Some secrets will break your heart. Friends to lovers and unrequited love set in Ancient Scotland.Ailene is the bandrui—seer—of The Eagle tribe. With her role comes much responsibility. She lives a solitary existence and prefers it that way. Ailene doesn’t realize that her best friend Muin is in love with her. Muin is The Eagle chieftain’s son. He’s loved Ailene since they were children yet has … chieftain’s son. He’s loved Ailene since they were children yet has never gotten up the courage to tell her. But with their island under siege from marauders from the mainland he’s running out of time.
It’s only when Ailene dreams of Muin’s death that she starts to see her best friend in a different light … only has her change of heart come too late?
WARRIOR’S SECRET is Book #2 in The Pict Wars series set in ancient Isle of Skye, Scotland. Readers who enjoy Diana Gabaldon, Hazel Hunter, and Kathryn Le Veque will love this high-action, emotional Scottish Historical Romance.
Buy your copy now, and dive into the romance of Dark Ages Scotland!
The Pict Wars series
1. Warrior’s Heart
2. Warrior’s Secret
3. Warrior’s Wrath (early 2020)
more
The Warrior’s Secret: A Dark Ages Scottish Romance (The Pict Wars Book 2) by Jayne Castel
The writing is engaging, witty, emotional, and heartbreaking. It is everything I look for in historical romance.
Ailene was the Eagle tribes bandeau who had never steered the clan wrong. Muin is the Eagle chief’s son and Ailene’s best friend until he couldn’t hide his feelings for her any longer. Ailene is shocked and caught off guard at Muin’s confessions and tells him it can’t be because she doesn’t think of him that way, they are friends! War looms and Ailene reads the bones for the fait of all four of the wing isles clans against the serpent clan who had stole their castles and homes. She has a lot on her mind and she’s now not sure what she sees is clear, but if she’s wrong it could be at a devastating cost that she alone will have to bare.
I enjoyed this book so much! I strongly recommend it to everyone who loves a great medieval historical with a strong and emotional storyline, great characters, and a steamy romance to keep you warm on a cold night.
Happy Reading
Content: Adult Rated
Steamy Romance: explicit open bedroom door scenes. (4 flames)
I LOVE this story. This story is the second in a series and I did not read the first installment of the series. This did not hinder my understanding of this world or the greater situation that was going on in the characters’ lives as the world building was done well. The author does a good job at setting up and describing the environment to give the reader a good understanding of the history of the clan and of the character relationships. The main characters are so enduring, the pacing was excellent, and it was a wonderful journey to their HEA. The love story progression was so natural and sweet with dashes of sexy. I love this story so much that I am picking up the first book and eagerly waiting for the third installment.
Sweet couple; was so happy to see these two characters find love; wistful and uplifting
I loved every second of the terrific story. I highly recommend this book along with the entire series.
” Warrior’s Secret- A Dark Ages Scottish Romance (The Pict Wars Book 2)by Jayne Castle is a tale of one Ailene is the bandrui—seer—of The Eagle tribe…and her childhood friend…Muin is The Eagle chieftain’s son….set in the ancient Isle of Skye…Ailene unaware that Muin pines for her…until he finally works up enough courage to tell her…BUT with the Cruthini tribe….causing warfare to break out …Ailene has an obligation to put ALL her efforts towards predicting for the Eagle Tribe as a whole …in order to ensure victories…she must not dilute her energies at such a crucial time…BUT when she dreams of Muin’s demise …her attitude changes. Will they win against the Cruthini tribe!!? Will there be a HEA for Ailene and Muin!!? Read and See!!
Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I like this author because she’s one of a very few who write during this time period. I’ve read all of her books and I’ve enjoyed them. This wasn’t the worst nor the best… just okay.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book two of the Pict War series. It is a great story that is action packed and a read that once you start you can’t put down because you want to see what is going to happen. Believable characters and the plot is descriptive. Great writing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“Ally,” Her name came out like a croak so he tried again.”Ally…I’m in love with you.” Muin had finally said it. As she kept silent he plowed on. “I’ve loved you for years, but always from afar. I need you like air. Being around you and not tellin you is killing me.” Silence “You can’t love me in that way, can you?” She shook her head, eyes glittering with tears.
They had been best friends since they were young. She looked at him as a brother but felt she could not feel anything more. Muin was the son of the Eagle Chiefton and Ailene was the seer of the Eagle tribe. Could she ever look at him as more?
Jayne Castel has such a gift, bringing this ancient civilization to life with her descriptions and historical knowledge. From the first page I was mesmorized and drawn into the characters and surroundings. I have not read a lot of stories set in this time and it is fascinating to image how they lived and what they endured. Just amazing and I cannot wait until the next in this series!
This is the second book of The Pict Wars set in the Dark Ages Scotland. The writing was very good, witty, emotional, heartbreaking, everything that is part of a historical romance. This is about Muin, the son of the Eagle Chief and Ailene the seerer of the Eagle Tribe. They are friends but Muin is in love with Ailene and she doesn’t know it. It has all the ingredients you expect from a historical story, action, adventure, war, blood, and romance. This story was so engaging and kept me reading until the early hours of the night. My first book by this author but very good. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The second book in the Pict War series a book that kept me turning pages, I want to read Talor mac Donnel’s story. This is Ailene the bandrui seer of The Eagle tribe and Muin the Eagle chieftain’s son’s story. There is suspense, drama, danger, war,and love. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I found this book to be a very enjoyable read with the great character and plot development that kept me totally glued to my kindle until the very end!
