Highland Renegade by Cynthia Breeding – a Review

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Description:
Emily, the Dowager Countess of Woodhaven, has received title to lands in the Highlands—MacGregor lands—and after surviving an abusive marriage, she’s determined to make a new start…without a man. She just has to win over the handsome Scottish laird whose family has lived there for centuries. How hard could it be?

When Ian MacGregor heard that the Sassenach countess was actually laying claim to his lands, he figured to scare the aging widow away by showing her the hardships of living in the Highlands. She’d leave before the first snowflake fell. But he never imagined that the widow was young and beautiful and more territorial than a she-wolf. No matter, he’ll prove that a fragile, London woman like her would never survive life without her servants…and if he happens to give her the coldest and most remote rooms, all the better.

Despite his best efforts to freeze her out, things between them heat up. But Highlanders hate the Sassenach, so Ian faces a dire choice—his clan or the irresistible English aristocrat who seems to have taken not only his lands, but also his heart.

Review:

Highland Renegade is a historical romance (and a novel in the series Children of the Mist) by author Cynthia Breeding. It’s set in Scotland in the year 1774.

I found this novel to be both professionally written and entertaining. Its characters are distinct in their personalities and very well done. While I don’t do spoilers, I can give you the setup of the beginning and tell you what I found so entertaining.

Emily Caldwell’s father and mother died, leaving her nothing but debts and two sisters. The elderly Lord Woodhaven (Albert) offered for her hand in marriage and would allow her to bring her sisters. He was aged and not a particularly a good man. In fact, he was a drug addict and womanizer as well as a man who hit his wife often. Her husband died and left her only debts, which she had to sell her only house to pay. His cousin who inherited his title and entailed property will not let the ladies live with him and his wife (all three are young and lovely). However, King George had been a friend of her father’s and gave her ownership and title to a property in Scotland that her husband had leased.

In July 1774, Emily (Dowager Lady Woodhaven) is taking her sisters to Scotland to live. It was formerly the property of the MacGregor clan, but due to political issues they were not allowed to own property anymore. Although those who did not take up arms in last issue were allowed to live there. She had been running her husband’s estate and businesses, because he wouldn’t be bothered, and had become quite good at managing and improving property. She’d studied the reports of the Scotland property and had many questions and plans to improve it so they could earn a living there. However, she fully intended to cooperate with those already there.

Ian MacGregor and his brothers and uncles currently lived in Strae Castle, taking care of the clan and managing the property and distillery. Because the late Lord Woodhaven was in his mid-sixties, they assume the lady coming to see the property is aged. They intend to show her they are managing the property well, make her a bit uncomfortable in hopes she’ll quickly return to London and leave them to their business. Ian had filed reports with the late Lord Woodhaven that undervalued the property a bit, while the true profits were used to improve the property and take care of the clan. They were quite surprised to see three beautiful and young women arrive with five wagons of their things.

That is the considerably basic setup. There is much more detail that I will leave you to discover for yourself. Let me give you the reasons I found this story so very entertaining and why I am looking forward to more from this talented author.

I loved the characters. They are very well described, and each has a unique personality. The conversations are realistic, and the various personalities often clash with interesting results. The romance is at first slow to build, but the interest is immediate. I loved that. The plot is well done with lots of twists and intrigue. I found the pace to be perfect, allowing for the characters to grow to know each other and fast enough to make it a page turner. If you haven’t read this series, I urge you to give it a try. My regards to author Cynthia Breeding, thank you for a thrilling and heartfelt novel. I look forward to much more from your talented imagination.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher