An unexpected return that will just change everything…

Synopsis

It’s been years since Ruaidhri abandoned Sorcha, and she’s no longer the woman she once was. Now leader of the Suibhne clan, she must unite her people against invading forces. When rumours of Ruaidhri’s return to Ireland prove true, she’s unsettled at seeing him again. He offers to help her, but his past betrayal still burns—even if desire is as strong as ever. Should Sorcha trust her head…or her heart?

My review

When the Suibhne Clan is under threat, it’s up to their leader Sorcha to protect her people. But where she isn’t prepared for, is to face the ruthless mercenary Ruaidhri. Not because she is afraid of his strength, but because he grew up in her clan, and when they were younger, they fell in love with each other. Only to leave Sorcha broken hearted one day, without any explanation or inkling of him leaving. And now the man she once loved, is hired to invade parts of Ireland, and thus also the land of Sorcha’s clan. But Ruaidhri is struggling with his return, as he has many memories of living with the Suibhne clan. However, those memories are not all good, but also bad…While Sorcha is not being fooled by Ruaidhri’s return, her heart is thrilled by the return of her love. But as they are standing on opposite sides, will their heads rule, or will their hearts be victorious?

I have said it before, and I will say it again. There are several prejudices against this kind of books and stories. But if you enjoy a story, if you are enjoying reading, does it truly matter what genre you are into? Isn’t a book’s purpose to take you away to another world, letting your own imagination go wild while reading the words on the paper (or tablet 😊)?

So when I picked up this book, that was my resolution: enjoying Sorcha’s and Ruaidhri’s story and not think about what people will think of my choice!

I for sure didn’t regret reading this book, as I found this book a perfect mix of romance, adventure, drama and action.

And I liked getting to know especially Sorcha better, as she is a feminist before the word was even invented!

Because Sorcha for sure is a better leader of the Suibhne clan than her father was, and for sure a better one than her late husband. Who says that women cannot be great leaders? But it’s not only that Sorcha is a good leader, she is also a smart lady and a woman with a kind heart. A heart that has loved deeply, but has also been broken.

And that brokenness is still palpable in her tale. She is fierce, but also vulnerable. But she won’t allow that vulnerability show or take the overhand, even with Ruaidhri’s return and her ‘silly’ heart remembering that boy she fell in love with… Because Sorcha knows one thing: she won’t go down without a fight and won’t let her clan be ruled over by anyone.

With Ruaidhri we see how at loss even the fiercest man can be feeling. It was easy and presumptuous to judge his choices in the past and present, without knowing what drove him to make those choices.

And the more I got to know Ruaidhri, the more I liked this strong man. And the more the story progresses, the more layers Ruaidhri shows.

Because yes, he is a mercenary, but he is not a ruthless one. He is a man of honour, when he gives his word, he keeps it. He doesn’t play games but wants to get to the truth.

Nevertheless, his life is truly in turmoil. He already knows a few bits of his past, but the depth of it is still a mystery haunting him.

As readers, we know his real background, but the why and who is still a big question mark, and I was eager to know what happened to him. And the more was revealed, the more I could understand Ruaidhri’s impossible position.

However, seeing Ruaidhri and Sorcha standing against each other, but also by each other, was just great. They have been both hurt, and have been through a lot even during the years apart. Yet seeing how the heart never forgets was just wow.

And then there was the presence of the most wonderful, sweetest, most courageous for his age, character. That is all I am going to say, but I think that your heart will explode just like mine when you will meet him! 😊

In this book we see clearly how heads and hearts can be pulling the characters in different directions. And we also see how by the hand of others, heartbreak can be caused. But we also see how the heart never forgets and that choices may be difficult to make and trust may be difficult to give. Yet we also see that strength and power isn’t only a physical trait, but that those traits are even more powerful when it’s something that is just inside you.

I truly enjoyed reading this book, as this author gave me everything I was expecting from it! It was perhaps a guilty pleasure reading it, but one that I have read without any sense of guilt at all! 😊