Pledged to a Highlander

<b>4.5 Steamy Second Chance Stars!</b><br /><br />This book reminded me why I fell in love with Donna Fletcher's books years ago... There were likeable main characters with excellent character development, mystery/suspense throughout, an element of danger, and yummy steamy goodness! <br />(Note that there is a prequel to this series - Highland Oath - that I would strongly recommend reading first as a LOT happened in it that leads directly into the beginning of this tale --&gt; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Oath-Prequel-Promise-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B085S6VFMG">https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Oath-...</a> Note also that this review may contain spoilers if you have not read the prequel.)<br /><br />Royden McKinnon had everything taken from him in a single day... the day that was meant to be the celebration of his wedding to the woman he has loved for most of his life, Oria (the daughter of a neighboring chieftain). Instead, before they can speak the vows they have yearned to say to one another for so long, a man known only as "The Beast" charged in with his large contingent of warrior mercenaries and decimated the entire clan while crippling many others as the chieftains and warriors of many clans were in attendance for the celebration. Royden lost his hand in the battle that ensued, and he was taken captive and made to serve as one of the mercenaries sent to fight for his life day after day; battle after battle for 5 long years. His brother, Arran, was also taken for the same purpose, and though they were together for the first 3 years, they were separated thereafter, and Royden does not know what has become of his beloved sibling. If that were not bad enough, his young teenage, precocious sister's whereabouts are also unknown, though he hopes she was able to flee and escape whatever fate The Beast had in mind for her. The last he saw of his father, he had been badly wounded and unlikely to survive. And, worst of all, Royden has no idea what happened to his beloved Oria, the woman who should have been his wife. All of these circumstances have tortured Royden for those long years, but now he has been set free for reasons he does not know, only that someone paid a great price for his (and Arran's) release.<br /><br />Oria was ripped away from her beloved on her wedding day, and though she fought back with everything she had, she was scarred across her face for her troubles and still captured. Thankfully, her father was able to negotiate her release, and she was told she needed to marry and elderly neighboring chieftain to keep her safe. With no knowledge of what has become of Roydan, Oria agreed to her father's plan, and is now a widowed woman living near Clan MacKinnon where she checks on the people of the clan that was to be hers regularly and helps where she can. Though she has prayed every day and never doubted Royden would return to her, she is shocked to find him back at Clan MacKinnon 5 years after she has saw him. The gentle man she knew has been replaced by a rugged savage warrior who takes what he wants, and now he wants what he was denied: Oria. Will Oria and Royden be able to find the happiness that they were denied so may years ago? What has become of the rest of Royden's family? And will he have the chance to face off with The Beast, the man who took everything from him?<br /><br />What I liked:<br />--- The character development was excellent in this story - the author really allowed the reader to get to know Royden and Oria (as well as some of the ancillary characters) as they evolved over the course of the time covered in the story<br />--- The mystery of who The Beast is and why he targeted Royden's clan kept me turning the pages into the wee hours to learn more<br />--- Lots of moving pieces that kept the story flowing and made it all the more interesting<br />--- STEAMY GOODNESS, early and often, please and thank you!<br /><br />What I didn't like as much:<br />--- A little too much angst between Royden and Oria at the beginning of their reunion - I felt like it was not in character for Oria not to tell Royden about her situation from the start, and the "waiting" seemed a little silly, but it all worked out in the end<br /><br />Overall, an excellent story with all the elements I most appreciate in a historical romance novel: an exciting plot, likeable characters, mystery and intrigue, and steamy goodness!<br /><br />Plot --- 4.5/5<br />Main Characters --- 4.5/5<br />Supporting Cast --- 4/5<br />Steam Level* --- 4/5<br />Violence --- nothing graphic (some battle descriptions but nothing too gory)<br />Language --- not egregious<br />POV --- 3rd<br /><br />*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all<br /><br /><i>Please note that I received an advance copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.</i>

I skimmed a lot of this book because it was so repetitive, going over the same old over and over. Throw in ridiculous pushing away by the hero and this wasn't the best highlander book I've read which, given I love a good old highlander romance, was disappointing to say the least. <br /><br />Not sure I'm going to continue with the series if Arran's book is going to follow the same theme as this one has.

