This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Wow, talk about enemies to lovers, Cain and Ella were so far apart in their background and upbringing, and hatred for the other's clan that you were not sure what could bring them together! Their clans had a feud going on and both the clan leaders were kind of cruel or crazy so not too sad when they were both out of the picture.

Cain had a long way to go to understand that there was more to life than what his father had planned for his sons and their lives. Almost to the end, you wondered if Cain would ever get out of his father's mindset and realize there was more to life than conquest.

Ella was such a strong woman and I loved her! She did not bow to her conquerors and stood firm in her resolve. Even after getting a bit closer to Cain, she could still see that he was "hollow" inside and the safety of her clan and family was just as important to her as Cain's need to conquer.

Really can't wait for Joshua's story and wonder what kind of woman will be able to help him overcome his demons.

Great series start!!

This book is absolutely packed to gills with action. Heather McCollum has written a riveting adventure with an enemies to lovers twist and a hard won HEA. The storyline and characters are so well developed that I was completely hooked and couldn't put it down. This is one of those books that I will definitely be rereading in the near future! I was given this book to read and review by Netgalley. This opinion is my own and is freely and voluntarily given.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

This is the first in a new series from Heather McCollum and I can not wait to read the rest of the series.

Ok imagine if the Hatfield and McCoy’s were Scottish, smart, funny and respectable. And Cain and Ella are the kids who fall in love but these two are actually in charge of their clan’s and by getting together they would join the Hatfield and McCoy’s… Ok that might be a bit hard to imagine but reading the story isn’t a hardship at all.

I loved Cain and Ella. They are too funny together. Yes she is his captive hoping if they wed the clan’s will combine and belong to Cain but Ella isn’t willing to have that happen even if she is willing to have a bit of fun with Cain.

This is just adorable. There are so many times that made me smile in this book and I just love how strong and independent Ella is. McCollum is easily one of my favorites in the Scottish Highland genre and this book just shows why. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Heather McCollum always writes a fantastic highland adventure and this is one that is even more. From start to finish i loved heverything about it.

I highly recommend this book, I cant wait to read more books from this author.. totally worth the ☆☆☆☆☆

Highland Conquest is the first book in the brand-new Sons of Sinclair series. This is was a wonderful book to start the series with! I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down from the first page. The book started with a battle between the Sinclairs and the Sutherlands clans. The Sinclair brothers were strong fighters and they used their reputation as the four horsemen of the apocalypse to their advantage. Ella Sutherland was intelligent, strategic, and independent. She became the Chief of the Sutherland Clan when her father died the year before. She was trying to save her clan and protect their homes. Cain Sinclair was the oldest son and had been raised knowing his duty to the clan was to conquer and unite Scotland. The book comes alive and you feel like you have gone back in time while reading it. This is going to be a wonderful series and now we must wait for the next book to see Joshua’s adventures.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Full review appeared at Reader's Edyn on 05/06/20

Arabella, Chief of the Sutherlands, is now a prisoner of her enemy, the Sinclairs. She prefers death but instead finds herself forced to marry the new Chief, Cain Sinclair, to form an alliance. Cain intends on taking over the Sutherlands and creating a stronger army and so a stronger Scotland. But Ella has secrets she must protect and she cannot allow Cain to take over her clan. Since he is the enemy, he cannot be trusted. But the more time she spends with Cain, the more her mind wars internally. The brute displays a façade of a battle-hardened destroyer to the outside, but inside she finds comfort and tenderness for her alone. Her heart longs for the glimpses of the true man that she is slowly coming to understand. Her body, a trembling mass of desire when he is near. For all their differences, there is even more that seems to be the same. She has been raised to believe one way and crushing through that belief when it has been ingrained for so long is nigh impossible to do. Before too long she and Cain are working together to find solutions to issues as they arise. And when Ella is suddenly handed back her power to make a choice, will her time with Cain have been enough to persuade her to choose love?

