Michele SinclairRezensionen

The Highlander’s Bride
By Michele Sinclair
The McTiernays Book #1

This book started out great with the McTiernay brothers traveling through the Lowlands after attending their other brother’s wedding. They are traveling to the Highlands to their home when they find Laurel Cordell, an English woman, who had been beaten and had escaped from the clutches of one of the McTiernay’s enemies, Keith Douglas. Keith had stolen her and tried to force her to marry him but she killed him…she thinks…and escaped.

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The brothers had just told a story about the Laird of the MacInnes clan had his granddaughter coming to visit from England; how his daughter had married an English man and how beautiful the daughter was supposed to be. And up pops Laurel but nobody connects her with the story. Laurel did not tell the brothers who she really was. She just let them believe she was English because, apparently, Keith and his father threatened to do harm to her grandfather. I wasn’t clear exactly on what the threat was or why Laurel thought that if she kept quiet about who she was, how she was protecting her grandfather but she planned on traveling with the McTiernays, staying the winter with them and then in the Spring, traveling back to warn her grandfather about the Douglas threat.

Anyway, Connor McTiernay is a self-professed bachelor because he doesn’t have to marry to make a strong alliance since his clan already was strong and he believes all woman are after is his power. He is instantly attracted to Laurel. Actually, attracted isn’t a strong enough word. I think he was more obsessed like a dog with a bone. He was jealous when anyone talked to her and bossed her around. I found Connor to be a bit boorish and spoiled but I guess men of power were probably like that back then.

The book just stops progressing around 30% through it. Nothing of importance really happens until close to the end. I was bored to tears. I think the author could have cut out two-thirds of the book and still told the story. If she just would have kept the pace up, I would have enjoyed the book more but because I was so bored throughout most of the book, I can’t rate this book very high or recommend it.

I’ve waited a day since completing this book because it left me thoroughly confused about how I felt about it. I’m still confused. I think this story tried to be three or four books smushed into one. There were too many characters with too much going on – and well – it just seems disjointed to me. I thought I was going to get an exciting Highlander and his lass coming to find their HEA while investigating and saving the life of her sister’s husband. I envisioned exciting, tense, gripping battles and chases with lovely romantic interludes intertwined. What I got was a very exciting beginning that rapidly slowed down to a crawl. If you add all of the page time together, you’ll probably find that the characters from the previous books take up much more time than our current pair. Then, there were so many pages of descriptions of who was who that I began to get them all mixed up and I’ve read the previous books. All of that said, I actually liked Brodie and Shinae, and would have loved to have more of their story in detail rather than just glossed over quickly. I had liked Shinae’s sister in her book, but not this one. They hadn’t seen each other in five years and she made no effort to hurry to get to the castle to see Shinae – and when she did arrive, it was just “Hi, how are you?”.

The first page in the Prologue starts out so very exciting! If that had continued throughout the book, I would have given it 10-stars. The English are going from abbey to abbey in Scotland and burning them to the ground. When they arrive at the abbey where Shinae is a knife-carrying, dissatisfied nun, Shinae decides to do whatever she can to buy her fellow nuns the time they need to escape. She singlehandedly takes on and defeats five English warriors before escaping herself. Just as she is defeating the last of the warriors, a man appears in the doorway and she’s not sure she can take on another soldier. Luckily, he is there to help. When he learns she’s related by marriage to the McTiernays, he asks her to take on a mission for King Robert. Since that mission involves saving her sister’s husband, she doesn’t hesitate to accept.

Chapter One begins with Shinae and an uninvited companion, Isilme, having trekked (on foot) toward Lochlen Castle where ALL of the McTiernay’s will be gathering for celebrations. Though it is summer, the rain and wind are freezing them. They are almost to the castle when they just can’t trudge further. If they don’t find shelter, they’ll be dead from the chill by morning. Luckily for Shinae, she’s found and rescued and manages to ask her rescuer to look for her companion. So, Brodie rescues Shinae and his friend, Dunlop, went to rescue Isilme. Thus, our two romances are set up.

