Sandy M’s review of The Bride Chooses a Highlander (McKennas, Book 3) by Adrienne Basso
Historical Romance published by Penguin Random House 18 Dec 18
Lately I’ve been trying to get back into reading historical romance. I’m going through a romantic suspense phase right now, but I do miss a good historical. This is the third book in Ms. Basso’s McKenna family series, and it does stand alone as far as I can tell, but I’m thinking it wasn’t the right book for me to get back my love of historical romance.
Katherine McKenna has been given leave by her parents to marry for love, something unheard of for her times. But after turning down a number of suitors, she begins to think maybe she’s too picky and will lose the opportunity for marrying and having a family and home of her own. So she settles for Hamish Drummond, only to discover he’s actually in love with another. Katherine leaves his estate to head home, since contracts will no longer be signed, and that’s when life takes a dramatic turn when she’s kidnapped by Aiden MacTavish, the younger brother of the MacTavish laird.
Lachlan MacTavish has had a difficult road after taking over when his father died. He’s hoping his show of loyalty to the crown will precipitate getting his family land returned after they were seized when his family didn’t support Robert the Bruce. He also has hard times with his family. Aiden feels the leadership of the clan should have been his, because he’s done all the work while Lachlan was nowhere to be found in those years. A third MacTavish sibling is being held by Katherine’s father, thus Aiden’s taking her captive with the hope of getting Robbie released.
Determined to return Katherine to her family, his plans are put aside when he finds her injured and ill after her escape from Aiden. He nurses her until she’s able to travel and they journey toward his home, only to come face to face with one of his sworn enemies, Archibald Fraser. Things don’t go well between the men, of course, and we know Fraser will return later in the story to gain his own brand of justice against Lachlan.
There are some good parts of this book, one being when Fraser does show up again. I also like that Aiden finally comes to his senses and mends fences with Lachlan. Of course, the reunion of the brothers when it comes is nice too. However, I don’t care for their stepmother at all. So Lachlan’s family is as divided as Katherine’s is close-knit. But for some reason for this reader, even those things didn’t make the story gel for me. I never really felt the chemistry between Lachlan and Katherine. I actually like the story of her brother and his wife, who is an ex-wife of Fraser’s. If I read any more by this author, I think it will be their book, just to see how all that played out.
Grade: C+
Summary:
Scotland, 1335: Marriage between clans is a matter of property and power, rarely love. But the only daughter of Laird McKenna longs for passion-and finds it in a Highlander’s arms . . .
The unconventional Lady Katherine McKenna has been granted a rare privilege: the right to choose her own husband. It’s a more difficult task than she expected. When at last she agrees to a betrothal, it quickly goes awry, leaving Katherine alone in the wilds . . . and rescued by Laird Lachlan MacTavish. She’s captivated by the proud, brooding chief who shows her such tender care. But with their clans on the brink of war, the honorable Lachlan resists his attraction-until Katherine proclaims to her family that they will wed.
Though stunned by her boldness, Lachlan is intrigued by Katherine’s beauty and spirit, and the MacTavishes will benefit from an alliance with the powerful McKennas. But with family discord, treachery, and deceit in their midst, can they save a marriage that is destined to blossom into incomparable love?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
