Customer Reviews

Her Highland Rogue

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went through the lists created on here looking for Scottish highland romances and found great reviews on this trilogy. I immediately downloaded them for kindle because I usually have better success with people's reviews rather than publishing companies. I was disappointed though. I just couldn't connect with the characters. It also read more like high school history than romantic historical fiction. It did have enough to keep me reading to find out how it ended, but barely. Some parts seemed to drag on forever and I wanted to give up completely. I am going to copy and paste this in the other 2 books reviews from this trilogy because none of them held my interest for very long and I felt the need to let someone who is looking for historical "romance" to keep searching. I still can't figure out why the other reviewers find these books so amazing. Did I miss something?

Love and Forgiveness are interwoven in this fabulous tale from Leanne Burroughs, award-winning author of Highland Wishes
In an effort to bind Scotland to England, Edward Longshanks, England's ruthless king, has marriages arranged between British sovereigns to Scotland's own. Short of money and a desire not to have their land overrun by England, Scotland's noble men and women have no recourse but to accept the forced conjugations. One such marriage contract is arranged by the fathers of Duncan MacThomas and Catherine Gillingham.

Duncan is appalled that his father who abandoned him at a young age to be foster-raised, a common practice among Scottish lairds, would stoop to such an arrangement. Nevertheless, fulfilling his father's contract with the English Gillingham, he marries Catherine, but walks away from her at the altar immediately after the ceremony is completed. Not before noting, however, her beauty before he made his exit. Abandoned by his father, abandoned by his first wife, he swears loyalty only to himself and his clan and will not risk abandonment by loving again. On the trip back to Scotland, he discovers he actually likes his new wife and an emotional bonding forges during the physical coupling he teaches her.

Catherine, none too happy about the arranged marriage herself, leaves her comfortable English surroundings to move to Duncan's rustic Highland home. A gentle soul, raised to perform to the best of her abilities, no matter the circumstances, she wins the hearts of all those in Duncan's fiefdom, except the one she most learns to care about. Her husband, Her devastatingly handsome Highland Rogue.

Upon arriving in Scotland, Duncan's personal devils assail him and the thing he fears most he commits. Catherine becomes pregnant and he rides off abandoning her when she needs him the most. Pregnant, hurt and confused she returns to her parents' home in England. An unknown enemy nearly takes her life and Duncan barely arrives in time to save her. She returns to the Scottish clanspeople who have come to love her, only now she has her own scars that need healing in addition to help heal those of her husband.

Mrs. Burroughs has penned a poignant story rich with historical conflict, emotional trauma, unforgettable, lovable characters, and lessons on endurance. The detail given to Scottish history is captured in Mrs. Burroughs picturesque prose. In reading her book, I felt like the little boy who said `I'd rather read than see a movie. I see so much more.'

Ms. Burroughs characters capture your heart from beginning to end. Her writing is pure and emotional. Reading this book made Scotland come alive for me. This book is a keeper on my shelf. I look forward to many more books by this wonderful author.

An amazing talent, Leanne Burroughs gives you a tale of Medieval Scotland that comes alive. I love Duncan and Catherine and enjoyed their struggle to find love when both are so unsure of trusting. It's an amazing story leaving me waiting for the next book by Ms. Burroughs. I am off to find her first book Highland Wishes, which a prequel to Her Highland Rogue.

I read both Highland Wishes and Her Highland Rogue this past rainy weekend. I hate reading books that are related so far apart, so I was delighted to do both at the same time. I am amazed at the growth of Burroughs from her debut book to her second novel. Her craft is so much stronger, promising a star on the rise.

I await more historical sagas from this talented writer.

I love Leanne Burroughs writing. It is so real and invokes such realistic characters and transports the reader back in time. I love that the story is so full of twists and details and yet so easy to follow. She is one of my new favorite authors!

If you haven't read her first book Highland Wishes you defenitely need to. The book captures you and sends you back in time to Scotland from the first page. This book is no different.

From the very first page you are back in Scotland during the 1300's. Scotland is still fighting for its independence. The main characters in this story are no different.

From the very first meeting between Catherine and Duncan you can feel the chemistry. The author develops these character with love and humor. You want to laugh and cry with them. There are even times you wish you could grab them through the book and shake them. She makes you love them and feel like you are there with them.

