The Heart of a Highlander by Julie Johnstone

The Heart of A Highlander by Julie Johnstone
on November 22, 2019
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Scottish
Pages: 272
Goodreads

He finally has the chance to clear his family name. The only thing standing in his way is his tempting new wife. 

Known as the King Maker, Ada MacQuerrie yearns to wed for love and not the magical gift she possesses. But her ruthless stepbrother doesn’t care what she wants; he just needs her to marry one of his treacherous allies. When an attempt to escape his control and save those she loves goes awry, Ada is forced to choose a husband from the miscreants who’ve come to align themselves with him. All seems lost until a compelling latecomer displays unexpected honor. But is the mysterious Highlander another treasonous Scot simply trying to seduce and manipulate her, or is the man they call Wolf the ally she’s been hoping for? 

William MacLean has spent years shouldering the shame of his father’s and brother’s alleged treason against the king. So when the chance to exonerate his family presents itself, he willingly woos an unwanted bride who has the power to topple his enemies. A seemingly simple plan. Except William has survived by keeping others at a distance, and his new wife is not the calculating enemy he expected but a bold, brave beauty he fears could become his greatest weakness.

When passion flares between them, Ada cannot suppress the hope that her dreams could come true. Yet the closer she tries to get to William, the more he withdraws. It’s not until justice is within his grasp and his enemies take Ada from him that he realizes the demons dwelling within him can only be conquered by the light his wife offers. But is it too late to surrender his heart to the woman who already holds it? 

The Heart of a Highlander by Julie Johnstone is book 9 in the Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts series. I think these books just get better and better. I thought this story was engaging from the first chapter to the last. I loved the touch of magic infused from the beginning with a strong reminder of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and the fairies. I think Ada Mac Querrie is one of my favorite Johnstone heroines. I loved her strength and softness. Too many Scottish heroines are portrayed with wearying acerbic tongues and cutting wits. Though Ada lashes out at times, she is touchable and relatable in her pain. I enjoyed the slow development of the relationship between her and the hero William Mac Lean. “Ada was like the snake in the Garden of Eden – too tempting to ignore. That look in her eyes ignited his blood and set his inner warning bell to ringing. With no hope of avoiding it, William leaned down. He planned to quickly brush his lips to hers, but he was only human, for God’s sake, and the minute he touched her warm lips and tasted her seductive sweetness, he knew, with every finely honed instinct that had kept him alive thus far, that he was in trouble.” There were several steamy sex scenes. I truly loved this book.