Highlander In Her Bed (Signet Eclipse) [Paperback]

Allie Mackay (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Eclipse | Publication Date: November 7, 2006

Tour guide Mara MacDougall stops at a London antique shop-and spots perhaps the handsomest bed ever. Then she bumps into the handsomest man ever. Soon Mara can't forget the irresistible-if haughty-Highlander. Not even when she learns that she's inherited a Scottish castle.

Spectral Sir Alexander Douglas has hated the Clan MacDougall since he was a medieval knight and they tricked him into a curse-the curse of forever haunting the bed (the very one that Mara now owns) that was once intended for his would-be bride. But Mara makes him feel what no other MacDougall has-a passion that he never knew he'd missed.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This randy paranormal romance pits a burned-out ghost-hunting tour guide against a cranky person-hunting ghost. After her last skeptical jaunt into London's haunted past, Mara McDougall stumbles upon an antique store and finds the enormous medieval bed of her dreams. She buys it, despite the strange warning of a stunning but rude man who tells her, "The bed is mine, wench." Just as she's about to leave London, she learns that a friend in the tourist business has left her a huge Scottish castle—and a catch: she must make the place into a memorial to the MacDougall clan of Scotland. It turns out her gorgeous new bed has a catch of its own: it's haunted. Scottish knight Alexander Douglas, he of the rude warning, was cursed to spend eternity with the bed by one of the MacDougalls, and he's sworn revenge against them (and, now, maybe the McDougalls, too). The premise is charming and innovative, but the leads' lustful preoccupation overshadows the promising subplots and quirky supporting cast. The novel also frustrates by assuming, wrongly, that the rules of interaction between ghosts and humans are self-evident. This novel definitely delivers a blast of Scottish steam, but its take on love, paranormal style, is thwarted by overactive hormones that seem all too earthly. (Nov.)
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Review

Allie Mackay pens stories that sparkle. (Angela Knight, USA Today bestselling author)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Signet (November 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451219813
• ISBN-13: 978-0451219817
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #659,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Allie Mackay is the pseudonym for Sue-Ellen Welfonder, an ex-flight attendant who now writes Scottish medieval romances. She is a card-carrying Scotophile whose burning wish to make frequent (free) trips to the land of her dreams led her to a twenty year career with the airlines. Bi-lingual, she flew international all those years, working her flights as foreign language speaker. Her flying career allowed her to see the world, but it was always to Scotland that she returned. Now a full-time writer, she's quick to admit that she much prefers wielding a pen to pushing tea and coffee. She spent fifteen years living in Europe and used that time to explore as many castle ruins, medieval abbeys, and stone circles as possible. Anything ancient, crumbling, or lichened caught her eye. She makes annual visits to Scotland, insisting they are a necessity as each trip gives her inspiration for new books. Proud of her own Hebridean ancestry, she belongs to two clan societies and never misses a chance to attend Highland Games. In addition to Scotland, her greatest passions are medieval history, the paranormal, and dogs. She never watches television, loves haggis, and writes at a four-hundred-and-fifty year old desk that once stood in a Bavarian castle.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Cute idea that dies a horrible death, February 12, 2007

By 

I *heart* romance novels "Ellie" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Highlander In Her Bed (Signet Eclipse) (Paperback)

So you think, "Ghosts! Fun!", and you really dig the idea of a ghost being attached to an antique bed and coming and wreaking havoc on a Modern heroine that adores said bed and buys it. I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for a good ghostly romance, and this one really seemed to have a cute and fun premise.

Then I tried to read it. As I read the first few chapters, I thought "Hmm...I liked this more when it was 'Stardust of Yesterday'...." because the two books start in a very similar way, i.e. Spunky heroine inherits castle with a ghost that doesn't like her, in Stardust, the ghost comes with the castle, in Highlander, he comes with the bed. However, in Stardust, I actually LIKED the hero and heroine.

