Review: Highland Games

Reviewed by Allison
 

I love this author and she knows that even though I don't read a lot of Highlander stories, I'm always up for one of hers! This one is no different.

Piper Grant is a good friend. Instead of taking her long awaited surf vacation in Hawaii, she's hopping on a plane to Ireland in her friend's place as a favor to her. Little does she know - it's a singles tour! Talk about awkward. But, even faced with immature frat guys, she convinces herself to enjoy the tour and find some fun. As they deboard the bus to revel in the Highland Games at Blair Castle, she feels hope for the first time. But once she's off, she can't shake the feeling of someone watching her.

As Colm MacRobert surveys Piper while she strolls the grounds, he can't believe two things: that he finally found his soul mate - and that he had to go 219 years into the future to find her. Now that he's found her, he only has a small window of time to convince her not only that they're meant to be together, but that she needs to leave her entire life behind and come back to 1793 with him to get married and save his entire village. Piece of cake, right?

My favorite part of this novella was definitely Colm. He's the epitome of the Alpha male without getting into Neanderthal territory. He knows how to kiss a woman and who could be that upset to leave the single life behind for a guy that swoon-worthy? Even if it's 200+ years earlier. The only thing that drove me crazy was the timeline. I personally have a really hard time buying the whole love at first sight/ let's get married within 48 hours thing. However, that being said, I really did love Piper and Colm together. They balanced each other out really well. He opened her eyes while she kept him grounded - because, well, Highlanders are notoriously bossy! Plus, did I mention he was a great kisser?

While short, it was a sweet story and I will definitely keep reading Ms. Hunsaker's Magic of the Highlands series!

Rating: B+

*Book provided by author for review

Highland Games

by Laura Hunsaker

Release Date: December 28, 2012

Publisher: New Concepts Publishing

Review: The Chieftain

Reviewed by Jen
 

I thought it was going to be Duncan's story that won my heart in this series, but it turns out that it's Connor's book that is my favorite.  Aye, the chieftain of the MacDonald clan finally gets his turn at love, and it comes in the form of the woman who has been right in front of him the whole time.

Ilysa has been in love with Connor for as long as she can remember.  She has healed him when he was hurt.  She manages his keep. But in his eyes, she was always just his friend's younger sister. He never saw the woman beneath the frumpy dresses and quiet demeanor.

Now, Connor is making a home in a new castle and trying to find a wife that can unite his clan with another.  Ilysa comes along, but once again, he doesn't recognize the contribution she makes.  It isn't until a vision from her seer's gift warns her that he is facing danger does she take an action that changes everything. Ilysa locks him in his own dungeon to keep him from a deadly meeting... which sets in motion a chain of events that allows Connor feelings for her to change.

But it's not a clear path to happiness.  Connor still thinks he must marry for the good of the clan, not for his heart. Add to that, ongoing battles between the MacDonalds and their longtime enemies the MacLeods... Connor's scheming uncle Hugh... and a traitor in the keep... and the embattled chieftain can barely find a moment's peace.

I loved Ilysa. I was afraid she was going to be a mousy pushover from what I have seen of her in previous books. But I was wrong. She has a quiet strength and resolve... and an unwavering love for Connor that is just so lovely.  Connor is a little bit of an idiot in that it takes him so long to realize her worth. He's an honorable man, though.  He tries to do what he thinks is right, even when it breaks his own heart.  Yes, I wanted to shake him once or twice, but in the end, it was impossible for me not to root for these two to get together.

I thought this book did a great job not only with the romance, but in tying up the ongoing story arc for the MacDonald clan that was woven throughout the series.  The conclusion made sense and it satisfied.  (And if you are a new reader, I think it could still work as a standalone.)

I enjoyed all four books in this series, but this one was the best.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Forever

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Chieftain

by Margaret Mallory

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Forever

Review: Seduction of a Highland Warrior

Reviewed by Jen
 

I'll give Sue-Ellen Welfonder this: she is consistent.  I had the very same problems with this book as I did with Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel.  The main romance in this story was fairly good. But there is so much other junk going on that bogs it down, it practically ruins the book.

Marjory is on a mission to capture Alasdair, the leader of the MacDonald clan. She has wanted him for years and she is fairly certain that the feeling is mutual. Unfortunately, he and her brother hate each other's guts, so it's not an easy match. Her brother tries to keep her away from Alasdair. And Alasdair, himself, tries to fight the attraction between them.  Of course, he can't fight it for long.  Sure, he almost manages to screw it up once or twice, but there was a great sexual tension and affection between these two that couldn't be denied.  Simply put, I liked watching their road to happiness.

