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Saturday, July 23, 2011

Book Review: Tamed by a Highlander by Paula Quinn

A story with lots of stubbornness and conflict.
Tamed by a Highlander
Tamed by a Highlander by Paula Quinn
  • Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (July 1, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446552364
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446552363
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating:  3.5 of 5.0
Product Description
A LOVER'S PROMISE
Connor Grant left his first love in the Highlands, vowing to return after serving in the king's army. Seven years later, he is still fighting for the crown, and his victories are legendary-both in the battlefield and in the bedroom. Yet he's never forgotten his bonnie lass. And he certainly never expected to see her amidst the splendor of the British royal court: beautiful, breathtaking, and tempting him past the point of no return.

A LADY'S DESTINY
The night he left, Mairi MacGregor banished Connor from her life forever. Now her heart belongs only to Scotland. As part of a secret alliance, she journeys to London in search of information . . . only to find herself face to face with the one man she swore she'd never trust again. Though Mairi's body still craves Connor's touch, she can't forgive his betrayal. But a traitor lurks in their midst and to protect her beloved Highlands, Mairi must make a leap of faith and join forces with Connor-even if it means losing her heart to him again.
Review: I enjoy Ms. Quinn’s writing but found this heroine annoying.

Mairi is a strong heroine but her primary feature is her stubbornness. As a six year old minx, Mairi declared herself in love with nine year old Connor. When he was nineteen Connor was called to leave his home in Scotland to go to England to serve in the king’s army.  Although he repeatedly asked Mairi to come to him she refused to leave Scotland. She felt betrayed at his abandonment. Mairi determined not to rely on any man and she learned to fight with sword, blade and spying skills.

Connor is devilishly handsome but more importantly he is honorable and loyal to his duty and to his love.  Granted he hasn’t been a monk for the seven years he was separated from Moira but his bedroom reputation may be exaggerated. On the other hand the legends of his battle victories are deserved.

Connor tried to forget Mairi after she refused to come to him and refused to even open his letters.
But seeing her again in England he knows that she is the only woman for him - if he can only get her to forgive him.  Moira has to fight to maintain her anger as Connor stirs her repressed passion and love for Connor.

Mairi is allowing Lord Oxford to companion her in order to get his secrets about the Cameronians. Oxford’s sister, Lady Elizabeth is intent on seducing Connor or trapping him into marriage. This adds more opportunities for misunderstandings and conflict between Connor and Mairi.

I liked Connor but I found Mairi's shallow attitude overly annoying. It takes half the book for Mairi to be willing to listen to Connor's side . The sexual scenes are bold and lusty - more so than I recalled from the earlier books in this series.

I was glad that the last twenty percent of the book was filled with the spy intrigue. I found the political issues over the Catholic and Protestant power struggles interesting although sad.  I would have enjoyed the story more if there had been more plot focus on the intrigues and less childish stubbornness plus I could have done with a little less bold sex. Ah well - the story is well written and some readers will enjoy the points that I did not.
 xxx
Thank you to Hachette for this book to read and review. Check the triple book Giveaway in Forever's Hot Historical Romance blog tour.

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