Customer Reviews

The Highlander's Bride (Zebra Debut)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is EVERYTHING a romance should be. The research done was enormous and while the plot was simple and straightforward, the characters were not. They drew me with the quick repartees. And resolutions were not always as simple. Unlike several other romances, the way Conor and Laurel worked through their problems was much more realistic and the end was oh so very satisfying. This book starts on page one and keeps you reading until the very end with great dialogue, wonderful love scenes and excellent writing. I cannot wait to learn about the rest of his brothers.

I am surprised by the review that states that a couple that meet and are attracted to each other can't have an instant feeling of "He's Mine!" | "She's Mine" without getting to know [all] about each other. I can think of three great marriages in my family where the couple met and just KNEW that was the right one. There was a decision "S/He's mine" ... It can happen and it still does happen.

I look for the following in a romance -- good love story. A hero that I'd like to think would rescue me if I was "the beautiful girl". The girl has to be interesting and not silly, giggles and makes dumb content. Too many love stories have the great, bright man who is a leader who supposedly falls for an airhead. And she can't be a pushover who does the "anything you say dear" routine either. Add in some adventure and you've got a good start to a enjoyable read.

This author captures everything I like and then some. The scenery described -- what the keep was like. She does her research and it shows. You ever look at her web site? Tons of research links on it. And there are more books planned -- one for each of the brothers. I can't wait to read them. For a debut novel, this is wonderful.

Laurel Cordell wants only one thing--her freedom--and, in order to obtain that which has eluded her for so long, she begins a journey toward her grandfather's home in Scotland, leaving behind her brother and the only home she has ever knew in England. Setting out full of anticipation for what seems like would be a bright future, Laurel is enchanted with the changes taking place in her life...that is until a group of soldiers suddenly attacks her small group of travelers and a laird's devious son decides to keep her. Escaping them, she wandered through the wooded, majestic highlands until she stumbles upon a camp of soldiers who could see that she was in dire need of being rescued.

One look at Laurel and Conner McTiernay's world was never the same. The beautiful blonde, blue-eyed lass stumbled into his camp and immediately established herself firmly in his heart. He granted her safe passage and protection in order to keep her near, but upon their arrival at his home, he began a journey that he never thought to experience: love. Responsible for overseeing his six younger brothers as well as being laird over the McTiernay, left him little time for frivolous matters of the heart, but when others step up to ask for her hand, he is forced into a decision that will alter everything he has ever known to be true.

Although at times they struggle to understand each other, a peace is finally born between the two warring spirits. Laurel learns to trust Conner and he in turn learns to love. Together they embark on a new life journey towards something far better than even they could have imaged awaited them.

Armchair Interviews says: A well-written historical fiction filled with romance.

I read a LOT of books and I must say that I am getting really bored with the trend where the male and female do not even like each other, much less "get together" until the last five pages of the book. This book was a very pleasant surprise.

For the most part, the two were actually honest with each other on how they felt. They were able to work out their differences by talking to each other. The lead female was strong, smart and gave the book much of its humor. This is such a change from books where the leads are too afraid or too stubborn to talk with each other about their true feelings. I believe that people can fall in love with an instant attraction. The ending didn't feel contrived and I really liked the supporting characters. I can't wait to read the other brother's stories.

My only dissappointment was that this is a new author and she doesn't have any other books yet that I can go back and read. If you like Hannah Howell, which I do, you will really like this author.

It has been a while since I have had time to read. It was great to finally find time to read again. I was hesitant to buy this book, especially because I had read several debuts before that were not that good. I was however pleasantly surprised, this was a delightful and satisfying read.

Conor is a highland laird, and women desire him only for his money and title, and so he decides that he is not going to get married. Because deep down inside he had been secretly wishing to get married for love (how refreshing and wonderful), as his parents had been, but after several run ins with gold diggers, Conor has given up on the idea of marriage.

Laurel Cordell is found in the woods by one of Conor's men, and is brought to Conor as a trespasser. Conor soon realizes that this woman is in need of help, he sees her bruises and she collapses in his arms. Conor is moved by this woman's courage and vows to keep her safe, until he can find her kin. Only the lady is not cooperating. When he questions her later, after tending to her wounds, she won't tell him who her family is. And so both Conor and Laurel agree that she is to stay in his keep until the winter is over, and then in the spring he would let her leave to do whatever it is she must do.

In truth Laurel needs to warn her grandfather of imminent danger. Conor has other plans though, which Laurel does not know. He has figured out who her grandfather is, and has secretly sent him a message. Conor also finds that he has fallen for the lady and plans to marry her. She thinks she will leave, he vows to marry her. And the battle of wits begins.

Yes they did have a few fights in this, but the fighting was not silly or irritating. And their fights were brief before making up. And it was through these brief fights that they both learned to compromise and understand each other more, so that the relationship between them worked out. This is a book in which you see two people falling in love, and working to make that relationship blossom and grow.

It was a bit weak on the suspense storyline about Laurel's family and the danger. But the romance in it was great. However the suspense does pick up in the last portion of the book, when Conor's plan is put to action. And we the readers are left hanging as Laurel who is now Conor's wife goes into labor, and Conor is no where to be found. (I had one gripe with this book, I wished so much that Conor would have been with his wife during the labor.)