Then, all of the myriad legs of the story branch out and ultimately leave you scratching your head in confusion. Well, not totally, I could certainly follow it, but goodness I shouldn’t have had to work to do so. So much of it was totally superfluous and disjointed.

So, I liked Brodie and Shinae and their story. I liked Dunlop and Isilme and their story. The McTiernay’s portion of the mystery was okay, but – the entire solution was about 2 pages and the rest was chaff. Then, there was the Mahon thing – I guess it was there for a red herring, but it just added another layer of superfluous nonsense as far as I was concerned. IF we had broken this down into more than one book OR put more of the feature on the romances and much less on all of the McTiernay stuff, it would have been a much more enjoyable read. Yes, I understand this is part of the McTiernay series, but – they could have made cameo appearances and taken on a supporting role rather than the starring role.

I wouldn’t read this book a second time, but I am pleased to have met Brodie, Shinae, Dunlop, and Isilme. I loved that Brodie wasn’t a Laird and wasn’t becoming one. I liked that he was floundering with finding his place within the clan and I loved that Shinae was proud of him and supportive of him no matter what he chose to do. It was nice to see the ‘common’ folk get their HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review to follow

I reviewed this book for an award about a year ago and I gave it very high marks. Jumping into the series on book three did not hurt one bit, it only made me want to read the first two as soon as I could get my hands on them. The characters were very easy to like and the story was a fun one to follow. I'm a fan of women that aren't easily caught and men that swallow their pride to go after what they truly want. I love that just when I thought the story was drawing to a close, it went deeper and the main character got to avenge his demons. I have not found the other books in the series at any local stores or in nearby libraries. I may just have to order them now that my memory has been refreshed on what a wonderful author Ms. Sinclair is and how much I've missed the McTiernay brothers.

Looking for the 'Lost Ones' he saves the damsel and then helps her save others cages for their blood

A Knight Beyond Black by Jackie Ivie - 3
Moirae is Guardian until Dorian returns seeking his nephew, who's spawn are attacking villagers. At first she tries to run him off then she convinces him to train her to fight with sword

The Guardian by Michele Sinclair - 4
Iain comes to claim his mate that he arranged with his father after she was born, only she doesn't know it, interesting but grated at times

Highland games just got serious!

The story started off with a somewhat predictable set of circumstances. Wild highland gal, daughter of a nasty clan chief takes some time out for naked (of course) bathing, only to be disturbed by gorgeous, strapping highland warrior. They end up in lust in the water. There you go! Those ravenous, feisty highlanders, untamed and untrammeled!
So that was all a bit sudden, but maybe understandable if you've been kept apart or kept yourself apart, either physically or emotionally from others. After all I am reading a romantic highlander historical novel! So suck up the improbables and read on.
I rather think their initial encounter was mutually agreed seduction, and not too much of the "mysterious firebrand tempting [Dugan] with her wicked ways!" "Her" being Adanel Mackbay. Dugan is a commander of the McTiernay clan and women apparently fall all over him. Let's just say their affair took on its own secretive and mysterious life that they enjoyed. Unfortunately confession time pertaining to their real identities was interrupted and became the source of misunderstanding and wrath.
As we went further into the narrative I found myself enjoying the characters of Adanel and Dugan.
Despite being somewhat predicable in places their situation and the slowly won solutions became quite intriguing.
The last part I did not see coming. Interesting and somewhat whimsical. I added .5 for that alone.
An enjoyable read despite the somewhat shaky premise of Adanel and Dugan's initial encounter.

A NetGalley ARC

How to Marry a Highlander by Michele Sinclair
The McTiernays #8

Idyllic swim in a loch turns into so much more when Dugan finds Adanel swimming one day. One thing leads to another and with passions running high the two do more than swim when they get together weekly. With Adanel’s father promising her to someone she doesn’t want she has hopes Dugan will take her away but instead...she ends up locked away hoping for Dugan to save her.

