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Book: The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal
By Heather McCollum

Series: Brothers of Wolf Isle, Book #1

Release Date: 19/Oct./2020

Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook (of)
1)Tartan Book Reviews
2)Purple Tulip Book Reviews
3)Celtic World of Historical Book Reviews
4)Celtic Barb’s Kilted Book Review Blog

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Book Rating: 5/5 Stars/Kilts




Ulva Isle, 1422:
Long ago in the year of our Lord 1422, an old crone cursed The Macquarie Chieftain, Wilyam for dishonoring and breaking her daughter’s heart by getting her pregnant and shaming her with no offer of marriage and marrying another due to a clan aliance. Now this daughter has died by suicide so her devastated witch mama cursed the entire Macquarie line until the clan stops creating bastards forcing them in the cruel world by themselves. Now until the clan understands what love and honor truly is! This includes the Macquarie properties as all those living on them will live with infertility and contagious disease! It will affect everyone, the harvest and animals will die, and nothing, but sad misery will exist! Witnessed by four Macquarie clan members, including Wilyam. The witch then plunged a sgian dubh covered in blood into a tree, which made the tree cry forever for the Macquarie clan of Ulva Isle!

1 May 1545
Glencoe North of
Loch Lomand, Scotland

At the Beltane festival, Lark Montgomerie, the eldest of five sisters, is hiding out from her would-be suitors as her drunkard father claims she can’t return home and must marry on this very night! Making her feel like a bit of trash he’s throwing away like a piece of garbage. She doesn’t even have a dowry, but Lark is very gorgeous and desirable so many undesirable men want her for the wrong reasons just to own her like a piece of property and treat her like a slave. As her own drunkard father treating her like a criminal and the would be-groom, her jailer! So in the last minute Adam Macquarie plans to abduct Lark, to help her escape and then free her and let her make her own choices about her life and future. However Adam is shocked by Lark’s offer in front of everyone at the Beltane festival!

Adam Macquarie made an oath to his father he will rebuild the clan and break this supposed curse! He is full of responsibilities and pressures being the chieftain of this barren cursed land where only fifteen men and one witch live. His intention was attending this Beltane festival to find his brother, Beck, a wife. He was even going to help Lark escape from these unworthy men wanting to marry her. So he is rather shocked about this unexpected proposal. He starts to explain the issues of his homeland,but she wishes to escape so badly she brushes it off and he never finds the moment to fully explain his current living circumstances. Well he is only human plus feeling both he needs a wife and she a husband. Is it the perfect match or is it a big betrayal? Not only that but this story is weaved with pirates, secrets, curses, and treacherous betrayal too!

Once Lark arrives at this deserted and barren Isle she is shocked and feels betrayed? She feels Adam had plenty of opportunities to tell her the truth of this cursed barren island. Also she had only met Beck not realizing Adam had other younger brothers too. Lark meets twin brothers Callum & Drostan, and youngest brother Eagan, in uncomfortable circumstances all claiming her once they realize she is a bonny lass! Again, she feels like a prisoner except Adam tells her she can have their marriage annulled, and he would take her to the nearby inhabited isle of Mull. He would never force her to stay in an an unwanted marriage. Except one thing Lark has is a scandalous, deep, dark, secret of her own! She misses her sister and best friend Annie and her younger sisters Agnes, Jonet and Kathleen so much. As she was always caring and nurturing them so this seperation is difficult. Except part of the reason she left was to escape her scandalous past. Will this marriage end before it even has a chance to begin? Will Lark ever be honest and reveal her secret? If she does, will she still be allowed to live on the Isle or forced to leave. Or will she be returned to her family and her scandalous past? Will Lark and Adam ever discover true love and start a family that the Macquarie clan has been denied for centuries?


Heather aced another from cover to cover that will stay with you long after you have read it. A definite shelf keeper and future #1 hit on every historical romance book list. It is so beautifully written with love, honor, passion, mystery and romance. Yet it is not without broken hearts that definitely need mending and love! Who better to heal it than a braw, swoon worthy highlander! Yet the Macquarie brothers also need the softness of a woman to survive this dark barren land and bring it back to its bright light, life and former glory! Will this slip of a Lass get rid of this spell bound curse and bring love back into their battered hearts? Read this enchanting book and find out!


