Conquered by a Highlander

Have you ever been reading a book or watching a movie where your anxiety is peaked because the characters take risks and you are afraid they are going to get caught? Well, that is how I felt throughout this book. First, because Colin MacGregor is a spy and second because he keeps taking risks with Gillian, the heroine of the story and I’m afraid they will be caught together.
Colin MacGregor has spent years away from Scotland serving King James and a cause he believes in. He has one last mission and then he can return to his beloved home Camlochlin, hidden in the mists and mountains on the Isle of Skye.

King James has sent him as a spy to Dartmouth castle where he has to become Colin Campbell from Breadalbane to gather intelligence on Geoffrey Dearly, Earl of Devon and the current lord of Dartmouth. Dearly has been corresponding with William of Orange, King James’ son in law who wants to overthrow his father in law to become the king himself. Colin’s job is to infiltrate the castle and learn where and when William will be landing his ships. It should be a simple job but things get difficult when he finds himself overwhelmingly attracted to the Earl of Devon’s cousin.
Lady Gillian Dearly has been cast out by her family for having a child out of wedlock. Her father sent her to live with her cousin, Geoffrey Dearly, Earl of Devon, who is cruel to her and her son. He desires her and wants her to marry him and thinks that she will be forced to marry him when William of Orange becomes king, but she is secretly corresponding with William in hopes that he will find favor with her for spying on Geoffrey and allow her to marry someone else. There are no other ladies or children at Dartmouth except for the servants so she is surrounded by crude soldiers every day.

Her father did do one thing right for her though; he sent her to Dartmouth with a personal body guard, Captain George Gates who is also the captain of the garrison at Dartmouth. His one priority is to keep Gillian safe. Nobody with half a mind would dare touch Gillian against her will with Captain Gates around but the captain can do little about the cruelty of Geoffrey. The earl may not touch Gillian but he makes her life hell by calling her a whore and making her serve him. He refuses to let her son sit with them at supper and controls Gillian’s every move.

Colin has a hard time watching how the earl treats Gillian and almost blows his cover a few times by helping her. Then when they start romancing each other, I kept thinking they were going to get caught…either by Gates or by Geoffrey.

Now, Colin has to figure out a way to get Gillian and her son away from Dartmouth before King James’ men overtake the castle.

I was on edge the whole time I was reading this book. I also wanted someone to stab Geoffrey with their sword. He was such a creep!

Except for a Christmas novella, this is the last book of the series. I’m still hoping for a spinoff. I’ll have to go to the author’s webpage to see what other books she has written so I can read more of her books because I like her writing.

www.paranormalromanceslut.com ( )

This has secret identity, mother and child, and spy elements. The heroine was a bit unreasonable here and there, but was otherwise decent. The story didn't grab me as much as I'd like, but I was still entertained. ( )

Another great book in the "Children of the Mist" series by Paula Quinn. Well done continuation of the Highland clan from Skye. I've been listening to this series via audio book and I highly recommend it. The dialogue and accents bring the story to life in a way that straight reading wouldn't be able to.
If you are a fan of historical romance, you should pick this book/series up.
Happy Reading...enjoy! ( )

While reading this book I unintentionally kept comparing Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series to this book. Comparing the two series was actually not fair to either author. Although both series are about warring Highlanders this particular series is set some 300 years later than McCarty's. This book in particular, set in 1688, focuses on the characters more than the historic setting. For someone like me, who is more character driven, it should have been a home run. So why after several weeks of thinking about did I lower my rating from 4 stars to 3.5?

For multiple reasons actually...

1) Although I do not like insta-love I don't care for the flip side either. The slow progression towards the lovey dovey outcome made for an equally slow progressing book. As a reader I was moving from chapter to chapter waiting for something to happen being a bit disappointed each time. In addition to the slow romance, the promised fighting action took forever to reach it's climax also. A big battle was hinted at throughout the book and, unfortunately, happened off camera, so to speak.

2) When the I Love Yous were admitted the book continued for another 700 pages. A bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea. There were misunderstandings to resolve, a battle (we didn't witness) to fight, and a reunion to happen. Yet, when all was said and done, I felt I missed something. Some sort of epic momentous declaration in front of God and Scotland about how Gillian was the only woman Colin would ever want and maybe a wedding. I kind of feel that since I had to read another 1200 pages after the I Love Yous I should have got a wedding out of the deal.

3) Why didn't Colin have any issue with Gillian having a baby out of wedlock? In 1688 I'm not sure any man would have taken a fallen woman and her child in as their beloved. Maybe that is why there was no wedding. Perhaps, Colin made Gillian his mistress! Probably not as this is a romance and those things don't smack of HEAs.

The good stuff: I know I said a few things that could be deal breakers for some I do have to say that over all I did like this book. I liked Gillian and her precarious position. I liked her champion/guard George. I thought Geoffry made for an excellent villain (one which proved to be quite smart). And Gillian's son Edmond is precious. I enjoyed the women from Colin's homeland. I liked that this book works well as a standalone even though it is book 4 in Children of the Mist series. But I think what I loved best about this book was not the characters nor the plot but the dedication at the beginning of the book...

"To my beloved... Until we meet again in the sweet hereafter. I love you."


In a Nutshell: Despite the issues I had with this book I still found it to be a decent historical read. Heavy on the character, light on the plot. I'd not recommend this book to just anyone but those who are character driven, like myself. Do not compare this series to the Highland Guard series. Read it and enjoy it based strictly on it's own merits. Oh and I also think that Paula Quinn is grossly over looked when it comes to historical romances. I don't think this particular book is a good one to recommend but I totally recommend her as an author and implore y'all to pick one of her books up. ( )

Won on Goodreads First Reads. Review to come.