Series: Highlander Protector, #3
Tropes & Traits: headstrong heroine; destined lovers
Publication Date: 01.22.19
Genre/Setting: Time Travel; Contemporary NC, USA & Medieval Scotland
Rating: 4 stars
Transplanted, along with his family, from his medieval castle in the Scottish highlands and the year 900 A.D. to modern day North Carolina, Ramsay MacDara is an enigma to say the least. He's a member of the MacDara clan, an ancient druid family responsible for protecting the heartstone, an ancient relic that is the key to humanity's need for love and hope to progress. When out for a late night ride on his horse, Ramsay encounters Katie, stuck in her wrecked car, and rescues her. Due to the late hour, he brings her back to his family's castle, attached to the Highlands-themed amusement park his family runs. Archaeologist Katie knows authentic history when she sees it and has many questions, which Ramsay attempts to dodge, though as a protector, he generally does not lie, he must in this instance to protect the heartstone. Having just recently gotten out of a relationship with a cold fiance who really only wanted his money, Ramsay thought he'd be married by now and is thinking he'll just remain unattached. Even though protectors are meant to love and be loved, he figures he has two brothers who are married and have children who'll be the future protectors, so it doesn't really matter if he finds love or not.
Katie is baffled to be rescued by an attractive man on horseback and in full highland dress, carrying a spear no less, but her archaeological curiosity is peaked by his archaic way of speaking and then by his home, which she recognizes the genuine medieval elements of, and the ancient Gaelic symbols carved on the spear's hilt. Ramsay's father, Emrys, high chief of all the druid clans, is not exactly the most lucid person all the time after his stress filled life and the leap through centuries, but he has seen Katie in his frequent visions and he expects her to be joined with his son--and has no problems sharing this information with her, leaving Ramsay with lots of explaining to do. When Ramsay is informed that Katie has been sent for him, he's pretty annoyed. Sure he'd like to get to know her, but on his own terms and without any matchmaking. Katie is just passing through temporarily until her wrecked car is repaired, but Ramsay finds he doesn't want her to leave. But when he's forced to explain the truth to her, will there be any way to stop her running for the hills? When the two are cast back in time together, their fledgling acquaintance is forced to develop quickly and may run into even more snags when Ramsay is happy to remain in the past.
So I'm not big on time travel usually (excluding Outlander, of course), but encountering hot highlanders plunked down in modern times was so original, I was intrigued. Even Ramsay's inner monologue is written in a Scottish brogue style, which was a bit annoying to read sometimes, but it helped me keep in mind that Ramsay is from not only a different country, but a much older century, and was raised there until age 16, so it's very much who he is. Honestly, Katie was a right little witch for much of the book, but to be fair, I'm not sure I would've handled the situation any better. I just felt like at times Katie was a bit of an overly exaggerated caricature of the 'modern woman.' It also bothered me that Katie and Ramsay never discussed his ex-fiancee. She was mentioned by his dad as the "demonness" so Katie definitely knew about her and it would've made sense in the development of Katie and Ramsay's relationship as a discussion they should have, yet she's just never mentioned again.
For me I think the ending was a little contrived and slightly less than satisfying, but it was still a happy one and I'm interested to see where Ms. Greyson takes this series next. This trope isn't usually my thing, but I want to read the other installments of this series now because they seem so different and original.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Katie is baffled to be rescued by an attractive man on horseback and in full highland dress, carrying a spear no less, but her archaeological curiosity is peaked by his archaic way of speaking and then by his home, which she recognizes the genuine medieval elements of, and the ancient Gaelic symbols carved on the spear's hilt. Ramsay's father, Emrys, high chief of all the druid clans, is not exactly the most lucid person all the time after his stress filled life and the leap through centuries, but he has seen Katie in his frequent visions and he expects her to be joined with his son--and has no problems sharing this information with her, leaving Ramsay with lots of explaining to do. When Ramsay is informed that Katie has been sent for him, he's pretty annoyed. Sure he'd like to get to know her, but on his own terms and without any matchmaking. Katie is just passing through temporarily until her wrecked car is repaired, but Ramsay finds he doesn't want her to leave. But when he's forced to explain the truth to her, will there be any way to stop her running for the hills? When the two are cast back in time together, their fledgling acquaintance is forced to develop quickly and may run into even more snags when Ramsay is happy to remain in the past.
So I'm not big on time travel usually (excluding Outlander, of course), but encountering hot highlanders plunked down in modern times was so original, I was intrigued. Even Ramsay's inner monologue is written in a Scottish brogue style, which was a bit annoying to read sometimes, but it helped me keep in mind that Ramsay is from not only a different country, but a much older century, and was raised there until age 16, so it's very much who he is. Honestly, Katie was a right little witch for much of the book, but to be fair, I'm not sure I would've handled the situation any better. I just felt like at times Katie was a bit of an overly exaggerated caricature of the 'modern woman.' It also bothered me that Katie and Ramsay never discussed his ex-fiancee. She was mentioned by his dad as the "demonness" so Katie definitely knew about her and it would've made sense in the development of Katie and Ramsay's relationship as a discussion they should have, yet she's just never mentioned again.
For me I think the ending was a little contrived and slightly less than satisfying, but it was still a happy one and I'm interested to see where Ms. Greyson takes this series next. This trope isn't usually my thing, but I want to read the other installments of this series now because they seem so different and original.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2543162166?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
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