The Gift by Magaret Mallory 5 Kilts (Novella)

Margaret Mallory is one of my most favorite authors in Scottish historical romance which is my favorite genre to read and if you follow my reviews or blog celticbarb,blogspot.com its no secret. This is actually my second time reading this phenomenal book  as I have been read Ms. Mallory's books since Knight of Desire her debut book I believe in 2009. The Gift is a novella but reads more like a full book as its a little less then 120 pages long and it absolutely a magnificent read! It is no wonder this superb book won "National Readers Choice Award" and "National Excellence in Romance Award" as it is beautifully written and is both breathtaking, and heartwarming. I love how Miss Mallory always well researches the timeline  and weaves true factual history and historical figures in her historical fiction romance tales. In this book I especially loved how it characters connects to previous books. It is sort of like Prequel to the series"The Return tof The Highlanders" readers might remember the old seer Tearlag, who has not even been born yet as this book starts is 67 years prior. Old Tearlag has a special connections to a few of her relatives in this story including her great grandmother whom she was named after. Lily, the heroine in "The Gift" this book was a child character in "Knight of Passion" book 3 in the finale of "All the Kings Men" trilogy. I absolutely love connecting the dots with character from previous books, though this is a stand alone book it is not part of any series. If you haven't read any of these books that fine too, but for readers who have it just makes that much more extra special and fun to read.

London and Scotland 1441

Witch fever had entered London like a frenzy and London was burning innocent women who were just healers and most know better than to attempt dark magic or black arts even merchants who sold any merchandise for healing mo matter how small were getting executed. This all because the Duchess of Gloucester has tried to commit murder with black magic so her husband could be King!  So healer Lily knew time was of the essence and she had to get out of dodge and escape before a mob came to her door to claim her life! She steals some lads clothes from a local baker and s stowaway on a ship but is caught and dropped of in the wilds of Scotland and she is o freezing and starving when she meets Roderick MacDonald.

Roderick MaxDonald hates the English more then anything else and he also swear he will never marry again when after his first wife abandons him. His aging grandmother who has raised him is the aging seer of Clan MacDonald of Skye is on special mission by his Cheiftain, the Lord of the Isles to deliver a special message to the Douglas Chieftain but was worse his aging grandmother had advised to chieftain to send her warrior grandson Roderick. Roderick is shocked by this but it has more to do wit having the site. She want a powerful seer to join the clan for she knows she can't live forever and wants Roderick. In a peculiar way she gives him the impression he will meet this lass on the journey. He does meet a lass though one of boys clothes Roderick had been hurt before and Lily had had a tragic upbringing so they both have trust issues ore so Lilly as she has had a terrorizing experience with a man and even her own family treated her brutally why her little shop in London  and is dertermine to return to her little shop on London after the Christmas season anhad been her safe heaven jwcing been living in isolation she is starting to realize things she missed out on at age twenty two.

The attraction in instant and and the passion is steamy with these two who are dead set against marriage and entanglements but after neither is forthcoming open and honest about their past nor the present which causes a major rift and separation and his Chieftain command a life changing choice of both of them. Tow people who never wanted a commitment due to both having bruised hearts! Roderick has already had his heart broken once will he be have it be broken? Lily who mistrusts the world and when she finally opens her heart she finds out Roderick has been been a master at manipulating her as she sees it. Lily feels he has been using and deceiving  her just to satisfy his Chieftain and his grandmother and to honor their requests.  Lily now wants to return to London as soon as possible feeling this large bite of betrayal and heartbreak from the one person she had trusted in many years, Will people ever stop disappointing her and will Roderick be abandoned once again by a woman he loves again?

 Talk about miscommunication this couple has it by  leaps and bounds! How will it ever be resolved? You must read this page turner to find out how this fascinating story u guarantee you won't be able to put it down, this is my second time reading it with I only do with book that are golden!  I can't praise this two time award winning riveting book The Gift by the major talented Margaret Mallory! Highly recommend as it is a story you don't want to miss with all the elements readers of Scottish historical fiction love: riveting adventure, lovable characters that glide of the pages and into your heart, fabulous dialogue, gorgeous descriptive Scottish setting, factual history weaved in a unique and extraordinary fictional story, quick paced plots with so many twists and turns that will make you both breathless and gasping for air!

In case you could tell o absolutely and I unequivocally loved The Gift by Margaret Mallory and can't wait for her next book release which I alway love from start to finish!

Other Books by Margaret Mallory

All the Kings Men Trilogy

1. Knight of Desire
2. Knight of Pleasure
3. Knight of Passion* Lily as a child in this book

The Return of the Highlanders Series

1. The Guardian
2. The Sinner
3.The Warrior
4. The Chieftain
4.5 The Gift

The Douglas Legacy

1. Claimed By A Laird
2. Claimed By The Highland - TBA

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