Every time I picked up "Keeper of the Gate", I was whisked back in time, and simply could not put this book down!

Firstly, this cover is absolutely stunning!

Laura Strickland's writing is powerful, descriptive, visceral, poignant, and so much more! Her storytelling and world-building breathtakingly bring the past to life right off of the page, and each and every single character was written so clearly.

Clan MacLeod and Clan MacBeith are at war with one another. Moira, the eldest daughter of the Chief of Clan MacBeith, has stepped up to take his place. She is such a strong, brave, determined, and spirited woman who stands up for what she thinks is right. During a battle, Farlan MacLeod, who is the best friend of the Chief of Clan Macleod, Rory, is taken as a prisoner. As the story progresses, though Moira and Farlan are from enemy clans, the more time they spend together and get to know each other better, their feelings begin to take a very different turn from what either could have ever expected. I do not want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but, I will say, this novel truly has so, so much in it: history, romance, twists and turns, family, heartbreak, magic, danger, adventure, shocking moments, hope, and so, so much more!

This story truly is told in such an emotional way.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction and / or Historical Romance, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC of this novel, I so look forward to reading the next two books in the series! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Book: Keeper of the Gate
Author: Laura Strickland
Series: The Three sisters, MacBeath, Book #1
Publisher: Dragonblade
Book Length: 310 pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags

Northwest Scotland
1620

This book is about two enemy clans the MacBeith’s and the MacLeod’s. In this latest skirmish, it is where the eldest daughter Moira fought right next to her father and chief Iain MacBeith. She is shocked her father is now dead. She did not realize he received a deadly blow. She also realized that the MacLeod’s don’t realize her father is deceased and must cover this up or else her enemies will take advantage of the situation completely. Furthermore, Moira’s clan has taken Farlan MacLeod as a prisoner who happens to be the Chieftain, Rory MacLeod’s best friend. This only means more difficulties for Moira and her clan as Rory will be out for blood trying to save Farlan!

Moira MacBeith is the eldest sibling as her younger sisters are Rhian and Saerla. Moira has no choice but to secretly take over as chieftain without anyone else’s knowledge. As their enemies would take advantage of the situation if any of their enemies discover her father is dead and fell in battle. Now Moira is very bitter and seeks revenge for her father’s death and must hide this. The problem is Farlan MacLeod has been taken as hostage during the last battle who also happens to be Rory MacLeods best friend who is now Chieftain for the MacLeods. Rory swears he is determined to take all of the MacBeith lands and holdings.

Farlan sees she plans to use him as a weapon against his own clan. The problem is Faarlan is very attracted to this warrior Queen Moira who seems to be his equal in all ways. The problem is Moira begins to have feelings for her enemy too. Unfortunately her clan will see this as a betrayal thinking she is a traitor. Who will Moira choose? The warrior who owns her heart from an enemy clan or her clan and family? Read this fast paced romantic adventure and find out.

Again Laura Strickland, my go to author who I have been reading for many years, wrote another dazzling winner! A wonderful fast paced enemy to lovers story any Scottish historical reader will absolutely love!

The Three Sisters, MacBeith
Keeper of the Gate
Keeper of the Hearth
Keeper of the Light

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Gate-Three-Sisters-MacBeith-ebook/dp/B0C2BD3VMT/

An interesting and unexpected romance. Not for those who do not understand Scottish speak. Written with a lot of partial words to reflect the way the words would sound.

Such a great book! I had a little bit of a problem with the old scotish language but once I got through that, I had a great time. I couldn't stop. I needed to know what was going to happen. I never see that end coming... at least on the first book. So now I'm most curious about what will happen not only with this couple but with her sisters. I hope to read more from you soon!

