Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs Book 1)

A story with a heart of it's own that encompasses so many emotions bundled together to create two people who would save each other. Two that seemed beyond any compassion or gentleness ever coming their way."Death could not come fast enough for Black Richard MacCullough." The feelings a man who had just been through a three day bloody battle against the Chisholms, to take back the MacCullough's Keep.He had watched his father die and four of his six brothers. But it was not to be his day. He was saved by their healer, although he had begged for death. But he was to live and "was left looking like a monster." One side was unmarred while the other was scarred and mangled.When he was later ordered by King David to marry another of his enemy's daughters, he could not believe it! He would have to forfeit everything if he did not go through with it.Aeschene MacRay was the only daughter of the Laird and she was blind. Her father had kept her locked in a room for over three years with only her maid as her companion. She longed to be able to go outside and try to be useful but her father was ashamed of her.When she heard the news she was to marry Black Richard she could not believe it! All the stories she had heard of him, but David, the King she had know since she was young, wanted the match to bring peace between the clans.When Richard saw her, he could not believe such a beautiful lass was not married. As they talked together, something amazing happened. It was a chance at freedom for Aeschene and Richard felt feelings stir he thought he never would again.Okay I have said enough. I want to just tell you the entire story because it affected me so. Suzan Tisdale has penned the perfect tale in her amazing words to make my heart smile at the end. Wonderful...

This is the 3rd story I've read by Ms Tizdale, and I have enjoyed all of them thus far. The story of Black Richard and Aeshene (loved that name) was just as intriguing and touching as others I have read. Unfortunately I am not reading stories in order, so have been fairly lost with all of the clans and characters from other stories. But I loved the interactions between Richard and Aeschene. Even though she is virtually blind and has been locked away for years, Aeschene proves to her new clan that she is sweet, kind and not a coward. Richard takes too long to warm up to her, and I do wish it hadn't taken so long for them to start sharing scenes, but the build up to their relationship and the ultimate climax were so well written!One con was the editing, as another reviewer stated. Many grammatical errors, as well as stressing YE in the first half of the story, pulled me out of it at times. Ye was always italicized, whether it needed to be or not. Another con that made me give this a 4 was that her stories are rather pricey. I wish more of them were available on KU. I would love to read more of the different series, but the price keeps me from doing so.I loved the secondary characters but would have loved for Maresse and Rory to have their own story. The epilogue was so touching, it brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for adding that! I look forward to Lachlan's story, and hope to go back and read more from The Bowie Bride series, as I absolutely LOVED that book!

I love this author. She has the ability to transport me to another time and place so easily. I'm a bit of a picky reader and don't give 5 stars easily. For me, a 5 star review means that I will make this a reread at some point. This book has what I look for...a plot that isn't a clone of every other book out there, good dialogue, and believable characters. The hero, Black Richard was horribly scarred in the battle that took the lives of his father and 4 four older brothers. The treachery of a clan that was supposed to be an ally cost him his family and the family keep. Even though he was able to win it back three years later, most of the clan is gone and part of the keep is in ruins. Embittered by the loss and tortured by the ruin of his face, only revenge keeps him alive. When King David, tired of the endless wars among the clans, declares that he must marry the daughter of the traitor MacCray clan chief, he is livid. The nearly blind but beautiful Aeschene MacCray becomes his wife but he declares that he will never trust her. Black Richard and Aeschene are perfect and so are the many side characters in this book. I got so involved in it that I forgot that I was supposed to be fixing dinner for friends and we had to order in pizza! Yep, I really enjoyed this book and have pre-ordered the next.Sexual situations (pretty hot) may offend some readers.

I fell in love with Aeschene and Black Richard! Richard is torn between his feelings for Aeschene and his guilt over his father and brothers deaths. Aeschene is just happy to be out from her prison that her father had her in, except for the fact that her new husband doesn’t trust her. Losing her eyesight a few years earlier Aeschene believes Richard is ashamed of her. Both Richard and Aeschene will have to overcome some big hurdles and work together to make their life what they both want and deserve.Such a beautiful love story, you don’t want to miss this one! I have read many of Suzan Tisdales book and this one is wonderful! Definitely recommend reading this book ♥️♥️

I liked the story & the characters but found the writing style to be repetitive, oversimplified & at times, boring.

I have been reading each and every clan and there laird's books by Suzan tinsdale I thought Laidens daughter was great but each book after has been just has great. I loved Rowan's Lady which had a really great story begining to end. And Ian's Rose was another great one then I read his brothers story also great, I then read Bowie's again so good and it was wonderful to read about Black Richard who we first meet in Laidens daughter, Richard has not fared well losing four brothers and his father in battle, he is almost killied and left badly scared. Thinking nobody will love him now, he has to help his clan who are near starving, and take care of his two young brothers who are always in trouble. Then a letter from King David tells him he is to marry the only daughter of his enemy, MacRay he hopes his scars will frighten his intended, but on the day he is told she is blind, on meeting her Richard is spell bound, she also tells him he can walk away. He decides to marry her, when the men he brings set eyes on her he can see they two are spell bound also her maid and best friend is also beautiful. They travel back to Richards keep, both with hold secrets, which causes problems, but has the story moves on you just want the best for Richard and his clan and wife. When Richard and Rory and Richards youngest brother are captured and beaten his wife has to become clan laird she also has to rescue her husband while pregnant. She comes up with a plan that shocks everyone including her husband but he has to do the one thing he has failed to do since meeting her...he has to trust her. It's great to see Duncan and Ewan back and helping there friend when he needs them so much. Suzan tinsdale is one of the best writers I get totally gripped by each book I read. I hope she will write more about. These clans so we can get a look at there life's later on. These books are a wonderful read I also have them all on kindle. Worth every penny.

The King decided that Black Richard had to be married. The King decided that it would be Aschene who was the daughter of anOpposing clan. Black Richard went to the castle of the McRay clan to meet with the king and was told that his bride to be wasBlind. He then had visions of her being gross and ugly, unkempt and totally not what he needed. But he was shocked to the core when he first saw her, as she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. So within a short time they were married and left her Fathers land to live in Black Richards Castle. This book, is so good, when you start it, it is difficult to put down. The newly married couple had a bad start, but soon grew together. Miss Tisdale, I own many of your books and I could not say which is my favourite. Each book is unique and each has a different story to portray. Thank You very much.

Although I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all your book I found this one did not tie up the loose ends at the end of the story. We certainly found out why the MacRay's turned on the McCullough's and that Rory and Marisse finally married, but what happened to Lachlan and Keevah did they eventually get together and why was she referred to a the auld whore or is that another story waiting to be published

I docked a star for the 'Scottish' brogue. We have little idea how ordinary people spoke then but we can be fairly sure it was not like 20th century Scots people. It just becomes annoying.The story was good though and I loved the bravery and resilience of the heroine.

I was poised to rather like the hero and the heroine with their wounded souls looking for love and their place in the world. Equally I was happy to whisked away to the14th century Highlands. Essentially all the right elements to enjoy a fantastic read. Unfortunately the entire experience was spoiled by the irritating rendering of the writing with mock 'ye olde scottish' dialect. It would have been just about bearable if only used when rendering direct speech but its liberal scattering in normal text was jarring and just highlighted the stilted use of it. Instead of adding to the atmosphere of the book and the setting it just emphasised the opposite and made the reading of an otherwise enjoyable story laborious. Real shame.