This is the first book in Heather McCollum’s brand new “Brothers of Wolf Isle” series, and again is another refreshing masterpiece! I love that it blends in with her former “Highland Isles” series with some familiar characters that McCollum Highland Isles readers will recognize and be absolutely dazzled by! Since I loved the “Highland Isles” series, which is how I discovered this author, this was like a book reunion for me therefore it made this read even more special to me. I absolutely devoured this book from start to finish and could not put it down. It has all the elements and twists and turns that historical romance readers love. A book readers definitely don’t want to miss. So yes, I absolutely recommend this book and can’t wait to read the next one in this exhilarating brand new series “Brothers of Wolf Isles!”

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s copy from Entangled Publishing. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.


Buy Links
https://www.amazon.com/Highlanders-Unex”.pected-Proposal-Brothers-Wolf-ebook/dp/B08JK8722F

https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Highlander_s_Unexpected_Proposal.html?id=shD-DwAAQBAJ

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-highlanders-unexpected-proposal-heather-mccollum/1137713111?ean=9781649370594

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=The+Highlander’s+Unexpected+Proposal++By+Heather+McCollum

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-highlanders-unexpected-proposal/id1532743749

https://entangledpublishing.com/the-highlander-s-unexpected-proposal.html

https://celticbarb.tumblr.com/post/632407817406513152/happy-book-release-day

Thrilling start to a promising new series!

OK, I'll admit I was hooked immediately by the entry into the Macquarie clan Bible, and it just kept getting better from then on. Adam, the eldest of five brothers and the next in line to resurrect the Macquarie clan on Ulva (Wolf) Isle, is in need of a wife and Lark is needing an immediate escape from her deteriorating family situation.

Their same-day marriage doesn't leave time for full disclosure on either side, resulting in a push-pull between the two as they get to know each other, fall in love, and find out all the hidden secrets on both sides little by gradual little. This was written so sweetly and cleverly as it demonstrated the tenuous trust building between them while reminding us how fragile it can be.

There's an evil plan at work in the background that we don't find out about until nearly the very end, but it explains all the assorted questions from throughout the story. Adam and Lark's marriage is real and honest and deeply sustaining long before we get to the end, making the HEA all the sweeter for it.

This story has everything I could wish for - a swashbuckling, swoon-worthy hero, a plucky heroine with impeccable aim, all the heat and action and suspense that can possibly fit into one book, and characters that easily come alive for the reader. I loved every page, and I look forward to reading more about the Macquarie brothers. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Lark has need to get away from her drunken father who is bent on marrying her off to the first person he sees. Adam needs a wife and when he meets Lark she throws herself at him and asks him t take her away as his wife. He can't believe his luck.

Loved this story, couldn't get enough.

A great start to a new series! I did not want this one to end. This novel moves quickly and keeps you engaged the whole way through. Love how strong Lark is and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Lark Montgomerie is hiding in a tree from two men her father wants her to marry. Cheif Adam Macquarie sends the men off in another direction in order to help her escape.

He and his brother are there to look for wives. They need women to help grow their clan. He takes his brother to meet Lark and return the shoe she lost but she is not friendly.

When the wedding ceremonies begin to take place at the festival later that evening, Lark has to choose between the two who were chasing her earlier and Adam steps in with the intention of helping her run.
Instead, she shocks him and asks him to marry her!

Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley from the ARC.

I am happy to have been granted by NetGalley a copy of this one when I requested for it. It is a story of two people overcoming the burdens of their past. It is not dark or heavy. It was actually entertaining and has a bit of humor in it.

The hero is determined to establish their clan. The innocent heroine is looking for an escape from her father. They meet and initially ended up in a marriage of convenience that developed into love. Although I did like the story there were parts where it dragged a bit for me. There were also side characters so lots of names and characters to be familiar with. Other than that it is an enjoyable read.

This book was a bit different from most Scottish books. It was set in Scotland, but it didn't start with a battle like most of them do. The hero, a chieftain, his brother and a retainer are attending a Beltane celebration about a week away from their home. They are looking for a wife for the chieftain, one that can break a curse. The heroine, the oldest of four girls, is hiding in a tree from 2 local men who want her. The hero sees a shoe just lying under a tree, sees her, but directs the men another way. The heroine will be one of the village girls who are going to be married. The hero steps in and marries her before the two men who are fighting about her realize what is happening. They are married and begin to travel home and that is when the reader is given inferences that there is more to the curse that is mentioned at the beginning of the story. The heroine is happy to go where she can start a family and not have to cook and clean for a large family. To her surprise when they arrive at the castle, it is derelict, dirty and she has many brothers in law to feed. Not an auspicious beginning to the marriage. And she has to give birth to a daughter based on the witch's curse.
This book was well written, but the whole 'fake-priest-so-the-island-came-be-used-by-the-French' is a bit contrived. As to the fake priest, now any children will be illegitimate and not break the curse.
It was an entertaining story, some spelling errors, not exactly cohesive, so I give it 3 stars. I would give a guarded recommendation to read.

