Sandy M’s review of Highland Hellcat (Highlander Series, Book 1) by Mary Wine
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Oct 10
I’ve been wonderfully surprised with these Highlander books by Mary Wine. These are the first of her books I’ve read, and now I’d like to pick up others from her backlist. She has a wide variety to choose from. But I’m glad to find another author who writes intriguing Scottish Highlanders. That’s including heroines, despite my love of a totally alpha hero.
Connor has an agreement with the Chattan laird, needing the alliance to strengthen his backing for the eventual release of his young sister, who was stolen years before by the Douglas clan. That agreement is for marriage to one of the laird’s daughters. Everything goes wrong when the intended daughter believes herself in love with someone else and she flees in the dark of night to meet him. Connor is intent on keeping their agreement, and when the opportunity to resolve the whole mess is introduced to him, he doesn’t hesitate – he absconds with Brina, the youngest Chattan and the only daughter to be promised to the church, plucks her right from her father’s grasp as they’re on their way to leave Brina with the sisters. Her situation matters not to Connor. He knows, during and after the journey to his home, that he and his newly acquired hellcat can have a good life together.
Never having been away from her home or so near a man like she’s been to Connor, Brina is finding it more and more difficult to resist his charms. And she does try. Her entire life has been devoted to the restrictions of the church, so she’s overloaded with emotion and all kinds of stimulation. I wouldn’t have lasted a second if I’d been the recipient of Connor’s stimulation. Brina takes resistance to a whole new level. She also wants to honor her father and his word to the church. Her eventual future would be to become Mother Superior, but keeping this braw Highlander at bay is beyond her. Though after a while she doesn’t wish to. All the while with Connor, fighting everything he throws at her for all she’s worth, Brina’s spunk and sass never wanes. Of course, that’s something Connor loves about her. I could say that Brina can try until doom’s day to resist Connor and she’ll never win, however, I think it’s Connor who’d better watch out.
What’s also very intriguing with this story is the way Ms. Wine has used Scottish politics of the time, including throwing about clout with the King and even taking our characters to court to have their fate decided, once a so-called friend of Connor’s goes too far in trying to keep peace in the Highlands. Brina is torn from Connor and he takes chase, acknowledging his feelings for her are something more than lust and will allow no one to take what’s his. Brina, in the meantime, keeps her head about her and aids Connor in bringing his family back together without nary a thought to herself.
This has been a fun, charming, interesting, mysterious, and very romantic serious so far, and I’m looking forward to the books that will follow. Ms. Wine does one heck of a terrific job writing my Highlanders.
Grade: A
Summary:
In the raw, rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, tumultuous times bred warrior men and women who fought for country, keep, and kin, and loved as passionately as they lived. An illegitimate son, chosen as laird after the ruling Douglas clan slaughtered his family, Connor Lindsay is surrounded by men who challenge his right to lead. Looking for a virtuous bride to cement his leadership by presenting him with an heir, he kidnaps a feisty laird’s daughter. To keep this Highland Hellcat in his bed, he’ll have to do battle with the Douglases, the Church, and most of all Brina herself.
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
