Customer Reviews

The Wild Rose of Kilgannon

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In 1715, the Earl of KilGannon, Alex MacGannon, prefers not to fight in the upcoming war between the English and his Scots. However, his friends, the MacKinnon and the MacDonald, persuade Alex to join James Stewart's cause. Alex reluctantly leaves behind his beloved wife Mary Rose and his cherished two sons from a previous marriage to fight for Scottish freedom.

However, Alex finds the Scottish leadership lacking in courage and tactics. He protests the bad decisions, but stays the course even when James Stewart flees to France. Alex refuses to go home in spite of missing his family and his estate until his people return home safely. To do so, he is forced to surrender to the English, who imprison him in the Tower. Though English, Mary risks her own safety by traveling to London to save the man who she loves beyond reasoning.

WILD ROSE OF KILGANNON, the sequel to KILGANNON, is a an exciting historical romance that brings to life the events and lead personalities of the Jacobite Rebellion. The story line is entertaining due to the remarkable lead characters. Alex is an amazing hero, who understands loyalty as he insures his men safely return to their homes. Mary, who gave up everything for his love, willingly gives up even more for his freedom. Kathleen Givens gives her audience two sensational eighteenth century romances that provide much pleasure to sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

This one picks up right where the first left off! Begins in Scotland with the rebellion beginning. Once captured, he is taken to London to stand trial for treason. Mary and the boys follow to launch a campaign in society for his release while the clansmen take a different route for Alex's freedom.

Keep your tissues nearby! While the first book was very romantic, this one is a real tearjerker! I found myself cheering Mary on while, at the same time, wondering how she could continue to cope.

The author shows MUCH research in her work and is very knowledgeable on the time's laws, customs, etc. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the third in this trilogy, which is to be released in Dec. 1999.

The sequel to Kilgannon, Wild Rose of Kilgannon picks up almost precisely where its predecessor left off. Alex Macgannon, Earl of Kilgannon, has been seized by the English after the failure of the Jacobite uprising, and his wife Mary is left at home trying to hold his family and clan together. Once it is determined that Alex will face trial and probable execution, Mary takes matters into her own hands and follows him, first to Edinburgh and then back to her native London, doing all she can to free him from his captors. Aided in her quest by Alex's loyal kinsmen and clan and her own aristocratic family, Mary must continually face the very real probability that her husband's life will be forfeit and that she will be left alone and destitute with his children.

This is a worthy sequel to the first book, and the action does put one in mind of the Outlander series. There is much trauma involved and Mary and her family are not always infallible. It is easy to believe that events might have played out this way for those Scottish lairds who joined in the uprising. Again, Givens glosses over any sexual scenes, leaving all to our imaginations, which actually creates a deeper emotional bond between the characters.

A few nitpicky things bothered me, however. First, that Mary finds herself pregnant after one night with Alex, and after several previous miscarriages, has little to no difficulty carrying the baby, despite the major stress she is under, did not seem plausible to me. Second, the author chose to continually have the characters cry "I love ye, lass," and "And I you, my love" until I wished they'd find some other way to express themselves. Minor irritations, to be sure, but some tighter editing might have made this good novel into an even better one. A fine entry into the historical romance category and one that will have you staying up to find out just how Mary and Alex are going to find their happily-ever-after.

Oh MY,SUCH a good book!!!!! Perfect continuation of "Kilgannon".
There has only ever been one book that has made me cry..."Outlander"..well...Add "The Wild Rose of Kilgannon" to that list because this book had me weeping like mad throughout..Could Mary and Alex's story be more romantic??? They are so in love..and I'm not talking "fluffy" love...I'm talking the kind of love that overcomes any obstacle...and believe me there are quite a few of those within this story...The characters were unbelievably well developed ...Mary was awesome...she was so in love with her man, and so strong...nothing could stop her!!! I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! It had me laughing, gasping, crying, and pulling my hair out...I'm exhausted!!!! Girls...get this book!!!! DEFINITELY a MUST READ!!!!!!

The love story of Alex and Mary continues...Alex MacGannon prefers not to fight in the upcoming war between the English and his fellow Scotsmen. However, his friends, the MacKinnon and the MacDonald, persuaded Alex into join James Stewart's cause. Alex leaves behind his beloved Mary Rose and his two sons from a previous marriage to fight for Scotland's freedom. However, Alex finds the Scottish leadership lacking in both courage and tactics. He stayed with his fellow Scotsmen even when James Stewart flees to France (Coward!!)and leave them to fret for themselves. Alex refuses to go home in spite of missing his family and his home greatly. He wants to be sure that all his people return home safely and in doing so, he is forced to surrender to the English, who imprison him in the Tower. Though English, Mary risks her own safety by travelling to London to save the man she loves. This is an amazing sequel of the KilGannon and Alex is an amazing hero, who understands loyalty as he insures his men safely return to their homes. And Mary, who gave up everything to go to Scotland with Alex, is more than willing to give up even more for her beloved's freedom. This is a must read for you Scottish Romance readers out there!! But as I finished the last page, it does make me wonder if there will be another book after The Wild Rose of KilGannon.....Wouldn't it be great? ;) I hope so...

I was very disappointed after reading Kilgannon and questioned whether or not to even read this book. After completing it I am glad that I did. This second book in the series was much better written than the first and definitely more interesting. I think that Kilgannon and The Wild Rose of Kilgannon should have been made into one book instead of two. I think that people would have been more receptive to the story had it been complete given that Kilgannon was more like an introduction and not an entire story.

This is the best book I have read since, "The Pride of Lions" and "The Blood of Roses". It pulls you in and holds you. Your heart breaks and soars in this exceptional saga.

BRAVO! Kathleen Givens has done it again. IF you are looking for an exceptional historical romance look no further. Kilgannon and The Wild Rose of Kilgannon are two exceptional novels that will have you begging for more. I, personally, can not get enough of the Kilgannon clan. I will be on pins and needles awaiting more historical novels by Givens.

The Wild Rose picks up where Kilgannon ended, with Alex going off to war. The suspense was high from the first page and I finally had to peek to see if Alex lives and if Alex and Mary ever get back together. The story moves from Kilgannon to Edinburgh to London and I couldn't put it down! I can't get enough of Alex and, like Mary, I'll go anywhere to be with this man. I love discovering a new writer and I will read everything Kathleen Givens writes. The two Kilgannon novels are keepers! I'm anxious for the third.

I didn't do anything at all yesterday except read this book! Absolutely could not put it down. I really liked the first book in this series, KILGANNON, but I absolutely adored the second. It's a grand adventure, wonderfully sad and touching and emotional, everything I want in a book.