Customer Reviews

Soul of a Highlander (The Daughters of the Glen, Book 3)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoyed this one almost as much as the first. I did enjoy it more than the second book. I thought Mairi & Ramos had great chemistry together! I made myself only read about 50 pages a day-just to make it last longer, but thought about it all day long. That's the making of a great book isn't it?-thinking about it all day long when you're not reading it! I enjoy how she brings in the characters from the first two books, all the while adding more characters, possibly to fit into her next book. (which I'm anxiously awaiting!)
The one complaint I have is that the only time in her three books that she's introduced a Christian into her stories, is that she had to be portrayed as a fearful, obsessive, fanatical, over-the-top downright mean and nasty one!! And a traitor at that! Hey Melissa Mayhue, if you're reading this, Christians like reading romance novels too, and they aren't like that. :)
Can't wait for the next one as her writing is so real and tantalizing!

This is yet another fantastic read... the third of the series, the hero, Ramos Servans was introduced in the previous novel, as a yummy bad boy turned good.

He was definitely just as yummy in this novel, with a macho streak that makes you want one of your own!

The heroine is a pretty little time-traveler who is somehow feisty and demure at the same time.

The chemistry between the two takes a little while to build up, but when it does, it boils through the rest of the book.

I couldn't put it down, and I will definitely recommend this to my friends, and I am looking forward to reading any work she has in the future.

I was disappointed that this novel was not as good as the previous two; Highland Guardian and Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband. Mairi and Ramos didn't really have that much chemistry and some of the writing during the romantic scenes was kind of cheesy. All in all it was still a decent read. I will read the next novel in the series in the hopes that it is more like the first two.

Ramos Servans, formerly evil Nuadian bent on stealing Mortal souls along with his father, has learned the truth about his father's evil ways and has become a Guardian, sworn to protect the Mortal Plain and the Portals to the Realm of Fairies.

Mairi MacKiernan, saved by her brother Connor and his wife Cate by being brought forward in time from 1272, has been doing some research into the family she left behind with some disturbing results. Her cousin, Marsali Rose (Sallie) has disappeared from the family records shortly after Mairi's departure. Fearing the worst, Mairi must now go back in time and save Sallie. When she doesn't return as expected, Ramos is sent after her.

While definitely on the silly side (any plot holes are explained with the complicated nature of Fairie Magic), this is a fun read involving sexy Scotsman, one hot Guardian, and fiery Scottish lassies! Mairi drove me a bit crazy as most of the circumstances she got herself and everyone else involved in were as a result of her own stupidity, but it was still a quick, entertaining read in this great Daughters of the Glen series.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and the main character was spunky and resourceful. It was nice having the women be the highlander. It was easy to read beacuse the words flowed very nicely. I read it very quickly and am wondering if there will be another. can't wait.

For anyone who adored Mairi Mackearnen from Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband and for anyone who was intrigued by Ramos Servans form Highland Guardian, OR for anyone who enjoys a well-written time travel, you are going to love Soul of a Highlander.

In an effort to save her cousin's life, Mairi travels back in time (with the help of Faerie Magic) to the year 1295. When she doesn't return to the present, her family worries and sends the new Guardian, Ramos Servans, to save Mairi and bring her back home safely.

There's an instant attraction between the stunning blonde tomboy and the bad-boy-turned-good as Mairi investigates her cousin's inevitable death, leaving Ramos with the challenging job of keeping Mairi safe from harm. And from falling head over heals in love with her.

But all hope may be lost when Ramos realizes just who is behind the upcoming murder.

Mairie MacAlister is a young woman who was rescued from death in the 13th Century and taken to the present day where she has lived for nine years. Unfortunately Mairie doesn't quite fit in the modern world - she doesn't have the Fae powers of some of her relatives because she is the daughter of a son of Prince Pol and his powers only travel down the line of daughters of daughters. She knows that she would have died had she remained in the 13th Century but she's troubled by the thought that her cousin Marsali did die as her name disappears from the records. Mairie decides to do something about this and speaks to the Fae Prince Pol to get him to right the ancient wrong of only daughter's receiving his powers and then travels back in time to try to save Marsali.

When Mairie doesn't return her friends realise that something has gone wrong with her time travelling and they send Guardian Ramos Navarro/Servans to help her. Ramos is trying to make up for the evil that his father has done over the ages and he is happy to help Mairie. However when he arrives he discovers Mairie isn't exactly what he imagined, having far more fire and self-reliancy than he expected. He also discovers that there are some Fae goings-on in the 13th Century and that Ramos may have the opportunity to deal, once and for all, with his evil father. But what will that do to himself? And is his destiny somehow linked with Mairie's?

