Claimed by the Highland Warrior
Historical Romance
April 19, 2011
Paperback
Harlequin
Reviewed by Mandi
The first word that comes to mind after I finished this book is "pleasant.” Which is not necessarily a bad thing, but at the same time, the book is missing something. I wanted a little more emotional “oomph” throughout. I don’t want my highlander’s to be just pleasant darn it! I want some excitement! Some dirty kilt lifting! I want OOMPH! This book doesn’t quite deliver that.
The story starts with Bram MacKinloch escaping from his captors after seven years of imprisonment. His brother is still there, so Bram heads back to his family’s land to gather reinforcements. Before he makes it though, he is captured again, but this time he lands at his wife’s house. Bram married Nairna seven years ago, right before he ran off to battle, and her memory has been the only think that has got him through these awful several years.
Nairna can’t believe her husband is home. Although she married someone else three years after Bram disappeared, that husband has since died and Nairna doesn’t feel like she has a place to go. Until now. Bram and Nairna never consummated their marriage and both are nervous to take that step. Nairna never found pleasure in bed with her previous husband, and Bram has many scars – both internal and external that make him shy away from the marriage bed. I liked that Bram had these scars that made him nervous in bed. He also deals with flashbacks – almost like he is sleeping with his eyes open – where he finds himself back in prison. He acts out though during these flashbacks but I wanted more. I wanted to see his pain and violence that is inside of him, erupting.
Nairna spends much of the book trying to help her husband readjust to life outside of prison. I think if Bram had rebelled more or just shown more of these internal scars he was suppose to have, I would have connected with these characters. Like I said, they are nice characters but come across a bit flat.
There is a nice side story with Bram’s other brother Alex and his wife Laren who have lost the romance in their marriage and we watch them struggle with their distance. Many of the women have left leaving for safer land fearing more attacks from the English, and Nairna and Laren both slowly come to terms with this issue and each other.
Claimed by the Highland Warrior is a nice story, but falls a little short for me..
Rating: C
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Pleasant cane be nice sometimes, I do not always need books to wow me :)
I do like pleasant…I just wanted a bit more. But it is a nice story.
I like the premise of this-but I think I’d miss the “wow” factor. You don’t say, but is it safe to assume he gets his brother out? If that’s too spoiler-ish of a question, no worries. Oh and is that actual cover? The title seems so very small.
I’ll say it has a happily ever after :) And yes that is the cover – now that you mention it, it is a bit small :)
Ive read a book by this author an felt the same way. Good story, but it didn’t wow me. :(
I’ve had too many pleasant lately. I want it to grab me and not let go. I’m passing.
Lovely review Mandi – thank you. And, yes, pleasant can be good, but…it sounds like the book had so much potential.
Some dirty kilt lifting!
LOL!
I’m probably going to be slapped for this, but I’ve never really been into the Highland type books. Mostly because I don’t like the way they spell the words when they’re trying for the Highland accent. I know, I’m weird. I do, however, like the rest of the Highland world(s). Strong brave (growly possessive) men. Kilts. Broadswords. *fans self*
Anyway. It sounds like the author played it safe with regards to his PTSD (because that’s exactly what it is) after his escape from prison. That’s not exactly fun to deal with, but it’s an essential part of getting through the trauma.