Highlander: The Legends Series by Rebecca Ruger

Lara is a peasant without home or family, without even a surname to call her own. After the siege of Berwick, from which she barely escapes, she and dozens of others attach themselves to the fleeing Scots’ army. She has even less now, being only a camp follower, forced to disguise herself as a man rather than be expected to earn coin on her back. Whispers invade the camp about the coming of the Beast of Lismore Abbey, telling of his prowess upon the battlefield, of his heartlessness... moreLara is a peasant without home or family, without even a surname to call her own. After the siege of Berwick, from which she barely escapes, she and dozens of others attach themselves to the fleeing Scots’ army. She has even less now, being only a camp follower, forced to disguise herself as a man rather than be expected to earn coin on her back. Whispers invade the camp about the coming of the Beast of Lismore Abbey, telling of his prowess upon the battlefield, of his heartlessness. Her very first glimpse of the beast is of a naked man rising from the sea. No beast here, but a god.Magnus Matheson rides into the leaderless camp, attempting to cull soldiers from the weary ranks. He meets Lara and wonders immediately what fool would ever believe this was not a female. He is compelled to offer to her his protection, if she will wait for him at Lismore Abbey.Having greater ambitions than a life as leman to a celebrated chieftain, Lara refuses and watches him leave with his freshly tapped army, which he will deliver to William Wallace.Unable to put her from his mind, Magnus seeks her out months later, disheartened as he has never been when he can find her nowhere.Upon his return home, he finds that she is there after all, though not, she tells him, with any intent to become his mistress. Magnus is a patient man though, and she’s already shown what pluck and passion she possesses. He means to conquer her, body and soul, but finds his own heart is in jeopardy of being captured. less

They owe each other their lives. Having saved her from a fate worse than death, John Craig would have paid with his life if not for Ava Guthrie coming to his rescue. So, while they might now be even, there is no way that John can abandon Ava. Saving him essentially made her a criminal, and that is the only reason he insists she must flee with him. Certainly, it has nothing to do with the bone-melting kiss they shared just before he would have hanged... moreThey owe each other their lives. Having saved her from a fate worse than death, John Craig would have paid with his life if not for Ava Guthrie coming to his rescue. So, while they might now be even, there is no way that John can abandon Ava. Saving him essentially made her a criminal, and that is the only reason he insists she must flee with him. Certainly, it has nothing to do with the bone-melting kiss they shared just before he would have hanged. Between her disquiet at the prospect of leaving the only home she has ever known, and the greater foreboding roused by the ferocious warrior and his astonishing kiss, the last thing Ava wants to do is take flight with the man. He’s brusque and angry and seems to have little use for women, despite the fact that she did just save his life. But then there’s something beneath the façade of that lion, something that suggests his heart is not so impenetrable as he would have her believe. Pursued from the city by an English-aligned sheriff, keen to make a name for himself with the capture of the legendary Lion of Blacklaw Tower, John, Ava, and their small band of accomplices are literally running for their lives inside inhospitable territory. John is supposed to be about the king’s business, not being enthralled by the recklessly fearless lass. When the king issues a direct order calling John to his side at the same time Ava is captured, John is forced to make a choice between honor and duty…and maybe love? less

On the death of her father and then her brother, Catherine Dersey inherits Gladstone Castle and is immediately placed under the guardianship of her uncles until she reaches an age of majority. However, at that time, her uncles dispute her claim, informing her that they will be taking the land that is hers, and she will live out her life in a nunnery. Unwilling to surrender that which is lawfully hers, Ceit travels the country, seeking the aid of the king himself... moreOn the death of her father and then her brother, Catherine Dersey inherits Gladstone Castle and is immediately placed under the guardianship of her uncles until she reaches an age of majority. However, at that time, her uncles dispute her claim, informing her that they will be taking the land that is hers, and she will live out her life in a nunnery. Unwilling to surrender that which is lawfully hers, Ceit travels the country, seeking the aid of the king himself. Robert Bruce, busy with his own war, asks her to name someone to act on behalf of her rights, her own champion. Ceit doesn’t hesitate, but points to the hulking figure of the man standing at the king’s side, the one known as the Scoundrel of Beauly Glen. True, after only five minutes in his company, she’d judged him arrogant, disdainful, and too handsome for his own good. That aside, she was fairly certain that the brooding man might smite all the English—and perhaps a few self-serving uncles—with only one look for his frosty blue eyes. William Sinclair is not pleased at all. He’d much rather being making war against a true enemy, in the service of his king, than playing nursemaid to some spoiled heiress throwing a tantrum because she didn’t get her way. But his king has given him no choice, charging him with securing the castle for the cause of freedom. Will plans to get the job done as quickly as possible and return to his king, and yet the more time he spends in the company of Ceit Dersey, the less war appeals to the stone-cold warrior. The quest to recover Gladstone Castle is fraught with peril, but soon Will discovers that most in danger is his heart. less

