Sandy M’s review of Lord of the Highlands by Veronica Wolff
Time Travel Romance published by Berkley 3 Nov 09

Ms.Wolff and I started out on a rocky path together. I’m a huge time travel fan, and though the time travel element of her first two books was good, there wasn’t much more I liked in them. However, that path began to smooth out with Ms. Wolff’s third book, Warrior of the Highlands. I’m not sure exactly what it is that’s changed things for me after reading that book, but whatever it that Ms. Wolff is doing, it’s working. LotH is another job well done.

This time around the time travel aspect of the story is overshadowed by the hero and heroine. Felicity knows her perfect mate is out there, she just has to keep looking. What she finally decides is to put her love and happiness in the hands of a Tarot deck and let the cards fall where they may. Rollo is a warrior to the core, knows he can never have more in life. No woman wants a cripple for a mate and he wouldn’t burden anyone with his handicap anyway.

When Felicity lands in the Highlands of the past, when she meets Rollo, it’s her attitude — and her chattiness — that makes her so much fun. It doesn’t matter where her true love is, once she finds him she’s not letting go. That he’s in Scotland of old doesn’t matter. And what I love best about her is her curiosity, and she’s not afraid to use it. She questions everything, and in doing so that’s how you learn about her and failed attempts at jobs and other aspects of her life that never seemed to work for her. I know this side of a heroine may irritate some readers, but the way Ms. Wolff has written it and the hero she’s paired Felicity with works so well.

Of course, Rollo, the battle-hardened warrior, has to grit his teeth at her constant talkativeness. He’s not used to such a woman, and when he learns she’s from the future, everything falls into place. Including his love for her, a love he can’t reveal to her because she doesn’t belong in his time, and he’s going to make sure she returns to where she does belong. But along the way, Rollo begins to hope. Perhaps the right woman has found him, one who doesn’t look at his injury but looks at the man in him. The moment he goes with such feelings, however, the moment he gives in and loves the woman he never thought he’d find is when fate, evil, danger and so much more steps into their path to tell him he is a fool for thinking they could have a good and happy life.

As much as I like Felicity and her happy chatter, I love Rollo that much more. He’s not a totally tortured hero, but he’s close. From the prologue that’s full of emotion and heartbreak for his young self, I was lost to him for the duration of the book. I also really like the ending of this story, something we don’t get very often in time travels, and I’m glad Ms. Wolff went this route for Rollo. It’s the perfect ending.

Though Ms. Wolff continues to use real-life historical people for her heroes, I think she’s let go and is using more imagination in her stories so she’s not so limited in what she can do as a writer with history. That’s just my opinion due to my reaction to her first two books, which is so very different from my reaction to these last two books. I believe she’s come into her own and has discovered the right balance to give readers lovely fantasies with perfect happily-ever-afters.

Grade: A

Summary:

HE WAS HER ONE TRUE LOVE.  HE JUST LIVED IN ANOTHER CENTURY.

An online dating service may have pronounced Felicity “unmatchable” but she’s determined—and destined—to find her perfect mate. All it takes is a mystical deck of Tarot cards to put her dreams to the test.

Light a candle. Choose a card. And old Scotland is only a wish away…

Scarred by betrayal, Will Rollo lives to defend the monarchy against traitors…and he rides alone. The last thing he needs to contend with is a love-struck woman. So when Felicity appears, spirited by magic, Rollo’s determined to crush all tender feelings for her. But as passion binds them in a dark era, where witchcraft is punishable by death, Rollo must make a daring choice: send Felicity back to her own time, or endanger both their lives….

Read an excerpt.

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