Customer Reviews

Highland Sanctuary

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

You do have a future (when Jesus is in the middle and when you trust Him at all times) and this story is about Serena Boyd who thinks she is not good enough to be the wife of Gavin MacKenzie. Serena's condition does not matter to Gavin. I enjoy this story and feel sorry for the people in those days when they thought that when you get a "fit" you are demon possessed and need to die.... The end was beautiful and sad at the same time. The story does not focus so much on the Scottish history as it was the case with Jennifer's first book, which I absolutely adore!

Highland Sanctuary by Jennifer Hudson Taylor Book 2 in the Highland Series
Book 1 in this series is called Highland Blessings.
Serena and Evelina Boyd along with Gunna, her nursemaid, live in a village by Braigh Castle, called the Village of Outcasts. Twenty years ago they left after Serena's father wanted her gone because of her seizures, Evelina refused to give up her only daughter so she left. Too many people feared the falling disease and would burn her at the stake as a witch, so only the villagers knew the secret. Not even the Laird, Iain MacBraigh (pronounced as Ian or Ee un) knew what Serena had or that she had more than common blood running through her veins.

Gavin MacKenzie and his brother, Leith, were coming to help rebuild Braigh Castle and to help protect the new Laird. His Uncle had died a suspicious death and they had come to investigate under the pretense of the construction. Once he met Serena his heart would not let go of her. Her fear of having outsiders see her fits kept her from giving Gavin her heart. And Gavin had to fight the jealousy of seeing Iain trying to win her heart as well.

This was such an excellent story. There is the cousin trying to take the castle over, mysterious things start happening to the village, and the secrecy the villagers keep hidden from outsiders.

The Village of Outcasts has such unique people and Jennifer shows that people should not be judged by outer appearances. There is Father Tomas who was ousted from the large parish as he stuttered, Quinn is eight foot tall and his best friends are Beacon who is a dwarf and Phelan who is a white wolf. Cara is blind, the cobbler is deaf. They are all loving and kind people. The folks who live a few hours away in Braighwick are the opposite, they are quick to judge appearances and suspicious. Ready and willing to become a mob without caring what the truth is.
[...]
**Received through NetGalley for review.

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.

Highland Sanctuary is book two in the series. I loved book one, Highland Blessings. This one is with the brother of the lady in book one. I loved this one just as much. Jennifer is able to make the characters come alive and the setting seem as if you are right there with them.

In Highland Blessings you meet Gavin. He is actually one of my favorite side characters in that book. I am so glad he got his own story. He is a strong and compassionate person. Serena is a sweet and caring young woman who is intelligent and loving. her friends are loyal to her and she earns the love and respect of two powerful men. But who will win her heart?

The Village of Outcasts was one of my favorite parts. I loved meeting all of the people who lived there and watching how they cared for each other like a family. It is the age old lesson of treating others as creations of God and not looking down on them because they are different.

This is a great book for any age. Another great Christmas gift for those who love to read historical romance. Take a journey to 1477 Scotland and see how Gavin and Serena meet and fall in love.

I really enjoyed Highland Sanctuary by Jennifer Hudson Taylor. I was immersed in the story from the very beginning. Hudson Taylors's main characters Gavin and Serena stay in your mind long after the story is over.

Set in Scotland during the reign of James the Third, Hudson Taylors's story was, for the most part, believable. Her attention to detail helped make the story come to vivid life and found myself eager to know what was going to happen in this tale. I read it through in two evenings.

It's so easy to empathize with Serena. She's in a very difficult situation and can really see no way out. Her mother, who has protected her for years, knows that both she and Serena's childhood nursemaid are growing old. She wants Serena to find happiness but how can Serena do this and protect her secret?

Gavin is a stranger to the Village of Outcasts, sent to work on rebuilding Braigh Castle and to protect the villagers and the laird from harm. But only the laird knows Gavin and his men are there for protection, so when strange things start happening in the village it looks as if Gavin and his men are to blame. Could there be a traitor among them?

I felt that Highland Sanctuary was well-written with believable characters and an interesting and somewhat complex storyline that was brought to a satisfying conclusion that left no loose ends. My only complaint is that there are several grammar and spelling mistakes. It's not an overwhelming amount by any stretch of the imagination. I would estimate there were about fifteen mistakes in all, but it was enough to distract me slightly from was otherwise a terrific story.

I got this book free, and with that said I don't want to completely slam it. For Christian fiction it was great, I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but they weren't shoving their message down your throat,so I have no complaints there.

Historically speaking, I don't feel the book was anywhere near accurate, and I found that beyond annoying. The speech annoyed me with its lapses into modern references amidst its posthastes and sennights. And at one point someone lit a peat fire and the smell of wood smoke awoke her... IT WAS A PEAT FIRE!

Anyhoo, I have definitely read worse books. I recommend this to lovers of christian fiction.

Happy Reading :}

Wow, When i got this book i grabbed it for free. But, saying that i would have paid for this book. It is a must read. This author, first time reading her work, keeps you on the edge and excited to turn the page. It has romance and mystery and you don't know what will happen until the end. A MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!

highland sanctuary is a very good book. jennifer hudson taylor can always make me want to keep reading. if you like really good books youll like this very well and want to keep reading.