Customer Reviews

To Conquer a Highlander

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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To Conquer a Highlander is an utterly fantastic book with characters that steal your heart. Author Mary Wine has penned a story that excites and captivates, ensuring the reader doesn't want to forgo the journey even after it's done.

The heroine, Shannon, is someone you'll cheer for. Prideful and strong, she has been born to a family that doesn't appreciate her as she deserves. When things turn sour, she finds herself engaged to a man who would be the new king of Scotland. Through no fault of her own, she becomes an enemy to her own kind, her clan a travesty that would see warring amongst their neighboring clansman. Resigned to her fate, she travels to meet her promised only to be taken by a highlander who is as hard and beautiful as the land he hails from. Torin is more than she anticipates. He is kind where she has only known cruelty, soft where she has only known hard. As he breaks down the walls she's constructed to protect herself, the story take life that is impossible to turn from.

From the moment I started reading, I was unable to put To Conquer a Highlander down. Tensions run high, ensuring you can't look away. Torin is determined to avenge his clansmen but refuses to use Shannon as a means to an end while she is determined to meet the fate that has been chosen for her. Yet, their chemistry as enemies that are attracted to one another is palpable, so intense that at times it's difficult to breathe. As their relationship progresses, you'll ache for her while you hurt for him. Ms. Wine weaves a very emotional story, and although there are moments I thought I couldn't handle the intensity, she kept luring me back with the promise of something more. The result is a story, and characters, that you positively love.

To Conquer a Highlander is a definite must read for historical fans. This is the first story I've enjoyed by Mary Wine but it will not be the last. She writes with depth and emotion, which is something die hard romance fans will appreciate and cherish. Be sure to pencil this title onto your TBR list.

I liked this one. Must have been that whole bride stealing business, those highlanders are such barbarians ;)


This is set at the backdrop of a troublesome time in Scotland. The king is murdered and the heir in hiding. Shannon Boyd's father is rooting for the bad guy and wants to marry her off to him, but first he slaughtered some people on his neighbours land. On top of a clan war there could be a civil war coming. But Laird Torin McLeren kidnaps the bride to be and takes her away to his castle. Soon he realises that she is a wildcat.



Shannon has played the obedient daughter all her life but for that she has only got pushed around, her father does not care for her at all. She is at an age that she has started to feel she will never marry and leave his rule. Her lifer has not brought her to her knees. No, she has got spirit and a fiery tongue. But then she gets captured by a sexy highlander and starts thinking things she has never thought before. She is well aware his people hate for what her father has done, and that if her father is branded a traitor she hangs with him. Still through out the book she keeps that fiery tongue and is not afraid to stand her ground and not let anyone walk on her any more.


Torin is the Laird, but with no heirs and a cousin breathing down his neck. Shannon was only meant to be a prisoner, one that would be treated fair, but not thought about until the time came. Of course the first time they meet words fly and he can see that she has got spirit. A lowland wildcat. Soon he also realises that she was not well treated at her father's home. She is not like other women that would throw themselves at home because he is laird, or to save their lives from the noose.


There is a dance between these two, with banter, but there is never mistrust. He wants her, she realises that she wants him, but can't have him. I love that he does not back down, he know what he wants, it may be difficult to achieve but hell he will fight for it. He is one sexy alpha highlander, sure there was one thing that got me a bit angry at him. But I understood it, and it was nothing bad, now he wanted to show that he cared. I will not say more, you will find out when you read it. Most of all I like how well he does treat her, and tries.


A strong woman, and man not backing down, and untamed passion when sparks fly. A stolen woman belongs to the capturer and this Highlander will fight for his love.


There was also this other guy, and my eyes went wide and I had to go and check the computer at once. Yes Connor is getting a book of his own. I am sure that one will be good too.




Final thoughts: A highland romance with a sexy Scot, and the bride he has stolen. Sounds like a good recipe for love.

I feel like I must have read a different book then the other reviewers. Shannon, the herione, is described over and over again in the story as stubborn but she wasn't stubborn, she was childish and idiotic and completely annoying. I don't know why so many authors feel like in order to have a strong female lead that she must argue with anyone over absolutely everything. I could not see how the hero would actually have fallen for her. He was wonderful--she was not. I am all for a feisty leading lady but this was definitely not the case. She absolutely ruined the entire book for me. She truly argues and is angry at everyone and everything. Even the end when she has a son she is mad because, by God, she wanted to always have everything done her way and she had informed her husband that she was having a daughter. Why did she decide this? Because everyone kept telling her how much a son would HELP her husband so she decided she should have a daughter because she didn't want people telling her what to do. Right because a loving wife decides that she should never help her husband.

Another aspect of Shannon's character that I didn't buy was that she grew up in an abusive home. I help and counsel abused women and it always frustrates me when authors seem to throw this into the story for who knows what reason and then create a character that is the antithesis of an abused woman. Not all abused women are cowed women but they are not this character at all. Nothing in her character showed her to be what the author tried to make her out to be in the first couple of chapters.

as far as highland romance goes - this is a good one. and unlike a previous reviewer, I loved the sex scenes. mildly graphic and a little raunchy, as I imagine highland sex would be! story line follows proven formula : proud and stubborn lass, strong and silent leader. overcome adversity, yadda yadda yadda. but definitely better written then the usual. I would recommend this book, and in fact, am going to get another of the author's books next purchase.