Unfortunately, that relationship only made up about half of the book. The rest was tied up with ghosts, Vikings, and Highland legend.  All of which were side-plots I most decidedly did not like.  The Highland legends --like magical dogs and night-walking-- are thrown in there like we should know what they are. There's no set-up or explanation... as if they were as commonplace as lighting a candle or taking a nap.

The ghosts had their own sorry tale about one of Alasdair's ancestors who cheated on his wife with a selkie and went on to be lauded as this super-great guy.  His wife wasn't so high on him, especially in her afterlife. He thought she killed himself over his indiscretion, then actually complained that she didn't love him enough to forbear through her heartbreak.  A real winner, that Drangar. Then, after centuries of blaming him, she forgives him out of nowhere.

Then there's the Viking subplot. Marjory's brother was going to marry her off to a Viking. Later, she had a portentous dream that she was going to be burned on a Viking pyre.  The foreshadowing was thick throughout the book.  But after a quick battle toward the end of the story, the whole thing was just dropped.  Very, very anticlimactic.

Even though I liked the main romance fairly well, it couldn't save this book for me.

Rating: D+

*ARC Provided by Forever

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Seduction of a Highland Warrior

by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Publisher: Forever

Review: Highland Heart

Reviewed by Shelly
 

Traveling through the land of Loch Tuinn, Rachel Brindle, her sister Isabelle, and their father William are on their way to the Munro land to do some bartering for wool. While on the road, Rachel inadvertently does something that will reveal her healing magic to those around her. Alex Munro of the Clan Munro (insert Christopher Lambert’s voice) is doing some hunting and gathering work (in his kilt only – hubbabubba) along the property when Rachel sees him and later remembers him from a childhood incident.

During a scuffle Rachel is taken by the Macbain clan who are in a long standing feud with the Munros. Not knowing how she’s going to be rescued, certainly not by her scoundrel of a father, Rachel decides to take matters in her own hands and tries for an escape.

In one of the funniest moments in the story --and there’re quite a few-- Rachel asks Alex why they’re in the feud, and I literally laughed out loud with his answer. For being a very short read, roughly 50 pages, this is a surprisingly pleasant read that left me quite satisfied with the characters and the resolution.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a storyline about Rachel’s sister, Isabella, and Alex’s friend, Colin Macleod.

Sorry folks, no sexy time.

Happy Reading Folks!

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Entangled Publishing

Click to purchase: Amazon

Highland Heart

by Heather McCollom

Release Date: December 17, 2012

Publisher: Entangled

Review: The Bridegroom Wore Plaid

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have mixed feelings on this book.  There were things I really liked about it. The primary romance was well done. I liked the hero and the heroine.  And though the progression of their love story was predictable, I really enjoyed watching them fall in love.  However, there are too many subplots that are not fleshed out --side stories with great potential-- that left me feeling like I missed things and confused at times.

At the center of the story is Ian, the presumptive heir to a Scottish title.  He is a wonderful laird who faces financial straights.  As so many others did before him, he decides he must marry a woman with a large dowry to secure the future of his people.  It appears that woman will be Genie Daniels, a well-dowered English woman who comes to his land with her family to make a titled match.  No one has any illusions about what the marriage would be: Ian gets the money he needs and Genie gets the title her family wants.  Only, it's not quite so simple.

Genie has no desire to marry Ian. Her horrible father is forcing her.  But her cousin Augusta sees in Ian all the wonderful things Genie can't.  He is handsome, smart, and loyal.  Augusta and Ian strike up a friendship that quickly makes way to something more, despite the fact that they both realize they can have no future together.  It's bittersweet as they fall deeply in love, seeing no chance at long lasting happiness.

In the meantime, Genie is setting her sights on Ian's brother Gil. Her brother is falling for Ian's sister.  And even the chaperone, Julia, is getting action with brother number three, Connor. Generally, I love some good secondary romances, and all of these could have held up their own stories, but it wasn't done that way.  We would jump in and out of these pairings without witnessing key events in their development.  We hear about things that had happened off page, and I often found myself flipping back in the book to make sure I hadn't missed entire scenes that were being referenced. This happened several times and left me feeling off balance and annoyed.  (Especially since some the events sound like they would have been very entertaining to read.)

While all of this matchmaking is going on, there is also danger afoot.  Augusta's horrible uncle is trying to kill her. It's not explicitly stated why from the beginning, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.  He was really more of a caricature of a villain than one you could really sink your teeth into.

