Tag Archives: highland-warrior-chronicles

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Review of **HER VENGEFUL SCOT** (HIGHLAND WARRIOR CHRONICLES #2), by Christina Phillips

Magical and Mesmerising   ** TOP READ**

Erotic Historical Romance, with Paranormal Elements: Adult Read

22589639Book Synopsis

Publication Date: July 4, 2014

Word/Page count: 83,000 words

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’s married to the man responsible for his sister’s death. In order to avenge his sister, he must destroy the woman he wants most.

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 in her she thought long dead. When she is freed from her difficult marriage, Elise places her trust in the tough warrior who stole 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 of her husband’s death, she wonders if everything she knew about Cam was a lie. All she can do is trust that her goddess was right and Cameron is her true love.


A Romantica® historical erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

My Review

Magical and Mesmerising!

Erotic Historical Romance, with Paranormal Elements: Adult Read

Christina Phillips once again combines the bloodshed, brutality and political intrigue of ninth century Scotland with lush sensuality and eroticism. This read also contains some of my favourite themes in romance – enemies to lovers and revenge!

In Her Vengeful Scot, book #2 in the Highland Warrior Chronicles, Scots warrior Cameron MacNeil fights a losing battle with the attraction he feels for the Pictish Princess Elise. Although Cameron despises the Picts, he finds it impossible not to fall for Elise, who surprises him at every turn. Despite his oath to those he serves, not to shed Pictish blood, he is determined to avenge the death of his sister, a death brought about by none other than Elise’s own husband. Fate quickly hands him the opportunity for vengeance and Elise finds herself a widow.

Yet a widowed Pictish princess is vulnerable to the political machinations of the Scottish king, to whom Cam owes fealty. He is compelled to marry her, the woman who he cares for deeply, but who is ignorant of his sins against her. How will Elise react when she realises his duplicity and that he is not the honourable man she unwittingly believes him to be?

Christina Phillips’ heroes and heroines are all so different but they are all credible, complex and sympathetic individuals and in the case of the heroes drop dead gorgeous! The author’s way of writing is truly sublime and once again I experienced all the emotions, the hopes and fears and yes the desire, lust and love the hero and heroine have for one another!

I ADORE the man that is Cameron MacNeil. The death of his sister many years ago at the hands of Elise’s husband has rendered him bitter and taciturn, one whose gruff demeanour often causes offence, as does his plain speaking. Despite his hatred for the Picts, I loved how against his better intentions he fell for Elise and throughout the tale his affection, love and concern for her motivated his actions. Elise is both a strong and a vulnerable heroine. Her first marriage was far from a love match and until Cameron she has sought the attentions of no man, merely indulging in a little harmless courtly flirtation.

When her goddess Bride singles Cameron out to her she places her trust in him, a man who has also stolen her heart. After the demise of her husband she consents to his marriage proposal, whilst concealing her own secrets. Yet Elise senses that all is not well and much will be revealed before this couple have a chance of their HEA.

There is a lot of sexual tension and passion between the main couple in this novel and as you would expect from an erotic read some sumptuous and sizzling love making scenes. These scenes are truly beautiful, sensual and erotic and effortlessly portray the characters’ emotions with not only their words but also every glance, touch and breath they take.

As with Her Savage Scot #1 in the series, I loved how the book contains a mystical element, through the connection Elise has to her goddess Bride and the old religion, where women played an important role, at a time when Christianity was on the ascendant. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, Her Defiant Scot, where another unsuspecting Scots warrior is fated to fall in love with a Pictish princess determined to save their beloved land from the savage invaders.

I strongly recommend this book to readers who like their historical romances to sizzle with erotic love making scenes, alpha males, strong heroines and have a  page turning plot and romance!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Buy links:

Amazon US Amazon UK  Ellora’s Cave

Connect with the Author

Website – Newsletter – Twitter – Goodreads –Facebook

Link to my review of Her Savage Scot #1 in the Highland Warrior Chronicles

For my reviews of TAINTED and BETRAYED in The Forbidden series (also by Christina Phillips and set in Romano-Celtic Britain) click on the links below:
TAINTED   BETRAYED

 

 

 

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Her Savage Scot, Highland Warrior Chronicles #1, by Christina Phillips

hersavagescott_msrPolitical Intrigue, Innocent Deception and Blinding Passion

Erotic Historical Romance, with Paranormal Elements: Adult Read

OMG! If you thought that Christina Phillips’ Romans and Celts were hot in her Forbidden series, then check out her passionate Picts and sexy Scots in her Highland Warrior Chronicles. The author once again combines a spellbinding historical romance with a superb erotic read, which will keep you panting for more. She writes in a way that transports you to the time period and creates truly memorable heroes and heroines.

Three novels are planned: Her Savage Scot; Her Vengeful Scot and Her Defiant Scot, in which three Scots warriors of the Kingdom of Dal Riada, pledge to keep the peace in the wild Highlands of ninth century Pictland. Each is destined to fall in love with a Pictish princess –cousins who are determined to save their beloved land from the savage invaders. Instead they lose their hearts to their wild foreign warriors.

Book Blurb

In Her Savage Scot, 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.

Her Savage Scot involves a combustible mix of political intrigue and violence, innocent deception and blinding passion. The first part of the novel sees Aila innocently conceal her identity from the Scots Warrior Connor. She is assailed by a strong and unexplained visceral attraction and feelings that she has not experienced since her husband’s death nine years ago. Connor, mindful of her widowed status and despite their undeniable connection, decides not to pursue her. However, their mutual attraction is such that they engage in a slow sensual dance of seduction, before coming together in a maelstrom of fiery and erotic passion.

