Review: A Scot to Love and Protect (Once Upon a Scot #3)

A Scot to Love and Protect (Once Upon a Scot #3)

Maeve Greyson

Blurb:

Her arrow hit his shoulder. Her beauty caught his eye. But then there was the kiss…

Commander Valan MacDougall and his men are sent to end an extended attack on Caerlaverock Castle, stronghold of Clan Maxwell. The warriors fully expect the reportedly aged widow of the keep to swoon with relief when they arrive. The English have plagued the fortress and surrounding village for weeks. The warriors from Argyll mean to end the siege in a day or less. In fact, they’re placing bets on just how long it will take. After all, they are the invincible Gallóglaigh, and the English are…the English.

However, they discover the Lady Elspet Maxwell is not aged at all. She is a widow, but far from old. And the woman fights as fiercely as any man. The only thing surpassing her warring prowess is her incredible beauty. A beauty capable of bringing men to their knees. Valan regrets his order that Maxwell women are not to be touched by the mercenaries. Of course, he’s broken orders before and intends to do so again with the Lady Elspet—if she will allow.

Enemies outside the castle walls. Unknown enemies within. Meddling matchmakers too powerful to ignore. And the matter of Elspet making amends for shooting Valan not once, but twice. The atonement he requires from her? Just a kiss. What harm could come from one little kiss?

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 3.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The finale of the fun trilogy of short stories about the Gallóglaigh warriors comes to and end with the story of the youngest commander Valan and the spitfire widow that quite literally brings him to his knees.  I never knew that Maeve Greyson’s skills for story telling would be so profound in such short stories, but I have found with this series that it truly isn’t the length of the story but the punch each story packs.  Valan has been sent to assist a Laird’s widow and her people that are under siege by the English, but when they arrive the scene before them is very unexpected, as is the arrow that punches through his shoulder.  Lady Elspet is certainly a widow, but she is nowhere near the aged or needy woman he was expecting, instead she is daring and deadly with a bow and doing everything in her power to protect her late husbands’ clan and hold their keep for them.   As the spend more time together, getting to know one another and working to unmask enemies and find the best solutions to problems that continue to arise for the Maxwell’s Elspet and Valan find themselves continuously drawn to one another until there really is not resisting one another.  But is protecting a clan that doesn’t even respect or value her worth the pain and loss she’ll face is she has to lose Valan or will Elspet give up the safety she’s known for years in order to go for what her heart wants?  I loved this finale story and the danger and action as Elspet and Valan worked together against enemies and with friends as they were tossed together in both peace and war.  Elspet is for sure a spitfire and dangerous in her own right, willing to fight and defend those she considers under her protection, and Ioved her sass and wit as well.  Valan is brave, sweet, kind and strong, making him the perfectly rounded knightly warrior and I enjoyed seeing him working to convince Elspet that he was the man for her.  The heat and passion between these two were apparent from the first time they clapped eyes on one another and the battles along the way were filled with sparks, but I enjoyed best when they finally admitted to their feelings and claimed their love.  Another great trilogy filled with passion and love comes to an end, but I hope that Maeve gives us another one just like it sometime soon.

*eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.