After a death bed promise to his father to break the curse laid on the Macquauries and rebuild their clan on their hereditary land of Wolf Island, Adam Macquarie, the eldest of the five Macquarie brothers and the chief of the Macquarie clan journeyed to the Beltane Festival at Glencoe intending to find his brother Beckett “Beck” a wife. While there he learns that Roylin Montgomerie is looking to marry off his daughter Lark, but what really captures Adam’s attention is the fact that Roylin has fathered five girls. The clan desperately needs women and marriage to a lass from a family that is predominately female would be a boon. But when he meets Lark, he is not sure he wants her to marry his brother. Too bad he isn’t looking for a wife himself.

Lark Montgomerie’s father has made it clear; she will wed tonight at the festival; she can choose from the suitors or he will choose for her. She is hiding from two of her more persistent and disgusting suitors when Adam finds her. He deflects the suitors and helps her escape them. Later he brings his brother Beck to meet her, but it is obvious that they are not well suited. He knows she will be forced to wed later and plans to help her escape, but when the time comes to save her, she announces that he is her choice for a husband. Surprised, but oddly intrigued, Adam marries her. When they leave the festival, he plans to tell her of the curse and offer to get an annulment, but the time never seems right to tell her. And for her part, Lark also has secrets that need to be shared, but she too shies away from revealing the truth.

This was a well written, fast paced, fun story with wonderful characters, secrets, curses, pirates, witches, a feisty heroine, a wonderful hero, great secondary characters, cameos from previous characters, steamyish love scenes, betrayal and lies that all come to a head and give Lark and Adam a well deserved HEA. As the first book in a new series, I highly recommend it and can’t wait for Beck and the other brother’s stories!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own. *

Lark Montgomerie has been told that she must marry at the Beltane festival & after Chief Adam Macquarie saves her from two suitors she almost begs him to marry her but both of them have secrets which threaten their relationship. Adam is the eldest of five brothers & they are desperate to revive their clan on Wolf Island but they are fighting a curse made over a hundred years ago.
This is the start of a new series, it was a very well written book with strong characters who had plenty of depth. Throw in pirates, intrigue, a curse, a family of five brawny highlanders, a feisty heroine plus secrets & misunderstandings & you have an entertaining, page turning, enthralling read. I devoured the book in two sittings. I loved both Adam & Lark who were attracted to each other from their first meeting when she was up a tree, they were perfect for each other, I loved how their relationship developed. I look forward to each of the brothers having their story & the willow tree gradually coming back to life
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

What a great start to a new Scottish historical romance series! Set in the highlands, largely in the Hebrides, this story has it all—clashes between rival clans, pirates, intrigue, betrayal and of course romance. The story takes place in 1545, a time when France and England were at odds and France was looking into invading England via Scotland.
I thought author Heather McCollum drew an excellent picture of the setting and I loved that the hint of magic courtesy of a curse on Clan Macquarie laid down just over a century before the story unfolds. I also loved Lark Montgomerie, a strong woman who’s learned to look after herself and her sisters after the death of her mother and in spite of her father’s drunkenness. In a time when a woman was little more than a chattel to either her father or her husband, Lark showed massive inner strength. Adam Macquarie is another character to admire—faced with the challenge of rebuilding his clan and repopulating the clan’s home, Ulva Isle, he is both a strong and positive leader and a hard worker yet he’s also got a soft spot.
This story filled me with empathy and respect for the characters as they battled all manner of odds, hope for their future and curiosity to see how it would all end. I was left feeling satisfied and can’t wait to see what happens in the next story in this series.

I loved this book, The beginning was a little slow
Lark was keeping a secret yet she asked Adam to tell her what was going on.
There was some mystery of what was really going on- I try to figure out what is going on but in this one I couldn't

I look forward to book 2

Chief Adam Macquarie is out to fulfill a promise to his late father but to do so he needs a wife. He and his brothers attend a Beltane festival where, to his surprise, a lass begs Adam to marry her. Though he hates dishonesty, Adam agrees to the marriage without telling his new bride about the nearly unpopulated, supposedly cursed, state of his home. He must marry and begin reestablishing his people and he knows a new wife won’t be happy to learn the truth.

