The Striker (Highland Guard #10)
by Monica McCarty
Blurb:
Now,
as Bruce prepares to challenge the resistance’s remaining strongholds, Eoin
finally has his chance for revenge against the woman he once loved so fiercely
and her entire clan. But when ferociously independent Margaret reveals a
surprise that unites her with Eoin, neither of them will let their love go down
without a fight.
Themes: historical,
Scotland
Rating: 4.25 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
Finally
we get another great story in the Highland Guard series. I have been waiting it seems like forever for
this next book and it definitely lives up to all the time I have spent
waiting. Monica has a way of dragging
her readers into this world she has built that makes you feel like you are
right there beside her characters, living their challenges and seeing their
pain and heartbreak. I have yet to read
anything by Monica that I didn’t love and Striker’s story is no exception. This story, like a previous one in the
series, actually takes place in two different time periods with roughly a
decade between, but the best part is that we get to watch Eoin and Margaret
fall in love not just once, but twice. Bringing
together two enemies, a couple destined for disaster and seeing how they deal
with their differences, once and for all, and tell the world they will be together
despite those differences is beyond heartwarming. If you haven’t read previous stories in this
series you might miss a bit of the subtext here and there, but Monica’s skill
is in making each story independent by providing the details you need and enticing
you to go back and read the rest of the series.
I am sad to hear this series is ending after 2 more books, but it has
been a great ride and I know whatever she comes up with next will also be a
hit.
Eoin
and Maggie’s story is one that began almost a decade ago when two impetuous and
unprepared young people fell into passion and young love. They came together inexplicably in a time of
war, even though their families were enemies and their political loyalties were
split. When the war really amps up, the
true gap between them grows and Maggie is faced with ridicule and hate, as well
as fear, in Eoin’s world. Unwilling to
face such adversity without support, she returns to her family and awaits her
husband’s return, but when mistaken trust leads to tragedy their lives are
forever torn apart. Almost a decade
later, Eoin returns to Maggie’s life and finds himself faced with a surprise of
epic proportions as well as the heated desire that stills burns between
them. But can they forgive the betrayals
and find a way to bridge the gap in order to have a future together or will
their differences force them apart once and for all?
Margaret—Maggie
to her friends—has had to find a way to be happy even though her heart still
yearns for the husband she lost, even knowing that her betrayal was the reason
he’s gone from her. When she first gave
into her desire for Eoin she thought she’d found her prince, the love of her
life, and the man that would live at her side for all time. But those youthful dreams are soon crushed
under the weight of speculation, distrust, and hatred when she meets his family
and clan. Left alone in the midst of her
enemies with no one on her side, Maggie tries her best to be a good wife, but
the differences in her life become unbearable.
The way Maggie deals with her difficulties shows that she was an
independent woman, well before her time, and IMO the real reason Eoin feel
in love with her. That fire and spunk
serves her well when Eoin reappears and she is faced with the changes in the
man she never stopped loving. Working
beside him on their mission we can see that she is no pushover, but when it
comes to Eoin and her love for him she will push any boundary to get her HEA. Definitely one of my favorite female
characters in a while and one that shows that all you need to succeed and get
your happy ending is the strength and bravery to go through, over, under or
around whatever obstacles are thrown in your path.
Eoin
on the other hand is an arrogant ass through most of the story. He’s so sure of his place in the world and
demanding his recognition that he doesn’t see the damage he causes to those
around him. He is unable or unwilling to
resist the pull to Maggie, though he does the right thing in a bad situation,
making Maggie his wife to keep her from being overtly ostracized after their
night of youthful passion. Too bad that
once he does that, he thinks that his responsibilities have been fulfilled. It is obvious that he was NOT ready to be a
husband, disregarding his wife’s wishes or fears for the most part, and leaving
her to fend for herself with his family and clan. Not to mention that he is flat our lying to
her when he disappears on missions and into battle. I appreciate the fact that he has his orders
and cannot tell her the entire truth, but leaving her alone and surrounded by
danger and derision is not a way for a husband to act. The decade older Eoin wasn’t really much
better, being a totally asshat when he uses Maggie to further his mission with
a complete disregard for her feelings, even if he thought she had betrayed him
so long ago. Only after Eoin begins to
come to terms with the mistakes he’s made in their relationship does the reader
begin to see the promising side of Eoin showing that he really is a good man. Thankfully in the end Eoin finds a way to
accept that the past is over and move forward, forgiving both Maggie and
himself for their mistakes and starting over with a clean slate.
Overall,
I have to say that I loved Striker’s story and it was a welcome addition to the
series. There were a LOT of tears in
this story and the anguish was heartbreaking even just reading their sad story,
but the love they have for one another keeps the sadness from overwhelming the
characters and the readers in the end.
Eoin was a man that really needed to be brought down a peg or to, his
arrogance leading to too many mistakes, but once he accepts that he’s just a
man and needs the woman he loves by his side despite their differences, Eoin
become the kind of man I would love to find for myself. Maggie too is a bit brash in the beginning,
coming from a family of males that has always spoiled her, but she quickly
realizes that and tries to improve on her failings. She learns that a single choice, even the
simple mistake of speaking out of turn, can change worlds and cost lives, and
that realization brings out the core of goodness and strength in her so she can
develop into a truly great woman from the reckless girl she was. The heat and intensity between these two is
off the charts from the very beginning, even when they are simply looking at
one another across the room they throw off enough heat for others to notice. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them find their
way together and then back together as they fell in love with each other, first
as youths and again as adults hardened by life.
Monica has struck gold once again and I cannot wait for the rest of the
series.
*eARC provided by publisher (via
netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.
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