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McTiernay Brothers #1
The Highlander's Bride
BOUND BY DUTY
Highland laird Conor McTiernay had always dreamed of an enduring love. But the reality of women who desired him only for his title and lands made him swear off marriage forever. That is until he first set eyes on the Englishwoman his men found hiding in the forest. Beneath the dirt and grime it was clear Laurel Cordell was beautiful. But would she prove to be yet another beguiling seductress or had Conor finally found the one woman who could lay claim to his heart?
DRAWN BY DESIRE
Laurel trusted that the Scottish chieftain would keep her safe from the cruel laird from whom she had escaped. Looking deep into Conor's silver eyes she saw not only his calculating warrior ways but his quick arousal to passion. But before they can explore the growing desire between them, their newfound love is threatened by secrets from her past. . .
Highland laird Conor McTiernay had always dreamed of an enduring love. But the reality of women who desired him only for his title and lands made him swear off marriage forever. That is until he first set eyes on the Englishwoman his men found hiding in the forest. Beneath the dirt and grime it was clear Laurel Cordell was beautiful. But would she prove to be yet another beguiling seductress or had Conor finally found the one woman who could lay claim to his heart?
DRAWN BY DESIRE
Laurel trusted that the Scottish chieftain would keep her safe from the cruel laird from whom she had escaped. Looking deep into Conor's silver eyes she saw not only his calculating warrior ways but his quick arousal to passion. But before they can explore the growing desire between them, their newfound love is threatened by secrets from her past. . .
318 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2007
About the author
Michele Sinclair
18 books503 followersIn need of a creative outlet, I began writing novels after my second child was born. A voracious reader of romance books and a constant dreamer of romantic plots, I was encouraged to put my ideas to paper. I soon found out I loved it...all of it!
I am a member of the Romance Writers of America and of the Georgia Romance Writers.
In addition to writing historical romance novels, I also build large HO model trains, love to do huge cross-stitching pieces, relax by boating, and decorate everything I can during the Christmas season.
Besides romance I am a heavy science fiction reader and try to read at least two books a month—one science fiction and the other romance even when I am writing. I guess I just secretly desire to live in another place in time!
I am a member of the Romance Writers of America and of the Georgia Romance Writers.
In addition to writing historical romance novels, I also build large HO model trains, love to do huge cross-stitching pieces, relax by boating, and decorate everything I can during the Christmas season.
Besides romance I am a heavy science fiction reader and try to read at least two books a month—one science fiction and the other romance even when I am writing. I guess I just secretly desire to live in another place in time!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
July 14, 2013
Why, why did I read this??
That's not a rhetorical question, I'm pleading with one of you to give me some idea why I bothered with this trite, badly written nonsense. Right now the only explanation I can offer is that I didn't read the negative reviews before purchasing. As for continuing to read it after realizing it was going to be bad, well...I paid for it, I was damn well going to finish it.
I go into every romance anticipating, nay, expecting some cheese and purple prose, but stumbling onto bad writing, a boring plot, nonsensical, contrived hurdles, and annoying characters on top of corny dialogue and platitudes....I mean, damn. Laurel is a medieval Mary Sue, so annoying with her "feisty" attitude (more like childish overreactions), her strength and loyalty and bravery and knife throwing and intelligence and, oh, let's not forget, stunning universal beauty. Every man wants her, every woman wants to be her, and the only thorn in her perfect side is Conor, an emotionally-stunted, controlling douchebag. There is absolutely no depth here. That's not to say Sinclair didn't try for depth, but Yoda's wisdom rings true here. Trying does not equal succeeding. Conor has turned away from the idea of marriage because he wants what his parents had; a love match. Every woman he's met up until the beginning of the story has only been interested in his wealth and title, not in him as a person. With this in mind, one would think that when he realizes Laurel is interested in him as a person, and couldn't care less about his wealth and title, Conor would be elated and go after her. But he doesn't! For some stupid ass reason, he's still anti-marriage.
That doesn't make any sense.
But that's not the only nonsensical aspect of this book. Laurel finds herself falling in with the McTiernays after being abducted and beaten by Keith Douglass. Laird Douglass, Keith's father, threatens to go to war with Laurel's grandfather if Laurel disobeys him. After Laurel escapes from the Douglasses, she refuses to tell anyone who her grandfather is because she believes that revealing that information will put her grandfather in danger.
Uhh...how?! There's absolutely no explanation as to why telling Conor who her grandfather is would put said grandfather in danger. In fact, what's more dangerous is her sitting around on her ass on McTiernay land, waiting for spring to come so she can run away....
How does running away protect anyone? Laird Douglass threatened to make war with Laurel's grandfather if Laurel disobeyed Laird Douglass....I think stabbing his son and running away could be construed as disobeying him, so how is disappearing going to protect fucking anyone?!
Here's what someone who isn't a complete moron does:
Runs away from abusive Douglass clan at first opportunity. Happens upon clan of decent highland Scots who offer her friendship and protection. Decides to confide in handsome, kind Scottish laird and hope that his influence can help protect her and her grandfather.
Is that really so fucking difficult? Laurel's dumb ass ends up creating more trouble by keeping silent, then Conor, when he realizes who her grandfather is, decides to play a few games himself and by the time all is said and done, I wanted nothing more than for the two of them to ride over the edge of a cliff together so I wouldn't have to think about them continuing on in their bubble of petty manipulations and idiotic, misplaced shows of nobility.
To say I hated the characters would be giving them too much credit. These are not characters, they're shallow caricatures. Despite Sinclair's attempts to make us believe Conor is interested in Laurel's strength, it's clear by his behavior and actions that he sees her as nothing more than pleasing arm decoration, and Laurel, despite the assertion that she is strong and independent, is manipulative and infantile. She bounces back and forth between love and hate for Conor so frequently that she comes across as slightly unbalanced. She goes from raging condescension one moment to fawning adulation and sweetness the next, and everyone loves her for it. It's sickening.
The peripheral characters exist merely to worship the protagonists. In particular, to worship Laurel. Seriously, everyone fucking loves her. It's annoying.
While the story and characters suck, the writing is also bad. The grammar isn't the worst I've seen, but it would definitely benefit from an editing session. There were frequent comma issues and instances where a word is repeated word in a sentence repeated <--- like that. There are plentiful simple typos that wouldn't be difficult to fix, and I found a couple spots where sentences weren't even finished. Can anyone make sense of this: "Although usually played in early fall, today's games, having vowed to be no different despite the cold conditions."
???????
The worst part of the writing, however, is the style. Simplistic, redundant, tiresome, and cheesy, the writing made me want to give myself a lobotomy with a rusty screwdriver.
"He kissed her slowly, taking his time, letting her feel the endless need and love inside him."
There are numerous references to "endless love". It got to the point of making me angry every time I read it. Then there's also the standard romance fare. Things like, "he was undone", she "spiraled into oblivion" or "shattered into a million pieces", "igniting into flames", they "completed each other", he was hers, she was his, etc.
"Just being with her was enough to make him whole."
"He felt as if he had left his body and his soul had met with hers on another plane."
Oh, and let's not forget Laurel's achingly poetic description of Northumberland:
"England is beautiful but, just as these picturesque highlands are hard and rocky, the Hills are also difficult. Much of Northumberland is made up of salt marshes, peat bogs, and broad rivers. But there is also beauty to be found in the green wooded valleys and deserted beaches."
