True to the Highlander by Barbara LongleyGenre: Historical/Scottish/Time travel Romance
Series: Loch Moigh #1
Publication Date: February 18th 2014
ISBN: 9781477817445
Page Count: 338
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Review Copy: ARC
Reviewed by: Lynsey
Buy Link: AMAZON
Synopsis: Treachery rules the Highlands of 1423. With their king captured by the English, Scottish nobles plot to ransom James behind the back of the brutal regent holding their land in his iron grip. But not every clan wishes to see King James back on his throne…
Sitting atop this powder keg of bloodthirsty rivalries, Malcolm of clan MacKintosh takes the mysterious, lone maiden he finds along his road as a bad omen…though an undeniably beautiful one. When he attempts to save her from a rogue within his own garrison, she deftly brings Malcolm to his knees. Who is this willful lass who has so quickly laid siege to his heart?
Alethia Goodsky has met all kinds working at the New York Renaissance Festival, but no one like the fortune-teller who tasks her with a cryptic life-saving mission and flings her into the fifteenth century. Now Alethia must rely on her wits to unravel the mystery in this violent land. Malcolm has sworn to protect her, but her gifts may soon make her his protector. With enemies closing in, Alethia must choose between finding a way home…and remaining true to her Highlander.
REVIEW
Time to Fall in Love
This was my first book from Barbara Longley but it definitely won't be my last. It was just pure entertainment inside and out, up and down, and all around. I loved it!
As Highlander time travel romances go, this has to be one of the best I've read, not counting the almighty Outlander, of course. (Although, I try and refrain from calling that a Highlander romance, since it's so much more). What I particularly loved here in True to The Highlander was how quickly the heroine was thrown back to the 15th century, getting the story moving straight away, while giving just enough information on Alethia's life in her own time for us to understand her uncanny ability to survive and thrive in such a traumatic situation. Next, I loved that this would have been a great Scottish romance even without the time travel aspect, and how that only added more to it. It wasn't the focus; only coming in to play at certain times, but it lent itself brilliantly to some really outstanding scenes. A particular favourite for me was Alethia playing her violin - at which she is concert-level good - to a stunned and rapt audience who had never heard anything like it. And also, interspersed, were some of the cutest dialogue sections as both Malcom and Alethia tried to wrap their head around the other's manner of speech. And lastly, on top of aaaaaalllll that goodness, I just loved the couple! Malcom and Alethia were a perfect match, and their love story was positively delicious. Although they're centuries of civilisation apart, Malcom was forward thinking enough, and Alethia, tied to her historic roots as a biracial, part Native American woman, was canny enough to meet him halfway, creating one of the sweetest, and often times hilarious, relationships I've read for a long time!
"I'm no' a Bossamee" *snort*
Recommended in particular to fans of Karen Marie Moning's Highlander series, this is the start of a series not to be missed for all lovers of Scottish Romance with a touch of magic!
4 1/2 Stars ★★★★1/2
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Okay Lynsey, I have to say you had me at Highlander time-travel romance. :) And then you really gave me the good stuff! True to the Highlander sounds wonderful and unique. I like the sound of the characters and that the time-travel just added to the story. And since you recommend it to those of us who love KMM's Highlander series, I'll be one-clicking this one. Thanks for sharing a lovely review!
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