Return of the Rogue Book

4 stars

Donna Fletcher is one of my favorite authors of steamy HRs, and this book delivers on most of my "musts:" interesting plot; likeable main characters; touch of mystery/suspense; steamy goodness. Cavan is the eldest of 4 brothers born to the laird of the Sinclaire clan; as such, he has always and continues to feel responsible for the well-being of his younger brothers - the youngest (Rowan) in particular. In a battle some months ago, Rowan was injured as Cavan called for his clan members to withdrawal given their substantial deficit of fighters as compared to the ones the barbarian tribe they were fighting presented. Despite the fact that the path to reach his brother was littered with barbarians, Cavan was desperate to reach Rowan, even if it meant just being there so that they could die together. Though he felled many of his opponents during his charge, he was ultimately captured just as he reached Rowan, and they were separated. Cavan spent months in a literal hell where he was caged, exposed to fierce elements of weather, fed slop, and left to waste away. His only focus was to learn what had become of his brother and to escape to free him.

At the start of the story, Cavan returns to his clan to learn the brother closest to him in age (Altair) married Honora only moments earlier; however, the way that the contract was worded (that Honora would wed the future laird of the Sinclaire clan) meant that Altair had married Honora in proxy, and Cavan was obligated to take her to wife. Honora's step-father (Calum) was very adamant from the start that his step-daughter be wed to the future laird; a few years prior to the current contract agreement, he had approached the laird and asked that she be wed to Cavan, but Cavan refused believing that Honora did not possess the qualities he needed in a wife: primarily strength and fortitude as he believed her to be a timid mouse from his few previous interactions with her. Honora may have appeared that was to Cavan as she had learned long ago that she must bend to her stepfather's will if she were to have any freedoms as Calum was a cruel and physically abusive man. Though her mother attempted to protect her from her step-father, she was often unsuccessful, and when she passed away 5 years earlier, Honora was left completely alone to deal with Calum's daily abuses. As she was aware of Cavan's feelings toward her, he was the last man she wanted to be married to, and now that he had lived in conditions unfit for rats, she feared he would be even more difficult to share a life with.

As Cavan starts to realize there is more to Honora than he previously believed, he also fights an internal war with himself as he feels he is responsible for Rowan's capture and is obsessed with finding him; until such a time, he is adamant that he does not deserve happiness, and certainly not love. Though Cavan's demons make it difficult for Honora to reach him, she persists, and soon finds herself falling in love with the man she knows is honorable and deserving. But how does she convince him that he is worthy of happiness? And is there more to the capture of the laird's sons than meets the eye?

What I liked:
--- The story line was interesting and not as well-trod as others in the genre
--- Significant character development and likeable MCs
--- Steamy goodness (once we actually got there)!

What I didn't like as much:
--- (Sight spoiler) In the time they lived, a marriage had to be consummated to be considered official; Cavan's standoffishness and his refusal to allow himself any pleasures actually placed his clan in potential danger as he was the successor laird, and if his marriage was not a true one, it could have been invalidated, so it was unrealistic for things to go as long as they did without consummation of any kind
--- The "mystery" aspect of the story fell pretty flat in the end and was disappointing as it seemed that there should have been more to it than the motive and "villains" of the story presented

Overall, an enjoyable story with some yummy loving and likeable characters.

Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 3.5/5
Steam Level* --- 3/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd

*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all