Customer Reviews

Dangerous Highlander: A Dark Sword Novel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I recently finished Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant, the first novel in her Dark Sword series. The book was published in paperback by St. Martin's Press in 2010.

I don't usually give five stars to romance novels (though I am a big fan of them), but this one earned my respect early on. By chapter three I was completely hooked on this series. The three MacLeod brothers--eldest Fallon, middle brother Lucan, and youngest Quinn--are simply irresistible.

It's not just that they're gorgeous Scottish Highlanders, either. Thanks to the workings of ancient Druid magic, originally used to fend off the Romans, the three brothers share an ancient god trapped inside them. A madwoman seeks to capture them because of this, and because of their secret, their clan was slaughtered. For three hundred years, the immortal brothers lived alone in the ruins of their castle with only their vengeful god for company. When an innocent young nun-in-training, Cara, ventures near their forbidden hold, she senses there's something magical about the place, but she never expects to fall in love with one of the brothers. This book was the perfect blend of romance and sword and sorcery, with moments of action but also a great heart, great chemistry, and an unforgettable band of brothers.

I took Donna Grant's Dark Sword quiz on FaceBook, and the quiz suggested "my" brother is Fallon. Okay, so Fallon does slightly resemble my husband, but so far I think I like Quinn a little better. I won't really know until I get my hands on the next book in the series, Forbidden Highlander. I plan to do that on my next trip to the bookstore.

The dark and forbidding MacLeod Castle holds many secrets. It's decrepit remains lie on the cliffs against the backdrop of a dangerous sea. Barley standing, the once great holding survives as a monument to the massacre that happened there centuries ago, wiping out the entire MacLeod clan. But the ruins are not unoccupied for at night the desperate howling cries from within echo through out the land. It is believed that ghosts roam the hallowed halls, creatures so frightening that no dares to come closer. No one until one thunderous and stormy night a woman unintentionally crosses the invisible barrier and finds herself face to face with one of the secrets of MacLeod clan.

Good beginning to a new series. I picked this one up due to its yummy cover (yeah so I like nice eye candy ;))and I wasn't disappointed. The book is good, reminding me very slightly of Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underwood books (one of my favorite paranormal romance series). The warriors in the Dark Sword series are possessed by gods which for many centuries were bound within them and passed down from generation to generation with no one the wiser. It was an evil drough (black magic) named Deidre who decided to unbind the gods within the warriors and control them, thus increasing her own powers. Fortunately there were some who escaped the dungeons of Diedre's mountain, the ones she now hunts. Her main target are the Macleod brothers (3).

This book is about the middle brother, Lucan. He is the only one of the brothers who can control his god, bringing him out at will. When Cara trespasses onto his land he finds himself unable to deny the instant deep attraction. Even though Cara is frightened by what she sees, she is loathe to deny the attraction either. But is their relationship doomed from the beginning?

I found Lucan and Cara's romance to be excellent despite the sugary overdose of the first third of the book. What lacked was a more thorough explanation of Cara's background and her mysterious vial. I felt like only the surface was scratched with that one. The biggest highlight, besides the romance, is any scenes with Deidre (oh how I love creepy villains!). I also enjoyed the Lucan's brothers and any other warriors mentioned (can anyone say bizillion sequels). My biggest disappointment was the ho-hum ending. Where was the huge fight scene that was foreshadowed to over and over again? Yep, guess that's for a sequel -again.

Although the ending was anticlimatic and a little more background could have been given its still a solid romance with a potential for a great series. So if you love highlanders and/or paranormals this is one you should check out. It looks like the sequels will only get better and better. Can't wait till Lucan's brother Quinn's book.

Up next in the series is head of the MacLeod clan -Fallon's book
Forbidden Highlander: A Dark Sword Novel

I enjoyed this story; I liked the characters; and I would like to look forward to the subsequent stories in this series. Why can't I? The writing. There are way too many "that's".......whatever happened to which, when, and where? Or, how about adding "ing" to a word instead of using one more "that"? Also, the "would of's" and "could of's" drove me crazy and interrupted the flow of the story.

