The Thorn & the Thistle

by Julie Moffett

Scotland, 1751

The MacLeods are a strong clan, united with their fellow Scots to resist English rule. But when their leader, the Black Wolf, is struck down in battle, it is up to his daughter to keep the rebellion alive. Megan knows she must act quickly or risk losing the fight for their ancestral lands. Desperate, she secretly assumes the Black Wolf's mantle, fooling their enemies into thinking he's still alive. If she can keep going for a bit longer, the clan's future will be secure…

Rolf St. James has been sent by the king to settle the Scottish lands once and for all. He's not about to let a woman get in his way, no matter how desirable he finds her. He must put aside his attraction and fulfill his duty to permanently quell the rebellion, regardless of the cost.

Rolf represents everything her father hated, everything she's been fighting against. But as the days pass and Rolf's code of honor reveals itself, Megan finds it's not so easy to hate him anymore. Can she risk her people's future for a chance at personal happiness?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Scotland, Enemies To Lovers, Medieval

359 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2013

About the author

Julie Moffett is the bestselling author of the long-running, geeky Lexi Carmichael Mystery Series that USA Today says: “…runs a riveting gamut from hilarious to deadly, and the perfectly paced action in between will have you hanging on to Lexi’s every word and breathless for her next geeked-out adventure.” Julie also writes the young adult White Knights spin-off series featuring a cool, teenage hacker girl. Julie's been publishing books for 25 years, but writing for a lot longer. She writes in the genres of mystery, young adult, historical romance and paranormal romance.

Julie has won numerous awards, including the Mystery & Mayhem Award for Best YA/New Adult Mystery, the HOLT Award for Best Novel with Romantic Elements, a HOLT Merit Award for Best Novel by a Virginia Author (twice!), the Award of Excellence, a PRISM Award for Best Romantic Time-Travel AND Best of the Best Paranormal Books, and an EPIC Award for Best Action/Adventure Novel. She has also garnered additional nominations for the Booksellers' Best Award, Daphne du Maurier Award, the Dante Rossetti Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.

Julie is a military brat (Air Force) and has traveled extensively. Her more exciting exploits include attending high school in Okinawa, Japan; backpacking around Europe and Scandinavia for several months; a year-long college graduate study in Warsaw, Poland; and a wonderful trip to Scotland and Ireland where she fell in love with castles, kilts and brogues.

Julie has a B.A. in Political Science and Russian Language from Colorado College, a M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and an M.Ed from Liberty University. She has worked as a proposal writer, journalist, teacher, librarian and researcher. Julie speaks Russian and Polish and has two awesome sons.

Visit Julie's website at: https://www.juliemoffett.com/

Follow Julie on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieMoffett...

X: @JMoffettAuthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/julie_moffett/

Reviews

[Katie_la_geek · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as highland romances go this was a pretty good one, it had all the elements I like to see in my highland novels as well as a Romeo and Juliet factor. This is about a Englishman who works for the king falling in love with a Scotswoman determined to fight for freedom and for the most part it worked.

Both the characters were really great, I really admired Megan’s determination to fight so put her people above everything and was willing to give her life in defence of them, even if that meant making a deal of peace with the people who had ruined her life. She wasn’t swoony or silly but was super smart instead and gave as good as she got from the beginning to the end.

Rolf was great to he was a good man and tried to do the best for everyone. Megan bowled him over and he was determined to do what he could for her, even marry her to protect her. All the supporting characters, especially Robbie was great. I felt really sorry for him he had loved Megan all his life and would do anything for her.

The romance was good but it felt a little cold I didn’t quite feel the chemistry that I think I should have. I could see that Rolf had genuine feelings for Megan but she held back a lot and the romance didn’t quite have the punch it could have.

The Thorn & Thistle is an enjoyable read that interested me from beginning to end. It is a good way to spend a few hours.

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

An absolutely lovely highland romance! The Thorn & the Thistle is an excellent book.

I love books set in this time period, when Scotland is waging its final rebellion. I think the political situation of the time adds a an extra element of tension to the story. And, with this book, it worked out especially well.

