Hannah Howell, Highland Lover

Highland Lover

Hannah Howell

Zebra, Jun 2006, $6.50

ISBN: 0821777599

In 1475 Scotland, Alana is tossed into a dark cell occupied by a man when she refuses to tell her abductors the Gowans who she is. They want to ransom her. Being small, her jailers and her roommate assume she is a child though over the next few days Gregor thinks she might be a tiny woman. While Gregor MacFinagal Cameron decides to end his relationship to Mavis before they become betrothed, Alana Murray worries about her twin sister Keira who she knows by her dreams is in trouble.

Working as a team with Alana on his shoulders to try to climb through the trapdoor on the ceiling, the duo escapes though it took several nights of failures and bruises. When he finally sees her in the light, he knows she is an adult that he desires. They make it to the woods where she is too exhausted to continue so he carries her until they find shelter, an abandoned cottage.

Gregor is attracted to Alana and wonders if she is his soulmate. He plans to break off totally with Mavis before he reveals his feelings to Alana. When she dreams Keira needs her, Gregor holds her and soon kisses her. Alana knows Gregor is her soulmate. They talk and he promises to help her find her twin, but first they journey to his home where Mavis and her sire already announced their betrothal.

The strong lead couple and solid support cast turn HIGHLAND LOVER into an entertaining medieval romantic thriller. Readers will feel that they accompany Gregor and Alana on their dangerous trek to find safety. Though the last twenty-five pages feel like filler and Keira's troubles and the Gowan menace are totally resolved outside the plot, fans will appreciate this delightful fifteenth century Highland romance.

Harriet Klausner