THE REVIEW
Bella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan was abused at the hands of her cruel father, only to married to an even crueler man who assaulted and taunted her and constantly accused her of infidelity.

Lachlan MacRuairi is a brutish Scottish warrior who was badly betrayed by his wife when she led him to a trap that saw many of his clansmen killed and him, the only survivor. Now, the Viper, he works with the Highland Guard and is an expert at stealth and extracting people and information from impossible odds.

The MacDuffs has long been honored with the duty of crowing the next king of Scotland, so when Bella is the only MacDuff available, she agrees because she is finally able to due something meaningful and escape her horrible husband. She promised that she could take her daughter with her, but, due to an abrupt change in plans, she is forced to flee without her. Throughout the years in the book, Bella and Lachlan battle each other and their undeniable attraction, the British forces and their individual will to live.

This book was another tough read. I have loved all the Highland Guard books and I did love this one too, but it was a hard fought love through anxiety, fear and angst! My gosh Bella was abused by her father, treated like a whore by her husband and every man she met only wanted one thing from her…until Lachlan. But she was such a tragic heroine even though she was tough and stubborn and bore all her troubles with dignity! But don’t think that Lachlan was without his own heartache! Oh no, his mother wanting nothing to do with him and his first wife betraying him hurt more than he would admit. He shut himself off from everyone, men and women, so he wouldn’t get attached then hurt or betrayed.

Again, even with the angst and emotional rollercoaster, I love this book! It surprised me is all; usually it’s the hero who is saddled with trouble, but I feel like Bella bore the brunt of the cruelty in this story.

TROPES
Historical Romance, Medieval Era, Dark Hero, Bodyguard Hero. Damaged/Tortured Hero, Disabled/Wounded/Scared Hero, Grumpy Hero, Highland Warrior Hero, Illegitimate Hero, Soldier/War Hero, Protective Hero, Unworthy Hero, Abused Heroine, Damaged/Tortured Heroine, Dresses as Male Heroine, Experienced Heroine, Single Mother Heroine, Angst Romance, Class Difference, Abduction/Kidnapped, Betrayal, Suspense/Danger/Murder, Scotland, Five Star, Three Flame ( )

I don’t think I wanted to strangle a leading female character so much in all my reading experience….which is saying a lot for how much I read.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like Bella MacDuff…I did like her…my heart poured out to her for all of her suffering, first, at the hands of her husband and then at the hands of the English. I liked that she stood by her principals and that she crowned Robert Bruce even though she knew she could get in trouble for it, although, I don’t think she realized how far King Edward I would go when she did it. It was the trouble she caused everyone by attempting to see her daughter when her daughter seemed perfectly happy without her. Here is a woman who has just escaped from horrible conditions in an English prison who recklessly endangers, not only herself but the men who helped her escape and her daughter by trying to see her daughter in a public place with English soldiers everywhere. Then later, she forces Lachlan to go into English territory again to see her daughter when she knows if he is captured, he’ll be tortured and killed. It was ridiculous.

Bella Macduff risked everything to leave her despicable abusive husband to crown Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland. For centuries, it had been the MacDuff’s who had the tradition and rights to crown or enthrone a king. Without a MacDuff, his kinghood could be questioned…..not that it wasn’t already by many clans and the English king. She intended to escape with her daughter but when her husband, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, got wind of it and was on his way back to their home, Bruce had his men extract Bella but were unable to get her daughter out before her husband reached the castle. She had to leave her behind.

Lachlan MacRuairi was ordered by Robert Bruce to escort Bella MacDuff to his coronation. Lachlan is known as viper by the elite squad of warriors who fight secretly for Robert Bruce. They are the best warriors in the land, each with his own specialty. In previous books, Lachlan was referred to as untrustworthy and only out for himself, working for the only but I knew he was being judged unfairly when he saved Tor Macleod’s life on the side of the mountain. He downplayed it and acted like it was no big deal but I knew he was a good guy underneath it all.

MacRuairi was the chief of his clan but was betrayed by his first wife, John MacDougall’s sister, long ago resulting in Lachlan being ambushed which killed forty of his clansmen but she did it in a way in which it looked like he was at fault so he lost his clan. Since then, he has not trusted anyone. He’s mean and keeps everyone at a distance. All he wants is to pay his debts and when his service is finished with Bruce, go live on his own island by himself.

When he meets Bella MacDuff, he is immediately attracted to her but he never wants to be betrayed by a beautiful woman again so he is abrupt and rude to her but he does his duty and delivers her to Bruce’s coronation.
After Robert Bruce is defeated once again, Lachlan is ordered to run with Bruce’s wife, Bella and a few others. Unfortunately, they were captured. Bella was imprisoned and put into a cage and hung from Berwick Castle in a cage. She suffered greatly in the wind, rain and cold.
I thought it was impressive how the crowd stood behind her by not jeering and then someone threw a single pink rose at her feet and how the pink rose became a symbol for rebellion to show how the people thought her punishment too severe and harsh.

Lachlan MacRuairi never forgot about Bella though, he tried to rescue her once but failed. It’s been years and she has been moved to an indoor cell. Sources say that she is about to be moved to a nunnery so Lachlan finally convinces Robert Bruce to let him rescue her.

Bella is being forced to take the veil in a convent. Her captives have used her love for her daughter against her for years, promising that if she was good that they would allow her to visit but it has never happened. Now, they are threatening to hurt her daughter unless she becomes a nun. Her cousin agrees to go in Bella’s place, posing as Bella, since she has always wanted to become a nun.

Bella and Lachlan had a lot to overcome. Both were tortured souls.

I think this was my favorite book in the series so far.

I like how the author puts notes about the actual historical events at the end of each book. Bella being hung from Berwick Castle really happened. The cruelty of kings and nobility back then never ceases to horrify and disgust me.

This story has gotten under my skin and I can’t stop reading it.

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We don't know what really happened to Isabella MacDuff after her trial in the cage on the tower at Berwick, but McCarty gave her a story here—one that I think is worthy, especially considering the research that went into it. Although I got angry at her decisions a few times, ultimately, I could understand them. Lachlan is that perfect tortured hero we all hate to love. He's like a s'more: crunchy on the outside, but oh so soft and squishy on the inside.

(I was screaming during that epilogue. I can't believe McCarty included a sneak peak into the future with the couple from book 12! That's 8 books away!! I mean, it's understandable considering the hero and heroine kind of already met in this book—but the nerve!) ( )

I loved the character of Lachlan MacRuairi. He had a strong back story. He was by far the most mysterious of the Highland Guard thus far. I was looking forward to reading his story the most.

"I love you, Bella. I will love you not until my dying day, but from the heights of heaven or the depths of hell until my soul ceases to be."

The Viper, Lachlan, is a Gallowglass. A soldier for hire. He is tasked with helping Isabella MacDuff escape. He is to bring her safely to meet and crown Robert the Bruce. Along the way they develop a mutual respect for each other. After the king is crowned Lachlan is once again tasked with delivering Bella some place safe. Only this time she is captured by the enemy. Lachlan sets out to save Bella and free her from her captures.

Lachlan is an intense character. The story is very well written. I didn't like some aspects of Bella's character. But I understood the why's of it. I am looking forward to the next Highland Guard installment.
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just love viper ( )