Only a Highlander Will Do

History, Love and Magic! A phenomenal masterpiece! I

Book: Only a Highlander Will Do
By Gerri Russell
Series: Guardian of the Isles, Book #2
Publisher : Tule
Release Date: April 19, 2022
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire

The Isle of Skye, l742
Dunvegan Castle

The Dunvegan Village was attacked by the MacDonald clan leaving only about half of the MacLeod’s people to survive. Now two of the MacLeod triplets wanted to see this resolved in two completely different ways. Alastair was the eldest, the Laird and the peacemaker. He wanted to resolve this without war as he saw how all these clans needed to join together against the English. He could see the battle of Culloden was going to happen even though it was four years away. They would need every abled man for this war against the English. Now Tormad was a warrior and wanted the MacDonald’s to pay for their horrific butchering of this village of innocent men, women and children. He saw no other way but to get revenge and declare war. Tormad also took this personally as he was in charge of the castles defenses. Yet he had been too busy he overlooked the village which gave him a tremendous amount of guilt. He was set on revenge and on his to the MacDonald’s to declare war, he saw all these MacDonald men guarding this beautiful woman who he knew must be someone important!

Fiona Fraser lived on the outside of the MacDonald clan. They didn’t live with their own clan because her mother’s clan was an enemy of the Fraser’s. So that is why they lived on the Isle of Skye. They lived in Ulster castle and had an alliance with the clan MacDonald, that kept them safe from other clans so they thought. Now Fiona was also a big believer in fairies selkies, and highland magic. Now they lived in the dower house of Ulster castle which she loved even though it needed a lot of repairs. She is shocked to discover her father has sold her to the cruel and sadistic Alexander MacDonald! Plus his last wife died from very suspicious circumstances. Fiona’s father evidently owed them money he could not repay, so it was either give his daughter or they would all die!

On the way over to attack the MacDonalds, Tormad tied up all the MacDonald warriors guarding Fiona Fraser. When Tormad realizes she was to marry Alex MacDonald he decides to marry Fiona himself. This way he can get revenge without bloodshed in a peaceful way. His brother the Laird would definitely approve of this decision. Furthermore it would definitely save Fiona Fraser’s life as he was pretty sure the evil Alex MacDonald murdered his own former wife. Plus it would be sweet revenge to take something Alex wanted, except unexpectedly Tormad starts to fall for in love with fiery Fiona. Fiona at first was not happy, but for the first time in her life she was making friends with Gwendolyn and Rowena MacLeod and even their ghost of a mother. She loves that fairy magic lives here, but she knew that now the MacDonald’s would start a war and innocent lives would be ended because of her. Knowing that she married a MacLeod, except Fiona was so afraid all the people she cared about would die because of her. She decides to make herself a sacrifice, a MacDonald prisoner, to save her husband, the man she loves and everyone she loves. Except it turns out their sister Rowena MacLeod, followed her and the MacDonakd’s take her as a prisoner instead!

As for Tormad he is happy for the first time in five years, because of his wife and fears he might lose her. It was the first time he went into battle caring that he would not survive! Now first and foremost they had to save their sister! Do Tormad and Fiona have a HEA or will it be death and destruction from the MacDonald’s evilness and treachery? Will the Laird of The MacLeod’s ever find the peace he seeks between the clans? As he knows a bigger force called the English wants to take their lands and independence away. Read and find out in another spell bounding masterpiece by Gerri Russell!

If you love Scottish history about clans, castles, and magic that really does exist on the Isle of Skye at Dunvegan castle. Even tourists in Scotland today can view the fairy flag in Dunvegan castle or breathtaking fairy pools in Glen Brittle, Scotland. I love how Gerri Russell has done so much brilliant research which makes this book even more fun to read. It is weaved with true history with a true clan, castle, and even the fairy flag really exists at Dunvegan castle today. In addition this book is filled with a magical action filled adventure with a fictional love story that will keep any Scotland lover on their toes and loving every written word. I know that is how I feel reading a book that has so many historical facts, with a breathtaking adventure and a fictional love story! In addition it has a swoon worthy hero, a fiery heroine, a horrific black hearted villain and a family that warms the heart. A book I can’t recommend enough as I was absolutely drooling over this story which I loved so much. A book readers definitely don’t want to miss. I can’t wait for To Win a Highlander’s Heart which is Orrick’s story next coming out on June 14, 2022.

You can read this as a stand alone book but I do recommend every book in this brilliant series. As this book will definitely own you heart, as it definitely owned mine. It is one of those rare book you can really sink your teeth into and reread again and again.

Guardians of the Isles Series
Book #1- The Return of the Heir
Book #2- Only a Highlander Will Do: TBR 4/19
Book #3- To Win A Highlander’s Heart:TBR 6/14

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy from Tule Publishing. I voluntarily agreed to read, review and blog an advance copy of this book. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own.