Sometimes a heroine is just too much, too beautiful, too stunning, too stubborn and too defiant. This describes the leading lady of The Highlander Bride quite well. Her hero is a bit too much too, especially too headstrong but he at least has logical reasons for his actions.

Laird Connor McTiernay stumbles upon a beautiful but injured woman in the Highlands. Laurel Cordell was on her way to her grandfather's lands when she was taken captive by another Highland Chief. Laurel is only half English and also a Scot but she does not let Connor know of her heritage and her grandfather. Laurel is grateful for Connor's protection but she resents his highhandedness and she and Connor argue quite a bit.

All of Connor's men simply adore and I mean adore the beauteous Laurel. She is a feisty one and they all think she is beyond amazing; she is quite a skilled hunter and is wicked with a knife. She has a very quick temper which she lets fly.

Connor takes Laurel back to his keep intending at first just to keep her till the spring and then allow her to continue her journey. He is smitten with Laurel and he wavers between wanting her to stay permanently and keeping his bachelorhood. It's a losing battle as Laurel is soooo wonderful who would not want her.

Laurel and Connor have many disagreements mostly because Laurel has to manage anyone and anything around her. She chafes under Connor's over protectiveness and finds ways to defy him which border on silly. It's amazing that whenever Connor gets angry the entire castle feels Laurel must be protected from their loving leader and they all go out of their way to keep Connor's wrath from spilling over to Laurel who can more than take care of herself. Laurel has a way of justifying her actions and she has some double standards too, apparently it's okay for her to keep secrets but not Connor.

This book moves slowly and it took me a very long time to finish it as I would become bored with these characters and find a more exciting novel to read. Their relationship consists of Laurel doing something to anger Connor, Connor overreacting, Laurel defying Connor, the leads make up, then the process starts all over again.

What a great story this was. Laurel and Conor are very likable characters. Laurel has always traveled to Scotland to visit her mothers father. However, after the death of her mother, her father forbade her to visit and even after his death, her brother upheld his wish. He would only grant Laurel her visit if she agreed to stay away forever. En route to her grandfathers land, she is ambushed by a clan rival and taken prisoner for a couple of days.
She manages to escape into the arms of our hero and his men and viola a beautiful story evolves. I won't tell too much. As with any romance, the hero and heroine are unknowingly working against one another. What I thought was excellent was the hero being so protective of Laurel (others hated this). Of all the historicals I have read, he was most upfront regarding his feelings. I enjoyed the story and could not wait to start on the second in the series.
To those who slammed the novel, let us take into consideration that this is her first novel. Sure there were mistakes (as with many other authors) but they were minimal and did not sway from the plot of the story. She did a very good job and I look forward to future novels. A very promising debut indeed.

I have had a chance to read a fair number of historical romances mostly set around the same time as this one. I have been impressed with the writing of most of the authors I have read (especially having come from a serious scifi/fantasy background). This book, however, I found that though the plot was interesting the writing needed a lot of help. The author shifted from one scene to the next or one emotion to the next in very rough transitions (if there was a transition at all). And though I have read other romances where there was a spark between the pairs early on in the book, I agree with many of the other reviewers that the instant attraction here was a bit much. Again if the transitions had been better developed, maybe this aspect of the book would have worked. Finally I have to say that by the time I read over half the book, the over the top description of Laurel became a bit nauseous. Granted, many other HR authors write about how beautiful the heroin is, but please, this was way over the top. I am glad I only paid $3.99, but this book should not have cost more than $1.99. I think if the author worked more on transitions and plot development and toned down the in-human depiction of the heroins, then she might write a better book. oh, one more thing. I have enjoyed in many of the other books the fact that the heroins are strong and capable. This author tried to do the same thing, but failed. This is where better plot development would have come in handy.

This story of Conor and Laurel still has the rugged very alpha male Highlander Hero that we all dream of for oursleves, but without all that messy tortured, sullen or crazed back story. It actually concentrated more on their growing romance and relationship. A breath of fresh air without all the complications.

Laurel was a wonderful strong Scot Heroine-I absolutely loved everything about her personality. Storming the battlefield to face two Scots with swords! I would have really liked to have seen more of her knife throwing skills used thoughout-------it would have apeased more of those action loving readers.
Conor was every bit the posessive Hot protective Highlander that we all want in our Scot romance books. He is also one of the more clever I've read. The way he communicated (yelled) with Laurel was both comical and loving at the same time.

He also has some wonderfully strong virle brothers that I will look forward to reading about....hmmmmmm

Conor and Laurel first meet when Laurel stumbles into Conor's camp looking for help and refuge. Conor and his brother's are on their way home from another brother's wedding. She is running away from another clan that had kidnapped her on her way to her grandfathers.

Conor agrees to protect Laurel and takes her back to his home. She plans on staying there until spring and then continue her journey. During the time she is with Conor they fall in love.

I was hooked from the first page and didn't want the story to end. If you like romances where the H/H don't spend the whole book fighting and having misunderstandings then you will enjoy "The Highlander's Bride".

The issues they have they try and work out through communication. And while the heroine was put up on a pedistal quite a bit (maybe too much, by the other clan members) I still thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I enjoyed reading how Conor who swore he would never marry, fell head over heels for Laurel.

If you believe in love at first sight then this is a book you will enjoy reading. Did it have some issue here and there, sure but they were minor and don't most books.