Customer Reviews

Ravished by a Highlander

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was a very enjoyable read, the romance between Davina and Robert was definitely *5* stars, I loved their emotional connection, I loved how Robert was strong and very protective, and yet very gentle with Davina. Davina was also a very likable character with her quiet courage and perserverance, and so sweet! Their love was such a pleasure to behold, I thought that their first intimacy should have been a bit better written, other than that, their love story is great! They're both very likable characters, and when Robert carried her up to their room when they had gotten married, and she realizes that he had picked flowers for her, I think I melted a little while reading that lol! To see a strong/alpha highlander being so tender to his love is *sigh worthy*, and this book had some excellent romantic scenes like this throughout. There were also some funny scenes, and some suspenceful scenes as Robert fights to protect Davina.

The thing that stopped me from giving this a higher rating is that I found the subplot to be shaky, and sort of contrived; had the subplot been different my rating would have been *5* stars!

In the end, overall the romance was great. I enjoyed this book, it's a keeper. And I look forward to the next book in this series!

The late 17th Century is a time of political unrest in England as both Protestant and Catholics are desperate for control of the throne. Lady Davina Montgomery is the firstborn child of a very powerful family, and she is also the Crown's biggest secret. Hidden away at birth by her parents, she is raised by the good sisters at Saint Christopher's Abbey while under the heavy guard of English soldiers. Unknown to Davina, she is betrayed by someone she loves and trusts, and her family's enemies attack the abbey intending to leave no one alive. Robert MacGregor, the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, is on his way to England to be with his father who is pledging his support to the new king, James of York. Rob and his group of Highlanders happen upon the burning abbey and rescue Davina from certain death. Though he knows Davina holds a secret that could bring destruction to his clan, he vows to protect her at any cost and takes her to his home on the Isle of Skye. Though they were both raised to honor family loyalty and responsibility first, the desire that grows between them cannot be denied. Ultimately Rob and Davina much choose between a life together that would endanger those they love or being apart and fulfilling family duty beyond their choosing.

Ravished By A Highlander is an exciting combination of historical fact and fiction. It is a tale of love and passion battling against duty to family and society. Paula Quinn has created intriguing characters to bring this significant time in history to life. Robert MacGregor is a strong, responsible man who has been raised to one day become laird of his clan. In doing so he has put aside finding love and true happiness for himself. Davina Montgomery is a lost soul longing for a simple life of love and a family of her own. Rob and Davina are able to find what is lacking in their lives in each other, if they can only defeat the enemies threatening to destroy them. This is the first book I have read by Paula Quinn, and I was very impressed. I would love to talk more about the historical figures used in the story, but I do not want to give away Davina's secret! I will let you discover them on your own. Ravished By A Highlander is the first of the Children of the Mist series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book titled Seduced By A Highlander featuring Rob's amorous younger brother Tristan MacGregor.

Ravished by a Highlander was so much more than I thought it would be- full of historical details and an emotional, moving love story. And let's not pretend that the cover of this novel doesn't make you want to nose dive into the story either, ladies. ;)
Davina was plucked from her mother's arms and hidden away in a convent as a child. For her entire life she has been guarded from dangerous political plots that would cost her everything... And eventually it all comes to an end when her enemies catch up with her and attack the abbey- slaughtering all the soldiers and nuns who have become her family. Fortunately, Robert MacGregor, a Scottish highlander, and some men from his clan are there to witness the attack. Rob swoops in and fearlessly saves Davina from the flames about to engulf her... just one problem now. What does Rob do with Davina? He doesn't know her. Doesn't know why an entire army would be sent to murder a soon-to-be nun. I guess there is only one thing to do- take her to his family.

On their adventure back to Rob's homeland, they uncover a plethora of feelings they have for each other... but will Davina learn to trust Rob enough to reveal her secrets? The secrets that will uncover the reason she's in hiding, the reason men were willing to give up their lives to keep her hidden...
What fun, endearing characters! Rob is my favorite type of hero. He never fails to be strong, honorable and protective. Let's not forget he knows how to fight when necessary, too. Rob has been too busy with clan responsibilities to be bothered with finding love, until Davina falls into his lap. Davina is as likable as Rob. She is so amusing, she has spunk and attitude and changes a bit after seeing the world outside the convent.

Before I forget- Quinn created astonishing secondary characters. They're complex, flirtatious gentlemen. The descriptions provided for all of the highlander men are mind blowing and incredibly vivid. The whole story seemed colorful and alive- full of action and romance. Brace yourself for these characters to leap off the pages- you won't be putting this book down.
This is the first book I have read by Paula Quinn and I was VERY impressed... I will be picking up her other novels. The next book in this series, Seduced by a Highlander, will be released September 1, 2010. Can't wait to read it, just in time for my birthday!

Davina Montgomery is destined to live in an abbey alone with nuns because of who her parents are. She has soldiers who constantly watch over her to protect her from an army that is sure to come for her. When the army does come and her soliders can no longer protect her, she is saved by a brave highlander.

I'm not sure what it was about author's writing that made it necessary for me to go back and re-read short sections. The dialogue, especially, was sometimes difficult to follow. One of the parts that I had to go back over was on page 22 where the author was describing Davina. "She had an almost feline appearance.....slightly oversized ears.....the perfect HOURGLASS silhouette of her NOSE ended in a tiny knob stained with soot." My mental image of the doorknob/hourglass nose stained the first third of the book for me. Every time the author mentioned how beautiful and perfect Davina was supposed to be, it was almost like she was mocking Davina because her description didn't match my initial impression. I have nothing against a main character who doesn't resemble a Barbie doll, but the author kept mentioning that she was stunning and enchanting and it was jarring. I finally made a conscious effort to abandon the hourglass nose after a third of the book and it helped the plot immensely.

