Customer Reviews

Highlander In Her Bed (Signet Eclipse)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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.

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

I picked this up because the premise seemed promising, even though I hadn't read the author before. I won't be reading the author again, either, but the things that bothered me may not bother other readers, so I'll be specific and you can decide for yourself.

1. The hero is not heroic. His purpose (we're not really sure why this is what he was cursed with) is to keep the heroine out of "his" bed. He does pretty much nothing to accomplish this task, but he's not joining her in the bed, either - just wringing his hands and getting upset. He's completely immobilized when the heroine...kicks him in the shin. Becomes embarassed and uncomfortable around his guy pal who's constantly erect. This, from a supposed Highland warrior? These guys fought bloody battles naked!
2. Not once, not twice, but time after time after time, you'll read that the heroine grew up on One Cairn Avenue in Philly. Every single time she does something even remotely brave, bold, or sassy, it's reiterated that it's because her "mean streets of Philly" background made her that way.
3. The author had a little too much fun with her thesaurus. It interrupts the flow when you keep running into words like "abstemiousness" and "sibilancy".
4. I've always heard men called "Scots", while "Scottie" usually refers to a Scottish Terrier dog. Drives me nuts that the heroine refers to the hero as "Hottie Scottie" the majority of the time.

So there you go...mostly picky, detail-type things, but they pulled me out of the flow of the story enough that I couldn't enjoy the book. I'll be donating my copy to the library for those who won't be as bothered by this stuff as I was.

I've never read such a poorly written book before. Did Mackay believe no one would notice how underdeveloped the story was if she threw vulgar sexual references on almost every page? The characters were shallow, details that bring a story to life were missing and Makay used the same adjectives so often the story induced a catatonic state of boredom.

This was an OK paranormal. The hero was very yummy and realistic...you know, for a ghost. The couple does end up together for reasons that are never fully fleshed out. Mara, the main charcter is likeable BUT my main gripe is that she talks like She's the one born in the 13th century. She says these phrases and if she had used them in modern conversation, no matter what country you live in, people would look at her and say "Huh? Who talks like that! What do you think you are a character in a historical romance?"

Besides that, the secondary characters introduced as fellow cursed highlander buddies of our main hero are quite entertaining. I wouldn't mind picking up one of their sequals. But this is a light read, as mentioned by other reviewers. And don't let the cover blurb by Angela Knight fool you into thinking this is a particularly steamy read either. It has it's moments but never gets so hot you'd have to call the fire department.

The first half was too slow moving and repetitive. She was thinking of her attraction to him yet trying to avoid him. He was thinking and doing the same. This continued on for too long. Finally they got together and the story became more interesting. The last half was fluffy and more fun.

This book was a surprising jewel. I nearly didn't read it after finding "another" book with a similar plot a complete copy of Lyn Kurland's Stardust of Yesteryear. This was a refreshing alternative. The plot was original, all of the rules were rethought and pleasantly reset so as not to be redundent with others in this genre. Cheers and Slainte to Ms. MacKay. You've got my attention as I move on to your next book. Keep em' coming, girl!

Allie Mackay ask written a keeper! It should have a 10 rating! I can honestly say she is to be compared to everyone's favorite...Lynn Kurland! Mara McDougall inherits a castle in Scotland (Ravenscraig Castle) and purchases a medieval 4 poster bed...unaware that along with the bed, she now has a Highland Knight. Sir Alexander Douglas, who has been cursed to the bed, by Colin MacDougall, and poor Alex has a hatred for all McDougall/MacDougall's. However, the sparks fly (and do they EVER) and the chemistry is magical, even though they are both in denial. It's a MUST read ! And I must also add, Ms. Mackay's love of Scotland is clearly evident throughout. I promise you, you will love it like I did and I am a critical/picky reader. And the phrase that is now embedded in my brain forever is HOTTIE SCOTTIE! I want one!! I would even leave the kilt as optional...

Thinnest of plots and absolutely terrible writing. I threw away my copy to save some other unsuspecting soul from suffering this book.