As I continued reading, I had to suffer through awkward phrases like "....beautiful painted beamed ceiling" (which has three adjectives and says nothing at all. What color was the paint? What did the beams look like? It's a clunky and uncomfortable read because you have to slog through all of the adjectives that never actually DESCRIBE anything.) And then there's the ever present "Hottie Scottie", a phrase the Heroine uses to describe the Hero AD INFINITUM. To be honest, after about the fiftieth time I saw "Hottie Scottie", I threw the book down in disgust and didn't pick it back up. I couldn't take it. Once would have been cute. However, it was not cute over and over and over again. I didn't care about the hero, I didn't care why he was ghostly or how he could reverse it, and the Heroine thinking about her "Hottie Scottie" made me want to grind my teeth into powder at all of the twee. Also, there were veritable mountains of purple prose. (Love Juice? *gag*)

If you want a good ghostly romance, Read Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland. The author really did try, and it truly was a cute idea, I just wish it had been executed better.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can I have one tooo, November 24, 2006

By 

L. Matthews (Lake Charles, La) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Highlander In Her Bed (Signet Eclipse) (Paperback)

I would love to have guy like the hero attached to me!! I loved this book! It is about a burned out tour guide, Mara McDougall and a ghostly medieval knight, Sir Alexander Douglas. The relationship between the two main characters starts out rocky. She first sees him in an antique shop while mooning over "his" bed! Sir Alexander before he was murdered cursed him self to remain with the bed that was to be given to his bride a MacDougall! He remains with the bed making sure no Mac or McDougall ever sleeps in it. He has frightened everyone away from the bed but Mara. Instead of being afraid of him she gives him the nickname "Hottie Scottie" not believing he is a ghost.
Now this book does have a few problems. One of them is that the story lags in certain spots. It also moves to fast in the one and only bedroom scene. Baring that it truly was a great 1st story effort. Hopefully, we will see one of Sir Alex's ghostly friends in the next book. Personally, I would like to read Sir Hardwin's story.
This book is absolutly worth a read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Direction for Author in a Fun and Captivating Read, November 24, 2006

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Highlander In Her Bed (Signet Eclipse) (Paperback)

Mara McDougall a self-employed tour guide was seriously reconsidering employment options at the end of her current tour of ghost hunting enthusiasts. With free time before bidding her charges adieu she elected to browse an antique shop. Mara fell in love with an enormous medieval bed and was ticked off by an equally enormous and devastatingly handsome male dressed in a medieval re-enactment costume (or so she thought) warning her away from "his" bed! The big braw lad was Sir Alexander Douglas, a ghost, cursed to spend eternity protecting his bed from the MacDougalls whose trickery and treachery caused him to lose his life and curse himself into a lifeless eternity of revenge.
Mara would be surprised to learn later that evening that she'd been left an inheritance that included a medieval Scottish castle. She now had the funds and the perfect setting to place the antique bed. What she didn't know, but would soon find out, was that along with the bed came one very braw "hottie Scottie" who wasn't at all pleased to be sharing "his" bed with any McDougall, no matter how she spelled her name!

*** MacKay (aka Sue Ellen Welfonder) has charged forward with a new focus in this sensual and delightful new paranormal morsel that once again showcases her love and affinity with the Scottish highlands. In this she delivers a magical paranormal with some very graphic sensual and passionate interludes that are sure to please those who like a lot of spice in their reads. One thing for sure MacKay's interpretation of a ghost's abilities to interact with the mortal realm is sure to set new standards for ghostly hauntings! Initially Sir Alex, hell bent on ridding himself and his bed of any McDougall, ended up being beguiled and bewitched by this very sexy lady of the twentieth century who came complete with a black lace teddy! Reacting to the rudeness of the "hottie Scottie" in the antique shop, Mara was not openly receptive to him as an intruder in `her' castle, but later came to the realization that his `ghostly' presence was one she'd wish would last forever as she'd fallen hopelessly in love with the ghost.

MacKay opens up a new realm of entertaining paranormal possibilities with this delightful new series and one can hardly wait for the sequels that I hope will feature Alex's ghostly buddy Sir Hardwick (um, need I say more?). Fun sexy and very well done!

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com