Her Vengeful Scot by Christina Phillips

Title:  Her Vengeful Scot
Series:  Highland Warrior Chronicles #2
Author:  Christina Phillips
Published:  July 4/14 by Ellora's Cave
Length:  252pgs
Format:   ecopy
Genre:  historical romance
Shelf:  review
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

To avenge his sister’s honor, he must destroy the woman he wants most in the world…

Ordered to remain in Pictland, Cameron MacNeil fights the lust that consumes him whenever he encounters the aloof princess, Elise. Not only is she a cursed Pict, she belongs to the man he has vowed vengeance upon.

Despite her reputation, Elise has no interest in men until she meets Cameron. Lacking the famed Scots charm, his blunt ways enchant her and he ignites a passion she long thought dead. When she is freed from her difficult marriage, Elise places her trust in the tough Scot warrior who has stolen her heart.

Bound by blood oaths, the only way Cam can protect Elise from political schemes is to make her his bride. When Elise discovers the truth, she fears everything she knew about her husband was a lie. All she can do is trust her goddess was right and Cameron is her one true love.

My Review:

This novel is emotional and heartfelt. Phillips invites you in to the world of long-ago and masterfully tells a gripping tale of love, loss, and forever. The eloquence of her descriptions provides a fascinating look at life in the Pictish cort. There is a mysticism that pervades the story as a whole, enchanting you. Phillips combines all of this in an intriguing package, telling a story that stands for all times. 

Watching Cam getting knocked from his ‘holier than thou’ perch into the realm of reality was priceless. And my heart definitely went out to Elise. Getting to know these two characters so intimately, after having known them only on the surface in the first novel of the series was amazing. Phillips digs right down to the core of who they are and what makes them tick. I enjoyed understanding what makes them tick and where their public facades come from. They were both a case of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. These characters really made the story for me.

Phillips’ evocative writing style will draw you back in time and take you on the ride of a lifetime. I would definitely recommend it to romance enthusiasts.

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Her Savage Scot by Christina Phillips

Title:  Her Savage Scot

Series:  Highland Warrior Chronicles #1

Author:  Christina Phillips

Published:  Nov 20/13 by Ellora's Cave Publishing

Page Count:  314

Format:  ebook

Genre:  Historical romance

Shelf:  Review

Rating:  ★★★★★

Blurb:

When tough Scot warrior Connor MacKenzie rides into the barbaric lands of the Picts on a mission for his king, he never expects to be captivated by a beautiful Pictish widow. Drawn under her spell, yet unaware of her true identity, he risks everything for one passionate night in her arms.

Aila, princess of Pictland, swore long ago she would do anything within her power to help defeat the Vikings who invaded her land and murdered her husband. But after meeting Connor, her frozen heart thaws and once again she imagines a future filled with love and passion.

When Connor delivers the message from his king, Aila becomes a pawn in a deadly game of politics. Her heart belongs to Connor, but she must marry the prince of Dal Riada – Connor’s half-brother. But the fates have other plans for the star-crossed lovers as they fight their enemies and themselves to find true love.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

The Highland Warriors Chronicles:

From the Kingdom of Dal Riada, Scots warriors Connor MacKenzie, Cameron MacNeil and Ewan MacKinnon pledge to keep the peace in the wild Highlands of Pictland. But each man is destined to fall in love with a Pictish princess - three cousins who are determined to save their beloved land from the savage invaders. Instead they lose their hearts to their wild foreign warriors.

|  Book 1 ~ Her Savage Scot   |  Book 2 ~ Her Vengeful Scot   |  Book 3 ~ Her Defiant Scot  |

Excerpt:

She lifted her head and Connor’s lips brushed hers. A fleeting, tantalizing touch. A touch that seared her core with a wild, reckless longing.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first moment I saw you.”

His ragged whisper scorched her parted lips. She hadn’t been mistaken. “I thought you far from interested that first day. You surely didn’t give any indication of your thoughts.”

