Highland Sanctuary [Kindle Edition]

Jennifer Hudson Taylor (Author)

Book Description

A Sanctuary of Secrets...Gavin MacKenzie, a chieftain heir who is hired to restore the ancient Castle of Braigh, discovers a hidden village of outcasts who have created their own private sanctuary from the world. Among them is Serena Boyd, a mysterious andcomely lass, who captures Gavin’s heart in spite of harboring a deadly past that could destroy her future.The villagers happen to be keeping an intriguing secret as well. When a fierce enemy launches an attack against them, greed leads to bitter betrayal. As Gavin prepares a defense, the villagers unite in a bold act of faith, showing how God’s love is more powerful than any human force on earth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

4 1/2 Stars - RT Book Review
Taylor's Highland saga continues with a new cast of characters as the heroic MacKenzie clan expands their peaceful missions. There are plenty of suspenseful twists and turns. The reader will thoroughly enjoy seeing how redemption comes to a village of outcasts. God's love and grace are evident.

From the Author

If you would like an e-signature on your Kindle copy, visit my page on authorgraph here: authorgraph.com/authors/jt4novels.

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Product Details

• File Size: 666 KB
• Print Length: 338 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1426714211
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (October 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00607YH74
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,970 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 15th century Sco'ish idyll of adventure, mystery, & romance January 12, 2012

By Harold Wolf TOP 50 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ye found yerself a new author lass in Jennifer Hudson Taylor, I tell meself. This obvious sequel is a clan continuation but ye can read it as a stand-alone. Highland Sanctuary follows Highland Blessings, with the newer sportin' a bit more brogue (nothing so heavy its meenin's not understood mind). Fun readin' and both hold an equal mix of adventure/mystery and Christian romance. It took me back to book memories of Ian Maclaren & Geo MacDonald fiction. Preachers/writers & Gender-proof. A small glossary would be a nice future addition for novice brogue readers' benefit including words like burn (river), bairn (child), kirk (church), & sennight (week).

`Tis a story of many violent acts that shake villagers and castle guests near Braighwick, northern Scotland, in 1477 (after a turbulent 1457 day in Chap.1). One, then `nither, and more `n more. A lass of the Village of Outcasts, with her own secret impairment, has gentlemen suitors of a station she's well beneath. Can/Will love prevail? Or murderous death? There's romance ta go `longside the villainous events in this highland mystery. There's an underlying premise of grace and acceptance of others as God desires of us.

The protagonist MacKenzie brothers of `Sanctuary' are kin to the protagonist & kidnapped highland sister in `Blessings'. MacKenzie's Clan continues in ye second action-to-romance adventure. Fear naught, ye gentile lasses, `tis a good romance tale where not all ends as ye might predict, or desire, but ye get enough joy under a plaid of Christianity that ye'll hanker fer anither idyll soon.

Bonny fine book. Should be read `neath a bough o' pine.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Read of God's Protection December 9, 2011

By Rebecca Graf

Format:Paperback

Do you like stories of romance, mystery, and the love of God? They can be wonderful tales to read and give us encouragement and adventure. Jennifer Hudson Taylor gives you that in Highland Sanctuary.

This is a beautiful story that many could relate to easily. A young baby is born and begins having seizures not long after her first breath is drawn. Quickly proclaimed to be evil and possessed, her own father plans her immediate death. The love of a mother quickly saves her and gets to a sanctuary in the Highlands.

Twenty years pass in safety and security among others who are outcasts from society. In this community that is more family than just neighbors, the love of God is strong and all have put their lives in His hands. Their faith and their bonds are tested as a new laird takes over after the old one's mysterious death and strange things begin happening in the village. Not even murder is out of the question for whoever is behind all the problems that have arisen out of the blue.

The new laird, calls in men from another clan to help rebuild the castle and increase protection for the whole area. The future head of the McPherson clan, Gavin, is secretly looking for who is the culprit. During his investigations, he meets and falls in love with Serena, a girl with a secret. She is willing to go to her death to keep her seizure problem a secret as she knows she will be burned at the stake as being an agent of the devil.

The stakes grow higher as they fall in love and the hunt for evil approaches her door and everyone turns to God for help.
This is not a fluffy book. I use that to describe books that have no depth. It is also not a very long book to allow extremely deep exploration of any topic. It is an enjoyable story that shows the love God has for those that society shuns and how they are accepted by Him with so much love. It is a story of love that can be found through the work of God.

Why is it not getting a 5-star rating? I felt that more depth could have been given to the characters just because I saw so much potential in Gavin. To have the strong faith he had would not have been that common during those days in the Highlands. I would love to have known how it came about and more of his own character. That's just something I feel personally, but others might not even think of that. If I could do a 4.99 rating for Highland Sanctuary, I would.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher at my request.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Charming! November 28, 2011

By MLTyndall

Format:Paperback

Dive into a wonderful tale of medieval Scotland filled with romance, intrigue and adventure! Yet the story is so much more than that. The author's creativity shines with her creation of the village of misfits. It reminded me of the island of misfits toys from Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer, a place where the world deposits those who don't fit in, who are different. Unlike Rudolph, it isn't Santa who rescues these misfits, but the power of self-sacrifice and God's love for the downtrodden. Throw in a multitude of twists and turns, a fierce enemy, and a love story that will warm your heart, and Highlands Sanctuary will fast become your favorite book of the year.

More About the Author

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is an award winning author of historical Christian fiction and a speaker on topics of faith, writing and publishing. Her work has appeared in national publications, such as Guideposts, Heritage Quest Magazine, Romantic Times Book Reviews, and The Military Trader. She serves as the in-house Publicist and PR/Marketing Advisor of Hartline Literary Agency. Jennifer graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Journalism. When she isn't writing, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, genealogy, and reading.

Her family history, and discovering more about her Scots-Irish, Welsh and English roots. Her Scottish surnames include Gregory, Galloway, and Fraser. Her husband's Scottish surnames include Henderson, Campbell, and Grant. Her Welsh surnames include: Morgan and Robbins.

She lives by these two verses:
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4