Highland Wolf by Hannah Howell

Annora MacKay senses a disturbing evil in Dunncraig Keep, the estate acquired by her cousin, a cruel and ruthless man. Only her affection for the tiny girl he claims is his daughter stops her from fleeing. Then a mysterious woodcarver arrives at the castle, and she cannot stop thinking, or longing, for him.

James Drummond, once a laird now an outcast, wants what was stolen from him – his good name, his lands and his child. His disguise for getting into Dunncraig is step one of his plan, but the enticing raven-haired woman who cares for his daughter is an unwelcome surprise. For he has come seeking justice, no love…

Thoughts

I love a good Highland Romance and Hannah Howell is one of my favourite authors of the genre, but this book left a lot to be desired.

The concept is good - a powerful laird driven from his keep and forced to live in exile returning to reclaim what was stolen from him and our heroine is an underappreciated, poor relation (read: bastard) that nobody cares about. She travels from relative to relative depending on their generosity to keep her alive. James and Annora find each other and strive to right the wrongs that her family has done to him and in the process, heal their wounds. As I said, the concept is good but that is pretty much the only thing that is.

What I didn’t understand and didn’t like was the fact that James Drummond is the foster child of an EXTREMELY powerful Highland clan – The Murray’s - and yet he doesn't seek their help at all. While I understand that he wouldn’t want to cause any undue hardship to his family, they have the power to help him, his child and his people. Yet he STILL doesn’t bother, choosing instead to hide in a cave for three years. At the end of the story however, he is willing to take his little family and move to France or seek out his clan for protection. Why not do this earlier? Why not just live in France for three years, plotting his revenge on the bad guy while his family worked on his pardon.

The disguise he uses to gain entry into the keep is laughable and how the evidence to his innocence is discovered is a joke. Or, maybe I was just fed up buy the time these things came to light.

I liked our hero but I wanted to like him more. He seemed much too timid and helpless to be a Scottish laird. Annora was likeable enough, a typical Howell heroine.

There were many occasions when I wanted to throw in the towel and stop reading altogether. However, if you must read it, I suggest borrowing it from your local library and saving the space on your bookshelf for another of Ms. Howell’s novels.

Highland Barbarian by Hannah Howell

Sir Artan Murray was right when he decided that the dying old man who bid him collect his niece didn’t know her at all. The furious woman facing him is neither “sweet” nor “biddable.” She demands the brawny Highlander return her to the wedding party from which he took her. But Artan has no intention of allowing a so spirited and bewitching creature to endure a loveless marriage to a ruthless lord for her clan’s sake. He aims to woo the lass and to show her that true love also yields unforgettable pleasure…

Cecily Donaldson knows a bond forged by danger and desperation cannot endure. But Artan’s touch leaves her breathless, and she knows this to be her one chance to experience true passion before an arranged marriage seals her fate. Yet once begun, passion cannot be denied … nor can a love with the promise to change everything…

My Thoughts

Angus MacReith needs an heir so he turns to Sir Artan Murray, a distant relative who once fostered at Glascreag. He instructs Artan to go to the Lowlands and fetch his orphaned niece Cecily, promising that if Artan marries her, he will inherit Glascreag.

While not keen on marriage to a stranger, and a lowlander at that, Artan honours this ‘dying’ man’s wish and journeys to the lowlands, only to find himself landing in the middle of Cecily’s wedding celebrations. Cecily’s relatives do not welcome his arrival and soon, attempts on Artan’s life are made.

Artan is pleasantly surprised by her appearance, admires her feistiness and is angered by how she is treated by her family. Like other members of his clan, it doesn’t take him long to realize that she is his soul mate. He also quickly realizes that all is not as it should be and in order to protect her, kidnaps her and returns to Glascreag. On their journey he informs her of everything he has learned and begins to woo her in order to make her his .

The book ends about a hundred pages too soon. At this point her guardians are exposed for the murderers they are, Sir Fergus, her former betrothed, is dealt with, and their love is declared. This is where it went weird. Artan is injured and Cecily completely changes her behaviour and makes a promise to God that she will become the perfect wife if He allows Artan to live. Sadly, her definition of a perfect wife is a result of the lessons taught to her by her former guardian. It just doesn’t make sense, especially when we consider the kind of woman her guardian was. On top of this she knows that Artan loves her for who she is so why want to change? Even the characters in the book were annoyed with her!

Overall a decent book but the ending leaves much to be desired.

