Sandy M’s review of Awaken the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney
Paranormal Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 May 11
When I first started reading this book, I had high hopes. Though it starts out with shades of Karen Marie Moning, it does go its own way and I was intrigued.
But that intrigue dips and turns in ways early on that leave you frustrated. The main issue I have is it takes twelve chapters before things begin to really move along. Once Bree awakens Faelan after his 150-year nap, through the first eleven chapters it’s nothing but the two of them dancing around one another, lying to one another, suspicious of one another, the same scenes over and over again, just said differently each time. There’s a few confrontations with demons and the like thrown in, but there’s not nearly enough to break up the ongong repetition. After the awakening scene and the initial getting-to-know-one-another part (though they fib to one another so much, they don’t really get to know each other until this late too), this book should have started at Chapter 12.
Another frustration is how many times Faelan apologies to Bree. For being attracted to her, for wanting to touch her, caress her, make love to her, and those love scenes are nicely done. But, to me, all that sorriness takes the romance out of the story. I realize Faelan is a product of a time when women were to be protected by men, but he’s an alpha Scottish warrior who fought to keep his clan and the human race safe, the type of man romance readers want to fall in love with, to dream about, to drool over. Between his apologizing and his sometimes bumbling about when fighting demons, which is done to showcase the things Bree can unexpectedly do when up against a demon, Faelan loses his appeal somewhat.
A lot of the book is predictable. It follows the same basic format that romances have for years. The aforementioned suspicions fly back and forth, each silently questioning themselves about the other, some of it a little too far-fetched at times. I know that’s some foreshadowing on the author’s part, but it’s just too blatant too often. Even after they’ve made love a few times (for which Faelan apologizes), there’s still too much wariness and distrust and not enough talking so they can figure things out together. Misunderstandings galore result. Also, Bree is the typical heroine who can’t stay put when danger is around and Faelan requests (okay, demands) her compliance. Of course, trouble ensues when she does this, and I thought of those old movies where the female star either fell while running from the bad guy or who got in trouble every time she turned around.
Interest didn’t pick up again for until Faelan and Bree get to Scotland to locate Faelan’s family, which is around Chapter 21. I did enjoy those characters and how they welcomed Faelan into the fold, along with Bree. They all could see she’s meant for him, but even though a mate mark has shown up on his person, he’s looking around for someone other than Bree to be his mate, all because he can’t be with a woman who isn’t of his clan. Well, of course, we all know what Bree will eventually find out about herself. The action scenes where the other warriors join Faelan to work together to bring the main demon down are great. Faelan has finally come into his own, his fighting has improved and I like him much better in this half of the book, for the most part.
But with these new characters for future stories and with Ms. Clenney’s growth as an author with each successive book, I will keep my hopes alive a little longer to find out what happens next.
Grade: C-
Summary:
He’s had centuries to dream of her…
Mis-adventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn’t dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who’s rescued him, but she’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
Unleash the Highland Warrior – Spring 2012
