Read Book Two in the bestselling Hearts of the Highlands Scottish Romance series. Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!The light tempted him away from his purpose, and though he enjoyed what he could find in the light, he chose to stay in the shadows cast by it…Commander Torin Gray is known among the Bruce’s most elite Highland warriors as Shadow because of his prowess at infiltrating any English … his prowess at infiltrating any English stronghold and discovering its weaknesses before bringing the king’s army to its doors. His greatest skill is gaining trust and friendship from his enemies while planning their demise. He feels no shame or regret for the things he’s done, the people he’s killed. He wants no reward. After watching the English massacre his family when he was a boy, he vowed revenge on them all, one stronghold at a time. For him, the Scottish War of Independence is personal and he will not be stopped.
But nothing could have prepared him for the beautiful outlaw he’s about to face, or how bravely she draws him out of the shadows and into the light.
Braya Hetherington has always wanted to raid and fight like the men in her family, but her skill as a reiver is frowned upon because she’s a woman—especially because she is better at raiding than the men.
Having already lost one brother to war with the Scots, Braya is a warrior who seeks peace. So when a handsome knight appears at the side of the Warden of the Western Marches and is accused of murdering four of her thieving cousins, she must discover if he is innocent, or risk war. But Torin Gray is unlike any man she’s ever met before. He enjoys the scent of a flower and he doesn’t find her unappealing when she almost beats him at practice. Mostly, his needful kisses and possessive touch make her feel weak. And she likes it.
Will she forgive him when she discovers he is here to bring the hated Scots down upon them? Or must she kill him before he succeeds?
Hearts of the Highlands Series
Heart of Ashes
Heart of Shadows
Heart of Stone (coming Summer 2019)
more
Commander Torin Gray is a spy for Robert the Bruce. He gets into the enemy castles or keeps and works from the inside to help the attacking army. He has lived only for revenge since the English killed his family.
Braya Hetherington is just as much a warrior as her brother, and better than most of thier men. They are a huge family of English reivers living on the border between Scotland and England. Times are hard and food is scarce. Sometimes some of her cousins do foolish things, like rob the wrong person.
This is a story full of emotion, intrigue and adventure. Our hero is torn between his duty and his heart, which has never happened before. Our heroine has never had a man treat her like an equal before, even when they know she could easily kill them.
We also have a very special animal that is just as interesting a character as the humans.
This is part of a series that I am totally addicted to, but it’s easily read on it’s own. Be warned, once you have read one you will want to read the rest.
I loved it.
Torin Gray has many demons that he deals with. On a mission for The Bruce things get complicated when he meets Braya. Torin has been sent to spy on the English and infiltrate Carlisle castle. Braya is an English outlaw reiver and Torin is drawn to her. As Braya and Torin become closer Torin fears what will happen when Braya finds out the truth about him. This is such a good story, I was hooked from the beginning. I loved everything about this story. This is the second book in the series but definitely a stand alone. I would recommend the first book also as I loved it! If you love Highlanders and romance the this has it all. Definitely recommend this book.
Torin Grey is a spy for Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. He’s been sent to a border castle to determine its military strength prior to a planned attack by the Scots. It’s not only his job, it’s his life. Having been orphaned as a child by the murdering English, he has lived on not much more than revenge all of his life, and spends his hours alone trusting no one.
Braya is a ‘reiver’, a member of a family of outlaws. Their community lives outside the boundaries of nobility, neither on the side of English or Scots, but only to take care of their own families. She is beautiful, deadly, and tired of war. Bray’s main concern is the safety of her family, and those she loves.
Torin and Braya are thrown together by fate, and for the first time he can remember, Torin feels something other than anger or hatred because of his association with Braya. She has given him emotions he finds confusing but they become necessary, SHE becomes necessary.
This is a terrific story with intrigue, action, romance and some unexpected twists. A stand-alone, but the second in a series, I enjoyed it and am definitely looking forward to the next.
England 1320 The Shadow. He was a force unto himself and he only had revenge on his mind. Revenge for the murder of his family by the English. Sir Torin Gray was one of the Bruce’s fierst warriors and was determined to takedown Carlisle Castle. In a brilliant move by saving some of the knights from being killed by reivers, he was able to infiltrate the castle. That is when he met Breya, supposedly a fierce warrior. He thought “This slight wisp of a lass, more beautiful than a sunrise after battle, was one of Heatherington’s fiercest warriors?” Little did he know!! But she was English. The enemy.
