Series: Highlander Brides (Book 6)
Aulay Buchanan has retreated to his clan’s hunting lodge for a few days of relaxation. But the raven-haired beauty he pulls from the ocean puts an end to any chance of rest. Though he christens her Jetta, she knows nothing of her real identity, save that someone is trying to kill her. As she recovers, it will not be easy for Aulay to protect her and keep her honor intact when she mistakenly believes they are man and wife…
Jetta sees beyond Aulay’s scars to the brave, loyal warrior she’s proud to call her own. But as the attempts on her life grow more brazen, Jetta realizes that not all is as she believes. And if Aulay is not her husband, can she trust the desire flaring in his eyes, or his promise to defend her with his life?
Good book. I've been looking forward to Aulay's story, and it did not disappoint. Aulay is the oldest of the Buchanan's and laird of the clan. Several years earlier he was badly scarred in a battle that also killed his twin brother. On his return, his fiancée refused to marry him because of the scar. Since then, Aulay has resigned himself that no woman would want him and instead devoted himself to caring for his family and clan. As the anniversary of the battle approached, Aulay planned to get away for a few days where his black mood wouldn't affect others, and his well-meaning family wouldn't try to cheer him up. He wasn't able to escape completely, as youngest brother Alick decided to tag along. I had to laugh at Alick's dismay when he discovered that Aulay's definition of relaxing was fishing, not drinking and wenching.
Aulay's plans to relax went out the window almost immediately. While out fishing on the ocean, he and Alick came across a woman tied to a ship's mast and floating in the water. In a brief moment of consciousness, she called Aulay her angel and muttered something about someone who wanted to kill her. When she finally regained consciousness, she could not remember who she was or anything about her life. However, she believes that she and Aulay are man and wife.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Aulay and Jetta. He was caught between a rock and a hard place for most of it. His brother, the healer, insisted that Aulay go along with the deception, believing that telling her the truth could hinder her recovery. But the growing attraction between them made it difficult for Aulay to do the honorable thing. I liked Jetta. Aulay's scar never bothered her from the very beginning; she actually believed that it made him better looking. Instead of the monster he believed himself to be, Jetta thought he was the kindest, most considerate man in the world. I ached for Aulay. Underneath the surface of the laird was a vulnerable man who wished for a woman who wanted him for himself. He wanted what he had with Jetta to be real. I loved the time they spent together, which was sometimes sweet and simple, and other times hot enough to scorch the pages. Aulay also knew that he had to tell Jetta the truth before she learned it on her own, but he was also afraid of how it would affect them. When the truth did come out, I loved how the less-than-eloquent Aulay tried to find the words to tell Jetta how he felt.
There was some suspense added to the book by the question of who wanted Jetta dead. When a look-alike Buchanan clanswoman was shot, it became clear that Jetta was in immediate danger. I loved how the Buchanans rallied around her, joining forces to protect Jetta and discover who was behind the attacks. The tension increased as the attacks escalated and Jetta had flashes of memory return. The final confrontation had several unexpected twists, as the villain made their move. I especially enjoyed how Aulay figured out who it was, though it took him a few minutes longer than it should have. The intensity of the final scene was incredible and had me glued to the pages until it was over. I loved that it was Saidh who saved the day.
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