expatamber's review
4.0
I did not ken that I would like this book so much.
Historical romance with a dash of espionage plus a smidgen of paranormal? Yes, please.
Yeah, I'm pretty much hooked now & ready for the rest of the trilogy!
dreamerfreak's review
4.0
Highlander Betrayed is a great start to a new series, especially for fans of Scots romance. Historical fiction with just a hint of something mystical, but mostly it's about the romance. Lovely.
We start of with Nicolas, the king's favored spy, getting a new assignment. He's being sent to the Highlands to find a mysterious artifact known as the Highland Targe, rumored to be the defense of the Scots. The king couldn't care less about it's supposed magical powers, he just wants to crush the spirit of the Highlanders.
As half-Scots, Nicholas plays his part well, and worms his way into the castle of Dunlairig and also into the heart of one of its woman, Rowan McGregor, niece of the chieftain. The romance is a beautiful slow build between these two, with an underlying tension of Nicholas's deception.
I loved that Nicholas and Rowan choose not to explore their sexual attraction until after their marriage. There is a sex scene in this book at the end, but it's much more emotional than explicit, and that's a nice change of pace from the usual romance these days. Well done!
The secrets of the Targe are slowly revealed in this first installment, and I was fascinated with it right from the start. However, it's clearly not over, and I can't wait to find out more about the artifact and the coming fight. This is very much a happy for now ending, as there's definitely more trouble to come for these two.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
We start of with Nicolas, the king's favored spy, getting a new assignment. He's being sent to the Highlands to find a mysterious artifact known as the Highland Targe, rumored to be the defense of the Scots. The king couldn't care less about it's supposed magical powers, he just wants to crush the spirit of the Highlanders.
As half-Scots, Nicholas plays his part well, and worms his way into the castle of Dunlairig and also into the heart of one of its woman, Rowan McGregor, niece of the chieftain. The romance is a beautiful slow build between these two, with an underlying tension of Nicholas's deception.
I loved that Nicholas and Rowan choose not to explore their sexual attraction until after their marriage. There is a sex scene in this book at the end, but it's much more emotional than explicit, and that's a nice change of pace from the usual romance these days. Well done!
The secrets of the Targe are slowly revealed in this first installment, and I was fascinated with it right from the start. However, it's clearly not over, and I can't wait to find out more about the artifact and the coming fight. This is very much a happy for now ending, as there's definitely more trouble to come for these two.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
mysticforestcrafts's review
3.0
I listened to this book on audible and absolutely love the narrator, I’ve listened to other books he has read and he always makes it fun. The music at the beginning and end was perhaps a bit more than needed but didn’t make the experience less enjoyable.
The book is decent and if half stars were offered I likely would have gone with 3.5 stars for this book. It had a solid story and set itself up nicely for the books to follow. My problem was it was just a little too predictable. This isn’t a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages to get to the next line. This is more of a comfortable book which made it easy to listen to while busy because I didn’t feel my entire focus needed to be upon it.
The book is decent and if half stars were offered I likely would have gone with 3.5 stars for this book. It had a solid story and set itself up nicely for the books to follow. My problem was it was just a little too predictable. This isn’t a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages to get to the next line. This is more of a comfortable book which made it easy to listen to while busy because I didn’t feel my entire focus needed to be upon it.
lynseyisreading's review
3.0
MacAlmost
This was a very sweet tale with very nicey nice characters and a somewhat chaste romance. The story was well-written but dull, especially considering the potential. You have a betrayal that could have wrought a lot more heartache than it did - it was all too easily brushed aside. You have paranormal stuff with the guardianship of the targe that's over before it gets going. And you have a villain who is off page too much to present any real sense of danger.
I'm going to recommend this to readers who don't like too much sex in their Highlander romances but enjoy sweet, gentle character exploration and development.
3 Stars ★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very sweet tale with very nicey nice characters and a somewhat chaste romance. The story was well-written but dull, especially considering the potential. You have a betrayal that could have wrought a lot more heartache than it did - it was all too easily brushed aside. You have paranormal stuff with the guardianship of the targe that's over before it gets going. And you have a villain who is off page too much to present any real sense of danger.
I'm going to recommend this to readers who don't like too much sex in their Highlander romances but enjoy sweet, gentle character exploration and development.