The Roman legions overwhelm Britannia including the Highlands. The Celtic tribes turn to the Druids for help. The Drough Druids use the dark magic of human sacrifice enabling them to free ancient evil gods from hell who repels the Romans. Afterward the Druids are unable to send the gods back to hell so they trap them inside of Warriors who are unaware what has become part of their heritage from generation to generation.

Three centuries ago the powerful MacLeod clan is destroyed in a single night. No one claimed credit for the massacre. However, three brothers who were away, Quinn, Lucan and Fallon searched for the source. Instead they became prisoners of the culprit, Deirdre the Drough, who thirsts for power to dominate the earth through the release of the evil gods, but eventually they escaped.

In 1603, Cara the orphan picks mushrooms near Castle MacLeod when her mother's heirloom falls off her neck and she falls off a cliff during a nasty storm. Lucan who, with his siblings, resides in the castle saves her life. When Deidre sends her wyrren and Warriors to capture Cara and the heirloom called Demon's Kiss, the MacLeod siblings save her from the monsters who killed everyone else in the village. As Lucan and Cara fall in love, Deirdre continues to send her beasts after them as she needs the woman, the heirloom, and the brothers to complete her quest.

This is a super historical romantic fantasy that grips readers from the onset and never slows down yet introduces the underlying premise, a strong support cast (the good, the bad and the monsters) and a terrific lead couple inside of vividly described realm. Fans will appreciate Donna Grant's great opening Dark Sword while looking forward to the adventures in love and supernatural war starring the drunken widower Fallen the Laird of no clan and raging Quinn whose anger remains stratospheric.

Harriet Klausner

This is my first excursion into the works of Donna Grant. It was indeed a privilege. Dangerous Highlander is the premier book of the Dark Sword series. The series chronicles the stories of a group of fierce highlanders who have had ancient celtic gods bound to them by an evil druid sect called the Drough. The MacLeod brothers, Fallon, Lucan, and Quinn are three such warriors. The brothers have isolated themselves from Scotland for 300 years. In the castle ruins of their destroyed clan, the brothers have hidden away, horrified by the monsters that dwell within themselves. Until one day Lucan witnesses a beautiful young girl about to go head first over a crumbling cliff. Exposing himself and his brothers, Lucan rushes to save the girl and thus the journey begins.
I have strayed away from historicals because of the fact that most of the heroines in this genre have a tendency to give me a headache. Not so our Cara. Even though she is only 18 years old and pledged to enter the convent, she is by no means a milquetoast. She is quite the brave and spunky lass. Lucan, the hero of this book, is by far the most adjusted of the McLeod brothers. However, being as that he has not been with a woman in 300 years, I really needed him to be a bit more fierce in his passions. That was really my only complaint with the book. Just a little bit more variation or adventure in the bedroom would have suited me just fine.
The other brothers, and the warriors that are encountered throughout the story promise to be more complex, and maybe a bit more sexual. I love the premise and will definitely check out the rest of the series.

I have been wanting to read this series for awhile now, I have seen many good reviews and they have been on my wishlist/TBR for what seems like forever. I finally bought this one out of whim one day. Not sure why hot cover, story called to me but I am sure glad I did. My only regret is that I didn't start or buy this book sooner.

This book combines both of my favorite genres in one, paranormal historical. I was certainly surprised just how fast I read this book, I read this book in one day- I just couldn't put it down. May I point out first and for most I loved the characters that is a must for me, to be able to connect to them which I did wholeheartedly.

As much as I loved the main characters, I equally loved the side characters. I loved the relationships not only with Lucan and Cara but with the brothers as well. I loved how despite all they had been through they stuck together as a family should. What I found especially nice was how welcome they made this girl feel at home though there was a few tense moments.

