Customer Reviews

Under the Highlander's Spell

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

 

 

The heroine of this story, Zia, is the real focus of the book, although she's hardly under the Highlander's spell. The highlander in question, Artair Sinclare, we met in the previous book by this author. However in this story he seems to have somehow become emasculated and his only action appears to be to follow Zia around, making sure that she gets enough food and saying he'll protect her. His idea of protection is getting her to marry him; once she's a member of the powerful Sinclare family then the various people who are denouncing her as a witch will find they can't get anywhere with the accusations. The common theme in this sort of book, that of the hero having to come to a realisation that he is in love, is rather too hackneyed and feels too unrealistic to work well in this setting.

Zia is a rather stereotypical healer - entirely unselfconscious when healing, totally devoted to her patients, liable to do foolish and risky things in the name of healing. She also seems remarkably successful - there were no deaths of people she was treating during the course of the book which must be very unusual in that time. Perhaps more evidence that she really is a witch! The minor twist at the end with a secret that the Bishop holds wasn't particularly surprising although it did allow the story to be wrapped up well, but also didn't bode well for the Bishop's honesty and integrity in his clerical role.

With the rather unbelievable Zia, the nebulous Artair and a subplot about Artair's brother Ronan which wasn't resolved in this story, the book felt rather unremarkable. It is as if it's a transitional book between the author's stories of Cavan, the elder brother, and Ronan, the younger. Artair and Zia didn't really have anything special in the book that will help me to remember it in future. The setting in 16th century Scotland had rather more potential than was realised in the book and the fact that various characters regularly broke out into modern American English meant that this story is not one that piqued my attention or that will stay with me.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009

The main reason I read historical romances are for the history. This romance novel lacked any history at all. I expected to read a very good Highlander historical romance and I can't tell if I'm reading Highlander romance or The Crucible. I wish the story had more background. I didn't like the main character Zia, she doesn't sound very intelligent. She wants to put love above everything else, but it's not very practical as far as her situation is concerned. This book was very hard for me to read. I took me about 5 days when I usually can read a novel in about a day. Nothing about this book enticed me to want to finish it.

The ongoing adventure of those wonderful Sinclair brothers, this book is about the life of Artair, who is by far my favorite. The first book of the series, "The Return of the Rogue", with the brother Cavan, was a highly enjoyable read as well.

What I liked about both books was the main characters were well written, the stories different and original, and the dialog believable. What more can you ask for!

Having never read the prequel to this novel, I never had a background to the story of the Sinclair clan, however you won't need to read the prequel to follow this story. Donna Fletcher does a good job of giving a full background to these characters.

Hero Artair Sinclair saved Zia from burning at the stake. Zia is a healer but is now considered a witch by the locals. Artair buys her freedom because he is a decent fellow and Zia has knowledge of his missing brother, Ronan. She has in fact, helped Ronan on the road to recovery and takes Artair to his recuperating brother. Unfortunately Ronan has already left Zia's village but Artair decides to stay a while just to be close to Zia.

Right from the start these two like each other, a rarity it seems in most romances and I liked them. They had thoughtful conversations, a lot of trust and kind words for each other. Zia is spontaneous and passionate about life and Artair is practical and kind.

Zia's stubbornness soon became an issue for me. Why does everyone have to share her opinion? She never likes to admit she just might be wrong. She is big on falling in love and says so repeatedly and big on not being reasonable. She finds duty constricting yet she feels duty bound to help others and even puts her own life in danger by doing so.

Artair takes her back to his family as his brother's wife is pregnant and he would like a skilled healer at her birth. Zia decides to go and en route they pretend to be wed only. Artair would like them to honestly say vows as he knows his family can protect her from ignorant villagers and he really does like her and knows they will have a great marriage but Zia is adamant, she will not wed him because he believes that people can grow to love each other after marriage, they don't have to be in love before their wedding. The first half of this novel was engaging but the latter half not so much because Zia was forever telling Alistair how he should feel, instead of just letting him discover his feelings and Zia who spouts off about the spontaneity of life became very predictable.

What happens when a free spirit healer meets a practical highlander? Spark fly and passions flare! I highly recommend the second book in Sinclair series. It is a satisfying read as a stand alone novel and an excellent installment in the Sincalir bothers series. Artair is the type of man we all dream of meeting and Zia has a wonderful confidence that makes her herione we can relate and cheer for. The attraction between the two characters is instant and the reader truly gets the sense that these two are meant to be together. They bring out the best in each other and help each other to discover different sides of themselves and each other. I like that the two characters didn't fight their attraction but tried to understand that falling love can happen fast and you have to accept that when you find that special someone.
The plot and storyline moved nicely and had some great suprises, some I anticipated some that suprised me.
As a second installment in a series I felt that I was meeting old friends again and learning more about the characters. Fans of the series will enjoy catching up have the characters of Return of the Rogue have a real presence and be intricate part of the story. To many times "series" just throw the characters in as a presence in the book but they have no purpose.
Overall the book is a good read and I recommend this book and series to readers who want to enjoy reading about four wonderful brothers and the women they fall in love with.

In the Highlands Artair Sinclare searches for his missing brother Ronan. When he sees a mob about to burn a healer as a witch, he intervenes and rescues her. Zia saved the life of his sibling, but in payment for saving hers, he demands she guide him to Ronan.

As they travel together, Artair keeps Zia safe while she provides help to people. He persuades her to visit Ronan's pregnant wife to insure she is okay. Posing as a married couple, they fall in love, but witch hunters want her dead and collateral damage to include his pregnant sister-in-law is acceptable. Only in marriage can Zia be safe, but her unknown heritage makes her unacceptable regardless of how Artair feels.

The second Sinclare brothers' sixteenth century romance (see RETURN OF THE ROGUE) is an engaging historical made fresh by the unique lead female protagonist. The first meeting between Artair and Zia occurs as the crazed villagers screams "Burn witch burn". The story line is somewhat typical of the Highlands historicals, but sub-genre fans will find themselves under the author's spell as Donna Fletcher provides a fun passionate romance.

Harriet Klausner

This book was great and I had a hard time putting it down. I look forward to the continuation on the Sinclare family.