I enjoyed these characters and the '45 Jacobite rebellion as their setting. This hero Malcolm felt like a cross between Ian and Daniel from the previous books, quite likable. ( )

Listened to audio narrated well by Angela Dawe.

This story is a prequel, telling the story of the Mackenzies ancestor Old Malcolm around 1745.

Malcolm falls for an English noble woman already betrothed. Malcolm melts her heart and sets her on fire as he sets about to keep her. There's love and sadness as this is set during the Jacobite uprising and fall.

Great story, will keep you wondering how they will work things out. I was charmed by Malcolm. This story isn't just about Malcolm and Mary, but also about their families and the Jacobite uprising. Several of Malcolm's brothers will remind you of the current Mackenzies. The story diverges a bit from Malcolm and Mary and switches focus to the Jacobite uprising and what Malcolm's family is doing during this time period. I felt the story lost a momentum because of this but the ending and epilogue bring us back to the love and romance.

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3.5 stars

"Very well, then." Mary's chin came up. "I will sneak to Kilmorgan with you."
Malcolm closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ye aren't going t' be an obedient and unquestioning wife, I'm thinking, are ye?"
"Certainly not. Englishwomen are resilient creatures. I do not know why people assume we are sweet and docile, innocent and weak." Mary unfolded her arms and rested her hands primly in her lap. "Look at Boadicea, who led forces against the Roman army for a long, long time, Queen Elizabeth, who often had to remark she was 'only a woman' to spare the feelings of gentlemen she could out-think. Even Aunt Danae has survived three husbands and is entertaining thoughts of a fourth, on her own terms. You have no need to worry about me."
A slow smile had spread across Malcolm's face as he listened to her speech. When she finished, his eyes were alight, the depths of gold warm.
"Ye see? I knew ye had fire inside you, lass. An inferno of it. You and me---we're going to burn up the world."

If you like reading about the Jacobite Rebellion,you'd enjoy this one. Malcolm and Mary start off with a "look across the room" kind of romance, which I normally don't like, but it works here because everything that follows that look is hard earned love. The beginning was full of mentions of Jacobite political figures, the climate and atmosphere, and how everyday people (our MacKenzie family) maneuvered around the going ons. I was kind of disappointed when in the middle, we lose a little bit of that (I'm a history nerd) and the story focuses more on our couple Malcolm and Mary. The building blocks of their relationship are created here, making their love more believable from their auspicious start, while the political atmosphere hovered around them but wasn't the focus. The last half reengaged with the Jacobite Rebellion and our couple fighting to stay together. The Battle of Culloden was featured here in a way I've not often seen it, less focus on the battle stratagems and fighting and more on the emotional devastation as it was happening. Our hero is there while family and friends are cut down and how mercilessness the English were about ending the rebellion; it was harrowing to read.

Even though this is #8 in the series, it can actually be read as a standalone as it's a prequel, the hero is the great-great-or so-grandfather of the previous heroes in the series.
This had a little different tone than usual romance reads, devastating emotional that this time period can only be, but was better for it. If you're looking to read about a family and couple caught up in the swirling political times, look no further. ( )

Mal Mackenzie and Lady Mary Lennox meet and she is intrigued from the evening they meet and never imagined what this chance meeting would mean to her life.
Lady Mary Lennox is the daughter of the Earl of Wilfort. She has always done what is asked of her, very tame and quiet or is she?
Mal Mackenzie is the youngest of the five sons of the Duke of Kilmorgan. He is everything that a highlander should be.
Open this book and plan to sit and be captivated. From the start with all the secrets and turmoil kept me from putting this book down. A true testament to just what two people who truly love each other will go through to be together.
This is the eighth book in this series and I will be going and finding all of the rest to catch up and keep reading them, I love the way this author bring you right in to the time and world as it is in her book.
I would recommend this book to everyone. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I give this book 5 + stars ( )