I cannot be the only one who thinks that sounds like something straight out of a travel brochure.
I'm not in the mood to say anything nice about this book. It was tedious and insulted my intelligence. If you value good writing, decent characterization, and an engaging plot, don't torture yourself with this book.
That's not a rhetorical question, I'm pleading with one of you to give me some idea why I bothered with this trite, badly written nonsense. Right now the only explanation I can offer is that I didn't read the negative reviews before purchasing. As for continuing to read it after realizing it was going to be bad, well...I paid for it, I was damn well going to finish it.
I go into every romance anticipating, nay, expecting some cheese and purple prose, but stumbling onto bad writing, a boring plot, nonsensical, contrived hurdles, and annoying characters on top of corny dialogue and platitudes....I mean, damn. Laurel is a medieval Mary Sue, so annoying with her "feisty" attitude (more like childish overreactions), her strength and loyalty and bravery and knife throwing and intelligence and, oh, let's not forget, stunning universal beauty. Every man wants her, every woman wants to be her, and the only thorn in her perfect side is Conor, an emotionally-stunted, controlling douchebag. There is absolutely no depth here. That's not to say Sinclair didn't try for depth, but Yoda's wisdom rings true here. Trying does not equal succeeding. Conor has turned away from the idea of marriage because he wants what his parents had; a love match. Every woman he's met up until the beginning of the story has only been interested in his wealth and title, not in him as a person. With this in mind, one would think that when he realizes Laurel is interested in him as a person, and couldn't care less about his wealth and title, Conor would be elated and go after her. But he doesn't! For some stupid ass reason, he's still anti-marriage.
That doesn't make any sense.
But that's not the only nonsensical aspect of this book. Laurel finds herself falling in with the McTiernays after being abducted and beaten by Keith Douglass. Laird Douglass, Keith's father, threatens to go to war with Laurel's grandfather if Laurel disobeys him. After Laurel escapes from the Douglasses, she refuses to tell anyone who her grandfather is because she believes that revealing that information will put her grandfather in danger.
Uhh...how?! There's absolutely no explanation as to why telling Conor who her grandfather is would put said grandfather in danger. In fact, what's more dangerous is her sitting around on her ass on McTiernay land, waiting for spring to come so she can run away....
How does running away protect anyone? Laird Douglass threatened to make war with Laurel's grandfather if Laurel disobeyed Laird Douglass....I think stabbing his son and running away could be construed as disobeying him, so how is disappearing going to protect fucking anyone?!
Here's what someone who isn't a complete moron does:
Runs away from abusive Douglass clan at first opportunity. Happens upon clan of decent highland Scots who offer her friendship and protection. Decides to confide in handsome, kind Scottish laird and hope that his influence can help protect her and her grandfather.
Is that really so fucking difficult? Laurel's dumb ass ends up creating more trouble by keeping silent, then Conor, when he realizes who her grandfather is, decides to play a few games himself and by the time all is said and done, I wanted nothing more than for the two of them to ride over the edge of a cliff together so I wouldn't have to think about them continuing on in their bubble of petty manipulations and idiotic, misplaced shows of nobility.
To say I hated the characters would be giving them too much credit. These are not characters, they're shallow caricatures. Despite Sinclair's attempts to make us believe Conor is interested in Laurel's strength, it's clear by his behavior and actions that he sees her as nothing more than pleasing arm decoration, and Laurel, despite the assertion that she is strong and independent, is manipulative and infantile. She bounces back and forth between love and hate for Conor so frequently that she comes across as slightly unbalanced. She goes from raging condescension one moment to fawning adulation and sweetness the next, and everyone loves her for it. It's sickening.
The peripheral characters exist merely to worship the protagonists. In particular, to worship Laurel. Seriously, everyone fucking loves her. It's annoying.
While the story and characters suck, the writing is also bad. The grammar isn't the worst I've seen, but it would definitely benefit from an editing session. There were frequent comma issues and instances where a word is repeated word in a sentence repeated <--- like that. There are plentiful simple typos that wouldn't be difficult to fix, and I found a couple spots where sentences weren't even finished. Can anyone make sense of this: "Although usually played in early fall, today's games, having vowed to be no different despite the cold conditions."
???????
The worst part of the writing, however, is the style. Simplistic, redundant, tiresome, and cheesy, the writing made me want to give myself a lobotomy with a rusty screwdriver.
"He kissed her slowly, taking his time, letting her feel the endless need and love inside him."
There are numerous references to "endless love". It got to the point of making me angry every time I read it. Then there's also the standard romance fare. Things like, "he was undone", she "spiraled into oblivion" or "shattered into a million pieces", "igniting into flames", they "completed each other", he was hers, she was his, etc.
"Just being with her was enough to make him whole."
"He felt as if he had left his body and his soul had met with hers on another plane."
Oh, and let's not forget Laurel's achingly poetic description of Northumberland:
"England is beautiful but, just as these picturesque highlands are hard and rocky, the Hills are also difficult. Much of Northumberland is made up of salt marshes, peat bogs, and broad rivers. But there is also beauty to be found in the green wooded valleys and deserted beaches."
I cannot be the only one who thinks that sounds like something straight out of a travel brochure.
I'm not in the mood to say anything nice about this book. It was tedious and insulted my intelligence. If you value good writing, decent characterization, and an engaging plot, don't torture yourself with this book.
May 2, 2016
I'm stopping this and marking it as a DNF at 20%. I've read several books by Michele Sinclair and really enjoyed them, but this first book was rough. Really rough. I was cringing as we are introduced to two perfect characters who fall instantly in love, have stupid arguments, and can only think about getting naked together. The writing is repetitive, cheesy, and inconsistent. Plus, you jump between character heads from paragraph to paragraph. I'll keep going with the series since book 2 was so good, but this was is a big NOPE for me unfortunately.
September 22, 2024
A poor man's Julie Garwood
┇⚔┇ 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 ┇⚔┇
i didn't like this, but i finished it so... 2 ★?
┇⚔┇ 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 ┇⚔┇
i didn't like this, but i finished it so... 2 ★?
August 13, 2021
2.5
I keep comparing Scottish HR to Monica McCarthys book. They do not compare. If I want to enjoy Scottish HR I need to stop doing that 🙄
Anyway this book was basic.
I keep comparing Scottish HR to Monica McCarthys book. They do not compare. If I want to enjoy Scottish HR I need to stop doing that 🙄
Anyway this book was basic.
February 12, 2018
2.5 stars.
This story was fine but went on too long. There was so much detailed description and repetition of it all it kind of slowed the narrative. Sweet characters and I love a tough, Scottish laird as much as the next, but it just didn't grab me. It lacked dramatic/sexual/romantic tension. It did not need a ton of artificial angst, but it needed something! Sure, the heroes were heroic, the villains villainous, and there was some solid historical background, but a bit to much to and fro between hero and heroine as to who was going to be the boss. Especially annoying that hero did not believe in marriage for himself but would not let anyone else have her. Dog-in-the-manger much.
Not my fave Highland historical but not a bad read. I don't think I will be reading any more in the series.
