Secrets of a Highland Warrior

Nicole Locke

Jul 2019 · The Lochmore Legacy Book 4 · Harlequin

About this ebook

In the name of peace, he will share his bed with the enemy . . .

Rory Lochmore had expected to wage battle, to claim land and finally secure his standing within his clan . . . Instead he won a wife. A McCrieff wife.

Their convenient marriage could unite the two long-feuding clans forever. But can a political alliance give way to a passion strong enough to stand the secrets of the past?

This riveting romance is part of The Lochmore Legacy—a saga following two feuding clans and one Scottish castle through four eras of history.

Praise for Nicole Locke’s novels

“Emotional, romantic.” —Romancing the Book

“Beautifully written . . . well done.” —RT Book Reviews

“Fabulous.” —Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Ratings and reviews

A few months before, Edward, the English King, had given some of the McCrieffs' land to the Lochmores, precious land bordering the stream. And on a spring day of 1293, the two clans were to settle their differences. Rory Lochmore, acting on behalf of his father the clan chief, is ready for battle. Instead, he is met by Frederick McCrieff, the Tanist and heir apparent, and invited to partake in a meal. The clan Chief, Hamish, is gravely ill and tended to by Frederick's daughter Ailsa, a healer. Ailsa had been kept in the dark about the land dispute, and is shocked when her father announces that she is to marry Rory to bind both clans. Rory is just as stunned as Ailsa; he came here to claim what belongs to the Lochmores by royal decree. He never planned on marrying the enemy, he wants power and control, but he cannot help his visceral reaction to the fiery beauty, and he could think of worse punishments than marrying the healer. Ailsa is a practical woman, she does find Rory terribly attractive, and she reluctantly agrees to the marriage, if only to avoid further unnecessary bloodshed.The marriage was to bring a semblance of peace, but a tragic and inexplicable incident puts everything in jeopardy. Is there someone who wishes the clans to war? Is someone lying? Is there a traitor in the house? Who really benefits from the feud? The Great Feud had begun many years before and, dear readers, it is a complicated story! There are many secrets, and not only Rory's. Rory and Ailsa are a most unlikely couple, but destined to be together. I loved Ailsa; she is very outspoken, independent, intelligent, and passionate. All qualities that Rory appreciates, even if she surprises him. Rory is brooding and overall what we have come to expect from a Highland warrior; he is quite the tormented hero. He's a man of his time, I suppose, but on their wedding night, I thought him quite the boor; not much of a romantic hero there, but there was a method to his madness, and he redeemed himself. But it was an odd wedding night indeed. I often feel clan wars seem like spoiled children throwing a fit and not letting go because they can't stand to lose face, but in SECRETS OF A HIGHLAND WARRIOR, we see that there is solid ground for the animosity that has persisted for generations between the Lochmores and the McCriefs. I know I always seem to grumble about some detail, but I found the outrage at Rory being forced to use his right hand disconcerting. Everyone was very strongly encouraged to use their right hand throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, as the left hand was thought to be the hand of the devil. Only in the latter half of the 20th century did it become acceptable to be left-handed. Unless it was different in Scotland. The Lochmore Legacy ends on a high note with a wonderful epilogue written by Janice Preston. All the loose ends are tied up as the epilogue brings the series to a satisfying conclusion.

