The Beast

Clan Ross of the Hebrides Series, Book 2

By: Hildie McQueen

Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

What hides beneath the surface can be beastly or perhaps lovable . . .

Scarred and tortured during years in captivity, Duncan Ross must come to learn that he can live a normal life and allow himself to be loved.

Duncan Ross' inner scars are even more horrifying that the visible ones. Unable to control his rages, he hides himself away from his close-knit family. A normal life that includes a wife and family will never be his, a truth he's accepted. When a beautiful woman decides to tell her family they are courting, the time soon comes for him to make a difficult decision that will break her heart and shatter his lonely soul.

As the pampered daughter of a powerful laird, Beatrice Macdonald is rarely taken seriously. With a fierce protective nature, she fights to remain at Keep Ross to ensure her eldest sister is treated well. In an effort to influence her case to remain, she leads her family to believe that Duncan Ross is courting her for marriage. However, the more she gets to know the reclusive man, the more she realizes, she picked the wrong Ross brother for the ruse.

Contains mature themes.

©2021 Hildie McQueen (P)2023 Tantor

The Beast

The Beast by Hildie McQueen
Clan Ross of the Hebrides series #2. Historical Scottish romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but characters from the first book play minor roles in this book.
Beatrice Macdonald has been staying at the Ross family estate to make sure her eldest sister is happy in her marriage arrangement (book 1). Wanting to stay past the wedding events, she sends a note home that Duncan Ross has been courting her. Of course she’s caught in the lie but the more time she actually spends with the quiet man, the more she falls for him.
Duncan Ross has scars and memories that keep him self isolated. He was sold as a young child and kept as a slave for more than ten years, beaten continuously, starved and eventually thrown overboard to die. He doesn’t understand why Beatrice won’t leave him alone or what she wants from him. He just wants to be left alone.

Duncan’s past is simply heartbreaking. Beatrice allows him to see a bit of light in his dark existence. Their courtship, reluctant on his part, is not a smooth road and almost ends before finally realized. There were tears and understandable fear before the ultimate healing and love could be accepted.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Mhairi Morrison who does the full series. The performance was wonderfully done and had me visualizing the Scottish countryside, the small room that Duncan claimed and the horrific tortures he survived. The romance of love and anguish and passion came through clearly along with the Scottish accents.
I did listen at my usual preferred speed of 1.5.