Don'cha hate people who give a book a bad review for having sex when it plainly says in the description that the book contains sex? This book was a total joy that I found hard to put down. As far as historical accuracy, erm, did you look at the cover? Do history books typically have a shirtless hottie on the front? I didn't read this book so I could later have an erudite discussion about 18th century Scottish highlanders. The primary reason I read romantic fiction is to be carried away, and I gratefully was. There was a real story here, not just sex sex sex. The part about her working in the kitchen and trying to fit in with the clan women was fascinating. Of course there are lots of thrust out chins and chests and the male will have to conquer the female, but hey, did I mention there was a shirtless hottie on the front cover? One should reasonably expect application of some variation of the alpha male romantic formula. The sex felt natural to the story, wasn't rushed and rode that fine line between hot without being overly graphic; it's hardly porn. I liked this free book for Kindle, and have already purchased other books in the series. Hot male, feisty female, R-rated sex.

Loved it. Nice Highlander romance that is an easy read. Typical Highlander story and a bit predictable, but I enjoyed every word.

Nothing really new to add in the highlander story lines which disappointed me because I really liked/ loved many of Mary Wine's other books and her highlander heroes are some of my favorites. Although not a bad read and I might be a little harsher because I have read some good highlander/medieval stories lately, such as the Black Lyon. The story started off slow or just not right. Basically Shannon's father- and absolute jerk- raids and burns one of Torin's villages killing many of his clansmen. Torin retaliates by stealing Shannon as she is sent off to marry the laird of a clan her father has plotted with to overthrow and kill the king. Both Torin and Shannon were too good and honorable, Torin needed more outrage in his quest for justice. He let her have the run of the castle and didn't want her to be treated as a servant- and this was immediately. Also I never actually saw too much resentment from the rest of his klansmen for her family's actions. Then Shannon comes to Torin's land and fits right in, she immediately starts serving food, scrubbing plates and cleaning and is accepted because she wasn't a pampered baron's daughter, but a hard worker. They acted like they didn't hate her. Don't get me wrong both the H/h had great character, honor, and morals, but it just came together to quickly for the violence that had occurred to bring them together. Around page 200 the book got so much better, a lot more love and action.

I list it as erotica because the sex scenes are plentiful and sexually detailed, as well as, pretty hot. I didn't really buy the sexual chemistry as the intense lust as I think the author tried to make it until they got down and dirty the first time and then you could feel the sizzle. I will try the next book in the series because I think this has potential. I liked the other two lairds that were introduced and I assume they will be the heroes in the next books, as well as, Mary Wine writes sexy books and I love highlanders.

This is a beautiful love story, that will warm your heart. A great book to curl up to and relax. The characters are well-written and come to life on each page, and the story is one that is not always predictable.

TO CONQUER A HIGHLANDER by Mary Wine is a wonderful historical romance set in 1437 Scotland. It is well written with depth and details and is fast paced with twists and turns. It has suspense, adventure, wit, a kidnapping, revenge, lust, power,loyality to their clansmen,sensuality, romance, and Scotland at it's worst and best. The characters are strong willed, determined, loyal to their clan and their country and betrayal. The hero, Torin, is strong, handsome, sexy, loyal to his clansmen and his country, out for revenge and falls in love. The heroine, Shannon, is strong willed, beautiful even through rather comely, fiery spirit, courage, struggles against the passion between her and Torin. She has always obeyed her father, learning to endure his crudelty toward her and others. She once again, obeys her father's wish to marry who he has given her to, a traitor of Scotland's kin. While, on her way to her wedding, she is kidnapped by the McLeren clan, who her father raided against,killed their clansmen and destroyed their village. The McLeren is going to use her for exchange of one of their clansmen, Torin's nephrew. Little do they know how much trouble their hostage is going to be, for she is determined not to let them get the best of her. She attempts several escapes, but is caught by Torin, who is guickly falling in love with her fiery spirit and determined mind. When the new king of Scotland learns of Shannon's family plot to kill him, Shannon is also in danger of the same fate her clansmens will receive for their deception. Torin is determined to be her protector. What follows is a wonderful story of love, passion, betrayal, sacrifice and truly a love story for all ages.I would highly recommend the book especially if you enjoy Scottish passion and fire. This book was received for review and details can be find at Sourcebooks Casablanca and My Book Addiction and More.

I am on a bit of a Highlander kick these days. Without going into a lot of detail about the plot, this is a classic kidnapped bride story. The hero is a classic handsome Scottish alpha who starts falling for his stolen bride pretty much right away. The heroine, Shannon, is more difficult to like (this is true of all of the heroines in the 3 Mary Wine books that I read) but she is neither weak nor too stupid to live, which is nice. Ms. Wine seems to pick one primary personality characteristic for her heroines that she sort of beats into the ground, and in Shannon's case, she is stubborn. I also like, though, the fact that all of Mary Wine's heroines are useful types -- they are not unrealistically strong, sword-wielding Xena warriors, but they are dutiful, well-trained in domestic stuff and prepared to pitch in and gain the respect of the Laird's housekeeper and staff. Romances are all about the relationship between the primary characters, and this was a good one.

There was a subplot relating to Shannon's abusive father that was entertaining and came to a bloodthirsty, but satisfying, conclusion. Torin's friends, especially Connor Lindsey, (who gets his own book) are well-drawn and also very compelling. The romance was great and pleasantly steamy. I will say that the seduction scenes in this book are quite graphic and don't leave much to the imagination, so if you are turned off by explicit sex, this is not the book for you.

I enjoyed To Conquer a Highlander enough to pick up the next two in the trilogy. They are well-priced, enjoyable, quick reads.