Megan was a fantastic heroine. It's impossible not to like and support her, especially after all she's been through. Her father died fighting for Scotland's cause and she's determined to carry out the legacy. I liked that she wasn't stupidly stubborn about it, though. She was determined and loyal to her clan and fought whenever she could, but she was always clever about it. In some romances, the heroine is supposed to be so "strong" but all that equates to is her being stupid-just throwing out some snarky comments that serve nothing and not doing anything. Megan was actually a tough woman that fought intelligently And she was smart enough to realize that what Rolf had in mind for her clan was what was best. She was a very real character. I felt like her actions were realistic. She was just a wonderful character, one of my favorite romance heroines.

Rolf was just as delightful. He was sent by the king to bring peace to the area. And he was very clever about getting that done. I really admired his intelligence in the situation. And he could be so sweet when he wanted to be, which was frequent whenever Megan was around. As with Megan, he felt very real, his actions very realistic. Rolf was a perfect hero, one that I undoubtedly fell for.

Megan and Rolf were each other's perfect match. Both were incredibly clever and intelligent. And both had the same goal of bringing peace to the area. Though they were in conflict about it at first, that goal brought them together. And from then, their love grew. It was SO sweet. And there is definitely a bit of spicy thrown in. Not too much, but enough to make things interesting. I adored them together.

The plot was brilliantly done. It moved quickly and there was never a dull moment. This book doesn't have any outstanding twists, but it wasn't predictable either, if that makes any sense. And the ending was perfect!

I LOVED this book. Any lover of romance should definitely read it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press for a copy!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scotland always! Another great Scottish vs English novel with a strong young woman leading the clan. Megan Macloud steps into her father’s shoes. Can she pull off the great responsibility required to join the clans to join forces against a horrible English landlord while also helping end the bloodshed. When a new nobleman, Rolf St. James, arrives with the explicit direction of the King of England ‘to bring peace to the highlands, how will Megan respond. This is a romance inside an adventure and it keeps you on your toes. Of course, the woman is beautiful with long black hair and the man is broad shouldered with shiny dark hair to his shoulders. The sparks fly almost immediately. I have read the Lexi Carmichael series and loved it. This is a very different book but Julie Moffett is talented and pulls it off. If you like Scottish history and want the Scots to win, they you’ll like this book. Great read. And great listen. Cynthia Barrett is excellent as narrator. She was able to mix the Scottish and English dialects and differentiate between male and female voices. Audible adds to the richness of the story.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: battle violence, death of a parent, blood, fire, death of a loved one, gun violence, forced marriage, British colonialist attitudes ("these people are heathens" etc towards Scots).

I picked this up because I needed a historical romance that fit a "Scottish" prompt for a readathon and this - which is set in the 1750s only a couple of years after Culloden - seemed more interesting than all the books by American authors featuring shirtless buff men in kilts on the cover. Uuuuuuuuuunfortunately, I was wrong.

This was, like, FINE. But the romance was enemies to instalovers, the writing is VERY dialogue heavy, and I have to say, I didn't love that there was, like, one properly bad English dude and the rest of the English characters were just misinformed and quickly got over their bigotry in time for a happy ending. Like... No.

And honestly, I misread the blurb about this one when I chose it and thought it was about the hero and the heroine being from rival clans and having to marry to unite against the English so it was a bit of a bummer to realise that the hero was the King's representative in the Highlands. Sigh.

[deeanna sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful historical novek

It has been awhile since I've read a historical romance the genera has become the same plots and most are full of sex that the rest of story is lost and the characters are not flushed out. I enjoyed this book because not since johanna lindsey earlier works that I enjoyed one the characters were intelligent and conversation that u were invested in what happens I decided to read this book because I enjoy reading julie Moffat novel especially the lexi Carmichael mystery this book didn't disappoint I recommend this to readers

[Deborah Compton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not think I would like the book, however,never say never....I read the whole book in one sitting. And I enjoyed it. Light bur adventurous. Good summer or anytime read.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Colonialism
Forced marriage
Blood depiction
Death of a parent
Gun violence
War themes & battle violence

[Brandee (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little gem has been sitting on my nook since 2013. I'm happy I finally read it as it was a compelling and satisfying read.