This book has compelling characters and an intriguing plot. The evil are truly wicked and the main characters often conflicted. Trust is in short shrift and communication lacking between the male and female leads. I did find the twist at the end interesting, enjoyed the eventual HEA for Adanel and Dugan and hope that some of the supporting characters will get stories of their own. I do have to say that Dugan seemed a bit full of himself and unwilling to bend and I wondered why Adanel put up with it but as it all worked out for the two of them I was happy in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars½

Yeah this book wasn't for me. I didn't see it as a love story, more like a lust story about two people who wouldn't trust the other they claim they were falling for. They meet in a loch and have sex, yup first time. I didn't particularly like Dugan and found him to be hypocrite. Here he is upset that Adanel was keeping something from him and when he finds out what it is he leaves her which was exactly the reason that she didn't tell him, yes she should have but if he cared at all he should have listened instead of being a big baby, I mean he didn't trust anybody why should she. Now Adanel is heartbroken and left with her miserable father and she feels betrayed and I got it...Not my type of story..

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions

This is my 2nd Michele Sinclair book, having previously read "The Christmas Knight" (which I loved). "The Highlander's Bride" was a little bit of a let-down for me. The story was entertaining but the writing was a little amateurish (if that is a word!) or simplistic. I had loved "The Christmas Knight", but THB was her first book, and this makes me want to re-read it(TCK) to make sure my impressions were correct. I still want to read the next book in the series, to see how it is.

2.5 stars

****Full Review****
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Let's reminisce; do you remember Valerie Sherwood (specifically her Love series) and Rosemary Rogers (specifically her Morgan-Challenger series)? I think an updated, less rape over here rape over there, and less melodramatic version is what Michele Sinclair is trying for in the series A Woman Made for Sin is book two in. The couple the book blurb is about, takes up only an estimated 30% of the story and of that, the couple is only together for an estimated 20%. Yeah, hard to feel connected and invested in a couple's relationship with those numbers. The couple from book one are an estimated 60%, once again of that they only spend about an estimated 30% of time together, and the last 10%, white noise or what looks to be the continuing story arc of a traitor. If people pick up this book expecting a story the synopsis promises, they are going to be extremely disappointed, I know I was.

Millie, Aimee, and Jenelle are known as the Daring Three, they are women who like adventure and are not fond of restrictions based on their gender. Aimee has been in love with her brother's best friend, Reece, forever and decides after a Christmas kiss that now is the time to make her move. Being one of the Daring Three, her plan involves tracking a traitor. Millie, newly wife to Aimee's brother, tries to dissuade her but eventually goes along to keep an eye on her. The plan eventually morphs into Aimee deciding to get captured and taken aboard Reece's ship; except she doesn't tell her friends and they are left distraught wondering where she could be. Aimee's storyline then consists of hiding on Reece's ship with the help of the crew as they slowly but surely all succumb to her charms; there is a very faint love triangle as Reece's first mate against his will falls in slight love with Aimee.

Millie meanwhile, confesses to her husband and Aimee's brother, Chase that she lost Aimee. He blames Millie for the situation and worried there could be some danger from the running wild traitor, sends her away to her father's estate while he searches for clues to where Aimee could be. Millie's storyline then consist of her not hearing any word from her husband (he does learn fairly early that Aimee is probably on Reece's ship but decides not to tell Millie because of REASON) and deciding to use her contacts (she really has no contacts) to find out Aimee's fate. Millie ends up working in a dockside tavern and living in a boarding house where the people can tell she doesn't belong but good ole' Millie is determined to show them all she has the gumption to, at the very least, act poor. Once again, we have a faint love triangle as a customer at the tavern Millie works at, who also has noble connections, against his will falls in slight love with Millie.