Secrets of a Highland Warrior is the fourth and final book in The Lochmore Legacy series by author Nicole Locke. Before I get into the actual review for this book, I first must applaud the authors involved in this series, Janice Preston, Lara Temple, Elisabeth Hobbes and Nicole Locke. It’s been an absolutely fantastic series and I'm saddened to leave these characters behind. Each book has been unique in its story, but yet seamlessly linked with its tie to the Lochmore Legacy. I do hope the authors will be able to continue on with some of the secondary characters or spin-offs of their stories! It would be great to revisit these characters and the settings again. So now on to Rory and Ailsa and a mystery revealed... Rory Lochmore is the only son of the Lochmore Chief. He travels to McCrieff land to claim what the English King Edward had already granted the Lochmores, a piece of land that their clans have fought over for years. But what he ends up getting is a wife... Ailsa McCrieff is the McCrieff clan's only healer. Her father has been elected to be heir apparent to the Chief, the Tanist. When her father offers her for marriage to their sworn enemy, she is shocked and not happy. Can these two sworn enemies, find a way to bring peace to their warring clans? I knew this was going to be a powerful book and Ms. Locke did not disappoint! With each of the three previous books we've been gradually building to this final book, to this couple, and their story. From the very beginning when Rory first sees Ailsa hiding at the top of the stairs, he felt... as if he knew her. At that moment as the reader, you just felt it too! That the power and the pull between these two was uncontrollable, undeniable, and meant to be. I absolutely loved Rory. He’s a warrior, raised to be leader of his clan. But yet you see the vulnerability in him, from secrets in his past. The pull he feels towards Ailsa is disturbing to him at first, but yet he can't help it. Ailsa was such a strong character. She’s headstrong, stubborn & determined and like no woman Rory has ever known. Together these two work to trust each other, to unite their clans and work toward a future together. Ms. Locke has done an exceptional job of tying all the pieces together, solving the mystery and giving us a beautifully written love story to last a lifetime and beyond, for always! With an absolutely perfect epilogue from author Janice Preston, this series has now come full circle. It’s been a pleasure and a joy to read this series, perfection from beginning to end. Bravo ladies and dare we ask encore...

The stillness of the villagers as Rory and his warriors rode to the McCrieff castle was almost his undoing. Today was the day he would prove himself to his father. That he deserved to be chief when the time came. The Lochmore's had been granted McCrieff land across the river that seperated their feuding clans, but no word had come that they intended to hand it over. So Rory led the troups to take what was theirs. But he was met by a man, not the chief, who invited him in for a meal. Unfortunately it seemed a trap and he could see the woman with flame read hair standing in the background. Well so be it.. The man who met Rory was the tanist, or man to next be chief, and the woman standing behind was his daughter, Ailsa, a healer who was keeping the current McCrieff chief alive, for he was on the brink of death. But as Ailsa saw Rory her thoughts were "He was...hugh. Broad of shoulder, his arms twice as thick as any man's she'd ever seen. She'd always been around warriors, but there was no one like him... this stranger who rode through the gates as if he owned McCrieff Castle. Everything about him screamed of dominance, of power, of ownership." Nicole Locke has a true gift in her words and descriptions that had my heart pounding and I could feel the emotions coming off the page and the chain mail slapping against leather. Ailsa's reaction was to Rory as a man, not just as an enemy as their gazes met. She could see the name mentioned in their exchange was "Rory." A name she knew from a story. The surprise was her father wanted Rory to marry her so their clans could be united. What? He marry a McCrieff? The entire exchange as they negotiated and Ailsa finally felt it would save bloodshed was an intense negotiation. I think his desire as a man for her and her strength in her words and actions swayed him because just by them marrying did not mean there would not still be war between their clans. Wow, I felt part of a whirlwind "watching" this scene play out. My heart went out to these two. Rory had so much emotion, even if he did not show it on the outside. He never felt he deserved to be the next chief. He felt he had to prove himself. So many secrets that needed to come out to heal them and their clans. This was an intense story, but so satisfying. The descriptive prose truly was brilliant and has made me admire this author even more. "Her hair might have been what caught his eye, but it was the emotion in her eyes that snared him. His eyes kept to hers and he didn't know when the assessment of each other turned from political to personal, but his body felt it. His soul felt it and he could do nothing to stop it." I am sorry if I have rambled but I want to tell the entire story evidently! Yes it had a definite impact on me and I know you will feel the same. Prepare to be engulfed in a story that will take you on a journey of emotions and not let you go until the end. But what an ending and epilogue. Just amazing...

About the author

Nicole first discovered romance novels hidden in her grandmother's closet. Convinced hidden books must be better, Nicole greedily read them. It was only natural she should start writing them (but now not so secretly).

If she isn't working on the next book in her historical series, she can be reached at NicoleLocke.com!