About the Book
(Sons of Sinclair #3)
by Heather McCollum
Paperback, 400 pages
Published April 26th 2022 by Entangled: Amara
ISBN1649370768
Without mercy, there is no love in this third installment of the Sons of Sinclair historical romance series by award-winning author Heather McCollum.
Gideon Sinclair, the third Sinclair brother, judges everything in stark terms of good and evil. There is nothing in between, and he is efficient at passing judgment without mercy. Now that his clan has conquered the warring MacKays, Gideon starts the process of integrating them into the Sinclair Clan. He will sort the people, punish the bad, and better the lives of the good. Judging is as easy to him as breathing, until he meets Christina MacKay, who steals his breath...along with his Sinclair ring.
A young widow, Christina MacKay has given her life over to helping the orphaned children in the clan. But love won’t put shoes on their cold feet and food in their stomachs. Christina tired years ago of seeing the rich get richer and the poor suffer more and more, so she decided to do something about it. An agile thief of the rich by night, when she is caught, the new conquering chief must decide her fate.
When Gideon realizes that the thief is the same woman who had already captured his attention, he hesitates for the first time in his life. Letting her get away with her deed leads to more trouble when she is accused of stealing from King James and is arrested. Now Gideon must commit his own crime against the Scottish crown if he is to save Christina. But can a man who was raised to honor and uphold justice break the law for the woman who’s stolen his heart?
Excerpt
“That’s Fiona’s sister. They live together.” Cait smiled brightly. “I’m well treated,” she called out.
Gideon’s gaze went from Cait to Evie and back to Cait. “She thinks ye are being mistreated up at the castle?” he asked.
“Probably. ’Tis why Fiona was at the castle today.” Her gently arched brows rose. “You’d make large strides in winning the villagers over if the sisters liked you.”
“Mo chreach,” Gideon swore. He turned and waved at her, Evie staring back with her mouth agape. Gideon’s gesture looked awkward like he hadn’t ever waved before. Fiona came out to stand next to her sister, frowning.
“I treat everyone well,” he called. “I mean to say, not prisoners, of course.”
“Don’t tease about prisoners,” Cait whispered with a groan.
“Except Cait. She’s a well-treated prisoner. She’s not a prisoner. Any longer…because I am not… She didn’t…” He stopped talking, his jaw moving as if it ached. “Cait is treated well.” He turned away but then stopped, looking back. “Ye are to come to the Hogmanay Festival she is setting up at the castle,” Gideon called. “Everyone must come. Let others know.”
They started walking again. “Must?” Cait said. “As in, they will be judged poorly if they do not attend? Perhaps treated poorly?”
Gideon frowned. “Nay. ’Tis just…a way to say they should come.”
“For a man who spouts laws and rules to his people, you need to be quite careful of the words you use.”
Gideon huffed, turned on his heel, and strode back toward Fiona and Evie. Good Lord. He’d scare Evie into an early grave. Cait rushed after him.
“Excuse me, mistresses,” he said. “What I meant to say is ye both should…that ye are welcome to come to my…to the Hogmanay Festival for your village, which just happens to be up at the castle. There will be food and drink and music. Everyone is welcome, not required, but welcome to participate. And if ye choose not to come, it will not be noted.” He paused as if thinking. “Except, I would miss your kind company, gentlewomen.” Gideon paused as if going over his words. “And Cait is treated well, even though she’s working off her penance.”
Fiona nodded. “We will come,” she said, her lips pursed like they’d been most of the day as she helped Cait up at the castle.
“Very well.” Gideon forced a smile. “Good evening tide.” He turned, but then pivoted back in rapid succession. “And the bell is just a recommendation to close down and go inside for rest. Ye are welcome to…roam about all night if that is your wish. Let others know that, too.”
Cait could barely squash her smile and met Fiona’s gaze.
Gideon’s gaze went from Cait to Evie and back to Cait. “She thinks ye are being mistreated up at the castle?” he asked.
“Probably. ’Tis why Fiona was at the castle today.” Her gently arched brows rose. “You’d make large strides in winning the villagers over if the sisters liked you.”
“Mo chreach,” Gideon swore. He turned and waved at her, Evie staring back with her mouth agape. Gideon’s gesture looked awkward like he hadn’t ever waved before. Fiona came out to stand next to her sister, frowning.
“I treat everyone well,” he called. “I mean to say, not prisoners, of course.”
“Don’t tease about prisoners,” Cait whispered with a groan.
“Except Cait. She’s a well-treated prisoner. She’s not a prisoner. Any longer…because I am not… She didn’t…” He stopped talking, his jaw moving as if it ached. “Cait is treated well.” He turned away but then stopped, looking back. “Ye are to come to the Hogmanay Festival she is setting up at the castle,” Gideon called. “Everyone must come. Let others know.”
They started walking again. “Must?” Cait said. “As in, they will be judged poorly if they do not attend? Perhaps treated poorly?”
Gideon frowned. “Nay. ’Tis just…a way to say they should come.”
“For a man who spouts laws and rules to his people, you need to be quite careful of the words you use.”
Gideon huffed, turned on his heel, and strode back toward Fiona and Evie. Good Lord. He’d scare Evie into an early grave. Cait rushed after him.
“Excuse me, mistresses,” he said. “What I meant to say is ye both should…that ye are welcome to come to my…to the Hogmanay Festival for your village, which just happens to be up at the castle. There will be food and drink and music. Everyone is welcome, not required, but welcome to participate. And if ye choose not to come, it will not be noted.” He paused as if thinking. “Except, I would miss your kind company, gentlewomen.” Gideon paused as if going over his words. “And Cait is treated well, even though she’s working off her penance.”
Fiona nodded. “We will come,” she said, her lips pursed like they’d been most of the day as she helped Cait up at the castle.
“Very well.” Gideon forced a smile. “Good evening tide.” He turned, but then pivoted back in rapid succession. “And the bell is just a recommendation to close down and go inside for rest. Ye are welcome to…roam about all night if that is your wish. Let others know that, too.”
Cait could barely squash her smile and met Fiona’s gaze.
About the Author
I’m Heather McCollum, writer of 16th century Scottish romance full of intrigue and sprinkled with humor, history, & spice. Brawny Highlanders with golden hearts & feisty heroines are my favorites! I’m a mom of 3, dog-mom of 1, & wife of a 6’4” Highlander. I love kilted heroes, dragonflies, watching birds, chai lattes, & eating popcorn for dinner on Friday nights. http://www.heathermccollum.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Due to time constraints we may not be able to personally respond to every comment made, but we do read and appreciate them all. 📚❤️🙂
✋ RBtWBC has a zero-tolerance policy for review harassment and author bashing. Such comments will be deleted at the the blog's discretion.