But despite my complaints,  I really did enjoy Augusta and Ian's romance.  I felt like I knew and understood them both.  They were easy to root for and they stirred my emotions.  The sexual tension was hot. The sex was good.  And the ending satisfied.

Rating: C+

*ARC Provided by Sourcebooks via NetGalley

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The Bridegroom Wore Plaid

by Grace Burrowes

Release Date: December 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Review: The Warrior

Reviewed by Jen

Ever since I read The Guardian, I have been waiting for poor Duncan's story. The man has been utterly miserable since he was separated from his true love seven years ago. She is married to another --far from his reach-- and no other woman will do.  I am happy to say that our wounded warrior is finally being reunited with his lost love and not a moment too soon.

Contrary to what Duncan has long believed, Moira is not living a happy life.  She has no idea that her father forced Duncan to leave her all those years ago. She thought her beloved abandoned her.  And then she realized she was pregnant --and she had to marry the man her father forced on her.  That man, Sean, was an abusive beast.  Thankfully, he never realized that her child was not his, but he made Moira's life miserable all the same.  And he sent little Ragnall to foster with Moira's clan's enemy.

When a seer alerts Duncan that Moira is in danger, he quickly journeys to her husband's keep.  One look at Duncan and Sean realizes Moira's deception. He beats her nearly to death, but she manages to best him and Duncan spirits her away to safety.  The rest of the story follows the resurgence of their relationship and the efforts to rescue Ragnall.

Neither Duncan nor Moira has ever stopped loving the, but each feels like they were abandoned. Moira thinks Duncan left her and Duncan thinks he was easily replaced when she married two weeks after he was sent away.  They're both right and they're both wrong. And even though they are reunited fairly quickly, the angst and hurt feelings persist throughout the book.  There are a lot of misunderstandings and bad information between these two, which was frustrating at times, because they are so obviously in love and they have been through so much.

I had to remind myself more than once how much Moira has endured, because otherwise her behavior with Duncan would have alienated me.  He is such a good guy, it's impossible to not be in his corner.  She castigates him for not giving her enough credit, but when I see her trying to punish him for the past --or lashing out at him-- it's hard to sympathize.

Overall, I liked it.  I don't know that I ended up loving it quite as much as I thought I would, but I am still glad I read it.  Now, onto Connor's story.  He has to end up with Ilysa, right?

Rating: B

*ARC provided by Forever

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The Warrior

by Margaret Mallory

Release Date: October 30, 2012

Publisher: Forever (GCP)

Review: Wed to a Highland Warrior

Reviewed by Jen
 

Bliss is seer among the Pict people.  She bears the gifts of healing and foresight.  It's because of her sixth sense that she knows Trey is supposed to be her husband from the fourth page of the book. Accosted by soldiers, she claims Trey is already her husband. He goes along with the ruse, having no idea that Pict culture dictates that marriage is born by both parties claiming it to be true.  As such, they are married on page five.

The thing is, the two of them could end the marriage just as easily by declaring it null. But they never do, an idea that I found absolutely ludicrous. Maybe not for Bliss, because she can see the future and everything... but for Trey?  A man nursing a broken heart over the death of his beloved?  To choose to be married to a woman he barely knows?  And they're not even doing the hokey-pokey?  I can suspend my disbelief pretty far, but this made no sense to me.

Moving on... Bliss is on a journey to heal a sick old woman and Trey decides to see his new wife safely on her journey.  One healing mission for Bliss becomes two --then three-- then four.  OK, basically she has to heal one person after another throughout the entire book.  This, while Trey follows along, tempting her with the sex they both want to have and worrying about getting home to his brothers to tell him about the King's plans to invade their land.

Bliss and Trey get together in a way that is both too fast and too slow. Too fast, because they are in love in a matter of days (and that's not even getting into the constant references to each other as "husband" and wife.")  And too slow, because they are mooning over each other and talking about the inevitability of their physical intimacy for so long, I was actually yelling at the book for them to get on with it already.

As the pair finally make it back to Trey's people, we finally learn the secret hanging over the series: the identity of the true king of Scotland.  It was anti-climactic.  The big reveal over the roadblock to Bliss and Trey's relationship was also anticlimactic.  I just couldn't muster much excitement about any of it.  There is just too much going on and it was all so "out there" that it clouded my ability to really connect with the characters or their feelings.

Meh.

