The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel (Highland Guard Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Monica McCarty (Author)

Book Description

Series: Highland Guard Novels | Publication Date: March 23, 2010

AN ELITE FIGHTING FORCE UNLIKE THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN . . .

Scouring the darkest corners of the Highlands and Western Isles, Robert the Bruce handpicks ten warriors to help him in his quest to free Scotland from English rule. They are the best of the best, chosen for their superior skills in each discipline of warfare. And to lead his secret Highland Guard, Bruce chooses the greatest warrior of all.
 
The ultimate Highland warlord and a swordsman without equal, Tor MacLeod has no intention of being drawn into Scotland’s war against the English. Dedicated to his clan, the fiercely independent chief answers to no one—especially not to his alluring new bride, bartered to him in a bid to secure his command of the deadliest fighting force the world has ever seen. The treacherous chit who made her way to Tor’s bed may have won his hand, but she will never claim his heart.

Although her husband’s reputation is as fierce as his manner, Christina Fraser believes that something softer hides beneath his brutal shell. But the only warmth she feels is in their bed, in glorious moments of white-hot desire that disappear with the dawn. When Christina’s reckless bid to win her husband’s love goes awry and thrusts them into danger on the eve of war, Tor will face his ultimate battle: to save his wife and to open his heart—before it’s too late.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

McCarty (Highland Scoundrel) begins a new Highland romance trilogy, this one set in the early 14th century. While Robert the Bruce attempts to consolidate the clans against the king, clan chief Tormod MacLeod hopes to remain above suspicion as he begins a special ops force, but his allegiance looks questionable after he's tricked into marrying Christina Fraser, the daughter of a nobleman once imprisoned for supporting William Wallace. Tor faces internal conflict as his growing feelings for his wife battle his warrior code. McCarty devotes too much time to the special ops story line, and romance fans will find little to engage with as Tor remains cold in the face of Christina's efforts to breach his emotional walls, but readers who deplore wallpaper historicals will appreciate not only the romance but McCarty's efforts to go beyond the superficialities of historical Scotland. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Monica McCarty is the bestselling author of the Highlander trilogy (Highlander Untamed, Highlander Unmasked, and Highlander Unchained). Her interest in the Scottish clan system began in the most unlikely of places: a comparative legal history course at Stanford Law School. After a short but enjoyable stint practicing law, she realized that her legal vocation and her husband’s transitory career as a professional baseball player were not exactly a match made in heaven. So McCarty traded in her legal briefs for Scottish historical romances with sexy alpha heroes. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their two young children.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Original edition (March 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345518225
• ISBN-13: 978-0345518224
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Historical > General
  • #95 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > General

More About the Author

Monica McCarty is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of ten (& counting!) Scottish Historical Romance novels. Her interest in the Scottish clan system began in the most unlikely of places: a comparative legal history course at Stanford Law School. After a short, but enjoyable, stint practicing law, she realized that mixing a legal career with her husband's transitory career as a professional baseball player was not exactly a match made in heaven. So she "traded" in her legal briefs for Scottish Historical Romances with sexy alpha heroes. When not trekking across the moors and rocky seascapes of Scotland, Monica can be found in Northern California with her husband and two children.
Please visit her website at www.MonicaMcCarty.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The early years, March 27, 2010

By 

Kelley Harlow "Cheshire" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel (Highland Guard Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have enjoyed Monica McCarty's Highlander stories from reading her first book "Highlander Untamed". Each book after that has kept the characters linked. One becomes a part of each character and her new series is no different.
"Chief" was very enjoyable and addicting. This story takes place before her first Highlander stories. The characters she introduced were fantastic. She brought each one of the Highland Guard to life. The training of the Guard was a wonderful way to begin this new series. I was hooked from the first page and could not put it down. I am looking forward to her next book "Hawk". I will be pre-ordering it.
If you like romance with adventure this as well as all of Monica McCarty's books are perfect. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read.

K Harlow
A huge Highlander fan.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Medieval With a Modern Angle, April 7, 2010

By 

C. Farley "seafaire" (Bakersfield, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel (Highland Guard Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Many Medieval novels are too grim if they are historically accurate or silly if they are not. This novel walks a fine line that seems entirely probable. Creating a core team of highly trained warriors and then launching that group seems perfectly reasonable no matter what era. The political intrigue is a welcome background compared with so much typical "woohoo" in many Highland genre novels. People can be amazing when presented with even mortal skills honed to a fine point. Additionally, the female lead is competent, refreshing and believable. Women had a difficult time in this era and the female lead comes well equipped and informed as to her roles. Some secondary characters could use more details but we can happily anticipate that in future books. Her next books will be an auto-buy as this kicks off a new series.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting historical romance, March 27, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel (Highland Guard Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1305, Scotland appears to have lost its war with the English. Robert the Bruce knows his warriors cannot defeat the English in open combat so he decides to use guerilla special operation tactics to wear down their opponent. Thus alliances are made to unify the divided Scottish clans.

Christina Fraser heads to the island of Isla to attend her sister's marriage to ferocious Tormod "Tor" MacLeod. However, she offers herself in her sibling's place as she has much more fortitude to stand up against the roaring Highlander. Bruce offers Tor his clan lands back if he vows allegiance and leads a counter force. Tor is attracted to his new spouse but clan restoration and the war of Scottish independence come before personal desires.

This is an exciting historical romance in which the war preparations as a medieval special forces type unit adhering to the Scottish warrior code provide freshness to the tale. The relationship between the married couple add tension as he puts his clan and his battle team ahead of his growing love for his feisty wife who brought baggage into their marriage as her father supported Wallace. Well written, Monica McCarty's devoted romance fans will relish this deep look at Scotland trying to regain its independence.

Harriet Klausner