The Lion: Clan Ross of the Hebrides Series, Book 1

Family was important in arranging marriages, Beatrice and isobel as sisters, understood each other and knew what was best. Following in his father's footsteps was hard, but Darach becomes a fair Lord of his lands.

I enjoyed readying this book again over the last few days. The pace is good; it doesn’t get bogged down by over describing surroundings. You still get enough description to easily picture the scenes and surroundings. There is a lot of personal interaction and little inner-monologue. The story is sweet and salty. It leaves the reader wanting more details of this clan’s history and the outcome of other dilemmas but there are no major cliff hangers. I look forward to starting the next book in the series. It will be a new read for me.

This book is ok. It's not really a 4 star book for me, but it's not so bad that it rates 3 stars either. Honestly, it could just be me as I didn't feel the connection between the H and h was very strong. It's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what the issue is, but I don't think the relationship between the H and h is fully developed. Aside from the great sex (which occurs after marriage) I don't feel like much changed from their first meeting until he declared his love. Another thing that bothered me is there are several instances when the author seems like she is going to go in one direction, and then shifts gears. Also, Lilia's (the mistress) reaction to the H and h's innocent fall on the ground is ridiculous. If she wanted the H for her self, why would she run and tell the entire keep including the moms that the h &H were engaged in illicit behavior. That reaction doesn't even make sense. Also, it's not so noticeable, but things are said that seem to hold some importance, but disappear as the story progresses. According to the h's mom, the h's ugly dresses are bc she likes to go on these long excursions on a daily basis. Yet in the book, the h goes for simple daily walks, not grand adventures. Apparently, the ugly dresses are just to make the bewitching beautiful heroine look slightly dowdy. She's supposed to be some great artist, but towards the end she doesn't even draw anything, and she never shows the H any of her artwork. Not even the drawing of him and his dog playing, which is described as tho it would be important later on in the story, but is never mentioned again. Eventually, her sketching is just barely mentioned as an afterthought. Also, the H's decisionto marry her isn't some random act. Their families are close, and the h and H have known each since they were children. Not super well, but enough that the H had a crush on the h when he was 19. Also, the book just seems to end suddenly. I get that it's going to be a series, but the ending was just too abrupt. It almost seems like the author reached her quota of pages and had to quickly wrap everything up bc she was at her page limit. All that said, I finished the book, I liked the book, but I will not reread the book.

I’m new to McQueen’s books, this being the first. The story line was interesting, I liked the approach taken by the author when dealing with the “lover” the Laird had. It is rare that women in those positions are given their own happy ending. The character development was pretty phenomenal.. all were well thought out, developed and given enough story line to make me feel invested enough to continue reading the remaining books. It’s important for a first book in a series to do that, in order for the rest to be read.The coming together of the H/h was a slow burn, to a great build up. Both were adult enough to admit mistakes and not place blame… just work towards forgiveness … I felt that. I’m also glad the book did not end with the happy pregnancy that all seem to these days.Onto The Beast next, of which I already like both characters. Excellent read.

I really enjoyed this story. Hilde is a new author to me and her writing is excellent. I look forward to reading more of her books.

I have read a few of Hildi McQueen stories. It has been at least a year since the last one I read. This one was so much better, that I thought it was a different author at first. I had to go back and look at the ones I read by her. She has improved so much. This novel was exciting and unexpectedly good. I liked all the different twists and turns and how they came back together at the end. Can’t wait to read the next one.

I enjoyed the story and the characters. Darach made mistakes but he was a good man. Isobel was nice but she certainly had her own mistakes. It was a pretty good plot.

I love a fabulous story where husband a wife fallen in love in historical settings. This had a much more gentle ending than I expected. I'm sort of used to a huge drama scene. Thoroughly enjoyed.

I’m going through a bit of a historical romance revival at the moment so this one was another Scottish historical romance it was ok but there was also nothing that stood out about it either. I found it somewhat enjoyable if a tad superficial I also felt like there was something slightly missing with this one.Isobel Macdonald and her sister Beatrice journey to the Ross’s to spend the summer: their mothers are childhood friends and want a marriage between their offspring. Darach Ross is now the Laird after his father's death: his sire leaves behind a legacy of mismanagement and cruelties which Darach is now kept busy setting to rights and the last thing on his mind at the moment is marriage to anyone.So the above blurb for this I did find a tad misleading yeh technically it’s accurate but I also felt it was overly exaggerated and that the so-called lover living in the keep was a bit overdramatic: in my opinion, she really isn’t much of a threat and Darach swiftly moves on from her. I also found there were some slight inconsistencies within the storyline things that’s didn’t quite make sense to me.Darach I thought if he’d just been more commutative well he could have really avoided the majority of issues here if he’d just used some actual sense. I also wasn’t that struck on him as a person and thought him a bit thoughtless in some of his words and actions.I also never also got why both Beatrice and Isobel were so judgemental when it came to Darach. I mean they made snap decisions regarding him without any evidence or reason and just why was Beatrice so terrified and intimidated by him for no apparent reason it was all slightly overdramatic and ridiculous.Then there was Isobel’s clothes initially I thought we were going to get one of those Cinderella-type stories where the mother and sister were both cruel treating her as the less favoured sibling and a lesser person but no there just bloody thoughtless and wanted the extra space for more of there own pretty things and nobody seems bothered that Isobel could be mistaken for an actual servant with her limited drab wardrobe.Then I thought we were setting Beatrice up with one brother as they seemed to have a moment together only for another brother Duncan to be thrown into the mix instead it was all very perplexing. It also doesn’t make sense that the servant who was Darach’s former lover be the one to out them for being in a comprising position together especially knowing they’d then be forced to marry as I would think it would be the last thing she’d want to happen.Overall though this entertaining enough though the drama and danger it seemed to promise never quite took off and I did find myself waiting for something major to occur which never did. I also thought Darach could definitely have been a bit more alpha and less thoughtless and Isobel less judgmental and overly dramatic but it was ok and it did pass a couple of hours.

Darach and Isobel’s story will have you turning the pages and gripped with the brilliant writing of this author. At first they seemed ill matched but as you got to know them you could see they were good for each other and so well matched. He may be known as the lion but he was a loyal caring affectionate person around Isobel. Can’t put into words how much I loved this story and I went straight on to the next book in the series!

I've kind of enjoyed these books enough to continue with them, but something doesn't quite work for me and I keep reading hoping it will.For me, the characters aren't quite developed and the chemistry isn't quite there for the main characters. Then, when the story gets interesting, the story line just kind of resolves without any major input. It's as if, the things that could really drag you in and get the heart thumping are missing - or it could just be me.I also find it distracting that they're Scottish but little brogue is used, and when it is, it's not quiet right. Then the author constantly calls the 'Stables,' 'Corrals,' which is definitely not the term used in Scotland or England - even in the 15th and 16th century.

Liked the story and plot.. being forced into marriage the heroine comes to love her laird, even though he angers her! Lots of ups and downs as is normal in romance! Good read

I loved the characters and the very different scenario from the families past.....enjoyed the learning experiences that were not expected...but went well with the story .