The Pride of Lions

This book breaks one of the cardinal rules of romance: it doesn't have an HEA—but that is because, like a paranormal, the story continues in the next book in the series with the same couple. Since I knew that before I got to the end, I was saved from giving into a screaming fit of frustration. So just be forewarned. There are lots of little history lessons sprinkled throughout this book. Luckily, I'm interested in that history, but I can see how others might get tired of it. This book has a few villains you love to hate, but the main conflict isn't exactly a person. It's 1745 in Scotland, and Bonnie Prince Charlie is about to start his attempt at the throne. Most people coming to this book now will undoubtedly be familiar with show more Outlander and will know how that whole fracas is going to go down, but what I love about this telling of this part of history is that this book was published several years before Outlander. Not only that, but it blends both real and fictional people and places together in a colorful tale full of intrigue, gruesome fight scenes, and of course an enemies-to-lovers, forced-marriage romance. show less

What is it about the Scottish Highlands that speaks to that romantic side of me, that hidden princess that wants to be saved by her gallant prince? Is it the Scottish man..... strong, stubborn, proud, laying down his life for his country, his kin and his one and only true love. In the Pride of Lions and in its sequel, the Blood of Roses, Marsha Canham has transported me back in time to that unique place in history where lairds ruled and battles were fought with swords over land and love.

I have been introduced to another striking Scotsman....Alexander Cameron, a legendary , dark-haired warrior whose destiny takes him to England and to the woman that will change his life forever. Upon meeting the undeniably beautiful but spoiled show more Catherine Augustine Ashbrooke, feelings arise in Alexander that he has pushed aside for many years. He wins her hand in a duel, yet she has no idea that this stranger will eventually win her heart, her love and her soul. Catherine eventually finds out that Alexander is a Scotsman, a spy in her beloved England. He has no choice but to take her to his homeland, to the highlands, a place he hasn't seen in years. Catherine has been raised to think of Scotland as a cold, desolate place and its people as pure savages who can't even speak proper English. All of this changes as Catherine undergoes a metamorphosis, from a pampered, English child to an empathetic, mature lass. She sees for herself the majestic beauty of the land, the rolling hills and the black lochs, as well as the compassion, honour and pride of its people. There is a powerful love between Alexander and Catherine, one that has him opening his heart and soul to a Sassenach, one that has her yearning for the very man that will battle against her homeland and her people. I enjoyed the banter between these two, reminding me very much of another Scot and Sassenach named Jamie and Claire.

These books are filled with ancient blood fueds and some historical battles that are vividly described by the author. I found myself caught up in the Scottish quest for freedom as they marched their way across England, only to be defeated at Culloden, a horrific ending to a gallant dream for liberty. Yet throughout the stories, there is that ever present sense of hope, hope for independence, hope for peace, hope for a love that is all encompassing and never-ending. I do believe we are all princesses waiting and hoping for our knight in shining armour to rescue us, to throw us down and ravage us in the wild grass, to take us upon his horse and ride us into the sunset, but mostly, to love us more than life itself. We are all waiting for our Jamie, our Alexander, our champion. I believe I have found my warrior, although I do wish he wore a kilt! show less

Catherine Ashbrooke is a feisty, spoiled, and very witty member of elite English society. She pines for her true love, Lieutenant Hamilton Garner, a rather stuffy boor, in my opinion. On a hunt one day, Catherine decides to veer away from the crowd. Riding in a hidden glen, she confronts a gorgeous man washing by a stream. She's quite taken with him while telling him to get off her property at once. The scene is very well written and I had butterflies in my belly while reading it. The next night, during a ball, Catherine is introduced to her brother's friend, Raefer Montgomery - the man she encountered in the glen the day before. He invites her to dance and, while spinning around the floor, he kisses her. Hamilton sees this insult and show more challenges Raefer to a duel for Catherine's hand. Raefer wins and is thus betrothed to Catherine. And she isn't happy about it. At all.Once they leave London, Catherine discovers that Raefer is not who he says he is. He's not a London merchant but none other than a Highlander by the name of Alexander Cameron. Alex takes Catherine home to Scotland and they are both thrown into political turmoil. However, through this turmoil their love develops into a deep and caring bond.The Pride of Lions was a great read. Marsha Canham brought the story and the characters vividly to life in this historical romance. I recommend it. show less

This wasn't bad, an historical romance leading up to the Stuart uprising in 1746 Scotland. I must admit, throughout the book I found many similarities to Gone With the Wind (I can't help but wonder if the author was a big fan of it, instead of the Civil War she has substituted Culloden) and then I also couldn't help noticing a number of plot similarities to Outlander (although this book was written before it), though Diana Gabaldon's is by far the better book. Aside from constantly comparing her hero and heroine to Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara, with her heroine wearing pantalettes and crinoline petticoats (umm, that was 100 years later) and a replay of Scarlett's morning after "I can't believe I did that with Rhett!" scene, I show more enjoyed this book and her battle descriptions were vivid and riveting. Looking forward to the sequel.

http://ktleyed.blogspot.com/2008/04/outlanders-precursor.html show less

This book was a recent purchase which I admit to not having very high hopes for. I have read some reviewers comparing this to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series which I adore, but wasn't sure how a straight romance novel would live up to this comparison. I was very pleasantly suprised and found this book to be much more than I was expecting.
This book contains everything one might expect a historical romance to have. The hasty unwanted wedding to a complete stranger who is not whom he says, kidnappings, lies, duels and all that wonderfull fluff that would draw you into the whole romance genre. What I was impressed with were real historical details and great writing adding so much more to the typical romance novel experience. There show more wonderfully detailed battles and much more attention is paid to the male characters than what I have come to expect.
Catherine Ashbrooke is your typical beautiful headstrong female lead who is demanding of attention and affection from everyone in her company. She is of age to be wed and convinced that Lieutenant Hamilton Garner is the man for her. She is so confident of his attentions that she places a bet with her brother that she will be engaged by the end of the night. Little does she know that the events of the day will turn her life upside down.
This was a very enjoyable read which I highly recommend to lovers of romance novels. There are plenty of heated love scenes to keep you hooked along with great historical details on the beginnings of the jacobite rebellion. This was a great mix of historical fiction and romance and a far superior read than typical for this genre. show less

I'm a big fan of the Outlander books and The Pride of Lions drew me in because it has some of the things that are in Outlander Jacobite History that centers around a great romance much like Outlander.

.99!

Usually I only post about freebies but this is in my top ten romance reads of all time. For only .99! Get this book. Read this book.

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P.S. - This ends on a cliffhanger, nothing outrageous but our main couple's journey is far from over. Be prepared to want to buy the second in the series.