsome Man in Scotland". This moniker, along with certain events from his past, has led Gregor to become very jaded, cynical, and guarded. He doesn't think anyone truly knows him or cares to know him beyond his pretty face.

On a mission to try and save a village from being ransacked from the English, Gregor meets Cate. Cate, fifteen at the time, attacked an English soldier trying to save her mother from rape, who in turn kills her mother, and throws Cate into a well leaving her to starve to death. Gregor rescues her, thus giving Cate a serious case of hero worship. He brings Cate to his home and gives her to his mother to raise. He visits a handful of times and Cate's worship begins to mature into love.

The story really begins when Cate is twenty and Gregor thirty-one and he comes home for a little rest and relaxation from the war. Gregor wasn't around her much while she was growing up, I never found it icky or weird when he starts to develop and acknowledge his feelings for Cate, even when he calls himself her ward. Even though the title of this book is "Arrow" I would almost argue this is more of Cate's story. She is the open, honest, and fearless woman we all want to be. It may seem like her love for Gregor was born from childish feelings, they in fact may have been, but she proves over and over that she really sees the true man behind the pretty face. It may make you feel frustrated as Gregor refuses and pushes Cate away again and again and Cate comes up with reasons to justify his actions. I found it refreshing to have a character think why is he reacting this way instead of flying off the handle and creating melodrama after melodrama. However, I'm not saying you won't want to slap Gregor a time or two and yell at Cate to just give up. These characters have sizzling chemistry together and you're going to love and hate them at times. One thing I promise you is that you won't ever be bored.

The pace is steady and will keep you reading and while the overall tone is a little lighter than what I usually favor, I was still captivated. I also thought when Gregor capitulates to Cate, it felt slightly rushed. He finally allows himself to give in to his feelings for her and then they're sleeping together and marriage is being discussed. There is also a Big Misunderstanding and even though it is contrived, I thought it worked well in adding something to the story. Furthermore, there are times when the large cast of characters are mentioned along with their nicknames, I started to feel overwhelmed but if you have read the previous books you'll probably just enjoy the reunion.

Overall, this was a heartfelt, at times maddening couple, historical romance story. Your emotions will run the gamut throughout this book. In the end, however, you will feel a sense of fulfillment and a strong desire to go and read the other books in the series.
( )

Perfect beach or quick read. As usual, the author brings you in and hooks you rto got away. Well done characters and story line. ( )

Well, I love my highlanders... no doubt about it. Another great book in another great series. There were a few times I wanted to smack Arrow, but I still loved him. Caty was awesome too! I loved it! ( )