Scotland, 1335: Marriage between clans is a matter of property and power, rarely love. But the only daughter of Laird McKenna longs for passion—and finds it in a Highlander’s arms . . . The unconventional Lady Katherine McKenna has been granted a rare privilege: the right to choose her own husband. It’s a more difficult task than she expected. When at last she agrees to a betrothal, it quickly … a betrothal, it quickly goes awry, leaving Katherine alone in the wilds . . . and rescued by Laird Lachlan MacTavish. She’s captivated by the proud, brooding chief who shows her such tender care. But with their clans on the brink of war, the honorable Lachlan resists his attraction—until Katherine proclaims to her family that they will wed.
Though stunned by her boldness, Lachlan is intrigued by Katherine’s beauty and spirit, and the MacTavishes will benefit from an alliance with the powerful McKennas. But with family discord, treachery, and deceit in their midst, can they save a marriage that is destined to blossom into incomparable love?
Praise for Adrienne Basso’s No Other Highlander
“Building a lively, convincing world of 14th-century Scottish Highland culture, Basso ratchets up the dramatic tension with friction between different clans. . . . This heartwarming, satisfying historical lays intriguing groundwork for the series’ next installment.” –Publishers Weekly
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4.5 stars
Katherine McKenna is the only daughter of Laird Brian McKenna and still unwed at 22, much to her father’s dismay. But Katherine has finally agreed to a match, Sir Hamish Drummond. Overjoyed, her father quickly makes plans to visit the Drummonds and sign the contracts. Katherine had hoped to find love like her parents and older brothers, but she is sure she will be content and grow to love Hamish. But when she learns that Hamish is in love with another woman, nothing will make her marry him and she bolts.
Lachlan MacTavish is Laird of the MacTavish clan, a poor, disgraced clan that was punished for choosing sides against the Bruce. He has tried hard to redeem his family and has worked twice as hard to keep his people from starving. He has petitioned the king for the return of his lands and hopes that he service to the crown has been enough. If Lachlan didn’t have enough problems, his younger half brother Robbie has been missing for almost a year, his other half brother Aiden thinks he should be leading the clan and his step-mother wants him to go to the McKenna’s and retrieve Robbie. Lachlan refuses to go after Robbie, so Aiden says he will go – Lachlan forbid him from doing anything to upset the powerful McKenna laird – they cannot afford to offend the man.
As luck would have it, Aiden comes upon Katherine fleeing and takes her captive. But when she escapes him, Lachlan knows they must find her and return her to her father – untouched and unharmed. He finds her in the woods, nearly frozen and ill, he plans to take her to a nearby convent, but the weather prevents it. He finds a hut and nurses her back to health himself. They only exchange first names, but she feels safe with him. When they share a kiss, Lachlan tells her the truth of who he is. She is upset, but understands his dilemma and agrees to try and calm her father.
They travel back to his castle and encounter Archibald Fraser – sworn enemy of the McKennas, thankfully Lachlan is able to convince Archibald that Katherine is just a cast out serving girl and they go on their way. When they reach his home, she is shock at the condition of the keep and the people. As she spends more time with Lachlan, the more she likes him and want to help him. But not everyone is happy that Katherine is there and a betrayal by Lachlan’s kin brings Archibald back looking for Katherine. Lachlan defeats him and makes a powerful enemy. Convinced he can no longer wait to return Katherine to her family, they make plans to leave, but before they do, Katherine’s younger brother Graham and her spurned betrothed show up.
Hamish demands Katherine marry him, she refuses and marries Lachlan behind his back to prevent her father from forcing her to marry Hamish. They arrive at the McKenna keep and will have to stand up to her father. The McKenna is not happy and tries to bribe Lachlan into setting aside the marriage and when that fails, he throws him in the dungeon.
Katherine has never been at odds with her father, but when she learns what her father has done, it doesn’t seem like they will ever find peace again. Katherine confesses her love to Lachlan and he to her, they vow they will find a way to be together, but they will still have a lot to overcome before they get their HEA.