Eventually, and I mean a long time eventually, Reece discovers Aimee on his ship and they have their "I love you but don't deserve you, except I like you a lot in my bed" moment, fight, and then make up. Chase eventually, long time eventually again, discovers that his wife is in fact not at her father’s estate and begins a desperate search for her. Millie discovers Aimee is more than likely on Reece's ship and is probably ok. The traitor, eventually, catches up to Millie and does traitorous things. Chase and Millie come together again as they both realize they don't need to change who they are but just compromise. The story thread of the traitor is left open as I imagine it will continue in book three that will feature Jenelle, rounding out the trifecta of the Daring Three.

I made the comparison to the Sherwood and Roger's series because, as with those, this book seems to want to be an epic journey that continuously follows specific and select couples, with Millie and Chase being the main stars and the traitor thread swirling around them. Sherwood's Love series mainly followed Imogene and Captain van Ryker but books 2 and 4 interweaved two other couples. I think that is what the author was trying to do here. Unfortunately, the lack of interaction between the couples and pages of what I termed white noise, made it seem like nothing was ever really happening, unexciting, and had me questioning where the romance was. However, I did not read the first book and if you had, maybe you would enjoy following along and be more invested in the lives of these characters.

I liked the cat and mouse the main characters played, really exciting relationship. The story is really about them too rather than about something that occurs to them. really refreshing

The McTiernay Brothers Series is probably in my Top 3 for my favourite highlander series. And I had been dying to get my hands on this book for a year after reading Tempting the Highlander, which I loved.

I always liked Craig and Meriel and I was excited to where their story would go. Unfortunately, I didn't like this book as much as I hoped. I would give it a 3.5 rating but I bumped it to a 4 because I did like some aspects of the book that I think some books in this genre don't touch upon.

I felt this book was really slow and predictable. The whole seduction thing took too long and wasn't as "passion-driven" as I thought it would be. It also introduced a love triangle of sorts (and I don't enjoy love triangles). However, despite the love triangle, I thought that the whole process of moving from friends to something more by Meriel and Craig was really realistic.

Overall, I thought the whole book was realistic in the topics it brought up, especially in the last 100 or so pages (on my ebook). While the subject of gender roles is mentioned in most highlander books, I really thought this book took it to a different level and showed the difficulty people had in accepting the evolving roles of the genders throughout time.

This book definitely wasn't my favorite of the series but I liked the progression/set-up the series has made and I am really excited to read the next one!

(For more book series reviews and recaps, check out my blog: http://seriesousbookreviews.wordpress.com/)

This was another good story. Crevan & Craig McTierney are the men in this one & Raelynd & Meriel are the women. I didn't care about Craig or Meriel at all but I loved Crevan & Raelynd. The foursome agree to a plan that the girls father comes up to save his clan. Craig was really a non event in this story but I think book 5 is about him. Meriel is spoiled but did play a bigger roll in the story. Raelynd was willing to learn even if she didn't embrace changing her ways in the beginning. Crevan tried to stay out of the drama.

The one thing I haven't liked in each book is that as the books nears the end I think okay this is where she wraps this up. Instead, abruptly we move to the epilogue and have a quick (some 2 or 3 pages) ending. The author missed the boat on this series with the endings. But, I like books with a background & history instead of just sex. If you want to read just sex, this series is not for you.

I am enjoying this series. This is Cole & Ellenor's story. Cole is very closed off to all people including his family. He is sent to bring an Englishwoman back to his sister-in-law. Eleanor is a mess and very outspoken. In this book 3 there are times I smiled & laughed. Cole & Ellenor do not fight constantly like Laurel & Conor did in book 2 and it was a nice change.

First book I've read by Michele Sinclair & I loved it. Conor & Laurel had strong personalities & sparred often. They learned to compromise which made this an interesting story. I will be starting on the 2nd book right now.

It was ... a little better than OK. Really a 2.5 in total. I had high hopes that the heroine wouldn't turn out to be a wuss. Sadly, she caved totally outside of a little sass. That was too bad. Had she not turned into a wimp, it would have been a compelling story.