Grace Geddes is out for revenge. If it’s the last thing she does, if it costs her every cherished penny or kills her, she will avenge her sister, assaulted and now lost forever. She sets off on her quest to find the man responsible, with only her furious determination and an aged soldier as her companions. Ruairi mac Cailein wants only one peace... moreGrace Geddes is out for revenge. If it’s the last thing she does, if it costs her every cherished penny or kills her, she will avenge her sister, assaulted and now lost forever. She sets off on her quest to find the man responsible, with only her furious determination and an aged soldier as her companions. Ruairi mac Cailein wants only one peace. He realizes as soon as he stumbles upon Grace Geddes that there would be no peace in her company, not with her misbegotten plans and her entrancing blue eyes. When she begs his help, offering him a ransom in gold, he refuses. He’s carved out a wee perfect life for himself and what few men remain of the once proud and mighty mac Cailean force, delivering his own brand of justice, accountable to none but himself; he wants no part of her foolish schemes. Grace is terrified by the dangerously brutal warrior but imagines he might be just what she needs to exact her revenge. After she manages to convince him to help her, they set off on a journey both perilous and unexpected, each discovering that their long-held beliefs about life and love are challenged mightily by the other. As with all books in the Legends sieres, The Wolf of Carnoch Cross is a stand-alone novel. The characters from different books do sometimes interact, but these can be read in any order. less

When her home in the borderlands is under siege by an army of English, and against her mother’s wishes, Eleanor Caldwell takes matters into her own hands. She steals away on horseback and heads straight to the detestable Baron Grandison, one of King Edward I’s most prominent knights, whose bid for her hand she recently refused—and not kindly. Having no other choice, she’ll have to promise her hand in return for his aid now in this dreadful hour... moreWhen her home in the borderlands is under siege by an army of English, and against her mother’s wishes, Eleanor Caldwell takes matters into her own hands. She steals away on horseback and heads straight to the detestable Baron Grandison, one of King Edward I’s most prominent knights, whose bid for her hand she recently refused—and not kindly. Having no other choice, she’ll have to promise her hand in return for his aid now in this dreadful hour. On the way she encounters Dougal Kildare in the ghostly windless woodland, a man who rarely met a wine he did not cherish, a woman he could not charm, or, more recently, a fight worthy of his sword. A once proud warrior, he is currently naught but the bastard and banished son of a Highland laird, having no sympathy for anyone else’s distress. Ah, but the desperate maiden awakens long-dead fires and Dougal finds himself insisting he will escort Eleanor through the night to the earl’s castle, where he recklessly upsets all her plans, deciding only over his dead body will he allow the flaxen-haired beauty to sacrifice herself on the altar of the baron’s depravity. Enraged for how he’d upset her plans—the only way to save her family and home—Eleanor still manages to bark out a huge laugh of disdain when the blackguard tells her he will eliminate the enemy from her doorstep, he and his wee band of unsavory misfits. Little choice she has but to trust the disreputable man, discovering in the process that there’s more at stake than the security of her home—her heart is in grave danger of being captured by the wickedly handsome and not quite-so-dishonorable knight. As with all the The Legends , The Blackguard of Windless Woods is a stand-alone novel. The characters from different books do sometimes interact, but these can be read in any order. less