Customer Reviews

The Destiny

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was first introduced to this author in "The Legend", the wonderful predecessor to this book and I'm glad I discovered her. "The Legend" introduced twin brothers James and Neil MacCurrie and the prophecies involving their lives, loves, war, peace and the future of their clan.

"The Destiny" is laird Neil's story and opens with Neil returning from a meeting with exiled King James in France. Posing as a French Huguenot, he arrives at what he has been told is a safehouse and there he meets Eileen Ronley. She has been asked to translate French to English so that it can be determined who he is and why he has come. During the exchange, Eileen comes to doubt that he is, indeed French, since he seems to know of her Scots mother. Neil is stunned to discover that Eileen is the long lost cousin of his own cousin Duncan. They begin to feel an attraction to one another immediately. When Neil is imprisoned, Eileen helps him to escape and he leaves her with a kiss and the words "I will see you again".

Eileen is the granddaughter of King Charles II. Her father was the king's illegitimate son, but there are rumours that Charles did, in fact marry Jane Ronley. If that could be proven, Eileen would then be the rightful queen. This makes life quite dangerous for Eileen (which worries Neil even more than Eileen) and creates most of the intrigue and conflict in this story. Will Neil return to London and find her? Will Eileen pursue her claim to the throne? Are Neil and Eileen each other's destiny?

If you need to have hero and heroine constantly together and having sex, you likely won't enjoy this book. Neil and Eileen are seperated often, but there are enough sweet, romantic encounters along the way that turn your heart to mush and keep the romance alive for Neil, Eileen and the reader. Though I liked "The Legend" better, this is still recommended and I hope that Duncan will get his story next. :)

Set against a backdrop of turbulent historical times and inter-mingled with an ancient prophecy that can't be denied, THE DESTINY shines!
Jacobites, supporters of the exiled branch of the house of Stuart are seeking to restore James II to the English and Scottish thrones. When William III and Mary II ascended the throne after the flight of James II to France, strong Stuart partisans remained to offer rebellion. Neil MacCurrie, a highland Chieftain is in England, a very dangerous place to be during these times.

Eileen Ronley first meets Neil MacCurrie disguised as a Frenchman seeking shelter and a safe place to stay at her father's home. Unfortunately her father has mysteriously died several years earlier along with her mother, and the house is now owned by Milford, a man who is both suspicious and weary of this strange visitor to the Ronley home. Neil is on dangerous ground and his true heritage must not be discovered. Knowing this he answers untruthfully the questions set before him by Milford and he is taken prisoner. Eileen suspects he is not what he seems but regardless of this bravely helps him escape. Neil and Eileen feel a compelling and strong attraction and share a kiss farewell. They meet again in the royal courts of King William III and Mary II, a dangerous place for any Scot. There they fall in love and just might find their 50 years of peace.

THE DESTINY is a sweeping grand tale of political intrigue, personal ambition and romance that should not be missed!

In 1691, the Scottish Earl of Torridan Neil MacCurrie travels to France to discuss the future with exiled King James. However, the despondent monarch delays his meeting before finally encouraging Neil to swear alliance to his son-in-law and daughter. The wait in France forces Neil to quietly cross the Channel to England.

Disguised as a Huguenot, Jean Paul Belmond, Neil seeks sanctuary at the home of Ronley only to learn that the Earl is dead, his daughter Eileen a "guest" with no prospects, and the keep run by Milford. The new earl imprisons Neil, but Eileen helps him escape. After getting home, Neil goes back to retrieve Eileen only to learn she is staying with her cousin Princess Ann in London. Pretending to be Jean Paul, he struggles to keep Eileen safe as evidence has surfaced that she is the legitimate claimant to the throne even as he falls in love with her.

The sequel to THE LEGEND, THE DESTINY is an exciting seventeenth century romance that hums with real persona augmenting the love story between the lead characters. The story line is filled with intrigue and non-stop action, as it seems every major player has an agenda. Kathleen Givens gives her fans a rousing sequel that brings perspective to the early days of the reign of William and Mary (with a few fictional twists) that make for a fun time.

Harriet Klausner

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast, entertaining read and the charaters were well rounded. I have come to love Jamie, Neil and Duncan (I hope his story is next!)

If you like Highland romances, this will not disappoint!

With this book I have read all of Kathleen Givens books and they are a little hard to find but definitely worth the effort of finding. If you like historical romance set in Scotland it is a good read. Mrs. Givens has just enough historical detail that the book is not boring the ending is a little out there but still an excellent read.

Having waited too long for the DESTINY - it's a pleasure to realize that good things are worth the wait. Kathleen's LEGEND, was captivating on all levels and now after reading DESTINY it is so refreshing to not be hit with smut; instead you get exacting history mingled with real life emotions. All you readers out there with a brain and a heart - this should be your next purchase!

I have read Ms. Givens' previous books and have enjoyed them all thoroughly but I do believe this is my favorite one yet. Not only does she craft a story of great action and suspense but a love story with multilayered characters and a sophisticated historical overlay. I was up all night turning the pages! It's definitely a must-read - enjoy!

Okay come on why do we buy romance novels? Because we really like the mushy stuff right. Well it really wasn't there. I enjoyed the plot and thought that the book had so much potential but I was sorely disappointed that Eileen keeps Neil at bay so long and when finally she surrenders to his love she is forcefully kept away from him almost the entire time. And Neil falls in love with her so fast, there is no wooing or soft kisses. Or even much professions of passionate love, and when they finally do come around to making love it's over just like that. I must say I was pretty bored. It felt like I was reading a good historical novel but not a romance. Dissapointing to say the least.

I am a devoted fan of Kathleen Givens's amazing work (see my other reviews). It is sad we lost her this year (2010) and that the six works we have now are all we'll ever have. I loved this two book series about twin brothers from the clan MacCurrie living on the Northwestern shore of Scotland at their family seat, Torridon. It takes place in 17th century Scotland (and England). I don't think it's quite as good as On A Highland Shore and Rivals for the Crown or the Kilgannon series, both of which set a new 5 star standard (and that is the only reason I don't give this series 5 stars), but I did really enjoy it. Givens has a real talent for weaving true history into a story that captures the heart. Always her tales tug at my heartstrings. This second in the two book series (The Legend and The Destiny) is no exception. The series presents the clan MacCurrie and a legend told by the Seer of two brothers, twins Neil and Jamie, and their family. The twins communicate without speaking and know each other's emotions, even over long distances. Their father, grandfather and great grandfather all died on their birthday as the Seer predicted and the twins were conceived the night the great oak tree that is the clan symbol was split in two by lightening. Yet each half of the tree lived. And the legend tells of the brothers going to war and then of 50 years of peace. The war has already taken place in the Legend. This is the second story, of the clan chief, Neil MacCurrie and Eileen Ronley, a cousin to King William and half Scottish (MacKenzie) and cousin to Duncan. It begins with Neil's having made trips to France to talk to the now deposed King James to learn of his future intentions. Neil masquerades as a Frenchman, but Eileen who meets him when he comes to her home to stay the night, is not fooled. Still, she thinks enough of him to save his life when his is threatened. There is something between them that neither can explain. This story involves the court of William and Mary and the intrigue there of which Eileen is a part. If Eileen's father, the oldest son of King Charles II had been legitimate, Eileen would be the rightful Queen of England. Could that be the case? If you love Scottish and English historical romance, you will find it in this tale. I recommend beginning with the first book in the series, The Legend (Jamie's story).

I have only one complaint. Where Eileen is not direct in confronting James. She is established as a strong direct character and in this one instance she deviates from that character. This deviation from character, of course, sets up the rest of the book but was unbelieveable.