This is a first time read for me by this author and I found it to be quite an exciting and thrilling story. Two clans, the MacBeiths and the MacLeods, have been fighting over the ownership of land. During a battle, the MacBeith chief is slain and the clan then takes the MacLeod that delivered the blow as a prisoner. Moira stands in as the MacBeith chief, but what is she to do with the prisoner, Farlan, who seems to stir feelings in her she shouldn't be feeling towards the enemy? Neither can ignore the undeniable attraction they both feel towards each other, but their clans are at war, so what to do? They are torn between loyalty to their people and a chance at true love. This was such an intriguing story filled with drama and adventure, and I was glued from start to finish. The storyline flowed smoothly and the plot twists kept me turning the pages, anxious to see what happens next. An exciting story I am glad to have had the opportunity to read!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

A heartbreaking love story of Moira and Farlan, two warriors from opposing clans.

Farhan is from the McLeod clan and also dealt the death blow to Moiras father the Laird of Mcbeith clan while fighting for a Glen.

He is captured and held prisoner, but destiny brings the H and h together. Very emotional, strong personalities and a love story destined for doom, but it kind of works our in the end.

My Enemy, My Destiny

Moira and Farlan are enemies. He commits an act that should make her hate him forever. She is her clan’s leader, and she will use him as a bargaining chip. Moira and Farlan are falling in love. Surely, their hearts must know they are bitter enemies. Their story cannot end well, or can it? The odds are not in their favor. Farlan is Moira’s ticket to peace, but is his clan ready to end the feud? This story will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, wondering what the outcome will be. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to lovers of Scottish historical romance.

A fine line between love & hate!

Pulled in by the allure of the Scottish glen and the mystical, strong aura of its beautiful cover, I took a chance on a new author for me and remain amazed by how much I loved this and how keen I am to go back.
This was an intense, emotional read, well written, about the torment, inner turmoil, deception and all encompassing pain of questioned loyalties, what you would sacrifice for love and what happens if your heart and destiny yearns for you to look beyond the enemy label and truly see and crave the person beneath. As the trickling of attraction creeps through the inbred hatred and forever alters their perspective, impressions and future in one fell swoop of the blade.
The soul deep, anchoring, love that resonants and burns so intensely hot between captive and captor, despite the ache of the impossibility of loving your enemy and the danger it amasses...steeped in scores of hatred and mistrust that makes acceptance and forgiveness a battle too tough to conquer...really hooks you in and keeps you on edge, in a place of yearning for them to define the odds yet fearful it is heartachingly unattainable. That creates this compelling push and pull of wanting something so badly yet knowing too many insurmountable barriers lay in their path for this to end, all bells ringing and bows tied, happily. Despite, hoping and racking your mind to find those hard to fathom answers you hope have the potential to resolve everything.
As a result, Farlan and Moira, with the intense tension that radiates in their chemistry, are two characters that captivate, get under your skin and make you yearn for it all to work out, despite having no clue how they can possibly achieve it. Especially as Clan politics, the desperate need to deceive, ambitions of old and the principles of honour and pride to satisfy, stand in their way. Just as much as lifelong friendships, the love and ties of family and home and a wee touch of the fae interwoven at its heart, need to be considered and respected. As they clash and internally war to up the ante, threaten their future and cause new rifts and cracks to appear under the cloak of grief and the banner of retribution and justice.
All combining beautifully, with a host of subcharacters with the potential to win your heart just as much as our leads.
A wonderful, engaging romance that thrills, has you in tears and begs you to come back with the promise of two sisters to explore more intricately. Where the larger pulsing conflicts will take an entire series worth of soul searching questions to answer, painfully untangle and resolve across the span of what has the potential to be an exciting, riveting new series!

** I'd like to thank Dragonblade Publishing for offering me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review **

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I actually really really liked this book! I love a good ol' Scottish historical romance and this story really hit a part of me! The characters were real, relatable, and you really felt their sorrow and confusion and pain as the story went on. It was a relatively quick read as well and found it to be a welcome new world from my busy college life.

Give it a read if you want something a bit new, but still familiar!!

Happy reading.

What a great book! I cannot wait until the next instalment is released. The story between Moira and Farlan was beautifully written; the mixture of female warriors and the fact that it was not only Moira making the tough calls, was what made it extra enjoyable. The book does end on a cliffhanger, but the manner in which it ended was not an 'irritable' one. It is one that leaves you excited for the next book.