This story was fine but went on too long. There was so much detailed description and repetition of it all it kind of slowed the narrative. Sweet characters and I love a tough, Scottish laird as much as the next, but it just didn't grab me. It lacked dramatic/sexual/romantic tension. It did not need a ton of artificial angst, but it needed something! Sure, the heroes were heroic, the villains villainous, and there was some solid historical background, but a bit to much to and fro between hero and heroine as to who was going to be the boss. Especially annoying that hero did not believe in marriage for himself but would not let anyone else have her. Dog-in-the-manger much.
Not my fave Highland historical but not a bad read. I don't think I will be reading any more in the series.
March 31, 2011
This was a rough first book by this author. She set up interesting characters but the story and plot were not developed well at all. The leads constant arguing became tedious as well. She must have improved over time because her recent book Christmas Knight was good.
I am not recommending this one, the writing was just not good.
I am not recommending this one, the writing was just not good.
September 4, 2017
Mehhhh!
February 20, 2022
This is my second book from this author and I don’t think her writing is for me.
At first, I was amused that the both of them were very strong willed, stubborn and wouldn’t back down. I thought it was very nice to see Conor find a woman who wouldn’t cower from him. It amused me to see Laurel stand up to Conor’s overbearing ways.
But they continued to argue even until chapter 10 and I was tired of seeing them argue. I don’t know if this is the author’s way of showing their chemistry as a couple but to me, it was exhausting. They couldn’t get along for one second and couldn’t resist picking a fight with each other.
I thought it would get better, hence I stayed until the very end but alas, it did not happen. For any of you who are tired of seeing them argue, save yourself the misery and just stop reading the book altogether because it doesn’t get better.
For Conor, he was overbearing, arrogant and stubborn as hell. He refused to hear Laurel’s reasons for doing as she did and only knew how to shout at her in his anger. Afterwards, he would ban her from doing stuff. He would have convinced Laurel a whole lot better to follow his orders if he had just COMMUNICATED to her that he was worried about her. As it stands, she doesn’t understand why he’s giving so many orders to her and therefore tries to break his commands.
For Laurel, she was very stubborn in her ways. Despite many orders from Conor, she just goes off where and whenever without informing anyone about where she was going. Of course her actions were going to worry Conor and everyone around her. I found that part of her very selfish, even if her actions’ purpose were to do something helpful in the process.
I was just so frustrated at watching the both of them yelling at each other for the whole of the book, just because neither of them refused to communicate with each other or tell the reason why they do certain things. It is only at the last few chapters that they started to compromise but by then, I was already so done with them. I just couldn’t like them anymore at that point.
There was a lot of telling of the story, instead of showing. I preferred more interaction—by that, I meant no shouting, no yelling, just 2 of them having some heartfelt talk. Because they were arguing 80% of the time, the remaining 20% were just them having sex, I would say they did not have that relationship building and bonding, hence making me not believe in their romance a single bit.
I probably won’t be reading this author’s books for a while/ever again.
At first, I was amused that the both of them were very strong willed, stubborn and wouldn’t back down. I thought it was very nice to see Conor find a woman who wouldn’t cower from him. It amused me to see Laurel stand up to Conor’s overbearing ways.
But they continued to argue even until chapter 10 and I was tired of seeing them argue. I don’t know if this is the author’s way of showing their chemistry as a couple but to me, it was exhausting. They couldn’t get along for one second and couldn’t resist picking a fight with each other.
I thought it would get better, hence I stayed until the very end but alas, it did not happen. For any of you who are tired of seeing them argue, save yourself the misery and just stop reading the book altogether because it doesn’t get better.
For Conor, he was overbearing, arrogant and stubborn as hell. He refused to hear Laurel’s reasons for doing as she did and only knew how to shout at her in his anger. Afterwards, he would ban her from doing stuff. He would have convinced Laurel a whole lot better to follow his orders if he had just COMMUNICATED to her that he was worried about her. As it stands, she doesn’t understand why he’s giving so many orders to her and therefore tries to break his commands.
For Laurel, she was very stubborn in her ways. Despite many orders from Conor, she just goes off where and whenever without informing anyone about where she was going. Of course her actions were going to worry Conor and everyone around her. I found that part of her very selfish, even if her actions’ purpose were to do something helpful in the process.
I was just so frustrated at watching the both of them yelling at each other for the whole of the book, just because neither of them refused to communicate with each other or tell the reason why they do certain things. It is only at the last few chapters that they started to compromise but by then, I was already so done with them. I just couldn’t like them anymore at that point.
There was a lot of telling of the story, instead of showing. I preferred more interaction—by that, I meant no shouting, no yelling, just 2 of them having some heartfelt talk. Because they were arguing 80% of the time, the remaining 20% were just them having sex, I would say they did not have that relationship building and bonding, hence making me not believe in their romance a single bit.
I probably won’t be reading this author’s books for a while/ever again.
June 19, 2020
Aslında çok salak bir kitaptı ama elimden bırakmadan da okudum. Sevdim sanırım 🤔😆
Bu arada kitabı seneler önce okumuşum ama komple unutmuşum 😋
Bu arada kitabı seneler önce okumuşum ama komple unutmuşum 😋
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 11, 2020DNF'd after reading half of chapter 7. The hero is controlling, overly protective, and possessive for someone who doesn't wish to marry the heroine. Everyone in the hero's clan loves and adores the heroine and thinks she is beautiful. All of the single unmarried men would ask for her hand in marriage if they didn't think their laird has claimed her for himself already. I've lost interest in the story.
November 23, 2015
For some unknown reason, I felt like giving this book a chance. It had farely good reviews and the bad ones were written in languages that I did not understand. So, I picked it up, read the first page and suddenly had the urge to barf all over the buxom maiden clinging to the Laird. The story has potential, but the writing is just plain awful.
After 30 pages or so, I was about to give up. Every single sentences bothered me. Even so, I continued reading, thinking it might improve with time, or this case, with pages. But NAAYYOOO
After 30 more pages, I dropped the book.I didn't get used to the writing. It just kept bugging me to the point where I stopped reading all together.I couldn't take it anymore.
My one star might be a little harsh, but I'm an avid reader. I can count on one hand how many books I didn't read till the end with fingers to spare.
September 25, 2012
1- Kaçırılıp,kendisini tutsak eden adamdan kaçan güzel kız.
2- aşka tövbe etmiş klan lideri
3- Birbirlerini görünce hissettikleri yakıcı arzu,bilmem uçucu şehvet.
4- Adamın evlenmeye yanaşmaması,kızın evlenmeden olmaz uzak duralım halleri.
5- Gene de seni koruyacağım saplantılı esas adam.
Önümde resmen birkaç kitabın kolajı var yani. Ayrıca ne o öyle daha 50 sayfa olmadan aşk ilan etmeler, çüş. Hiç sevmedim. Yazık parama.
2- aşka tövbe etmiş klan lideri
3- Birbirlerini görünce hissettikleri yakıcı arzu,bilmem uçucu şehvet.
4- Adamın evlenmeye yanaşmaması,kızın evlenmeden olmaz uzak duralım halleri.
5- Gene de seni koruyacağım saplantılı esas adam.
Önümde resmen birkaç kitabın kolajı var yani. Ayrıca ne o öyle daha 50 sayfa olmadan aşk ilan etmeler, çüş. Hiç sevmedim. Yazık parama.
March 4, 2015
I love Highlanders and I especially loved this story. How cute & sweet! : )
February 14, 2015
This was a really disappointing read!! Seeing this book had a rating of 3.97 I assumed that it would be good. I couldn't have been more wrong! Talk about being misled!!!! To be honest, I really struggled reading it. The only reason I finished it was because I paid for it and don't like not finishing a book.
