Tag: Highlander Series

Guest Review: Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Posted December 30, 2016 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay SandsReviewer: Tracy
Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 31st 2017
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three-half-stars

Lady Murine Carmichael has known her share of bad luck. But when her debt-ridden half-brother tries to sell her off in exchange for a few Scottish horses, it’s the final straw. If keeping her freedom means escaping through harsh countryside alone, so be it. She has barely begun her journey when she lands an unlikely escort—the brawny Highlander who just refused to buy her virtue.

Dougall Buchanan was disgusted by Lord Danvries’ shameful offer, but Murine herself tempts him beyond measure. Even bedraggled and dusty, the lass glows with beauty and bravery. Dougall wants to do more than just help her flee. He wants to protect her—with his life and his heart—if she’ll only let him. For Murine may be pursued by a powerful foe, but nothing compares to the fiery courage of a Highlander in love.

Murine Carmichael has seen a lot of death in the past few years.  Her brothers and her betrothed were killed then her mother died not long after that.  Her father then was ill and but had died just when she thought he was getting better.  Her half-brother, Montrose, picked her up and told her that he was now her guardian.  While Murine wasn’t thrilled with the idea she dealt with it.  She even managed to deal with it when Montrose gambled away her dower.  When Dougall Buchanan and his brothers show Montrose fine horses and he can’t pay for them he tries to bargain with them.  Dougall’s not interested.  Then Montrose gets desperate and offers his sister as payment – to use until he gets tired of her.  Dougall, his brothers and Murine are all shocked and disgusted at this suggestion.  Obviously Dougall refuses and leaves.

After hearing another suggestion by Montrose about offering her up to one of his neighbors for coin, Murine decides it’s time to get the hell out of dodge.  She knows that traveling alone is extremely dangerous but figures facing death is better than what Montrose has planned for her. She heads off on her pet bull, Henry, to try to reach one of her friends.  Not far from her brother’s house she runs into the Buchanan brothers.  They are nice enough to hide her from his brothers and agree to take her to her friend, their sister, Saidh. Along the road there are many perils and accidents that beset the group and mostly directed at Murine. During the course of the travel Dougall and Murine get close and lust ensues that soon turns to more.  Unfortunately with Montrose trailing the Buchanan’s and Murine will they be able to stay together?

This was a cute story.  I really liked a lot of the book and was pulling for Dougall and Murine throughout.  The camaraderie between the Buchanan brothers was another plus to this book as they were close but still had scuffles like most brothers do.

I really liked Dougall in this book.  He was stubborn and strong-willed but protective and kind as well.  He had morals and was a decent guy whose parents had raised him right.  Murine took a bit of getting used to.  She was kind of oblivious a lot of the time which annoyed me.  She didn’t seem the type to be oblivious so when it happened it was frustrating. Examples…she was running from her brother but when she was traveling and saw people in the woods, she never said anything? She thought she heard someone in the house she was in by herself but never mentions it to Dougall when he comes in right after?  There were so many things that she questioned to herself but never once said anything to Dougall or his brothers.  What the hell?  Why not? She was trying to get away from her brother but she sees random people or hears random things and shrugs it off? Uh, no, don’t believe it for a minute. In most Sands historicals the heroine always ends up doing some crazy things but this just takes the cake. Now, that being said she was strong when she needed to be.  She saved lives when there was a fire as she had saved Saidh’s life in a previous book.  She kept getting hit in the head and kept getting up.  She got shot by an arrow but took it like a trooper.  She was a good person for the most part, really.

Overall it was a good story that I had some issues with.  It certainly won’t stop me from reading more of Sands’ historical novels as their more on the fun/slapstick fun side and I like that about them.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

three-half-stars

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Guest Review: The Highlander Takes a Bride by Lynsay Sands

Posted August 14, 2015 by Tracy in Reviews | 1 Comment

Guest Review: The Highlander Takes a Bride by Lynsay SandsReviewer: Tracy
The Highlander Takes a Bride by Lynsay Sands

Publication Date: July 28, 2015
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four-stars

Sword fighting, swearing, and riding astride come naturally to Saidh Buchanan. Simpering and holding her tongue—definitely not. Raised alongside seven boisterous brothers, Saidh has little interest in saddling herself with a husband... until she glimpses the new Laird MacDonnell bathing naked in the loch. Though she's far from a proper lady, the brawny Highlander makes Saidh feel every inch a woman.

