SandyM’s review of A Highlander for Christmas by Sandy Blair
Historical romance published October 2, 2007 by Zebra
I’m a huge fan of Sandy Blair’s. I love her books in her Castle Blackstone series and am anxiously awaiting the fourth book when it’s released sometime next year. In the meantime, Sandy has given us A HIGHLANDER FOR CHRISTMAS, a heart-warming tale between two of the most unlikely people to ever fall in love, a book that will make you laugh out loud and then make you misty-eyed the very next second. A story that will make you believe.
Book blurb:
Welcome To My World ‘Tis the season to be jolly—but Boston antiques dealer Claire MacGregor isn’t looking forward to a solo Christmas, or cocoa for one, or trimming the tree by herself. But company’s coming. Claire is fooling around with an old puzzle box and when it opens…a gorgeous, studly laird appears. Thumbs down: Sir Cameron MacLeod is centuries old. Thumbs up: he doesn’t look it. And Cameron is tall, dark, and lusty—very lusty.
Come Away To Mine Who is this lovely lass? And where is he? Before awakening in the 21st century in Claire’s bedroom, the last thing Sir Cameron MacLeod remembers was readying for war with a rival clan. Despite her strange clothes and odd ways, Claire is bonny and brave. He’s about to find out that love is a many-splendored thing indeed…
Read an excerpt.
It’s the Christmas season and Claire MacGregor’s love life and antique shop, the Velvet Pumpkin, has a serious lack of customers and the bills are piling up. Her one bright spot of the season, her annual holiday luncheon with friend, Tavish MacLean. Claire learns that Tavish died just before their appointed date and that she is his heir. Christmastime is not one of Claire’s favorite things.
As she is going through Tavish’s belongings, she finds a puzzle box that she manages to open. The next thing Claire knows is she’s being manhandled by the largest — naked! — man she’s ever seen. She doesn’t know it yet, but her life is never going to be the same.
Sir Cameron MacLeon of Rubha, Scotland has been asleep for 700 years because of an ancient spell. Cameron is in awe of all he sees and experiences in this future world, but as amazing as it all is, he must find a way to get back home. With all he has learned in 2007, he should be able to keep his clan from decimation at this Culloden that Claire has told him about. Nothing is more important than saving his people and his heritage.
These two characters can’t be any more different from each other, and it is delightful to watch them grow on one another and eventually fall in love. Sandy Blair has a way of pulling you into her characters’ lives to experience their feelings and hopes and dreams. The emotions Cam experiences when finding out his family doesn’t survive one of the bloodiest times in Scottish history is heart-wrenching. I felt Claire’s grief as she spent herself in wracking sobs of loss. I felt Cameron’s disbelief and humiliation at the hands of police officers.
If you, as a romance reader, want love, emotion, fun, laughs, grief, and the always sought-after ‘happily ever after’ in your books, you have to read Sandy Blair. A HIGHLANDER FOR CHRISTMAS is a great place to start, and it will give you everything you desire, including a miracle or two.
Grade: A
Sounds interesting!!
We are three romance fiction readers who are interested in finding out more about readers like ourselves. What began as a conversation over coffee has turned into a project that has taken on a life of its own. We’ve explored public librarians’ attitudes toward romance fiction and its readers on both state and national levels with research funded by a grant from Romance Writers of America (http://www.rwanational.org/cs/academic_research_grant/past_recipients).
Of course, the more we’ve found out, the more questions we have. We’ve reached the point where we need answers to several of these questions from romance readers. We are interested in romance fiction readers as both consumers and conservators of the genre. From what we’ve found, romance fiction readers do not depend on public libraries for their books. We would like to better understand where romance fiction readers acquire their books, why they prefer particular sources, and what they do with their books after reading them. We appreciate your time and consideration.
Our questions:
• What are your preferred sources for the romance fiction you read?
• Why do you choose these sources rather than or in addition to public libraries?
• Do you keep all or some of the books you read? How do you decide which books to keep?
• What do you see yourself doing with your personal library of romance fiction books in the future?
Informed Consent:
The University of Missouri requires that research involving human subjects include an informed consent to ensure that participants’ rights are protected. As is customary, pseudonyms will be substituted in all data for all names of persons, public libraries/public library systems, cities, towns and counties. Every effort will be made to adequately disguise the participants’ identities and specific geographic location in any published materials or presentations. The print-outs of any responses will remain in the direct physical possession of the researchers. Relevant portions of the transcripts will be deleted upon request of any participant who decides to withdraw from the study.
Participants have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, no questions asked.
Refusal to participate, or withdrawal from the research project, will have no impact on the participant.
Do not hesitate to call, write or e-mail a member of the research team if you have questions or concerns about this research study.
We ask that you give permission for the results of this research to be used in professional presentations at national conferences and printed in professional publications. If you have questions your rights as a research subject, you may contact the University of Missouri Institutional Review Board Office at (573)882-9585 .
Denice Adkins adkinsde@missouri.edu
Linda Esser esserl@missouri.edu
Diane Velasquez dvelasquez@dom.edu
303 Townsend Hall
School of Information Science & Learning Technologies
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
*sigh*
That sounds just swoonworthy, Sandy
Oh, Cameron is definitely one to swoon over, Bev! Now just because he’s a sexy Highlander, but he has a great sense of humor and shows his emotions. LOL, the kind of guy we’re always looking for!
I’ve been wondering about this book! Thank you for the review. I love highlanders. Talk about a sexy breed of man! Ordering this one from Amazon now!