Highland Storm Guardians of Scotland
Paranormal Romance
Victoria Zak
January 13, 2015
ebook and print
232
A long forgotten Ancient kingdom has been awakened and threatens to change the Dragonkine world forever.
Can passion weather the dragon’s storm?
The only true pleasures in life Conall Hamilton yearned for were to marry a good woman, raise a family, and hide away into seclusion to live a normal life away from battle and war, not an easy task for the Dragonkine warrior and Clan Douglas’s second in command. Assigned to investigate an allied clan, he vows upon his return to marry his love, Effie. That’s until the Dragonkine warrior finds himself accused of a crime he did not commit, murder. Imprisoned, he must find a way to escape not only to save his own life but to save the life of the woman he loves.
In time the past will catch up with you…
Effie Douglas is a survivor. Though not born a Douglas, Effie leaves her old life behind to seek safety within Clan Douglas. For five years Conall Hamilton has been her secret lover and savior, helping her pick up the pieces of her damaged past. Hiding the true nature of their relationship from their clan had become a burden for the red-headed lass and now she desires more. She wants Conall’s name. When Effie is summoned home, she is plagued with unwanted memories, treachery, and new found information that will change her life forever. Will Effie have the courage and strength to weather the storm that rages around her?
Reviewed by: Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team
Book two covers the story of two characters from book one, Effie Douglas and Conall Hamilton. Effie works in the kitchen at Black Stone and has become best friends with Abigail, James’ wife. Conall is James’ best friend and second in command. Unbeknownst to Abigail and James, Conall and Effie have been having an affair for the past five years.
Conall has lived with the fact that he was not there when his wife and son were murdered by rogue Vikings. Although he loves Effie, he has not been able to let go of his guilt and pain. Now, he has finally let go of his past and asked Effie to marry him, no more secrets. Unfortunately, a visit to a neighboring clan regarding some stolen cattle will bring more secrets to the forefront and they involve the real Effie.
What no one at Clan Douglas knew is that Effie was the daughter of the Chief of the Maxwell Clan. Five years ago, she ran away to escape her brother’s cruelty. Her brother, Tavish, both verbally and physically abused her, and made her his own private whore. If it served him to offer his sister to men for sex, he didn’t hesitate. Now Conall is at Clan Maxwell where he is taken prisoner and accused of killing the Chief. The whole purpose of this visit was a trap since the Chief was killed by his own son, Tavish, before Conall and his men even arrived.
Planning her wedding, Effie receives a summons from her father to return home, a summons she will not refuse to honor since she loves her father dearly. What she doesn’t know is what she will face when she arrives. Her father is dead, Conall is accused of killing him, and her brother intends for her to marry a wealthy English knight, therefore, giving him a huge advantage and more power. Locked up, Conall cannot call his dragon forth and is not healing. There is very powerful magic at work, but not powerful enough for him not to realize that Effie is somewhere in the castle. Is she hurt? Has she been kidnapped?
In spite of the fact Marcus is believed to be hurt or dying, he is anything but. He intends to bring back the Dragonkine King. On his return, this King will destroy all the Scots and even other Dragonkine who stand in his way. After being pushed into the pit of death with his seven royals, his return will be driven by hate and revenge. Magnus has been able to discover Marcus’ plans and the only way to protect Scotland is to unite all the Dragonkine. They must find the missing two and build an army to fight what is coming.
Will Effie and Conall manage to escape? Will they finally be wed? What will happen to the Dragonkine? In prison Conall meets a man named Caden and senses something is different about him, who is he? We also meet Maggie, Effie’s maid who falls prey to Travis’ brutality. I hope in the next book we find out more about Maggie and Caden.
I love this series and the characters that the author has created are wonderful. There are secrets and surprises. We also catch up on everyone we met in book one, Abigail, James, and the two girls Abigail rescued from a life in squalor.
**2015 Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers Choice Nominee**