She has an angel's looks, a warrior's temper, and seeks out his kisses with wanton eagerness. Little wonder that Greer is intrigued by his comely guest. When reckless desire overtakes them, he's more than willing to make an honest woman of her. But Saidh is the target of a hidden enemy, and Greer faces the battle of his life to safeguard the woman he wants above all others.

Tracy’s review of The Highlander Takes a Bride (Highlander #3) by Lynsay Sands.

Saidh was raised with her seven brothers and her mother pretty much gave up on her being a lady. She is who she is and she enjoys it. She knows she probably won’t ever get married because of her rough ways but she’s ok with that.

Four years earlier Saidh had been at her cousin Fenella’s wedding. The groom ended up getting killed, by Fenella, and Saidh helped her with a cover and made it look like bandits killed him. Saidh’s at a friends house when she hears that Fenella’s fourth husband, in four years, has drowned. Saidh hadn’t seen Fenella since her first marriage and hadn’t been aware that she’d gotten remarried – four times! She’s suspicious about the deaths because of the Fenella’s first marriage and decides to visit her cousin to see if she can figure it all out.

When Saidh arrives she meets the new Laird, Greer. They are almost instantly taken with each other. They can’t seem to take their hands off each other but Greer wants to do things right. That doesn’t make her brothers happy when they show up for the wedding that Saidh knows nothing about.

On top of that there’s someone out there who is trying to kill Saidh and no one can figure out who it is or why they would want to kill her in the first place.

This was another fun historical by Sands. I really like her historical novels as they have so much humor in them and while some of the scenarios are unlikely they seem to work for me. In this book there wasn’t too much angst between the hero and heroine and I appreciated that so much. The author let the mystery of who the killer was be the big issue, besides Fenella’s possible involvement, and it was nice to have a simple romance come out of it all.

I really liked both Saidh and Greer a lot in this story. Greer didn’t think he would ever, or could ever, love a woman but he soon finds himself swayed by Saidh. She is just herself and doesn’t put on airs and he loves that about her. The fact that he fell for her hard and fast warmed my heart. Saidh was kind of thrilled to actually be married as she never thought she would be. She was wonderful with Greer and of course her many brothers. I loved the family dynamic and enjoyed seeing Greer fit right in.

In the end it was a pretty fast read with not too much angst, a little mystery, and a lot of lovin’. Good stuff.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This title is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

four-stars

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Review: An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands

Posted June 21, 2013 by Tracy in Reviews | 2 Comments

Review: An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay SandsReviewer: Tracy
An English Bride In Scotland by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: June 25th 2013
Format: eARC
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
Add It: Goodreads
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four-stars

Annabel was about to take the veil to become a nun when her mother suddenly arrives at the Abbey to take her home… so that she can marry the Scottish laird who is betrothed to her runaway sister! She knows nothing about being a wife, nothing about how to run a household, and definitely nothing about the marriage bed!

But from the moment Ross MacKay sets eyes on Annabel, he is taken with his shy sweet bride… and the fact that she's blessed with lush curves only makes him utter his own prayers of thanks. But when an enemy endangers her life, he'll move the Highlands themselves to save her. For though Annabel's not the bride he planned for, she's the only woman he desires…

When Annabel was seven years old her parents took her to an abbey and left her there. She was not cut out to be a nun but eventually became an oblate and was looking forward to becoming a nun. When her mother suddenly shows up unannounced Annabel is shocked as she hasn’t seen or heard from anyone in her family for 14 years. Her mother rushes her off to their family estate and prepares her to marry. You’re thinking WTF, right? Yeah, I was too.

The father saved the life of a Scottish Laird at one point and they became friends. Eventually they decided that the Laird’s eldest son and the English Earl’s eldest daughter would be contracted to be married when the time was right. Unfortunately things didn’t work out the way either family had planned.

The Laird MacKay died and his eldest son, Ross, was challenged by his cousin for the position of Laird. Then family members became mixed up in the challenge and four years passed before Ross felt it was safe to leave his clan temporarily and go get his bride.

The Withram family had had their own share of troubles. The eldest daughter, Kate, had fallen in love with the stable masters son and had run off with him not two days before Ross was to arrive at their home. Kate had been disowned so that made Annabel the eldest and the families last hope to save them.

Annabel doesn’t have a clue what’s going on and when she does figure it out she’s freaked out, to say the least. Ross is about to leave as it’s taking so long for the bride to be to see him but then Annabel comes down the stairs and Ross is smitten almost from first sight. They marry and as Ross doesn’t like Annabel’s parents they leave the next day for Ross’s castle.