When the British defeated the Highlanders at Culloden, the MacLeod clan was removed from their lands - forced to live in the forest of Gairloch. Megan MacLeod, a smart, witty, cunning, and courageous young woman, tkaes over as laird when her father is killed. She carries on his legend as the Black Wolf, stealing food and supplies from the English until a new Englishman comes. One tasked with capturing the Black Wolf and bringing about peace between the English and the Scottish. When he captures Megan, they both begin to re-think their ideas and perceptions about one another and the possibility of peace between their people.

What I enjoyed most was seeing a woman in power - how brilliantly she negotiated and used her mind in aiding and protecting her people. And how the men, particularly the English, underestimated her because she was a woman. Over the course of the story, Rolf came to see Megan as his equal and that was a feat for the time period.

I also liked how living among the Scots changed Rolf's view of them. He'd heard rumors of their savagery but just as others had formed ideas about him due to rumors, he came to see the reality very differently - just as the Scots, and Megan specifically - came to view him as quite different from all they'd heard.

The Thorn & the Thistle was more a story of lessons than a romance, although there is that as well. The characters were complex and the story compelling. My only issue is the inconsistency in the use of the Scottish language. For example, "dinna" and "don't" were used interchangeably but I'd have preferred a consistent use of one. However, the writing was well-done overall and I'll certainly look for more of Moffett's backlist.

[Daisy Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review will appear on 1/31/2013 at Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers http://romantichistoricallovers.wordp...


4 years after the British have defeated the Scottish at Culloden Megan MacLeod finds herself the laird of her clan. Her father is dead, her brother is dead, and she’s in charge. She’s taken on the identity of her father as the Black Wolf and is raiding the English who have set up homes in her land.

Rolf St. James is friend to King George. He’s been sent to Scotland to find the Black Wolf and bring peace to the land. He’s determined to do the right thing and end the conflict. He finds the Scottish distrustful on the English and has an uphill battle.

This was a wonderful story filled with deceit, loyalty, battles, peace, romance, and distrust. Yes, I know that sounds contradictory but it was all in there! Megan distrusts Rolf and deceives him at every turn. She does it all in order to protect her clan. As she gets to know Rolf, she sees that he is an honorable man and stands by his promises. She’s spent so many years not trusting the English, that she can’t wrap her mind around it. She continues to not trust him and deceive him. Rolf only wants to bring the Black Wolf to justice and it kills him to that knowing it’s Megan’s dad he’s searching for. He knows it will kill her when he send her dad off to be executed for treason. Megan has accepted her fate and knows when Rolf finds out she’s the Black Wolf, she’ll be executed. She hopes to negotiate peace for her people before that happens.

Along the way, they fall in love. Megan knows it will destroy Rolf to send her to her execution. But he’s a loyal Englishman, so she knows he’ll do what he must. Just as she will.

I loved this book. I could not figure out how we were going to get an HEA out of it. Julie Moffett did a fantastic job of weaving a tale of deceit, loyalty and love. I also found the ending to be both heartbreaking and wonderful. It was endearing to have the Scottish clan rally around Megan and give her what she needed. Rolf was wonderful as well. He did his duty while protecting the Scottish people. This story is steeped in Scottish history and it provides a wonderful backdrop.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Daisy Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reviewed appeared at: http://romantichistoricallovers.wordp... (http://wp.me/p2t1no-QM)

4 years after the British have defeated the Scottish at Culloden Megan MacLeod finds herself the laird of her clan. Her father is dead, her brother is dead, and she’s in charge. She’s taken on the identity of her father as the Black Wolf and is raiding the English who have set up homes in her land.

Rolf St. James is friend to King George. He’s been sent to Scotland to find the Black Wolf and bring peace to the land. He’s determined to do the right thing and end the conflict. He finds the Scottish distrustful on the English and has an uphill battle.

