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2blueshoes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Buckle up babes - this book is every bit a highlander romance, and you’ll need to leave your 21st century sensitivities at the entrance to the keep. Are you offended by the use of the term “lunatic”? Do you feel concern about a man sexualizing someone he believes is a different age developmentally than he is? If so, steer clear. While these problematic issues do eventually resolve in the book, it left me with a bad case of the ick.
It’s a real challenge to write time-period romance that doesn’t trespass into shady ethical territory. Historical accuracy and female empowerment tend to be at odds. Historical heroes don’t use politically correct language. I’ve seen a few examples of it done well, and unfortunately this isn’t one.
That said, our hero Gabriel veers often into beta hero territory in a way that isn’t common for highlander heroes. I think this is because the author tries REALLY hard to let us know that he is honorable, gentle, beloved by children, and handsome to boot. Look, we love those things in a hero, and there are some scenes right off the bat that had me feeling warm towards him. But then, almost as if we need a reminder that he is also a “fierce warrior”, he has these weird angry and aggressive outbursts (toss your wife into a lake lately Gabriel?)
I really wish we could have learned more about Maggie, her past, and her personality earlier in the book. She feigns mental illness for so long that we aren’t given much of a chance to get to know her. This also means her character doesn’t develop much.
Honestly I don’t recommend this story.
It’s a real challenge to write time-period romance that doesn’t trespass into shady ethical territory. Historical accuracy and female empowerment tend to be at odds. Historical heroes don’t use politically correct language. I’ve seen a few examples of it done well, and unfortunately this isn’t one.
That said, our hero Gabriel veers often into beta hero territory in a way that isn’t common for highlander heroes. I think this is because the author tries REALLY hard to let us know that he is honorable, gentle, beloved by children, and handsome to boot. Look, we love those things in a hero, and there are some scenes right off the bat that had me feeling warm towards him. But then, almost as if we need a reminder that he is also a “fierce warrior”, he has these weird angry and aggressive outbursts (toss your wife into a lake lately Gabriel?)
I really wish we could have learned more about Maggie, her past, and her personality earlier in the book. She feigns mental illness for so long that we aren’t given much of a chance to get to know her. This also means her character doesn’t develop much.
Honestly I don’t recommend this story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Ableism, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
beeshep's review against another edition
2.0
I got this kindle for free through the Fussy Librarian. I had zero expectations going into it and felt myself go on the wild ride that was the ups and downs that is this book. I have read very little historical fiction and figured why not. I'm not sure if historical fiction is not for me or if it's simply this read that isn't for me.
the premise
Instead of falling into the typical romantic tropes, this main character, Maggie, acts like she is a mentally impaired "lunatic" to avoid marriage after her sister was married off to an awful and abusive man who everyone describes as a 'brute.' Instead of the solitude of a convent where everyone thinks she is crazy, her brute of a brother marries her off to a laird (personal who owns a large estate) who is in need of some money and accepts Maggie's dowry in exchange for being married to a woman he believes is crazy. The laird, Gabriel, has a sneaking suspicion that Maggie is more than meets the eye...
the relationship
This relationship bothered me a fair amount. Gabriel is attracted to Maggie off the bat, seeing as he meets her nakedly running around the convent. The weird bit for me? The amount of times that Maggie is described as childlike. While the book does clarify that Maggie is 18, it never really puts an age on Gabriel and it just makes me a little weary about a man who is only marrying a woman for the financial game and the fact that she's childlike. Maggie, on the other hand, finds Gabriel attractive but is scared of him as he is such a strong man and he has the potential to hurt her. In fact, he accidentally hurts her on multiple occasions, something is very sorry for but still does. Again, just small red flags for me.
While I understand there were accents involved, they were too much for me and made reading incredibly difficult.
the series
I don't think I would read another book of the Warriors of the Highlands series as it was simply hard to read. I was not pulled in enough to care about this relationship, the people in it, or how this world progresses. Thank you, but I think I should start paying for books again...
the premise
Instead of falling into the typical romantic tropes, this main character, Maggie, acts like she is a mentally impaired "lunatic" to avoid marriage after her sister was married off to an awful and abusive man who everyone describes as a 'brute.' Instead of the solitude of a convent where everyone thinks she is crazy, her brute of a brother marries her off to a laird (personal who owns a large estate) who is in need of some money and accepts Maggie's dowry in exchange for being married to a woman he believes is crazy. The laird, Gabriel, has a sneaking suspicion that Maggie is more than meets the eye...
the relationship
This relationship bothered me a fair amount. Gabriel is attracted to Maggie off the bat, seeing as he meets her nakedly running around the convent. The weird bit for me? The amount of times that Maggie is described as childlike. While the book does clarify that Maggie is 18, it never really puts an age on Gabriel and it just makes me a little weary about a man who is only marrying a woman for the financial game and the fact that she's childlike. Maggie, on the other hand, finds Gabriel attractive but is scared of him as he is such a strong man and he has the potential to hurt her. In fact, he accidentally hurts her on multiple occasions, something is very sorry for but still does. Again, just small red flags for me.