This book is about a Conor McTiernay, laird of the McTiernay clan, and Laurel Cordell. While on his way back to his castle with his brothers and some of his warriors, he comes across Laurel, dirty and beaten. She had barely escaped from the father and son of the Douglass clan. Apparently the chief of the Douglass clan threatened her grandfather. (It's a bit unclear exactly what she was supposed to do or not do as the author flips back and forth on this). Conor and Laurel are immediately attracted to one another. He takes her back with him to his castle and lands and promises to keep her safe. They eventually marry and the problems with the Douglass' arise again and then are resolved.
First off, can I just ask who the hell typed this up for ebook's?? I read mine on my Kindle (as I do most books I read) and there were sooooo many errors it was ridiculous! I don't know if the print version has the same errors, or if they occurred when typing it up for ebook? If the print version has the same errors, the editor needs to be fired. My dog could do a better job!!!
Also, I really disliked the writing style! It felt amateur and like something I could have written in middle school. Michele Sinclair did not make me feel like I was there in the story. I didn't feel their emotions, or their pain. Everything lacked dimension. In school I remember the teachers always saying "show, don't tell" in regards to our writing assignments. Michele Sinclair could definitely use this grade school advice. Here is an example of what I mean... "Then, one morning, it all fell apart. It started as the best day in her life. Laurel learned she was pregnant. She had been irregular most of her life and so missing her monthly had not been a surprise or a sign that she had physically changed...." It drags on and on from there. The entire book is written like this. When Michelle Sinclair does try and "show, not tell" it's INCREDIBLY cheesy and amateur. An example, "Conor had known that each and every joining he and Laurel were to share over their lifetime would be incredible, but he had been unprepared for this. He felt as if he left his body and his soul had met with hers on another plane." I know that these books can be cheesy, but when she writes things like this, each and every time I'd furrow my brow and stare at the words as if I couldn't believe what I was reading. Not only was it cheesy, but it felt awkward and strange every time she wrote like this. As if she was trying too hard. A couple excellent author's that really have a way with words and a talent for pulling the reader so deep into their stories that you feel all the character's emotions are Nora Roberts and, in this particular genre, Monica McCarty. Check out their novels and you'll for sure see the difference in the writing styles!
Besides the amateur writing style, the whole story is off! Here are several examples...
1. Laurel being afraid for her grandfather doesn't make sense. Maybe the author didn't accurately explain why Laurel would fear for her grandfather to the extent she did. Instead of going to her grandfather and warning him of the Douglass' threat, she is hellbent on leaving Scotland (in the spring --- MONTHS from the time of the threat, which doesn't make sense either), changing her name and her appearance. How does that make sense??? Also, towards the end of the book, it's suddenly stated that Laurel didn't realize her grandfather was a chief of a clan, but I never got that before. Actually, I was under the impression from the beginning that she knew he was a chief. I could've sworn it's mentioned towards the beginning of the book. However, I don't want to waste any more of my time on this book and go back and double check.
After getting to know Conor, she knows she can trust him, so why doesn't she tell him the whole truth about what happened while she was abducted by the Douglass' and about their threat on her grandfather??? It doesn't make any sense!!
2. Immediately upon meeting one another in the forest, Conor and Laurel are attracted to one another. Okay, I can see that. However, this was so ridiculous and unrealistic. Their feelings were flipping back and forth from the first moment. He wants her but won't marry her, something they discuss after only knowing one another a day. She tells him they need to keep their distance if he doesn't want to marry because she wants to marry someone one day and have a family, something he doesn't want. Again, this is after knowing one another a day. Suddenly, once back at the castle he is badgering her into marrying him. Talk about a 180!
3. Conor and Laurel are constantly having these arguments over stupid stuff. And it goes from being about one thing to another. It always ends up being about something that has NOTHING to do with what started their fight. Most of the time they were about the same thing. It was redundant and beyond obnoxious.
4. Here Conor is supposed to be this super badass laird who is cold and feared, but Laurel faints and he starts crying???? WHAT?!? How does that make sense??? It doesn't!! This happened several times. Something happened and he starts crying. That's very uncharacteristic of the original character Michele Sinclair portrayed. If she was going to have him cry, have him do it once and when Laurel nearly dies or something. Have the tears show the reader and Laurel how deeply he loves her since it's something he would never do!
Honestly, the list goes on and on about what was "off" about the story itself, but this is already getting to be a very long review.
The basis is that I do NOT recommend this book. It was not only a waste of money, but a waste of time. I truly enjoy reading. I LOVE to be transferred to another world and escape reality for a little bit. There are very few other things that are better than being sucked into a book and unable to put it down, where when you do, all you can think about is when you get to continue reading and what's going to happen. Not only was this book a waste of time, but it made me NOT want to pick my Kindle up and read and that alone is the biggest crime of all with this book!!!!!
Save your money and read something else!! If you're looking to read Scottish Historical Fiction, check out Monica McCarty. I particularly LOVE her MacLeod's of Skye Trilogy. I have listened to the first two books on my iPod while driving (am in the middle of the last one now) and they are fantastic! They are made even better by the narrator chosen. He has a phenomenal voice for books like these and really brings the characters to life even more!! So, if you're looking for a book about highlanders and that's why you're looking into reading "The Highlander's Bride", read the MacLeod's of Sky trilogy instead. You won't be disappointed, but you will if you read this!!!
This book is about a Conor McTiernay, laird of the McTiernay clan, and Laurel Cordell. While on his way back to his castle with his brothers and some of his warriors, he comes across Laurel, dirty and beaten. She had barely escaped from the father and son of the Douglass clan. Apparently the chief of the Douglass clan threatened her grandfather. (It's a bit unclear exactly what she was supposed to do or not do as the author flips back and forth on this). Conor and Laurel are immediately attracted to one another. He takes her back with him to his castle and lands and promises to keep her safe. They eventually marry and the problems with the Douglass' arise again and then are resolved.
First off, can I just ask who the hell typed this up for ebook's?? I read mine on my Kindle (as I do most books I read) and there were sooooo many errors it was ridiculous! I don't know if the print version has the same errors, or if they occurred when typing it up for ebook? If the print version has the same errors, the editor needs to be fired. My dog could do a better job!!!
Also, I really disliked the writing style! It felt amateur and like something I could have written in middle school. Michele Sinclair did not make me feel like I was there in the story. I didn't feel their emotions, or their pain. Everything lacked dimension. In school I remember the teachers always saying "show, don't tell" in regards to our writing assignments. Michele Sinclair could definitely use this grade school advice. Here is an example of what I mean... "Then, one morning, it all fell apart. It started as the best day in her life. Laurel learned she was pregnant. She had been irregular most of her life and so missing her monthly had not been a surprise or a sign that she had physically changed...." It drags on and on from there. The entire book is written like this. When Michelle Sinclair does try and "show, not tell" it's INCREDIBLY cheesy and amateur. An example, "Conor had known that each and every joining he and Laurel were to share over their lifetime would be incredible, but he had been unprepared for this. He felt as if he left his body and his soul had met with hers on another plane." I know that these books can be cheesy, but when she writes things like this, each and every time I'd furrow my brow and stare at the words as if I couldn't believe what I was reading. Not only was it cheesy, but it felt awkward and strange every time she wrote like this. As if she was trying too hard. A couple excellent author's that really have a way with words and a talent for pulling the reader so deep into their stories that you feel all the character's emotions are Nora Roberts and, in this particular genre, Monica McCarty. Check out their novels and you'll for sure see the difference in the writing styles!
