Customer Reviews

Wild Highland Home

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

 

 

I have long been a devotee of slowly unfolding novels set in remote locations of Ireland, Scotland and England. This is one of the best, comparable to Mary Stewart, Jean Stubbs, Rosamunde Pilcher or the late Dorothy McArdle. Raife's character development is as good as Maeve Binchy's. This is a book that soothed me. I write for a living and so am extremely particular.

I totally enjoyed this book. The characters were real, and good to read about, the setting was clear and refreshing. Ms. Raife has a talent, and I hope that she continues to write books as entertaining as this one. I loved reading her first book Drumveyn, and I loved My Wild Highland Home even more. I am very much looking forward to reading her next book, I hope that she publishes one soon!

I think I come to this book from a slightly different perspective, since I am not a reader of romance. However, having bought this book for its description of the Highlands, I was not disappointed. I recognized many of the characters in this book from my own visits, and the author's command of descriptive language made this a real pleasure. In fact, I feel that this book would have been complete without the love angle entirely. Not that I have anything against love, but what interested me more were Clare's own triumphs and travails. Even so, a worthwhile book.

What a wonderful, wonderful book! I can't believe it is out of print; I bought it two months ago from....ummmm....well, not from Amazon. The (unnamed) store had several copies in stock.

What I liked about it, more than the romance, which is quite sweet but rather commonplace to novels, was the evolving story about Clare finally finding a "home." Made me wish I could move right over there and find a village just like that, where people care about each other and are willing to be honest with one another. So rare nowadays.

I have read approximately 20 romance novels with a Scottish Highlands setting, hoping to come across one that compares with Dianna Gabaldon's "Outlander" series. This is the closest I have found. Although the story is totally different, the writing quality compares. Not everyone reads romance novels for the explicit sex, and I thank this author for concentrating more on telling a good story!

Heartwarming story of a woman who takes a step back from her busy work dominated life to find herself.

She moves to the Highlands, into a tiny moist house with no 'mod cons' and through the course of the story, finds herself growing to love the surrounding area, the people and most of all, forgives and frees herself from her past.

A very rewarding read, I'm off to go play with the children!

Being from the same area of Scotland as the setting of the novel, yet currently living in London, I was able to identify with the story immediately. Alexandra Raife has an enormous capacity for enticing you into the very heart of a story and sustaining your interest until the very end. A welcome story-teller, whose enthusiasm and vitality comes through with every word. The title of this novel here in the UK is "The Larach" - the next novel (available here now) is "Grianan" - watch out for it - I am told it's another great book.

From the start to the end, I was lost in the story. Clare was a pleasant change from the typical leading lady. You changed with her from the start to the finish. You felt her grow from the experiences of the lush life in London to the rustic life in the Scottish Highlands. I recommend it.

This is the first book I read by this author. She has a very light humourous prose. This is not a typical *romance* novel. The characters are well-developed and by the end of the book you feel like you know them and that you might drive around the little town where this takes place (outside of Fort William in Scotland) and be able to point out key landmarks. Donald and Clare, the main characters, are very human and likeable. Clare makes a journey to find herself and finds love, family, and a sense of inner confidence that she was lacking. This is a very rewarding and satisfying read. Many readers may find their own journeys and struggles mirrored in Clare's.

Since I seem to be reading Raife's novels backwards, I was thrilled to see Clare and Donald of "Belonging" in this earlier work, so that I could savor the beginnings of their romance. And it was fascinating to see Trudy and Una at earlier stages as well; along with "Belonging," this book made me want to pack up my earthly possessions and move to an isolated cottage in the Highlands at once. Like all of Raife's works, this novel is more than a romance. It's a true love letter to Scotland--its terrain, its people, its way of life. I have never been to the Highlands, but I've been in love with (and in) Scotland, and this novel gently conveys a sense of such peace and pleasure as we watch Clare mellow and grow from a spoiled city girl to a strong, loving woman whose eventual happiness is well deserved. I highly recommend this book!