Sandy M’s review of Claimed by the Highlander (Highlander Trilogy, Book 2) by Julianne MacLean
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 29 Mar 11
Well, after reading and reviewing Ms. MacLean’s first book in this trilogy, I wasn’t sure, No. 1, if I wanted to continue with the series, and, No. 2., what I would find if I decided to continue on. There’s so many issues I had with Captured by the Highlander, I knew a good many of them would show up in this book. And they did. But then I got a nice surprise.
The first, roughly, half of this book is nearly a mirror of CbtH – hardened, tortured hero looking for revenge, taking back what is his, keeping the heroine at bay with a cranky attitude and suspicion. Our hero, Angus, the Lion of the Highlands, has gone a step further by vowing to never fall for a woman because that makes a man weak. He started this in the previous book when Duncan, his best friend, fell for an Englishwoman and gave up his violent life. In Angus’ eyes, that made Duncan weak. Okay, I went with that; I knew Angus’ perceptions were off at the time because of the loss he’d gone through. In the meantime, he betrays his friend and is ultimately banished for that behavior by his father. Two years later, after learning of his sire’s death, he returns to Kinloch castle to reclaim his birthright from the clan who stole it from his father.
Gwendolen is the daughter of the deceased chief of the MacEwen clan and refuses to give in to the sword-wielding warrior who cuts down too many of her clansmen, and flat out objects when her enemy claims her to be his wife to supposedly reunite their two clans. Of course, their initial relationship is full of anger and suspicion. And this is where Ms. MacLean’s writing just doesn’t work for me.
When Gwendolen and Angus are going at each other, angry words flying, they sound like modern people instead of an 18th century couple. As I said in my previous review, I realize that some of our everyday phrases can and do come from the past, but when it’s one that’s used a lot nowadays or one that truly is modern, that pulls me out of a story quicker than anything else. I nearly gave up on this book when I got to the heroine telling the hero they will never be married as long as he continues to drag his knuckles on the ground. Sorry, that’s so out of place. I’m pretty darned sure a Highland lass from the 1700s would know nothing about Neanderthals. I definitely know Gwendolen doesn’t because her focus is her clan and her duty to them, and that focus changes to Angus, good and bad, when he shows up. And just a few paragraphs after that, she thinks she’s scraping the bottom of the barrel when giving him reasons for finally taking her, despite the fact she’ll never let him touch her at that point in time. That idiom didn’t exist until the first half of the 1900s.
A few others that irritate me are:
pretty little head
lay of the land
grace us with his presence
left to their own devices
cleavage – not until at least 1810
shag – not until 1788
Achilles’ heel – not until 19th century
And those are just the ones I marked and can list for you now. There’s way too many to ignore in this book. It would be better if they can be reworked in some way, give a new twist to an old saying. That can be done; I’ve seen it from other authors. Just another reason I ended up aggravated while reading this story. There’s also a few inconsistencies that crop up, but those don’t bother me nearly as much as all of the above. Maybe because it’s only a few as compared to so many more of the other. I can live with a few.
But after all of this, when both Gwendolen and Angus decide it’s better that they go with the flow (sorry, couldn’t resist!), the book actually gets better. They now try to get along more, and, of course, once Angus makes Gwendolen his wife in all ways, their relationship becomes filled with laughter and happy days. Ms. MacLean does this part of the story justice. No out-of-place sayings to drag you away from the goings-on. And I like these characters much better during this time. Their happiness lasts for a while, until betrayal hits. Then the doubts creep in.
The story then follows the usual pattern we see in most romance novels when this happens. Angus thinks Gwendolen is lying about being with child, thinks she’s the one to betray him. Gwendolen, of course, wishes he’d trust her more, even though their relationship is still quite new. This all is taken nearly right up to the end, before they both acknowledge their love for the other and decide to truly trust one another. A little too long for resolution, but it works okay.
So in the end, while I’m not totally happy with this book, it is better than CbtH. Seduced by the Highlander, Lachlan’s, Angus’ Laird of War, book is to be released in October. I can only hope Ms. MacLean takes a different path for him and his heroine, instead of following along the same one in these two books. But I have a feeling the dialogue is going to once again be something I can’t get past if and when I read that one.
Grade: C
Summary:
NIGHT OF CONQUEST
With his tawny mane, battle-hewn brawn, and ferocious roar, Angus “The Lion” MacDonald is the most fearsome warrior Lady Gwendolen has ever seen—and she is his most glorious conquest. Captured in a surprise attack on her father’s castle, Gwendolen is now forced to share her bed with the man who defeated her clan. But, in spite of Angus’s overpowering charms, she refuses to surrender her innocence without a fight…PRISONER OF PASSION
With her stunning beauty, bold defiance, and brazen smile, Gwendolen is the most infuriating woman Angus has ever known—and the most intoxicating. Forcing her to become his bride will unite their two clans as one. But conquering Gwendolen’s heart will take all his skills as a lover. Night after night, his touch sets her on fire. Kiss after kiss, his hunger fuels her passion. But, as Gwendolen’s body betrays her growing love for Angus, a secret enemy plots to betray them both…Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