He moved closer. The breadth of his shoulders blocked out the rest of the world, his white linen shirt sculpted his impressive chest. And the weave of his plaid branded her through the softness of her gown.

“How could I? You were an aloof Pictish lady and I a mere savage Scot.”

She leaned into him, soaking up the hard ridges of his chest, the fresh scent of his hair, the faint sweetness of mead on his breath. “So what has changed?”

“Nothing.” His fingers tightened around hers and his eyes enslaved her. “Yet everything.”

His words curled through her heart, shimmered in her blood. Nothing. Yet everything. The chance of them having a future together was remote. And yet she had been given this time with him. Moments to savor, to cherish. To remember for the rest of her life.

My Review:

Phillips is off and running with this daring, romantic & erotic tale. It’s very well written with a solid storyline. As always Phillips brings her story to life with brilliantly vivid descriptions and a storyline to die for. Her intricate descriptions are packed with allusion and metaphors that really bring this story to life. Myth and reality combine in this unforgettable tale to create a captivating whole. Not only does Phillips tell a lovely story, but she also doesn’t hesitate to throw more than a few kinks into this story. More than once she had me completely shocked with the turn that the story took, however it always fit within the story. There was a bit of a comedy of errors going on for a while that turned into a sweet, perfect ending. She also stays completely in the realm of history while telling a love story that transcends time.

The characters in this novel are fantastically realistic. Each individual who played a major role in this novel was individually developed to create a solid cast to propel this story forward. To top that off, the main characters were not only approachable but down to earth and hold true to themselves and to each other. It was refreshing and tear-jerking at times.

Although this novel is set well back in history this story is very easy to immerse and lose yourself in. it was a brilliant read that I’d definitely recommend. I, for one, cannot wait for the next story in this series.

Read Chapter One of Her Savage Scot

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Betrayed by Christina Phillips

Title: Betrayed

Author:  Christina Phillips

Series:  Forbidden #3

Published:  March 20th 2013 by Ellora's Cave Publishing

Page Count:  254

Genre:  Historical Erotic Romance

Shelf: Review Copy

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In 51 A.D., Druid priestess Nimue is injured and enslaved by the hated Roman Legions. Even though she is drawn to her captor, she’s determined to escape and complete her mission for the Briton king and her duty to Arianrhod, the goddess she is bound to.

The tough Roman warrior who captures her is far from the brutal barbarian she expects. His touch inflames her desires and passion burns between them. Though Nimue does not accept her enslavement, her heart surrenders to her enemy. When Arianrhod appears to her in the form of an owl, Nimue knows the union is blessed.

Roman warrior Tacitus is enchanted by the fiery beauty who shows no fear and challenges him at every turn. Though enslaving her goes against his heart, he’s determined to make her his. No woman has ever heated his blood as she does. But when he discovers her true nature as one who actually communes with the gods, his loyalties are torn between his heritage and a woman who could destroy everything he’s ever believed in.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

Phillips does an amazing job at bringing history to life. You feel like you’ve actually seen the Roman invasion of Britannia and lived the life of one of those captured. Phillips also makes the time period approachable to those who aren’t familiar with the expansion of Rome by simultaneously mixing modern language with historical content and altogether brilliant storytelling.

Phillips presents this intriguing love story in a very unique light that is not for the faint of heart. She uses subtle switches in language and demeanour to highlight and illustrate important ideas while foreshadowing to what may come. There are lots of twists in the plot that one would never suspect or expect but that fit naturally with the flow of the story. She keeps her readers on their toes while pulling them towards a very unexpected yet extremely fitting conclusion that will warm your heart.

Phillips also presents us with some extraordinary characters to round out this novel. They must fight against themselves and the perceptions of their respective cultures to gain something for themselves and to discover what truly matters to them. The reader gets to know a great deal about the main characters as individuals and as members of their culture. The characters become quite well known to us. The supporting cast, although small, is also quite well developed and the roles that they play in the story are not only necessary but captivating.

Overall, Phillips’ mix of modern language and historical setting create a novel that you won’t soon forget.

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