Lark Montgomerie is delighted to escape her father’s drunkenness and his determination to marry her off to anyone at all. Her new husband seems kind and honorable and her situation can’t possibly get worse than it currently is. She’s excited to begin a new life on a remote Scottish island and determined to make the best of things, but her resolve falters a bit when she arrives at her new home to find a long list of issues to contend with.

I just love a good Highlander romance and this series is off to a lovely start. Adam was just what I like in a hero: the classic strong, silent type, but also very protective and loyal, plus he wound up being very sweet with Lark. I loved that even though these two both kept secrets from each other, they still kept their faith in each other, communicated, and ultimately worked together to build trust and solve the problems plaguing the clan. The growth and acceptance were great to read and I loved how Adam defended Lark even to his own family. My only complaint was the rather abrupt ending to the last action scene, but this also lessened my anxiety so I’m fine with it. I enjoyed the sibling relationships here and the obvious respect all the brothers had for Adam. I think this story laid an excellent foundation for those to come and I’m looking forward to the other brothers’ stories.

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

4.5 stars rounded down.

I really enjoyed this book! I’m a sucker for Highland romances. This book kept some of my favorite parts of the genre (highly localized power, hotheaded clansmen, kilts), but added some nice new elements (pirates, curses, French/English politics). A lot of Highland romances are set either near Culloden or in generic “Middle Ages,” so I appreciated the specific nods to a sixteenth century setting.

The world-building in this book was just incredible. There are a lot of layers and complexity there, but I almost never got confused (the only thing that tripped me up was having both a Maclean and a MacLeod clan; those names are way too similar). The politics all worked really well, and the imagery of this abandoned island is just glorious.

I liked seeing how the different brothers react differently to the “curse,” and look forward to seeing how that affects their individual storylines in books to come.

A couple nitpicky things. The characters kept saying “fok” instead of f*ck — I don’t know if that’s actually historically accurate or not, but it kept jolting me out of the story. Same with “jack” to mean penis.

Also, the heroine talked all about how important trust was in a relationship, and how lying by omission was still lying. All while keeping some pretty major secrets herself. Which frustrated me.

I did, however, appreciate that the climax of the book wasn’t her revealing her secret and the hero freaking out. He reacted in a very understandable and loving manner. Then the climax was the couple together vs an outside threat - my favorite type of climax. (I’m saying climax too much.)

It looks like this is a spin-off from another series called Highland Isles, so I’m definitely going to check that out. Plus I’ll keep my eye out for the rest of the series. Highly recommend!

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

Will they find in themselves to let go of the past to trust one another ...

My second read by the author, and an other one with a large group of siblings, all very noisy and adding fun to the story.
Lark and Adam first encounter sets the pace of their relationship, they gauge one another and do not trust the other, but something sparks between them, it ignites longing for the other.
Lark is in desperate need of a knight with or without shining armor, else she would be sold to the highest bidder. Why she jumps desperately to the lest repellent option, the laird looking for a bride, well she thought he was.
Adam made an oath, but making it come to fruition is not an easy feat with four brawling brothers,a deserted island and a curse looming over their head and threatening their future.
So a wife for himself was not an immediate prospect. But he can’t leave this fiery lass to such a gruesome fate.

Now they have found their way to one another, despite their vows and chemistry, they struggle to trust the other, each keeping things to themselves until there is no coming back. But when secrets are revealed, and confidence shattered, can they rebuilt from the ashes of their star-crossed union.
Both are trapped, his pledge blinds him of the true value of his marriage when her shame keeps her from believing in her own worthiness.
They are two fools who will need more than a good shake to understand where home is.
5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Entangled, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

The Highlander's Proposal by Heather McCollum is a new book in the Brothers of Wolf Isle series. An awe worthy story with smexy highlander, feisty heroine, suspense, mystery, a curses, witches, pirates, lots of lies, adversity, strength, and Romance.
Well paced, well written with
In-depth characters, set against a Scottish background. WOW!
I absolutely loved Lark and Adam, they are such an intriguing couple. Another must read story by Heather McCollum.

#NetGalley, #TheHighlandersProsposal,
#HeatherMcCollum, #Entangled

"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewer: AprilR

Lark Montgomerie is up a tree, in more than one sense, for their meet cute at the Beltane Festival where Adam Macquarie is looking for a bride for his brother Beck - only to find himself with one of his own.

As he takes Lark back to his home on Wolf Island, Adam doesn’t quite get around to telling her the whole truth of his clan and family curse. There are, after all, villains to fight.

