Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The Chieftain by Margaret Mallory + giveaway


So things are a little different today darlings! We're actually doing a joint tour for two lovely authors. Sue-Ellen Welfonder and Margaret Mallory who bring so much yummy Scottish goodness you'll be one very satisfied and contented reader. 

So, here's the deal. I split the reviews up into two posts with one joint giveaway that you can enter. I hope you'll visit both because really they were both awesome reads. So, check out the reviews, leave a meaningful comment on each and enter the rafflecopter!

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Connor, chieftain of the MacDonalds of Sleat, holds the fate of his people in his hands. Rival clans are plotting to take over his lands, and duty determines whom he will fight, trust . . . even marry. Seeking guidance, Connor turns to Ilysa, a young lass with the gift of foresight, who reveals an approaching danger-and a passion that burns only for him. But the warrior must make a powerful marriage alliance, and Ilysa's bloodline is far too humble. 

With her powers to heal and see evil where others cannot, beautiful Ilysa dresses plainly, speaks softly, and loves her chieftain from afar. Yet when Connor finally stokes the embers of desire that have so long burned within her, Ilysa feels bliss unlike any she's ever known. Now as he is forced to place duty before happiness, Ilysa senses Connor is in grave peril. Can she find a way to prove she is the woman he needs by his side?


Type: Historical Romance, Highlanders
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I think it's safe to say that Margaret Mallory has a new fan and a completely hooked one at that. The Chieftain was filled with stellar characters, surprise connections, terrible betrayals and all of the emotional turmoil they bring and just a lovely romance to top it all off. Like I said. I was hooked. Even if I wanted to strangle a Highland warrior now and again.

The gist is that Connor is a somewhat new Chieftain who's lands are at risk and who is in need of a strong alliance with another clan. He plans on forgoing a marriage for love and using his marriage to form a bond with another clan to ensure their help in defeating his enemies. Yep. You know there's gonna be some drama with that one.

Connor, Lord love him, I spent about half the book wanting to pinch the ever living hell out of the man and then somehow he had me doing that girly contented sigh thing and falling completely in love with him before I even realized it had happened. He really is a good man and I loved the warrior/Chieftain side of him that would do anything for his people. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty and fight with his men. The pinchable side was the way he treated Ilysa the first half of the book where the damnable man just kept dismissing her and being rather flaky in what he wanted from her. Had me getting all grumbly and wanting to give him a smack.

Ilysa though held her own and may just be my favorite heroine of the year. The lass was amazing and while not the strongest physically she definitely had a fighting strength behind her and had determination like you wouldn't believe. What made me fall head over heels for Ilysa was the fire in her. If the men around her dismissed her warnings of danger? Well, the lass would lock their asses in their own dungeon until the danger passed. Seriously. Holy freaking balls! And she just had a great personality and did things you really wouldn't expect.
"He seemed interested in me," she said. 
"He is interested," Niall hissed in her ear, "is getting ye under the blankets." 
"Truly?" Ilsya said, pressing her hand to her chest. Other lasses were always talking about men attempting to do this, but they never tried with her. "That's exciting. Do ye suppose other men here will try as well?" 
"Ilysa!" Niall looked so shocked that she burst out laughing. 
Really, how could you not love her?

There's really some heart breaking moments once Connor got his act together and started falling for Marjory and the two have to struggle with his need to protect the clan and "do what's right" versus what's really in his heart. I mean. Heart. Breaking. Stuff.

One thing I liked about Mallory's world building was that her Highlanders definitely have a dark side. There's danger lurking everywhere and these Highlanders are brutal. They're fierce in their determination and quests for revenge and things aren't always pretty even when the Chieftain is a good man and honorable.

The ending in this one was one of those "oh shit!" make your hands fooking sweat kind of endings. And yeah I just cursed but it's so my blog and totally merited with this one. I mean seriously. Hands sweating. Fidgeting in my seat. Holding my breath kinda endings. And so damn good. If I hadn't been hooked before that would have done it for me.

I'm really looking forward to checking out all of the earlier books in the series next and love the hint of maybe another book coming into the picture for one of the characters that really won me over throughout the story. If you love Highlanders, "impossible love" stories and damn fine upstanding characters (though some may slip a time or two on that front) you'll love The Chieftain. It comes out at the end of February and is one ye shouldn't miss.



The giveaway will have 2 winners. Open INT
One will win an ecopy of the Chieftain and one an ecopy of Seduction of a Highland Warrior. 

Be sure to check out both reviews and leave meaningful comments on each for extra entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 comments:

  1. Ilysa sounds like a fantastic heroine that I would enjoy reading about.

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    1. Ah Maureen she was awesome! I'd love to read more heroines just like her :)

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  2. Love how you fall in love with Conner as you read more about him.
    modularmates(at)comcast(dot)net

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    1. You know I still don't know quite how he did it but yep he totally won me over. I'm so glad too!

