Customer Reviews

Highland Magic (Time Travel Romance)

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

 

 

The fact that her headstrong father wants Samantha Riley to marry Duncan Campbell is a good enough reason not to do it, in Sam's book. An argument on this very matter occurs immediately before her father falls into a coma from which he might never wake. Needless to say, Sam's heart is heavy with guilt and worry. When a dark depression settles over her, her friends try to cheer her as best they can, insisting that she accompany them all to a festival. Duncan happens to come along, and once again, the two get in an argument. By chance, they are supposed to return home together, but first, Duncan wants to stop at Jacob's Well, the mystic place where he landed in this century. Duncan's home lies in seventeenth century Scotland; he is a time traveller. While he and Samantha are in the cave, surrounding by seemingly dead magic crystals, lightening strikes, sending them into the past; unfortunately, not his past, though Duncan had visited that era of ancient Scotland before. In fact, he fell in love there, something that Sam is not thrilled about since she is beginning to have less than hostile feelings for Duncan herself. However, Sam has her own worries; she has been mistaken for Brigid, Queen of the Fairies. This gives her some power, but her position is tenuously built on a lie. Her only hope of staying alive lies in returning to the future, but will she have to leave Duncan, and her heart, in the distant past?

**** This lightweight, easily read story continues the saga begun in Ms. Mallory's other work. Sam's emotional struggles with grace and guilt touch a nerve in all people. Somehow, Duncan manages to be an alpha hero without being too macho. The supporting cast is brought to rich life, but the most winsome of the characters is not human. The baby dragon, Blinky, is precious. Before the book is over, you'll want one for a pet yourself. ****

Houston based Dr. Samantha Riley visiting her dad at his Wimberly, Texas ranch notices he has aged rapidly recently and worries about his health though they argue over her love life. Her beloved father, Air Force Colonel (R) Patrick Riley wants her to wed a real man, his friend Highlander Duncan Campbell. Though she remembers their one night of ardor, she insists she will continue to see Luke Carter III over her dad's objections that the man is a spoiled rich brat not worthy of her.

When Patrick falls into a coma, Duncan and Sam share a truce as both are depressed. Meanwhile lightning charges up the crystals at nearby Jacob's Well sending Duncan and Sam back to ancient Scotland where the men seem modern hitting on her. That stops partially because of the ferocious Duncan at her side, but also everyone concludes she is Maeve, Queen of the Fairies. Though she misses her time and her father; Sam appreciates the compensation of ordering Duncan around; that is until she jealously learns the Scot that she now loves has traveled time before and is there to rescue Princess Talamar from an evil conspiracy.

The Queen of Highlander time travel romance, Tess Mallory writes a delightful tale that her fans will cherish. The stars are a delightful duo as experienced time traveler Duncan returns with his latest fling into the past accompanied by the woman who haunts his dreams. HIGHLAND MAGIC is romantic fantasy at its magical best as the audience will find amusing Sam's conversion into bossy fairy queen inside of a well written dangerous court intrigue plot. Ms Mallory enchants her audience once again.

Harriet Klausner

This is the third book in the series. Each friend has her own story. Jix Ferguson in Highland Dream, Chelsea Brown in Highland Fling, and Samantha Riley in Highland Magic. Tess Mallory is such a great author and I love all her books, but...I did not like the characters Jix Ferguson or Samantha Riley. Chelsea was more or less neglected in this threesome friendship. They were actually very cruel to her and made fun of her behind her back. She is my favorite female character from all three of these books. The male characters are fine and very likeable. Samantha is just horribly insensitive and a nonsympathetic character and got a man who certainly could have done much much better.

The only reason I read this third book, and it took months to do it, is because it was three-book series.

Samantha Riley has found the love of her life in Duncan Campbell, but instead of doing something about it, she runs away from him. Duncan works for Samantha's father so this means Samantha also has to stay away from her father and make excuses as to why she can't make a three-hour drive to see him.

Samantha's father, Patrick Riley, also knows Duncan is the man for Samantha. He summons Samantha home and tries to talk some sense into her but she won't relent. She will live her life the way she wants to and nobody, especially her father, will tell her how to live it for her or even whom to marry. After that argument, Samantha's father suffers a stroke and languishes in a coma.

Duncan Campbell is not a typical guy. He is a Scottish warrior who was born in medieval times and has been traveling through time through the use of crystals. He has spent most of his life trying to get back to a certain time to right a wrong he committed during one of his travels.

Samantha is filled with guilt and shame over her behavior but she won't allow anyone to comfort her. She yells at everyone to leave her alone. Duncan, however, won't listen to her. On a stormy night, he convinces Samantha to ride out with him to Jacob's Well to check on some green crystals he's been looking for. He finds them and says his goodbyes to Samantha. But before the crystals light up, lightning strikes and the crystals energy sweeps both Samantha and Duncan back to medieval Scotland.

They arrive at the village of Nirdagh, at the exact time Duncan has been trying to get back to. The first time Duncan visited Nirdagh, he fell in love with Talamar, a girl who was betrothed to a powerful laird named Gwain from another clan. Because of their love, Talamar was burned at the stake and Duncan escaped to another time. This time, Duncan is determined to save Talamar.

Samantha is jealous. Because of her jealousy, she spends most of her time baiting Duncan, fighting with him, manipulating him. And to make matters worse, and despite Duncan's warnings, Samantha assures Talamar that she will talk Gwain into breaking off the engagement so Talamar can marry whom she loves. Her meddling is not without consequences for it puts her, Duncan and the villagers in jeopardy of Gwain's wrath.

I know this book is part of a series but I, unfortunately, didn't read the other two before tackling this one. I couldn't bring myself to even like Samantha. She is a headstrong, unsympathetic spoiled brat who spends most of her time fighting with other characters. It actually became a bit tedious as she continually played her games manipulating Duncan and arguing with him, even when there is no real reason to. This story, of course, has to have a happy ending but in reality, I'm not sure anyone, even her family, could've put up with Samantha's shrewish behavior.

Samantha Riley is the heroine is this book and best friend of Jix (book 1) and Chelsea (book 2). It took me forever to warm up the Sam due to her attitude. But in the end she came around and saw in herself what other people knew was in her heart. There were time you just want to shake her and say what the hell is your problem. I did enjoy the first 2 books more that this one.

I love the scotthish theme especially the time travel ones. I have not yet read the book

Duncan Campbell is desperate to time travel back into the far past to save a girl he wasn't able to help before. This time lightning struck, sending both he and a modern day female doctor, Samantha Riley, back to ancient Scotland where the people there believe her to be the Queen of the Fairies. When an evil plot was about to destroy all of them, Samatha found only one thing could save them..Highland Magic.

I am not into time traveling books or when the heros desire the heroine from page one. The story also seemed too predictable. I stopped reading the book around page 60.