Though not as light hearted or nearly as musical, I was soon noting a bit of a Seven Brides for Seven Brothers feel, which is never a bad thing. Macbeth, or rather Lady Macbeth, was brought to mind a time or two as well - though I couldn’t now say why.

The castle is a mess, the men are untamed, the island practically deserted, and then there is the matter of the witch, the curse, and rumors of pirates. None of which are what Lark expected with her desperate choice of proposing to a stranger rather than the wretches her stepfather is ready to give her to.

While many of the twists were expected/foreshadowed, this just added to the mix that makes this, all in all, a fun fantasy of a Highlander romance romp - which is what we (well, I do, at least) look for in Highlander romances. A nice diversion and an enjoyable story, this first in series book includes several married couples that leave me wanting to read Heather McCollum’s previous Highland Isles series while waiting for book two.

I voluntarily read a digital galley of this book through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and these are only my own honest opinions. Open door romance.

Intrigue and misunderstanding can't stop true love. This is a sweet story of how love can gradually grow in the most unusual circumstances.

The Highlander's Unexpected Proposal
The Brothers of Wolf Isle #1
Heather McCollum
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A curse is laid upon, Chief Wilyam Macquarie, and his land by a gnarled old crone because he got her daughter pregnant and did not wed her, leaving her to hang herself. Until the day when his clan learns first hand what love is, the land and all of those upon it will be barren. She also goes further to say that all of your crops and livestock will wither, illness will spread, and sorrow will prevail.

Cheif Adam Macquarie is desperate for a wife and Lark Montgomerie is begging him to marry her. He wanted her anyway and was not above abduction to get her if need be. He has just lied to Lark or maybe omitting the truth would be a better way to say it. He can't be honest and tell her the truth about his home where there are no women and only a few people so he agrees to marry her and hopes for the best.
Lark is secretly thrilled herself because Adam is easy on the eyes and he has just agreed to take her away from her situation at home. Nothing can be worse then this right? Now a new life awaits her, on a Scottish Isle, and nothing can get her down. Or so she thinks. On their way they are accosted by pirates saying they want her, a pirate she's never heard of then when she arrives at her new home she's shocked to find out what is really going on, but she doesn't say anything because she has a secret. A secret of her own that could wreck everyone's life involved of she doesn't do anything about it. What happens next is so unbelievably crazy that you might wonder what else can go wrong.
Will Lark and Adam be able to get past this? Or will it tear them apart?

Heather McCollum is absolutely brilliant. This book was incredible. There are curses, witches, pirates, and lots of lies. This book had me from the get-go. Adam was not your typical Chief. He was brooding, but had so many things to deal with and all because of a curse that started with his ancestors. He was also fiercely protective of Lark from the minute he met her. Lark wasn't just your feisty run of the mill lass. This woman could do anything she set her mind on and there was no stopping her. Adam's brothers were a real treat and I can't wait to read their stories. Ms. McCollum you wrote one heck of a book.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. Interesting tale, short and sweet, fast and furious and apparently part of a series. Well written and worth a read.

A clan of five brothers need to find wives to repopulate their clan on a cursed island… Ok -I’m in for that journey!!!

The eldest and clan chief, Adam Macquarie finds himself married after a surprise encounter and an even more surprising proposal from a lovely lass in need of a marriage of convenience at a Belltine festival.

Adam and Lark’s marriage of convenience doesn’t end up too convenient when Lark discovers Adam’s commissions about his cured island and then secrets from her past complicate their union further!

This was delightful read! I was drawn into the plight of the Macquarie clan from the beginning and the romance and attraction between Lark and Adam kept me turning the pages! The easy flow of the narrative was engrossing and kept my attention rapt.

This book had everything I was in to mood for; highlanders, marriage of connivence, fun plot twist and great characters, What a great start to a new series, I will definintely be on board for the next instalment of the Brothers of Wolf Island series!

The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal by Heather McCollum is scheduled to release October 19th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Blog link: https://pinkcowlandreads.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-highlanders-unexpected-proposal.html

#TheHighlandersUnexpectedProposal #HeatherMcCollum #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

First off I am a huge fan of Heather McCollum. She is amazing at bring the highlands to life. I also love reading new books with old main characters from previous books In it. It just makes the story more enjoyable to me. Adam and Lark come together in a kind of bizarre set of circumstances and that lead Lark To ask for Adam to marry her. Both are keeping secrets from each other I he enjoyed the chemistry of these two characters and all the backstory about the curse. It is a great start to a fun new series.