Customer Reviews

Highland Conqueror (Zebra Historical Romance)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hannah Howell brings us the story of Sigimor Cameron, a Highland Laird, who goes to England to aid a man, Peter, who saved his life years ago. He arrives to find himself captured by Peter's evil cousin, Harold. Harold has killed Peter and plans to hang Sigimor and his clansmen until Peter's sister, Jolene sets them free. In exchange, she asks Sigimor to help her and Peter's son, Reynard, escape Harold. Harold seeks to marry Jolene against her will and to kill Reynard so he may inherit Peter's title. Sigimor and his clansmen flee with the pair but are pursued by Harold and his hired men. Sigimor, a 6'4" warrior, finds himself very attracted to Jolene, even though she isn't his type, she is petite, dark haired and English. He prefers buxom blondes or so he thought. Jolene, 23 years old, is still a maid because her brother gave her the freedom to pick her husband. Nobody has stirred her passion until she meet this huge redheaded Scotsman. In order to protect Jolene in the case she is captured Sigimor proposes marriage. Jolene agrees knowing she can always seek an annulment if she wants. When it comes to a head, she must decide whether to stay with her husband or to keep the promise to her brother to watch over his son. When her other kinsmen show up to help, she must make her decision.

I loved the humor of this book, the reaction everytime a Scotsman finds out she is English is hilarious. Jolene's reaction is even funnier. The characters have such chemistry that it just keeps the story hot. Great story I highly recommend.

Sigimor Cameron goes south into England to help save the life of a man who saved his. He arrives at Drumwich Castle to find his friend Peter has been murdered. Peter's sister Jolene and his son go into hiding in the bowels of the castle. Sigimor and his men agree to get the three year old heir and his aunt out of the castle and to safety in Scotland. They are pursued by Harold who wants Jolene and the little boy so he can keep the castle and fortune that belonged to Peter. There are several altercations between Harold and Sigimor, Jolene is captured at one point. Sigimor gets her back and talks her into marrying him to keep Harold from getting her. They fall in love, but continue to fight Harold's attempts to get Jolene and the little boy. Jolene and Sigimor are a great couple because they are so different and but "fit" perfectly. Hannah Howell's books always have unlikely couples who meet and stay together through one travail after another. She's done another great medieval romance, and kept the stories of the Cameron clan going. If you like Hannah Howell and want to know more about the Camerons, get this book.

Maybe because I haven't read the author's previous books, I find the negative reviews puzzling. No, the hero is not a very complex man but I thought his character was appropriately portrayed. He isn't a man of court but a laird in the often violent Scotland of the 15th century. He was appropriately honest, straightforward, and a bit rough on the edge. I thought the romance between the hero and heroine was cute. One could feel the growing love between them, and even though the villains were dispatched rather easily, sometimes it's refreshing to read a romance without contrived twists and turns designed solely to put the title couple through hell and back. A light enjoyable romance.

Usually I will breeze through a book every two days and then on to the next. Not this time. I absolutely loved the characters in this book! I actually envied Jolene. I would marry Sigimor myself if it were possible. And I love his family. I find that I want to sit back and savor the characters for an extended period of time and truly regret giving into my urge to read a new book (my addiction). Very memorable people in this one.

Harold has killed his cousin Peter, an Earl, and is searching the grounds for Peter's sister and son/heir. He plans to take over Peter's lands and title. Lady Jolene, Peter's sister, free's the highlander's (who came too late to save Peter) imprisioned by her evil cousin. In doing so, they promise to take her and her nephew away to safety.

Jolene, her nephew, Laird Sigimor and his men journey thru England and Scotland with Harold on their tale. Along the way sparks fly between Jolene and Sigimor, but neither admits to anything. Then Sigimor decides to marry Jolene (against her protests) in order to keep her safe? -or is it because he feel's that she 'fits'- from a forced marriage to Harold. They continue onto Scarglas and Dubheildland as Harold turns desperate to kill them.

Overall it was OK, don't think I'll be rereading it soon and it did take me several days to get into it, unlike Highland Warrior (much better). So, you might want to read it to keep up with the series, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it as a first Howell book.

If you like highlanders, read Garwood and Paula Quinn - both are EXCELLENT! (Is it just me or does this book sound a bit too similar to Garwoods Ransom?)

In 1473, Highlander Laird Sigimor Cameron and five of his closest supporters rush to England because his friend Lord Peter Gerard needs help. Sigimor would do anything for Peter who once saved his life. However, by the time they arrive, they learn that Peter is dead and his cousin Harold is in charge of Drumwich Castle. Harold incarcerates the six Highlanders.

