Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Highland Arms by Cathie Dunn

Summary:
Betrayed by her brother’s lies, Catriona MacKenzie is banished from her Edinburgh home to her godmother’s remote manor in the Highlands. While her father ponders her fate, Catriona’s insatiable curiosity leads her straight into trouble--and into the arms of a notorious Highlander. Five years after an ill-fated Jacobite rebellion, Rory Cameron works as a smuggler to raise money for the cause--until Catriona uncovers a plot against him and exposes his activities. Now Rory is faced with a decision that could save their lives or destroy them both.

Reviewer: BlackTulip
This novel has two components I like very much: Highlanders and smugglers! Luckily for me it is an interesting and entertaining book as well. You won't get any rest, which is good and you won't be able to wait to know what is going to happen next. This a story full of romance, suspense and intrigue.

The author has a wonderful way of describing the highlands. I really could imagine myself in the wilderness and feel the gust of sleet on my cheeks or see the rugged landscape ahead of me. In my opinion it is a very important character in itself. Later in the book she describes, with the same vivid way, a slummy part of Edinburgh that you don't want to discover more; all you want to do is hold your nose and get away.

The heroine Catriona MacKenzie is a lowland, spirited, and innocent young woman unjustly banished from her home for something that was not her fault. But instead of feeling abandoned, she discovers that for once in her life she can be free, at least much more than she could ever be at home. She is very curious and excited to explore which is going to complicate the situation very much.

Rory Cameron is everything that you can hope for in a Highlander, rough, heated, and impatient. He is also a smuggler and his only goal is raising money and arms for the Jacobite's cause, until Catriona arrives on the scene.

Their attraction is evident early in the story, but they both fight it for different reasons. Both characters develop in a very interesting and positive way in the end.

There are two splendid villains. Catriona's brother who is a gambler, and a womanizer. He is selfish, self-centered, and has no love for her. She is only a tool in his hands. And there is her former betrothed and brother's friend, John Henderson who is also a nasty piece of work.

This book was fun to read from start to finish. I give it a 4/5.

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/216505469

1 comments:

Cathie Dunn said...

Thank you so much for the lovely review. I'm delighted you enjoyed the storyline and the setting. I love the Highlands and have been fortunate to see them in all their glory - come rain, snow or sunshine. I'm pleased my impressions give a reader a chance of experiencing them, too.

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