Beloved Imposter by Patricia Potter

Felicia Campbell can’t believe her bad luck. In a fortnight, she’s expected to wed a brutal man more than three times her age. She has no choice but to flee… but Felicia’s fortune goes from bad to worse when, during her escape, she’s abducted by her clan’s enemy. She must now continue the masquerade or ignite a clan war that could destroy them all.

A seaman at heart, Rory Maclean longs to cut the ties that have bound him to a legacy of hatred and bloodshed. Still, with his clan in peril, he’s returned home, hoping to broker peace between the Macleans and Campbells. But his men, believing he needs an heir, have stolen him a bride – a beautiful, spirited lass who ignites his passion and reawakens every fiber in his being. Ad tempts him to do the one thing he swore he’d never do again: challenge a century-old curse that had already claimed two brides and hardened his heart.

My Thoughts

Beloved Impostor is a great start to this series by Patricia Potter. It is well written, with real characters, strong conflict and a believable storyline.

Rory MacLean is home after 10 years of sailing the seas and burying 2 wives. He does not want to be Laird, but with his older brother missing and his father dead, the responsibility of his clan is thrust upon him. Felicia Campbell, while under the care of her uncle, discovers that her uncle has agreed to marry her to a brutal man who is three times her age. To avoid this, Felicia plans her escape, only to find herself kidnapped by the MacLean’s who are certain that this is the Lady Janet who would be a perfect wife for their laird.

Rory is furious with his men, as he has vowed never to marry again and also because he believes Felicia to be Janet, the future wife of Jamie Campbell. Jamie is his clan’s enemy but who Rory wishes to make peace with for the sake of both clans. Felicia, realizing she was on borrowed time before her real identity is discovered, plays the part while looking for a way to escape to freedom.

What follows is a well-paced tale, with plenty of romance, action and intrigue along with a touch of the supernatural. With a strong supporting cast of characters that add much depth to the story, Beloved Impostor is a must read for all fans of Scottish Historicals set in the Highlands.

Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn

Protecting Her Was His Passion... High-born though she is, Kate Campbell isn't afraid to draw her sword. When raiders strike, she rushes into the fray…and is lucky when a mysterious Highlander shields her from a deadly blow. Swept onto his stallion, she soon discovers that her rescuer is her clan's most hated enemy: Callum MacGregor, the man they call The Devil. Yet she can not ignore his achingly tender touch or the way his fiery gaze leaves her breathless… Possessing Her Would Be His Pleasure Callum MacGregor has taken many Campbell lives, but he's never saved one—until now. Mesmerized by this spirited lass, he wants her by his side—even if it means holding her ransom. As his fingers graze her sumptuous curves and tangle in her unruly tresses, Callum realizes Kate Campbell is his most dangerous foe of all. For he can't make love to her without betraying his kinsmen and his honor…and surrendering his heart forever.

My Thoughts

In Laird of the Mist, Paula Quinn brings to light the true story of the MacGregor clan, which was proscribed in the early 1600's. Callum MacGregor is the laird of his outlawed clan. His family's name is poison, his lands were stolen by the crown, and anyone found helping a MacGregor will be punished by death or branding. Callum blames his family's misfortune on the Campbells who kidnapped him and his sister as a children and held him captive in their dungeon. He vows revenge on Duncan Campbell for the wrongs that have been done to him. After receiving word that Duncan went to retrieve his niece, Callum storms the Campbell holding only to find it already under siege by another clan, and to find himself captivated by a braw Scottish lass who is fighting for her life. He saves her life only to discover that she is no other then Kate Campbell, the niece of his sworn enemy so he kidnaps her, planning to hold her as bait in order to kill her uncles.

Kate Campbell is an innocent living in a dangerous time and will do what she can to protect her clan. When her holding is attacked, she bravely picks up a sword and fights with the men. As the enemy is about to strike a fatal blow, strong arms sweep her up onto a stallion and protect her. Her gratitude is short lived, however, as it isn’t long before she realizes her savior is no other then "The Devil", her one sworn enemy. Kate has grown up both fearing and hating the MacGregors for the crimes they have committed against her family, after all The Devil, as he is called, killed her father.

Laird of the Mist is my first book by Paula Quinn and it won’t be my last. Everything works together in this book---- characterization, plot, historical research that becomes a lived reality of her characters, --- to create an unforgettable romance. There are also wonderful secondary characters (which unfortunately I find sorely lacking in some romances). They include the belching and brawling Angus, the flower picking Jamie, gorgeous ladies man Graham and Maggie with her gaggle of “friends”. Her villain is evil, evil, evil and you will find yourself cheering when good triumphs. Thankfully, there will be spin-offs to this novel and until I can get my hands on the next one, I’ll continue to satisfy myself with Paula Quinn’s backlist.