Paula Quinn has crafted an intriguing story pulling us into the hearts and minds of two people. Torin who had lost everything when he was five but had grown and become a warrior. Braya who was a reviver along with her family because that is how they survived. It was her five cousins Torin had killed but she believed his story of kill or be killed.
She tries to fight against was her strong attraction to him and she brings feelings to him he is forced to try to tamper down. But can these two find a middle ground and find love?
Prepare to be pulled into a story of a man surrounded by darkness who begins to see the light. Can he keep her and her family safe and still do what he set out to do with a plan to take the castle and revenge the Scots?
I was so happy to read this story after the first amazing book and could not stop once I turned the first page! I cannot wait for more in this series!!
I Love reading Paula Quinn’s Hearts of the Highlands Book series. She gives you such wonderful characters that your impressions of Torin Gray and Braya Hetherington are real and you understand what they are discovering about life. Torin holds his dark past to close to his heart that he is consumed by darkness. His one plan in life is to make the English pay for killing his family and making him an orphan. His struggles through life have toned him into a superior warrior for King Robert the Bruce. His ability to enter English strongholds and weaken them enough, that when the Scottish forces attack, they fall. However, on this mission, he finds an English outlaw’s daughter that makes him question his ability. Braya Hetherington was a skilled opponent but he did not want to hurt her…he would rather kiss her that defeat her. Will he be able to accomplish his mission and keep Braya and her family safe and perhaps heal his damaged heart? This is one you will not want to put down.
This book is filled with action and suspense, that will have you questioning who to believe. The romance between Torin and Braya is a slow process, but this gives the reader the opportunity to see their love grow. I love how Braya, is her own self. She takes upon herself to be her own protector. This makes her a very strong warrior. Torin see’s this in her and tries his best at avoiding to challenge her in a dual. This is a good book to read if you’re looking for romance, action, suspense, and drama. I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
Rating: 3 – 3.5 stars
Torin, the Scottish hero, becomes torn between his long term career of fighting against/infiltrating the defenses of the English for vengeance sake and his heart, which becomes entangled with his new unexpected desire for Braya, the fierce English warrior type leading lady. It seems for quite a while he’s still determined to let the ends justify the means by lying or doing whatever necessary to get the job done, even if it means death and destruction to her family.
With a slow build to their instant attraction relationship and rather slow moving main plot, this couple get time to know each other before lies and deceit catch up with him. It isn’t until late in the book steaminess makes an appearance, as well. Along the way, we witness him finally not being able to risk her getting caught in the cross hairs but still not relenting on his mission.
My favorite part was the brave, loyal, fierce in a fight heroine. Her level headedness in always trying to point people to the path of peace also endeared me to her. She was the calm in the storm but was quick to jump even lead the way right into the middle of a take no prisoners bloody fight.
I’m torn how to rate this book. I’m thinking 3 stars for the slow paced aspect but feel compelled to bump it up because I admired the heroine so much. Therefore, 3.5 stars it is.
Romance Safety Gang: She’s a virgin. There is reference to him being inexperienced at kissing (so their first kiss felt awkward to him) but also that he’s been with other wrenches before. One bad guy wants her, and she’s had to forcibly put men in their place for trying to take liberties with her on many occasions. She teaches them a lesson they don’t soon forget. It is late in the book when there is some steaminess. They get to know each other first. Well, sort of, cause she’s doesn’t know the truth about him until after they are intimate.
Title: Heart of Shadows, Series: Highland Hearts (Book 2), Author: Paula Quinn, Pages: 219, author I enjoy, stand-alone but part of a series, brave/loyal/fierce warrior leading lady, alpha warrior hero who wants revenge so lies/does whatever it takes, some graphic bloody fight scenes, a few steamy scenes late in book, slow paced plot, slow build to relationship, instant attraction.
Book 1 – Heart of Ashes
Book 2 – Heart of Shadows
Book 3 – Heart of Stone
Book 4 – Lion Heart
(These comments are based on a Kindle Unlimited version. This is not a detailed ARC review.)