Lawson’s review of To Wed a Highland Bride by Sarah Gabriel
A historical paranormal romance released by Avon November 27, 2007
Blurb:
A reluctant groom . . .
James MacCarran has no desire to venture onto the thorny battlefield of marriage. But his grandmother’s will issues an ultimatum—marry or forfeit his rightful inheritance—and now he must find a bride. Only the most ravishing woman could make it worth his while. Elspeth MacArthur, she is nothing like he anticipated. Yes, she is beautiful, luminous really, but there is something mysterious about this lass.
An enchanting bride . . .
Reluctant to leave her Highland home, Elspeth must keep an astonishing secret when unexpected circumstances force her to marry. But as an unseen threat draws ever closer, about to reveal the truth of her life in the mystical Highlands, she soon realizes that her only haven is in James’ passionate embrace . . . and that carries the greatest risk of all.
Read an excerpt.
Not wanting to give much away, I’m thinking this may be a short review. From the blurb, it gives away quite a bit, and really nothing at all, which doesn’t do the book much justice. Though James has some letting go of emotions issues and trusting other people outside his family. Not that his family, aside from his siblings, are really worth anything.
Elspeth has been raised by her grandfather, a weaver, and doesn’t want to leave the highlands. Not wanting to give anything away, I’ll say that I liked Elspeth. She’s honest, hard working, loyal and very open about herself and her life in the highlands.
James has to deal with his heart opening after years of solitude, as well as a manipulative debutante, Miss Charlotte Sinclair, who his Great-Aunt wants him to marry. Of course from the first James has eyes only for Elspeth, which angers Miss Sinclair and is Aunt.
Just a couple of things that stuck out. First off, there was a lot of repeating useless information at the beginning of the story. Though that is overcome by the middle of the book, it’s replaced by James’ commentary at times about geology in the Highlands. Sure, he’s a geology professor, but by now I hope that everyone understands plate tectonics. The idea of a geology lesson grated a little bit.
Things also seemed to happen very fast between James and Elspeth. One day took up a few chapters, then it’s a month later and another day takes up the middle portion of the book. It’s all sudden romance and perhaps some over elaboration of setting and tone that took away from the romance of James and Elspeth. Once things started moving along at the end of the book, the pace picked up and the HEA fit with the characters.
Overall a good read, and the next books in this series, assuming it is a series, should be the stories of James’ siblings, and I think his twin sister, Fiona, is next. I’m looking forward to that one.
Grade: B-
