Sandy M’s review of Soul of a Highlander (Daughters of the Glen, Book 3) by Melissa Mayhue
Historical Paranormal Romance published by Pocket 20 May 08
Scottish historical time travel with a little modern day thrown in. Toss in some magic with a few evil Fae running around causing havoc and handsome immortal heroes to kick some butt and fall in love with a sassy heroine. Just my kinda book!
We first met Ramos in Highland Guardian when he believes he is doing good by following the dictates of his father in eliminating anyone standing in the way of Nuadian Fae coming into their own after being nearly destroyed. Finding out his father had deceived him and maniuplated him, which caused innocent deaths, and realizing his father never cared for him, Ramos accepts the offer to train as a Guardian to perhaps atone for his role in his parent’s schemes.
He has trained for only several months when he is chosen for his first assignment. He is to watch over the sister of Connor, the hero of Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband, Mairi, who has traveled to the past to save a family member in the 13th century. When she doesn’t return as expected, knowing she is now in trouble, someone must follow to bring her home. That someone is Ramos, much to his consternation. He doesn’t believe he’s had enough training for such an assignment, but he does as asked and finds himself in 1295 Scotland, faced with events he could never have imagined.
Mairi we met in Thirty Nights when she was plucked out of her century by her brother, along with some magic, to save her from certain death at the hands of the usual barbaric husband of that time. Having lived nine years in the 21st century, she’s done some research on her family and found that her cousin had been murdered and she wants to right that wrong for the sake of her aunt, who was like a mother to her growing up.
Taking destiny in her hands, she confronts Pol, her Fae ancestor, demanding she be given the same rights and power as her maternal counterparts. Pol realizes his error when in his ancient blessing he overlooked the daughters of fathers in his bloodline and he grants Mairi her wish. She then makes her long journey into the past to save her family from further harm. Little does she know how things that seem so simple in the planning stage don’t turn out quite as they should in reality.
With each book Ms. Mayhue’s heroes only get better. Ramos has to deal with the fact he used his powers to help his father grow stronger by murdering beings and stealing their magical essence, and he has to live with the fact his father has never loved him. He was only a means to an end for his parent. Thus, with all the guilt he’s carrying around he doesn’t feel worthy of Mairi’s love.
Mairi herself believes there is no true love out there for her since she’s a woman out of time, destined to die in her own century and not belonging to her current one. She’s the one in the story who does the confronting in difficult situations, only to come out a better and stronger person for it. I was relieved when she changes her tune about he-men, neanderthals, and cavemen early in the book and it’s not dragged out ad nauseum as some authors are wont to do. She may not like being told what to do by domineering men, but she also realizes a good thing when it’s staring her in the face.
We get to meet up with some previous characters in the series, find out what they’re up to and how their lives have progressed. A couple of curves are thrown in to keep the pacing alive. Sallie, the young cousin Mairi is anxious to save, is a delight, a teenager, though considered a woman in her time, who knows what she wants and goes after it and never gives in to the evil that finally erupts around all of them. I still enjoy this series a lot. The characters are well developed and the storyline now involving the Guardians is interesting and keeps the future wide open for more new characters.
Grade: A
Summary:
Nine years ago, Faerie Magic saved Mairi MacKiernan at the cost of her dreams of happiness, snatching her from her life in 1272, and depositing her in the twenty-first century. Now, she must save the last Daughter of the MacKiernan family…who was murdered in 1295. Transported back in time at her request, Mairi finds herself captured by the same evil men as before! Is this the price the Faerie Magic requires of her this time?
Ramos Servans has dedicated his dreams to service as a Guardian, but when he discovers the evil unleashed on the Mortal Plain by his father and their people, he swears he will atone by ridding the world of Nuadian deceit. Part of his mission involves rescuing a lovely Highland lassie, and in the passion that grows between them, Ramos and Mairi find a new dream.
But falling in love can be dangerous when Faerie Magic is involved. Dreams may not be the only cost….
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
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