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In the eternal debate about trigger warnings, I fall firmly into the camp they should absolutely be included in books.
I believe we should be able to read books that we’re comfortable with unless we intentionally choose to challenge ourselves.
Reading shouldn’t be a chore, it shouldn’t be traumatizing, and it should be something we do with purpose.
That said, this book deals with some very heavy topics that, in my opinion, warranted at least a brief mention of trigger warnings upfront.
But just in case, here are the trigger warnings: child seizure, childbirth, and domestic abuse.
I don’t think I’ve actually read this book or any of the others in the series before, and I did check.
But for some reason, every Highland romance novel I read seems to have at least one character with the surname Mackintosh. And it’s only now, as I’m writing this review, that it occurred to me that maybe I should actually research this.
Perhaps Mackintosh is one of those deeply ancestral names from a clan that achieved a lot, because I swear I’ve come across it so many times.
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Now, onto the story.
This book follows Rob and Eva, who have been promised to marry against their will. Rob is a romantic at heart – he’s always believed that if he has to spend the rest of his life with someone, there should at least be a romantic connection.
Meanwhile, Eva hasn’t had the best luck when it comes to love. Neither of them wants this marriage, but due to a series of events in the month leading up to Rob’s arrival, Eva runs away.
He finds her, they have a discussion, and they decide to annul the engagement. But, of course, that’s not the end.
Somehow, they get caught up in a little scandal and are forced to marry. This is when they start living together.
Now, don’t be fooled – so much happens between their first meeting and their forced marriage.
There are plenty of other key players involved, but I don’t want to reveal too much. You’ll have to check it out yourself because anything more would be a spoiler.
By the time they return to his keep, where the rest of the Mackintosh clan lives, they start falling for each other and they become home for each other.
One thing I really loved about this book was how smart both Rob and Eva were. Sure, there were a few misunderstandings, but the author didn’t use them as a lazy plot device to drag the story forward.
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Almost as soon as a misunderstanding happened, it would be cleared up. These two just knew each other on a deep, fundamental level.
And I have to say – despite Rob essentially being a manwhore, he was also a huge lover boy. He genuinely wanted his marriage to work, even though Eva’s skittishness sometimes frustrated him.
On her part, Eva could feel herself slowly falling for Rob, but she had been through so much and lived such a difficult life that she hesitated to accept the love he was offering.
Another thing I absolutely loved about this book was the inclusion of other POVs. The author gave us glimpses into the lives of other characters who, I know, have their own books.
The primary couple we spent a lot of time with was Arabella and Brodie – and, you guys, this couple has the most insane chemistry.
From the little snippets of how their love story started, I already know I need to read their book. And you bet I’ll be reviewing it here on the blog!
Something else that surprised me was how feminist this book felt.
We got to see strong female characters play major roles in the Mackintosh clan, which was important to Eva because of her background. It was fascinating to see the clan dynamics at play in The Keep.
And this might sound a little off-topic, but I personally find the politics of Scottish clans way more interesting than the British peerage.
Scottish clans feel like tight-knit communities, while the peerage is just an elite group of selected individuals who, let’s be honest, were probably the originators of gatekeeping.
All in all, this was a lovely book about finding love again. And that theme isn’t just limited to the main characters – it’s something that plays out in the side characters’ lives as well. It made the book feel surprisingly modern for a historical romance.
My only issue (which, if I’m being honest, isn’t really an issue) is that I needed to see the antagonist get his comeuppance on page.
He did the worst things – he was manipulative, vindictive, and cruel. And yet, we didn’t actually get to see him get his ass beat on the page. I wanted that moment.
So, if you’re looking for a sweet and super steamy Highland romance about love after marriage, with a couple who finds hope and family in each other, read this book.
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