Destiny claims they are mortal enemies, but their hearts say otherwise.

When Rowena MacLeod falls in love with the son of her family’s greatest enemy, her laird brother refuses to grant her hand in marriage until Marcus MacDonald can provide for his sister. Marcus, now penniless after being disowned by his clan, sets sail to seek his fortune as a privateer. Rowena waits faithfully for her beloved, but on the day Marcus returns, she’s kidnapped by a vengeful MacDonald.

Marcus lost many men while seeking his fortune, and he’s determined to make amends by sharing his wealth with their families. Believing he can now no longer marry, Marcus refuses to pay Rowena’s ransom, instead offering to take his cousin to Uamh Oir, the Cave of Gold, and relinquish any treasure found. When Rowena escapes, she insists that Marcus marry her and take her aboard his ship. With their plunder, she’ll make a new life for herself far from him and her family—provided they don’t consummate their marriage.

As danger surrounds Marcus and Rowena, can they resist the love and desire that’ve been tangled up in family duty and betrayal?

Titles in the Guardians of the Isles series include: The Return of the Heir ~ Only a Highlander Will Do ~ To Win a Highlander’s Heart ~ To Claim His Highland Bride ~ A Little Highland Magic ~ Enchanted by the Highlander ~ Taming the Highland Beauty ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  To Claim His Highland Bride
Series:  Guardians of the Isles #4
Author:  Gerri Russell
Published:  February 14, 2023
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

To Claim His Highland Bride is the fourth title in the Guardians of the Isles series, and brings us Rowena’s and Marcus’s eventful romance.

We’ve met Rowena and Marcus in previous titles in this series, their love is determined yet challenged by Marcus’s loyalty to Rowena’s clan (helping during an epic battle), and the fact that he is now penniless having been tossed out of his own clan, when he took up his sword to fight for Rowena’s side of this feud.  Her brother will only approve the betrothal when Marcus can prove he can provide for his sister.  So, treasure hunting privateer, it is!

Their story takes us through their adventures, good and bad, along with long absences, a kidnapping, found treasure, battles, and accepting the changes in each other that time and circumstances have brought about. 

To say that To Claim His Highland Bride by Gerri Russell is action-packed would be an understatement.  And I loved every page of it.  If you love to get lost in a well-written historical romance full of intrigue, passion, danger, battles, and very stubborn people, then you’d feel right at home with this one.  I enjoyed myself immensely, and believe you would, too.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)