Besides the amateur writing style, the whole story is off! Here are several examples...
1. Laurel being afraid for her grandfather doesn't make sense. Maybe the author didn't accurately explain why Laurel would fear for her grandfather to the extent she did. Instead of going to her grandfather and warning him of the Douglass' threat, she is hellbent on leaving Scotland (in the spring --- MONTHS from the time of the threat, which doesn't make sense either), changing her name and her appearance. How does that make sense??? Also, towards the end of the book, it's suddenly stated that Laurel didn't realize her grandfather was a chief of a clan, but I never got that before. Actually, I was under the impression from the beginning that she knew he was a chief. I could've sworn it's mentioned towards the beginning of the book. However, I don't want to waste any more of my time on this book and go back and double check.
After getting to know Conor, she knows she can trust him, so why doesn't she tell him the whole truth about what happened while she was abducted by the Douglass' and about their threat on her grandfather??? It doesn't make any sense!!
2. Immediately upon meeting one another in the forest, Conor and Laurel are attracted to one another. Okay, I can see that. However, this was so ridiculous and unrealistic. Their feelings were flipping back and forth from the first moment. He wants her but won't marry her, something they discuss after only knowing one another a day. She tells him they need to keep their distance if he doesn't want to marry because she wants to marry someone one day and have a family, something he doesn't want. Again, this is after knowing one another a day. Suddenly, once back at the castle he is badgering her into marrying him. Talk about a 180!
3. Conor and Laurel are constantly having these arguments over stupid stuff. And it goes from being about one thing to another. It always ends up being about something that has NOTHING to do with what started their fight. Most of the time they were about the same thing. It was redundant and beyond obnoxious.
4. Here Conor is supposed to be this super badass laird who is cold and feared, but Laurel faints and he starts crying???? WHAT?!? How does that make sense??? It doesn't!! This happened several times. Something happened and he starts crying. That's very uncharacteristic of the original character Michele Sinclair portrayed. If she was going to have him cry, have him do it once and when Laurel nearly dies or something. Have the tears show the reader and Laurel how deeply he loves her since it's something he would never do!
Honestly, the list goes on and on about what was "off" about the story itself, but this is already getting to be a very long review.
The basis is that I do NOT recommend this book. It was not only a waste of money, but a waste of time. I truly enjoy reading. I LOVE to be transferred to another world and escape reality for a little bit. There are very few other things that are better than being sucked into a book and unable to put it down, where when you do, all you can think about is when you get to continue reading and what's going to happen. Not only was this book a waste of time, but it made me NOT want to pick my Kindle up and read and that alone is the biggest crime of all with this book!!!!!
Save your money and read something else!! If you're looking to read Scottish Historical Fiction, check out Monica McCarty. I particularly LOVE her MacLeod's of Skye Trilogy. I have listened to the first two books on my iPod while driving (am in the middle of the last one now) and they are fantastic! They are made even better by the narrator chosen. He has a phenomenal voice for books like these and really brings the characters to life even more!! So, if you're looking for a book about highlanders and that's why you're looking into reading "The Highlander's Bride", read the MacLeod's of Sky trilogy instead. You won't be disappointed, but you will if you read this!!!
September 12, 2016
Welcome to today's instalment of Emily Explores Sexy Scottish Literature. Previously, I read my first non-Maya Banks historical highland novel and was pleasantly surprised by it so I decided to jump straight into another one and see if the trend held up (spoiler: it didn't). This rating is actually more of a 2.5 stars but I always feel mean rounding down so here we are.
I have to admit, there isn't much language wise for me to complain about here. I know, usually I spend a whole fucking paragraph ranting about the shitty language and how everyone is trying to sound like they belong in Historical Scotland when really they end up sounding like they belong in a bad children's play. However, this book gave me a disturbingly small amount of language to complain about because there wasn't any fucking Scottish language happening. There wasn't even an attempt. The author didn't even try to indicate that any of the characters had Scottish accents at all. It was so goddamn unremarkable that as I'm sitting here right now I'm not even fully convinced it was set in Scotland. Legitimately the only thing that gave away the location was the fact that everyone was fucking talking about plaid all the time. Maybe this took place in Seattle during the 1990s and was secretly just a weird commentary on the grunge movement. I don't fucking know.
On top of that, this book had the biggest fucking case of instalove that I've read in a goddamn long time. I was on page fifteen when these two people decided that they were basically in love with each other. I actually had to stop and check whether or not I'd accidentally skipped fifty pages of the book because it was so fucking ridiculously fast. Not to mention that the main male, Conor, is a fucking arrogant, pigheaded, Neanderthal of a walking temper tantrum with some serious control issues. I wanted to strangle him half the book and I was honestly just waiting for the main female, Laurel, to throw her knife at his face. He was domineering and basically just decided to do whatever the fuck he wanted whenever he wanted.
Which brings us to my next problem with this book. The fucking sexual relationship between these two characters. Conor has basically decided that he's never getting married and he's not interested in having a relationship with any woman. Understandably, Laurel is like "if you're not interested in marriage I'm not going to fuck around with you, please leave me alone." Which he does for about two seconds before he basically mauls her in a semi-public place because he's decided she's his. Now like, whatever. These two characters are both fucking crazy and experiencing this weird as shit attraction that they apparently can't stop. I nearly injured myself rolling my eyes a couple times, but whatever. The thing that made me nearly throw my iPad across the room was the first time they do anything beyond kissing. So there these two are, getting frisky on the dinner table when suddenly Conor decides that he really wants to stick his fingers all up in her junk. Laurel is like what the fuck? And tells him to stop. She says the word "no." Guess how he fucking replies. He tells he that he would never hurt her and then fucking continues anyways. I actually had to put the book down and stop reading for like half an hour because I was starting to have horrific Christian Grey flashbacks.
The antagonist was stupid and there was basically no conflict in this book other than the fucking constant arguments Conor and Laurel had. Everything was a miscommunication or overreaction that led to both of them screaming at each other and Conor trying to impose ridiculous rules and regulations while continually telling Laurel that she was going to marry him and she didn't have a choice about it until one of them kissed the other and the whole thing dissolved into them being swept up in a hurricane of passion. By the end of it, I was so done with both of them that I couldn't even bring myself to enjoy their happily ever after ending. Good riddance, the two of them deserve each other.
I have to admit, there isn't much language wise for me to complain about here. I know, usually I spend a whole fucking paragraph ranting about the shitty language and how everyone is trying to sound like they belong in Historical Scotland when really they end up sounding like they belong in a bad children's play. However, this book gave me a disturbingly small amount of language to complain about because there wasn't any fucking Scottish language happening. There wasn't even an attempt. The author didn't even try to indicate that any of the characters had Scottish accents at all. It was so goddamn unremarkable that as I'm sitting here right now I'm not even fully convinced it was set in Scotland. Legitimately the only thing that gave away the location was the fact that everyone was fucking talking about plaid all the time. Maybe this took place in Seattle during the 1990s and was secretly just a weird commentary on the grunge movement. I don't fucking know.
