Melanie George, The Highlander’s Stolen Bride

The Highlander's Stolen Bride

Melanie George

Pocket, Feb 2006, $6.99, 384 pp.

ISBN: 074344275X

Highlander Laird, Derek Hardwicke is settling his late mother's English estate while also visiting a friend, where he meets English Lady Rosalyn Carmichael, who is fleeing her nasty step brother Calder Westcott. After Derek rescues Rosalyn from an intruder, she explains that Calder plans to wed and kill her to gain her inheritance. For her safety, Derek takes her to his keep, Castle Gray, though he knows he must ignore his attraction to her, as he is expected to wed childhood friend Megan Trelawny whose brother is lord of a rival clan.

However he fails at keeping his emotions in check and soon Derek falls in love with the woman he vows to protect; Megan reciprocates. Still duty and the expectations of his clan that he forges an alliance with the Trelawany brood by marrying Megan serve as powerful inhibitors. To wed an English rose could prove an affront to Megan's clan and enable his step-brother Ethan to foster further dissension within his clan and gain an edge to take over. Meanwhile the diabolical Calder sets in motion a scheme that will enable him to gain access to the keep and ultimately Rosalyn.

Though the antipathy between the half-brothers is somewhat irritating, the relationships between the lead couple and the disapproval of everyone (except Megan) especially his clan coupled with the sinister brilliance of Calder comes together in a tense wonderful historical romance. The exciting story line is clearly character driven with Derek as the center struggling between duty and love. Calder is a fabulously sociopathic villain whose final plan is lethally brilliant. Scottish historical romance readers will appreciate this fine "Pleasure Seekers" tale by George.