The backstory was very easy to understand and not once did I feel confused or that it dragged on too long. Overall this book captured my attention and held it to the very end. I can't wait to read Fallon's book which is next in the series, Forbidden Highlander.

DANGEROUS HIGHLANDER is the first in a new series, DARK SWORDS, from author Donna Grant. This is an outstanding story with elements of romance, paranormal, suspense, and of course the Scottish Highlands. Any true fan of Scotttish romance should ALWAYS expect paranormal as that is part of the "magic" of the Scottish Highlander and Ms. Grant does that "magic" very well. Lucan is a great hero and Cara is a fascinating heroine. This is a wonderful romance and great beginning to a new series. I would highly recommend DANGEROUS HIGHLANDER to everyone, especially if you love Highlanders and honestly who doesn't?

With "Dangerous Highlander", Donna Grant gives the reader an enjoyable paranormal historical romance filled with excitement and wonderful characters. One of the things I like best about this book is the strong bond between the three MacLeod brothers and the potential camaraderie with the other warriors they meet up with.

The hero/heroine, Cara and Lucan, make a wonderful pair. Their attraction is instantaneous and intense and very clear to the reader. It would have been better if the author did not remind us so often of how much Lucan wanted to kiss/touch/make love to Cara. There came a point where I felt like saying "enough already, I get the picture, I know how much he wants her".

Another thing I did not care for in the book was the author's pseudo-attempt at using Scottish brogue. Every now and then she'd throw in a "doona" or some such word to make it sound like a Scottish brogue, but it wasn't consistent enough to sound right. It sounded forced. If she couldn't commit to it completely, it would have been better if it wasn't even there.

However, despite the few annoyances mentioned, this book was still very engaging and delightful to read. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Centuries ago, the Celts asked the druids for help when Rome invaded their lands. The gods were called from Hell and bound to the fiercest warriors of various clans. The drough are druids who practice black magic and the mie are good. Deirdre is a drough who desperately wants the powers each of the Warriors possess. The MacLeod brothers have been hiding from Deirdre for centuries as they try desperately to unbind themselves from the gods trapped inside of them. When Lucan saves Cara from falling to her death, their sanctuary is threatened and danger finds them. There is more to Cara than what they see, and as they discover who she is, they learn that their battle against Deirdre has only just begun.

Dangerous Highlander is an intriguing story and the MacLeod brothers are fierce and passionate warriors. The story behind how the gods became trapped in the brothers is fascinating and ingenious. The plot that follows is full of danger, action, and angst. Quinn is bitter and angry, Fallon drowns his worry in drink, and Lucan holds them all together. It's hard for the brothers to accept the change that's happening to them, but they all know they have no choice. Cara's presence affects them all, but none more so than Lucan. Cara stirs emotions Lucan thought long forgotten. Once they meet, their romantic relationship seems inevitable. Although Cara was a part of a clan and Lucan was alone with only his brothers for company for centuries, they both led solitary lives. It's not until they meet that both begin to really live. Dangerous Highlander is erotic, exciting, and enchanting.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Stand aside Gena Showalter, J R Ward, Christine Feehan and Lora Leigh. Donna Grant's Dark Sword series is amazing. Dangerous Highlander is the 1st book in the series and I loved it! I love Lucan, he is a definite Alpha Male and so romantic! Cara is the perfect girl for Lucan and together they truly heat up the pages. This series is similar to Gena Showalters, Lord of the Underworld but in my opinion its better. I loved how Grant created each and every character. She developed this magical world with old time hero's and magical druids with god's and goddesses. She describes each character so well I feel like I have stepped back in time and experiencing it all with them! I am looking forward to every warrior's story and cannot wait to read Fallon and Quinn's. Well Done Ms. Grant, you can definitely add another fan to your list! PS: Love the prices of your books and that you made it available on Kindle. I hope that when Quinn's book is released, that you make it available on Kindle immediatley. I am quite upset at some Authors who prefers to wait some months before making it available just so they can make more money. I for one prefer Kindle, less clutter in my home!