This was a very good read, I loved Lachlan and Katherine! The book is well written and flows perfectly, there is action, betrayal, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, a villain who finally gets his comeuppance and a very, very sweet epilogue. This is the third book in the McKenna series, but this book could easily be read as a stand alone title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Thanks to her mother’s persistence, Katherine McKenna has been allowed to have her own choice of husband. But when she hasn’t done so by the age of 22, her father, the laid of their powerful clan, begins to grow impatient. Katherine agrees to marry the neighboring laird’s son, Hamish. But when she catches her new betrothed in a compromising situation with another woman, things quickly devolve, leading Katherine to flee back to her own home with a small contingent of guards. Things turn further south when she is captured by a man intending to hold her to ransom in exchange for the release of his brother, who he believes is being held prisoner by the McKenna clan. When Katherine escapes her kidnappers, she winds up alone and ill in the snoy woods and is rescued by Lachlan, none of than the brother of her kidnapper. Lachlan, laid of the impoverished Clan MacTavish is doing his best to keep his people fed by selling his sword to fight with the powerful Lowland lairds, thus earing their respect, which he hopes to use to regain his clan’s old lands and favor with the king. All the while there is treachery from all sides and this book kept me in some suspense the whole time with not knowing who can be trusted and rooting for Lachlan and Katherine to be together.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Bride Chooses a Highlander by Adrienne Basso is book Three in The McKennas series. This is the story of Lady Katherine McKenna and Laird Lachlan MacTavish. I have read the previous books but fee this is easily a standalone book.
Katherine was set to marry but she learned that he was in love with someone else…so she took off. This leads her to meeting Lachlan who is having his own issue but their time together starts building on feelings that they won’t be able to turn away from.
Enjoyed their story.
The path to true love is often rocky. Well, yes we all know that, but Katherine McKenna hoped that she could grow to love Hamish Drummond. Allowed to choose her husband, she thought she had made a good decision, only to find Hamish loved another! Of course she will not marry him now so she becomes the runaway bride and takes off!
Laird Lachlan MacTavish is head of a clan that had been disgraced and punished for taking the wrong side in battle and his lands where taken by the king. He has been working hard to redeem his family and people and keep them from staving. Asked to retrieve his brother Robbie, he sends his brother Aiden instead.
But Aiden comes upon Katherine and takes her captive. Fleeing she winds up in the woods nearly frozen and sick when Lachlan finds her. The adventure begins with several twist and turns as the two form an attachment as she heals.
Katherine, with her sweet, spirited nature and Lachlan, who is strong and honest as he opens up to her about how his clan is struggling are a perfect match. But going back to face her father, there are several surprising turns and I could not wait to see what happens!
I really enjoyed this story and the author did an excellent job with making the characters seem real and filling the story with action and intrigue as attraction grows. Oh yes, there is a villain too! Although part of a series this can be read as a standalone book. But I cannot wait to go back and read the others! Well done!
Another amazing read by Adrienne Basso! I just love her books!
BOOKREVIEW
The Bride Chooses A Highlander
ByAdrienne Basso
Book: The Bride Chooses A Highlander
by Adrienne Basso
Series: The McKennas, Book Three
Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook of
1. Tartan Book Reviews
2. Purple Tulip Book Reviews
3. Celtic World of Historical Book Reviews
4.Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book Review Blog
Heat Rating: Smoking Hot!
Overall Rating: 5 Stars and 5 Kilts
This is the third book of the McKenna series. Very romantic wish someone picked the most heather for me!
Scottish Highlands
Winter, 1335
In this story, the heroine who is definitely ahead of her time, is independent, strong, adventurous, spirited, intelligent, bold, unique, beautiful daughter Katherine, of Laird Brian McKenna. She is this sister of Malcolm, James and Graham. Her parents gave her the rare privilege most women do not have, as she can pick her own husband. The problem is she is already 22! An embarrassment to her clan and family, so this decision lays heavy in her heart.
