On a
search to find his missing brother, long thought dead until recently,
Lochlan encounters the beautiful and shrewish Catarina, who is fending off a
group of ruffians who are determined to take her to Paris against her will.
Without missing a beat, the chivalrous laird steps in to save the lovely
lass from her kidnappers. After all, she once saved his brother’s life and
his family owed her for that, no matter the barrage of insults she
consistently pelts Lochlan with.
Sure, the lady tries his patience sorely, but as they travel together, he
finds himself liking the spunky lass – against his better judgment. And
that ‘liking’ is turning into something a lot more like love…
I
became a huge fan of author Sherrilyn Kenyon a couple of years ago, and
liked her works under that name so much that I have since purchased every
book she has published under either that name or the pen name Kinley
MacGregor. Alas, with a to-be-read pile that would stand taller than I do,
I am still working to catch up on actually reading her back list.
And so it is that the third book in the Brotherhood of the Sword
series, The Warrior, is the first Kinley MacGregor title I
have read.
Although the third book in the series works very well as a standalone novel
for those of us who have not yet read the previous books in the Brotherhood
stories, It made me more than eager to read the books that came
first. There were just enough references to past events and other
characters to make me curious without leaving me feeling lost or as if I
were missing critical pieces of information necessary to enjoy The Warrior.
Lochlan and Catarina are a fiery match, with Catarina’s penchant for
needling her hero keeping him on his toes. She just can’t seem to resist,
much to the reader’s delight and Lochlan’s dismay. Of course, that dismay
changes to something else as he begins to see the real woman underneath the
sharp tongue and barbed wit – a woman he more than admires.
Lochlan himself shows Catarina time and again that he is a thoughtful,
caring man who would sacrifice himself to help another – whether a brother,
a friend, or a lowly peasant boy. While she is determined to retain her
freedom by never submitting to the chains of marriage, she finds herself
ill-equipped to resist the man whose very actions unwittingly woo her time
and again. For those very actions show him to be a kindred spirit, and a
man who she can see herself enjoying a long and happy life with – IF she
wanted to marry, that is. LOL
Fans who read this author’s Dark Hunter series will be
intrigued by the ending of this book… In a scene that hints of crossover
characters, Kinley MacGregor feeds rampant speculation across her fan base.
When asked at a recent book signing in Smyrna, Tennessee if we may indeed
expect some crossover between these two series, Ms. MacGregor would only
answer with a grin on her face and a twinkle in her eye… Was it merely a
delicious tease or a hint of things to come? Who can say but the author
herself. But I can tell you this, the idea will definitely have this
reviewer anticipating the new releases in both the Brotherhood of the
Sword series and the Dark Hunter series even more
eagerly than I already do!
If you enjoy a spunky heroine who continually confounds her ever-so-noble
hero, then pick up this wonderful historical romance! The Warrior
is sure to thrill readers both new and familiar with Kinley MacGregor’s
work!
Reviewed by Jennifer
