The talents of legendary marksman Gregor “Arrow” MacGregor are crucial now, as Bruce moves to reclaim his Scottish holdings. Gregor is considered the most handsome man in Scotland, and his fame as an archer is rivaled only by his reputation with the lasses as a heartbreaker. But when his infamous face is exposed during a covert mission, Gregor is forced to lay low. He returns home only to find a new battle waiting: a daring game of seduction involving his now very grown up and very desirable ward, Cate of Lochmaben.
A born fighter, Cate was clinging to life when Gregor rescued her after a vicious English raid on her village left her mother dead. But five years later, the once scrappy orphan Gregor took under his protection has become a woman. Brave, strong, and skilled in warfare, Cate is determined to lay claim to the warrior who refuses to be trapped. The heat in his eyes tells her she has his attention . . . and his desire. But will Gregor allow his heart to surrender before danger finds them, and the truth of Cate’s identity is revealed?
What is it with Highlanders?
I have a thing for Highlander Romance. After perusing the Romance section at Barnes & Noble, it is clear I'm not alone. What I don't understand though, is why. I don't have a thing for red hair and I've never found a real life man in a kilt attractive (yet). Not to mention, Highlander Romances tend to fall into so many of my personal Romance Aw-Hell-Nos that many of them are doomed from the start for me. What are my Romance Aw-Hell-Nos, you ask?
1. Sexytimes written in absurdly flowery prose. Not exclusive to the Highlands, true, but IT IS NOT A GARDEN, GUYS. NO ONE HAS EVER THOUGHT THAT. STOP DESCRIBING IT AS ONE.
2. Accents that are written out phonetically. Seriously, the sight of one "Och, lassie, I dinnae ken notin' aboot it." is a sign to put down the book and back away slowly.
3. Sex the Problem Away. Also by no means exclusive to the Highlands, but the fall back "plot" to these things tends to be Our Clans Are In a Hundred Year Old Feud That Only OUR SEX Can Cure!
4. Schmistory. This is technical term for the "history" that most of these books take place in. I think most of them aim to be set it Schmidieval Times. Or perhaps the Schmenaissance. Schmegency? Schmictorian?
But on to the review!
The Good
1.With all these sandpits Highlander Romances can fall in, it is refreshing to find one that cleanly out maneuvers every single one of them. As an author, Monica McCarty can be counted on to deliver consistently a good read.
2. Most admirable is her ability to ground her books in a concrete time and place (see my Romance Aw-Hell-No #4). The amount of research that goes into her work is astonishing for her genre. Yes, these are highly fantasized historical recounting of people and events, but real people and events nonetheless. No Schmistory to be found here.
3. In Romances, it is typical for there to be a big fight at the outset of Act Three which separates our lovers so that they can have a satisfying reunion at the climax (pun intended.) But usually the big fight that occurs is a misunderstanding or some such that doesn't really merit such a grand separation. This one does. Boy Howdy. I was very impressed with the author's willingness to let her Hero make a mistake worthy of the Act Three Break Up, even at the risk of losing readers. The biggest complaint I've heard about the book so far is that readers lose love for Gregor that isn't got back by the end of the book, but I thought it was an action that his character, as written, could easily make and was totally on board. Not that I approve what he did by any means. It was a total dick move. It was a bold decision for the author to make that in my opinion didn't go too far.
4. Cate. Holy Lord, what a great female protagonist. I tend to dislike it when heroines play the "I'm no good at traditionally feminine pursuits but instead focus on traditionally male activities and this makes me better then the traditionally feminine!" card but Cate wears it without an ounce of cliche or condescension. Her reasons for her interest in combat are a part of her history and completely in sync with the rest of her character. I especially admired her strength after "The Event" and her determination to not let Gregor off the hook for what he did. I've read many romances where the heroine is practically catatonic for even suspecting that her hero might have done what Gregor did, and it was refreshing in the best way to have Cate react proactively and with action.
The Bad
1. Cate's "Secret Identity." Or should I say "Secret Paternity?" Was it a secret to anyone outside the book? Did anyone not see this coming a mile away? I guessed correctly after reading the blurb months ago, yet the book tried to pull this big reveal that somehow none of the characters even suspected. It was a little underwhelming.
2. The plot is relatively slow until the last couple of chapters in which we get ALL THE ACTION. It's a bit clunky and something I would expect from a less experienced author.
The Romance
I'm torn on this. On the one hand, the dialogue and development between these two characters is well plotted and well written. This includes the Sexytimes. Many sparring sessions turn into something more and you can't go wrong with spontaneous sexy storerooms time. However, it never felt like the Cate and Gregor had any real Chemistry between them, which to me in Romance is the final word. Great romance couples generate a tremendous charge on the page that makes you eager to read more, and that elusive element was sadly missing.
The Verdict.
Overall, a solid installment to a solid series by a solid author. If a little lacking in the magical chemistry department, it still delivers a satisfying read that I would happily recommend to any fellow lovers of the Highlands. I give it a solid 7 out of 10.
Review by Renegade Katherine
9/3/2014
You can purchase this book here, if you so desire and have a thing for Legolas skills in the Highlands.