On top of that, this book had the biggest fucking case of instalove that I've read in a goddamn long time. I was on page fifteen when these two people decided that they were basically in love with each other. I actually had to stop and check whether or not I'd accidentally skipped fifty pages of the book because it was so fucking ridiculously fast. Not to mention that the main male, Conor, is a fucking arrogant, pigheaded, Neanderthal of a walking temper tantrum with some serious control issues. I wanted to strangle him half the book and I was honestly just waiting for the main female, Laurel, to throw her knife at his face. He was domineering and basically just decided to do whatever the fuck he wanted whenever he wanted.
Which brings us to my next problem with this book. The fucking sexual relationship between these two characters. Conor has basically decided that he's never getting married and he's not interested in having a relationship with any woman. Understandably, Laurel is like "if you're not interested in marriage I'm not going to fuck around with you, please leave me alone." Which he does for about two seconds before he basically mauls her in a semi-public place because he's decided she's his. Now like, whatever. These two characters are both fucking crazy and experiencing this weird as shit attraction that they apparently can't stop. I nearly injured myself rolling my eyes a couple times, but whatever. The thing that made me nearly throw my iPad across the room was the first time they do anything beyond kissing. So there these two are, getting frisky on the dinner table when suddenly Conor decides that he really wants to stick his fingers all up in her junk. Laurel is like what the fuck? And tells him to stop. She says the word "no." Guess how he fucking replies. He tells he that he would never hurt her and then fucking continues anyways. I actually had to put the book down and stop reading for like half an hour because I was starting to have horrific Christian Grey flashbacks.
The antagonist was stupid and there was basically no conflict in this book other than the fucking constant arguments Conor and Laurel had. Everything was a miscommunication or overreaction that led to both of them screaming at each other and Conor trying to impose ridiculous rules and regulations while continually telling Laurel that she was going to marry him and she didn't have a choice about it until one of them kissed the other and the whole thing dissolved into them being swept up in a hurricane of passion. By the end of it, I was so done with both of them that I couldn't even bring myself to enjoy their happily ever after ending. Good riddance, the two of them deserve each other.
October 25, 2011
This story was adorable and just what I needed. Conor McTiernay, laird of a powerful clan has vowed never to marry. Well you know what people say about never saying never. Enter Laurel, a bonnie English lass. She appears badly beaten and disheveled in the midst of Conor and his brothers on their travel home from their brother Colin's wedding. She begs them for help to allow her to go with them. Connor is instantly attracted to her and vows his protection and then some *cough*.
Conor was boorish, stubborn, argumentative, insufferable but oh so sweet when he wanted to be. I loved Laurel from the beginning. I loved how she made Conor's head spin and how she won over everyone in Conor's clan despite being English (like everyone believed). The quips they threw at each other had me chuckling through the story. The development of their romance was equally satisfying. A great read and I look forward to the rest of the series.
November 1, 2014
Really liked it!!!
I love my hearts and flowers and this historical romance did not disappoint. A strong Laird with a stubborn closed off heart meets a smart and willful Lady who know what she wants.
Michelle Sinclair produced one of my favourite types of heroine. Very capable and self-reliant, Laurel was fierce when voicing her opinions, challenging when fighting an injustice and conniving when wanting her own way. Conor, being the eldest brother and Laird has kept his heart to himself. He thinks no woman will love him for himself but want him for his position and power.
This story did get a little too sappy and I'm pretty sure no big tough guys cry like Conor did, but sometimes I like the over-reacting sentimental Hero declaring their love and he was able to offset this by being a tough guy most of the time.
Overall I really liked this Historical Scottish love story and will definitely be reading more in this series. This book was a bargain at $0.99.
I love my hearts and flowers and this historical romance did not disappoint. A strong Laird with a stubborn closed off heart meets a smart and willful Lady who know what she wants.
Michelle Sinclair produced one of my favourite types of heroine. Very capable and self-reliant, Laurel was fierce when voicing her opinions, challenging when fighting an injustice and conniving when wanting her own way. Conor, being the eldest brother and Laird has kept his heart to himself. He thinks no woman will love him for himself but want him for his position and power.
This story did get a little too sappy and I'm pretty sure no big tough guys cry like Conor did, but sometimes I like the over-reacting sentimental Hero declaring their love and he was able to offset this by being a tough guy most of the time.
Overall I really liked this Historical Scottish love story and will definitely be reading more in this series. This book was a bargain at $0.99.
March 19, 2017
Reread it and I don't know what I was thinking giving it 4 stars. Will have to re-write my review at some point.
I read some 1 star reviews and thought man i would hate this book. but it just goes to show that we all relate to stories differently and a 5 star average review doesn't mean it will be a good read every time. (mental note: always dare to try)
back to the book, I really loved the characters. while it is a little odd that the unyielding "warrior" would pop the "my love" hearings so early in the story, the softness of the story was very dear to me.
I do think think though, if you prefer a tougher lady, you will have difficulties liking the book. the heroin is not weak, but she is not the screaming fiery type. I think that's why I like it.
I read some 1 star reviews and thought man i would hate this book. but it just goes to show that we all relate to stories differently and a 5 star average review doesn't mean it will be a good read every time. (mental note: always dare to try)
back to the book, I really loved the characters. while it is a little odd that the unyielding "warrior" would pop the "my love" hearings so early in the story, the softness of the story was very dear to me.
I do think think though, if you prefer a tougher lady, you will have difficulties liking the book. the heroin is not weak, but she is not the screaming fiery type. I think that's why I like it.
January 18, 2023
Rating: 4.5 / 5
I don't know what it is with me that the charm of Scottish historical romances has so captivated my interest recently, but it seems to me that I just can't get enough of them!
Essentially, most historical romances follow the same formula, and for Scottish historical romances, they likewise have a pretty typical formula as well, which works as follows:
+ either that the Highlander (usually a laird) is out riding somewhere, and comes across a bonny lass by accident, OR there's an arranged marriage setup that kicks off the story
+ they are both, of course, attracted to one another, with the girl being super bonny, and the Highlander being gruff and large, but ultimately honourable and a big softie underneath the Highlander bluster
+ there MAY possibly be a denial of their feelings for each other over a clashing of wills or a misunderstanding (both of which cause our hero and heroine to fight and yet be aroused at the same time), but ultimately the "totally authentic independent middle ages woman" will not be changed, and gets her way in the end via her beauty--though she may also have to compromise with her gruff laird in the process
+ then, of course, there's the wedding and wedding night, though the sexual coupling itself may take place beforehand as well, but it's okay because marriage is always in the cards (even if one or the other tries to deny it beforehand)
+ and then, of course, there's the damsel-in-distress or SOME form of rescue plot that takes place, usually in which there's another man who is of course a villain and a brute and wants the heroine, but of course the hero's all "over my dead body, yaaaaarrrrr!"
+ and, there may possibly be a pregnancy plot, usually with a happy birth as the ending of the story
__________________________
You see all that, friends? Form-u-la-ic.
And yet, I love it all the same, and over and over again I seem to be interested in reading the same thing.
Honestly, I couldn't tell you why, but suffice it to say that I am, so bring on the stories and cliches and ultimate Scottish sweetnesses! (I'm ready for it all!)
I don't know what it is with me that the charm of Scottish historical romances has so captivated my interest recently, but it seems to me that I just can't get enough of them!
