The Thorn & the Thistle

By: Julie Moffett

Narrated by: Cynthia Barrett

Scotland, 1751: The MacLeods are a strong clan, united with their fellow Scots to resist English rule. But when their leader, the Black Wolf, is struck down in battle, it is up to his daughter to keep the rebellion alive. Megan knows she must act quickly or risk losing the fight for their ancestral lands. Desperate, she secretly assumes the Black Wolf's mantle, fooling their enemies into thinking he's still alive. If she can keep going for a bit longer, the clan's future will be secure.…

Rolf St. James has been sent by the king to settle the Scottish lands once and for all. He's not about to let a woman get in his way, no matter how desirable he finds her. He must put aside his attraction and fulfill his duty to permanently quell the rebellion, regardless of the cost.

Rolf represents everything her father hated, everything she's been fighting against. But as the days pass and Rolf's code of honor reveals itself, Megan finds it's not so easy to hate him anymore. Can she risk her people's future for a chance at personal happiness?

©1997 Julie Moffett (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Megan and Rolf Are Strong and Honest

Scotland always! Another great Scottish vs English novel with a strong young woman leading the clan. Megan Macloud steps into her father’s shoes. Can she pull off the great responsibility required to join the clans to join forces against a horrible English landlord while also helping end the bloodshed. When a new nobleman, Rolf St. James, arrives with the explicit direction of the King of England ‘to bring peace to the highlands, how will Megan respond. This is a romance inside an adventure and it keeps you on your toes. Of course, the woman is beautiful with long black hair and the man is broad shouldered with shiny dark hair to his shoulders. The sparks fly almost immediately. I have read the Lexi Carmichael series and loved it. This is a very different book but Julie Moffett is talented and pulls it off. If you like Scottish history and want the Scots to win, they you’ll like this book. Great read. And a Great listen. Cynthia Barrett is narrator and she does a fine job of mixing Scottish and English dialects. Added much to the story.

An Engaging Story!

It's a cute story and was engaging from the very first. Although the narration could have been better (Cynthia Barrett can't do male voices), she's a good reader and does female Scot lasses well. She is able to draw you into the story.

It was easy to listen to. I like Julie Moffett's writing style, she did not use a lot of boring 'filler words" to make the book last longer. Although it's over 91/2 hours long, it kept me engaged from beginning to end and I listened to it in one day.

I like a book that has a story to tell, and "The Thorn and The Thistle" is a story about Scotland's struggle to live under English domination...and a Lasses fighting spirit. There's some violence and romance, but it's mild and tastefully done.

Forbidden attraction in 1751

Enjoyable but totally implausible storyline as Megan who is acting as Laird and also the Scottish hero Black Wolf is captured by Rolf an Englishman brought to Scotland to bring peace but he doesn't know who he's captured.

Slow forbidden attraction, duty, honour, secrets, desire, heartbreak, destruction, love and forgiveness is given by all the characters and heroes involved in this story of the Scot's struggles to hold on to their lands and beliefs as everything is taken away by the then much hated English.

It was enjoyable but unfortunately I just didn't warm to Megan and my sympathies were with Rolf who wanted peace and was always true to his feelings and desires and told the truth and begged her to have faith in him but she just had the attitude "it's my way in everything" although I understood her fight was for her Clan.

Worth a credit? Yes it was an enjoyable listen and I don't regret the purchase - but I've heard better Highland stories and this may have something to do with the narrator who mispronounced words and I didn't much like her voice.

Character development and plot better than the sex

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The narrator is excellent, the plot is engaging, the character development brings the story to life and the romantic relationship is engaging and sweet.

What did you like best about this story?

The voices and the plot. I was engaged the whole time.

What does Cynthia Barrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Voices with real personality and distinction. Excellent accents (except for the German one, maybe).

Any additional comments?

The sex scene was terribly disappointing. I think the author should either skip sex scenes or make them enticing. Painful virginal sex with minimal foreplay is not what women want to read!!