Cain Sinclair has just taken over as Chief of his clan; a role he has been groomed for since birth. When the clever, tempting, intriguing Chief of the Sutherlands succeeds in killing his father, he really has no choice but to retaliate. Wars are won and lost, but Cain has yet to lose. And suddenly he refuses to lose Ella, taking her hostage and forcing her into marriage with him. The plan makes sense, but Cain also longs for Ella to come to him of her own volition and sets out to woo the woman who has captured his heart. Much has occurred since their first meeting so many years ago, but he never forgot her. Now that his father’s brutal reign has come to an end, Cain is free to rule as he desires. Firm, yet fair. He only hopes he can convince Ella to rule at his side. The beauty has survived a horrific childhood at the hands of her father and now having attained her own level of freedom, capitulating in deference to Cain will be a hard-fought battle. But just as Ella has to make her own mind up and rectify what she has been brought up to believe versus what she has discovered to be the truth while inside the inner sanctum of the Sinclairs, so does Cain have much to learn and implement if he is to ever have the slightest chance of possessing Ella’s heart. Her love, freely given, is his greatest desire.

Am I ever a sucker for Scottish HR! Not to say that I am guaranteed to love every one I come across, but what a beautifully told story of two fierce hearts in their journey to realizing that their strength is in one another; survivors who refuse to fail for fear of losing everything they hold dear. Both of them almost too intelligent for their own good, shrouded in secrecy and legend, neither understanding that at checkmate their end games are one and the same. Cain is a planner, never making a move in any aspect of life without carefully considering each move. He is also crazy insightful and picks up on the smallest of details to easily deduce the truth of what others might attempt to keep hidden. Ella may have not been born a male heir and incurred the wrath of her father on many occasions, but she also learned to survive. Taught and trained by her mother and trusted friend, when it came time for her to prove her worth and ability in leading her people, she flourished further into the strong, capable, confident woman that she is. As you can imagine, for a leader giving orders to protect his people, especially those he cared for, his dictates to Ella continually went unheeded. A Chief herself, taking orders wasn’t exactly a strength. There was a whole lot of push and pull with Cain ultimately allowing a lot more lead when dealing with Ella while she continued to balk at every turn. Fervently wishing for Cain to seek her counsel and simply listen to her ideas, she also has an extremely difficult time reconciling Cain the horseman with Cain the man. Given their harsh upbringings, it isn’t difficult to understand the internal struggle that almost immediately ensues. But Ella and Cain have a shared love for animals and ultimately it is that shared passion that initially begins to chink away at the armor of protection.

There is also another example of just how different two people can be raised and how it ultimately affects their ability to cope in life. Ella’s mother had ensured she would be prepared for success even though she was a female and never even considered to rule her people in her father’s eyes. He was cruel and abusive toward her. In glaring contrast was Hannah, Cain’s sister. Also born a female and labeled useless by their father, she was basically ignored as if she never existed. Never given a purpose or even a job to do, she was ill-prepared for life. So when she is faced with having to make some decisions for herself, she makes serious mistakes. With Cain’s sire obsessed with the legend he spewed, identifying his four sons as the Four Horsemen from Revelations, a female child held no place in his plans. But things are not always as they seem and while the myth of retribution suits this family well, each brother holds his own feelings regarding their roles within the lore. Additionally, each of the two families has their own closely guarded secrets. It isn’t until they begin to trust one another that they begin the path toward healing.

The final scene in this book is nothing short of spectacular. Although it was reminiscent of the Crocodile Dundee subway scene. LOL Regardless, the entire thing played out like a movie in my head. The entire book did, in fact. From the initial battle scene, all the way through until the end. I could easily see this book made into a movie. The best thing about this book is that it is far from over as the first in a series. Cain has three other brothers who are just as intriguing. They are very similar and yet couldn’t be more dissimilar from one another. I sincerely look forward to seeing how all of their stories play out. As for this book, it is a wonderful beginning to a promising new series. Enemies to lovers – extremely well written – action-packed – scorching passion – captivating from start to finish! This may have been merely my second foray into the work of Ms. McCollum, but I am determined to devour many more reads by this fabulous author! Any fan of Scottish HR is sure to be pleased by this enchanting tale!