I definitely recommend this book. Be sure to add it to you TBR pile.

Highland Warrior by Hannah Howell

Fleeing an obsessed suitor, Fiona MacEnroy rides recklessly into Scotland's wildest hills and is captured by a horde of well armed men. Instead of battling for her life she finds herself swept away by a powerful stranger and carried off to a remote, forbidding keep. Oddly, here at Scarglas, a place shrouded in mystery and the black reputation of the rogue clan MacFingal, Fiona feels a strange, comforting sense of safety . . . and a consuming passion for its rugged laird.

Spellbound by Fiona's beauty yet determined to fight the longing she ignites, Ewan MacFingal plots to ransom Fiona back to her kin. Sworn to protect his eccentric clan against the dangers invading Scarglas, he refuses to be weakened by the power of a woman whose every glance and touch tell him that she is everything his heart desires.

My Thoughts

Fiona is a beautiful and spirited lady who has suffered the cruelty of an obsessed suitor. Kept locked in Deilcladach by her family for so long after having been abducted four times by Ranald Menzies, a man whose offer of marriage she has rejected, Fiona manages to escape the keep for a little while only to find herself lost and taken hostage by the MacFingals of Scarglas. With plans to ransom her, Ewan is annoyed when Fiona refuses to tell him who she is. And although Fiona puts up a fight in the beginning, she knows she is no match against the strength of the clan's laird and actually finds herself very attracted to him.

Ewan MacFingal is amazed at the petite woman whose has courage and beauty he has never encountered before. What astounds him more is the strong attraction she stirs in him. But having been betrayed by a woman years before, he knows he needs to fight it or risk losing his heart again. As for Fiona, she senses the good in him despite the wall he has built around himself and in her heart, she knows that she has found her soulmate and is determined to win his heart.

Hannah Howell is hit and miss for me and I’m happy to say that this one was a hit. Howell uses pleasant details of Scottish countryside to draw the reader into her world. Scottish inflections are used throughout the story to lend that particular air of authenticity, although at times this became very distracting. Secondary characters abound in the novel, and Ewan's father, Sir Fingal, plays an important role, one too important at times, for Ewan is extremely fixated on the problems that the man causes for the rest of their clan. Once the plot moved back to focusing on the hero and heroine, readers will once again be nicely entertained. Dialogue between all the characters is good, especially between Fiona and Ewan and Fiona and Mab, one of the clan's adoptive members.

Considering the amount of characters that abound throughout, all were quite well developed. Readers will clearly feel Ewan's dilemma in remaining separate from Fiona due to his father's indiscretions. Fiona herself is an admirable heroine who more than proved her worthiness as one. She's never faint of heart and in fact jumps in, heart open wide and ready to claim her man.

Note that this is one in a series (the third I think) but easily stands alone.

The Secret

Back Cover

Judith Hampton was as beautiful as she was proud and loyal. Her dear Scottish friend from childhood was about to give birth, and Judith had promised to be at her side. But there was another, private reason for the journey from her bleak English home to the Highlands: to meet the father she had never known, the Laird MacLean. Nothing prepared her, however, for the sight of the Scottish barbarian who was to escort her into his land...

Iain Maitland, Laird of his clan, is a man more powerfully compelling than any she had ever encountered. In a spirited clash of wills and customs, Judith revelled in the melting bliss of Iain's searching kisses, his passionate caresses. Perplexed by her sprightly defiance, bemused by her tender nature, Iain felt his soul growing into the light and warmth of her love. Surely nothing would wrench her from the affection and trust of Iain and his clan...not even the truth about her father, a devastating secret that could shatter the boldest alliance, and the most glorious of loves...

My Thoughts

After reading Garwood’s Ransom, I was anxious to read its prequel - The Secret - as I had read on numerous reviews that it was fantastic, even better then Ransom. I picked up my copy at the library and devoured it in two days. Thankfully, knowing the fate of so many characters in the story did not spoil the book for me at all.

The story begins at a festival on the English/Scottish border. Two young girls, England’s Judith and Scotland’s Frances Katherine form an unlikely friendship and bond for life. Years later, Frances Katherine, married and living in the Highlands with the Maitland Clan, is about to have her first child and requests that her dear friend Judith be there when the baby is born. Despite their dislike for the English the council relunctly grants permission and Frances Katherine’s brother-in-law and clan laird, Ian Maitland gathers a group of men and head to England to retrieve Judith. The last thing Ian expected was to see Judith packed, ready and willing to travel to Scotland to be with her dear friend. Judith, raised part-time by her loving aunt and uncle and part-time by an absent mother and a drunk-uncle, is anxious to escape to the Highlands and to secretly seek out the father she never knew. A father who just happens to be an enemy of the Maitland clan!

