THE VIPER
Author: Monica McCarty ISBN: 9780345528391 10/2011 HISTORICAL Publisher: BALLANTINE
Time Period: Medieval Scotland
Prized for his snakelike stealth and deadly strikes, Lachlan “Viper” MacRuairi is a warrior to enlist but not to trust. His only loyalty is to his purse, his indifference sealed by bitter betrayal. All that changes when Lachlan is tasked to protect and deliver Bella MacDuff to the king’s coronation—and the proud, lushly sensual countess unwittingly challenges him to his greatest battle yet: to love again.
Passionate and devoted, Bella has defied Britain’s king and her own husband to place the crown on Bruce’s head, and for this she pays a terrible price: Losing her daughter and her freedom to her husband’s vengeance. Imprisoned with barbaric cruelty, she vows to reclaim her child, even if it means selling her soul—and her body—to a dark, lethal warrior whose eyes glint like steel, but who makes her skin tingle and her breath race. Together they embark on a rogue mission with sinister twists and turns that threatens not only Bella’s gamble to save her daughter—but also her heart. |
 RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:
What I enjoyed most about THE VIPER was that it takes place over an extended period of time. The timeline is a bit confusing if you’re trying to think of it in terms of the previous books, but I thought it was an interesting choice for Monica McCarty to make.
Lachlan “Viper” MacRuairi comes across as harsh in each of the Highland Guard novels until this one. Readers learn why he is so focused on money, and why he doesn’t trust women, as well. Of course, the softer side of Lachlan is shown and brought out by Bella MacDuff. While they initially dislike each other, Bella’s rescue and desire to be reunited with her daughter keep them together. I truly enjoyed watching Lachlan melt and the brief insight into Saint.
Christina Baker |
