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scoutmomskf's review
4.0
Good book. The story begins a few years after the first Jacobite Rebellion, and interactions between the English and the Scots remain a bit tense. Logan Rathmore arrives at Ardvarrick to take up his duties as Laird after his father's unexpected death. Until he was sixteen, Logan lived in Scotland but was then sent off to England to his mother's family to finish his education. He hasn't been back in the ten years since then. Now he must refamiliarize himself with his homeland. Two weeks later, Logan's off to visit his nearest neighbor, Fingal Contullach, the rival clan's laird. On the way, he encounters Ailsa, the castle harpist, who instantly fascinates him.
Ailsa is Fingal's niece and follows in her mother's footsteps as the castle harpist. Though a family member, Ailsa is frequently ignored unless playing, and even then feels more like part of the background. She is wary when she meets Logan, having been warned against men, but she's also intrigued.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Logan and Ailsa. It is a slow burn, as they see each other rarely over the first few months. Logan received a stern warning from Fingal that Ailsa was off-limits, but that didn't stop his fascination with her. There is a beautiful scene at Contullach where, sensing her loneliness, Logan shares his love of poetry with her. But the feelings he stirs in her frighten Ailsa, as she's been told all her life that letting a man into her life would end her ability to make music. However, when she overhears a plot that would break the tentative peace between their clans, she is determined to warn him. Once again, a short time together allows them to get to know each other a little more, but it isn't enough. Logan fights hard against his attraction, well aware of what is at stake, but there's no doubt that she's taken hold of his heart.
There are obstacles ahead before Logan and Ailsa can reach their happy ending. A selfish, vindictive man has them both in his sights. I loved Ailsa's fight and initiative and Logan's pride in her when he found her. But even when Logan claims her for his own, Ailsa has issues that keep her from believing that Logan truly wants her. She worries about being up to the task of Lady of Ardvarrick even though Logan shows her how she's valued and appreciated. The one thing he can't do is get past her assertion that her music is gone forever. Her family spent years grooming her to believe in a curse, and nothing he says will convince her otherwise. I ached for Ailsa and her unhappiness and hoped that eventually, his words would have some effect. Nearly losing Logan in another attack forces Ailsa to face those demons in a last-ditch effort to save him. I loved the culmination of that confrontation and the emotion that spilled from the pages as she finally believed. The epilogue was terrific, and I can't wait for the next book.
I loved how Scotland and its history was almost another character in the book. I liked the peeks into their daily lives, from the weeks spent at the shirling cottage to the looks at the differences between life at Contullach and Ardvarrick. Watching Logan return to his Scottish roots was terrific. The landscape was not forgotten either. The descriptions of Ailsa's practice glen, the land over which they traveled, and even the homes themselves made me feel as if I was there.
Ailsa is Fingal's niece and follows in her mother's footsteps as the castle harpist. Though a family member, Ailsa is frequently ignored unless playing, and even then feels more like part of the background. She is wary when she meets Logan, having been warned against men, but she's also intrigued.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Logan and Ailsa. It is a slow burn, as they see each other rarely over the first few months. Logan received a stern warning from Fingal that Ailsa was off-limits, but that didn't stop his fascination with her. There is a beautiful scene at Contullach where, sensing her loneliness, Logan shares his love of poetry with her. But the feelings he stirs in her frighten Ailsa, as she's been told all her life that letting a man into her life would end her ability to make music. However, when she overhears a plot that would break the tentative peace between their clans, she is determined to warn him. Once again, a short time together allows them to get to know each other a little more, but it isn't enough. Logan fights hard against his attraction, well aware of what is at stake, but there's no doubt that she's taken hold of his heart.
There are obstacles ahead before Logan and Ailsa can reach their happy ending. A selfish, vindictive man has them both in his sights. I loved Ailsa's fight and initiative and Logan's pride in her when he found her. But even when Logan claims her for his own, Ailsa has issues that keep her from believing that Logan truly wants her. She worries about being up to the task of Lady of Ardvarrick even though Logan shows her how she's valued and appreciated. The one thing he can't do is get past her assertion that her music is gone forever. Her family spent years grooming her to believe in a curse, and nothing he says will convince her otherwise. I ached for Ailsa and her unhappiness and hoped that eventually, his words would have some effect. Nearly losing Logan in another attack forces Ailsa to face those demons in a last-ditch effort to save him. I loved the culmination of that confrontation and the emotion that spilled from the pages as she finally believed. The epilogue was terrific, and I can't wait for the next book.
