Beauty and the Highland Beast by Lecia Cornwall
Series: A Highland Fairytale, #1
Historical Romance
Released: June 21, 2016
Swerve

Reviewed by Sheena

Powerful and dangerous highlander Dair Sinclair was once the favored son of his clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. With Dair at the helm, Sinclair ships circled the globe bringing home incredible fortune. Until one deadly mission when Dair is captured, tortured and is unable to save his young cousin. He returns home breaking under the weight of his guilt and becomes known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.
When a pagan healer predicts that only a virgin bride can heal his son’s body and mind, Dair’s father sets off to find the perfect wife for his son. At the castle of the fearsome McLeods, he meets lovely and kind Fia MacLeod.
Although Dair does his best to frighten Fia, she sees the man underneath the damage and uses her charm and special gifts to heal his mind and heart.(Blurb)

“I’ll wager you won’t.  These are Scottish lassies.  They’ll have been brought up to believe that Eglishmen have long tails and cloven hooves.”

“I’ll be happy to prove there’s no tail on this Sassenach,” John said, grinning.

“Ah, but if they see you without breeches they’ll know the other wee rumor about Sessenach men is true.  They’d certainly not have you then.”

Tale as old as time…and it still pulls at the heart strings.  Beauty and the Highland Beast is a fairy tale set to the Highland backdrop that I do love so much.  It starts a little foggy, the initial characters we meet are not the H/h, but a local healer and Dair’s father who is equal parts sympathetic and a bit frightening.  Dair is dying and everyone knows it.  The Laird is fanatical regarding saving his son’s life and refuses to accept anything but a positive prognosis, those who can not heal Dair, soon find themselves with crushed skulls at the bottom of his castle’s cliffs.  Moire, the healer who follows her one true goddess, is no fool and has heard of the swift deaths to befall failed healers at the hands of Sinclair so she cleverly buys herself time, by spinning the fantasy of the virgin love who can alone heal his son.  The search for a suitable maiden would take time, time that Moire knew she would need to save her own skin while she works to keep Dair alive.

Laird Sinclair’s search brings him upon a Highland clan chief with twelve daughters by eight wives! Never begot a son, he dotes wildly on his daughters who leap off the page with vitality.  Of the daughters of suitable age and requisite virginal status, it is young Fia who is chosen to wed Dair. Fia is the much loved but often forgotten daughter…a lass who has her own disfigurement due to scarring (hidden by her beautiful russet hair) and a prominent limp that was never able to be healed as a child.  Nevertheless, her comely looks and alluring wit were enough to convince Laird Sinclair that she could be a match for his son and brings her along with a sister to chaperone, to meet and marry his son.

Obviously, a lot is riding on Dair and Fia’s match.  Mad as he is (and he is indeed mad) Dair is a very engaging hero.  I loved his page time as he stole every scene, his only match being Fia with her quiet confidence and gentle nature.  My  favorite supporting character was the one and only Laird Sinclair, who I thought quite pleasingly fearsome even in his raging, however, Dair’s bff John the Englishman, was a funny enough side kick.  To juxtapose such jovial characters,  Dair was self-deprecating and quite aware of his reputation throughout the lands.  Once a fearless, womanizing lad with the world at his feet, he is now cynical, pseudo-suicidal and freaking hilarious!

“It’s an idiotic plan.  I wonder what my father told the lasses to get them to come.  Or is it just that I’ve become such a curiosity that people are willing to travel all the way across Scotland to see the madman in person?  We should sell subscriptions, serve ale and cakes while I foam and rant-“

He finds the notion of this life and soul saving virgin ludicrous  and is determined to undermine the theory by scaring Fia off, only the more time he spends with her, the more she frustrates his motives, dong some undermining of her own. And to be fair, Dair is not alone in his attraction, as Fia can’t stop fixating on his very touch, no matter how slight.

This is not a one-and-done novel.  I read a few chapters a day for a few days and enjoyed the experience. Not overtly thrilling or action driven.  More about the romance and watching these two scarred (emotionally and physically) people actually fall in love, rising above their baser roles, “the virgin” and “the mad heir.”  Speaking of “the virgin,” it was beyond absurd that Fia was objectified so overtly (she even joins in!). I know, I knooow, it’s the Highland way…a sign of the times…acceptable given the context. But one man sauntering into another man’s home and casually asking for one of his virgin daughter’s to hitch to his crazy ass son- and then telling everyone who will listen that popping her cherry and falling in love will heal illness and mental instability- and then calling her “the virgin” for three quarters of the story- well, that still rails against my feminist sensibilities just a bit!

There is a nemesis, a villain in this story and the story of Dair’s madness and how his young cousin was brutalized before his very eyes, was sobering and surprisingly graphic. It was an interesting contrast to the love story and I think it was smart of the author to really go there as it added another dimension to the plot- gave it a serious undertone that cut through some of the levity and amusement. Well played Cornwell. Well played.

The sensual tension of their blossoming relationship was the star of this novel.  Heavy handed with the steam, always works for a gal like me, especially when the plot has the chops to back it up.

 I also quite enjoyed humming the Beauty and Beast Disney song in my head from time to time, while reading, especially during Dair and Fia’s more contentious moments. Trust me, it was completely involuntary. I bet you are doing it yourself now. See! It is fitting.  Also, one caveat- though my feminist feathers were ruffled good and plenty with this novel, make no mistake. I am all about a virginal highland lass. You’d have to wrench her from my cold dead fingers and even then, I’d just haunt you  for daring to eliminate such a historical romance cornerstone. It’s the fly in your face objectification that made me raise my eyebrows.  

Overall a unique story that is a great way to pass the time, if you’ve got the time.  I spent most of my time, amused, incredulous and constantly looking forward to what would happen next.  I’m in for the next Highland Fairytale novel!

Grade: B-

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