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Sins of the Highlander
Author: Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub. Date: January 1, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1402261824
Digital Price: $6.39
Print Price: $7.99
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ABDUCTION

Never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired stranger charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. Pressed against his hard chest and nestled between his strong thighs, she ought to have feared for her life. But her captor silenced all protests with a soul-searing kiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind his passion—a pain only she could ease.

OBSESSION

“Mad Rob” MacLaren thought stealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the perfect revenge. But Rob never reckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of him he thought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed to introduce the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his, and only his, forever.

With two clans against them burning for battle, they must find a way to join together—body, breath, and soul. Or both will be made to pay for the…
SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER

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REVIEW

Connie Mason and her new writing partner Mia Marlowe, have sprung a delicious plot upon readers that will capture them just as Laird Rob MacLaren does his enemy’s bride at the altar.  In Sins of the Highlander, readers will thoroughly enjoy a novel that provides non-stop tension, perfectly-paced action and high emotion by a delightful range of clansmen, aristocracy and citizens across the wilds of the Scottish highlands.

Only one person had an inkling her kidnapping was coming and it was the bride-to-be, Elspeth Stewart. Thanks to her gift of Sight, the ‘Mad Rob’ charging into her wedding to Laird Drummond on a black stallion was stunning though not surprising. But the reason for her kidnapping was.

In an effort to unite warring clans, Elspeth Stewart is about to be united in marriage to Laird Lachlan Drummond. But a thirst for revenge drives Laird Rob MacLaren, known as Mad Rob, to seek an-eye-for-an-eye for the death of his wife Fiona shortly after their marriage at the hands of Drummond.

Across the highlands on a heart-stopping journey, MacLaren spirits Stewart to his keep, Casteal Dubh, where clan loyalty and political ambition turn out to be as great a danger as anything they face getting there. The journey mirrors their compelling character arcs as readers experience Rob’s tortured soul, Elspeth’s desperate struggle and courage and their fight against the harsh highland elements, snarling wolves, conflicting clans and the dubious Drummond.

While Elspeth stubbornly fights for her freedom and Rob attempts to reconcile his softening feelings toward her, the two begin working together to survive the trials and travails of their perilous flight creating a path of newfound respect and understanding that bridges the chasm between them and makes readers cheer them on. A battle with Drummond in which Elspeth is seriously injured introduces intriguing characters such as healer Hepzibah Black and Angus, uncle of loyal friend Hamish Murray, as well as a fresh twist that is neatly woven into a sub-plot as the pair arrives back at Casteal Dubh which is now under siege. A secret entrance to the Castle later plays into that sub-plot with Stewart’s wound eventually leading to an accusation of witchcraft by a servant intent on marrying her niece to the Laird. Mason and Marlowe elevate the couple’s tension impeccably with a blend of clan intrigue, witchcraft, a nearly fatal sentence and final duel to the death.

Throughout this non-stop read filled with wonderfully drawn characters, tightly woven subplots and brilliant twists, readers enjoy the resolution of Rob’s heart over his deceased wife, reckoning of love for Elspeth, her strength and determination to do what is right for her clan and family and the amazing climax that brings this well-rounded read to a superb conclusion. Sins of the Highlander is a not-to-be-missed treat by Mason and Marlowe that will have readers clamoring for more from the new writing duo and hoping more ‘sins’ will follow!

Rating: 4.5 (Excellent)

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

Reviewed by Helena