Series: Highland Weddings, #1
Traits & Tropes: kidnap; mistaken identity; arranged marriage; road trip
Publication Date: 10.27.15
Genre/Setting: Historical; Georgian; Scottish Highlands, Summer, 1727
Heat Level: 2
Rating: 3.5/5
Narration Rating: 4/5
When she’s roused from her bed and taken off to the Highlands by a large Scot she’s never met, Riona Duff is afraid, then furious. Clan chief Hugh McCallum is adamant that a marriage has been contracted between the two of them since their childhood to cement peace between their clans. He stubbornly refuses to believe Riona when she insists he’s kidnapped the wrong Catriona Duff and instead sets out to patiently seduce her.
Hugh is initially only interested in the marriage for how it can improve the lives of his people. Soon enough, he begins to enjoy spending time with Riona because of who she is, but when he finally realizes she was telling the truth all along, her true identity threatens the contract and his clan’s future. Unless they’re willing to take a huge risk, Hugh will lose his heart and the loving marriage they could have together along with the lands he’s fought so hard to preserve for his clan.
To be perfectly frank I really didn’t care for the first half of this book. I loved the kidnapped bride trope, but Riona’s dialogues/protestations (though all completely valid) were just a bit repetitive to me. That said, once she spent some time with Hugh and it was clear she was developing feelings for him, and he for her, this improved, and I wound up really enjoying it. I loved seeing these two fall for one another, especially from Riona’s side as she believed a relationship between them would be impossible but still couldn’t help herself. Hugh was surprisingly sweet and a genuinely good man trying to help a distrustful clan and I loved that Riona really stepped up to take her place at his side and help him cement his role as clan chief. In addition to this solid relationship development, Riona and Hugh both undergo quite a lot of character development with him learning how to step out of the shadow of his abusive, drunkard father and her learning how to voice her own opinions and desires now that she finally has people who will listen. It also seems that we don’t get all that many highlander romances set in this time period (early 1700s), so I found that pretty refreshing and it just made me want to read all the highlander romances ever written (even more so than I already do). I loved the way everything came together in the end and how this seemed to be a redemption story for all involved and it left me feeling rather hopeful, which is always a positive for me. This was my first read from this author, but I want to finish the series now.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4362851989
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/956471780
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