Falling in love with the enemy!

The MacBeiths and MacLeods keep fighting over land and cattle. This book starts off with some action and a battle that ends up with MacBeiths Chief slain. They capture the MacLeod that struck the blow.

Moira stands in as the clan's leader, but what to do with the prisoner, Farlan.

I really liked the struggle between protecting the clan and fighting for destined love. Moira a Farlan developed a connection even though it shouldn't have happened. They see into eachother as people and not just an enemy. They also struggled to keep their hands off eachother to not be discovered. Bonus points for strong sisters that can fight and be clan leaders.

I have not read and of Laura's book before. I really liked this on and want to read more of her books. I was very pulled into this book!

Thank you to Dragonblade and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

What an amazing story! If you love Scottish history then you will love this story! Moira is the epitome of a strong, determined, caring woman of her time. She will fight for her clan with her last breath. Falan is part of an opposite clan who has been at odds with Moira's clan for years. Think Haley's and McCoys! A long story but worth every minute as you immerse yourself into both history and love. Beautifully crafted and filled with detail drawing the reader into that time and place.

So I don't normally love (i) medieval romance, or (ii) books that are not complete or almost complete standalones. Yet I actually really enjoyed "Keeper of the Gate" despite it being both medieval and (something) of a cliffhanger. Moira and Farlan are from warring clans, with Farlan being captured during the most recent skirmish. Moira is a strong woman who neither expects nor really wants what she finds herself feeling for Farlan. Farlan is more open than Moira and it is really him who allows their romance to fully bloom. He truly believes in destiny. I will be looking for the rest of the series, even though I do think I have an idea of how it is going to end.

4 solid stars. Thank you to Dragonblade and NetGalley for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

This beautiful Glen in Scotland has been fought over by two Clans as long as anyone can remember. Moira MacBeith has fought alongside her father since her brother's death. Now all the weight of responsibility will be on her shoulders. Is she strong enough to cope??
Farlan MacLeod finds himself in a deadly situation. Does he even want to be saved ???
A danger filled and emotional adventure in this historical highland romance. This book reads like the opening of a series, but does have its own ending. The characters are incredibly brave and protective. I definitely want to read more about the rest of this unusual family.
Very entertaining.

This was such a cute romance! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!

This was my first novel I've read by Laura Strickland and I will definitely be reading more. I sincerely hope this will be a series. It ended on such a cliffhanger. I just have to know more!

I am extremely partial to a Scottish historical romance, as I met my husband in Scotland and we have been together now for 11 years (married for almost 5). I loved the use of the Scottish dialect throughout. I am not a person who typically reads books with magic included, however, the magic element in this was sprinkled in so perfectly.

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book. It was fantastic. Once I started reading, I just could not put it down!

Thank you NetGalley, Laura Strickland, and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC!

Fey, Dreams, Destiny:
My first time reading any of this author's works and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this beautiful love story.
Marvelous characters and an all-encompassing plot that kept me on the edge of my seat.
There is a bit of magic with a seer and it's always enjoyable to have a healer in a story. 
The slow building enemy to lover's romance between Farlan and Maira was very emotional and passionate for both.
Turmoil, battles, traitors, friends, prophetic dreams, visions, and so much more. 
The dynamic ending had me gripping each page it was so intense.
I am very much looking forward to reading more from this author.
Intriguing cover gives you a glimpse of the heroine.

I was forewarned that this was a cliffhanger for the series but has a happy ending for the couple. Having said that it was a terrific book. It has a little bit of "spirits and Fae" but the overall plot and the romance was stilla solid story.
The oldest daughter, Moira and the opposites clans best friend align and try to get their clans to cool it off. To stop the killing.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

The book has many layers, characters are fascinating and captivating, the tense parts kept me on edge. The plot is unique, the dialogue is witty, and intriguing. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series to come out.