ARC Mini-Review: To Love a Highlander

To Love A Highlander (Scandalous Scots #1)

by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Blurb:

A TEMPTING PROPOSITION

As one of the bastards born to the Stirling court, Sorley the Hawk has never known his mother or father. It's a burning quest he has devoted himself to uncovering at any cost. But as a roguish warrior who serves at the pleasure of the King, his prowess-both on the battlefield and in his bedchamber-is legendary. So when a flame-haired Highland lass sneaks into his quarters with a tantalizing proposition, he can't resist taking her up on her offer . . .

AN UNQUENCHABLE DESIRE

Lady Mirabelle MacLaren will do anything to keep from marrying her odious suitor, even sully her own good name. And who better to despoil her than his sworn enemy, the one they call "Hawk?" As they set about the enjoyable task of ruining her reputation, Hawk and Mirabelle soon learn that rebellion never tasted so sweet.

Themes: historical, Scotland, highlanders

Rating: 3.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Well, I liked this book a lot, though not as much as the prequel to be honest and I can’t say I loved it.  The story was well written, interesting, with just enough passion and intrigue to keep the book going.   If you missed the prequel you’re missing out on a great story, but you will not in any way be lost reading this story.  The characters were well written, the plot was inventive and the setting was fascinating and beautiful.

Mirabelle is a brave woman, one that has taken her destiny into her own hands, determined to have a chance to be able to be with the only man she has ever loved and to also keep herself from being stuck with a devil of a man instead.  Having once fallen head over heels at first sight, neither Mirabelle and Sorley ever really recovered from their first meeting and when they come together again things get complicated quickly. When his past comes back to haunt him and their passion becomes too much to handle, neither of them are willing to give up on their love for anything.

Mirabelle is a great character and I loved her a lot.  She is modern beyond her times, unwilling to lose her man again and sweet to boot. Watching her blossom under Sorley’s attentions while she brings out the sweet and loving side of him made everything worthwhile.  Even though her plan is to gain Sorley’s help in tarnishing her reputation, it is obvious to reader that her ulterior motive is just to have a chance to be with the man she loves.  Sorley, one of those guys with a strange code of honor, attempts to refuse Mirabelle at every turn, trying to keep from feeling anything for her again, while still protecting her from the villain after her and determined to release her in the end to a future match with someone he feels more deserving of her.  Somewhere during all his planning, Sorley fails to take into account the fact that a woman like her knows her mind and when she decides just what she wants there is no resisting her or his love for her.

Overall, while I liked the story there was a sense there was a little something missing for me; there was a point that the story took a sudden turn for both characters and suddenly they went from making plans to never be together to suddenly declaring their undying love and deciding to marry and live HEA.  I liked Mirabelle and Sorley a great deal and the love that they both shared in the end was passionate, lasting, and sweet.  Seeing Sorley on missions and in action saving his woman was eye-opening since we mostly see him as a lady killer instead of a serious warrior. Mirabelle’s plan was a good one, something I could see any modern woman doing to try to get her man, and her bravery and heart kept her safe in some scary situations. I just wish that there had been a more subtle change of heart for the couple, one that showed the gradual change from determined to split to deciding to be together forever. I loved the connection with Archie McNab and am looking forward to the development of that story line in future books, since I have a hunch just where this is going.  Meeting Sorley’s three other friends was great too and I believe they will be the heroes in the rest of the books in the series; I do know Roag is next and I’m looking forward to it greatly. 

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.