The book starts with him leaving the bed of an unknown woman.<br />There are no intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine but it is made abundantly clear to the reader and his wife that he has had sex with countless women in his absence.<br />I know they were different times and the Hero and heroine don't know if each other have survived during the separation but still.<br />The heroine of course is still a virgin.<br />The Hero if we can call him that is now a dark chap after his time away after all he endured but he is so awful to the heroine.<br />She does stand up to him at times but then melts at his touch.<br />I won't be reading anymore of this series.<br />HEA.<br />Epilogue.

Pledged to a Highlander <br />Highland Promise Trilogy book 1<br />by Donna Fletcher <br /><br />This was absolutely PHENOMENAL! Donna Fletcher really knows how to weave a magical world where the characters dig deep and pull you into their lives! <br /><br />After a forced exile in captivity Royden MacKinnon is granted his freedom, but his return home after five long years, fighting wars for the unseen foe that ripped his life apart. The day that should have been the happiest of his life....his wedding day! Not knowing if his family and fiancée suffered or perished fed his desire for revenge. Finally going home was a reality and not a a dream. The last person he expected to see was Oria. Just as he had changed so had Oria she was now married! But not all is as it seems, the one that turned their lives in a nightmare is watching and plotting. Royden and Oria will need to find the love that they had and make that bond stronger to fight the enemy! <br /><br /><br />Fast paced and an emotional read that just keeps the reader on edge! Plenty of intrigue, villains a kidnapping plot and sizzling chemistry between the main characters! <br />I was given a complimentary copy, this is my honest unbiased opinion!

Pledged To A Highlander by Donna Fletcher is the First book in the Highland Promise Trilogy. There also is a Prequel called Highland Oath that sets the ground work and introductions to the characters. This is the story of Oria and Royden who where to be married when they were pulled apart. Royden was forced along with his brother Arran to become mercenaries and have been doing that for the past 5 years until Royden was freed. Now Royden is returning home not sure of what he will find and who he will find. Royden sees Oria but she has changed greatly and she has her secrets that she can't tell. But their feelings are still there even stronger so fight for their happiness begins. I am such a big fan of this author's writing that I can never get enough. I highly recommend Ms. Fletcher's books!<br /><br /><br />

I've just finished two books of this author in one of her highlander series, and I've enjoyed them a great deal.. she writes really well.. she has beautiful stories to tell about the highlands and its people of long time ago.. and I'm thrilled by the mysteries, passion and love she weaves in them.. this is why I was looking forward to start another book of hers, this is my third.<br /><br />I don't know, I nearly didn't finish this one.. I was kind of bored.. I was also hoping she sings a different tune in this book, when it comes to her heroines doing the first moves or professing first their loves to the stubborn heroes.. but sad to say I was disappointed in this one.. the author is fond of having her heroines so far in her books that I've read, and in this one, again, making the first moves.. and I don't like my heroines doing the chasing.. at least in the first two books that I've read about these highlander warriors series, I could understand.. they didn't love the heroines at first.. so it's understandable the way they treated them.. cold commanding and ruthlesss... here the hero has loved the heroine for so long and despite the separation, he was longing for her.. and the hero here has poked a lot of women regardless of his circumstances which is understandable.. but still I don't like my heroes as manwhores.<br /><br />I also didn't buy his reasoning.. the part where he thinks he's not fit to be with her, despite the love and yearning he feels for the heroine for the five years they separated.. he took great care to avoid her, snapping at her after they first saw each other and then after they wedded, despite his 5 year non stop dreaming and longing for her.. his resolve to be with her as soon as he comes home went pfft.. it's so gullible and foolish for me.. and again despite loving her, <br />he's mean to her, always quick to anger and ordering her around.. I know he has deep anger issues as to what had happened to his clan, but why take it out on the girl he misses and loves.. especially when he found out the real truth re her marriage.<br /><br />But yeah I guess the book would be shorter if there weren't unnecessary dramas and angst like this one.. Did I say I kind of got bored?.. I've put it down a lot of times.. it's so far off from the thrill I felt when I was reading the first two books I was talking about.. this book isn't for me.. I'll try another one of the author's and if it's the same tune re her heroines doing the same thing, stubborn heroes pushing heroines away, I might not read another book of hers.. but she's a great writer save for this misgiving of mine.