Annabel isn’t anything like Ross thought she would be – little does he know she’s REALLY not what he thinks – but she soon wins over even the grumpiest of clan members. Annabel has a hard time at first and she’s not sure she can be what she’s supposed to be as she was never raised to take care of a home but she does her best. During this time Annabel is hurt, so is Ross, by an attacker that is very persistent; they get a visit from Annabel’s sister that is completely unexpected – an unwanted after they get to know her; and they fall in love.

I have to say I love reading Sands’s historical novels. She always writes such great characters and puts them in situations that are completely believable and could have actually happened but that are almost ridiculous in nature…and pulls it all off. She’s got such a great sense of humor and it really shows in her historicals.

In this one I loved Annabel’s innocence. She made some bad decisions, sure, but she did it with such a good heart that it was hard for me to dislike her for some of them. It turned out that her family had done her a huge favor by sending her to the abbey – even though it was sometimes torturous (literally) – as we see when we meet the very, very, very spoiled sister, Kate. My God that woman was a piece of work. Even I wanted to climb into the book and throttle her! Annabel had the patience of a saint but even she could only take so much of Kate. lol

Ross was a great hero. He was kind and grumpy and possessive and lusty and he loved Annabel to bits. His patience with her was a testament to his upbringing and I loved seeing the strong, capable man treat his wife with care and not lose any of his masculinity.

In the end it was a very good story and I can’t wait to see what the next book in the series brings.

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

four-stars

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Updated: Author Spotlight Giveaway: The Immortal Highlander – *Autographed*

Posted February 3, 2010 by Holly in Features, Giveaways | 25 Comments

Updated: Author Spotlight Giveaway: The Immortal Highlander – *Autographed*Reviewer: Holly
The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
Series: Highlander #6
Also in this series: Spell of the Highlander, The Dark Highlander

Publication Date: August 3rd 2004
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 384
Add It: Goodreads
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four-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Enter a world of timeless seduction, of ancient intrigue and modern-day passion. Enter the dazzling world of Karen Marie Moning, whose acclaimed Highlander novels have captivated readers, spanning the continents and the centuries, bringing ancient Scotland vividly to life. In a new novel brimming with time-travel adventure and sensual heat, the nationally bestselling author of The Dark Highlander delivers a love story that will hold you in thrall—and a hero you will most certainly never forget.
BEWARE: lethally seductive alpha male of immense strength and dark eroticism, do not look at him. Do not touch him. Do not be tempted. Do not be seduced.
With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerizing eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensely sensual, he is the consummate seducer, free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. With his very life at stake, Adam’s only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.
Enter law student Gabrielle O’Callaghan, who is cursed with the ability to see both worlds: Mortal and Faery. From the moment she lays eyes on this stunning male, Gabby is certain of one thing: He could be her undoing. Thus begins a long, dangerous seduction. Because despite his powerful strength and unquenchable hungers, Adam refuses to take a woman by force. Instead, he will tease his way into Gabby’s bed and make her want him just as he wants her.
Now, no matter how hard Gabby tries to avoid him, Adam is everywhere, invisible to all but her—perched atop her office cubicle in too-tight jeans, whispering softly from behind the stacks of the law library, stealing her breath away with his knowing smile…all the while tempting her with the promise of unimaginable pleasure in his arms. But soon danger will intrude on this sensual dance. For as Adam’s quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic and the deadly politics of the Faery queen’s court, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the conspiracy that threatens both mortal and Faery realms…and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love.
From the Hardcover edition.

 

“Are you falling for me, Irish?”

– Adam Black

Karen Marie Moning‘s books are riddled with amazing quotes. One liners and short zingers and emotional bombs that go on for paragraphs. If I had the time, I could spend hours and hours finding all of my favorites and listing them.

Since I don’t have hours and hours, I’m going to do the next best thing…ask all of you to share your favorite quotes instead. This way I’ll have them all in one place, but won’t actually have to spend the time finding them all. Brilliant, no?

Thanks to the lovely and generous Karen Marie Moning, I also happen to have a signed copy of The Immortal Highlander just waiting for a home. So how about a reward for all your hard work?

Leave your favorite quote in the comments of this post – or email it to contests @ thebookinge . com (no spaces), with KMM Quote in the subject line – and you’ll be entered to win an autographed hardcover copy of The Immortal Highlander.

ETA: If you’ve never read Karen Marie Moning before and therefore don’t have a favorite quote, leave a comment telling us what book you’re most looking forward to reading and why instead for a chance to win.

