Highland Captive
Alyson McLayne

Highland Captive by Alyson McLayne is book four in her Sons of Gregor MacLeod historical romance series. Though part of a series this novel reads well as a standalone. However, I do plan to read the previous books in the series and any future installments.

Laird Gavin MacKinnon is one of five clan leaders previously fostered together by the great Gregor MacLeod, in order to create allies and bring peace to the Highlands. Gavin’s personality has changed for the worse since his not quite two-year-old son, Ewan, went missing two years ago. Word has reached Gavin that his son has been claimed by the wife of the heir of Clan MacIntyre.

Deidre MacIntyre, born in Clan MacColl, now wife of Lewis MacIntyre, son and heir of the ruthless Laird MacIntyre, claims Ewan is her son. Upon seeing Gavin MacKinnon, Deirdre begins to fear that she has been misled, but she loves her young son and will never leave him.

Gavin never gave up his certainty that his son was alive. He now knows where Ewan is and wastes no time retrieving him. He has to bring Deirdre along too, because she refuses to leave Ewan, claiming he is hers. Gavin and Deirdre clash but soon realize that they must put aside their differences for Ewan’s sake. Deidre’s husband, father-in-law and brother arrive, bringing the promise of war with them. Will Deirdre be returned to her family?

There’s nothing else quite like a Scottish Highlander, and I love reading about them. Highland Captive met my high standards. Ms. McLayne has acquitted herself well. I want to keep visiting with these interesting characters she’s created. I love the intense familial bonds. The plot holds the attention and has great twists. I loved the story and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to all readers of historical romance, especially lovers of Highlander romance. There is some explicit sexual content that may be offensive to some readers.

My thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Deirdre compared herself to both a mouse and a lion. She does in fact act like both. But one thing to remember is, even lions are afraid of mice at times. Gavin sees Deirdre as a beautiful woman and helps her to see it as well.

Heartbreak, betrayal, loyalty, love and a wee bit of geometry weave together to create a story that’s well paced, action filled and laden with lovable characters culminating in an ending for two people that very much deserve their happily ever after.

But this story is so much more than it’s main character’s love story. The friendship between Isobel and Deirdre being deserving of a mention in and of itself, it’s refreshing to see a humor-laden, supportive relationship between women in novels not designed to advance the plot (or purely talk about the men), and as a woman with „my own God-given raft“ the interactions and observations between the two had me in fits of laughter.

So grab a glass of wine, you’ll need it for the emotional rollercoaster of the beginning but it’s oh so worth it.

Highland Captive
The sons of Gregor MacLeod #4
Alyson MacLeod
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gavin MacKinnon is Laird who has changed and not for the better either. Ewan, his young son disappeared two years ago and due to this he has become very callous and bitter man. He has never given up on looking for his son and one day he meets a mysterious woman who claims that it is her son and not his even though he looks exactly like his natural father. On a split decision he decides to take the woman and the boy and ask questions later.

Deidre MacIntyre has decided to go with the brooding Laird if it will keep her young son Ewan safe. As Gavin watches and listened he decides that this beautiful lass has a special bond with her son. Then when Dedire's family comes to claim them in the name of war. Gavin has a very big descion to make. Should he let her go back to her family breaking many hearts? Or should he say forget it I want her here?

Alyson MacLeod has written another phenomenal novel. Wow I am unterly astounded. I believe this to be one of her best books yet. Ms. MacLeod you have made my day. This book is a fabulous and brilliant all at the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Casablanca for this ARC.

I have been waiting forever to read this book! I am so glad that I was able to get an ARC for this book. I have been following this series by Alyson McLayne for a while now and I absolutely adore her books and her writing.

Highland Captive was everything that I had been waiting for from this character. I was really looking forward to reading about Gavin's story as the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his son was one I really wanted to unravel. I loved the character of Deirdre, she was a fierce mama-bear who would do anything for her son, even if it meant keeping him away from Gavin. This story was romantic, heartbreaking and emotional. I found myself with tears on my face more than once while reading this book. I especially like how all the characters from the previous books make an appearance in this book too, so we can still read about how the other characters are living their lives. The other mystery part of this book, which is who is causing all this chaos in these characters lives, still remains a mystery which I think will be revealed (finally) in the next installment. I cannot wait for the next book in this series! I seriously recommend this book to any of my fellow Scottish/highland romance lovers, it is sure to be one that you enjoy!

Love this book!!! I think it is the best I have read from this author!!! The characters are very well developed. The story flaws beautifully!! I can't wait for the next book of the series!

I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I throughly enjoyed this one and don't feel like I was behind because I didn't read the other books. So many times stand-alone novels in a series feel off because I feel like I'm missing so much information that was in the previous books. I didn't feel that way at all while reading this book. I think the main thing I loved about this book was the humor. This book was a bit cheesy at times, but I feel like when you're reading romance that's to be expected to a certain degree.

Highland Captive is the 4th book in Alyson McLayne’s the Sons of Gregor MacLeod series. MacLeod fosters five young boys all destined to become powerful lairds. This is Gavin MacKinnon’s story.

While this is a stand-alone book, McLayne has been painstakingly laying the foundation for Gavin’s story throughout her previous books. Gavin MacKinnon is a changed man after his wife dies and his young son disappears. He has spent years living in anguish and combing the countryside for his missing child. Readers have been waiting for Gavin Mackinnon’s story and Alyson McLayne does not disappoint!

Gavin finally finds his son, Ewan, in the care of Deirdre MacIntryre who claims the child is her own. Gavin assumes that his reunion with his son will be the end of his anguish but nothing goes according to plan. He finds himself attracted to the mysterious Deirdre and struggling to rebuild a relationship with his son.

Grab the tissues, I started crying the first chapter. A new author for my TBR, I was pleasantly surprised how good this book really is.
The fourth in the series (The Sons of Gregor MacCloud) is the story of Laird Gavin MacKinnon who lost his son two years ago. Though others think he's dead, Gavin knows in his heart he's still alive. Information leads him to Deirdre MacIntyre, who has raised his son, Ewan, and is the only mother he knows. When Gavin takes his son back to his castle, he takes Deirdre, too. She's a married woman and he's attracted to her, but doesn't trust her. Now he must decide if she goes or stays. Adding to this turmoil, evil forces surround them and a mysterious warrior wants all of the Sons of Gregor MacCloud dead.
Heart wrenching and very emotional I want to read more of this series.
A free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a true love story.
A love of a mother for her son and he for her.
A love of a father for his son.
And a love of a man, a Laird, a warrior for a woman and she for him
Of course it wasn't all that simple.
Gavin, Laird of the MacKinnons, has been looking for his son Ewan for 2 years. He was presumed dead, but Gavin knew that wasn't true. He knew he had been kidnapped.
Dierdre was given a gift. Her husband brought home, his son, a bastard. He wants her to raise him. So for 2 years she raises Ewan as her son.
When Gavin is given information leading to his son, he finds him healthy and well loved. Ewan doesn't remember him. The only parent he knows is Diedre. So Gavin takes them both with him back to his land and his keep.
That is where the adventure begins.
I started this book and couldn't put it down. Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone.
But this series has been fantastic. If you haven't read the prior books, I encourage you to do so. I can't wait for the next book to come out.
I thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

When did I become such a sucker for historical romance novels? I'm not even going to lie, it was a challenge putting this one down. The dynamic between the great Highlander Gavin and the beautiful siren Deirdre left me wanting more, and with a cute kid thrown into the mix, this was an instant keeper. There was bubbling attraction, non-stop drama and a whirlwind romance that would leave anyone swooning for more.