Customer Reviews

The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel (Highland Guard Novels)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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

(The following is my opinion and to help you in deciding if you want to give this book a try. Author-Bashing not tolerated.)

Synopsis: 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. 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.

Slap Her: There was very little that Christina did that made you want to reach through the pages and slap her for being a childish moronic dolt.

Me Tarzan: Considering who Tor was, the Me Tarzan qualities were needed to make the story believable. Though I wish we'd seen more of his feelings for her expressed. I imagine that will be seen in future books.

Get On With It: Again, very little of the typical I-Love-You-I-Hate-You-Im-Leaving-I-Love-You-I-Hate-You-Im Leaving nonsense.

H&T Factor: For those that don't like heaving bosoms and thrusting members...look elsewhere. There's a whole lotta heaving and thrusting :)

Research: The history and back-story are well researched and more than hold your attention.

Cross-Over: I thought there was too much contemporary phrasing. For example, "You're doing a FANTASTIC job".

Sub-Characters/Side-Plots: Aside from the Highland Guards themselves, there wasn't alot of sub-character development. However, since this book is laying the foundation for the others that will following, that makes sense.

Keeper: I don't love everything that Monica McCarty writes; however I have loved at least one book from her previous series. My weird series rule is I keep them all or I keep none. As long as the majority of the others in this series rate a "yes" in in Keeper category, I'll keep them all.


OVERALL: I'd give it a 5. The contemporary phrasing wasn't worth a full grade lower.


Reviewed by: Highland Lass June 2010

"William Wallace is dead."

Not a bad way to start a novel and the scene that follows with Robert Bruce lays out the political scene in 1305 Scotland fairly well and sets up a potentially good story. But that story suffers in the execution. It's not actually badly written, although it probably could have been 100 pages shorter. The main problems are a heroine that is too wimpy, a hero that is too thick-headed, cliched characterizations, and too much time spent on "pirate" military training. Hot sex scenes, though. But with so many romance novels and so little time, I probably won't read another by this author.

I was so excited for this new series and was not dissapointed at all. I love how the author uses such masculine men and beautiful woman. its just what a romance should be. total sexy alpha males and sweet beautiful heroines that have a bit of spunk mixed with the perfect amount of kindness(which is nice now because usually the pretty girls in all the romance novels i read now are always so nasty and uppity) Not only are the characters beautiful but they always have great chemistry and great personalities. I so enjoy her romances i cant say enough....oh yeah the book itself was also full of battle, history, and tension but you have to read it for yourself...GREAT

I thought this book would be really good based on the reviews. Initially the reading was a little slow due to the author's lengthy descriptions. Once the hero met the heroine I though it would pick up a little bit. I like the hero in this book because he is strong and resolute in his decisions but you know that he cares for his people. The heroine on the other hand is forever crying and whining about "feelings." You would think that with the time period they are in that she would understand his role as the Chief and his need to protect his people. The heroine completely ruined this novel for me. She seemed to be just a pretty face without any true substance. I don't particularly care for the weak willed "oh he doesn't love me" women in romance novels. Show a little back bone for goodness sake. The only reason I gave it 3 stars is based solely on the Hero.

i have enjoyed Ms McCarty's books for a long time, i think that she is a strong writer who really gets to grips with the characters.

However, this has not been the case with this story. It felt rushed and not developed as her previous books. it was a little disappointing and at certain places it felt flat where i skipped pages, just to read something that was stimulating. Overall the characters were not as developed or as rounded as they should have been. The story was was just OK

I wish I hadn't read this book now because it makes it very hard waiting for the rest of the books to come out. This was a great book, loved the fight within the hero himself (wife and comfort vs clan) and the heorine is such a likable character. The author did great intoducing the rest of the characters of the upcoming books, loved all the training scenes. I have read it twice already and still feel like reading it again. I think the story of Viper with be especailly interesting. And am a little confused regarding Campbell- is he or not part of the Guard? If so, why didn't Bruce knight him?

Great book

I would have to say that The Chief is my current favorite Monica McCarty book. I loved the characters and really felt for both Christina & Tor. I'm excited to see where this series goes. I'm eagerly awaiting The Hawk and the expansion of the rest of the potential male leads for this warriors.
This should be a definite read for any McCarty fan.