What follows is an exciting journey through the wilds of Scotland and into Ian’s heart. She enchants him as well as the other members of the group, but Ian quickly stakes his claim. When she arrives in the Highland, the two friends are overjoyed to see each other and they start preparing for the birth of the child. That the friendship of these two women was the foundation of this book, and not just a passing paragraph was refreshing. Too often we see the relationships of woman based on jealousy, backstabbing & bitchiness and this was a wonderful change.

Another thing I like about The Secret is that there are no hot and heavy love scenes. I do enjoy a good love scene but when authors use phrases such as “manroot”, “creamy white thighs” and “heaving breasts”, I quickly loose interest and skip to the next part as I find it unnecessary and boring.

There are many things that make this book exciting and fun to read – from Judith’s reactions to suddenly becoming the clan’s unofficial midwife, to the wedding before the counsel (which is a laugh). There are several plots in this story. All are well-developed, interesting and essential to the story and the secondary characters come alive in front of you. They are well-developed & fascinating and draw you into the story.

Overall, an excellent read. Another one that has inspired me to pick up more of Julie Garwood’s work.

Beauty and the Beast

Back Cover

On the eve of her wedding to the heir of Saiturn Manor, the stunningly beautiful Gytha is shocked to learn that her bethrothed, a man she barely knew, is dead. Now she must marry the new heir, Thayer Saiturn, a battle-hardened knight known as the Red Devil...

With a face scarred in battle and a heart broken in love, Thayer has no interest in marriage. But not even the Red Devil can break the promise his foster-father made years ago and soons finds himself married to a woman whose exquisite beauty and sweet innocence intrigue him. But can his new bride look beyond his scars to find a hidden passion and undying love locked deep inside him?

My Thoughts

Beauty and the Beast is a story of a beautiful woman and a man who only she considers handsome. What I enjoyed about this book was the depth of the characters. The heroine is a beautiful woman who isn’t conceited and who feels that her beauty isn’t an important part of who she is. Our hero is a man who isn’t very attractive and although a warrior, is very insecure about his physical appearance and who is untrustworthy of beautiful woman due to an incident in his past.

Thayer attends his cousin’s wedding only to discover that William has been killed and as a result, he must wed the intended bride. Of course, Thayer is not happy with this arrangement and is especially upset when he finds Gytha to be a great beauty. It seems our hero carries the baggage of a broken heart – a heart broken by a beautiful woman and as a result, he does not trust anyone of great beauty. Both Thayer and Gytha do their duty and marry and to the surprise of them both, marriage isn’t has horrible as they both thought it would be.

There is a greedy uncle, illegitimate children & the old girlfriend to deal with which adds a few twists and turns to the story but overall, this is a book about Gytha & Thayer, about their love for each other. It was very funny in parts, while still being emotionally intense and the chemistry between Gytha and Thayer was smoldering. This book has been panned a lot on various reviews and I don’t understand why. It’s a lovely read, definitely one not to be missed.

Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband

By Melissa Mayhue

Back Cover

SCOTLAND, 1272. Connor MacKiernan, a descendant of the Fae Prince, is a warrior who lives only for honor and duty. Though he''s vowed never to marry, that''s exactly what he must do to save his sister. Enter a little Faerie magic, and the search for a bride is on.

DENVER, 2007. Caitlyn Coryell is having a really bad day -- she just discovered her fiancé with another woman! Imagine her surprise when she puts on some sexy lingerie and an antique pendant and Connor appears in her bedroom, begging for her help. He offers a simple yet outrageous adventure: travel to his time, marry him, and return home.

But nothing''s simple when Cate is trapped in the thirteenth century. The wedding''s delayed, someone''s trying to kill her, and in the middle of all this, she realizes she''s falling in love with a man who can only be her husband for thirty nights.

My Thoughts

I found my copy of Melissa Mayhue’s Thirty Nights at the library. I picked it up for two reasons; the cover was pretty and the title catchy. Normally not a fan of time-travel romance, I was delighted to discover that this book exceeded all my expectations. It was an excellent read, one that I did not want to put down.

The story begins in Faerie Glen where a powerful faerie, angered at the mistreatment of his daughters, curses all the male relations stating that they shall always care and respect his daughters and their offspring and that they will all bear the name Rose. With that, the Legend of the Faerie Glen has begun.

