Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Highlander's Heart by Amanda Forester

This is a warm, sweet romance with plenty of Highland action to keep it moving well.

The Highlander's Heart

by Amanda Forester

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402253044
• ISBN-13: 978-1402253041

 Genre: Historical Romance
 My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 1, 2011

Fleeing into the wilderness to escape an abusive marriage, Lady Isabelle Tynsdale would sooner face down a wild boar than spend another night with her wretched husband. Battered by the elements, desperate to elude a band of attackers, and defending herself against, as fate would have it, a wild boar she is rescued by the handsome Laird David Campbell.

Campbell knows holding Isabelle captive for ransom is his best chance to temper the storm threatening to destroy his clan. The ransom of an English countess should be more than enough to pay off his debts to England and save him from an unwanted marriage. But Isabelle didn't escape her husband just to become another man's captive and Laird Campbell is seriously misguided if he thinks she's going to go quietly.

Review:  This is a very good active story with an "at odds" romance.
Lady Isabelle Tynsdale, at the age of 16, was given in an arranged marriage as the fourth wife of a powerful older Englishman. After a disastrous wedding night she moved home to live with her uncle. Five years later her uncle has died and she is traveling to seek an annulment of the marriage before her estranged husband tries to claim the estate she inherits.

While on the road Lady Isabelle’s party is attacked by Lord Tynsdale’s men intending to bring her home. She escapes into the woods but loses her horse and her way. She is being accosted by dirty bandits when she is rescued by a handsome highlander.  Isabelle is afraid to tell her rescuer her situation as she is sure he will send her back to her brutal husband.

Laird David Campbell is an enemy of the English King but he can’t strand this lovely young woman. He agrees to take her to the next town as he sure isn’t going to coddle her or return her to England.  When she tries to go off on her own again she runs into a boar! 

Although he has rescued her several times and they have grown close, when he learns that she is married his frustration makes him hold her for ransom.  Meanwhile he is torn between two clans who want him to marry and cement alliances with them. As if he doesn’t have enough troubles one of his seven sisters has been kidnaped on the way to meet her betrothed.

There is a lot of fun humor in Isabelle's mishaps and in the torture that David struggles with trying not to fall for the troublesome imp. David is drawn to Isabelle but has enough honor not to use her or abuse the friendship that has developed. There is a lovely message of faith as Isabelle is reluctant to believe that God would help her. A num explains that God is faithful to answer prayers but he doesn’t always do it how we expect. Also we have to be willing to look for His hand in the circumstances of our lives.

I really appreciated the good humor and the integrity of these characters.  The romance is a great example of magnets that repel until there is a flip and then they can't help but draw together. There is plenty of action and a good easy flow to the writing. This is an author I will definitely want to read more of.

 Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there.  This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 9, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on December 10. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.