THE HIGHLANDER'S ENGLISH BRIDE

Nae fortune hunters, thieves, or kidnappers: Nothing stands in the way of love between a Highlander and his lady.

Headstrong Sabrina Bell knows she can fend for herself, yet Graeme Kendrick keeps rescuing her time and again. Graeme is frustrated that the Englishwoman refuses to heed his warnings and keeps attracting trouble. She’s also attracting him, but he’s too busy working for England’s chief spymaster to have time for romance. When Graeme is sent home to Scotland to keep a watchful eye during the king’s visit, he’s determined to forget Sabrina. Except when the king arrives, Sabrina is in tow and is sent to stay with Graeme’s jovial family. Not only do Sabrina’s feelings for Graeme grow, but she also adores his clan. When she travels to her family’s ancestral holdings, Graeme accompanies her, but danger continues to surround them. They’ll both have to take risks and rescue each other if they want a future together. The buildup of their romance is excruciatingly slow, as the focus is more on their external struggles. The overstuffed plot is unfocused as the pair encounter one dilemma after another, although the exploration of naiveté versus courage is thoughtful. While fans of the author’s oeuvre may enjoy seeing familiar faces from prior works, there is an overabundance of unnecessary characters. There are splendid moments of wit, chemistry, action, and heartwarming family dynamics, but they’re enveloped in an overwrought story.

Too much plot, too many characters, too many pages.