Connor McKiernan is need of a wife in order to save his sister from an unwanted marriage with a horrible man. Thanks to Faerie magic, and a little help from his aunt, he travels through time to find the perfect candidate. Caitlyn Coryell is a smart business woman who isn’t so lucky in love – having just discovered her fiancée in bed with his secretary. While drinking up a storm in her bedroom and wishing for excitement & love, she puts on an antique pendant. Suddenly, a handsome highlander appears and asks her to return to the 13th century with him, as his bride. Lucky for him, she agrees.

Only expecting to be in the 13th century for a few days, Cate is surprised when Artair, Connor’s uncle, complicates matters. He is not about to let Connor get away with this so easily and insists that the marriage should be managed in the old style complete with a reading of the banns and visiting the people. This means that Cate will need to remain in 13th century Scotland for a full month.

What happens next is a fun and adventurous story, a story filled with misunderstandings, political intrigue & family quarrels. The romance between Kate and Connor is a sweet one. It is a simple romance, not a lot of action which I’m sure left many readers wanting more. We also see the romance from Connor’s point of view which is a nice touch – it’s always nice to have the male perspective! Their romance is tender & funny and there are many witty supporting characters that add much flavour to the story.

Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband is a fantastic book and very well done for a first time author. I am looking forward to reading her next book which came out in October. We’ll also be seeing Mairi, Connor’s sister again in the near future as according to Melissa Mayhue’s website, Mairi also has a story to tell!

Ransom

From the Jacket

In the dark days after the death of Richard the Lionhearted, lives and lands would fall in to upheaval at the hands of a power-hungry British ruler and his violent minions. One victim of the scourge is innocent Gillian, who is a mere child when the cruel and ambitious Baron Alford slaughters her father and tears her family apart. Alford, determined to recover a jeweled box for the despotic King John, is furious with the precious treasure slips through his fingers – only to be lost for more than a decade.

Now a beautiful young woman who has forged a life for herself, Gillian finds the key to resolving her past in handsome Scottish chieftains Ramsey Sinclair and Brodick Buchanan. With the cunning and courage of the daring Scotsman to aid her, and finding a bond of trust and friendship with a new ally, Bridgid KirkConnell, Gillian at last fights the unscrupulous Baron Alford, laying claim to her home, her family and her father’s reputation. But in the presence of the mighty warriors beside them, Gillian and Bridgid will discover that desire can be a weapon of conquest… betrayal can slay trust in a heartbeat… and the greatest risk of all is surrender – to the deep emotions of unexpected love.

My Thoughts

I picked up my copy of Julie Garwood’s Ransom on the discount table at Chapters. I wanted something to read and since it was cheap and sounded good, I figured I’d give it a shot. Not only was I hooked by the end of the first page, but I couldn’t for the life of me understand why I hadn’t heard of this author before. Ransom was simply magnificent – heartwarming, suspenseful, romantic & exciting – I could go on forever!

The story begins when Gillian is a child and witnesses the murder of her father by the evil Baron Alford. As a result, Gillian is separated from her sister, Christen who flees to Scotland while Gillian remains in England with her Uncle Morgan. They never see each other again. Fast forward fourteen years and Gillian’s Uncle Morgan is being held hostage until Gillian returns Christien to England, along with the treasure that he believes Christien has. During this time Gillian befriends a child, Alec, the son of a powerful Scottish Laird who was kidnapped by the Baron. When Gillian leaves for Scotland, she takes Alec with her, intent on returning him to his family and enlisting their aid in finding her sister. Our hero is Brodick, a powerful laird who is also Alec’s protector. When he and Gillian meet, sparks fly and they fall in love. Their characters are well defined. Gillian’s painful past make her strong and courageous while Brodick, although a fearsome warrior, possesses a tender and gentle soul.

Also included in the story is the romance of Ramsey Sinclair and Bridgid although it plays a disappointingly secondary role to the romance of Gillian and Brodick. Ramsey's romance with Bridgid is resolved much too quickly and a is a romance that I wish had been given its own book. Another disappointment was Gillian’s reunion with her sister. I had hoped for a much happier reunion and although I wasn't satisfied with how things were wrapped up, it did make the story more realistic.

While fun to read, Ransom was at times uneven and frustrating. I would, however, still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, face-paced historical romance. I now have a copy of Julie Garwood’s “The Secret” on hold at the library as it’s the prequel to Ransom. I hear it’s even better and I can’t wait to read it!

Author: Julie Garwood

Pages: 512

Publisher: Pocket Books

Year Published: 1999