Veena’s review of How to Handle A Highlander (Sutherlands, Book 3) by Mary Wine
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 05 Nov 13
I’ve always been a sucker for Highland men with their sexy brogues, swinging kilts, and let’s not forget what it is they hide under those kilts. Mmm! In addition to the delicious beauty of the hero, this book abounds in intrigue and plotting at so many different levels that it’s hard to separate fact from fiction at times. But wait, this is all fiction, though it is so well written and so true to the time that I almost feel like history is unfolding in front of me.
Gahan Sutherland is the epitome of the romantic Highland laird. He is bastard born but recognized by his father, the Earl of Sutherland, and treated as an equal with his brother, the heir. More importantly, he has a close and loving relationship with his father and brothers. This book follows the previous two books in the series, so at times I was lost with some of the references, but overall I still managed to understand and enjoy this story.
Moira Frazer is the enemy, but Gahan can’t resist her, try as he might. Her sister tried to poison his father and almost succeeded, not only in killing him but also getting his sister-in-law punished for the crime. Her half brother Bari, who is the Frazer laird, uses Moira as a pawn in his pursuit for vengeance, forcing her to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather in exchange for an army. Little does he know that Achiaus has his own plan to leverage the marriage to create a rift in the Sutherland clan, as well as usurp the Frazer lands in the aftermath of the fallout.
Poor Moira, all she wants to do is to live a simple life and keep her clan safe. She has the courage to marry an old man to prevent a war. No matter what’s thrown her way, she’s determined to do her best with kindness and courtesy, which she finds returned to her multi-fold in the most unexpected ways. Regardless of her red-hot attraction to Gahan, she is determined to resist him and stay true to her marriage and husband, but fate has other plans for her and constantly throws Gahan in her path to tempt her away from her unconsummated marriage vows.
Gahan is a superman. He loves Moira beyond a shadow of doubt and is determined to have her as wife, while figuring out a way to keep the peace in the Highlands. At the beginning, some of the circumstances make me suspect that while he can’t resist Moira, he is using her as a political pawn for his own objectives. He’s a formidable hero as he goes after his objective of winning Moira with a single-minded determination, using his friends and allies to help him achieve his goal.
This is a wonderful fast-paced story that I thoroughly enjoyed, even though I did have some pangs about the implication that adultery is okay under certain circumstances.
Grade: A
Summary:
Moira Frazer is betrothed to a man who is old enough to be her father, but it’s her duty to her clan to marry him, and she’s determined to see this through…until she meets Gahan Sutherland.
Gahan knows this match is designed to start a feud between the clans which is why he decides to stop the wedding. But when Moira awakens a passion within him that he never knew existed, he realizes that the outcome of this perilous situation will determine the future of his own happiness.
As trust and honor clash with forbidden attraction, manipulations, rivalries, and schemes will threaten to blow the Highlands sky high…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
