Sandy M’s review of A Highlander of Her Own (Daughters of the Glen, Book 4) by Melissa Mayhue
Time Travel Romance published by Pocket 27 Jan 09
I became an instant fan of Melissa Mayhue’s with her first Highlander book. Loved everything about it. Then she only got better with her Guardians in the next two books. Those became my favorites. While Ms. Mayhue’s writing is still on the rise, this time, in A Highlander of Her Own, something has happened and I wasn’t left as bowled-over as I had been after finishing her previous books. You have no idea how it pains me to say that.
I realize that our favorites stumble every now and again in their writing, but to say it out loud or put it in writing makes it all the more distressing. The writing itself, the storyline, the time travel, which is my a favorite read of mine, are still on par with what I’ve come to expect from Ms. Mayhue. What didn’t work quite so well for me this time are the main characters.
They’re likable, you feel for them now and then. But they had the same feeling as those from the first book in the series. Modern woman gets tossed back in time and has a hugely hard time with the Highlander’s he-man attitude. Said Highlander doesn’t want or need a wife and only wants to protect the aforementioned modern woman. And the difference in the first book is the heroine decides to kick some serious ass and brings her military father and brothers along to help her out. This current book doesn’t give us that kind of wow factor.
While that is a stumbling block for me this time around, I know I’m also comparing it to the two Guardian books, Highland Guardian and Soul of a Highlander. These books take a little different direction, away from the Glen, and focus on the portal between the human and fae worlds which are guarded by the strong, silent type Highlanders. There’s terrific action in them, love the characters, even down to the most secondary ones, the villain is satisfyingly evil, and they’re just plain old fun to read. Maybe it’s not fair to compare the books, but I’m not sure I can’t not do that anymore after getting a taste of those Guardians.
We met Caden MacAlister in Soul of a Highlander when his family is betrayed by his betrothed. So when Ellie wishes for a Highlander of her own and is thrown back to his time, he’s decided he can’t trust women and will never marry. Ellie is a descendant of the High Prince of the Fae but has just recently been given her magic powers, which includes an affinity to animals’ feelings and thoughts, all of which Caden is fine with. Magic runs in the blood of his family.
My biggest problem with Ellie is if she wants a Highlander like she reads about in her romance novels, she should know he’s going to be a chauvinist to the core. However, by the time she acknowledges this, it’s just too late. She’s been irritated with Caden one time too many for the way he is. She’s an intelligent woman and letting his attitude piss her off as many times as it does just fell flat after a while.
Caden is guilty of the same type of thing. Once his aunt tells him Ellie is of fae blood and she’s there to find her one true love, he gets it in his head his brother is that love. I know he’s lost trust in women, but it would seem to me he could take another look at his aunt and his sister — then Ellie — and realize that, really, not all women are like his former betrothed. He just waits too late to come to that enlightenment. Other than that, I did like Caden’s character the best. He’s next in line to be laird, takes his responsibility seriously — though he does guilt himself to death half the time — and the scenes when he’s held captive are quite compelling.
I really enjoyed the side story of Laird Blane and Lady Catriona’s romance. I wish there had been a little more to that. I hope Ms. Mayhue is going to write Drew’s story. He’s Caden’s brother who was severely injured in the betrayal I mentioned before. That’s a story that can be different and emotional, especially from a modern woman’s point of view. There’s a lot of other nice points in this book, the bathhouse scenes are quite nice, as is the mystery of the infected sheep and Ellie’s solution to it, Ellie’s gift with animals, and Lady Roslyn’s not-so-magic interference. The he-man/modern time points of view, if kept for future books, just need a new twist to make them interesting again.
All of this said, I still look forward to Ms. Mayhue’s books. She’s given me some wonderful times in my reading and I know she will do so again.
Grade: C+
Summary:
TEXAS, PRESENT DAY. Ellie Denton’s world has spiraled out of control. A strange new birthmark, animals talking to her, and her mother’s ex-husband laying claim to the family ranch have her thinking life can’t get more complicated. But Ellie doesn’t know the birthmark’s connection to her Faerie ancestors. Complicated takes on a whole new meaning with her innocent wish to find her true love.
SCOTLAND, 1304. Caden MacAlister has more trouble than he can handle. With his brother held for ransom and the laird missing, the last thing he needs is another problem. But the Fae have other plans.
A mysterious woman shows up in his stables, sent by Faerie Magic to find her true love. Fighting his attraction, Caden insists she’s meant for one of his brothers. With his history, he has no desire for a woman in his life—especially a woman sent by the Fae.
Only the magic of the Fae can determine whether Ellie will find a Highlander of her own…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
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