The Warrior Trainer

by Gerri Russell

Book Overview

Scotia knew her duty: protect the Stone of Destiny at all costs. It was the key to Scotland's salvation, the reason she'd become the best warrior in the world-as had the generations of women who'd guarded the Stone before her. Yet those women had never been distracted by a man like Ian MacKinnon.He'd journeyed to her castle to learn her legendary skills so he could exact vengeance against the brutal English mercenaries who'd killed his brother. On...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0990842916
• ISBN13: 9780990842910
• Release Date: August 2015
• Publisher: Gerri Russell
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Fresh New Story!

Not only is Scotia's duty to protect the Stone, but she also must produce an heir to continue the line of Warrior Women. A task she is not too keen on. Once Ian MacKinnon seeks Scotia for training, in order to best the legendary Four Horsemen, he is quickly put in his place with her extraordinary fighting skills. After a simple dance, Scotia feels as if Ian could rip down the walls around her hardened heart, making her feel joy and happiness. Emotions she should not experience due to her duties. Yet no matter how hard she fights it, an undeniable attraction forms between them. Ian may lose against Scotia when it comes to the sword battle training, but with the battle of words, Ian clearly leaves Scotia stumbling, unsure and afraid of the way his words make her feel, loosening the ties around her femininity. Soon she will have no choice but to concede defeat. His clever tongue, innocently sensual touches, and the heated looks he gives her, leaves her with no other option but to follow the wants and needs of her body...as well as her heart. But the threat of the Four Horsemen loom between them, men who want only to claim the elusive Stone of Destiny for the English crown. They will do anything within their power to find it...killing and terrorizing the land of Scotland. Both Scotia and Ian must continually remind themselves of their duties. Ian must remain focused on his training to defeat the Horsemen. And Scotia must not forget that there is no room within her to be a woman--only the warrior she was trained to be. I only had one beef with the story line. Her mother, the warrior trainer who trained her, died when Scotia was only 13. My concern is, how much could she possibly have learned from her mother to make her a great warrior, besting well seasoned and experienced warriors, if for the last 12 years she trained alone? Would she gain any more experience than any other? Or maybe it was the Stone of Destiny! The magic of the Stone allowed her to become the the great Warrior she is. Anything is possible when there's magic :). Even with that concern I still think Gerri Russell is a beautiful storyteller. This is one of those books I am so glad I stumbled across. It's rich with Scottish lore, something different than I've read before. The events she placed before her characters and how they handled them were exceptionally well written. The slow build up of their relationship could not have progressed faster. Any other way and it would have been rushed, leaving out the intense emotions when all finally comes together and they accept that fate has meant for them to be together. And together they can have the happiness and love neither of them felt before in their lives. The Warrior Trainer is a wonderful story with it's heavy emphasis on Duty and Honor, love and trust no longer being a weakness but something powerful, enhancing the duty and honor Scotia and Ian have lived their lives by.

Original Historical Romance--Finally!

If you want to read about a strong heroine with nerves of steel, exceptional composure in trying situations, who lets nothing stand in her way but is not vulgar or crass and still feminine then this book is the next book you should pick up. The heroine, Scotia, has this inner strength that is amazing but she also has a well-hidden vulnerable side that the hero tries to see. She has nothing to prove to anyone but all the warriors who come to her want to prove that they are better than a "mere woman". The hero, Ian, is a sexy alpha who knows when he's met his match but he doesn't come across as wishy washy at all. This story is about a woman in the 1300s who trains warriors--totally unheard of and I haven't read anything similar. The sex is just a bit past mild but there's some great tension, lots of emotion (Ian is so beautiful when he speaks to Scotia you just melt!) and you can actually picture what's happening. There are also some unexpected twists and turns right up to the end that leave you with a big fat smile on your face. The additional characters are lots of fun or really evil! The history of the Stone of Destiny that's woven into the story is quite interesting and the author provides further historical information in an afterword. I've read quite a few romance novels and this one stands alone for refreshing originality! I'd definitely recommend this book to the romance reader who's tired of the same ol' same ol'.

Brilliant Book

This first book by Russell is fantastic! I look forward to many more reads from this newly published, upcoming author. Highly recommend!

Outstanding!

It is clear that Warrior Trainer was written after much research! Not only is the history amazing to dive into, but the characters and plot leave you wanting more. My only disappointment came when I turned the last page!

Looking forward to the next chapter

Gerri Russell writes three-dimensional characters who jump off the page. Her strong, noble, but isolated heroine becomes believably drawn into an intriguing, historically based conflict and a compelling, movingly emotional connection with her hero. Russell paints a vibrant picture of the time and place in which her story is set -- and the last chapter left me wanting to know what happens next for these characters. A great read!