Highlander Unmasked: A Novel (Macleods of Skye)

Her books are a true surprise. Her writting is very similar to Hannah Howell's heart racing and excitting. Loved it!!!

This was another book that would keep you on the edge of your seat. I could not put it down. I read it in two days.

Never has a man held such a burden. In Alex MacLeod's mission hangs the fate of his Highland people, a way of life. He must do everything in his power to prevent the King's plan to colonize the Highlands with Lowlanders. In Edinburgh, Alex uses his cunning, stealth and charm to disguise where his loyalties lie. The King's men, not knowing of the serpent lying in their midst, reveal the details of their mission. Only a beguiling woman stands in his way. A woman who awakens a need in him he never new existed with the power to devastate his mind, body, soul and the fate of his people. Never has a woman held such a burden. Meg MacKinnon holds the fate of her clan in her hands. With an ailing father, she needs to find a trustworthy and loyal husband who will support her simple brother as chief. The Edinburgh court holds her answer, that is until she attacked on her journey there. Amidst the horror of the battle she is saved by a mysterious highlander, whose visage -days later- she cannot forget. An encounter at court with the brother of a neighboring clan chief raises her suspicions. A man with honor, strength and loyalty? Although she may wish it, he is not a man for her. A mercenary is not the man to support her brother and help lead her people. How could a man who displays sweet tenderness and love be loyal to no one? Meg has her doubts and will stop at nothing until her highlander is unmasked. I love these types of books. A book where the hero has to make a life altering decision -his people vs his woman. *Sniff* Lots of roller coaster of emotions here. *semi spoiler* Just as he realizes that he loves her, he must be cruel and push her away in the worst way possible. His duty to his people comes before his heart. This comes just as heroine finally realizes that she has found true love. Not just a another duty that she humbly has accepted for all these years. The devastation is immediate. The reader is sucked into a whirlwind of emotion. Rooting for the highland people and for the love of the H/H -seemingly impossible. So if you like highlander tales (seriously, who doesn't like those sexy Scots? ;))with a bit of bittersweet and tender emotion added to the mix then you love this one. A deluge of historical detail, which I found fascinating. Great characterizations and an action filled plot that has several swoon worthy scenes. This can be read as a stand alone book. The prequel 'Highlander Untamed' is good (****), but I found this one even better.

In 1605 Highlander Lady Meg Mackinnon understands her responsibility to properly marry the right man for her clan. On the way to the court of King James to find a husband, she and her party are attacked. Alex McLeod rescues Meg. Alex works undercover in an effort to prevent King James from devastating the clans by removing them from their homeland isles. He wants Meg and she desires him, but his mission comes first before his attraction. However, in spite of his efforts to just say no to her, they end up making love even as both are endangered from their enemies who want both dead as a key first step in destroying the power base of the Highlands. Although somewhat similar in tone to the typical early seventeenth century Scottish romantic intrigue, HIGHLANDER UNMASKED is refreshed by the dilemma confronting the hero; which head rules. He want to help Meg and simply wants her, but to do so jeopardizes his undercover mission that he has methodically at great sacrifice worked at setting up. Historical romance fans will enjoy this fine tale and look for Monica McCarty's previous take HIGHLANDER UNTAMED, not read by this reviewer. Harriet Klausner

Alex and Meg are two very interesting characters. Meg is a sort of book-ish Laird's daughter, who's brother, the next Laird, is a 'simpleton'. Probably not completely retarded, but one who can't do his figures, and is not suited to be a warrior. Meg wants to find a suitor who might serve as Laird: be able to take control of her father's lands when the time comes, but who will not usurp her brother's position. Pretty daunting! And Meg is pretty smart herself - analytical and clever. Alex is one of these alpha-male types, the brother of Rory, from HIghlander Untamed by the same author. Meg doesn't count on falling in love with him, never thought that putting familial/clan duty before her own happiness in marriage might lead to a sacrifice that few would willingly make. In the end, falling in love is her undoing. The story is filled with historical facts - it is a well researched historical. The dialog is great, and there is a good deal of suspense. My only quibble is that toward the end of the story, the circumstances become more and more far-fetched, and the characters seemed more and more 21rst century instead of 17th century. Even the dialog had a few contemporary slip-ups. When Alex goes off to war, and Meg tries to follow him, I thought - hey! Where's that obedience that a woman in that era would owe a man who might become her husband? Why don't the men around her, trying to protect her, Jamie, and Alex himself, not order her out of the war-zone (I don't want to give too much away) instead of acting like manipulative love-struck teenagers? Meg, toward the end, seemed like a willful little girl rather than the cool, analytical protagonist we loved at the beginning, and put everyone's life in danger. In spite of those things, however, this was a very enjoyable read (4.5 stars), Alex is to-die-for, and Meg is a protagonist that most contemporary women can really identify with. I look forward to more from Monica McCarty.