What a outstanding story! Gripping, Suspenseful, Obsession and Mystery. Pledged to a Highlander will keep you spellbound from the moment you begin the journey with Royden and Oria until the very end! Donna Fletcher is not afraid to write a story that is heartrendering, heart stopping and with an evil villains obsession straight from hell. Donna has a writing style that I thoroughly enjoy;  she's filled this story with characters are well thought out and each one comes across clearly as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale, they come off the pages and pull you in, plot brims with tension-building twist, and great dialogue which brings this read together perfectly. Pain, sorrow, loss, and terror spiraling down into the blackest bottomless vortex they feared was no escaping. For the past five years Royden knew nothing but fighting and conquering as a way of survival left him with a savage living within him. Only Oria, the only woman he's ever loved, could heal the emotional scars and help the salvage find peace with her belief in him and her loving touch. As they try to solve the mystery behind the attack against Royden's clan, the disappearance of his family and find their way back to one another again in this story full of drama, danger, uncertainties, secrets, deception, trials and tribulations, turmoil, and while the suspense builds and tensions escalate with the twist and turns abound that will bring the secrets to light makes this one outstanding story! I can't wait to read Arran &amp; Purity's story in Entrusted To a Highlander.

For five years Royden fought for an enemy he didn’t know and agonized over what had happened to his family and the woman he loved. The day that brought him home left him with more questions than answers. One thing is for sure he had changed from the man he was and didn’t know how to let go of the savage in him but he knew he had to try for the woman who owns his heart.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!! <br />Donna Fletcher has such a wonderful talent for this type of story. She gives such detail in her descriptions of the lands, homes, and characters, which draw you in where you very quickly connect with the hero/heroine and the secondary characters. The reader can easily imagine the scenery and from the start enjoy a page turning experience with the plot. This story is definitely a page-turner as I read this book in one sitting. I enjoy stories where the hero and heroine are together in a book and are “fighting” against the bad guys who are against them in one way or the other. This story delivers as the love been Royden and Oria is evident from page one and there are many who have tried to keep them apart. There are several plot twists the reader won’t see coming, which makes the story that much better, with a bit of a mystery, keeping the reader guessing. This author is definitely one of my favorites and I will always read what she writes. I love her Highlander stories of which she does so well.<br /><br />This series will definitely be on my TBR again list and I look forward to Book 2 in this series.<br />

4 stars ( Margaret Mallory, Julie Johnstone, Monica McCarty)<br /><br />4 stars: This book was good, worth reading in a few days. It hit pretty much most of my personal markers for a good read and well roundness of the book.<br /><br />The development and interest in main characters was enjoyable. It kept me wanting to know and read more.<br /><br />Laugh out loud with humorous moments. The give and take dialogue was wonderful as well as action. <br /><br />I loved the writing around the women empowerment (it wasn’t over the top for me). I love it when an author puts in the words surrounding ‘Vexed’ especially around a strong written woman....always brings a smile to my face, I find it highly enjoyable and it’s written nicely in this book .<br /><br />Movement of the book flowed for the most part. Book writing/conversation engaging. Not a lot of historical accuracy (no big deal to me), not a lot of internal character dialogue and not a lot of descriptive scenery written out. <br /><br />Romantic /sexual content (kissing, oral and love making scenes) was throughout the book. Nothing over the top and was intertwined rightly in the story telling. 3/5 rating.<br /><br />Recommend book and looking forward to series.

Pledged to a Highlander by Donna Fletcher<br />Highland Promise Trilogy Book One<br />Royden MacKinnon has become a savage in the five years since he'd been abducted. Forced to battle continually. Doing things, he would never have done. And feeling as if he failed. Failed to protect his sister, Raven. Was unable to protect the woman he loved and was to marry the day of the battle. Oria. She lived only in his dreams now.<br /><br />Oria MacGlennen's life was not what she planned. From a day of celebrating to having Royden torn away from her. Along with her friends. Now, she had secrets to keep. She never stopped believing that Royden would come home to her. And then the day came that he did come home. A stranger.<br /><br />Every book I've read by Donna Fletcher has picked me up and carried me through the journey page by page. Every series has me looking forward to the next book, including this series. Highland Oath is the prequel, and you'll definitely want to read it first to see how everything began.<br />**Sexual content<br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2016/05/donna-fletcher-booklist_9.html">https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...</a><br /><br />