Once Aila’s true identity as Princess is revealed and her political role in marrying Fergus, Connor’s half-brother, becomes clear, their nascent love is sacrificed to the need for their two peoples to unite against a common enemy, the Vikings. The remainder of the plot contains misunderstanding between the lovers, tension, drama and treachery and deceit on the part of others and my heart was truly pounding as their safety and HEA hung in the balance!

Christina Phillips has a real skill for penning addictive storylines and creating credible and memorable characters. Aila and Connor are just so perfect for each other! Aila is a proud, yet vulnerable woman, with a traumatic past, who lives a reclusive life. For reasons which become clear in the novel, she has rejected the old pagan religion in favour of Cristianity, in a society where the old religion is still revered. However, as the attraction between her and Connor intensifies, the goddess Bride once again calls to her and she cannot ignore her true destiny.

Connor is a man that every red blooded woman would ache to possess. He is a strong alpha hero, with an innate sense of honour. He soon realises that Aila is his and wants no other and he does all he can to protect her from others and even from herself, as she becomes a political pawn at the mercy of others. The romantic scenes between the couple are truly beautiful and Christina Phillips combines sexual tension with scorching erotic love making scenes and a credible historical narrative with great finesse. She writes in such a way that the reader gets inside the characters’ heads and feels every nuance of their thoughts, feelings and sensations.

I enjoyed all the characters in the novel, the good guys and the bad guys, but particularly Cameron MacNeil and Ewan MacKinnon, the Scots warriors who will encounter their own Pictish princesses in the other two novels planned in this series, Her Vengeful Scot and Her Defiant Scot. I was also fascinated by the different cultures of the Picts and Scots. If like me you adored the author’s last historical erotic romance series, Forbidden, then you will also love Her Savage Scot. I also recommend it to readers who like their historical romances to sizzle with erotic love making scenes, alpha males, strong heroines and have a strong page turning plot and romance.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this novel was given to me by the publisher for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

A Romantica® historical erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave.

ISBN: 9781419940446

Release date: 20th November 2013

Ellora’s Cave      Amazon    ARe    Nook    Amazon UK   Kobo

Goodreads

Christina Phillips’ website http://christinaphillips.com/

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/christinaphillips.author

For our reviews of TAINTED and BETRAYED click on the links below:
TAINTED   BETRAYED

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Her Savage Scot, by Christina Phillips: Cover Reveal!

See the Cover, Find out about the Series, Read an Extract and Try Your Luck in the Giveaway!

HSS Cover Reveal 1Her Savage Scot, the first book in Christina Phillips’ new Highland Warrior Chronicles is released today and we are delighted to be participating in the cover reveal tour –  scroll down to find out more, see the scrummy cover, read a hot excerpt and Christina’s bio. Readers are also able to take part in a Tour Wide Rafflecopter competition in conjunction with Allison Butler who writes Scottish medieval romances for Penguin Australia to win some super prizes  (details at the end of this post). 

I adored Christina’s last erotic romance series, Forbidden, which brought sexy Romans and Celts to life and I am looking forward to her foray into 9th century Scotland!

The Highland Warrior 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

The Cover

hersavagescott_msr

Read Chapter One of Her Savage Scot

ISBN: 9781419940446

Release date: 20th November 2013

Ellora’s Cave     Amazon     ARe     Nook     Amazon UK    Kobo

Goodreads

Blurb for Her Savage Scot (scroll further for fuller excerpt)

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.

A Romantica® historical erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave.

Read An Excerpt From Her Savage Scot………

“She speared her fingers through his luxuriant hair as he nibbled kisses along the column of her throat. Once again he rolled onto her, his heavy body pinning her into the furs. But this time she savored the sensation of his shoulder against hers, the rigid planes of his chest crushing her breasts. And the way his thigh angled over hers, brushing so close to her damp sex.

His hand clasped her other shoulder, and his teasing lips followed. His roughened jaw scraped the swell of her breast and she stirred restlessly, fingers digging ruthlessly into his scalp. 

He gave a silent laugh and his hot breath caressed her tender flesh. “I’m trying to slow things down. Do you wish me to ravish you like a beast?”

“No.” She raked her fingernails across the back of his shoulders and he reared above her, his black hair disheveled, his eyes glinting in the flickering glow of the torches. Awareness tingled across her skin as she gazed up at him and slowly she dragged her nails along his straining biceps.

 Such leashed power.

 The knowledge thrilled her. Connor MacKenzie, savage Scot from Dal Riada, was naked in her arms and battling his desire to take her like a primitive barbarian.”

About Author Christina Phillips

Christina loves writing dark tales set in the 9th century featuring tough Highland warriors who are brought to their knees by their brave Pictish princesses. 

She is published by Ellora’s Cave and Berkley Heat and has dipped her toe in the indie pub waters. She is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America, the DarkSide Down Under Group Blog and Historical Hearts Group Blog. 

Christina is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in sunny Western Australia with her family. She is also owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around their needs. They are not wrong.

Connect with Christina:

Website    Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads    Blog

Tour Wide Giveaway Details

For details of the giveaway click here for the link to Christina Phillips’ site where you can enter via Rafflecopter. The prizes are truly awesome for the lucky winners, so why not have a go?

INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!

1st Prize:

E-Copy of The Border Laird’s Bride by Allison Butler

$10 Amazon Gift Card

Signed Swag ~ Bookmarks, Postcards & Fridge Magnets from Christina Phillips and Allison Butler

2nd Prize

E-Copy of Tainted by Christina Phillips

Signed Swag ~ Bookmarks, Postcards & Fridge Magnets from Christina Phillips and Allison Butler

3rd Prize

E-Copy of Betrayed by Christina Phillips

Signed Swag ~ Bookmarks, Postcards & Fridge Magnets from Christina Phillips and Allison Butler

 Good luck to all who enter.

Tina 🙂