Essentially, most historical romances follow the same formula, and for Scottish historical romances, they likewise have a pretty typical formula as well, which works as follows:
+ either that the Highlander (usually a laird) is out riding somewhere, and comes across a bonny lass by accident, OR there's an arranged marriage setup that kicks off the story
+ they are both, of course, attracted to one another, with the girl being super bonny, and the Highlander being gruff and large, but ultimately honourable and a big softie underneath the Highlander bluster
+ there MAY possibly be a denial of their feelings for each other over a clashing of wills or a misunderstanding (both of which cause our hero and heroine to fight and yet be aroused at the same time), but ultimately the "totally authentic independent middle ages woman" will not be changed, and gets her way in the end via her beauty--though she may also have to compromise with her gruff laird in the process
+ then, of course, there's the wedding and wedding night, though the sexual coupling itself may take place beforehand as well, but it's okay because marriage is always in the cards (even if one or the other tries to deny it beforehand)
+ and then, of course, there's the damsel-in-distress or SOME form of rescue plot that takes place, usually in which there's another man who is of course a villain and a brute and wants the heroine, but of course the hero's all "over my dead body, yaaaaarrrrr!"
+ and, there may possibly be a pregnancy plot, usually with a happy birth as the ending of the story
__________________________
You see all that, friends? Form-u-la-ic.
And yet, I love it all the same, and over and over again I seem to be interested in reading the same thing.
Honestly, I couldn't tell you why, but suffice it to say that I am, so bring on the stories and cliches and ultimate Scottish sweetnesses! (I'm ready for it all!)
June 5, 2018
(Audiobook Review)
This is the first book in the series and I don't have very much to say in that I enjoyed it very much. I have read other books by Michele Sinclair and am a bit of a fan.
The heroine was a sassy strong-willed person although I didn't care much for the testosterone and dictatorship that was being spued by the hero at every turn with trying to have her as a kept woman in charge of the castle. I think she proved that she could hold her own and taught him a few lessons or two in spite of all of his simple-minded thinking.
It didn't hurt to have the narration done by Anne Flosnik who is one of my favorite narrators.
4.5 Stars
This is the first book in the series and I don't have very much to say in that I enjoyed it very much. I have read other books by Michele Sinclair and am a bit of a fan.
The heroine was a sassy strong-willed person although I didn't care much for the testosterone and dictatorship that was being spued by the hero at every turn with trying to have her as a kept woman in charge of the castle. I think she proved that she could hold her own and taught him a few lessons or two in spite of all of his simple-minded thinking.
It didn't hurt to have the narration done by Anne Flosnik who is one of my favorite narrators.
4.5 Stars
April 11, 2017
I really enjoyed Michele Sinclair's romance The Highlander's Bride. Our hero, Conor McTiernay, is a Scottish chieftain to a very powerful group of various clans in the Highlands. He is also know as a confirmed bachelor. Our heroine, Laurel Cordell, even though brought up in England has family ties to Scotland on her mother's side. While her mother was alive Laurel was able to visit her grandfathers home in Scotland and developed a bond with him. After her mother died in child birth, Laurel's father cut off ties to his wife's family and remarried. The story opens with Laurel leaving her home in England to travel to live with her grandfather. She is kidnapped, beaten. Hurt and bruised she escapes her captives and while hiding tries to make her way to her grandfathers home. Badly hurt she is discovered by our hero, who is traveling home from the wedding of his brother in the Lower Highlands.
I enjoyed the characters in this story very much. As in life the dynamics of two strong willed individuals will create sparks, as they did with the hero and heroine in this story. But the budding attraction then love they share is wonderful. In reading a story that I want to rate I always ask myself the same questions .......Did this romance tell a complete story? Yes , no cliff hangers and the story was very well written. .....Are the characters well defined? Again yes, very much so. The descriptive writing of Ms. Sinclair made the characters come alive. You really not only got to know the characters but understand the way they think. I loved the generous nature of Laurel, always thinking of others. I also loved the strength , if sometimes madding, of Conor, who because of his awesome and sometimes difficult responsibilities to his clan, had a tendency to smother and suffocate many of Laurel's freedoms because he wanted to protect her......Is there passion and romance? The chemistry between our two leads is explosive. The passion is hot and their love for each other is very well written. Sensual level I would grade this a 7. Highly recommend this book.
I enjoyed the characters in this story very much. As in life the dynamics of two strong willed individuals will create sparks, as they did with the hero and heroine in this story. But the budding attraction then love they share is wonderful. In reading a story that I want to rate I always ask myself the same questions .......Did this romance tell a complete story? Yes , no cliff hangers and the story was very well written. .....Are the characters well defined? Again yes, very much so. The descriptive writing of Ms. Sinclair made the characters come alive. You really not only got to know the characters but understand the way they think. I loved the generous nature of Laurel, always thinking of others. I also loved the strength , if sometimes madding, of Conor, who because of his awesome and sometimes difficult responsibilities to his clan, had a tendency to smother and suffocate many of Laurel's freedoms because he wanted to protect her......Is there passion and romance? The chemistry between our two leads is explosive. The passion is hot and their love for each other is very well written. Sensual level I would grade this a 7. Highly recommend this book.
June 20, 2012
i recommend this book for anyone who is into Scottish romances. the characters personalities makes them feel real and the events that occur are pretty realistic. i had a few good laughs and a few moments where i "awwwed". this book kept me entertained and i read in less than a day
*SPOILER ALERT*
i really liked this book because the relationship that Conor and laurel have isn't all lovey dovey its pretty realistic they get into a lot of arguments to make it seem like a real couple, its still a romantic story that i found i really enjoyed. when the book kept mentioning that Laurel was big is was like TWINS!!! and i was happy they were fraternal :) i've always told my mom that i'll be giving birth to fraternal twins a boy and a girl the boy will come first and the girl last. (i've done a lot of studying with my family history and found that on both sides of my family that they have fraternal twins but it skipped my generation so it even more likely that it will happen) Sinclair is an amazing author and i cant wait to continue with this series.
*SPOILER ALERT*
i really liked this book because the relationship that Conor and laurel have isn't all lovey dovey its pretty realistic they get into a lot of arguments to make it seem like a real couple, its still a romantic story that i found i really enjoyed. when the book kept mentioning that Laurel was big is was like TWINS!!! and i was happy they were fraternal :) i've always told my mom that i'll be giving birth to fraternal twins a boy and a girl the boy will come first and the girl last. (i've done a lot of studying with my family history and found that on both sides of my family that they have fraternal twins but it skipped my generation so it even more likely that it will happen) Sinclair is an amazing author and i cant wait to continue with this series.
August 4, 2015
First time reader of Michele Sinclair, instantly got me hooked in. I enjoyed the wit and good humour in her writing.
Enjoyable story and characters. I really enjoyed the positiveness of the novel, it didn't have the usual enemies/kidnaps or discord.
And that the hero/heroine didn't dance around their feelings for one another.
Everyone was supportive of both the hero and heroine which was just so refreshing.
A clashing of strong personalities, possessiveness and protectiveness forged a passionate love and great read i found hard to put down.
Will definitely be keen to read more.
Hotness level: 4
Enjoyable story and characters. I really enjoyed the positiveness of the novel, it didn't have the usual enemies/kidnaps or discord.
And that the hero/heroine didn't dance around their feelings for one another.
Everyone was supportive of both the hero and heroine which was just so refreshing.
