Customer Reviews

Bride of Lochbarr (Brothers-in-Arms, Book 1) (Harlequin Super Historical Romance)

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Facing a forced politically advantageous for her brother's sake, Marianne feels like she's been condemned to Hades. Not only is her "groom to be" a Scottish heathen, but an old man with a vile reputation. Though raised by nuns, she is not meek and mild. Her fire attracts the attention of another Scot, Adair, a chieftain's oldest son. He knows the wretched misery ahead of Marianne if she does not find some escape, so he sets out to rescue her. There are a few hitches that culminate in Marianne claiming he kidnapped her and ruined her reputation, making her unmarriageable to any but himself. So, the Norman lady who did not want to marry a Scot finds herself the wife of Adair Mac Seamus Mac Taran, lost in a world where she can't even communicate as she knows no Gaelic. The fire is still in her, however, and she proves her worth quickly. She and her husband even manage to fall in love. If she thought to escape politics, then she was wrong. Not everyone wants Adair as their chieftain, and as his wife, she is in equal danger.

**** The complexity of this novel is belied by its brevity. The author teaches the reader never to judge by appearances, as characters prove to be deep and multi dimensional. She combines exciting action, passion, and a heart warming ending in a fast paced read. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

Moore manages to create a credible historical setting for this romance, but the characters tend toward the simplistic. Romantic hero Adair seems to fall in love with the heroine a bit too quickly and without sufficient justification within the tale, and for all of her protests, the heroine behaves like a blazing floozy at his very first kiss (before returning to her constant complaints). She saves the day just a shade too often, leaving the hero looking somewhat of a heedless dummy. The story improves as it nears the finish, but somehow, I just didn't think the author's talents or attention were fully engaged on this one.

In 1235, Lord Nicholas takes his sister Marianne from the Normandy monastery where she lived for the last twelve years back to Scotland but not out of brotherly love. Instead, he wants to stop paying the monastery for her upkeep and marry her off to an old but wealthy and regally connected Hamish MacGlogan. This is over Marianne's objections. Because she expected to one day wed a Norman not a barbaric Scot.

Seamus MacTaron and his clan arrive to warn Nicholas about raiding their cattle. Nicholas denies that his men did such a deed, but Seamus' hot tempered son Adair, who detests the Normans, tells him they will watch and kill anyone who tries. Marianne plays the perfect hostess by inviting the MacTaron kin to stay overnight and angering her brother by doing so. Adair and Marianne are attracted to one another, but both reject the other because of their nationality. Still, they begin to realize that a relationship between them would be better for his people and for her than one with that ancient relic that her sibling wants to foster on her. Will betrayal prove to Adair and Marianne that love has blossomed between them?

This is an engaging medieval romance starring two individuals who have no reason to trust the other although they love one another. The thrilling story line animates the audience from the moment the MacTaron clan enter Nicholas' keep until the betrayers are confronted. Though the theme of star-crossed lovers deceived by "loyalists" who make it look as if a loved one did the deed has occurred too often, Margaret Moore magnificently brighten the tale with a picturesque look into twelfth century Scotland.

Bride of Lochbarr
by Margaret Moore

Reviewer: Pamela Ackerson (author of Home of the Braves trilogy)

Ms. Moore has taken the damsel in distress and twisted it into a witty and fun read. Lady Marianne wants to run away from a forced betrothal and when Adair MacTaran swoops in to save her, she resists. The adventure starts from there and tickles you with a genuine sense of humor, passion, and wit. Leave your afternoon open for this book. You won't want to put it down.

Each time I opend this book, I had the earge to close my eyes and fall a sleep. I can't stand when men are portraid as door mats and that's what I thought about Adair MacTaran. He has NO head on his shoulders.

Whatever. Never again am I reading anything by Margaret Moore!