The Sinner
Book 2: The Return of the Highlanders
Author: Margaret Mallory
ISBN: 0446583103 | 9780446583107
Publisher: Grand Central
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Review courtesy of NetGalley
Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.
Irresistible Desire: Alex MacDonald is known for his skill as a warrior, his prowess with women, and his vow to never take a wife. But now his chieftain has asked him to make the ultimate sacrifice: wed Glynis MacNeil, a lass famed throughout the Highlands for her exquisite beauty—and defiant ways.
Familiar with heartbreak, Glynis refuses to fall for another handsome scoundrel. Yet when Alex's past sins force an unlikely union, Glynis gives in to temptation and becomes his wife. Will their newfound passion be strong enough to fight the enemy that threatens their home, their clan, and their very lives?
My Thoughts:
If you love sexy Highlanders, strong heroines, a dash of drama, and a smidgen (or two) of steamy scenes, you won’t be disappointed. I could hardly put the book down! For history buffs, Margaret Mallory includes a wonderful selection of historical tidbits at the end.
In the first book, The Guardian, we met four Highlanders—Connor, Ian, Alex, and Duncan—childhood friends bound by loyalty. When Connor steps up as chieftain after his father’s death, he asks Alex to marry into a neighboring clan to secure an alliance. But Alex isn’t exactly husband material.
“I’d take a blade for Connor,” Alex said, losing his humor, “but I’ll no take a wife for him.”
Alex is a confirmed bachelor with a notorious weakness for pretty lasses. His parents' disastrous marriage left scars, and he vowed never to wed. That is… until he meets Glynis.
Glynis wants nothing to do with marriage either—her first ended disastrously after just a few months. She’s fierce, independent, and not about to let any man control her future.
A touch of the paranormal adds even more intrigue. Tearlag, the one-eyed seer from book one, returns to offer Alex a cryptic prophecy:
"On your journey, three women will ask for help and ye must give it. But beware! One brings danger, another deceit, and the last one with the power to fulfill his deepest desires."
As Alex and Glynis journey together, forced proximity fans the flames of their undeniable attraction. And let me just say—those steamy scenes? 🔥🔥🔥 Perfection.
But can Alex truly change? Can Glynis learn to trust? Their chemistry is undeniable, but the path to happily-ever-after isn’t easy.
You can jump into The Sinner without reading book one, but I loved having the background. Especially the prologue where the seer tells the young Highlander lads of the love they’ll one day find.
I received this ARC free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:
About the Author:
Margaret Mallory surprised her friends and family by abandoning her legal career to write romance and adventure. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a silly dog, and an ornery cat. With her kids off to college, she devotes her time to her Scottish historical series, The Return of the Highlanders.
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Margaret
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