Kindle version provided by NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

I love Scottish and highland themed stories and this on hit the spot.I loved the characters Cain and. Arabella.Great plot and pace made it a five star read!I highly recommend it and can’t wait for book two.

Cain Sinclair has been raised all his life to conquer and strategize, driven by a mostly-mad father. When his father's death in battle sees Cain become chief of the Sinclairs, he is able to do things his own way and decides to bring peace to his clan and avoid bloodshed by marrying Ella Sutherland, the chief of his clan's greatest enemy. He captures her in battle and forces the lovely warrior woman back to his castle, but she's less than willing to accede to his demands, even in the name of peace.

Ella spurns Cain's attempts at wooing her and continues to try her luck, albeit unsuccessfully, at escaping his well-fortified castle. The only thing that does seem to click between them is their physical attraction, but all Ella truly wants is to be free.

When Cain learns that Ella has been keeping a secret for years, one that could spell disaster for both their clans, he must decide how to uphold his role and maintain the respect of his clan, while still achieving the peace he quietly longs for, even if it means sacrificing a future with the woman he's come to love.

I had very high hopes for this book and this new series, but I've got some very mixed feelings about this. I really liked seeing Cain work to embrace who he really is and come into his own without his father forcing him into the role of first horseman that he never actually wanted to fulfill. Most of my issue was with Ella. She was incredibly judgmental of Cain, even after she started to get to know him and most of her decisions were just illogical. I found myself scoffing at her more often than not and couldn't bring myself to root for her. Then she went almost immediately from hating Cain and mistrusting him to being eager to jump into bed with him. I just didn't really feel the attraction or connection between them.

I do enjoy action in my romance, but some of the battle scenes/scenarios started to feel a bit repetitive and overused as plot devices. At times I felt like I was rereading a scene I'd already read earlier in the book. The writing style took some getting used to and I struggled to get into this. Most of it was a slog and didn't quite work for me or hold my attention until the very end. It wasn't bad, not by any means, just not quite what I was expecting. I seem to be in the minority here though, so I would still recommend this one and will likely continue the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Here is the new Sons of Sinclair series that will follow the four sons of the previous clan Sinclair chief who nicknamed them the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This first volume, Highland Conquest, presents to us Cain and Ella when after a bloody battle, he takes her back as a prisoner, demanding a wedding between them to pacify their two clans.

The brothers Sinclair’s father used to have them play their role as Horsemen of the Apocalypse down to the last detail, like their horses’ color or their battles outfits. Because of this and their fierceness in battle, the neighboring clans fear them – but that doesn’t prevent them to pick a quarrel with them as you can imagine. Of the four brothers, only one seems to possess the personality corresponding to the horseman he’s meant to be, the others are more moderate and open when they are just between themselves. They have a sister, ignored by their father because she doesn’t fit in the Horsemen’s legend, and I don’t know yet if the author intends to write a book for her.

Cain is honest, ready to do anything for his clan. First he follows his father’s idea to unite Scotland by force under the Sinclair’s colors, but he changes little by little, in part through contact with Ella. He admires her courage and her determination, and he’s ready to do anything for her to finally accept him.
Ella is full of vivacity, determined to free herself, not to surrender to Cain or to her own feelings. She understand little by little that Cain and his brothers are not the monsters her father described, she begins to trust him, but she hides a secret because of a promise made to her dying mother that will spoil things a bit between them when he’ll discover it.
I thought they were good together and their attraction leads to quite sensual moments well done.

