Saturday, October 30, 2010

Review - - Highland Hellcat

Highland Hellcat
By Mary Wine
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: October 1, 2010




When Connor Lindsey's promised bride is willingly disgraced by another man, Connor does what any self-respecting Highlander would:  he steals her younger sister.  Connor's position as laird of the Lindsey clan has not come easily.  Branded a bastard, he's determined that there will no rumors about his bride nor whispers about the legitimacy of his children.  He needs the promised alliance with the Chattan clan and a chaste bride to stand by his side.  Brina Chattan, a young woman promised to the church, fits the bill perfectly.  Unfortunately, neither Brina nor her father are in favor of the sister-switching. 

Brina Chattan has known from birth that she is destined for life as a bride of Christ.  Her clothing is plain, any gifts she receives are practical and, unlike her sisters, who are destined for marriage, she has not been taught to defer to men.  She's been raised to be independent, self-sufficient and physically and spiritually pure.  What she's become is a head-strong beauty with a will of iron.  Kidnapped from her father while en route to the convent to fulfill her obligation to the church, she finds herself the unwilling substitute for her disgraced sister.  But Brina is no wilting flower and this highland hellcat is determined to honor her father's promise to the church.  Except...why does Connor's smile make her breath catch?  And why does his gentle touch make her quiver?  And why is she now, after all these years, wondering if, perhaps, she's not destined to be a nun after all?

     "Formality would be best between us."  She drew in a deep breath.  "And distance."

      "Why does it matter where I stand?"

     Brina blinked, trying to restore her clear thinking.  "Because my thoughts become muddled when ye are so near."  She was talking without thinking again, and she pressed one hand on top of her lips to still her words when she witnessed how much her confession pleased him.  His blue eyes sparkled with it.

     His lips twitched up farther, and she discovered her attention focusing on his mouth.  A tingle of memory traveled across her lips, awakening a yearning to feel his kiss against them once again.  He reached out and gently pulled her hand away from her lips.

     "I confess that ye have the same effect on me, lass."

Mary Wine has once again transported me to the ruggedly beautiful Highlands of Scotland for another adventurous and emotional medieval journey with clan and political intrigue aplenty and a love story that warmed my romantic heart.  If you haven't read any of her books yet, I encourage you to give them a try.  As for me, I'm anxiously awaiting the next offering from this talented author!

~PJ

9 comments:

  1. Oh this sounds really good, I wonder if they have it for Kindle? All of my "old" authors that are on my keeper shelf I am still buying books. New to me authors I am getting on Kindle. Not that I am inflexible, if I can't get it that way I will buy the book. LOL

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  2. Dianna, I just started reading Mary Wine a little over a year ago but she's become one of my "go to" medieval authors. I really enjoy her highland stories!

    Highland Hellcat is available in Kindle edition for $4.79. Hope you enjoy it!

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  3. PJ, I love books where one or both characters are constantly tempted. Makes for some really great tension! Thanks for the great review!

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  4. Andrea, I think you'd like this one then. Plenty of temptation and tension!

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  5. Great review Pj! This has turned into a must read.

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  6. Thanks, Okie! I hope you enjoy it!

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  7. Artemis, I've read three books by her so far and I've enjoyed them all.

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  8. You know I love any kind of "Highland" book! I'll have to check out this one and the author's back list! Great review, PJ!

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  9. PJ, I love Mary Wine, and I already have this book on my TBB list....which is getting longer by the day! ;-)

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