Highland Bride (Zebra Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Hannah Howell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Zebra Historical Romance | Publication Date: August 1, 2006

Though she has yet to be courted by any man, spirited Gillyanne Murray decides the time has come to visit the dower lands gifted to her by her father's kinsmen. She arrives to find the small keep surrounded by three lairds, each one vying for her hand...and property. Though resolved to refuse them all, the threat of battle on her threshold forces her to boldly choose a suitor: Sir Connor MacEnroy, a handsome, daring knight of few words. As his wife, Gillyanne is stunned by his terse, cold distance - and her own yearning to feel passion in his arms. Now, bringing her healing touch to a land and a keep ravaged by treachery and secret enemies, she dares to reach out for the one thing she fears she may forever be denied...her husband's closely guarded heart.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Few authors portray the Scottish highlands as lovingly or as colorfully as Hannah Howell, and she demonstrates her considerable skill at setting scenes and crafting clever characters in Highland Bride, the final installment in her 15th century Murray daughters trilogy (Highland Knight, etc.). Petite, tenacious Gillyanne Murray has never had men fawn over her, so she is alternately stunned, annoyed and amused when she suddenly receives three marriage proposals from lairds who covet her dower lands. After ably repelling her suitors for three days, Gilly chooses the cold but gentle Connor MacEnroy, who may be too closed off to give her the one thing she needs his affection. To the reader's delight, the large and loving Murray clan eventually join the mix, but it is Gilly and Connor's vibrant personalities and teasing banter that make the story glow.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821779958
• ISBN-13: 978-0821779958
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( H ) > Howell, Hannah

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third book in the Murray daughters' trilogy, April 29, 2005

By 

Michelle888 (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Highland Bride (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

In this novel, the third and final installment in Hannah Howell's second Highland Series featuring those feisty Murray daughters, get to meet the daughter of Eric and Bethia Murray from HIGHLAND PROMISE.

At nearly twenty-one, Gillyanne Murray is considered past the marrying age. Despite travelling to the king's court a few times, she is yet to attract the eye of any man. And as much as she longs to feel the happiness and excitement that she sees in her married female cousins, she has resigned herself to the fact that men just simply find her unattractive, with her faintly mismatched eyes, short stature and lack of curves.

From the age of fifteen, Connor MacEnroy has been the laird of Deilcladach after the deaths of his parents caused by a longstanding feud with other clans. Having lost everything after that tragedy twelve years before, he has rebuilt Deilcladach, raised his siblings and managed the survival of his people. When he, and the two other neighboring lairds hear that an unmarried woman now owns Ald-dabhach, they seek the king's permission to fight for control over the keep.

And so when Gillyanne decides to visit Ald-dabhach, the small keep that a doting uncle has gifted her, little does she know that she would be fighting off three neighboring lairds who have gained the king's permission to marry her and control her keep. When she refuses their proposal, they then took turns attacking her keep, but although she manages to repel their individual attacks, Gilly knows that a combined one could result to bloodshed, therefore she has no other choice but to pick one from them. And based on her initial attraction to him, she chooses Connor.

And so the fun begins. I was laughing my head off and cheering Gilly the whole time she tried to repel their attacks. And after the marriage, I liked how she embarrassed Connor in front of his clan by telling everyone how he forced her to a quick marriage and how he had ineptly bedded her. Then, when Connor makes love to her properly, the way she becomes 'the bell for each meal' because of how loud she is that the whole of Deilcladach know that Connor and her would be coming down for dinner shortly after was so hilarious! You just have to read it.

Of course, their relationship isn't without bumps for after Gillyanne has finally tasted the passion that she had often seen bring sparkle to her cousins' eyes, she is dismayed that she feels it for a man who shared so little of himself. And the fact that despite her gift for sensing other people's feelings she is unable to read
Connor's causes her problems. She knows she needs to break through the wall that Connor has built around himself. Connor, on the other hand, tries hard to suppress his feelings for her for fear that his people would think less of him if he shows too much emotion.

HIGHLAND BRIDE is a fun and easy read. With such engaging characters and witty dialogues, it is guaranteed to keep you glued from start to finish. This is the best in the series.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Scottish historical romance author of our time!..., November 22, 2002

By 

Michelle (Memphis, TN USA and Glasgow, Scotland UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Highland Bride (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

This was the first of Hannah Howell's books that I have read and it hooked me from the start. It is not the typical 'cookie-cutter' historical romance that so many others tend to be. The characters in this one came alive and were so much more realistic while still fulfilling the need for romance and sizzle. After reading Highland Bride, I sought out Ms. Howell's other Highland novels and have not been disappointed yet. I can't wait for her next one to be published. Do not miss any of her Highland trilogies. I re-read Bride after finishing the first trilogy and it was even better. They are all amazing and since I am personally married to a real Scot, I am picky when it comes to my Scottish romances. Don't miss this Highland Bride or any of her others. Well worth your time.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can one wee lass fight off 3 knights?, March 7, 2003

By 

Tanya L. Schaub "TSchlaack" (Livermore, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Highland Bride (Zebra Historical Romance) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this fast paced highland romance. This is the story of a "plain" lady who is determined to not only keep her dower lands in tact without anyone being hurt but she is also determined to only marry for love.

Gilly is able to defeat the 3 knights who are on her doorstep to try and take her hostage to marry her, to get her lands as they boarder their own. It is a riot how she is able to repel all 3 of the armies.

I enjoyed the writers style of writing as well as the strong woman character who is going to make her marriage work in spite of everything that is happening.