Customer Reviews

Charming the Highlander (Highlander Trilogy)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The book starts off, on the sad side, as our heroine Grace Sutter, is at the bedside of her younger sister Mary, who was in an accident and just delivered a baby. In her last dying breaths, Mary tells Grace, the rocket scientist, the incredible story of why she had fled the baby's father; and makes Grace promise to bring the baby back to his father who is all alone in the world. Further she is to promise to sprinkle Mary's ashes on their childhood home on Tarstone mountain on the day of the summer solstice which is four months away. Taking a sabbatical to grieve and care for `Baby' Grace travels home during a winter ice storm. The charter plane crashes into a mountain but Grace, the baby, and another traveler, Greylon MacKeague survive the crash and through superhuman effort, Grey is able to bring both Baby and Grace, to safety.

It is of course, no consequence that Grace and Grey have met or have this incredible `lusty' attraction to one another - very sensually described! Also, in the background you have this delightful wizard who cast the spell (after a few mishaps) that brought this 12th century warrior, along with a few others that were not necessarily planned for, to the 21st century to find Grey's soul mate who would bear the child, that would one day be the wizard's heir. Grace, in the meantime, has secrets of her own and continues the deception that the baby is hers, while trying to determine if the Baby's father is sane enough to raise the child - being a scientist, Grace does not believe in time travel! Discovering that the baby's father is an arch- enemy of Grey's makes the complications of her attraction to Grey and growing love of `Baby' all that more heartbreaking. The relationship between Grey and Grace as the scientist, comes to terms with this purely alpha male is divine.

What I found unique in this book was that the 12th century warriors had four years to become acclimated to modern day life prior to the time period the story takes place in. As such, you didn't have the normal `awestruck' behavior that most time travel books would depict. This initial offering from a new author was very charming and sensual and I look forward to the sequels as Grey's band of `merry men' get on with their lives in the 21st century. Excellent read, fast moving, humorous and intelligent. Bravo on this first book from an author who I predict has a very bright future!

In 1200 AD during a clan battle in the Scottish Highlands, a wizard casts a spell that sends several MacBain and MacKeage warriors into the twenty-first century. The ten time travelers include the MacKeage brothers Greylen and Morgan.

A pregnant Mary Sutter fled her lover Michael MacBain when he insisted he was born in 1171. She stays with her sister Grace in Norfolk before deciding to return to her beloved Michael. Instead she dies in a car accident. She gives birth to a son, makes Grace promise to take the child to Michael, and asks for her ashes to be spread in Maine.

Rocket scientist Grace receives a sabbatical to complete her sister's dying wishes. Flying over Maine with one other passenger besides herself and her nephew, the plane crashes killing the pilot. The other flier Greylen keeps Grace, who he recognizes as his soul mate, and the baby alive by using all he learned in the highlands almost a millennium ago in real time, but not too long ago in his biological time.

This engaging time travel romance occurs after the displaced Highlanders have some time to adapt to their new environs. Still the audience observes the discomfit of Greylen when he flies on the commuter plane as this goes against all he knows (if God wants man to fly he would have given him wings attitude). It is this type of detail to the feelings especially of the lead couple that turns this into a delightful tale.

Harriet Klausner

I bought this book on a whim at my local bookstore and I loved every last page! Being a Mainer myself, I was thrilled to find that the story was located in my "backyard", so to speak. The main characters, Grace Sutter and Greylen MacKeage are wonderful. Grace, a rocket scientist, has just lost her sister in an automobile accident and now has the care of her sister's infant son. Her sister tells her on her deathbed that the baby's father is a Scottish Laird who was born in 1171...needless to say, she is unbelieving. She makes a promise to her sister to bring her baby to his father, all the while wondering if this man is sane or not.
On her journey to her sister's home in Maine during an ice storm, her plane crashes and she is thrust, literally, into the arms of Greylen. Little does Grace know, but Greylen is also a laird, sent through time to find his true soulmate. Grey realizes Grace is the one the minute he lays eyes on her. The rest of the book is played out on TarStone mountain with a host of amusing characters. The ending is true and endearing.
What I loved most about this book is the reality of the situation. Big, burly Scottish men always get me but these characters were sensitive, lovable and true to life.
Ms. Chapman also chose a familiar setting and time for the book. Back in 1998, here in Maine, we had the "storm of the century". Ice fell from the sky, covering everything. For weeks we were all without power. For her to use this storm in a positive way was wonderful for me. I cannot wait for her next book!!!

This book was far better on the blurb on the back then it was reading it. Sounds very intriguing and hard to put down, but I found myself bored and waiting for the interesting parts and was let down.

