cneywendleton's reviews
853 reviews

Overview: Iain MacKinnon is Laird of the MacKinnon clan and full of guilt. His mother died giving birth to him, and then on the day his son was born his wife declared that she would rather die than have him touch her again. Then promptly leaped out of the tower window on to the jagged rocks of the moor below. Page is the daughter of a noble Englishman, and plagued with more than guilt, self-loathing. From the first moment she can remember, her father hated her and made it well known. He would hit her and treated her no better than he did a servant. Making it easy for her to sneak out at night for a swim, where she is kidnapped by the MacKinnon's in hopes of retrieving Iain's own kidnapped six year old son. Offering to trade the daughter for his son, Iain confronted Fitzsiomon, but soon learned he did not care what happened to Page. Threatening the life of the King, her father quickly handed the boy over and exclaiming he would kill his daughter if Iain brought her back. Not wanting to sacrifice her to that fate, or tell her what her father said, Iain told Page he was stealing her and taking her home with him. A long ride home, the two fought their own demons and growing love for each other. Both silently saying one could not love the other because of their pasts, not knowing the man who kidnapped the little boy was in their traveling group. Once home, passion ensues and all seems well for a few days, then everything explodes. Glenna, the midwife, locks herself in her home refusing to see anyone. Fitzsiomon comes to take his daughter back, bringing the Scottish King along to quell any trouble and the original kidnapper is revealed in a plot to kill both Page and the young boy.

Opinion: Loved it. The characters were so painfully real, that they almost seemed like satirical caricatures of real emotions. I laughed, I cried, became angry and frustrated. It is not often that one can find themselves so attuned to a character in a book, but for inexplicable reasons, I have found myself in this book and have no words for how much I love this book. Full of action and danger, it is not just a romance novel it is a thrill ride.

Recommend: Yes

Overview: Sorcha is a young girl mistreated by her attention-seeking mother. Dragged to a party, she seeks refuge in the kitchen where she meets a man named Johnny who just rescued a box of kittens. Discovers a murder plot and is sent into another dimension.

Opinion: It has potential, but seems unfinished. I would say it is only a third of the way completed, as Sorcha is just starting her time-travel, let alone being able to fall in love and warn Johnny of the murder plot against him. I understand it is a novella and part of a series but I would rather have the whole story in one book than end it how it did. There is not enough given in this one to keep me interested, especially if knowing the second book is probably going to end the same way.

Recommend: No

Overview: Sibyl's dad has passed, but her mom has quickly remarried to her uncle (Sibyl's dad's brother). Now she is set to marry the Laird of the MacFalon clan. In her short time there she learns of a race of people, descended from Adam's first wife Lilith, called wulvers. Shapeshifting wolves, and the Laird "hunts" them for sport. Finding his way of hunting despicable, she saves a beautiful wulver that is very pregnant. Subsequently she is captured by their King, and learns she is his mate. MacFalon will not be thwarted and takes one of the wulvers captive. To avoid war and save the lives of those she cares for most, Sibyl rushes back to save her friend and marry the MacFalon. Even though she saved the day, with only one casualty, her mate is mad because she tried to sacrifice herself.

Opinion: Now this is a romance novel! There is danger, romance, sacrifice and still everything turns out alright. It even had coups to overthrow the King of England and raw snapshots of women's rights...or lack there of. Instead of just two people finding themselves in love, both are worried about the repercussions their union would have. The Wulver King is expected to mate with and conceive a wulver. Sibyl has been promised to the MacFalon Laird as a debt settlement between England and Scotland. The two try to stay apart for the better of the clan, but love wills out and steps are made by both to still avoid destroying the lives of others. Most romance novels say be damned to the consequences and jump in, this was actually settled by a couple thinking about others instead of just what they want.

Recommend: YES

Overview: Bri is a kindergarten teacher and daughter of an archaeologist in 2013. Blair is the daughter of Laird MacChristy set to wed the Laird Conal in 1645. Bri and Blair are identical in looks, but stark opposites in demeanor and characteristics. While on a dig in Scotland with her mom, Bri stumbles upon a portrait of herself with an inscription underneath. Blair, upset at her upcoming wedding, also stumbles upon the same portrait and reads the words allowed, at the same time as Blair hundreds of years in the future. The incantation causes them to switch places. With the aid of Bri's mom, Blair learns about the unknown massacre and believes that is the reason the witch of Clan Conal made the spell, so she could learn of the attack and go back to stop it. Bri, slowly remembers why her mom was working on the ruins and the attack comes back to her. She explains everything to her new (accidental side effect) husband and they prepare for battle. Over time both girls fall in love with their new times and do not want to leave. The battle ensues, but the Conals change history.