Rating: C-

*ARC Provided by Avon

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Wed to a Highland Warrior

by Donna Fletcher

Release Date: October 30, 2010

Publisher: Avon

Review: Highlander Reborn

Reviewed by Jen
 

Laura Hunsaker takes two of my favorite genres and blends them together with this vampire Highlander novella.  I was little worried about how these two could go together, but it actually worked.

Nevin is a Highland warrior who began hunting vampires after they killed his wife.  He even went so far as to hunt the Vampire Queen herself, but his honor would not allow him to kill her unless she attacked first.  That intrigued Amalia and from then on, she developed feelings for him.  When Nevin was nearly killed on the battlefield, Amalia stepped in, turning him into one of her kind.  He fled after that, and for seven centuries, they stayed apart.

Now Nevin is a bounty hunter and he has never forgiven Amalia for changing him. But she has never let go of her feelings for him.  When she approaches him to help her track down a traitor, sparks fly. And Nevin must quickly decide what he truly feels for the beautiful queen.

I liked it.  It was a short story... less than 50 pages... but fast paced and verra sexy.  I enjoyed the vampire, Highlander fusion. Nevin is uber-hot. And the sex is great.  A few nitpicks though... I thought his about-face happened really fast. He went from hating Amalia to being her mate in the blink of an eye.  And even worse, they were throwing around the L-word after just a day or two in each other's company.  (My Number One Romance Pet Peeve.)

If you are looking for a fast, sexy PNR short, though, this one fits the bill.  Just right for a lunch break read or hot afternoon diversion. (Plus, the door is open for the story to continue.)

Rating: B-

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Highlander Reborn

by Laura Hunsaker

Release Date: October 2, 2012

   

Review: The Warrior Laird

Reviewed by Jen
 

Dugan MacMillan has only a few weeks to come up with a huge some of money to pay an unexpected rent on his clan's property.  His plan: to use the portion of a treasure map left behind by his grandfather to find a cache of gold coins.  He really doesn't have any clue where he is going, but he does have an idea of where to find another piece of the map.

It's just after Dugan finds the second scrap that he runs in Maura.  She is a woman on the run from her betrothal to a horrible old man.  Coincidentally, she holds a third piece to the treasure map.  And when she hears Dugan's men talking about the gold, she steals their two parts and takes off.  It's not that she's a bad person, but she figures she could use the gold to help take care of her beloved sister Rosie.  Young Rosie is disabled and was cast out by their father. Maura wants only to rescue the child from the distant Loch where she was abandoned, and take care of her.

It takes very little time for Dugan to catch up with her, though.  Once he does, he realizes he has two possible paths to get the money he needs. One possibility is for him to find the treasure. But even if he can't, he can ransom Maura back to her fiance.  It's cold, but he figures that his greatest responsibility is to take care of his clan, and without the money, they'll have no home.

Of course, Dugan and Maura fall for each other as they journey to the place where they'll meet up with her betrothed.  But I can't say that I loved their romance.  Maura was earnest enough.  Her attraction to Dugan were the first feelings she has ever had for a man. But Dugan makes his moves on her with every intention of selling her off.  Even when he comes to care for her... even when there is real hope of finding the gold.. he holds on to the ransom plan.  I understand his loyalties, but this made it hard for me to root for them to fall in love.

Then there's the sex.  Something just didn't click for me there.  The scenes felt rushed and incomplete.  I was disappointed.

The book isn't bad. We've got a treasure-seeking adventure and a sexy brogue.  And Maura inspired my sympathy, though it was hard to watch her be so powerless to her fate.  It was just frustrating at times and I  didn't feel the love.

Rating: C-

*ARC Provided by Avon 

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Warrior Laird

by Margo Maguire

Release Date: July 31, 2012

Publisher: Avon

Review: Tempted by the Highland Warrior

Reviewed by Jen
 

This is the best Highlander book I have read in a long time.  It has such a fantastic tortured hero.  Callum was taken prisoner when he was only 12 years old.  For seven long years, he was tortured. It not only battered his body, but it stole his voice.

One night, Lady Marguerite sees his suffering firsthand.  She is betrothed to his captor, but she takes care of Callum. She nurses his wounds and gives him the first comfort he has known in years.  The two form a connection right away, and even after Callum is sent away to be tortured by someone else, his memories of Marguerite help him hold on to his fragile threads of sanity.

When Callum's brothers come to finally rescue him, he is gone. But Marguerite makes her escape from her wretched fiance with the MacKinlochs. So when they finally do track Callum down, the two are reunited.   Their time together is brief, though, because her father comes for her quickly and has her engaged to someone else in a heartbeat.  Callum goes after Marguerite, knowing he can't live without her.