Highlander Happenings

I really enjoyed this. We have a feisty young highlander woman who takes the breath away from her silent stalwart brother-in-law, a man who vowed to never return to the place he'd once called home.
Hamish MacBrieve fled Foinaven Castle twelve years ago. He was now an elite guard with the McTiernay clan.
After years of pleas to return home from his brother Robert, Hamish has finally acquiesced.
The only problem is:
1) Hamish had once been head over heels in love with Mairead's sister Selah, who'd married Robert
2) Hamish has cleared out never to return and now only did so because his brother finally persuaded him of danger to the clan
3)Hamish was only stay ing to get the job done--his way
4) Hamish didn't want complications and falling in love with this breath taking young woman whom he use to teach to skip stones was not part of the plan!
And then there's the twist in the tail, what is troubling Mairead? And will Hamish ever trust her, for that matter will she ever trust him.
Talk about clash of wills and hearts. Minds even.
Great tale that keeps adding new surprises. Just sorry it took so long to read. Life kept interrupting! I'm now committed to reading the rest in the series!

A NetGalley ARC

I've really enjoyed all of the books in the McTiernays series. Michele Sinclair does an excellent job painting the picture of life for this highlander clan and I can't get enough. For fans of Outlander, you must read this series. These brothers and the feisty women they fall in love with are a fun read on Saturday afternoon.
Happy Reading... enjoy!

I really enjoyed reading to Wed a Highlander by Michele Sinclair. I was excited to read this continuation of the McTiernay series and I was not disappointed. The storyline was similar to the first book, but i found myself connecting on a deeper level with the two main characters Colin and McKenna. This story centered more on the daily lifestyle of clan and the relationships surrounding pride and the challenges they face. If you enjoyed the first book in the series or are a fan of Outlander or other historical Highlander novels, you should give this one a try. I believe there are at least 6 books so far in this series (each brother must get a story?) and I look forward to reading them all.
Happy reading!

I really enjoyed reading The Highlander's Bride. I've always enjoyed the historical genre and have become especially fascinated with Scotland and the Highlander's thanks to the hit show Outlander. The author did a great job painting the picture of the life taking place and what it would have been like to live among them. I'm excited to continue on in the series- hopefully each brother will get their story - If you are like me and have loved every minute of Outlander (minus the time travel :)), I think you will really enjoy this book. I chose to go back and forth between listening to the audio book and reading along digitally and I thought it brought the word to life with the rich accents and dialogue that I would have not been able to create in my head.

Happy Reading.

I just can't get enough of this series. Each one is similar yet very different, and I love that the characters interweave across all the stories.
Gobbled up this book and I'm on to the next one to see what the next brother will cook up.
This is a great series for those who are fans of Outlander and Highlander romance novels.
Enjoy and happy reading.

Having read all the books in this series leading up to this one, I was pretty intrigued when I read the synopsis for this book. I wasn't sure how it would all play out, but since I liked the others so much, I was ready to see where this one lead us. I did enjoy the story and would recommend it to others that are in the middle of this series, but it wasn't my favorite. There was a little too much going on and not enough at the same time. I found myself frustrated at the story line and the "pairings" throughout the story... but it all worked out in the end.
I interacted with this both through audio book as while as e book and I loved it. It's fun to have the accents while listening and makes the story come to life. I would recommend that option to people.
Happy Reading... enjoy!

2 stars. It was just okay... I didn't really enjoy the way the book was written... it felt forced and clipped on the important parts. I didn't feel any kind of connection with any of the characters.

1 star. I didn't like it. A complete waste of time. Thank goodness it was a loan from the library and not a purchase. Absolutely nothing happened in this book other than "How do I make Craig like me." So boring! I would like at least something to happen.... anything at all!

1 star. I didn't like it. A complete waste of time. Thank goodness it was a loan from the library and not a purchase. Absolutely nothing happened in this book other than "How do I make Craig like me." So boring! I would like at least something to happen.... anything at all!