This is the second book she has written and as wonderful as her first. This book is a must read for any fan of historical fiction.

All I can say is when is her next one coming out?

I hate reviewing a book before I even finish it, but with this one, I couldn't help myself. Presently, I'm around chapter 12 (about 1/4 through the book), but I feel as though I should be nearing the end. So much has taken place to this point, that with most other historical romances that I've read, the book would be at least half way through by now. I wonder what more can happen? Unfortunately, in my opinion, I feel as though I've missed out on so much with this story because of lack of detail/developement. I can't bring myself to care for the H/H because I don't know them. The author tells us they care for each other, but I'm not shown it. The first 1/4 of the book, all they do is have sex, but again, I'm just told about it - two or three sentences later and we've moving on again. In one chapter, Duncan leaves Catherine, but the very next he realizes his mistake and wants her back. The story skips along so quickly, it almost reminds me of watching a movie in fast forward. Many others have given this book greaat reviews, which gives me hope that it could get better, but right now, I just don't see it. I'd rate it a 2, but give it a 3 because I haven't finished reading it yet and who knows? I still have 24 more chapters to go...plus the epilogue!

During the turbulent times of 1304, Scotland is fighting for their independence fro England. In an effort to keep the peace Highlander Duncan MacThomas has been ordered to marry Englishwoman Catherine Gillingham.

Duncan has been married once before and has a child. His wife abandoned him and was unfaithful so he has problems accepting a new wife. Catherine is not sure about wedding the highlander but does so to follow her father's wishes.

Once they are wed Duncan beds Catherine, and then instantly takes her to Scotland, where he abandons her at their home, not knowing that she is with child. An enemy of Duncan's attacks Catherine and she loses the child. Duncan again takes her back to Scotland where they fight the battles of the time, as well as their inability to come to terms with each other.

Her Highland Rogue is a well-researched and well-written novel. Having said that, however, there was so much angst in the novel that at times I wanted to take the two main characters heads, smack them together and yell "snap out of it!" And although I know it was a sign of the times, too many sorrows and troubles bogged this novel down for me.

Amelia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

In a stunning sequel to Burroughs HIGHLAND WISHES, the reader will find a powerfully emotional and passionate love story that focuses on Duncan McThomas, who was introduced in that novel.

As Duncan is summoned home by his father he is informed that, for the good of his clan, he has been betrothed to and will marry an English heiress Catherine Gillingham. Not only is this a `fait accompli' by his detested father, but decreed so by the English King "Longshanks". For the good of his clan, he'd do his duty, marry and bed the lass, but then he would leave her, never to return! In a huff, he traveled to England and married the lass taking care to not even look at her. When he finally did get around to taking a good look at her, Duncan grudgingly had to admit he did not expect to find Catherine quite so appealing. Duncan took his time getting to `know' her well, before he consummated their union, and their trip home was more than leisurely with many stops along the way. Duncan hated to admit he truly liked her company, but stubbornly his plans were made.

Catherine was no more anxious to marry Duncan than he was to marry her, but on the journey home she thought there was a real chance for happiness. Unfortunately, on her arrival her hopes were shattered when Duncan promptly announced he was leaving and would not return! Then he quickly left before the attraction he felt grew any stronger leaving him vulnerable and open for heartbreak.

Duncan was a terribly wounded soul who had lost all faith in love and no longer trusted that emotion, as much as he wanted it to be real. Abandoned as a child by his father, then again by his first wife - he couldn't trust any love he felt for Cat to admit to, or risk being left again. Stubbornly Duncan would leave first before any feelings he'd developed left him open to that kind of pain. Only the fates would play a hand in showing him how wrong that decision was, as an old demented enemy stalked Duncan and Catherine ready to destroy any happiness they might achieve before they could confess to what their hearts knew best.

*** Against the sweeping backdrop of Scotland's war of independence, this author continues an epic of a heart wrenching, and positively beautiful love story. Duncan and Catherine were painstakingly developed with such realism that you'll be sharing their emotional journey. At its very heart you'll share the love, the joy, the anguish, and the tears. Along the way, you'll revisit old friends, gain new ones, and thoroughly wish the story would never end. Burroughs gifts you with a terrific story, straight from her heart to yours! A most excellent novel that I whole-heartedly recommend!