I loved how Scotland and its history was almost another character in the book. I liked the peeks into their daily lives, from the weeks spent at the shirling cottage to the looks at the differences between life at Contullach and Ardvarrick. Watching Logan return to his Scottish roots was terrific. The landscape was not forgotten either. The descriptions of Ailsa's practice glen, the land over which they traveled, and even the homes themselves made me feel as if I was there.
emmalb1984's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah Mallory’s excellent Highland romance tells the story of returning Laird of Ardvarrick, Logan Rathmore, and harpist Ailsa McInnes who, amidst clan rivalry form a bond and fall in love, only to find their future happiness threatened by a villainous cousin, an uncle who fears losing his harpist and an apparent curse on the Contullach harpist falling in love. Set against a vividly described backdrop of rural Scotland, steeped in historical fact, and accompanied by a soundtrack of harp music (it’s so vivid, you should be able to conjure it up in your imagination!), the characters and the story keep the reader engaged from the outset, and as Logan and Alisa forge a path to happiness you cannot help but be swept up in the romance.
In Logan and Ailsa, Sarah Mallory has created two excellent characters, each struggling to accept their place in the world. For Logan, returning to the Highlands means returning to custom and tradition, whilst Ailsa is an almost peripheral figure in her family, valued only for her music rather than who she is. Meeting for the first time, Ailsa finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Logan who sees beyond her position as the family harpist, and the plot forges forward as Logan attempts to overcome the obstacles in his way. The rich terrain of the Highlands only adds to the atmosphere for the reader, and you really do feel you are walking amongst the lochs and glens with Logan and Ailsa as the story unfolds.
One of the things I loved about the set up of this story is that Logan and Ailsa by rights should never meet (and it is only by chance they do), let alone fall in love, and the development of Ailsa’s character as she changes from ‘merely a harpist’ (yes, this is an actual quote from her Uncle!) to Lady Ardvarrick is a delight to read. The fact that circumstances are genuinely against them, and not just as a result of the author putting obstacles in their way is a strong element of the plot, and you cannot help but root for Logan to succeed in his desire to forge a relationship with Ailsa.
The villainous Ewan Cowie makes an excellent thorn in Logan’s side as he attempts to disrupt proceedings, and his actions in the second half of the book make you realise just how far the man is prepared to go to further his own cause. Without spoiling the plot his first attempt to take Ailsa away from Logan is bad enough, although leads to a thrilling rescue mission, but his return with murderous intent shows his true colours and Ailsa’s response to this situation completes her character arc neatly as she finally shows her family that being a harpist is not all she is good for. Similarly, the secondary characters are entertaining and add depth to the plot, and there is scope for further stories of Advarrick and Contullach to be told if the author plans to return to her Highland world.
Perfect for fans of Outlander and anyone with a love of Scotland, this book is an excellent escape from the strange times in which we currently find ourselves. It is a beautifully crafted romance which will leave your smiling.
In Logan and Ailsa, Sarah Mallory has created two excellent characters, each struggling to accept their place in the world. For Logan, returning to the Highlands means returning to custom and tradition, whilst Ailsa is an almost peripheral figure in her family, valued only for her music rather than who she is. Meeting for the first time, Ailsa finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Logan who sees beyond her position as the family harpist, and the plot forges forward as Logan attempts to overcome the obstacles in his way. The rich terrain of the Highlands only adds to the atmosphere for the reader, and you really do feel you are walking amongst the lochs and glens with Logan and Ailsa as the story unfolds.
One of the things I loved about the set up of this story is that Logan and Ailsa by rights should never meet (and it is only by chance they do), let alone fall in love, and the development of Ailsa’s character as she changes from ‘merely a harpist’ (yes, this is an actual quote from her Uncle!) to Lady Ardvarrick is a delight to read. The fact that circumstances are genuinely against them, and not just as a result of the author putting obstacles in their way is a strong element of the plot, and you cannot help but root for Logan to succeed in his desire to forge a relationship with Ailsa.
The villainous Ewan Cowie makes an excellent thorn in Logan’s side as he attempts to disrupt proceedings, and his actions in the second half of the book make you realise just how far the man is prepared to go to further his own cause. Without spoiling the plot his first attempt to take Ailsa away from Logan is bad enough, although leads to a thrilling rescue mission, but his return with murderous intent shows his true colours and Ailsa’s response to this situation completes her character arc neatly as she finally shows her family that being a harpist is not all she is good for. Similarly, the secondary characters are entertaining and add depth to the plot, and there is scope for further stories of Advarrick and Contullach to be told if the author plans to return to her Highland world.
Perfect for fans of Outlander and anyone with a love of Scotland, this book is an excellent escape from the strange times in which we currently find ourselves. It is a beautifully crafted romance which will leave your smiling.
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