I enjoyed the storytelling, but the characters at times annoyed.

Not so much Julian, although I didn't understand why he didn't explain to Kate why the Highland Games were so important to him -- but Kate and her best friend, Jada. I have limited tolerance for passive-aggressive heroines, and Kate exceeded it several times. (She acknowledges it at one point, but I couldn't help wishing for a more emotionally mature heroine.) Her friend Jada was just flat-out mean. Not unlikeable, she definitely had a certain charm, but it concealed a not-very-well hidden malice that made me think less of Kate for being best friends with her for years. You know that this wasn't the first time Jada played these sorts of pranks, but apparently it only matters when it affects the heroine's love interest.

The author did a great job of portraying real-seeming characters, but like I said, I wanted a bit more honest communication and maturity from both the hero and heroine. ( )

The following review is a partial review. To read the entire text, please visit http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-love-is-battlefield.ht...

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Hilarity ensues when the battle of the sexes (and the battle of the countries) begins! Soon the prize is no longer about the state park, but rather their hearts...

Kate Simmons' life revolves around one thing: The Jane Austen Regency Re-Enactment Society. Nothing matters more, and honestly she'd probably be happiest living in the actual Regency period. When she's given the task of planning the biggest ball of the year for the Society, she's happy—finally, she gets to show them what she can do! But finding a place to hold it is turning out to be a bit, well, difficult. Until she finds the perfect park to use, Cornwall Park—and finds out later that it's already been taken by the sexy and strong Scottish Highland Society!

Julian Wallace believes that there is only one thing that matters in the world—the Highland Games. After a rough childhood growing up with no father, when his mother remarries he finds the perfect role model in his new Scottish stepfather. Harold teaches him everything there is to know about being a man, about being strong and responsible—and winning. When he died, leaving Julian, his mother, and his two sisters alone, Julian believes that he has to step up and be the man of the family. He pushes himself even hard to win, to work, all in the hopes of making enough money to allow his mother to finally quit working so hard, quit worrying so much. But has he lost sight of what's really important? And did his beloved stepfather fib a little about his own family history?

When Julian sees Kate, he's enchanted by her—and definitely attracted to her. But until the Games are over, he doesn't have time for distractions—of any kind! And when he finds out that she wants his beloved park on the same weekend as his Games, the war begins. He won't give up his Games for anyone, no matter how much he may like her (maybe even love her...). And he comes to find out that Kate won't give up either; she's been pushed around and ignored for too many years, and now she's decided to take a stand. However, perhaps she should have picked a different time to do so. After all, she can't honestly believe that her tea-party ladies in old gowns can actually beat the brawn and strength of the Highlanders—can she?

I loved this book! Besides the obvious reasons (hello—Highlanders! Okay, so they weren't actually from Scotland, but still, it's in their blood—plus, as Julian teaches us, it's not only about what country your family came from, it's about so much more than that!), this book had it all! Wit, fantastic banter between Julian and Kate (and many of the other characters, as well), sexy men and women who actually have a backbone! Plus, let's not forget that battle being forged—can you say hilarious? Between the guys trying not to ogle the women during the camping weeks, as well as the revenge tactics used by both sides, well, you'll be laughing a lot during this book!

I couldn't put this one down; I had to force myself to do so for a few hours (because, unfortunately, life doesn't stop while we read), but as soon as I had even a few minutes I had my nose back in the book, anxious to find out what would happen next between these two! And can I tell you, after reading this book, I'm totally going to start stalking the Highland Games. I don't know why the thought never hit me before, but Love is a Battlefielddrove it home for good! I've already got a few fellow Highland-lovers lined up to join me, so please, jump on board—the more the merrier! :)

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This review is property of TBQ's Book Palace (The_Book_Queen) ( )