Reviewer: Robyn Roberts
Title: A Highlander’s Temptation - 6th in the MacKenzie series
Author: Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-19530-0
Release Date: October 2009
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance - Scottish Medieval Romance
Year/Setting: Scotland, 1350
Overall Rating: 4.75
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Sue-Ellen's Website: www.welfonder.com
Darroc MacConacher can’t escape his dreams. Dreams of a future and a life he can never have. He sees a beautiful dark-haired woman who stirs his desires when he’s asleep. But, when awake, he knows it’s a dream that can never become reality because, "MacConacher’s Isle wasn’t made for women." He knows he needs to focus all of his energy into returning the Clan MacConacher to its former glory. And now that they have a well-crafted birlinn (boat) they can use, Darroc is beginning to plot his revenge against the MacKenzie clan.
Meanwhile at the MacKenzie keep, Lady Arabella MacKenzie is dreaming of having a grand adventure and finding her soul mate. She convinces her father to let her visit Seal Island, which is part of her dowry. Before leaving, she has a vision of the man who will be her soul mate.
When a shipwreck washes up on MacConacher Isle, he can’t believe who is washed up onto his shores. It’s the woman from his dreams. He’s drawn to her for her beauty as well as her inner strength. The moment she sees this warrior, the beautiful dark-haired Lady Arabella knows she has met the man she seeks. What can they do? Their attraction is forbidden since the MacKenzies drove the MacConachers from their lands. Can Darroc ever feel anything besides scorn for this woman who hails from the clan that destroyed his? Will he use her as the ultimate revenge against her father, the Laird of the MacKenzies?
While the story at first reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, I found it to be much stronger and more engaging. Instead of being star-crossed lovers, Darroc and Arabella both have the hearts of warriors. They will both go toe-to-toe and lock horns with anyone who gets in the way of what they believe to be their chosen path. Arabella can play the part of a demure lady, but she’s got a backbone of steel and knows how to twist words to fit what she wants. I loved her from the start and was thrilled to read her story.
While it’s connected to Seducing a Scottish Bride, this story stands all on its own. We met Arabella in the previous book, but we didn’t get to know much about her. This is totally and completely her story. It was nice to revisit some of my favorite characters from the previous book, but they are woven into the story in a way that doesn’t detract a new reader. If you are new to these books, you won’t feel that you have missed anything.
Darroc irritated me at first with the big chip on his shoulder. While I could understand his clan pride, it seemed to consume him to the point of irrationality. As he began to show the kinks in his armor, I began to fall in love with him and his pride. He won me over and I could feel his torment in deciding whether or not to use MacKenzie’s daughter to avenge his own clan.
This was a story that I couldn’t put down. The perfect addition to any Scottish loving reader’s bookshelf.
Robyn
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