Helpful Score: 4
I was eagerly anticipating this new series from Julia London, because I am a highland romance junkie. I mean whats not to love, men in kilts, the oftentimes romantic Gaelic language, the raw beauty of the landscape, and did I mention men in kiltsI think you get the picture. I have read many of Ms. Londons romances, and have never been disappointeduntil now. When I read the teaser line You deserve to know what it is like to be wholly seduced I thought, wow, which unfortunately turned into more of a huh.
Im not going to go into much into detail about the book, because frankly the blurb on the back cover pretty much covers it all. It wasnt until I got to about page two hundred, that the story final started to become somewhat interesting, but even then their story wasnt scandalous. It all seemed like words on a page, and most of them forgettable. The emotions and the characters of Jack and Lizzie never really seemed to come alive for me. I thought the story might become more interesting when it is revealed that Jacks father was an emotional and physical abuser, and Jack fears becoming like him. Yet very little is done with this fact. Lizzie is almost engaged to another man, but she and her almost fiancé give each other up without too much thought, or guilt. The few romantic scenes came off to me more cheesy than heartfelt declarations of love. But the biggest revealing disappointment for me was the moment Jack decides to appeal to the king on Lizzie's behalf, knowing by doing so he could be sent to his death. This kind of sacrifice almost always gets to me (we're talking major tears and heaving sobs...I'm a sucker for it), but in Highland Scandal this element failed to induce any sense of loss, or sacrifice, which is sad.
The story that I wish Julia would have written was the secondary romance between Lizzies handicapped sister Charlotte and the highlander sent to protect her, Newton. Charlotte was the family beauty, sophisticated and charming, with her pick of eligible and wealthy suitors, whose world came crashing to a halt after she became paralyzed from a horse riding accident. After the accident she becomes reclusive and bitter, mourns the loss of her dreams, resents the fact that she is dependant on the people that she loves, and feels guilty for being an added burden on their meager resources.
Newton is a modest highlander, who is sent to protect Charlotte when Lizzie is taken to her Uncles castle to become hand fasted to Jack. Despite Charlottes abrasiveness, a friendship blossoms between these two unlikely people, and Newton finds endearing ways to bring happiness back to her life. The reader is given very brief glimpses into their romance, but the few scenes we are gifted with are sincerely touching. I wanted more of Charlotte and Newton's romance, and less with Jack and Lizzie. Unfortunately, the epilogue written at the end of Highland Scandal concludes both love stories, so sadly we will never get to fully enjoy the more compelling love story between Charlotte and Newton, and that for me is truly scandalous.
Reviewed for SeductiveMusings.blogspot.com
Im not going to go into much into detail about the book, because frankly the blurb on the back cover pretty much covers it all. It wasnt until I got to about page two hundred, that the story final started to become somewhat interesting, but even then their story wasnt scandalous. It all seemed like words on a page, and most of them forgettable. The emotions and the characters of Jack and Lizzie never really seemed to come alive for me. I thought the story might become more interesting when it is revealed that Jacks father was an emotional and physical abuser, and Jack fears becoming like him. Yet very little is done with this fact. Lizzie is almost engaged to another man, but she and her almost fiancé give each other up without too much thought, or guilt. The few romantic scenes came off to me more cheesy than heartfelt declarations of love. But the biggest revealing disappointment for me was the moment Jack decides to appeal to the king on Lizzie's behalf, knowing by doing so he could be sent to his death. This kind of sacrifice almost always gets to me (we're talking major tears and heaving sobs...I'm a sucker for it), but in Highland Scandal this element failed to induce any sense of loss, or sacrifice, which is sad.
The story that I wish Julia would have written was the secondary romance between Lizzies handicapped sister Charlotte and the highlander sent to protect her, Newton. Charlotte was the family beauty, sophisticated and charming, with her pick of eligible and wealthy suitors, whose world came crashing to a halt after she became paralyzed from a horse riding accident. After the accident she becomes reclusive and bitter, mourns the loss of her dreams, resents the fact that she is dependant on the people that she loves, and feels guilty for being an added burden on their meager resources.
Newton is a modest highlander, who is sent to protect Charlotte when Lizzie is taken to her Uncles castle to become hand fasted to Jack. Despite Charlottes abrasiveness, a friendship blossoms between these two unlikely people, and Newton finds endearing ways to bring happiness back to her life. The reader is given very brief glimpses into their romance, but the few scenes we are gifted with are sincerely touching. I wanted more of Charlotte and Newton's romance, and less with Jack and Lizzie. Unfortunately, the epilogue written at the end of Highland Scandal concludes both love stories, so sadly we will never get to fully enjoy the more compelling love story between Charlotte and Newton, and that for me is truly scandalous.
Reviewed for SeductiveMusings.blogspot.com
Helpful Score: 1
It was ok, I really couldnt seem to get into it, a little boring for me.