I love Callum so much. He can't speak, but we hear his thoughts.  Marguerite is his sun and moon... his savior. And she loves him too. They have so many things stacked against them, it seems impossible for them to make it work. But their stolen moments are so tender and so good.  Callum has been through hell, but he will do anything to be with Marguerite.  He is strong, but manages to be gentle with her. 

Their obstacles are very real and my heart broke for them when they seemed insurmountable.  I hated Marguerite's father and (*minor spoiler*) my only (small) complaint was his pseudo-redemption at the end. I couldn't forgive the things he did and felt like he deserved more consequences for his actions. The sexual tension between Callum and Marguerite was good and I enjoyed the payoff, but it was more about the love there than anything else.

This is book three in MacKinloch series, but I think this would work easily as a standalone.  There's not much in the way of a brogue, since our hero can't speak, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a Highlander or a tortured hero story.   I loved it.


Rating: A


*ARC Provided by NetGalley

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Tempted by the Highland Warrior

by Michelle Willingham

Release Date: June 19, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin

Review: Conquered by a Highlander

Reviewed by Jen
 

There are two things that are important to Colin MacGregor: his clan and his job as an agent of the king.  Both play a role in his latest mission. He must infiltrate the home of a traitor and uncover his plans.  Geoffrey is part of conspiracy to help overthrow the pro-Catholic king to put a protestant sympathizer on the throne.  Colin needs to find out who is aligning with Geoffrey and what the king needs to do secure his interests.  After all, the MacGregors are Catholic and a protestant king would make them targets. Colin ingratiates himself with Geoffrey and his men under an alter-ego... one willing to fight for their cause.

As soon he arrives at Dartmouth, Colin meets Geoffrey's cousin Gillian.  She has been banished to her cousin's custody to raise her bastard son away from her noble family.  She puts up a brave face but she is miserable.  Geoffrey hates her son and he wants her in his bed.  Only her guard George keeps her and young Edmund safe --not only from Geoffrey, but all of his men who lust after her.

The relationship between Colin and Gillian develops very, very slowly.  He really falls for her son before he falls for her. And that is important because that little boy is her everything.  It was very sweet, but it took forever for these two to so much as kiss.  Too long.  In fact, I felt the urge to skim a little, though mostly it was because of all the political stuff wrapped up in the story.  I had a hard time keeping up with who all the players were and honestly, I didn't really care. I just wanted the damn romance to happen.

I did like the characters.  Colin is a strong and capable Highlander whose heart softens beautifully for Edmund.  Gillian is a strong woman, who does whatever is necessary to protect her child.  Like I said, likeable and sweet, though not very hot.  There's a little bit of lovin' toward the end, but not much. 

Geoffrey makes a good villain. And I like that he is smarter than he appears.  I also liked George, who had his own morality and loyalties.

I should point out that this is book four in Paula Quinn's Children of the Mist series.  But it works just fine as a standalone.

Rating: C+

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

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  Conquered by a Highlander

by Paula Quinn

Release Date: May 22, 2012

Publisher: Forever (GCP)

Review: A Warrior's Promise

Reviewed by Jen
 

Charlotte isn't your average Scottish lass. She can handle herself in a fight; she is a crack-shot with a bow and arrow; and she speaks her mind without hesitation. All of these are skills which come in handy after her father is kidnapped by agents of the king. On her own, Charlotte must impersonate a young man as she tries to track down her beloved da --and it's in that disguise that she first meets Bryce.

The strapping highland warrior comes to the aid of a skinny young boy who is accused of stealing food, then takes the lad under his wing. Bryce is on a mission to rescue a spy for the True King of Scotland who was taken prisoner by the current king. Once he hears the boy's (Charlotte's) story about a father in need of aid, he decides he'll partner up with him (her), to make both rescues.

It takes awhile before Bryce catches on that Charles is really Charlotte. But once he does, the easy affection he had toward the boy quickly morphs into something more for the woman. He admires her strength and tenacity, and realizes that he has found a true partner when he was least looking for one.

Even though it's clear that they suit, neither Charlotte nor Bryce believe they can be together long term. They remind themselves, and each other, of this... over and over and over. And over. They feel like their missions --or at least Bryce's-- must take precedence over love or marriage. Though I don't know why. It felt like it was a manufactured obstacle, because really, there is no reason why these two shouldn't be together.

Bryce has his alpha male moments, but I was happy to see that for the most part, he respected Charlotte for who she was. And I enjoyed their adventures together. The love scenes were not very explicit, but they didn't leave me wanting. The story moved along well and even set up the next (and final) story for Bryce's brother Trey and his woman.