Magdalene looked so beautiful at that moment in her childlike despair that he felt his breath snag in his throat.At the end of the day, their relationship was ok. I just felt like it came from a place of attraction over the actual connection. While Gabriel was sweet and made sure she ate, their intimacy progressed rather quickly for me and I think it could have used a lot more development. I think they had 2-3 actual conversations in the book, which felt very little time to allow the reader to get to know them, let alone get to know each other.
She gasped when he swept her up to carry her, his voice barely above a whisper in her ear. “I thought I said docile—” “Oh, aye, forgive me, husband. Next time I’ll spit more gently.” He gave no answer to her returned whisper, but squeezed her as if he wanted to shake her.The prose
While I understand there were accents involved, they were too much for me and made reading incredibly difficult.
the series
I don't think I would read another book of the Warriors of the Highlands series as it was simply hard to read. I was not pulled in enough to care about this relationship, the people in it, or how this world progresses. Thank you, but I think I should start paying for books again...
avadareadavra's review against another edition
2.0
What did i just read. :D thank you, stuff your kindle day for this experience.
wildwhuck's review against another edition
2.0
1.5. Started promising but ole girl with her fake madness started to grate on my nerves
erikabrooks11's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
a_couple_pages_more's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kaylyn_reads's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
onebookmore's review against another edition
4.0
A quick historical romance, My Highland Warrior focuses on Gabriel and Magdalene whose unwanted marriage becomes the best decision of their lives. An arrangement between Magdalene’s brother and Gabriel pulls Magdalene from her perfectly happy existence at a convent. Feigning to be insane to escape the brutalities she thinks will occur if she marries, Magdalene determines to do all that she can to escape her marriage to Gabriel. But the more she gets to know the kind, honorable, and trust-worthy laird, the more she realizes that his love might be worth the risk.
With a power-hungry brother, a generations-old curse, and a large number of people depending on them, this couple has many obstacles in their way. Luckily for Magdalen, whose fake insanity is physically and emotionally taxing on all those involved, Gabriel is a patient man. He’s also quite observant and sees through Magdalene’s act. I liked his character and felt he was developed well.
Magdalene jumps to a lot of conclusions and acts impulsively, and I was sometimes frustrated by her violent and disrespectful behavior. Though she did certain things to convince people of her madness, her amplified actions were, at times, inexplicable and mean-spirited. That being said, I think Magdalene has spent so much of her life under the thumb of unconscionable men that she just longs for safety. Once she finds that, she changes and shows her true self.
The romance is slow-building, though the connection between Gabriel and Magdalene is obvious from the start. Gabriel and Magdalene have great chemistry once they put down their defenses, and their union is sweet and a little spicy!
I also like the secondary characters, especially Gabriel’s nieces and closest friends. The girls were sweet with an exuberance that lightened the tone of the story. Gabriel’s friends were fierce and funny, as well as loyal and honorable, and I’m curious to learn more about them in future books. I’d like to learn more about Magdalene’s sister-in-law too. She definitely has a story to tell, and I’d love to see her find love after the terrible relationship she had with Magdalene’s brother.
Overall, this is a quick and entertaining read that will appeal to lovers of historical romance. Thanks so much to Netgalley, the author, and Oliver Heber Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
With a power-hungry brother, a generations-old curse, and a large number of people depending on them, this couple has many obstacles in their way. Luckily for Magdalen, whose fake insanity is physically and emotionally taxing on all those involved, Gabriel is a patient man. He’s also quite observant and sees through Magdalene’s act. I liked his character and felt he was developed well.
Magdalene jumps to a lot of conclusions and acts impulsively, and I was sometimes frustrated by her violent and disrespectful behavior. Though she did certain things to convince people of her madness, her amplified actions were, at times, inexplicable and mean-spirited. That being said, I think Magdalene has spent so much of her life under the thumb of unconscionable men that she just longs for safety. Once she finds that, she changes and shows her true self.
The romance is slow-building, though the connection between Gabriel and Magdalene is obvious from the start. Gabriel and Magdalene have great chemistry once they put down their defenses, and their union is sweet and a little spicy!
I also like the secondary characters, especially Gabriel’s nieces and closest friends. The girls were sweet with an exuberance that lightened the tone of the story. Gabriel’s friends were fierce and funny, as well as loyal and honorable, and I’m curious to learn more about them in future books. I’d like to learn more about Magdalene’s sister-in-law too. She definitely has a story to tell, and I’d love to see her find love after the terrible relationship she had with Magdalene’s brother.
Overall, this is a quick and entertaining read that will appeal to lovers of historical romance. Thanks so much to Netgalley, the author, and Oliver Heber Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
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