MacLean’s Passion by Sharon Cullen
Series: Highland Pride, #2
Historical Romance
June 28, 2016
Loveswept

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote:
“What the hell are ye doing?”
“I…”
“Ye can just pop those eyes right back in yer head, ye big lunk.”
“I…”
“Is that all ye can say?”
“It’s all you’ll let me say.”

Colin MacLean has always felt like the black sheep in the family. The Battle of Culloden only deepens his feelings of failure, especially after he sees his brothers slain and he himself is taken captive by the English. When he he sees a chance to escape, he grabs the lad he has been sharing a cell with and leaves…only to discover the lad is really a lass.

Margaret Sinclair was raised to be more of a lad than a lass with the fighting skills and disposition to prove it. When she and her older brother have a misunderstanding, she disguises herself as a boy and runs away. Meeting Colin has put her in a different frame of mind. She finds herself attracted to him and wishing she possessed some of the more feminine attributes of her gender.

As Colin and Maggie make their way towards freedom, their attraction for one another grows but both are keeping secrets from one another. Secrets that could destroy their growing love and possibly their lives.

MacLean’s Passion is the second book in Sharon Cullen’s Highland Pride series. Set in the Regency era, Cullen builds her world around the Jacobites uprising and the Battle of Culloden.  Saturated with witty dialogue, action packed scenes, strong outspoken characters, and hints of intrigue and scandal, I found myself engaged in this couple’s story from page one. Despite the serious subject matter at hand, there is a lightness and a curious sense of modernism that is brought out by the interactions and dialogue between the hero and heroine that left me laughing at times.

The story opens  up to a rather bleak scene. Chieftain Colin MacLean is being whipped by his nemesis who taunts him over his impending death. Cullen sets the stage for the impending adventure by giving us background into Colin and why he is in an English prison. Colin’s impromptu rescue of a friend and his wife from the hangman’s noose ended up him taking their place. He is resigned towards his death though he fears for the fate of his clan once he is dead. Considered to be a lazy irresponsible fool by his father and brothers, Colin has a very low opinion of himself. A smuggler by trade, he didn’t take the responsibilities of his birthright seriously, not wanting the deal with the burden of that legacy. An old enemy, thought to be in league with the English, helps Colin to escape and Colin decides to take the young lad jailed with him. On their way to freedom, Colin gets sick and it’s up to the boy to care for him. When Colin learns that the boy is no other than Lady Magaret Sinclair, he is both shocked by her beauty and impressed by her ingenuity. Also, a little put out he didn’t realize it right away.

If he thought the lady Sinclair was going to be cowed when she entered the cave, he would have been wrong. She walked in with her head held high and her dark eyes flashing in defiance. {…} She was probably the prettiest woman he ever laid eyes on.

Maggie (Margaret)  Sinclair spent two weeks in prison with Colin, hiding in the shadows and keeping her mouth shut. She knew what would happen if she revealed her sex. Having been captured after the Battle of Culloden, Maggie is heartsick as she thinks of her impending death and the unknown fate of her older brother who also fought at Culloden. A strong, intelligent, and fearless lass, Maggie was raised as a boy after her parents passed away. A skilled warrior for her size, Maggie is left defenseless against the arranged marriage her brother Evan set-up. Unable to accept that the person she had become isn’t good enough for her family anymore, Maggie ran away and ended up in the predicament she is in now.

Evan was throwing her away to a man she didn’t know and there was nothing she could do…

Colin knows he can not take Maggie home with him no matter how much he wants to. He is unsure how his clan will receive him and he has a hefty price on his head. He arranges to return her to the Sinclair household and then leave but finds himself drawn into her family’s affairs and forced to stay. When the full extent of her brother’s actions come to light, Colin knows he cannot allow Evan to use Maggie the way he plans to and accepts an alternative that both frightens and excites him.

“A wife right now is no’ a good thing for me.”

“Well, ye may no’ want a wife, but ye’re getting on anyway, and I promise you this Colin MacLean, I’ll still have yer back. {…} If ye don’t want a wife. I’ll give ye a warrior.

Colin and Maggie are a delight together and individually. Their dialogue alone is enough to keep you chuckling as you get to know them. Alike in so many ways and different in the most basic, they both march to the beat of a different drum and have suffered for that. Loyal, stalwart, and courageous; each has a strong sense of honor that defines them. There is also a bittersweet vulnerability to them that is revealed as they try to do what is right for their clans and what is right for them. Colin is an alpha male-protective to the core and with the perceived notions of women for this era yet he is very accepting of Maggie and her ways. Watching Maggie’s brother try and manipulate her, Colin is insulted and angered on her behalf. Family for him is everything even though he ran from his responsibility and he genuinely hates the thought of anyone trying to smother Maggie’s bright light.

“You may have been thinking of your clan, but you sure weren’t thinking of your sister.”

Maggie is a no nonsense take charge woman-the first to jump in the fray. Raised to be confident in herself and her skills, her brother’s actions strike a hard blow to her heart. For the first time in her life she questions her family and herself. She clings to Colin in her fear and loneliness. Her time spent in the prison changed her mentally and he is her first true friend.

“I’m glad we ended up in prison together.”

Their romance is very slow to develop. Delightful chemistry sparks between Maggie and Colin, encouraged by their spirited banter and a few stolen kisses. Their actual communion doesn’t occur till well towards the end but the wait feels authentic. What I loved most about this couple is neither is embarrassed by the other. Colin doesn’t see Maggie’s fighting or more masculine pursuits as distasteful. He finds her perfect whether she is wearing britches or a gown. Maggie is more than understanding of why he ran from the clan and has no expectations from him beyond what she knows he is capable of. Once they are married, Colin begins to see himself from Maggie’s eyes learns to trust in himself and their love.

“I can’t lose ye, Maggie, lass “

The end to their adventure is an action packed finale that rights old wrongs and gives Colin and Maggie the peace they were fighting for. MacLean’s Passion is a fast and fun read that is light on personal angst and drama but heavy with action, humor, and a romance that charms. I did not read book one but I had no problems understanding the dynamics and undercurrents flowing through here. I will admit I am more than curious about Iain Campbell and the long game he is playing so I am looking forward to book three-Campbell’s Redemption-set to release 11/22/2016 from Loveswept.

Grade: B

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