But much like my complaint with the last book, the series arc about the One True King was pretty weak. Either Bryce or one of his brothers is the King in hiding.  And obviously his identity will be revealed in the last book.  But even when talking to each other in private, they speak of the king in third person.  Who would do that?  It doesn't ring true.  Eh... I did enjoy the main story though. 3 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

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A Warrior's Promise

by Donna Fletcher

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Publisher: Avon

Review: The Devil of Jedburgh

Reviewed by Jen
 

Breghan's father has promised her hand in marriage to a neighboring laird with a fierce reputation. Arran is known as the Devil of Jedburg for his ruthlessness, his skill in battle, and a string of terrible rumors that follow his family. Breghan is a headstrong young woman, with her own ideas of how she wants to spend her future. Ideas that don't have anything to do with a wild beast of a man. She runs away, but only manages to incense her husband-to-be. Instead the marriage everyone expected, the two become handfasted for a year and a day.

Despite the fact that Breghan drives him crazy, Arran becomes quite taken with her. He uses their time together to become her lover. But he is terribly afraid of getting her pregnant. His father went through wife after wife who died in childbirth and believes Breghan would meet the same fate.

It's only a matter of time before these two are truly in love with each other, but Arran cannot see reason. His fears rend him unable face a future with Breghan, and leaves everyone wondering how the relationship can make it.

The story is set on the backdrop of some Scottish royal intrigue. But the real draw is the evolution of our main characters. I have to admit, Arran did get on my nerves from time to time with his overbearing ways, but I tried to remind myself of the time frame in which the book is set. He makes for a pretty sexy hero and it was very gratifying to watch him slowly drop his defenses with Breghan.

The direction of the plot is pretty predictable. If the guy's big issue is fear over pregnancy, it's no big leap to guess what's going to happen and how it will all turn out. But I did enjoy getting there. And I was surprised to find I also liked the little side plot of Arran's brutish friend and Breghan's maid. Plus --there were kilts. (And a hint of a brogue.) 3 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

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The Devil of Jedburgh

by Claire Robyns

Release Date: February 6, 2012

Publisher: Carina Press

Review: Sins of the Highlander

Reviewed by Jen
 

Mad Rob McLaren is on a mission of vengeance. Two years ago, Lachlan Drummond kidnapped his wife, just days after their wedding. He raped her; and she killed herself. But despite Rob's effort, Drummond refuses to face him in combat. So Rob kidnaps Drummond's bride from the altar, hoping to finally get the battle he's due.

The thing is, Rob never thought about Elspeth at all. He never considered the hell a kidnapping would put Drummond's betrothed through. And he certainly never expected the woman to get under his skin. But that is exactly what happens.

As Rob and Elspeth make their way back to Rob's castle, they begin to fall for each other. But they must sidestep danger from Drummond and his men the entire time. And once they reach their destination, they face more treachery and obstacles, as people and circumstances work to keep them apart.

The story doesn't exactly tread new ground. But Rob makes a pretty sympathetic hero, as he mourns his first wife and tremulously experiences a second chance at love. Elspeth is a brave and loyal lass, who discovers passion and love for the first time under Rob's experienced hand. There is also a touch of the supernatural, with Elspeth's gift of foresight.

Drummond makes for a kind of one-dimensional villain. And I would have liked to experience more of Rob's emotional journey into his love for Elspeth. It kind of felt like he took the words out of her mouth and let her brand his feelings. I would have preferred to see him find and recognize his feelings on his own.  

I liked it well enough.  Kilts and brogues abound. But not much in the way of surprises. 3 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

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Sins of the Highlander

by Connie Mason

Release Date: January 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Review: Leading Her to Heaven

Reviewed by Jen
 

The king is forcing Lady Susanna into a political marriage with a Scottish laird. Susanna isn't happy about leaving her home, or her father --an English earl-- but she is willing to do her duty. She sets off on her long to journey to meet her betrothed, but he party is attacked on the road. She was just moments away from being raped when Blair comes to her rescue.

Susanna has no idea that her savior is actually her fiance. And he is in no hurry to tell her. Blair is captivated by his future bride and wants to get to know her before revealing his true identity. His deception is a double edged sword, because on one hand, the two do fall for each other as they travel to Scotland. But on the other hand, when Susanna finds out the truth, the shite hits the proverbial fan.