This was an enjoyable story set in an interesting and difficult time where medical treatments were basic, food was unappetising and lives were often violent and short. Mairie and Ramos are both appealing characters as they try to help others whilst not always understanding the Fae powers that are working with them. The romance was fairly low-key in that it was something they just slid into but the overall story was well written, even if some of the 13th Century Scottish characters spoke American English at times. This was clearly not the first book in a series but it was easy enough to pick up the story and to follow the events after the first couple of chapters which rather threw information at the reader. This was a pleasant enough paranormal story set in an interesting time and location.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

When Mairi MacKiernan researches the family she left behind in the thirteenth century only to learn that her beloved Aunt Rosalyn's only daughter is killed before her time Mairi decides that she must go back and save the girl. Unfortunately her sister in law, the only one she knows with time travelling powers won't help her because it's forbidden to change the past. Unwilling to let things drop, Mairi goes to Pol's Glenn determined to claim the birthright denied to her because she was a daughter of a son instead of the daughter of a daughter. Before going on the journey Mairi leaves a packet with Sarah only to be opened if she doesn't return that night because even if she's back in time for years she should return within moments of when she left. The packet is the only information she leaves about her plans, not willing to risk telling anyone about her hopes before then because she's not willing to let them stop her. When Mairi doesn't return that night Ian goes to Dallyn requesting the guardian's help to bring back his friend's sister. Ramos Navaros, formerly known as Ramos Servans will do anything to redeem himself for the pain he caused during his time with his father. He can't forgive himself for being so blind, for being part of the wrong team, that's why he became a guardian. To become part of the Elite Guard was his greatest honor, so when his first assignment is to journey into the past to save Mairi from the Duke Servans he's sure his destiny is to kill the Nuadian wreaking havoc in the thirteenth century and see Mairi home. He doesn't plan on the girl being an irresistible feisty woman and what he really doesn't count on is the Nuadian being his own father. He'd plan to send Mairi right home then deal with his father, but Mairi won't return without saving her cousin and he can't abandon Mairi to go after his father. As passion stirs between them Ramos knows he must end it, he knows that with his family and his past he's not good enough for Mairi, but he can't seem to convince her of that. If he could only get her home she'd see other men would be so much better for her even if he doesn't like to think of the idea of her with any other man. Unfortunately when Mairi finally tries to escape to the present with her cousin her magic won't work. She's there to fulfill her destiny which she thought was saving Marsali, if that's not her destiny what is and will she discover it before she's stuck in the past forever?

The third novel in the Daughters of the Glenn series finally ties together the relation between the first two novels as secondary characters from each novel come together for their own love story. The book is a well written close third person that bounces between the present and the past in the beginning before both characters return to the past to the bulk of the story. Sex scenes are included in this romance, but they're short and there's only like two of them which accent the love story rather than detract from it. Though I will say one of them did kind of bug me, not because it's a bad scene, but because he just saved her from hypothermia and they're supposed to be saving her cousin who's been kidnapped by the Duke. Time is of the essence and they decide to have sex? My thought on this was that these characters really need to get their priorities straight. I also find it a little hard to believe that with all the inappropriate for that time period things that they do in this novel no one catches them and they aren't forced to get married. I mean beside the sex, half the things the two of them do which are entirely acceptable in this century would have made her be thought of as ruined and in need of a shotgun wedding in that one. However their coming together is entirely their own decision instead of a mandate based on their actions in the past which though it worked well with the plot doesn't seem entirely believable to me. It almost makes me wonder if the people in that keep are blind. I did enjoy that although initially Mairi is paralyzed by fear in frightening situation eventually she gets past that and uses all the defensive things she learned in the future to help protect herself. She did demonstrate quite a few things to portray her as a strong woman; however she also had quite a few that made her look like a weak one. The plot was an interesting blend of a love story and a fantasy I guess suspense. It was definitely a well written page turner with a fast pace.

The main characters are extremely well developed and easy to relate to. The two leads Mairi and Ramos kind of parallel each other with the kind of healing they need to do because of their pasts. Mairi needs to get past her almost rape and murder that occurred before she was brought to the future, she needs to get back her spirit and fire. Ramos needs to get past what he did at his father's request because it wasn't like he knew at the time that his father was the bad guy. He was raised to believe something entirely different from the truth and he's a good man. Everyone other than him sees that. They both have these huge emotional scars that they need each other to get through. They're a nice blend of positive and negative attributes that make them memorable and realistic characters. I also enjoyed seeing the characters we've met in other novels like Pol, Dallyn, Connor and Cate, Sarah and Ian as well as Rosalyn and Blaine. Though many of these characters took a back seat to newer characters it's always nice to see a novel which brings back characters you enjoyed in previous novels. Even the secondary characters were fairly well developed.

Overall I'd definitely recommend this book to readers of fantasy and historical romance. Mayhue is a writer in the genre who is not to be missed.

Like another reviewer here I had read Karen Marie Moning and searched Amazon for a like author. Melissa Mayhue was the best choice. Love Love Love the Daughters of the Glen series. Her writing is honest and so current yet takes you to the past and represents the time perfectly. The story of Mairi was heartwarming.

Another one to love! I really liked Ramos............I think he is one of smoothest knights in shining armor I've read to date! Where Ian ( the Guardian book) was elegant and noble-Ramos's Guardian was suave and sexy......

Keep up the good work Melissa