The emphasis is placed on the fact each must break away from his/her father’s legacy, which isn’t done easily. Of course there are some unlikely scenes, like the one at the beginning when the hero doesn’t try to take revenge on the heroine after his father’s death but decides immediately to marry her, leaving the battle field to take her back to the family castle. There are several unexpected plot twists: abduction, diverse threats, surprising big revelations …

All in all it’s a pleasant story with characters to which we can easily grow attached to. And now I can’t wait to discover the brothers’ stories.

Highland Conquest by Heather McCollum
Sons of Sinclair #1

The Sinclair brothers, four of them, have been raised to believe they are the four horsemen of the apocalypse found in Revelation. They appear at battle fields dressed as messengers from god and are dressed appropriately. Each has a job that allows them lethal abilities while instilling fear while fighting foes. These brothers are, n order of birth:
* Cain brings conquest on a white horse
* Joshua brings war on a bay horsemen
* Gideon brings justice on a black horse
* Bás brings death on a pale horse
Each brother will have a book of his own and perhaps their sister Hannah will, too. This, the first book in the series, is the story of Cain and how his plan to bring peace rather than war begins. It is also a story with a HEA...eventually.

Beginning on a battlefield we meet the brothers, they lose their father and Cain chases down Arabella “Ella” Sinclair, captures her and declares they will marry to cement an alliance through marriage. Needless to say, she is not thrilled with the idea. For three weeks they face off in his castle, get to know one another, play chess, escapes are attempted, kidnappings are dealt with, have a bonfire social event and eventually secrets are revealed. The two seem meant for one another but prickly Ella and hollow Cain have to realize some truths before they can see what their future together can be.

What I liked:
* Ella – strong, a survivor, puts family and clan first.
* Cain – raised to conquer, has a plan, has much to learn, falls for Ella.
* The other three brothers – eager to see how their books will unfold
* The concept for the series, the writing and pacing
* Merida – a strong woman who survived much
* Hannah – a young woman kept hidden who needs to find herself
* Ethan – a good man there for Ella and her family
* James – young but potentially a good leader – perhaps he will get a book of his own, too
* Being eager to find out what Joshua’s story will be in book two.

What I did not like:
* The fathers of both Ella and the brothers
* The baddies – there was more than one to hate in this book
* Not a dislike but a note that to read this book you have to leave reality behind and open your mind to a not so historically correct historical romance.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Do I want to read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled-Amara for the ARC ~ This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Heather McCollum brings to life this story in an epic way. I was transported and loved every second of this story. This was one of the best enemies to lovers Highlander stories I've ever read. I devoured each word, loved how strong Ella was and defiant even when Cain was so sure. I can't wait for the rest of this series. It was fabulous!

A wonderful story line. Filled with suspense and mystery. A Historical title with suspense.
This is a wonderful romance.

If you are a fan of the Outlander series or love reading Highlander romances, this book is a great addition to your collection! 

It's a story of peace, kidnapping, wooing, and freedom (if any of those things could collide, it's in this one). I really loved how their interactions changed from the beginning to end, and the one-sided enemies-to-lovers take was such a perfect addition it the story. 

The writing style was a little bit of a struggle to me. It's hard for me to really be captured by these romances as I either fly through their historical writing styles or I tend to stumble between the words. This one wasn't too complex for my taste, but there were a few world-building scenes I found myself slowing down to digest. 

But overall, this was a solid read, and I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend this one to Scottish, historical romance lovers!

4.5 stars
I did enjoy this book very much. It had plenty of action and some romance. I did like the main characters, Ella had a lonely life and had been brought up as a warrior by her father. Shew as intelligent and brave. Cain and his three brothers had been raised for combat by their father. His father had a plan to take all of Scotland. All the brothers had different roles and Cain was the strategic planner. There were a number of interesting ceremonies that took place and were vividly described. The way that Cain and Ella’s relationship developed was engaging and I particularly liked the scene towards the end. Of course nothing runs smoothly, not only is there something that both Cain and Ella haven’t told each other but there is also an enemy to cause trouble and danger. This was a very good read and I look forward to reading the stories of the other brothers.