There is some action and obstacles in the backdrop (like Susanna's ambush and a long-standing clan war)... but at its core, this is a fiery, passionate love story. Our hero and heroine are both strong, stubborn and occasionally stupid, but when they come together, they set the page on fire. It wasn't perfect. They fell in Love way too fast and Susanna made a monumentally idiotic move to punish Blair. But all in all, it was a solid and sexy Highlander story.

You know I'm a sucker for a good brogue and some hot sex, people. 4 stars.

*Book provided by author for review

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Leading Her to Heaven

by Kayleigh Jamison

Release Date: February 15, 2008

Publisher: Tease Publishing LLC

Review: The Sinner

Alex MacDonald loves the ladies. And why shouldn't he? He fights hard and plays hard too. He never wants to marry; he doesn't believe any woman could ever hold his heart... until he meets Glynis.

Though most Highland women want a husband, one marriage was more than enough for Glynis. Her first husband was a nightmare. He treated her cruelly and openly kept mistresses. When she could take it no more, Glynis left him with a dirk in his leg and vowed never to wed again. But her father has other ideas. He is pushing her so hard to remarry, that she blackmails Alex into helping her run away.

Though Glynis and Alex both oppose marriage, they don't hold the same reservations about sex.. And their trip to Edinburgh has plenty of that. Of course, it's only a matter of time before that translates into something more.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. Alex was suave and sexy and it was charming to watch him fumble about as he learned to be in a relationship. The love scenes are good --and I'm always a sucker for a good brogue. Plus, this was a couple easy to root for... especially once a child was brought into the story.

And then came The Big Misunderstanding. I hate these. And it was made worse, because it was so obvious that something like this would happen. Glynis went on and on about how she could never forgive infidelity. It was such an issue, there was no doubt in my mind that somehow she would end up thinking Alex cheated. It was very frustrating --and disappointing-- that this progressed in the predictable fashion. And it was a shame because I was pretty invested in the story by then --and I liked it. Grr.

I was satisfied by the end. It didn't quite live up to its potential, but it had a lot of action, some pretty good steam, and a healthy dose of heart. A little less than 4 stars.

P.S. This is the 2nd book in Anne Mallory's Return of the Highlanders series.  It was designed to be read after The Guardian, but works easily as a standalone.

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The Sinner

by Margaret Mallory

Release Date: October 25, 2011

Publisher: Forever (GCP)

Review: Heart of the Druid Laird

Reviewed by Jen
 

Dermot is a Druid and Scottish laird who has been alive for the past 1600 years.  His wife was once the granddaughter of the Fae king. But she gave up her immortality to get married.  When she died in an attack on Dermot's clan, her mother cursed Dermot and his elite guard.  They were to be immortal until Dermot could find the reincarnated soul of his wife and bring her back to the place where she died.

After all these years, her soul has now reincarnated.  Dermot finds her in Sidney St George, an American woman who knows nothing of her past life.  Dermot tracks her down, having no intention of developing any feelings for her. But you know how these things go.  Even though they fight it, their souls reach out to one another.  Sidney doubts Dermot's intentions and as she begins to fall for him; she is sure her feelings can never be returned.  At the same time, Dermot is struggling with his new-found emotions and weighing his own feelings against his responsibilities to his men. 

All of that angst creates enough of a problem, but the Fae princess who cursed Dermot refuses to allow his suffering to end.  She throws one obstacle their way after another, hoping to keep his torment alive.  Plus, there is the threat that if the curse does end, the men won't just regain their mortality; they'll die on the spot.

The book started off a little slow for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and I thought it was going to end up being a pretty dry read.  But somewhere around the halfway point, a little bit of magic happened and the book came alive.  I think it was around the same time that Sidney allowed herself to believe in Dermot's immortality.  That's the time the two of them slowly began to take down their walls.  The sexual element was pretty good; and as much as I liked the development of Sidney and Dermot's relationship... the secondary love story between her best friend Zoe and Dermot's cousin Thomas was just as endearing, if not more so.

Dermot and his men all spoke with a great brogue.  And I'm a firm believer that no book can truly be called a Highlander story without the words, "Och," "ken" and "lass." We get all of these plus a few Gaelic term of endearment.  Yay! 

I ended up rather liking this book. I'm glad I stuck with it, because it paid off in the end.  4 stars.

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Heart of the Druid Laird

by Barbara Longley

Release Date: September 19, 2011

Publisher: Carina Press

Review: Tamed by a Highlander

Mairi MacGregor has been nursing a broken heart for a long time.  Seven years ago, Connor left her and Scotland to serve the British king.  She begged him not to go, but he ignored her pleas.  She mourned him, then steeled her heart.  She trained herself to fight as her brothers did, to protect her homeland, and that mission has been her diversion.

