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Clan Gunn #1
Fire and Sword
Dhu Micheil, the Black Laird of Clan Gunn
He was a man of dark temper and legendary passions. And Seana MacKay was bound to him by a terrible promise that none dared break until the fates decreed she finally meet the man behind the legend.
Seana nic MacKay, the bartered treasure of Clan MacKay
One look at the innocent Seana, and Micheil was bewitched. For never had there been a lass more bonnie. Yet she was his blood sworn enemy--and destined to be the instrument of his final vengeance against the Clan MacKay.
He was a man of dark temper and legendary passions. And Seana MacKay was bound to him by a terrible promise that none dared break until the fates decreed she finally meet the man behind the legend.
Seana nic MacKay, the bartered treasure of Clan MacKay
One look at the innocent Seana, and Micheil was bewitched. For never had there been a lass more bonnie. Yet she was his blood sworn enemy--and destined to be the instrument of his final vengeance against the Clan MacKay.
377 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1994
About the author
Theresa Michaels
20 books8 followersAKA Raine Cantrell
A pseudonym used by Theresa DiBenedetto
A pseudonym used by Theresa DiBenedetto
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 15, 2014
2.5 stars. The author lost a star when towards the end that Fiona witch raped Micheil. Besides that, the story was okay. I kind of didn't feel like I got the whole story of the three villains in this story or the reasons why they did what they did, or how they are all connected. Just a show that they were together at times to be able to plot it.
May 12, 2022
The Gunn Clan and the McKay Clan have fought for centuries. After so much fighting they decided to bring peace to both clans through two arranged marriages. The first to their oldest children Bridget Gunn and Liam McKay.
The second was their younger children for when they grew up, Michel and Seana. But after two years of marriage Bridget comes home brutally beaten and hurt, she claims it was Liam who did it. But Liam denied it, saying he did nothing but love her. The clans feud was reborn, and even worse than before. The Gunn Clan vowed to get revenge by ruining the McKay’s lives and capturing their younger daughter Seana, keeping her in a convant till her adult years. The Gunn’s kept her intended betrothal to Michel, and when Michel took over as laird he was to then kill Seana as final revenge to the McKay’s. Years go by and Seana is now 19, and has spent 7 years raised by the nuns at the convant. Given no freedom, she was allowed the special treat of guiding two older nuns to the village fair. At the fair Seana slips away from the sisters and goes off to enjoy the fair by herself. That’s when she runs into a tall, dark and handsome Highlander who is extremely taken by her. Michel has also grown up into the fearsome laird of his clan. While attending the festival he runs into the most beautiful maiden he’s ever seen, he’s desperate to make her his and get her name. Seana and Michel had not seen each other since their childhood and had no idea who they were actually speaking to. That is until Seana reveals her identity to Michel and runs off. Very troubled by his attraction to his sworn enemy Michel sets out to take her from the convant. But when he arrives Seana has run away. When he finds her, Seana is blissfully unaware that she is actually talking to the man who was sworn to kill her. Michel still unsure if his powerful feelings for Seana, pretends to be a random Highlander named Jamie and vows to help Seana escape. Seana agrees and the two set off into the highlands, all while she has no clue that man she is running from is actually with her. Michel soon discovers that he can not possibly kill the woman he loves, and has to somehow reveal his true identity to Seana. Not to mention they have to deal with their battling clans and the status of their political environment.
I actually liked this a lot. The beginning part is really fun, when Seana has no clue who she is with. A lot of betrayal and deceit in this book, it stresses me out lol. Some miscommunication but not enough to turn me off from the book. No large gaps of time apart which I appreciated. A great example of ACTUAL enemies to lovers, because their is no denying the hate these two have for one another. Had sweet moments along with some very dramatic ones. I liked both characters but they both had their frustrating moments. Highlander stories hit every time.
The second was their younger children for when they grew up, Michel and Seana. But after two years of marriage Bridget comes home brutally beaten and hurt, she claims it was Liam who did it. But Liam denied it, saying he did nothing but love her. The clans feud was reborn, and even worse than before. The Gunn Clan vowed to get revenge by ruining the McKay’s lives and capturing their younger daughter Seana, keeping her in a convant till her adult years. The Gunn’s kept her intended betrothal to Michel, and when Michel took over as laird he was to then kill Seana as final revenge to the McKay’s. Years go by and Seana is now 19, and has spent 7 years raised by the nuns at the convant. Given no freedom, she was allowed the special treat of guiding two older nuns to the village fair. At the fair Seana slips away from the sisters and goes off to enjoy the fair by herself. That’s when she runs into a tall, dark and handsome Highlander who is extremely taken by her. Michel has also grown up into the fearsome laird of his clan. While attending the festival he runs into the most beautiful maiden he’s ever seen, he’s desperate to make her his and get her name. Seana and Michel had not seen each other since their childhood and had no idea who they were actually speaking to. That is until Seana reveals her identity to Michel and runs off. Very troubled by his attraction to his sworn enemy Michel sets out to take her from the convant. But when he arrives Seana has run away. When he finds her, Seana is blissfully unaware that she is actually talking to the man who was sworn to kill her. Michel still unsure if his powerful feelings for Seana, pretends to be a random Highlander named Jamie and vows to help Seana escape. Seana agrees and the two set off into the highlands, all while she has no clue that man she is running from is actually with her. Michel soon discovers that he can not possibly kill the woman he loves, and has to somehow reveal his true identity to Seana. Not to mention they have to deal with their battling clans and the status of their political environment.