The problem is she wants a successful loving marriage like her parents and brothers. Yet she knows it has to be an advantageous match too. It must be rank high to her station in life too as a Laird’s daughter, plus for her family one of their neighbors on their borders. She finally selects Hamish Drummond, heir to their neighbor Laird Drummond. She is pretty secure she will find love with him, just like her parents and brothers found with their wives. On the evening the betrothal ‘as contracts are signed and during the betrothal celebration, she catches her betrothed with another woman he is in love with. She knows this marriage will be miserable before it even begins. As Hamish won’t end it, so she writes a quick note to her parents and takes a few of her father’s guards with her and leaves. As far as she was concerned this marriage would never happen! Unfortunately she is kidnapped on her way home by one Aiden MacTavish!
Lachlan MacTavish, Laird of a starving clan, just because they choose the wrong side against “Robert the Bruce”. Unfortunately this happens often and the smaller clans suffer the most with healthy land, livestock and castles taken away. His clan is really suffering so when he finds out his jealous, vein younger half brother Aiden just kidnapped Laird McKenna’s daughter and lost her as well. He is absolutely furious! They were told their younger brother Robbie might possibly be imprisoned there. Aiden thinks he can do a trade, yet this is the richest clan with the strongest warriors in the highlands! Plus he went against Lachlans orders to do nothing! So Lachlan goes to locate the Lass and finds her very ill and this is when the attraction starts. He cares and heals her to the best of his knowledge and ability. This is where their attraction and feelings of love begins….
He knows it’s wrong to want the McKenna Lass as his clan is starving, but he just can’t help himself. He has to bring her back to her family ASAP. Then they find themselves near the McKennas enemy, Laird Archibald Fraser and lies to them about her identity-so they have another strong wealthy clan that might want to destroy them. Yet Lachlan will do anything to save his Lass, he knows of Archibald’s bad reputation of his cruelty and wicked temper. Yet when he finally does decide to bring her back to her clan, he knows things won’t go easy on him.
Will it be the end before it even begins for these star crossed lovers? On top of this Hamish wants to marry her immediately and accused Lachlan of stealing his betrothed!Yet it is only to be in the good graces of his father as Hamish loves another.
Now Lachlan knows he is not good enough for Katherine. Plus how can he ask a pampered princess to stay with him forever? Katherine knows Lachlan is the only man for her! In addition she knows his clan is in dire need of so much which she could help him and contribute to him and his entire clan. Yet will a prideful Laird Lachlan accept it or let her go? Due to his stubborn pride and foolish misguided honor!
What will her Da’s reaction be? Kidnapping a Laird’sm daughter and harming McKenna soldier guards is a capital offense! Will he allow Laird MacTavish to even live? After-all she had been been originally kidnapped by his brother foolish pigheaded brother Aiden. Even though Lachlan had no part in this stupid plot what will the McKenna possibly believe. Is this couple destined to stay together forever or live apart with shattered hearts?
I have been a fan of Ms Basso books for many years and each and every book are always action packed with captivating characters from heroines, hero’s to criminal, violent lawbreaking, villains. Always a riveting phenomenal read from start to finish, with breathtaking setting, brilliant dialogue, multi-dimensional characters that steal your heart! Plus amazing plots that has your holding your breath with your heartbeat racing wondering what could possibly happen next?!
I absolutely and unequivocally love Adrienne Basso’s Scottish historical novels and this one is an absolute winner!
The McKennas Series by Adrienne Basso
1)The Highlander Who Loved Me
2) No Other Highlander
3) The Bride Chooses A Highlander
Note: You can read all the books in this series as stand alone books. I personally like reading them in book order to connect the character dots. It’s totally a reader’s’ personal choice.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from the publisher. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
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Given the unusual option of choosing her own husband, Lady Katherine McKenna agrees to marry a man from a neighboring clan. Before the wedding can occur however, she finds out that her betrothed isn’t the honorable man she thought he was. Unable to tell her parents, Katherine she flees and is captured by several members of the MacTavish clan. Through sheer determination Katherine escapes her captors just as a fierce snowstorm descends. Becoming gravely ill in the storm, Katherine is rescued by Laird Lachlan MacTavish. After being nursed back to health and getting to know Lachlan, Katherine proposes that they instead marry, A mutually beneficial arrangement so to speak. After several twists and turns Katherine and Lachlan marry and overcome the obstacles and forces trying to keep them apart. If you’re a fan of the Scots romance genre this is a definite winner.