Customer Reviews

Highlander Ever After (Leisure Historical Romance)

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

 

 

Princess Zarabeth of Nvengaria is in danger and her father arranges for her to travel from her central European home to the Highlands of Scotland to stay with Egan MacDonald, a friend. Zarabeth is sent with three guards to protect her but as she arrives in Scotland her ship is wrecked and she is rescued by Egan. As she returns to Egan's remote castle she and Egan begin to reacquaint themselves with each other.

Zarabeth has loved Egan since she first met him, aged twelve, five years before. Unfortunately he rejected her advances and she ended up being married to the unpleasant Duke Sebastian. Her divorce is proceeding but Zarabeth finds Egan still seems reluctant to open his hear to her. Zarabeth is a witch and has some skills but none of her attempts to turn Egan to her seem to be working.

As Egan tries to keep Zarabeth safe whilst not dishonouring the daughter of his friend, others are plotting against the ruler of Nvengaria and against Zarabeth herself. Is the strange logosh, a part-demon, part-wolf and part-man creature accompanying Zarabeth, some kind of traitor? Can Egan overcome his feelings of guilt over his brother's death? Can he be satisfied living as laird in the Highlands? Can the curse on his family be broken by Zarabeth?

Most of this book is a standard highland historical romance with a rough-spoken, kilt-wearing, sword-wielding highlander and a young and delicate woman. The paranormal aspect - Zarabeth's ability to read some people's thoughts, the curse, the logosh - seem in some ways to be an unnecessary distraction to this story. I didn't find the paranormal aspect particularly interesting and I also found the interactions between Zarabeth and Egan lacked depth. Somehow, despite reading a great deal about Egan and his life, I didn't feel I really understood his character. Zarabeth, too, had some nebulousness about her - her main interactions with Egan seemed to be wanting to find out what, if anything, he wore under his kilt. There is a side romance between Egan's sister and another character which added some interest but which is presumably going to be the focus of a future story. The rest of this tale was easy enough reading but also rather unsatisfying.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Egan MacDonald is the highlander every woman hopes to find hiding in her closet...
Dark and seductive, honorable with a sense of humor that will guaranteed, knock you off your feet.
Princess Zarabeth is truely a compliment to this highland laird and she has a secret weapon at her disposal. Unfortunately, it doesn't work to her advantage at all in dealing with Egan.
You will not be disappointed with this light paranormal/historical highland romance. I highly recommend this read. Egan will keep you warm, wickedly so.
The entire cast of characters add to the plot without trampling the romance. This story is one that promises suspense and love, a memorable storyline. Pick it up. You will be glad you did.
Add this book to your keeper shelf, you will not be sorry.

Zarabeth of Nvengaria flees her home after discovering her cruel husband's plot to murder her royal cousin. But there is no safety to be found at her cousin's home. There is unrest and whispers of rebellion. Thus, Imperial Prince Damien fears that the palace is no place to shelter Zarabeth. Instead he sends her to his trusted friend the Laird, Egan MacDonald, in the Scottish Highlands. Only problem is that Egan and Zarabeth have some best-be-forgotten history between them.

This is the third in the Nvengaria series after Penelope & Prince Charming (Leisure Historical Romance) and The Mad, Bad Duke. It can be read as a stand alone. A delightful romantic read with a bit of paranormal thrown in.

The characters, I agree with HK, are whimsical and fun. Zarabeth is a likable heroine who posses the ability to read ones thoughts, except (of course!) Egans. And Eagan is the reluctant leader of a clan with a crumbling castle. He lives with the guilt of his much loved brother's death. Both Zarabeth and Egan are vulnerable people afraid to reveal the depth of their feelings to one another. A love that they felt and lost years ago.

As far as the secondary characters, I found the Highland clan to be an amusing, rowdy and bawdy bunch. They had me laughing several times! And the Nvengarian protectors, sent to escort Zarabeth, are interesting too. Valentin, in particular, with his shape shifting abilities had me intrigued. Hopefully this mysterious man will have his own book soon.

Although I never really felt that Zarabeth was in real danger and the less than thrilling demise of her husband gave me pause, this lack of action didn't really dampen the story for me. The romance more than made up for it. Egan is hunky hero thats a little bit more subdued than alpha male's I'm used too in this genre. But he is still swoon-worthy IMHO. And I just love a guy who can blush!

So if your in the mood for a solid Scottish romance to curl up and read on a lazy afternoon, this might be up your alley. And I just have to mention that the character of Alexander (The Mad, Bad Duke) really piqued my interest (oh! I do LOVE brooding dukes!), so I'll be picking up that prequel as well.

Egan McDonald blames himself for the death of his brother in combat although he knows part of his guilt is caused by surviving the battle. He cannot return home to face loved ones so he wanders from place to place until he arrives in Nvengaria. There the royals welcome him and Princess Zarabeth, who cannot read his mind, falls in love with the honorable traveler.

Years later, in 1820 the King of Nvengaria fears for his beloved daughter as assassins and betrayals threaten the royals. The monarch sends Zarabeth to his friend Egan's home in Scotland for safe keeping. However a storm wrecks Zarabeth's ship. Egan searches for her and soon follows her "call" for help in his mind that leads him to a rock surrounded by water that she is on. As her family's enemies try to assassinate her, he falls in love with his charge. However besides surviving the royal killers, they must overcome an ancient curse, the unmarried young debs' curse, the Adam Ross rivalry curse, and the family matchmaking curse if they want a lifetime together.

HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER is an amusing whimsical Regency romance with a touch of the paranormal enhancing the fun tale. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Zarabeth's crash lands in the Highlands and never slows down as assassins hunt for her and seemingly half of Scotland intrudes on their relationship. Mindful of PENELOPE AND PRINCE CHARMING, sub-genre fans will enjoy Jennifer Ashley's latest captivating historical.

Harriet Klausner

This is a review of the Kindle version. I would have a hard time reviewing the book itself because the formatting of the ebook is so bad. I am actually having a hard time following the story, because the paragraphs are not formatted correctly. I have to guess who has said what, because I cannot tell from the text. Do not buy the Kindle version of this book.

When Zarabeth and Egan MacDonald first met she knew he was the one she wanted to marry. The problem was she was only 12yrs old. She was eventually married off to a duke who was cruel and sadistic. Risking her very life she finally runs away from him and ends up in the care of Egan MacDonald. Once her divorce becomes final she and Egan are married. He considers Zarabeth to fragile for normal married life and so her seduction of Egan begins with some funny results. She also sets about trying to sove three past mysterious deaths that have plagued Egan for most of his adult life. Her query into these mysteries may cost Zarabeth her own life as she has begun having "accidents" of her own. Only her new husbands watchful eye has saved her thus far. This is a wonderful and delightful book. Well woth reading. I am looking forward to the next in this series.

It took an act of treason against her cousin, the Imperial Prince of Nvengaria, to spur lovely Zarabeth to escape her abusive husband, Duke Sebastian. His vile nature over the course of their five year marriage had transformed her from the laughing minx who had to courage to rescue an injured Scotsman into a quietly desperate shadow. Divorce pending, and exiled for her own safety, with danger on her trail, Zarabeth finds refuge with Laird Egan MacDonald, the man she'd loved since childhood. He had walked away five years earlier, but why? Was it honor or simple lack of interest? He was the one person she could not read, and yet the one person she desperately yearned for. Would she be able to protect her shattered heart if called to withstand yet another rejection?

Five years ago, Egan MacDonald was startled to discover that young Zarabeth had ripened into a beauty and was his for the taking. However, he owed her father a debt of gratitude and honor demanded that not take advantage of Zarabeth's innocent heart. Now, though, she was back in his life, exactly where he wished her to be. With assassins lurking, an unruly clan, a cursed castle, a matchmaking sister dragging debutantes into his home and a snarly adolescent nephew to manage, not to mention his raging desire for Zarabeth, he finds it increasingly challenging to remember that she is a grand lady who is not for him; especially when she is wearing his tartan and feels so welcome in his arms. To protect her from harm, he vows to keep her at his side - always.

HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER is an enchanting romp, with a driving story line, wonderfully vivid characters, an imaginative and engaging magical kingdom, a dash of history, and just enough of a paranormal element to give it spice. In addition to Zarabeth's unusual skills, which to her dismay she cannot apply to Egan, it reintroduces the readers to a race of shape-changers associated with the mystic kingdom of Nvengaria, and sets the stage for a follow-on novel involving the MacDonald clan's travels to Zarabeth's native land. There are genuinely amusing elements of humor throughout the book, as well as elements of a good mystery, and an adventure tale. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting (well, I did stop for food from time to time) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jennifer Ashley is the bestselling and award-winning author of romance, mysteries, mainstream fiction, and erotic romances under several different pseudonyms. She lives in the southwest with her husband and cat and spends mot of her time in the wonderful worlds of her stories.

Jennifer Ashley continues her wonderful Nvengaria series with Highlander Everafter. Ten years earlier Zarabeth found Egan McDonald in a ditch in Nvengaria. She was only twelve and he twenty five but she knew she loved him and wanted to marry him. Egan, however, left her six years later when she tried to seduce him. He thought he was unworthy of her.

Now Zarabeth desperately needs his help as she is running from her abusive and traitorous husband. She flees to Scotland and is embraced by Egan's large clan. Egan is at odds with his feelings for Zarabeth. He still feels unworthy of her but Zarabeth is still in love with the big Scot.

Egan's family adds a nice backdrop to this story. The secondary characters have fleshed out personalities although I did get some people mixed up at first. Egan's family is desperate for him to marry so the line can be carried on and they want him settled at the castle. He left for years under the crushing weight of his younger brother's death during the war.

Zarabeth can read minds but it really does not come to play that much in the story other than her uncanny ability not to be able to read Egan's mind. This is ultimately a story about finding lost love. Egan and Zarabeth have a passionate and in many ways honorable romance. Zarabeth is kind and considerate but wears a mask thanks to her husband's cruelty. Egan's feelings toward her are both protective and loving but tempered with a need for his own self preservation. He will risk everything though to make sure that Zarabeth is safe from enemies of Nvengaria.

The final installment of the Nvarangaria tales of Jennifer Asley. This one was .. BORING. Oh my god. Why two stars? Becouse I like the way Jennifer Ashley writes. Stick to the first two.. Better yet, read her Mackenzie book.. Much much better. .

I was seriously disappointed. After reading other Jennifer Ashley books I expected more. It wasn't especially humorous nor did it reverberate with suspense or romance. There was nothing in the beginning to "hook" the reader nor was there a plot that kept you wanting to know what happened next.
The book just kind of plodded along looking for an intriguing ending that never apperared. I would suggest saving your money on this one!