Peter's sister, Jolene drugs the ale of the guards so she can visit the prisoners and negotiate a deal. Jolene believes that Harold poisoned her sibling and his two loyalist men, but has no proof. She fears for the safety of her three years old nephew Reynard, the heir to Drumwich. Jolene frees the highlanders who take her and Reynard with them as they flee with Harold in hot pursuit. As Jolene and Sigimor fall in love, she is pulled in two directions between her desire for her Highlander and being the only mother that Reynard has had since his biological mom died in childbirth; whereas Sigimor belongs in Scotland, Reynard belongs on English lands.

Hannah Howell's latest Highlander historical romance is an intriguing tale made complex by the choice that Jolene must make if, that is, they survive long enough for her to choose. Sigimor is a typical hunk constantly taking the honorable high road. Though Harold is out of the Scottish fifteenth century villain handbook, HIGHLAND CONQUEROR is a fine tale due to the valiant heroine who must opt between the two males in her life, leaving one behind.

Harriet Klausner

Lady Jolene Gerard is in danger and the longer she remains at Drumwich, the more the it will increase both for her, and her brother's young son. He is the heir of Drumwich, and the man who killed her brother wants the child dead. Her only prayer lies with a Scotsman who lies chained in the dungeon.

Lord Sigimor Cameron arrived with five of his trusted men to answer the urgent summons that Jolene's brother sent. Owing a blood debt to Peter, he and his men arrived at Drumwich as soon as humanly possible, only to be stripped of their weapons, and thrown in the dungeon. Peter was already dead. Sigimor had arrived to late to save him. Now this tiny English woman has offered to free him and his men if he takes her and her nephew with them, and can get them to safety.

They manage to escape, with a murderous Harold and his men behind them all the way. Sigimor and his band flee for his home in Scotland where he can protect her and the boy. When things take a very bad turn for Jolene, the only way to guarantee her safety is to marry her, and make certain Harold dies.

Against all rules, Sigimor falls just as deeply for Jolene as she for him. This is a wonderful love story filled with adventure, danger, and tenderness. He is a hero to be admired, and she is a heroine to be cheered! I think this is one of Howell's best. Very highly recommended!

Absolutly Loved this book! I started reading it during my lunch break at work and didn't put it down until I finished it that night on my couch at home. Excellent story line and characters. Recommed this book and author to anyone who loves historical romances

One thing I have noticed about Hannah Howell's romance novels is that they are the same in some ways (as one reviewer of this book pointed out, "A strong male, a tiny woman, an evil man and a horrid female"), but in other ways her writing is very inconsistent. I'm used to romance authors that consistently deliver while injecting unique characters and plots (Kresley Cole, Paula Quinn, Kathleen Givens and Marsha Canham are among those I have given 5 star reviews to for their Highland romances). I also prefer better researched history and some of that in the story. With Hannah Howell, some of her books put me to sleep (the last such book was Highland Bride) while others, such as Highland Conqueror, delight me. While not much of a Scottish historical romance, and while repeating her strong male, tiny woman, evil man and horrid female theme, I thought this book hung together well and I quite enjoyed it. I really liked Sigimor...I liked the fact he did not waver in his intentions toward Jolene and that he was intuitive and complex and deeper than the Cameron laird in Highland Bride. He was what you'd expect from a Highland laird, even a younger one (he's 32). And Jolene was not flaky or strange, but had a quiet courage that was truly rewarding. But I have to say I am really tired of the "wee lass" and "wee wife" thing. Does the author only like short petite women paired with the giant Scots? And, although I've not read all her books, it does seem interesting that her villain females seem to be tall blondes. I'm thinking Hannah Howell is a short, petite dark haired woman who is seeking revenge on us tall blondes. How about a story of a tall, graceful blonde one of these days? And just so you know I can do the math, if Sigimor is 6'4" and Jolene is a foot shorter, she's 5'4" (which some of my friends who are the same height would not see as "wee"), and could not "press her lips to the hollow at his throat" when standing in front of him as described on p. 274. This same mistake (exactly) was made in Highland Bride as I pointed out in my review of that book. I would think she could use different love scenes with different characters. So, while her work is inconsistent, I did give this one 4 stars and can recommend it.

I bought this for my sister who reads Hannah Howell's books and she loves it. It keeps her attention and makes her wanted to continue reading them.