Excellent read! Solid 4 💜

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This story is an excellent start to Ms McCullums' newest series based on the 4 horseman.

Cain and Ella are strong, honorable characters that only want whats best for their clans even though they have their own agendas. Their chemistry is great and Ella fits right in.
The plot moves at a nice steady pace and kept me reading. I definitely look forward to the brothers stories!

Scotland 1589
I always look forward to a new story by Heather McCollum because I know I will be transported with her words to another world and held captive until the end! Wow, she did that in spades this time with the start of this new series!
The first pages felt like I was in a movie, watching the Sinclairs led by Laird George Sinclair, and his four sons engage in battle against their enemies the Sutherlands. Then the oldest brother Cain, saw her as "A black horse stepped out into the wide clearing before the forest. What caught his focus was the woman who stood straight up on the horse's saddle. Clothed in slim black trousers, the woman balanced while raising her fist into the air. Men emerged from the woods to stand on either side of her. It was the daughter of the dead chief of the Sutherland Clan, Arabella Sinclair.Then he noticed they raised their bows and arrows and aimed to fire upon his Da." I could see this battle in my mind and Cain who would then become the new Laird as the arrows killed his father.
Then he took off after her....
Heart pounding, exciting, brutal, mesmerizing, secrets combine with a fierce warrior faced with a strong female warrior, both with scars but also with hearts that want to connect, if only they will let them.
A keeper and one I will remember as I wait for the next in this series.

This begins the tale of the four horsemen of Scotland. Cain is the oldest and the conqueror. When his father dies on the battlefield it’s his job to lead the clan. Ella is a fierce female warrior who ordered the killing of Cain’s father. She becomes captured and a game of cat and mouse begins. This is a story with characters who have fierce and strong personalities that are are always clashing. It is an exciting read as you watch the passions flair and history unfold to the very happy ending.

Highland Conquest by Heather McCollum is book one of her Sons of Sinclair series. This is a fine example of historical romance.

Cain Sinclair has been raised to conquer everything and everyone he comes into contact with. His ultimate goal is to conquer and rule the clans bordering the Sinclairs and eventually all of the Highlands. He plans to begin with Clan Sutherland. Marrying the current chief, the brave and beautiful, Ella Sutherland, seems to be the fastest and easiest way to achieve his goal. Ella is a warrior and refuses to yield to any man and especially not to the hated Cain Sinclair. Men have tried to control her all her life. She wouldn’t yield before and she won’t yield now, no matter the cost. Cain is determined to win the land and the lady. Ella is determined to keep her promise and conceal the secret she’s been hiding since she was a child.

Highland Conquest is well-written with a great plot and characters. The novel is easy to read but exciting in all aspects. I anticipated each new chapter, even the next paragraph. This is a well-executed steamy romance, not cheesy in any sense. The interesting premise is followed through with full execution. Some of the content is explicit, but it’s all exquisite. I am compelled to rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy steamy historical romance, especially Highland romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and thank Entangled Publishing, LLC for the opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Who doesn't enjoy a good historical romance, right? And this is one of the best. I loved it! The story flows perfectly and all the characters are great. This is a very well-written and enjoyable novel for historical fiction fans like me.
Cain wants peace for his clan and falling in love is not a part of his plans. He only plans to make Ella his bride so that their two clans can finally find peace. Unfortunately, fate intervenes and now he must make an ultimate choice. Will he ever be able to get both; his happiness and peace for his people? One the other hand, Ella has no plan to marry Cain. He is the mand who has hated her most of their lives. There is no way she would ever be his wife. It's a battle of wills and neither of them is willing to surrender.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I think that both main characters are very well matched. The chemistry between them is amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed the angst side of the relationship.