The Bride Chooses a Highlander by Adrienne Basso
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The McKennas, #3

Release Date: December 18, 2018

Katherine McKenna is the only daughter of Laird Brian McKenna and still unwed at 22, much to her father’s dismay. But Katherine has finally agreed to a match, Sir Hamish Drummond. Overjoyed, her father quickly makes plans to visit the Drummonds and sign the contracts. Katherine had hoped to find love like her parents and older brothers, but she is sure she will be content and grow to love Hamish. But when she learns that Hamish is in love with another woman, nothing will make her marry him and she bolts.

Lachlan MacTavish is Laird of the MacTavish clan, a poor, disgraced clan that was punished for choosing sides against the Bruce. He has tried hard to redeem his family and has worked twice as hard to keep his people from starving. He has petitioned the king for the return of his lands and hopes that he service to the crown has been enough. If Lachlan didn’t have enough problems, his younger half brother Robbie has been missing for almost a year, his other half brother Aiden thinks he should be leading the clan and his step-mother wants him to go to the McKenna’s and retrieve Robbie. Lachlan refuses to go after Robbie, so Aiden says he will go – Lachlan forbid him from doing anything to upset the powerful McKenna laird – they cannot afford to offend the man.

As luck would have it, Aiden comes upon Katherine fleeing and takes her captive. But when she escapes him, Lachlan knows they must find her and return her to her father – untouched and unharmed. He finds her in the woods, nearly frozen and ill, he plans to take her to a nearby convent, but the weather prevents it. He finds a hut and nurses her back to health himself. They only exchange first names, but she feels safe with him. When they share a kiss, Lachlan tells her the truth of who he is. She is upset, but understands his dilemma and agrees to try and calm her father.

They travel back to his castle and encounter Archibald Fraser – sworn enemy of the McKennas, thankfully Lachlan is able to convince Archibald that Katherine is just a cast out serving girl and they go on their way. When they reach his home, she is shock at the condition of the keep and the people. As she spends more time with Lachlan, the more she likes him and want to help him. But not everyone is happy that Katherine is there and a betrayal by Lachlan’s kin brings Archibald back looking for Katherine. Lachlan defeats him and makes a powerful enemy. Convinced he can no longer wait to return Katherine to her family, they make plans to leave, but before they do, Katherine’s younger brother Graham and her spurned betrothed show up.

Hamish demands Katherine marry him, she refuses and marries Lachlan behind his back to prevent her father from forcing her to marry Hamish. They arrive at the McKenna keep and will have to stand up to her father. The McKenna is not happy and tries to bribe Lachlan into setting aside the marriage and when that fails, he throws him in the dungeon.

Katherine has never been at odds with her father, but when she learns what her father has done, it doesn’t seem like they will ever find peace again. Katherine confesses her love to Lachlan and he to her, they vow they will find a way to be together, but they will still have a lot to overcome before they get their HEA.

This was a very good read, I loved Lachlan and Katherine! The book is well written and flows perfectly, there is action, betrayal, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, a villain who finally gets his comeuppance and a very, very sweet epilogue. This is the third book in the McKenna series, but this book could easily be read as a stand alone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*