This was a wonderful story filled with deceit, loyalty, battles, peace, romance, and distrust. Yes, I know that sounds contradictory but it was all in there! Megan distrusts Rolf and deceives him at every turn. She does it all in order to protect her clan. As she gets to know Rolf, she sees that he is an honorable man and stands by his promises. She’s spent so many years not trusting the English, that she can’t wrap her mind around it. She continues to not trust him and deceive him. Rolf only wants to bring the Black Wolf to justice and it kills him to that knowing it’s Megan’s dad he’s searching for. He knows it will kill her when he send her dad off to be executed for treason. Megan has accepted her fate and knows when Rolf finds out she’s the Black Wolf, she’ll be executed. She hopes to negotiate peace for her people before that happens.

Along the way, they fall in love. Megan knows it will destroy Rolf to send her to her execution. But he’s a loyal Englishman, so she knows he’ll do what he must. Just as she will.

I loved this book. I could not figure out how we were going to get an HEA out of it. Julie Moffett did a fantastic job of weaving a tale of deceit, loyalty and love. I also found the ending to be both heartbreaking and wonderful. It was endearing to have the Scottish clan rally around Megan and give her what she needed. Rolf was wonderful as well. He did his duty while protecting the Scottish people. This story is steeped in Scottish history and it provides a wonderful backdrop.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

[C.M. Truxler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thorn and the Thistle to Enchant Readers

Set in 1751, this Historical Romance plays out amongst the Scottish Highlands; this is a tale of honor, respect, secrets, love, and hate. Readers will be taken back in time to live in the midst of Highlander clans during a time of upheaval and turmoil. The tale abounds with characters that cover every aspect of the human psyche, both good and bad. Those looking for a wonderful and enthralling tale will be delightedly engrossed by this work. However, those looking for the quick or lurid bedroom occupations will not find it. Everything about this tale is deep and enveloping.

The main character, Megan MacLeod, is a strong and independent woman with a sharp mind and the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her counterpart, Rolf St. James, is a strong-willed and honorable man set in the midst of a rock and a hard place, being surrounded by those influences that favor greed and power above all things. Each character is as life-like as any person in the realm of reality. Coupled with the extraordinary plot, and landscape of the tale, each thoroughly serves the purpose of catching a reader’s attention and holding it.

The plot is an experience in historic prowess, ingenuity, and flagrant imagination. Readers will be pulled into Megan’s world and live the experiences with the characters. There is nothing vague about this storyline. Each move of a character plays out as if chess pieces on the board of skilled opponents. Moffett has found a time machine to be transport readers at her will, and we are all better for it.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

I've discovered something about myself as a reader. I don't like historical romances.

I am a huge fan of epic works of historical fiction aka Outlander, The Bronze Horseman, and Into The Wilderness, but historical romances like Suddenly You left me feeling... meh. I have finally figured out why. I am just not a historical romance lover. Historicals have to have something extra (aka something paranormal or unusual) to keep my interest. This book, while perfectly fine, made me fall asleep. I have no doubt that many people will love it. I only read about 25% of the way through before calling it quits. I was forcing myself to read it and I figured that wasn't fair to the author. So no rating from me.

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotions ran high for both of the characters and the reader when a life and death moment changes everything and a sacrifice made from true love brings tears to your eye and tightens your chest. The destruction of almost everyone Megan holds close to her heart in their battle to find a peace in their lands is hard to read but the harshness of the situation is very realistic to the time and place they are in. Along with the emotional tugs this book continued to pummel me with, I found their passion and their determination to not only do what was right but to fight for a love that should not be kept me unable to put this book down.

For the entire review please check out my blog.

Http://www.vampsthongsandhockeystyxxx...

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly good find in the back of a Dollar Tree. I throughly enjoyed the entire story.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5.0 stars

[ROMANTIC HISTORICAL REVIEW BLOG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by: Lee Anne
Link to Review: http://romantichistoricallovers.wordp...

[Danavie]

J