The main character Grace Sutter is in a fateful plane crash on an icy mountain in the middle of Maine. Her only companion is the only other survivor a large man named Greylan MacKeage.
With the sheer help of this man, she survives the crash and trek down, barely. What they find is a love that was destined to be by the stars above and Grey is a little older than she thought...far older....is he her destiny?

That about covers it. She is a rocket scientist and seems to harp on this fact. IMO, I thought it was a little rude to point it out DOZENS of times and make it seem as though the 'simple' people in town were just that, along with her sister who lived such a 'simple 'life.

The romance between the two was too fast and seemed to come out of nowhere. I wasn't convinced in the end they were so fated to be as one and still never warmed to their 'love' for one another.

Grey is very vague. We don't get to know him very well. Kind of cardboard-cut-out character. Big, strong, Highlander from another time comes to find his destiny. Nothing really interesting about him or his past. He comes off as a little too domineering at times and then too one dimensional. I can say I don't really know who he was or anything about him other than where he came from...vaguely.

The mystery in the story isn't much of a mystery and seemed thrown in like some last minute ingredient that doesn't mix well. There are loose ends that never get tied and I was left feeling frustrated and lost and mostly bored and uninterested in reading the sequels.

Tracy Talley~@

I admit to buying this book only for the word 'Highlander' in the title.
Grey is great - every woman's dream man. Tall, strong, dependable, trustworthy, protective... But what is that - going after men with guns armed only with a sword. He's lived in this century for four years, and still hasn't figured out the odds?
Grace on the other hand only made me want to slap her - HARD. The selfishness of that woman made me cringe. In my opinion, every father has the right to know he has a son, and every son needs to know his real father. I know her sister died, and all, but what the hell was she thinking?!
The plot itself was good - only the kidnapping scene towards the end just wasn't right. It disrupted everything, if you ask me. The author could think of something else, if she wanted to add some suspense.

In the first book to Janet Chapman's Highlander Trilogy, we meet the laird of Clan MacKeage - Greylen MacKeage - a 12th century Scottish warrior thrust forward into the modern day by a wizard intent on uniting him with his soul mate.

In the beginning of the book, we see how the wizard Pendaar eagerly awaits the arrival of Greylen. The moment he sees the warrior, Pendaar starts invoking the ancient magic that will transport Greylen into modern Maine. But things don't go smoothly for an ambush awaited the laird and his three kinsmen, and before the wizard could stop it, the four MacKeages and six of their enemies found themselves in the same spot eight hundred years later. But with the aid of the very helpful Father Daar, half of them survived and eventually followed the priest's urging to set themselves up in Maine. Now four years later and the MacKeages run their own ski resort and live in their own castle. And having established himself in the modern world, Grey is now intent on rebuilding his clan by finding him a wife.

Enter Grace Sutter. Having made a promise to her dying sister that she will give her newly born niece to her father, Grace goes back to Maine with Baby in tow. But when the plane crashes, she finds herself stranded in the wilderness with no one to help her and Baby but Greylen. And so starts the romance between an ancient warrior and a modern day rocket scientist.

CHARMING THE HIGHLANDER is a good kick-off to the series, and also an impressive first novel by the author. Grey and Grace are both interesting characters and convincingly suited for each other. I liked how Grey and his kinsmen adapted well to the modern world, yet at the same time retaining some of their ancient beliefs such as the fact that Grey is still laird of their clan, even though there's only four of them now. Grace is a very likable heroine, and I was surprised to read someone mention that they found Grace's possessiveness over Baby tedious. I personally thought that it was handled well and we were given good reason for that. Really, who would wholeheartedly hand over a baby to her father who claims to have been propelled in time? And this is another interesting part of the story, the fact that her niece's father is the mortal enemy of the man she's in love with, the man so intent on keeping his past a secret.

With its charming characters, including the secondary ones, and delightful exchanges between the hero and heroine, CHARMING THE HIGHLANDER is a nice introduction to the trilogy and the epilogue is sure to leave a smile on your face. The other two books are LOVING THE HIGHLANDER and WEDDING THE HIGHLANDER.

This was a very "sweet" read. You already know the plot by now, so I won't repeat it. The characters were well developed and the story was fast paced. Personally I'd like a little more descriptive "sheet dancing", but it would not have worked here. The interaction between the characters was witty and real. Best part of the story for me was thinking about a scared highlander fashioning a diaper out of a towel for 4 week old "Baby" and winds up making an over the shoulder plaid for him. I'd like to see that sold in a store. Worth your time and money.

Charming the Highlander is a sweet story with a group of nice, mature characters. Even the alpha males, which abound in this story, are basically great guys with good hearts that aren't too hard headed. I am not a time travel fan but had no problem with that aspect since this group of Scottish males of four MacKeages and one MacBain had been transported through time from the twelfth century four years prior to the beginning of the story. They have mostly adjusted to today's world and have constructed and own a ski resort in upper Maine that will open within the year. The wizard who is responsible for their time travel has closely watched over the MacKeage Scottish warriors. They know the wizard as a present day priest who teaches them the ways of the twenty-first century and assists them in obtaining a financial fortune to allow a profitable living. This priest/wizard is an entertaining part of the story. Not all of his magic tricks or concoctions work out as he plans. There were some pages that were filled with highly entertaining bits of his antics.

