Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne – a Review
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Description:
Ailsa Connery has waited three long years to finally escape her enslavement at Stirling Castle and reunite with her clan. But her carefully laid plans are completely destroyed by the arrival of the infamous Highland warrior known as Dubh Mahoun, the Black Devil…who has plans of his own.
Kallum MacNeill’s fearsome reputation has long allowed him to keep hidden his secret double life of freeing enslaved captives across the land. It’s only when he kidnaps a servant lass—quite by accident—that he finds himself facing a wee predicament. He must accompany the lass home or risk her exposing his true identity. It’d be easy enough…if the feisty hellion didn’t fight him at every turn.
As they make their way to the Highlands, the perils the two must face are surpassed only by their constant sparring. Soon, their heated sniping sparks heat of a totally different kind. The kind that ignites a hunger that could consume them both. Yet the difficult journey is no match for the dangerous secrets they’re about to uncover.
Review:
Never Cross a Highlander begins with Ailsa Connery in service to Princess Elizabeth. Ailsa know that a tournament is being held and that her clan will be in attendance. The only way for Ailsa to be able to view those coming to attend is from the Princess’ balcony and she, the Princess, is less than enthused. Through some mental manipulation, Ailsa gets Elizabeth ready and onto the balcony just as the riders from the clans start entering.
Duff Kallum MacNeil, the MacNeill war chief, is less than enthusiastic when he’s told he must enter yet another tournament ordered by the King. When his “brother” tells him that it is a must, Kallum knows he has to go. Once they enter the King’s lands and parade by for all to view, Kallum (aka The Black Devil) hears the whispers. What he doesn’t plan on is catching the eye, and vice versa, of a striking lass.
Once the tournament begins, it comes down to Kallum and another fighting to be the victor. Once Kallum’s foe is defeated, he faces the King for his approval only to be attacked again. Thankfully Ailsa’s face told him what he needed to know.
Having seen her clan, Ailsa, who was born free and taken by the King’s guard into servitude for the last few years, makes her plan to escape to be reunited with them. Once she sneaks from the castle, things take an interesting turn for her as she is mistaken for someone else running for a different reason and is forced to go with the group that is being taken out under the cover of darkness. Having no other choice, Ailsa finally submits, but has another plan to escape to finally make it back to her clan after all these years. Little does she know the twists and turns ahead……………..
Never Cross a Highlander is an interesting and timely twist on the highland historical. As Ailsa and Kallum navigate her continuous attempts at escaping, things start coming to light that she had never thought of. Once Kallum convinces her she can trust him, things start to happen quickly. Ailsa’s whole life was not what she thought she knew. And once Kallum discovered what the true plot was behind her being held in servitude by the King, all hell breaks loose. They trust no one as they uncover plot after plot against her, but hell hath no fury like a Highlander crossed. ?
Never Cross a Highlander is a uniquely written tale of inequality being brought into the light and all being made right. The romance was a slow build which added to the two main characters’ chemistry. If you’re a fan of historicals, with a twist or without, you won’t go wrong with this one. Well done, Lisa Rayne!
Reviewed by Vickie
Copy provided by Publisher
