To Love a Highlander (Scandalous Scots #1)
By Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Release Date: April 29, 2014
Source: Blog Tour
As one of the bastards born to the Stirling court, Sorley the Hawk has never known his mother or father. It's a burning quest he has devoted himself to uncovering at any cost. But as a roguish warrior who serves at the pleasure of the King, his prowess-both on the battlefield and in his bedchamber-is legendary. So when a flame-haired Highland lass sneaks into his quarters with a tantalizing proposition, he can't resist taking her up on her offer . . .
AN UNQUENCHABLE DESIRE
Lady Mirabelle MacLaren will do anything to keep from marrying her odious suitor, even sully her own good name. And who better to despoil her than his sworn enemy, the one they call "Hawk?" As they set about the enjoyable task of ruining her reputation, Hawk and Mirabelle soon learn that rebellion never tasted so sweet.
Review: Normally, I absolutely love historical romances. Unfortunately, I just couldn't click with this one and ended up spending five days trying to get through it. Maybe I wanted more from the romance from the beginning, but I simply couldn't connect with the characters like I usually do.
Lady Mirabelle will do anything to escape marrying the vile Lord John who she knows is vying for her hand. Mirabelle goes to his rival Sorley the Hawk, a bastard of Stirling court who she had danced with many years ago, to help her. How? By ruining her virtue so that her suitor won't want anything to do with her. Sorley is used to ravishing women and leading on the battlefield, but he isn't ready for such a request from the fiery redhead who he hadn't forgotten after that dance so many years ago. With much more on the line than mere physical pleasure, Sorley and Mirabelle uncover their undeniable attraction as Sorley fights to protect his King.
Like I said, I was missing the intense romance historical romances usually have. Yeah, Mirabelle and Sorley were insanely attracted to each other, but nothing really went anywhere with them for way too long. Seriously, I was waiting and waiting for something to finally happen between them and it never really did until much later on in the book.
I enjoyed how Sorley had a lot more to worry about than his feelings for Mirabell, specifically concerning his work for the King, but I found myself drifting off throughout the book and not being able to really engage with the story. The only part I really enjoyed was more towards the end, where Mirabelle and Sorley find themselves crossing paths with Lord John and having to deal with his wretched ways. Other than that, I found the story just okay and the romance even less intriguing.
Overall, this one was a miss for me. Though the cover is gorgeous, the romance and story didn't sweep me often my feet like historicals normally do. I love some of Sue-Ellen's other novels, but this story just couldn't hold my interest. Hopefully I'll enjoy her next one more, because I know she can write one good historical romance!
Ouch. Sorry this one didn't give you the fireworks. It really seems interesting from the blurb though. Thanks for sharing your honest opinion.
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