3 Stars ★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
booksuperpower's review
4.0
Highlander Betrayed by Laurin Wittig is a 2013 Montlake Romance publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rowan has been having sharp headaches and experiencing some frightening occurrences. Something is amiss. Rowan's Aunt Elspet is in ill health. She is the guardian of the Highland Targe. Without a replacement being named, Rowan is becoming nervous. One of her cousins will inherit the responsibility, but no one has been named yet. Their safety depends of the Targe and it's guardian.
Nicolas and Archie are sent from England by King Edward to retrieve the Targe. Nicholas, a half English , half Scottish spy manages to infiltrate the area near the village of Oban and the Castle Dunlairig. A kink is thrown into his plans when he meets Rowan. Now he will have to decide once and for all which side he will stand on. But, if Rowan discovers he is a spy there will be hell to pay.
This action, suspense, paranormal, historical, Highlander romance was a real delight. As you can tell, there was a bit of everything mixed in to this one. The legend of the Targe and the guardian that protected it and kept the people of the Scottish Highlands safe from attack has King Edward thinking of removing yet another protector from Scotland to send a message that he was capable of doing them harm. His choice in sending the master spy, Nicholas was certainly by design. Nicholas could use his heritage to get close to the guardian and to the Targe. Rowan, rattles him good. She is pretty and honorable, and loyal and will fight for her loved ones. Nicholas begins to question his own loyalties the more time he spends with Rowan. After all he is part Scottish. Will he decide to embrace this part of his lineage? What of his partner in crime, the diabolical Archie? Who will be the next guardian of the Targe?
I love anything to do with Scottish Highlanders. I also liked the legends and stories about the Targe. Of course, the family dramas and the danger and intrigue were great too. The romance was done right as well. Nicholas was a hottie, but in keeping with the time frame which is way back in the 1300's, stealing a kiss was big deal. The steam level was about a 2.
I wish this one could have been a just a little longer. Stay tuned though- there will be more in series.
Overall this one is an A.
Rowan has been having sharp headaches and experiencing some frightening occurrences. Something is amiss. Rowan's Aunt Elspet is in ill health. She is the guardian of the Highland Targe. Without a replacement being named, Rowan is becoming nervous. One of her cousins will inherit the responsibility, but no one has been named yet. Their safety depends of the Targe and it's guardian.
Nicolas and Archie are sent from England by King Edward to retrieve the Targe. Nicholas, a half English , half Scottish spy manages to infiltrate the area near the village of Oban and the Castle Dunlairig. A kink is thrown into his plans when he meets Rowan. Now he will have to decide once and for all which side he will stand on. But, if Rowan discovers he is a spy there will be hell to pay.
This action, suspense, paranormal, historical, Highlander romance was a real delight. As you can tell, there was a bit of everything mixed in to this one. The legend of the Targe and the guardian that protected it and kept the people of the Scottish Highlands safe from attack has King Edward thinking of removing yet another protector from Scotland to send a message that he was capable of doing them harm. His choice in sending the master spy, Nicholas was certainly by design. Nicholas could use his heritage to get close to the guardian and to the Targe. Rowan, rattles him good. She is pretty and honorable, and loyal and will fight for her loved ones. Nicholas begins to question his own loyalties the more time he spends with Rowan. After all he is part Scottish. Will he decide to embrace this part of his lineage? What of his partner in crime, the diabolical Archie? Who will be the next guardian of the Targe?
I love anything to do with Scottish Highlanders. I also liked the legends and stories about the Targe. Of course, the family dramas and the danger and intrigue were great too. The romance was done right as well. Nicholas was a hottie, but in keeping with the time frame which is way back in the 1300's, stealing a kiss was big deal. The steam level was about a 2.
I wish this one could have been a just a little longer. Stay tuned though- there will be more in series.
Overall this one is an A.
prpltrtl946's review against another edition
3.0
Old Scottish politics with a bit of magic
Political intrigue, English master spy sent to do his thing for the English king gets won over by the magic Highland Lass! A bit too graphic with the sex for me, thus the 3 stars.
Political intrigue, English master spy sent to do his thing for the English king gets won over by the magic Highland Lass! A bit too graphic with the sex for me, thus the 3 stars.
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