7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
COMPLETELY AWFUL, November 6, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: The Highlander (Mass Market Paperback)
I have read hundreds of romance novels - the Scottish genre being one of my favorites - do not waste your money on this one. There is no story. The characters' feelings are unbelievable. I could not even finish it.
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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bland at Best, December 1, 2004
This review is from: The Highlander (Mass Market Paperback)
Our story begins in the mists of 18th century Scotland, when a muscular rogue happens upon the nearly nude body of a beautiful young girl while attempting to enjoy a scenic horseback ride along the beach. Rather than clomping brutally over the unconscious girl's skull and continuing on his merry way (which would have been decidedly more interesting a tale in two or three paragraphs than the entire remainder of the book in itself), the burly stranger picks up said stranded maiden and deposits her at his brother's castle (which is conveniently devoid of other family members, servants or attending staff of any kind). Our lean, mean, kilt sporting hero's handsomeness is rivaled only by that of his rich, powerful sex machine of a brother - James "Jamie" Graham, the Earl of Monleigh. Given the circumstances, it's no surprise that Sophie - our shipwrecked maiden, formerly on the verge of death - and Jamie fall madly in lust with one another and engage in many hours of hot copulation inside the cavernous (and oddly empty) castle. Sadly, their sexual bliss is short lived, as Sophie refuses to divulge the secret of her true identity and feigns amnesia (poorly), causing James to mistrust his sultry French paramour at every turn. Even when it's beyond obvious that he is wrapped tightly around her little finger, Sophie continues to hide the truth from Jimmy for no reason other than to create needless drama (girls are so predictable). She is finally made to suffer the consequences, however, when the earl's jealous ex, Gillian, brings to light her horrifying secret. Sophie D'Alembert is none other than the granddaughter of Louis XIV, the Sun King! (I'll wait a moment here while you try to figure out why, exactly, this is so tremendously shocking. Go ahead.) Attempting to wriggle out of an unsavory arranged marriage to the English Duke of Rockingham, Sohpie boarded a ship bound for Norway and never looked back. The vessel had a date with misfortune, sadly, and our beloved Sophie was the only soul to survive the wreck. Were it not for Tavish Graham's efforts in the beginning of the book, her fate may have been different. For some inexplicable reason, this news infuriates Jamie to the point of insanity, and he breaks off his relationship with the smarmy Sophie - or does he? (The two continue to have sex, seemingly ignoring the fact that each is enraged with the other). An overdramatic self-sacrifice and painfully uninspired ending conspire to make The Highlander a typical "and they lived happily ever after" type of tale, wrapped up in a neat little box, with a frilly bow of some sort decorating the top.
Simply put, this novel was terrible. Despite the fact that Elaine Coffman is allegedly a New York Times bestselling author, which would indicate that she possesses some measure of skill and popularity, I actually found myself dreading the idea of finishing this work. It's a marvel to me that Jamie and Sophie, being the book's only characters for a number of chapters, could be lacking so much in the way of personal development. I never grew to know or understand either of the two and, thus, didn't care a whit whether they professed their love to one another, initiated any more off-putting love scenes, ended up dying, or found themselves being abducted by a hostile race of space aliens bent on taking over the galaxy. (Had the latter actually occurred, I highly doubt even it would have been able to bump this snooze-fest up to "worth reading" status.) The icing on the cake had to be the presence of the cheesy, inconsistent Scottish accents that are an embarrassment to real Scots everywhere, and the story's absurdly contrived ending. This has been my first and last Elaine Coffman experience, and I suggest you elect to be intelligent and learn from my mistake. Don't waste your time tackling this trash.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Escapes and mystery..., November 3, 2003
This review is from: The Highlander (Mass Market Paperback)
Tavish Graham thinks he has found a dead woman when he finds a naked form lying in his way. However, Sophie d'Almbert is very much alive and intriguing. She is also a problem he does not want, so he turns her over to his brother James, the Earl of Monleigh. James is not as put off by the lovely foreigner as his brother. Rather, he finds himself all too attracted to her. Since her memory is apparently gone though, for all he knows, she is a commoner, too lowly to even consider marrying. Even if she were high born, Sophie is not the woman he is engaged to marry. She might make a suitable mistress, and that is an idea that appeals to him greatly.
Sophie hides her secrets behind the cloak of amnesia. She is not a low born woman, but a member of the French Royal family, on the run from an unwanted marriage. Her fiance is hot on her heels and Sophie might have to sacrifice herself to him to save the people who have given her refuge and love.
*** Daring escapes and mystery fill this book. James and Sophie share a passion that defies all practical considerations. Not only that, but Ms. Coffman creates a panorama of secondary characers who could easily continue her saga. ***
Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.
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