Review: The Highlander's Reward

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She belonged to another… But was destined to be his… Lady Arbella de Mowbray abhors the idea of marrying an English noble occupying Scotland. When she arrives in Stirling, she is thrown into the midst of a full battle between the Scots and the English. Besieged by rebels, she is whisked from her horse by a Highland warrior who promises her safety. But when he kisses her she fears she's more in danger of losing herself. The last thing Magnus Sutherland wants is to marry the beautiful English lass he saved. As the laird of his clan, he has a responsibility to his clan and allies. But when Arbella is attacked by one of his own men, he determines the only way to keep her safe is to make her his. A decision that promises to be extremely satisfying. Magnus brings Arbella to his home of Dunrobin Castle in the Highlands. And that’s where the trouble begins… Their countries are at war and they should be each other’s enemy. Neither one considered their mock marriage would grow into a deeply passionate love. What’s more, they were both unhappily betrothed and those who've been scorned are out for revenge. Can their new found love keep them together or will their enemies tear them apart?

Genre: historical romance

Publication date: July 2012

Mature content: yes

Review:  The first part of The Highlander's Reward was ok, even if a bit unrealistic in places. I can't exactly figure how a woman who's been violently abducted (even if said abduction apparently seems to have saved her life) and then forced to marry her abductor (a man she had never seen before, a highlander she was raised to believe is the worst kind of barbarian) would face her destiny so calmly. Worse, on her wedding night, just mere hours all that her terrible ordeal, she's already feeling some sort of fondness towards her new husband...And I also never understood Magnus' reasons for marrying her. Even at that time and place there were surely other ways to keep a woman safe other than a hasty marriage, especially given his position as laird Sutherland.

The second part of the book...well, it isn't much better. It reads like a fairy tale with an overload of sex scenes mixed in - not exactly my cup of tea. 

So, overall I'm rating The Highlander's Reward with three stars just because I felt the plot had potential and because in a way the book does have some entertaining qualities, but as historical romances go it is definitely not one of the best. 

Happy Tuesday,