I appreciate that the plot is more complicated than some of the historical romance I have read (admittedly, I haven't read that many). The actions between the Davina and Rob was a bit cheesy in some parts, but I still got the happy "romance high" at the end.

I read this book and then immediately re-read it. Wow. What a love story. I've read quite a bit of Highland Romance books and I've enjoyed quite a few of them but this book tops my list. Rob and Davina are a match made in heaven. I loved every page but literally melted when she's preparing to leave with her father and Rob refuses to let her go. SPOILER ALERT!!! Davina seeing the swords of her father's men pointed at Rob's throat says to him: "Please, please Rob. You cannot die." Rob's reply to her. "I'm dead if he takes ye from me."

Rob is the ultimate Alpha hero. A strong leader to his people and yet so tender and kind to Davina. From their first meeting their chemistry burned up the pages and never let up. This one's a definite keeper.

I don't know how much of this book is historically accurate and to be honest, I don't care. I'm not one who reads a fiction book, takes notes to compare to how it adds up to what really happened, and then nitpicks it a part, I just love a good read. From what I do know though, Paula mixed a good deal of actual history with this fabulous book!

Fabulous it was!

Davina was taken from her mother when she was a baby and hidden away in a convent. She is a member of a very important family and they took great pains to protect her. Someone she loved betrayed her though and the enemy found out where she was. They attacked the convent, killing everyone, but Robert showed up, and saved Davina from the flames.

After that it's a fast paced journey through getting her to safety before the men who are out to kill her are aware of the fact that she wasn't killed during the attack.

Her secret, oh her secret.

I'm not as smart as James. I couldn't figure out what it was, of course, I'm not from that time. The politics then didn't circle around my existence and threaten my way of life. Robert deduced that Davina was........ Oh come on, I'm not actually going to tell you! You have read the book!

Robert, with his life for Davina, risks bringing all of Englan down on his clan. But what respectable highlander wouldn't risk life, limb, property, and all for the love of his life?

Recommend this book! Paula Quinn is going on my list of favorite authors! I *heart* her!

I received this book for review. It did not affect my opinion. I either like a book or I don't. :)

I'll make this review short and sweet. This is the best Highland romance book that I've read. I just absolutely LOVED it. It was my first read by this author and it certainly won't be my last. The hero and heroine were perfect together. I've read so many books where I fall in love with a hero only to find him paired with a selfish, whiny heroine. Not so here. The lead pair as well as the secondary characters (with the exception of the villian of course) were simply wonderful.

So far Quinn has not failed to put forth believable characters you care about, story lines that intrigue and prose lovely to read. Everyone else has run through the storyline so cutting to the chase... Liked it. Alot. Will read again. I recommend it without hesitation.

This book was so full of anticipation, and yet there was so much that was a surprise. There was so much that I was waiting to have happen, and then there was so much that I didn't expect to happen while waiting for the other stuff to happen.

I really liked this one. Davina was so naive and yet so smart and cunning. I don't really know what to think about her. She was a good character, but it seemed just as you got used to her one way there was an added dimension that I didn't expect her to have.

I also liked Rob, and in my head he looks like Sean Connery via James Bond. Not all Scottish men look like him, I know, but that was all that I could picture while reading this one....

The story itself was very good. Like I said there were some things that I was expecting to happen, and the anticipation of waiting for those things to happen was almost too much to take. But while waiting for those things (Like Davina's secret being revealed) there was a bit that went on that I didn't expect (like the huge betrayal...). But the anticipation was rewarded with a great story.

It took me a little bit to get used to the dialect, as it's written how it would sound if said with a Scottish accent (which I think is why I pictured Sean Connery as it was his voice I heard saying everything). But once I figured that out, cause I was a little slow on that front..., I didn't have any other issues.

The story had a good pace, there were a few slow scenes but after some of the things that happened I kind of needed the break.... In the end I would have to say it was a great story and I can't wait for the next in the series.

This is the third in Quinn's Highlander series that tells of the loves of the MacGreggor men--and it's a great one! She continues to consistently deliver multifaceted romances with great historical setting (17th century Scotland), well done love scenes that fit exquisitely into the story, unforgetable characters with interesting and diverse personalities, natural humor that had me laughing out loud late into the night, and so much more. This is Rob MacGreggor's story. He's the eldest son of the Laird of Clan MacGreggor (his parents' story is very well told in Laird of the Mist...I also reviewed and loved it). I wasn't sure I could like any man as much as Callum MacGreggor (Rob's father) and Graham Grant his best friend and Commander (whose story is told in A Highlander Never Surrenders), but I did. Like his father, Rob is a handsome, strong and determined leader born to fight. He is also heir apparent who is loyal to his clan and family and loves Camlochlin Castle. But his love for the mysterious and beautiful flaxen haired, blue eyed Lady Davina brings him to his knees. Even knowing her secret of importance to the Crown, he cannot let her go. I like the way Quinn is weaving all the stories together so that when the series is done we'll have a complete tale with great depth. She is already previewing stories to come in the characters (for example, Tristen MacGreggor's love for a lass named Isobel)...it's like a family and we're a part of it. Keep it up Paula!