I know that's not your hair, Paul Marron.



But circumstances have brought her to the king's court, where her path crosses with Connor's again.  Seeing him is like a sword to her heart and she refuses to let herself fall for him again.  What she doesn't realize is that Connor still loves her and he has pined for her every bit as much as she has for him.  Can the two of them overcome their pride and find their way back together?  It's a tall order, especially in the midst of political intrigue and outside forces trying to keep them apart.



There were times in this book I truly felt sorry for Mairi.  And there were times I felt just as bad for Connor.  (It turns out that he tried for years to get her to come to England to be with him, only for her to reject him over and over.)  But more often than not, I just wanted to kick them both in the shins.  Each was terribly selfish and brought on their misery in their own ways.  After all, Connor did choose to leave Scotland.  He could have stayed with Mairi... just as she could have put her love for him before her loyalty to Scotland, and accepted his offers to join him.  Each wanted the other to make the sacrifices.  Then, once they were together again, they both were too thickheaded with pride to be honest about their feelings.  It was very frustrating.

There was a lot of political happenings going on and a lot of characters, which made things confusing for me, especially in the beginning. I never did entirely grasp who all the factions were and where all the loyalties fell, but that's not really what I care about in a romance, anyway.



I can tell you that when our couple finally waded through their issues, the love scenes were fantastic.  After all the waiting, the payoff was good.  And just when you though everything was settled, the author throws in one more twist to keep you on your toes.  3 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Tamed by a Highlander

by Paula Quinn

Release Date: July 1, 2011 

Publisher: Forever

Review: Her Kilt-Clad Rogue

Reviewed by Jen
 

I liked this short story well enough, but I probably would have liked it more if I had not felt like I had read it before. Sure, the details are different, but the basic plot treads very familiar ground: woman comes to man's home to be governess to his child. The man is a widower. His marriage was loveless. People think he killed his wife. There is an attraction between the man and the governess. Is it real or just a dalliance? Is he really a good man or are the whispers true?

It's like Dangerous Lord, Innocent Governess and This Perfect Kiss, had a love child... sprinkled a little Jane Eyre on top... put a kilt on it...  and this novella was the result.

It's a short, easy read; and I'm always a sucker for a Scotsman with a brogue (and a kilt.) We're just not treading any new ground. 3 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Her Kilt-Clad Rogue

by Julie Moffett

Release Date: August 1, 2011 

Publisher: Carina Press

Review: Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel

Reviewed by Jen
 

The Cameron, Macintosh and MacDonald clans hold an uneasy peace. They each inhabit a different part of the same glen and were forced to stop fighting by the King. Each chief has a sister and the three women have entered a pact to make the peace more meaningful. Each plans to marry a chief from one of the other clans, forging unbreakable bonds between the families.

Lady Isobel Cameron is crazy about Kendrew, the chief of the Macintosh clan. He has never paid her much attention, which makes her plan to seduce him so much easier. She shows up at a Macintosh clan gathering, known for its hedonism. She presents herself to Kendrew and the two of them get down to business before he realizes who he is dealing with. Let me just say, I love it when a book jumps in with both feet!!

Anyway, Kendrew gets quite a shock when he realizes A) he just shagged a virgin; B) she is a lady; and C) she is a Cameron. He sends her packing. But Lady Isobel is determined to get her man. She loves his brutish Viking ways, his wildness, and his fierce home. And despite his protests, he is crazy about her too. I loved watching the dance between them as they take two steps toward a relationship, then one step back again.

But reading Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel was almost like reading two different stories in one. The main arc is the one featuring Kendrew and Isobel. But at the same time, there is a secondary storyline involving ghosts and dragons. I didn't understand how this fit in with the present day story at all. It was completely unnecessary and, frankly, distracted me greatly from what was going on with our main characters. I wanted to skip these parts but I was afraid it would tie in to the main storyline as the book progressed. It didn't. I could have skipped it and missed nothing except the confusion it generated.

Kendrew and Isobel's story is sexy and full of adventure. And we've got a great set-up for Marjory and Alasdair. I think I'd like to read their story, minus any supernatural side-adventure. 3 1/2 stars but it would have been more for just Kendrew & Isobel's part of the book.

*ARC Provided by Forever via NetGalley

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Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel

by Sue Ellen Welfonder

Release Date: July 26, 2011 

Publisher: Forever (GCP)