A clashing of strong personalities, possessiveness and protectiveness forged a passionate love and great read i found hard to put down.
Will definitely be keen to read more.
Hotness level: 4
January 4, 2014
I loved it! Conor is so sweet towards Laurel it made me ache.
I enjoyed this book, even though it's a bit uncomfortable to read a book that described its heroine perfectly. I mean, in the book Laurel's so beautiful and sweet and made people 'instantly' love her. There's no such thing as insta-love that's why it's a bit ridiculous.
But overall I loved it and can't wait to purchased the sequel! ;)
I enjoyed this book, even though it's a bit uncomfortable to read a book that described its heroine perfectly. I mean, in the book Laurel's so beautiful and sweet and made people 'instantly' love her. There's no such thing as insta-love that's why it's a bit ridiculous.
But overall I loved it and can't wait to purchased the sequel! ;)
July 29, 2011
Not the best highland book I've read :( Thought I would read this before I get suck into another fantasy/romance series. Should have got stuck into Karen Moning series instead!!
January 23, 2016
I just couldn't get into this story. Didn't really connect with the characters and the story didn't draw me in.
March 21, 2016
The Highlander’s Bride
By Michele Sinclair
The McTiernays Book #1
This book started out great with the McTiernay brothers traveling through the Lowlands after attending their other brother’s wedding. They are traveling to the Highlands to their home when they find Laurel Cordell, an English woman, who had been beaten and had escaped from the clutches of one of the McTiernay’s enemies, Keith Douglas. Keith had stolen her and tried to force her to marry him but she killed him…she thinks…and escaped.
www.paranormalromanceslut.com
The brothers had just told a story about the Laird of the MacInnes clan had his granddaughter coming to visit from England; how his daughter had married an English man and how beautiful the daughter was supposed to be. And up pops Laurel but nobody connects her with the story. Laurel did not tell the brothers who she really was. She just let them believe she was English because, apparently, Keith and his father threatened to do harm to her grandfather. I wasn’t clear exactly on what the threat was or why Laurel thought that if she kept quiet about who she was, how she was protecting her grandfather but she planned on traveling with the McTiernays, staying the winter with them and then in the Spring, traveling back to warn her grandfather about the Douglas threat.
Anyway, Connor McTiernay is a self-professed bachelor because he doesn’t have to marry to make a strong alliance since his clan already was strong and he believes all woman are after is his power. He is instantly attracted to Laurel. Actually, attracted isn’t a strong enough word. I think he was more obsessed like a dog with a bone. He was jealous when anyone talked to her and bossed her around. I found Connor to be a bit boorish and spoiled but I guess men of power were probably like that back then.
The book just stops progressing around 30% through it. Nothing of importance really happens until close to the end. I was bored to tears. I think the author could have cut out two-thirds of the book and still told the story. If she just would have kept the pace up, I would have enjoyed the book more but because I was so bored throughout most of the book, I can’t rate this book very high or recommend it.
By Michele Sinclair
The McTiernays Book #1
This book started out great with the McTiernay brothers traveling through the Lowlands after attending their other brother’s wedding. They are traveling to the Highlands to their home when they find Laurel Cordell, an English woman, who had been beaten and had escaped from the clutches of one of the McTiernay’s enemies, Keith Douglas. Keith had stolen her and tried to force her to marry him but she killed him…she thinks…and escaped.
www.paranormalromanceslut.com
The brothers had just told a story about the Laird of the MacInnes clan had his granddaughter coming to visit from England; how his daughter had married an English man and how beautiful the daughter was supposed to be. And up pops Laurel but nobody connects her with the story. Laurel did not tell the brothers who she really was. She just let them believe she was English because, apparently, Keith and his father threatened to do harm to her grandfather. I wasn’t clear exactly on what the threat was or why Laurel thought that if she kept quiet about who she was, how she was protecting her grandfather but she planned on traveling with the McTiernays, staying the winter with them and then in the Spring, traveling back to warn her grandfather about the Douglas threat.
Anyway, Connor McTiernay is a self-professed bachelor because he doesn’t have to marry to make a strong alliance since his clan already was strong and he believes all woman are after is his power. He is instantly attracted to Laurel. Actually, attracted isn’t a strong enough word. I think he was more obsessed like a dog with a bone. He was jealous when anyone talked to her and bossed her around. I found Connor to be a bit boorish and spoiled but I guess men of power were probably like that back then.
The book just stops progressing around 30% through it. Nothing of importance really happens until close to the end. I was bored to tears. I think the author could have cut out two-thirds of the book and still told the story. If she just would have kept the pace up, I would have enjoyed the book more but because I was so bored throughout most of the book, I can’t rate this book very high or recommend it.
October 15, 2012
This book has it all, braw Scottish Highlanders, strong women who aren’t afraid of their own shadow, a little fighting, a bit of loving and a nice description of Scotland as we would imagine it in the 14th century… what’s not to love? Our journey starts with the McTiernay brothers, less one, returning home from losing the second eldest to marriage. As they camped, the guards brought a disheveled woman to Conor, Laird of the Clan. She had obviously been beaten and was running away from someone, but wouldn’t say who, she just asked for protection.
Laurel Cordell, raised in England just on the border of Scotland, was proudly half Scottish on her mother’s side. After her parents’ death, she bargained with her half brother to go to Scotland to live with her Grandfather. On the journey she and her guard were attacked. All but a couple of the men were killed while she was kidnapped and beaten, she eventually escaped, with barely her life intact.
for a full review, follow this link:
http://thewindowseat13.blogspot.com/2...
Laurel Cordell, raised in England just on the border of Scotland, was proudly half Scottish on her mother’s side. After her parents’ death, she bargained with her half brother to go to Scotland to live with her Grandfather. On the journey she and her guard were attacked. All but a couple of the men were killed while she was kidnapped and beaten, she eventually escaped, with barely her life intact.
for a full review, follow this link:
http://thewindowseat13.blogspot.com/2...
January 31, 2014
Loved it!! I believe this is the first book I've read by Michele Sinclair and it won't be my last. The Highlander's Bride is an excellent novel, even though Conor and Laurel's lack of communication was a bit irritating in the beginning, it was soon understandable because Sinclair and put together two very strongly opinionated characters. To say the least Laurel was a very feisty lady with strong opinions and capable of caring not only for herself, but wanting to take some responsibilities off of her husbands shoulders as well. Conor had a lesson in compromise, which of course no strong Laird wants. This book is a must read.
April 26, 2017
The Highlander's Bride entered his life when he least expected or wanted a wife, but he could not resist the feisty, stubborn and compassionate beauty Laurel Cordell when she came to his camp asking for help.
Lady Laurel quickly won Laird Conor McTiernay's clans love and devotion to with her skills, honor, bravery and flattery. All Conor had wanted in a wife and had always dreamed of was an enduring love like his parents had shared.
The Highlander's Bride is full of hot Scottish temper, clan devotion, romance, treats from the evil clan that had captured Laurel and killed her guards and a happy ending.
Lady Laurel quickly won Laird Conor McTiernay's clans love and devotion to with her skills, honor, bravery and flattery. All Conor had wanted in a wife and had always dreamed of was an enduring love like his parents had shared.
The Highlander's Bride is full of hot Scottish temper, clan devotion, romance, treats from the evil clan that had captured Laurel and killed her guards and a happy ending.
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