Loved Ailene and Muin. Best friends to lovers. Ailene is now the seer of her tribe. While young, only twenty four, her predictions have always come true. Her village, along with several other villages, are ready to take back land that was lost to them. But she sees doom and gloom in the future, and her best friend dying. Her best friend Muin, has secretly been in love with her. She has only seen him as a friend. But when she portents his death everything changes. Can she save him from the future she saw? Or will she lose him and forever be alone? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
I so enjoyed this action packed story. It starts with the first page and doesn’t let you down even at the end. I loved Muin’s character he is so strong and protective. It takes a while but Ally finally realizes what her heart wants. Such a great book, lots of sad times but they do not overshadow the greatness of the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved everything about this book from the well developed and engaging characters that have lots of chemistry. And the storyline that flowed smoothly from beginning to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Unrequited love—the heartache burns through the pages and scorched your fingers as you read of Muin’s love for Ailene.
A touching story placed in the mists of Scotland’s ancient history. Realistic people and events, set in the midst of conflicting clan politics, set up this well-written historical novel. The reader is drawn TO the main characters, and thus INTO the story.
It is 373 AD on the isle of Skye, and Ailene’s widowed mother succumbs to an illness, leaving Ailene an orphan. Offering her comfort, and a promise of lifelong companionship is 5 year old Muin. An “old soul” at age 5m Muin love Ailene and grows up alongside her as a dependable “friend” as far as Ailene is concerned.
16 years later, 389 AD, finds the isle in tumult: tribes must battle to the death or make alliances to survive the attack of other aggressive tribes. Reaching adulthood, Muin is a Warrior and Ailene is a young seer. When Muin confesses his love for Ailene, can Ailene appreciate the precious gift of his heart? Can their friendship survive the pressures of clan battles that destroy their village?
A must read for those who love reading of those long ago times, when life was so tenuous for the ancient people of the Scottish Isles.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jayne Castel has done it again! She’s written another novel I could not put down once I started it. I read a LOT of historical romance books, most forgotten, some not. This author’s work stays with you. I’ve waited a long time for Book 2 of the Pict Wars, so long that I thought I had forgotten Book 1. Once I started it, however, it all came back to me. Having read the previous three Warrior Brothers of Skye books, of which this is a continuation, I was well acquainted with all the characters. It was like re-visiting old friends. Their stories all came back to me. The Pict Wars portray the next generation, their adult children. Every book was excellent, by the way. Highly recommended!
This is the story of Aileen, a seer, and Muin, her childhood best friend who is in love with her, unbeknownst to her. Theirs is a story of unrequited love, facing your fears and opening yourself up to love all while trying to fight and survive a brutal attack on their beloved island by a marauding tribe of invaders.
Kudos to Ms Castel for such a well written depiction of Dark Ages Scotland. She writes with such realism, excitement and suspense, plus heartfelt emotion felt by her characters. She makes this time period come alive! I can hardly wait for Book 3!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Friends to lovers, a lot of action and great story in the medieval time.
I read the previous series and previous book in this one and even though it’s a standalone I think you can fully enjoy the qualities of this story if you’ve read the previous books and have the background. Familiar characters play their roles in this story and the plot continues.
Ailene and Muin are strong characters, both are serious and well integrated in their community. I felt for Muin and cheered for him I tough her realization was a bit too quick and I missed seeing more of their connection.
The complex story with the politics and strategy games takes large part in the book and I cant wait to read book 3.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bloody and Gritty Third Century Scotland
The Isle of Skye in the third century is a rough and tumble place where even the strongest die and few live a long peaceful life. However, friendship and love can survive, but just barely.
In all honesty, I am not a big fan of early century Europe. I have read numerous books by many authors about this barbaric era and none seemed to change my opinion. Which is why after reading Warrior’s Secret I was surprised by my feelings for Jayne Castell’s tightly woven world.
This book is both complex and simple, tender and brutal. I suppose the well described world of the Isle of Skye tribes helped, but so did the well developed personalities of the many characters. For example, I really liked both starring characters, Muin and Aileen. They are childhood friends but as adults they each see the other differently than the other feels. Their different perceptions almost tear their relationship apart – almost. Thankfully, their ending is happy, but the ending for some of their friends and kin, not so much.
Content alert: The author has tried to stay true to the supposed idioms of the period, so any “vulgarities” have less impact. That said, the sexual content is very descriptive, as is the violence.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Serving as seer for the Eagle tribe, Ailene lives a little apart from the rest of the tribe and prefers it that way. She has good friends and that is enough for her so she walks about with the proverbial blinders on and has no idea that her best friend, Muin, is in love with her.
Muin, firstborn son of the Eagle chieftain has always loved Ailene but never wanted to risk admitting his feelings to her. With their island now under attack from a ruthless mainland tribe, he knows he must reveal his feelings sooner rather than later. But when he reveals himself, Ailene rejects him. It is only when she dreams of Muin’s death that Ailene realizes she has been hiding her true feelings for Muin from herself out of fear. But with their island under increasingly heavy attacks, it may be too late for her to reveal her feelings.
This story kept me on the edge of my seat and glued to my Kindle. There was somuch danger and suspense and I was stressed for my favorite characters. I didn’t care much for Ailene at first, but she grew on me, as did Muin because I’m a sucker for a pining hero. I did have some trouble keeping the large cast of characters straight and remembering who was related to whom and how, but this did not diminish my enjoyment of the story. This one is great for anyone who likes some action and adventure with their romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.