You have until Saturday, February 6th at 11:59 p.m. to enter. Come on, show me what you’ve got…

The entire time I’m burning in Hell, I’ll regret each tear I made you weep. But if Hell were the price for twenty days with you, I’d condemn myself again and again.

– Cian MacKeltar

*contest is open to all readers worldwide.

four-half-stars

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From Holly’s Bookshelf Guest Review: Charming the Highlander by Janet Chapman

Posted June 30, 2009 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 13 Comments


Tracy‘s review of Charming the Highlander (Highlander series book 1) by Janet Chapman

When I went to visity Holly recently I had a wonderful time going through all her books and choosing books for review on this site. But then across the room from all of those books were more wonderful books that were Holly’s personal collection. I was in book heaven! Needless to say it took a day and a half to go through all the shelves. Since this book is from Holly’s personal collection we’ll just call this review “From Holly’s Bookshelf”.

A feisty beauty tempted by a bold highlander’s touch…

When a plane crash strands brilliant scientist Grace Sutter on an icy mountaintop in Maine, she finds herself alone in the wilderness with the only other surviving passenger — Greylen MacKeage,a sexy, medieval warrior who’s been tossed through time to find the woman he’s destined to love. Forced together to survive the harsh, wintry landscape, neither expects the fierce passion that flares between them. But Grace is not used to letting her heart take control, and Greylen will settle for nothing less than her heart’s surrender….

Grace Sutter’s sister, Mary, has gotten in a car accident and she’s on the brink of death. Mary was 8 months pregnant at the time but after an emergency c-section the baby is safe. But before Mary dies she tells Grace some strange things about the baby’s father…like he told her he was from 800 years in the past and 4 years ago got sent to the 21st century while in a lightning storm. Then Mary makes Grace promise that she’ll take the baby to his father. Needless to say after Mary’s death Grace isn’t racing to the baby’s father to drop him off since obviously he has some screws loose.

After a month of playing mom Grace is ready to head to Maine, the state where she grew up and the state that Mary lived in, and check things out with the father of Baby. (Since Mary had said that the baby should be named by his father Grace just calls him Baby.) Grace packs everything up and leaves Virginia by plane…but she has to make 3 connections which sucks. On the last connection she is flying in a very small plane with Greylen McKeage, who’s also flying home to Maine. The plane goes up in the air, even though there’s an ice storm and unfortunately the pilot isn’t as good a pilot as he said and the plane crashes. Grey, Grace & Baby get off the mountain but that doesn’t end the attraction and bond that Grey and Grace are feeling.

On top of the ice storm that doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon Grace is dealing with her sister’s death and her feelings about handing over Baby to his father. And if that isn’t enough then there’s Grace’s boss from Virginia who turns up with extremely horrifying news. You see Grace is a rocket scientist and has recently put a pod up in space. The information that she is gleaning from that pod is now not only her information, but her boss pretty much sold it. He says there are people coming to kidnap her since the info coming from the pod is garbled and she’s the only one that can fix it. I know it sounds incredibly far-fetched but it works for the most part. I mean, it’s as time travel romance people, come one! lol

This book has a lot of different things going on it. First there was Grace dealing with Mary’s death, then dealing with Baby, almost dying in a place crash, coming to terms with her attraction to Grey and all that entailed including finding out he’s from 800 years in the past, facing her boss & his sliminess, getting kidnapped..and I think there’s more but I can’t think of it right now. While the book was good I needed things to be wrapped up at about page 300-325 (it’s 374 pages).

I did finish reading it and it had a good ending but I think that there were some story lines completely left unfinished. One of those that I can’t stop wondering about is Grace’s boss. Grace and her boss get kidnapped and (without giving something away) the kidnappers and the boss disappear. Nothing’s spoken of them again. Grace’s work isn’t mentioned at all after that which I found odd since wouldn’t people be looking for her boss and the others? And if the people who wanted Grace kidnapped wanted her so badly, wouldn’t they send someone else to get the job done? It was just like after the scheme was thwarted the entire problem just disappeared. It was just too pat for my liking.

As for Grey and Grace…I thought they had a very cute relationship. For all his Alpha ways Grey became a big softy – well not really, but he did realize that sometimes women have very good ideas and they are worth listening to. Grace did get on my nerves a bit when she wouldn’t hand Baby over to his father but I did understand her thinking to a point. Even with my annoyance with her I found the romance quite charming.

This was a cute book that had some really great parts to it, and some not so great ones. I think that anyone who enjoys time travel, or a good alpha male will enjoy this story.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This book is available from Pocket. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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