Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Craving the Highlander’s Touch by Michelle Willingham
Historical romance short story ebook published by Harlequin Historical Undone 01 Sep 11
As the Undone line has evolved, many authors have chosen to utilize the shorter format as a “teaser” for their full-length Harlequin Historical books. Like all things concerning series books, it all boils down to how much series-itis creeps in, and whether or not as the reader I feel like I’m being manipulated. Yes, I’m talking execution. Michelle Willingham is one who loves to use the Undone line to flesh out secondary characters from her connected novels, and she’s also one that generally makes it work for me. This short story tied to her MacKinloch Clan books is no exception.
Alys Fitzroy, Lady of Harkirk, has endured a marriage to a brutish English husband. Besides terrorizing her, he’s made many enemies among the local Scots – who he has a habit of imprisoning and torturing. Although English herself, this treatment of the locals sickens Alys, especially when it involves children. So she does what she can, freeing as many of them as she can – helping them to run away.
Finian MacLachor is his clan’s chief, and his failed uprising against Alys’ dear husband has not gone well. He’s a man who has lost everything – his wife, his daughter, and his very soul. Beaten, bloody, and sitting in the dungeons waiting to be made an example of, he’s resigned himself to die, because he thinks he has no right to live. Then Alys shows up with the keys.
Willingham tends to put a lot of story in her Undones, but this one might take first prize. This really could have been a full-length novel. Between the various character baggage, the battle scene, the love scenes, and the final chapter? There’s a lot going on here. While the author does have to take a few “happens off page” short cuts to keep things moving along, this is a story I could really sink my teeth into. It is also especially lovely to read love scenes that are an intricate part of the romance and character development. They aren’t here just for filler – they need to be in this story.
I do think reading the two full-length novels will allow readers to get a bit more out of this story. However, that being said, I still have both novels languishing in my TBR and I rather liked this short tale. If anything, it succeeded in me kicking my own behind for letting those novels sit unread for these last several months. So in the end? The author’s ploy worked. Teasing me with the short makes me want to run out and read the full-length stories. Which makes me part of the problem, but given how much I enjoyed this story? I don’t rightly care.
Grade: B
Summary:
Scotland, 1306
For Alys Fitzroy, Lady of Harkirk, her brutish husband is more of an enemy than the wild Scots she is supposed to hate. Her heart longs to help her husband’s prisoners—especially Finian MacLachor, the intense Highland chief who bears the scars of his own failed uprising, both inside and out. With her help, he has a second chance to make things right for his clan—and and to show Alys the nights of unbelievable pleasure she’s been missing.…
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