This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
REVIEWED BY DEBS CARR
It's 1754 and Brice Kinross is slowly coming to terms with the loss of his sweetheart to his brother. When Brice's father asks him to leave his home in Sweden and return to Rosyth, the family estate in the Scottish Highlands, he is only too happy to do so. However, since the Jacobite Rebellion when the Highlanders were subjected to cruel treatment by the Redcoats, the locals don't take kindly to strangers and are suspicious when Brice returns to his Rosyth unnannounced. Under the direction of the foreman, Seton, a sly man with his own agenda, the Highlanders do not make Brice feel welcome and are relieved to see the back of him after his initial visit.
Marsaili Buchanan, the beautiful, young housekeeper at Rosyth has to fend off Seton's constant advances. She is determined not to let him have his own way and is guarded by her companion and bodyguard, a Deerhound called Liath, who does his best to keep Seton from getting too close to his mistress. She initially believes Seton's assurances that Brice is a traitor to their cause, but soon works out that Brice isn't the untrustworthy cad Seton insists him to be. She is aware that Seton has been creaming off the profits from the estate and Brice soon realizes this too.
Unfortunately for Brice, Seton is a determined and resourceful man. He has no intention of the young Lord standing in his way and stopping him from carrying out his plans, especially when he was so close to finalizing everything before Brice's return. He has a lot to hide and does his best to ensure that the new Lord gets the treatment Seton believes he deserves.
The love story between the two main characters builds beautifully. Both Brice and Marsaili have their own reasons for not wishing to become entangled with anyone romantically and both are determined to hide their secret attraction for the other. There's a lot at stake for both characters as they fight for what they believe in and forge ahead with their loyalties to those who need them. I especially loved Liath and his total devotion to his mistress and the way he guarded her against everyone. Everyone, that is, except for Brice…
Highland Storms is published by Choc Lit and is out on 1st November. You can find out more about Christina Courtenay on her website and you can follow her on Twitter @PiaCCourtenay.
I forgot to mention that if you want to be in with a chance to win a copy of this fabulous book (don't you just love the cover?) then please leave a comment below. The lucky winner will be announced at Women's Fiction Thursday next week.
9/10