Shoulder the Skye

4.25 stars-SHOULDER THE SKYE is the second instalment in Donna Grant’s contemporary, adult SKYE DRUIDS paranormal/fantasy romance series-a spin off from the author’s REAPER series which in turn is a spin off from the author’s many interconnected series and stories. This is Druids Elias MacLean, and drough Bronwyn Stewart’s story line. SHOULDER THE SKYE should not be read as a stand alone- I recommend reading DARK ALPHA’S COMMAND (Reaper 15) for back story and cohesion as many of the events of the current time line are as of a direct result of the events in Dark Alpha’s Command. Several characters from the other series including Reaper Balladyn and Druid Rhona (Dark Alpha’s Command) and some of the original Dragon Kings and Reaper characters appear as secondary and supporting characters.

SOME BACKGROUND: Months earlier, betrayal and vengeance forced a take-over of power on the Isle of Skye but someone or something is killing the Druids, not only on the Isle of Skye, but around the world including Edinburgh Scotland. With the focus on the death of the Druids on the Isle of Skye, Balladyn and Rhona (Dark Alpha’s Command/Reaper 15) begin an investigation that reveals a danger targeting the Druids and the MacLean family, in particular.

Told from third person perspective SHOULDER THE SKYE follows numerous interconnected and soon to be connected pathways as the Druids on the Isle of Skye search for the truth behind a magical and powerful mist that is targeting and killing their own. Elias MacLean is a member of a group known as the Knights but Elias has been accused of several murders, murder he knowns nothing about but Elias’ return to the Isle of Skye comes with the darkened memories of the past including the memory of a young woman bullied by the others at school. Bronwyn Stewart is a drough, a Druid who has turned to the dark side, a Druid who has been targeted for who she is, and what she knows, but a Druid who has been forced into a position from which she cannot escape. Protecting Bronwyn has become paramount in the eyes of Elias MacLean such that Elias is pulled into the world that is threatening to take down our story line heroine. What ensues is the building relationship between Bronwyn and Elias, as the danger to everyone is expanding and growing throughout the world.

Meanwhile, the death and destruction of the Druids is mounting, and no one is safe from the impending wrath. Someone is controlling the mist, the Droughs, the Druids, and amassing another group of Druid Others, such that their power and magic is pulled towards the Isle of Skye.

The relationship between Elias and Bronwyn begins by accident as Elias has claimed himself guardian and protector of a woman who has been targeted by a number of people.Elias himself has been accused of several murders around the world, and for his own protection, he has taken up residence with our story line heroine but Bronwyn is much more than she appears to be-her power and abilities are unlike anything Elias and the Knights have ever seen. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many of whom cross over from the author’s numerous interconnected series including Druids, Reapers and Dragons. We are reintroduced to the TruthSeeker Esther and her mate Nikolai (Heat/Dark Kings 12); Elias’ siblings Elodie and Scott, Edie and Trevor; Rhona and Balladyn, as well as the Knights: Sabryn, Carlyle, and Finn, as well as Bronwyn’s sister Beth. The requisite evil has many faces.

SHOULDER THE SKYE is another complex, detailed and multi-layered story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, madness and murder, magic and the supernatural. The premise is intricate and intriguing; the romance is seductive; the diverse characters are magical, powerful and determined.

Skye druids is the best of the series yet

Bronwyn has so much pain inside of her, Elias is trying to do the right thing and conflicted about what to do.
Bronwyn has done so many things wrong and yet is trying to do the right things. Seeing the other side of the Skye druids, the bullies and harassment.
Elias is the good guy who is trying to help without showing everyone what he is doing.
This book shows more of a “real” life type world view with the bullies and issues that arise from childhood trauma and hits home on so many levels.
This is a book not to be missed as I think it is the best book ms grant has written yet!

Wow! Things just got a whole lot dicier on the Isle of Skye! Have you ever had that someone from your past that you couldn’t forget? Elias, the chivalrous boy from her childhood, came back to Skye to help his sister and now someone is after him. Bronwyn is being hunted by a past she can’t escape and things are closing in fast. Somehow she must work with Elias to save them both. The chemistry between these two is off the charts! Had me on the edge of my seat and I didn’t want to put it down, even for a minute!