I actually liked this a lot. The beginning part is really fun, when Seana has no clue who she is with. A lot of betrayal and deceit in this book, it stresses me out lol. Some miscommunication but not enough to turn me off from the book. No large gaps of time apart which I appreciated. A great example of ACTUAL enemies to lovers, because their is no denying the hate these two have for one another. Had sweet moments along with some very dramatic ones. I liked both characters but they both had their frustrating moments. Highlander stories hit every time.
January 16, 2018
This book was something good I would say... The characters were great and all emotions coming from the book were awesome but all the time I was reading it I was totally confused by who was taking revenge on whom.. and what exactly happened between Bridget and her lover? What was the magic Fiona doing? Why is Michele letting Niall doing what he wants when he knows he is not a good guy?? So in conclusion it was a book full of emotions and not one percent of logic in it.. Makes me wonder if actually people were like this at that time.. Hmm.. That's a mystery only to be solved if the time machine is ever created..
May 28, 2020
This book is getting filed in "to read again". I loved it although it was an emotional roller coaster. It took a long, long time to really engage with the male protagonist but when I did...whew! This story was definitely not your formulaic romance story line (happy ending excepted). It was really quite riviting although there was so much betrayal and too many villains to make it perfect. The writing was very strong and I will be looking for the rest of the book in the series...immediately!
December 20, 2020
I could not put this book down! Like a soap opera, I ended up wanting to devour more. Definitely a guilty pleasure read.
Bad: The ending was too quick and left unanswered questions. I notice the other books in the series are about the brothers which makes the ending even more disappointing. Even so ....
This was an enjoyable read!
Bad: The ending was too quick and left unanswered questions. I notice the other books in the series are about the brothers which makes the ending even more disappointing. Even so ....
This was an enjoyable read!
January 5, 2019
Thoroughly engaging, splendid characters, story line and telling. Although a happy ending romance it was such a tumultuous journey that often conjured a sense of MacBeth tragedy than romance. Look forward to reading the remaining books in this series.
November 29, 2024
Poorly written. The plot was legit all over the place, and the dialogue was partially written in Scottish dialect (like words spelled phonetically in a Scottish accent). Also the latter end of the plot was random as fuck—WHY and WHERE did the witches come from?? They were just totally unnecessary.
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June 23, 2025Boring.
I really hate these new editions of old books. I feel things are filtered in new versions.
I didn’t get to read the old version.
Anyways the book didn’t attract me.
I really hate these new editions of old books. I feel things are filtered in new versions.
I didn’t get to read the old version.
Anyways the book didn’t attract me.
June 25, 2015
I read the author's historical western romance series, "Once a..." and liked it so well that I wanted to read more of her books. I really wanted to like this series, but this first book is not a good start. I will probably read the other two books in the trilogy to see how the whole thing turns out.
There is no comparison between the other series and this, the first of another. This one is a complete "bodice ripper" and the plot would vanish into thin air without the hate/desire & sex woven into the story. Otherwise, the story line with its twists and turns might have been really, really good.
Except for the somewhat complex main and minor characters seeking revenge, this story reads like the bodice ripper, historical pirate romance where the hero and heroine want to hate each other, hate that they are attracted to each other and the woman is trapped in the pirate captain's cabin, subject to his desire and care throughout.
If you are a fan of today's medieval/Renaissance Scottish warriors/historical romance authors like Amanda Forester, Julie Garwood, Julianne MacLean, Margaret Mallory, Lynsay Sands, Amanda Scott, etc., then you will want to skip this book.
There is no comparison between the other series and this, the first of another. This one is a complete "bodice ripper" and the plot would vanish into thin air without the hate/desire & sex woven into the story. Otherwise, the story line with its twists and turns might have been really, really good.
Except for the somewhat complex main and minor characters seeking revenge, this story reads like the bodice ripper, historical pirate romance where the hero and heroine want to hate each other, hate that they are attracted to each other and the woman is trapped in the pirate captain's cabin, subject to his desire and care throughout.
If you are a fan of today's medieval/Renaissance Scottish warriors/historical romance authors like Amanda Forester, Julie Garwood, Julianne MacLean, Margaret Mallory, Lynsay Sands, Amanda Scott, etc., then you will want to skip this book.
April 6, 2016
Despite its growing age, this remains one of my favorite romance novels. I'm really not even sure why because it's not anything that hasn't been done a thousand times, and its age lends it a bit of a dated feel.
Despite that, I've read it a couple of times over the years and continue to love it each time. There's just something about the way that Micheil was written that draws me in. He has the ability to be both savagely mean and tenderly dear at the same time, and I love that. Seana borders on Mary Sue from time to time, but she's tolerable. I also really love Micheil's youngest brother, Davey.
Again, the story itself isn't anything special, but the way this book is written will surely keep you ensnared!
Despite that, I've read it a couple of times over the years and continue to love it each time. There's just something about the way that Micheil was written that draws me in. He has the ability to be both savagely mean and tenderly dear at the same time, and I love that. Seana borders on Mary Sue from time to time, but she's tolerable. I also really love Micheil's youngest brother, Davey.
Again, the story itself isn't anything special, but the way this book is written will surely keep you ensnared!
May 19, 2014
This book is nothing like I expected. He'll 90% of the book they fought or were apart. I felt bad for Seana her life was not peaches n creme
and poor michei was suffocated by his family and their need of vengeance based on lies
and poor michei was suffocated by his family and their need of vengeance based on lies
April 29, 2015
I wanted to like it better than I did. I tend to like period romances and I like Scottish settings but this one was just okay.....
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews