The Widow and the Highlander by Martha Keyes

Published by Martha Keyes February 27, 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Pages: 300

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Publisher’s Description

She needs to be protected. He’ll take on the job…for a price.

Christina MacKinnon is secretly relieved to be a widow. She is equally desperate to distance herself from the clan of her dead husband, but as the heir to his estate—one she needs in order to support her siblings—she must first stave off both the advances and threats of the man next in line to inherit. It seems the only person she can turn to is a nearby stranger who seems inclined to help her. But he has a request….

Freshly returned from the war, Lachlan Kincaid has one aim: to see justice served to the MacKinnons for betraying his family years ago and depriving him of his inheritance. While biding his time at a nearby inn, he discovers the death of the MacKinnon laird—whose widow has inherited everything. The way to accomplish his goal is becoming more evident, but the path is murkier than he could have foreseen.

As Christina’s and Lachlan’s lives intersect, it becomes clear that their separate aims may well only be achievable if they join forces. But to do so is to court more danger, and it requires a sacrifice Christina isn’t sure she’s prepared to make.

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Story Notes

Martha Keyes brings to her readers a new series based in the Highlands of Scotland with excellent characters, a touch of intrigue and a beautiful love story that no one will want to miss.

This was a really wonderful story! I had heard so many good things from those who had been part of the launch team for this book and I was so excited to have a chance to read this as an ARC before it’s release. It’s set in the Highlands during the 1700s just after the death of the Laird of Dunverlockie Castle. Christina MacKinnon is finally free of her domineering and abusive husband and is feeling no remorse over her loss. The fever that took him was the miracle she had prayed for and now praised God for providing. If she could only oust his cousin, Angus, and all his ribald clansmen, she might finally have some peace. But Angus is determined to be master of both Dunverlockie and his own keep, Benleith, and will do whatever is necessary to ensure that happens. Somehow she must keep Dunverlockie out of his hands; if only she could find someone who is not under his thumb who could help. Lachlan Kincaid has returned to Inverness after serving in the military for nearly two decades, seeking to let the truth about his family’s connection with the MacKinnons be known. He lost everything as a child when his father was executed for treason but his father was not alone in his actions – Howard MacKinnon was an accomplice as well but never punished. He takes a job as stable hand at the inn in Glencour near Dunverlockie to determine his plan going forward. Little does he know his plan will become much more complicated than he ever dreamed when he meets the current owner of the castle. Christina finds an ally in Lachlan but to keep them both truly safe will require an agreement she is loath to make, even with such a respectable man. Reluctantly agreeing, she makes demands of her own to keep herself safe from harm, either physical or emotional. But neither of them count on the draw of attraction between them that comes with working together day by day. Danger is still lurking, lying in wait for the opportune moment so Lachlan and Christina will have their greatest challenge yet to face down if they are both to be finally free of the past. As I mentioned before, this story was such a good read. The look into the lives of those who lived in the Highlands and were members of the reputed clans of Scotland was very engaging. I loved the Scottish burr that was in Lachlan’s speech and the way that Ms. Keyes played it off Christina’s plainer, more English speech. The tension that was wrapped through the story regarding Christina and Lachlan was also very well written and gave me plenty of time to hold my breath. I was delightfully frightened for both of them when it came to the attacks to their person and enjoyed every second of those passages. And the swoony romance between Lachlan and Christina was just perfect, making me long to find a Highlander of my own. They both had to learn to love in ways they never expected and it grew them into stronger and better people. I cannot wait to see what will happen in the next story which is focused on Christina’s sister, Elizabeth, and one of the MacKinnon clansmen, Malcolm. I have no doubt it will be just as excellent as this story and will have even more of the snarky comments from Elizabeth that I loved in this book. Well done with this new series, Ms Keyes; it’s definitely a winner!

I received this complimentary ARC E-book from Martha Keyes via BookFunnel in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.