Greylen MacKeage is the laird of the MacKeage clan and stays in charge in present day. Some things cannot change and the other warriors expect Greylen's leadership. It is only natural. In the opening pages of the book, Greylen is attempting a return trip to his Maine home and is dreading the trip in a small aircraft with a cocky, careless pilot. Joining him on this flight is a beautiful woman, Grace Sutter, who captures Greylen's attention immediately. Grace has a newborn baby with her and Greylen assumes that it is her baby - who would not? Grace is letting all assume she is the mother of this precious baby who has the name of Baby. Baby is actually the son of Grace's sister, Mary, who was recently died. Her sister's final request of Grace is to take her baby to their small Maine hometown and give him to Baby's father. The father, Michael MacBain, has no knowledge of Baby since Mary had left him and gone to Grace's home when Michael told her he was actually from the twelfth century. Mary doubted his sanity but had finally decided to return to him when she was injured in the accident that claimed her life. Grace is now following her sister's wishes and taking Baby to his father but Grace has strong reservations about actually letting Michael MacBain know of his son. She knows of this time travel fantasy and does not want to leave Baby with an unstable man.

The plane crashes and Grace and Baby must rely on Greylen to get them off the snowy mountain and back to civilization. He is a very kind and considerate man although a little odd with some odd perceptions of women's role in society. His strength during and after the crash as well as his ability to withstand very harsh weather and terrain greatly impresses Grace. She soon learns to trust Greylen and before reaching their destination, both know there is a mutual attraction that will be difficult to deny.

This is an absorbing book that has some very humorous moments. Grace, a brilliant scientist, is a very charming woman who has given herself to her career with little time for anything else. But now she is finding the prospect of all these new close relationships plus returning to her hometown after so many years quite attractive. Could she move out of the big city and remain in this beautiful state of Maine? She is considering this especially as she learns more about Baby's father and he admits to his time travel story when Grace questions him. Maine would be a good place for Grace to raise Baby. Michael need never know the child is his but Grace has made a promise to her dead sister to give the child to his father. Grace goes back and forth on this issue so much that her thoughts get sometimes tiring. Greylen is ready to accept Grace and Baby as his own. Imagine his shock when he discovers that it is not possible for Grace to be a mother.

The leads relationship is very touching and fun. There are many secondary characters, some which add a great deal to the story. Of course, there is the villain aspect that runs in the background and the author chooses to deal with them in the most unusual manner! There is a lot of great chemistry between the leads and Greylen's need to dominate Grace's life, since he has claimed her for his own, is humorously touching and not the least overbearing. There are a few sensual scenes that rate about a 3.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

Overall, I highly recommend Charming the Highlander. It is pleasurable reading with a few unusual twists. Immediately, you are drawn into the story and since you don't have to read through the usual adjustment exercises of most time travel arrivals, it is really easy to just sit back and enjoy a great story. Charming the Highlander is the first in a series followed by Loving the Highlander, and Wedding the Highlander. I see that a fourth Chapman book is scheduled for release sometime in the near future, The Seductive Imposter. I do not know if it is the fourth in this series. There are clearly four - not three - strong characters and therefore a likelihood for a fourth book.

I wish I could give it 10 stars!
What a delightful book!!
I want my own highlander lol!
Cant wait to read the rest of the series!!!

This was a nice read. It started off rather sad as has already been stated by another reviewer stated but it picks up after the first few chapters.

Grace Sutter is single and smart and her young sister has just passed away leaving behind an infant son. Mary askes Grace to take the baby back to her home in Maine and to find the father Michael MacBain and to leave the baby with him. Grace agrees and packs "Baby" and goes home but she finds herself the victim of a plane crash and the only survior besides herself and baby is a big strong Scot named Greylen. Greylen is attracted to Grace and Grace finds herself kissing this handsome man without any thought. But, before they can explore the feelings they have for each other they must get of the mountain and to safety. Of course their problems don't stop then. Grace confronts her nephew's father and decides to keep "Baby" a secret and to hold on to him herself. This of course leads to all sorts of problems and now Grace has broken a deathbed promise to her sister. Eventually everything turns out for the best but not before Grace's secrets and lies come all undone.

This was a nice read as I said before, the only problem I had with the story was the fact that I got tired of Grace's selfish behavior regarding the baby. This problem is not resolved until the last few chapters in the book. Beside that I thought that this time travel was unique and I look forward to reading the next in the series.