ARC Review: Highland Warrior by Heather McCollum

About the Book:

Title: Highland Warrior

Author: Heather McCollum

Series: Sons of Sinclair #2

Page Length: 400

Publication Date: April 27, 2021

Publisher: Entangled

Synopsis: Joshua Sinclair, second brother of the mighty Sinclair clan of Northern Scotland, has been raised by his father to love war above all else. Frustrated with the way his older brother, the new chief, is bringing peace to the land, he strikes out on his own as a mercenary on Orkney Island and spends months helping a powerful Norse chief beat back threats to his rule.

Kara Muir, the daughter of a fallen Viking chief, is determined to help her exiled people survive and grow in number on the northern isle. As a young widow in her broken clan, she must find a man to help her start the next generation of warriors by getting her with child. When she watches the massive Sinclair warrior defeat four thieves bent on taking his life, she chooses him.

Joshua doesn’t question his good fortune when the beautiful warrior woman brings him back to a cottage sitting on the windswept land. Stormbound for days, they come together in explosive passion. But he’s furious when she disappears as soon as the storm dies out. When he arrives back at the Norse Chief’s castle to find Kristin a prisoner, being forced to wed the man who killed her father and stole their clan castle, his strategies put Kristin’s people and her very life at risk. Joshua begins to question the need for war and the basis of his entire life.

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My Review:

A story of self-discovery, embracing change, love, and fighting for what you believe in, The Highland Warrior is a captivating and immersive historical romance. Each story in the Sons of Sinclair series follows one of four brothers, and this one focuses on Joshua, the Horseman of War.

Joshua, a mercenary who never loses in battle, does not want to fight anymore. Disenchanted with his role as the Horseman of War, Joshua is ready to return home to his brothers and begin a less violent stage of his life. On his journey home, a chance meeting with Kara, the leader of a small clan, changes Joshua’s plans. Kara enlists Joshua to help train and protect her people from the dastardly leader who oppresses them. The closer Joshua gets to Kara and her people, the more he sees what he wants in life. But how can he have peace when danger surrounds them?

Kara is a widow who will do anything to protect her people, even seduce a Highland warrior. However, she never expected deep feelings to develop for Joshua. Will Kara open herself to love again? Can Joshua help Kara and her people?

Joshua has spent much of his life fulfilling a role created by his father. He did not have much say on his future after his father dubbed him Horseman of War. All he knows is battle, and he lives his life according to the book The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Each chapter, in fact, begins with a relevant quote from Sun Tzu’s book. However, as the story progresses, Joshua begins to redefine himself. His discontent with his role, as well as a traumatic event that haunts him, leads him to think about a new future away from war. I enjoyed Joshua’s growth and development throughout the story as he falls in love and his perspectives change.

Kara grows as well. A determined and focused clan leader, Kara is fierce and loyal to her people. However, after losing her husband years ago, she won’t give her heart to another. Kara admirably gives herself entirely to her people without reservations, and she has many big decisions to make. I like that Kara slowly learns to love again and that she thinks about her needs and wants. She proves that a person can successfully live, lead, and love.

Joshua and Kara have an epic insta-attraction romance. Built on respect, admiration, and desire, their relationship is steamy and romantic. I like that they view each other as equals and that they look to each other for support and guidance. I also like how willing they are to trust one another. I think this speaks volumes about the kinds of relationship they have and the trust they found in each other.

I also love the people of Kara’s clan. Kara’s son, brother, best friend, and more add so much to the story, and I enjoyed learning about them. For those that read Highland Conquest, the first book in the series, some of the characters make a brief appearance in this book, which is also fabulous. I always like when the author revisits characters from previous books so that the reader can see how their stories have progressed!

This is a well-paced, well-researched, and fascinating novel with a deep and passionate romance. Kara and Joshua’s story is filled with action, kidnapping, humor, touching moments, and more, and I loved the many twists and turns! Plus, there’s a comical warhorse named Fuil that easily stole my heart. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Heather McCollum for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance! Joshua and Kara have great chemistry and a wonderful love story!

• Fuir, the feisty yet lovable war horse. He has an affinity for turnips, and he is endearing!

• The character growth, especially Joshua’s.

Favorite Lines:

The wisest decision a warrior can make is whether or not he should fight.

The more connections one makes, the more that can be lost, and the losses make me weak.

No one is invincible to love. It is what makes us vulnerable and strong at the same time, doing things we never thought possible.

Recommendations:

Want to learn more about the series? Check out my review of Highland Conquest, the first book in the Sons of Sinclair series!

My Review