THE HELLION AND THE HIGHLANDER
Lynsay Sands
ISBN: 978-0061344794
February 23, 2010
Avon
Historical Romance/Medieval
Mass Market Paperback

Lady Averill Mortagne was taught by her mother early on in life to control her fierce temper. But if her father continues to parade her before one more English lord who looks askance at her flame-colored hair, and beauty mark on her cheek, she’ll simply scream! Thank the Lord, since her brother Will’s return from the Crusades she has one pleasant diversion; that of tending to the unconscious wounded Scot, Kade Stewart, whom her brother brought with him after they’d both escaped from the prison they’d been in for the last three years.

Kade is truly grateful for the care Lady Averill has given him.  Finally able to open his eyes and focus, he finds Averill to be quite beautiful, but knows he could never subject such a sweet and gentle lady to the rough life of a Stewart laird’s bride . . . or could he?  After Kade heard of her latest run in with a prospective suitor,  Kade realized that the woman he thought gentle and sweet was as fiery as her hair and if that was so, she just might be able to handle being a Highlander’s wife.

***  True to form Ms. Sands in her inimitable style brings her unique brand of humor to another Highland adventure where the antics of the lead protagonists will often have you laughing out loud.  Her newest Highland series composed of THE DEVIL OF THE HIGHLANDS #1, and THE TAMING OF THE HIGHLAND BRIDE #2, are a welcome and need not be read in any particular order as all are stand alone.  I’ve long awaited the return to Sands’ to her historical romances. This is not to say that her Argeneau Vampire series are not superb examples of this authors tremendous writing talent, but ever since first discovering this author’s comedic writing talent reading  THE KEY  and  THE DEED – (two of most hilarious medieval romances I have ever read) I longed for more of the same.

Averill is another of Sands’ outstanding heroine creations molded  from the same recipe she has used successfully in the past; our heroine being unaware of her own beauty, clever, kind, and ready to do battle for the man she loves. Averill had nursed Kade for weeks after he survived a near fatal head injury. Sands used the opportunity of having Averill keeping vigil by the side of her ‘unconscious’ patient as a tool for  Averill to reveal quite a bit about herself, much of which Kade heard during his convalescence.   Kade realized how comfortable Averill felt knowing he could not see her, so that after regaining consciousness Kade kept the fact he could see her to himself so that he could keep Averill by his side.

I loved the way the author brought about the marriage, using some lovely scenario’s as Averill tried to let Kade off the hook because she figured he hadn’t really gotten a good look at her.  However, Kade liked what he saw and Averill’s attempts to convince him otherwise only endeared her more to him.  Plenty of adventure was inserted into the story as the bride and groom set out for Stewart Castle and the intrigue continued when Kade kept having ‘accidents’ (almost always when he was trying to ‘tup’ his comely wife), until they figured out someone was trying to kill him.   Considering Kade had been out of the country fighting for the last three years this led to a lot of speculation as to who would have held a grudge this long to want to have Kade killed.  Sands did a marvelous job of keeping you guessing right through to the end in trying to figure out who could have wanted Kade dead. 

Sands filled the story with plenty of unforgettable characters, including Laddie, Averill’s adorable pint sized bodyguard; along with Averill’s plan to get her in-laws to quit drinking;  and some amusing instructions from her maids as to what Averill should expect on her wedding night and how to ‘please’ her handsome new husband.  [Don’t miss the greased hand suggestion which when put to use was probably the one of the most outrageously funny ones.]

All in all, Sands blends adventure, passion, laughter and suspense into one book you won’t want to put down once started.  THE HELLION AND THE HIGHLANDER is a definite must read and highly recommended book!

 Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

Reviewed By:

I started reviewing books many years ago - but my love of reading began as soon as I could read and that’s a long time! From my very first library card, I would spend my summers at the local library rather than outside playing. My tastes ran from every horse book I could find, to dog books, then gothic romances, and now historical romances with the Regency period having a very close spot in my heart. [Many of my friends, who really know me, say I was born in the wrong era - they’re probably right.] Now that I am retired, and busier than ever, I read almost all genres with the exception of hard core erotica, horror and anything involving more than one sex partner! I am loyal to my tried and true favorite auto-buy authors but love discovering the newer authors as well. I was once a very impatient person, but now retired, and with a book, an audio, or my Kindle by my side - I am the epitome of infinite patience to sit and wait for whatever comes next be it for the light to change, a doctor’s appointment, or a commercial break on the television!

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