8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovin' Me Some Double Romance!, April 6, 2010
This review is from: Highland Surrender (Paperback)
The Earl of Camdonn has selected a wife amongst London's offerings based on the requisite that he not feel the slightest bit of passion for his countess to be. While Lady Elizabeth is perfection personified, Cam is relieved to feel nothing for his beautiful bride and signs the betrothal contract with nary a pause. However, life can never be easy for Cam and Fate soon makes its presence known when Cam is shot and cared for by the Highland healer, Ceana MacNab.
Descendant from a line of female healers, Ceana is cursed to never marry. Stealing her emotions, Ceana has sought comfort when she's desired warm arms to hold her and turned away when her heart became too engaged but when the Earl of Camdonn's life's blood is spilling before her, Ceana can't contain the possessive emotions that flood her heart. With news that Cam has brought home his English bride, Ceana knows that she must stay as far from the earl as possible but distrust for the resident doctor at Camdonn Castle has Ceana following Cam home.
Cam, doing his best to learn from his past obsessive behavior with women, tries with all his might to maintain distance from Ceana for his future's sake. He needs the connections that Lady Elizabeth brings and he's sworn to honor his vows. But Cam's not married yet and while he knows that's no excuse he still can't help his raging desire where Ceana is concerned.
For Elizabeth, Cam represents her long sought for freedom. Since she was a little girl, Elizabeth has lived in utter terror of her Uncle Walter, the Duke of Irvington. Unable to curb her headstrong behavior, Uncle Walter devised a cruel way of punishing Elizabeth that leaves her physically unharmed but psychologically tortured. She knows that Cam feels nothing for her but she also recognizes his honorable heart and hopes that one day they might find affection. Unfortunately dire circumstances forces Elizabeth into the company of Robert MacLean, the earl's stable master. Recognizing a deep-seeded control within Robert, Elizabeth finds him utterly compelling but mostly she finds sanctuary in his presence. Despite the fact that this point in her life is the most crucial to her survival, Elizabeth can't help her growing passion for Rob. Even Uncle Walter's punishments can't instill enough fear within her to distill her yearnings.
Since reaching manhood, Robert has been longing for a woman that needs him not only for her safety and well being but for her physical release as well. His passions run dark and he's yet found the opportunity to unleash his inner beast that demands complete submission until he meets the beautiful Lady Elizabeth. No woman has been more beyond Robert's reach but he can't help his body's recognition of its mate. Within her seemingly fragile form, Robert discerns equally dark passions within Elizabeth as well as the need to relinquish control. Her entire facade is rigidly schooled to present an image that couldn't be more opposite of the hellion within. Robert wants nothing but to set her free within his domain and even though he risks his very life to pursue the earl's betrothed, Robert can't stop the raging possession that tears at his soul.
So here's the conundrum: Cam needs Lady Elizabeth's connections but Ceana's highly respected reputation with his Highland tenants could also help him in his task of winning over his people. Ceana can't and won't marry because of a deadly curse and the last thing she wants is for Cam to die because of her. She loves him, yes, but she also loves him enough to let him go. Elizabeth recognizes Cam as her freedom from her terrifying uncle but there's also a form of freedom with Robert. She loves Robert where she can barely speak to Cam. Robert can't stand the thought of the earl possessing Elizabeth and while every fiber within him demands that he make her his, Robert also knows that he could never provide Elizabeth with the life she's accustomed to. And Fate is determined to mess with them all.
HIGHLAND SURRENDER is a tale of two separate couples whose fate is complexly interwoven resulting in each move made by one affecting the whole and forcing their Happily Ever After's to be precarious and rife with tension.
I really enjoyed the dual interwoven romances and the feel of having two romances in one. Both stories were intensely compelling and captivated my interest from beginning to end. There's great anxiety over whether or not an HEA for each couple is possible and as you barrel towards the end, your knuckles may turn a bit white from your death grip on the book.
After finishing HIGHLAND SURRENDER, I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite couple amongst the two. Cam's and Ceana's story is radically different from Robert's and Elizabeth's despite their close connection. For me, my love for each was crucial to the success of the novel and I thought that Dawn Halliday did a superb job with this very complex but refreshing plot.
Readers wanting a two for the price of one, look no further than HIGHLAND SURRENDER. Twice the steamy sex plus twice the intense romance equals one scintillating read that shouldn't be missed. Dawn Halliday has a distinct voice that paints the Highlands beautifully. Be prepared to truly live and experience another time as well as an unparalleled passion that will leave you absolutely breathless.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Leaves a lot to be desired, February 17, 2011
This review is from: Highland Surrender (Paperback)
I had high hopes for this book, but was pretty disappointed after reading it. I found it in the erotica section of a used book store and since I usually read romance novels, I just wonder if I was expecting too much. I personally found that there wasn't too much tension in the story and that the characters seemed kind of lame. The love scenes weren't even too spectacular. I wouldn't recommend this book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful Scottish historical romance, April 10, 2010
This review is from: Highland Surrender (Paperback)
In 1717 Cam the Earl of Camdonn leaves London for the Scottish Highlands with plans to forget the debacle of losing his beloved Sorcha to his former friend laird Alan MacDonald (see Highland Obsession) and by becoming the leader his clan needs. He hopes his betrothed Lady Elizabeth Grant adapts to life in the Highlands, but if the English beauty does not so be it.
However, instead of a greeting of hello, four highwaymen attack and shoot him leaving Elizabeth alone without protection. Healer Ceana McNab and her lover Robert MacLean assume poachers fired shots, but she soon finds a critically wounded Cam while he locates a frightened disheveled Elizabeth. Ceana heals Cam and both recognize a deep attraction. However, he is engaged though he keeps forgetting that fact and she knows the McNab curse keeps her from marrying anyone though she forgets that fact. Neither forgets the assault on his life and other attempts to kill him, but interprets the cause differently; as Ceana insists is the curse and Cam insists it is the Jacobytes.
This is a wonderful Scottish historical romance starring a low born cursed healer and the aristocratic obsessed villain of the previous tale becoming the hero of this one. Fast-paced and filled with action and two romances, sub-genre fans will enjoy Dawn Halliday's charming redemption story.
Harriet Klausner
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