Hannah Howell

When fate brings together Maldie Kirkcaldy, a beautiful spy, and Sir Balfour Murray, a man desperate to protect his clan, they try to deny the passion that flares between them as they are thrown into a world of betrayal and deceit. Reissue.

Highland Destiny

Louise 

Quite enjoyable. BUT
too much scotspeak

- I dinna ken
- dinna worry, laddie 
- wee lassies
- I havenae said...

When fate brings together Maldie Kirkcaldy, a beautiful spy, and Sir Balfour Murray, a man desperate to protect his clan, each on their own mission of revenge, they try to deny the passion that flares between them as they are thrown into a world of betrayal and deceit, in a romance set in fifteenth-century Scotland. Original.

Danielle Crain

Listenening on audio. Narrator Angela Dawe - 5 star narration. 


  When destiny brought Sir Balfour Murray and his wounded brother down the same road as Maldie Kirkaldy, she offered her services as a nurse even as she tried to deny the desire this dark-eyed knight had ignited at first sight. Soon they discover that they both share a mission of vengeance, but Maldie cannot tell him her true identity--to do so would brand her a spy. Sworn to avenge his family as chief of the Doncoill Clan, Balfour vows to destroy his greatest foe, with Maldie at his side. Yet Balfour knows that he can no more afford to trust her than he can ignore his lust for this sultry beauty. Now, he is not only determined to unearth her deepest secrets, but also to pursue his passion for her. And nothing will stand in his way. When destiny brought Sir Balfour Murray and his wounded brother down the same road as Maldie Kirkaldy, she offered her services as a nurse even as she tried to deny the desire this dark-eyed knight had ignited at first sight. Soon they discover that they both share a mission of vengeance, but Maldie cannot tell him her true identity--to do so would brand her a spy. Sworn to avenge his family as chief of the Doncoill Clan, Balfour vows to destroy his greatest foe, with Maldie at his side. Yet Balfour knows that he can no more afford to trust her than he can ignore his lust for this sultry beauty. Now, he is not only determined to unearth her deepest secrets, but also to pursue his passion for her. And nothing will stand in his way. 


I did not love this book. There were too many secrets being kept from Maldie in her relationship with Balfour. They had the same enemy?!?! I don't understand why she just didn't tell him what her long term plan was. I don't understand why it would automatically brand her as a spy unless everyone became complete idiots (which they did). The idea of killing your deadbeat dad as a death-bed promise to your mother also seems a bit far-fetched and does not translate well into today's world. He asked her time and time again and she knew she was being suspicious and she, being TSTL just assumed people wouldn't catch on to her.

And our hero Balfour? He's just a moron. Yes, Maldie lied to him, but after the climax of the story and everything comes to light, he behaves like a coward and runs away. Seriously. 

This is my 2nd time reading this book and I feel no less frustrated this time as I remember being the last time. VERY SLOW start - quick dramatic climax and a long haul until the end of the story. I know I read a bunch in this series out of order many years ago. I'll definitely continue on because I know there are ups and downs to the saga and I'm looking forward to reading the whole series in order. On to the next...

My Ratings:

5*****I loved this book, consider it an all time favorite
4**** Thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it
3*** I liked it well enough,
2** Brain Candy - It was okay. Writing mediocre, will
keep/re-read if part of a series
1* didn't like/possibly not finished.

danielle bush

A thrilling romance of fifteenth-century Scotland by a New York Times–bestselling author! Bestselling Author Hannah Howell returns to the splendor of medieval Scotland in this first novel of her new trilogy—a saga of clan warfare, divided loyalties, and forbidden love. Here, in the Scottish highlands of the fifteenth century, a powerful knight meets his match in a mysterious beauty bent on revenge. When destiny brought Sir Balfour Murray and his wounded brother down the same road as Maldie Kirkaldy, she offered her services as a nurse even as she tried to deny the desire this dark-eyed knight had ignited at first sight. Soon they discover that they both share a mission of vengeance, but Maldie cannot tell him her true identity--to do so would brand her a spy. Sworn to avenge his family as chief of the Doncoill Clan, Balfour vows to destroy his greatest foe, with Maldie at his side. Yet Balfour knows that he can no more afford to trust her than he can ignore his lust for this sultry beauty. Now, he is not only determined to unearth her deepest secrets, but also to pursue his passion for her. And nothing will stand in his way.

Highland Destiny

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