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  3. Looks like a very fun read.

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  4. Wow... Love these 2 authors that you have on your blog today. They're two of my faves. Can't say enough about them. They are awesome writers. I've enjoyed their books over the years. Thanks for having them.
    Lori :)

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    1. That's really great to hear Lori! This was my first time reading either of them and I love knowing their others are good too! Can't wait to have a little time to check them all out!

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  5. Thank you for the fabulous & very fun review! I can't tell you how gratifying it is to me as an author to know that I made you sweat, fidget, & hold your breath. ;)

    Margaret

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Margaret! Oh my word. Yeah you had me real good but man it was fantastic! Can't wait for the next one!

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  6. Wow awesome review! I have the series but haven't read it yet. NOW it's at the top of my TBR pile!!! Thanks for the review and the giveaway.

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    1. Ooooo I'm so chanting "read it! read it! read it!" LOL. Really though if the other books are anything like this one they're gonna be great :)

      Happy reading!

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  7. I am behind on this series. Loved what I have read of it so far. Margarets writing flows and I enjoy it. The book moves without the slow sections some writers have. I think maybe I need to find a month of just highlander reading. It has been too long. lisakhutson(at)cox(dot)net

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    1. LOL A month of just Highlanders sounds really, really good Lisa!

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  8. Hello
    Don't enter me as I own the book, but I haven't gotten to that point yet, but yes I like Ilsya too. Just wanted to pop in and say hello to Margaret.
    Z

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    1. Aw that was nice of you to stop in for a hi :) Goodness isn't she great? What a fantastic character!

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  9. I sure hope it's up to you to decide who gets which book. They both sound great and anyone who wins would be lucky to have either!

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    1. LOL I'm so having the first named picked choose which they want. And oh yeah that will definitely be a hard choice. Both were just so good!

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  10. I am already in love with the rest of Margaret's Highlanders and have been eagerly awaiting Connor and Ilysa's story. Margaret not only writes great romances, but does a great job on her research for them. She has a special place on my book shelf. :-)

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  11. I wanted to pop in to say thank you to the commenters who've said nice things about my books. Yay! For an author, that's like getting compliments on your children.

    I should mention that, while I write each book so that it can stand alone, I think readers enjoy the books a bit more when they read them in order. :) THE CHIEFTAIN is the 4th & last book in the series. Gosh, I'm going to miss my four guys!

    Thanks for all the comments & thanks again for a review that put a huge smile on my face.

    Margaret

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  12. I love Highlanders and thanks for featuring this. I have added to my Amazon wish list!

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  13. The characters in this book sound awesome. Gotta love those Highlanders.

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  14. Love your review and can´t wait for my chance to read, =) suspense and Highland warriors? *swoon*
    Happy Valentine´s!
    //Linda
    fr_larsson at hotmail dot com

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  15. Anna, girl, me and you are SO much alike! Your first sentence in this post is exactly how The Chieftain made me feel! So much so that I got the first two (have The Warrior but haven't read it yet) yesterday on my Amazon splurge for my b-day. I want to read them all back to back and then move on to her medieval knight series. I am such a fan girl of Margaret now. :)

    Great review! You brought everything important about this story to light and had me howling with laughter as you did it!

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  16. Connor sounds just like what I expec a highlander to be. That's a great thing that he's no afraid to fight and acts like a leader! I wonder at the lady who'll capture his heart. I know she'll have to be strong and smart.

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  17. Just about finished reading The Warrior and so looking forward to Connor's story. Keep up the great writing. Are you ending it with just the 4 books or do you have plans to branch off??

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  18. THE CHIEFTAIN is the last book in this series, Angila. I've started work on my next series, THE DOUGLAS LEGACY, which takes place in other parts of Scotland a few years after THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS.

    A lot of readers have asked me to write a book for Niall, Ian's (THE GUARDIAN's) younger brother, which I LOVE to hear. I have another handsome Highlander I introduce in THE CHIEFTAIN that I expect readers will also want to see again. :) I'm toying with the idea of writing a short story or bringing one of them into my next series, but I haven't decided yet.

    Thanks for asking!

    Margaret

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  19. Oh, holy cow! Queue up more highland romances to my TBR list!

    As a side note, I love, love, LOVE the name Niall. It's within my top three faves for a man. :)

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  20. Both of these book are going to be great reads! I love to read Margaret Mallory, and I am looking forward to reading Sue-Ellen Welfonder's book read her version of a Highland Warrior.

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  21. Ooo, sounds good. Can't wait to read it and that cover is just awesome! So sexy and dangerous!

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  22. Would love to read. Thanks for the giveaway.
    Blessings
    joeym11@frontier.com

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I always enjoy hearing what YOU think so come on and leave a comment. Everyone's welcome :) And feel free to leave comments on old posts. I'll check in on you there too :)

Bloggers don't forget to leave your links!
~Anna

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