Sins of the Highlander by Connie Mason with Mia Marlowe
Sourcebooks (Jan. 2012)
Mass Market: $7.99; ebook: $7.99
ISBN: 9781402261824
Favorite Line: “Of all the dunderheaded…a woman has eyes and ears and the wit God gave her, and the eejit thinks her a witch!” (p. 166, egalley)
Even with her gift of the Sight, never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a darkhaired stranger charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. With two clans against them burning for battle, they must find a way to join together–body, breath, and soul. Or both will be made to pay for the Sins of the Highlander.
Okay, I’m going to be brutally honest. I was bored with Sins of the Highlander despite a kidnapping, wolf attack and siege. I was also slightly irritated with the heroine. She couldn’t seem to make up her mind about what she wanted out of life.
Elspeth begins the book as a young woman determined to be a good daughter. This means she is willing to enter into an arranged marriage and has been a chaste young woman who practiced proper etiquette. This seems to quickly go out the window after she meets her kidnapper, a highland laird named Rob.
For Rob she is willing to give it all, even knowing everything he does is for his dead wife. Elspeth throws away her virginity and hopes of marriage to be her kidnapper’s whore. Like many other historical romances these days, there is a slight paranormal aspect to the story. The heroine has “the sight.” Considering the historical period in which the story is set you can imagine the predictable issue that ability results in.
I think my biggest problem with the story is that it felt superficial. The characters felt one-dimensional. I didn’t believe in any of the characters. For example, Elspeth’s father was a loving father who couldn’t see the obvious villain right in front of his face. I found him to be silly beyond belief. Elspeth’s mother was an overwrought woman incapable of thinking. Rob was a typical male who never really caught my fancy.
I was underwhelmed by Sins of the Highlander, but I seem to be in the minority. Other sites like You Gotta Read Reviews, Long and Short Reviews, Book Addict Patti and Night Owl Romance had a much more positive reaction to the book that I did. What I found to be old and tedious they found pleasure in. That’s fine. I swear, I’ve read the old Julie Garwood Scottish romances so many times that I’ve had to replace all of them more than once. Sure they’re similar, but I love them. I didn’t have that reaction to Sins of the Highlander. I sighed a lot and couldn’t wait to finish the book.
However, pick it up and read it for yourself. Let me know if you enjoy the book or dislike it. I love to chat and look forward to hearing from you.
Scooper Speaks 
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