Opinion: It was good. A real page turner, but something about the beginning seemed...clumsy. The writing got better as you go along, and the beginning does lure you to keep going it just seems a little lacking. Great other than that.

Recommend: Yes

Overview: Bridget lives in a small fishing village and loves music. Her estranged grandfather has invited her to stay at his castle with him and his hired hand Aiden. Strange things begin happening at night that spook her, but she is not in danger until a friend comes to stay. Fighting through an injury that caused temporary amnesia, she has this deep urge something is wrong with Aiden one night as a ship is tossed into rocks. The two find love as she nurses him back to health.

Opinion: Most romances are steamy and full of raw passion. This was more on the sweet side. Like finding that first love or puppy love all over again. It ranks just shy of five stars because there were some editing issues and inconsistencies that if fixed, would push it over to six or seven out of five.

Recommend: Yes

Overview: Claire Randall and her husband Frank, have survived World War II and are taking a second honeymoon in Scotland to become reacquainted before returning to normal lives. All goes well as she follows him around town, researching his family tree and she learns about the local herbs. Early one morning, they sneak to the top of a hill covered in standing stones (similar to Stonehenge) and witness a witch ritual. Curious afterword, the two investigate the rocks after the witches leave and Claire finds a rare blue flower. They hurry back home, after coming close to being found by a forgetful witch, and Claire can't get the flower out of her head. She decides to go back for it and falls through the center of the middle stone. When she does, she is transported back in time to 1743. Struggling to realize what happened, she wondered around and is attacked by the English army, rescued and captured by a man from the clan MacKenzie. In need of a nurse, thanks to the war and impromptu herbal lessens, Claire helped a man named Jaime recover from a bullet wound as they returned home. As things seem to normalize, chaos always seems to be right around the corner. She is thought to be a spy, kidnapped again, forced to marry Jaime (whom she later falls in love with), punished for being kidnapped, breaks into prison, attacked by wolves, almost drowned, cursed and helps her new sister-in-law give birth.

Opinion: Pretty good. First I will admit to have only watched the first five or six episodes of the TV show, so I do have to take the comparisons into account as far as I can. The first section or so seemed a bit...lacking compared to the show. Book Claire is very adamant about not liking Frank's ancestral digging; as well as viewed botany as more of a new hobby. TV Claire, seems more interested in his work and more knowledgeable of botany than Book Claire. Book Claire also tends to be more whiny about getting home to her own time. Yes it is understandable that she wants to get back home, but she really needed to take a chill pill about it. Compared to the rest of the book, it seemed almost out of character for her to pout so much.
As the book goes on, the characters become stronger and more human-esque. For the most part it was good, but there is still a small part that felt like it was too much. Too many side characters or too much action to make it a 5 star book in my eyes. Still very much worth the read.
The book itself was good, a few typos and strange phrasing but good.

Recommend: Yes

Overview: Evelyn is a grad student and a waitress at a strip club in Texas. Her best friend Piper, somewhat of a flake, moved to Scotland after learning of a great-grandmother's death and her inheritance just three weeks ago. Evelyn hasn't heard from her, save for one text message, and suddenly she has 14 missed calls while working. Hearing desperation in Piper's voice, she agrees to fly out and help in whatever way she can. Once there Piper's new friend picks Evelyn up from the airport and drives her out to the estate. Which happens to be a giant castle, half modernized and half still in the stone age. Piper allows them to get a few hours of sleep before discussing why Evelyn had to come, a man from the 1700's had magically appeared in the tower a week before and Piper and Sam were at a loss as to how to get him back. As the three continue their search, an elderly lady is murdered, and a second 18th century Highlander is found to be on the loose. Evelyn starts to piece together what is going on, and accidentally transports her and Sam into the past. Sam is kidnapped and Evelyn is sort of kidnapped, sort of employed to help the witch get everything straightened out. Just when Evelyn thinks they will be sent home, the witch goes crazy and tries to kill Sam and starts a fire. Somehow they find their way back to their time and wake up in a makeshift home hospital, to find Piper watching over them.
While Evelyn and Sam are whisked away to the past Piper grudgingly figures out how to send her Highland lover back with the body of the murderous Highlander. She figures it out and sends him back, seconds later her friends are found in the tower hurt and singed from a fire.

Opinion: The concept has potential, but the execution was lacking. In the beginning, and for most of the book actually, Evelyn seems like an important side character; while Piper should be the main character but treated as a side one. It was really slow going until halfway through, then the author thought it necessary to break up the high-tension, vital action for quick sloppy sex scenes, slowing the story down more. The actual ending was weak and the epilogue sets you up nicely for the second book, and appears to have finally shifted Piper to her rightful place as the main character but I have not read it so I could be wrong in my assumption.


Recommend: No