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Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:An arranged marriage leads to passionate love in this classic Scottish historical romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood. By edict of the king, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice is Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison�??a feisty, violet-eyed beauty. Alec aches to touch her, to tame her, to possess her...forever. But Jamie has vowed never to surrender to a man she considers a highland barbarian. Alec is everything Jamie�??s heart has warned her against�??an arrogant scoundrel whose rough good looks speak of savage pleasures. While Kincaid�??s scorching kisses set fire to her blood, she is determined to resist him...until one rapturous moment quells their clash of wills, and something far more dangerous than desire threatens to conquer her senses... Includes an excerpt of another beloved Julie Garwood highland romance, The Wedd… (more)
User reviews
The story was amazing, brilliantly written and delivered. Garwood knows how to write a story that is both interesting and romantic, sensual and sexual, depending on the specific scene, funny and sweet, witty and charming. The characters were well developed and dynamic, and before you got half way through the book you find yourself falling in love with them. I can't wait to read more of her books, and I hope that some of the beloved characters we met in this book will return in one of her other books.
One of the things I loved the most about Alec and Jamie's story was the fact that while Alec was very possessive and strong *A total Highland Larid, of course!*, he also proved to be caring, funny, tender and loving. When he started to fall for Jamie, and she started to fall for him in return, I almost had to wipe away a few tears, their story and connection were that strong and intense, almost gut-wrenchingly so. I wish that I had a man like Alec. He accept Mary even though she wasn't his child, and he proved to be a wonderful father. He loved to rouse Jamie's spark and passion, which is also something I enjoyed: Both the fact that he was so intrigued by having such a strong woman as his wife and the fact that she wasn't a wimpy heroine, which I cannot stand in a romance novel *or any book, really*.
Their love scenes were both tender and intense, passionate and steamy, and even playful at times. It showed the emotional and physically side of their relationship nicely, which is something that is sometimes lacking in other romances. I can now say that I am a proud Julie Garwood fan. :)
5/5 STARS! A wonderfully exciting tale of medieval love and adventure in the highlands, told by an amazing author. The characters and their story will stick with long after the book is over.
~TBQ~
P.S. I would rate it 'R' on the sensuality factor.
This is a new author for me. I enjoyed the humor and the timing of the humor as well as the more sentimental emotions. While the plot became transparent from the first chapter, the writing style was a delight to find in this historical romance.
Julie Garwood is a great romance writer, one of the
First, the set up: Alec, a powerful Scottish Highlander, is forced by edict of the English king to marry an English lass (FYI- the English and the Scottish Highlanders are very different and don't like each other.) He shows up with his buddy, has the hots for the impetuous, violet eyed and beautiful Jamie, marries her, and carts her off with him to the Highlands. And so the drama begins.
First of all, the hero, Alec Kincaid, is kind of an ass. Yes, we get it, he's a warrior and all that, but he treats Jamie like she is an annoying nuisance (which she very well might be) and tried to make her insecure all the time. He also tries to bully and push her around and make her "succumb to his will," whatever that means even though he actually adores the hell out of her. Does he ever apologize? Nope! In the end Jamie "wins," but not because she is an equal partner or anything, but rather because she annoys him into surrender.
In comes Jamie: Beautiful and violet-eyed, impetuous, (as evidenced by the fact that she likes to ride bare-back on her horse,) educated in the healing arts (as all heroines in medievals,) and a little bit of a meddling busy-body (which, in her case, is not supposed to be a bad thing.) She seems unaware of her "place" as Medieval society would dictate it and doesn't understand that she is supposed to be inferior and "obedient" to her husband, so she constantly questions him and badgers him about it. In her first week as wife of the laird, she manages to almost start three (or is it 4?) wars with neighboring clans, saves multiple lives, and earns the love and undying loyalty of nearly everyone in the clan.
I really wish a few things for this book. I wish that Jamie was a little bit less of a well meaning ditz and more of an equal partner to Alec, who I wish was a little bit less of a jerk and a little bit more loving and supportive. I wish that there was more time in the book for Alec to realize that a woman can be an equal partner and a worthy opponent. I wish that Jamie didn't feel like she had to take care of everything and everyone and actually DEALT with the fact that her step-dad treated her like a servant and she feels like she has to be one in order to be accepted/loved. I wish there weren't these long dialogue bits where each of the characters would be talking about nothing (really, nothing!) and lose their train of thought. I wish there were more of the moments of brilliance and fun I found in the text like when Jamie and Alec first meet and their wedding night. This book had a lot of potential, and it was well written, but there was just something missing for me here.
With Jamie we’ve got a character that is compassionate, outspoken and when she sees something that needs to be done, well there isn’t much that will stop her. Within a week not only does she have the loyalty of the clan, but through her actions, war is declared with a number of other clans. It’s really not her fault that things are so different in the highlands.
Alec had no desire to get married but will obey his king. He learns fairly early on what a treasure he’s got, even though his world is turned up upside down and won’t easily admit that love could be involved.
The characters, chemistry and situations are well done. There is a mystery and I recall being surprised by the who back when I first read this twenty-five years ago. I can’t begin to guess how many times I’ve read this book as well as a number of others the author put out back in the 80s and 90s. I just wish the author would go back to writing these historicals.
2 March 2012: I'm surprised to find that I'm rather "meh" about this book. From reading all of the reviews on GR and elsewhere, I
After a few years away from this book, I picked it up again. My, how times have changed - I
This is one of Garwood's earlier works, and you can tell by its lack of sophistication. My absolute favorite from her is still "Ransom". I'm very partial to the Medieval Highlands genre - that's the only reason this received a higher rating than it deserves. Well, that and nostalgia.
As for characters, all were three dimensional and complex, especially the heroine, Jamie. Her sweetness and lovability was contagious. You can't help but like this self-deprecating and self-sacrificing character. She was adorable.
On the other hand, I had some doubts about Alec. At the start of the story we see a lot of arrogance, but as the story develops, we get to know him better and to like him more. He was strong yet caring of his clan and especially of his English wife. Wonderful Alpha male with some sensitive beta hero characteristics.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fun and funny medieval romance. The author made me believe in these two and their story. I was vested in them but the mystery within made me a bit antsy. Thank God it all worked out!
Years after it's written, this story still stands strong. Highly recommending!
Melanie for b2
FROM THE PUBLISHER
By edict of the king, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice was Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron
He was everything her heart warned against—an arrogant scoundrel whose rough good looks spoke of savage pleasures. And thought Kincaid's scorching kisses fired her blood, she brazenly resisted him...until one rapturous moment quelled their clash of wills, and something far more dangerous than desire threatened to conquer her senses...
The bride dares to wear black to her wedding. When the groom is an enormous Scottish laird, that says alot about her daring and character. Any of Julie's medievals are worth noting, but this is among the top 3 of my yearly re-read list. Hmmm... I might even have to pull it off my shelf to enjoy it again shortly.
Audiobook Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
4.5 🌟 After all these years this book still holds up. I have reread it numerous times and I am sure I will reread it again.
~ Paragraphs and Petticoats ~