A Highlander of Her Own

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Feb09

What is it that I like so much about Melissa Mayhue’s books? From the very first one, “Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband”, there is just something about her writing that pulls me in and keeps me coming back for more. Her heroines are strong and determined and don’t do stupid things that require a man to save them…nope, they do just as much saving, in their own way, as any of the heroes in her books. Yet the men certainly aren’t weak or spineless. Au contraire, they are strong heroes who fight their attraction at first, usually for some stupid male reason , but once they ‘get it’…they go after her with guns…I mean swords…blazing…uh, flashing?!

Ellie’s having show more the best day she’s had since her mother died recently. The strange rose-shaped birthmark that recently appeared on her chest is NOT cancerous! Now if only she could get rid of the slimy excuse for a step-father who’s trying to claim the farm and get Ellie in his bed before her mother’s grave is grassed over. Ellie escapes to the river and while she’s there she makes a wish…to find her true love and perhaps “a Highlander of my own”. The next thing she knows she’s waking up somewhere that looks an awful lot like the Highlands and the year is 1304. Holy crap!

Caden doesn’t trust the Fae. The last time they interfered with his family, his brother was wounded and his life changed forever. As a result of those events, he decided never to marry. Instead, when the time comes, he’ll appoint one of his brother’s sons as his heir. Love isn’t for him. So when his mother decides Ellie has been sent for love, Caden figures she must be here for one of his brothers. That’s fine! Doesn’t bother him at all. Nope, not a bit.

Stubborn as these two were, I almost expected to hear horns locking whenever they met. How entertaining to ‘watch’ their relationship unfold while both are denying the desire for said relationship. Mayhue’s timing and dialogue’s were spot-on and caused both sniffles and chuckles at times. The juxtaposition of Ellie’s modern ways against Caden’s ‘medieval’ sensibilities was used in places to further the plot instead of just cause romantic problems. If I thought Mayhue had intended this for anything but light-hearted romance, I would be a bit critical of the lack of survival and language problems this difference caused…but hey, this is a romance and it works just fine!

The cast is just right with some gruesome bad guys, hot-bodied good guys, and the talking animals who stole the show for me. The tension between the hero and heroine sizzled and sparkled and who knew guys knew so much about women’s bodies back then? Once again, Melissa Mayhue provided me with a wonderful read in “A Highlander of Her Own”. I’ll be pacing outside the bookstore waiting for “A Highlander’s Destiny” when it’s released next year. show less

The High Prince of Fae has made a huge mistake. Trying to make amends from an earlier mistake, he has now bestowed the fae magic on all the daughters of his sons in his line. Now, women all across the world are suddenly gifted in fae magic without any warning. They have no idea what powers they now carry. Accidents waiting to happen or not?

Ellie Denton's mother has recently passed way. She thought her mother had divorced her step-father, but obviously not as he has made himself at home on the farm. He tells Ellie she can stay if she keeps his bed warm. Distraught, she camps at a nearby creek rubbing the new unusual strawberry mark on her chest. When she awakes, she is in a smelly barn not in her own time.

Caden MacAlister recently lost show more his betrothed to a nunnery. He is determined to never marry and instead will nominate an heir from kin when the timing is right. His cousin is missing and his brother recently captured in battle. All he needs is a woman from the future dumped in his lap.

Ellie is determined to get back to her own time. Caden's mother Rosalyn tries to tell Ellie that she won't be able to return until she has done what she has been sent to do. What did Ellie say when the fae magic ignited into her trip to the past? Find her true love is the answer. Ellie and Caden spark when they are together. Caden is determined Ellie will marry another, and Ellie is unsure whether to seek out her true love or focus on returning home to Texas.

Sparks fly with Caden and Ellie that is pure magic. Ellie's special fae ability of communicating with animals is charming and brings more warmth to the story. The Scotland background and highland speak add realism to this sparkling gem. I look forward to the next installment! show less

I did not enjoy this book as much as the earlier ones in this series, but it was still okay.

Texas, present day and Ellie Denton's mother has recently died and her ex husband has just moved to make a claim on her home so she goes out on her property to think and before she knows it she turns up in Scotland in 1304 - what a shock! Recently a rasberry coloured mark has turned up on her chest and her afinity to talk to animals has become stronger - she figured there was something wrong with her but she never would have guessed that this has happened because she is decended from the Fae.

Scotland, 1304 and Caden MacAlister comes across a strange woman in his home, it doesn't take him long to realise that she is from another time and this has show more something to do with his Fae ancestry. He has been thwarted in love has vowed never to be with another woman. The Fae and his mother have other ideas.

The MacAlister's are sheep farmers and Ellie comes their rescue with a cure for foot rot and along the way Caden's brother and cousin are kidnapped for a ransome and his best friend betrays him. show less