Customer Reviews

Devil's Highlander (A Clan MacAlpin Novel)

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Devil's Highlander by Veronica Wolff
Historical Romance- Aug. 3, 2010
4 stars

Cormac's twin Aidan was kidnapped when he was 10 years old. The cruel loss of Aidan caused his family to crumble. For years, Cormac, haunted by guilt, unsuccessfully searched for his brother. After years of fighting wars and staying abroad, Cormac comes home hardened and scarred. Marjorie, his childhood sweetheart, comes to him asking for his help to find a kidnapped orphan. Marjorie, too, blames herself for Aidan's disappearance. Can the two of them learn to care for each other despite the lingering guilt over Aidan's kidnapping

The premise for Devil's Highland is interesting and sad at the same time. Cormac blames himself for not keeping watch over Aidan and for being the one that survived the kidnapping. Marjorie blames herself for getting the boys in the situation that led to Aidan's kidnapping. With so many traumatic events going on, one cannot help but root for Cormac to find redemption through saving another orphan. I enjoyed these characters so much I wanted Marjorie and Cormac to get together.

What I also enjoyed about this book is its historical depth. In the past, little boys were used to clean the chimneys. Some of them died trapped in the chimneys when they got too big. Unwanted orphans, beggar children, and these chimney boys were often kidnapped and send to work in the plantations of the new world. Set against such deeply inhumane background, Wolff's novel has such potential and realism.

Wolff's rich details and brisk pacing keeps the action fast and frantic. The chemistry and tension between Cormac and Marjorie also adds to the tense atmosphere. I kept wondering when is the love scene going to happen? Wolff is an engaging writer who creates two believable characters. Albeit, the characters are nothing new really: gruff, tortured hero and spunky, spitfire heroine. But, Wolff is a talented writer who gives Cormac and Marjorie their own unique voice.

Devil's Highlander is definitely a recommended read especially for those who love the Highlander genre. This book has it all: romance, swashbuckling, and a rich historical background.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Marjorie Keith has loved Cormac MacAlpin forever. She and Cormac used to be best friends when they were children, but that ended the day Cormac's twin brother Aidan was mistaken for a beggar boy and forcibly sent to Barbados when he was only ten. Both Cormac and Marjorie blame themselves even though they were just children. Cormac went off to fight for his country while Marjorie suffered silently. Now thirteen years later, Cormac has come back and spends his days fishing. Marjorie aches for Cormac and wants more than just a fragile friendship between them. She comes to him for help. Marjorie tends to the children that are in a poorhouse, and one small lad in particular, five-year old Davie has gone missing. She thinks he has been taken much like Aidan was and wants Cormac's help to find Davie.

Cormac longs to lose himself in Marjorie's arms, but he feels he is not good enough for her. He's damaged and has been since that day he couldn't protect Aidan. He's done some horrible things since then, and if Marjorie knew, she would turn away from him. When he refuses to help Marjorie, she has no choice but to investigate herself, which will lead her to the dangerous docks where ruffians lurk in the shadows. Cormac thinks Marjorie is stubborn and not thinking correctly. She tries his patience, and because he doesn't want any harm her to come to harm, he decides to help.

Cormac and Marjorie maneuver through a dark world of child slavery with shocking results. Marjorie may think Cormac is the very devil at times, but she wants nothing more than to give him peace. She sees such despair and loneliness in his eyes and will do whatever she can to make him see that he is deserving of love.

Cormac is one lusty Scotsman in Devil's Highlander and the underlying sexual tension between him and Marjorie is hot and very sexy. These two have always had a deep bond starting from childhood that grew into adulthood. Because of a tragedy, Cormac turned away from Marjorie. But his "Ree", as he likes to call her, won't let him walk away from her. She wants Cormac, faults and all.

This is a typical story where the tortured hero thinks he isn't worthy of the heroine because of something that isn't necessarily his fault. Cormac is more than depressed over the loss of Aidan, but soon he lightens up when he and Marjorie pretend to be husband and wife. Those scenes are sweet and funny and these two are not afraid to share affection with one another, which leads to some wonderful love scenes.

Devil's Highlander doesn't have many memorable secondary characters and relies mainly on Cormac and Marjorie to keep the reader interested as they team up to take down some rotten individuals. There is a small twist at the end that some may not see coming that sets the stage for the next Clan MacAlpin novel, Devil's Own.

This was my first book by Veronica Wolff and a very enjoyable read. I look forward to her next Scottish romance with a hero who may be damaged and finally set free by the love of his heroine.

Katiebabs

I loved this book. It has action, history and a love that spans from childhood until it can finally be realized. A touching romance with lots of action. If you like Highlander books, Veronica Wolff is a must read.

It amazes me a reviewer found the scene's where they pretend to be married sweet and funny. For me, they were unbearably ridiculous and where I quit reading. Marjorie stupidly puts them in danger because she was miffed at Cormac. Because she can't "abide being silenced" she spouts off inanities when treading dangerous ground and makes their situation all the more dangerous. She finally realizes that "her foolish temper had talked her into a corner" and it's up to Cormac to extricate them from the situation. She's an idiot. Later, she throws a childish fit and accuses Cormac of not trusting her to act intelligently in this situation. Uh...you mean he's afraid she'll act just like she did?

I follow the author Veronica Wolff closely and have read all her books as they were published. I recently bought and read this book on Kindle and it is another hit by Veronica.
This story differs from her previous series and is solely a historical romance.

But she doesn't disappoint. There is a load of romance, a ton of action and each chapter is a page turner. And as all her other books, when I was finished I cried, because I didn't want it to be over.

Amazing, that's what I think!

In 1660 Scotland following the defeat of the Scots, the MacAlpin clan returns home to Dunnottar. A war hero, Cormac MacAlpin remains traumatized though thirteen years have passed since his brother Aiden was abducted while the pair were playing in Aberdeen. His best friend Marjorie Keith was with the brothers when the tragedy occurred and has since become an angel to the impoverished youth of the city.

When another child is snatched from the city's streets, Marjorie begs Cormac the reclusive fisherman to save the kid. However, he remains immobile by shame and self-pity. She refuses to accept inertia from her beloved. Instead she keeps pressuring him to join her on an investigation into who is kidnapping children off the streets of Aberdeen or she will go it alone.

This is a wonderful seventeenth century Highlander romance starring a tormented reluctant hero who blames himself for what happened to his twin though he could do nothing to prevent the kidnapping and the angel who demands he save the latest victim. The story line is at its best when the focus is on 1660; the plot slightly decelerates when it centers on the lead couple's traumatized look back to the tragic event of 1647 though that adds enormous realism as the snatching of Aiden made Cormac and Marjorie what they are as adults. Fans will appreciate Veronica Wolfe's latest Highlander romance wondering what became of Aiden.

Harriet Klausner

I have loved Veronica Wolff's other books. Its almost as if this one was written by someone else! I felt this book was like so many of the other very ordinary, same old same old, predictable stories. Gone was her previous clever and witty dialogue, the poignant, and touching relationships. When I read her first book, I was hooked and was not disappointed by the next two. I anxiously awaited "Devil's Highlander" and was very disappointed.