Kilgannon

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Summary: wonderful scottish historical romance
Review: The only other author I have enjoyed more is Diana Gabaldon. Kathleen Givens has written a beautiful detailed story of two very passionate very likable characters. The supporting characters are great too. Very quick read. Hard to put down. Stayed up late many nights. The second book The Wild Rose of Killganon picks up where this one leaves off. Excellent writing and unforgettable characters.

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Summary: Imitation is not always the sincerest form of flattery
Review: This book is set in eighteenth-century Scotland during a time when there was about to be a rising by the Scottish Highlanders against the English. It features a dashing Scottish laird as its hero and a well-bred English young woman (who is the book's narrator) as the heroine. No, I have not mistakenly placed a review of the early novels in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon in this spot. To be fair, I don't think that Ms. Givens set out to be a Gabaldon wannabe, but anyone who has read the Outlander novels can't help but make comparisons, and unfortunately, this novel just can't hold a candle to "Outlander", "Dragonfly in Amber", et. al. I think that the most distracting feature of "Kilgannon" is the first-person narration by the heroine (a la Claire in the Gabaldon series). The narrator sounds much too contemporary to be convincing as an eighteenth-century Englishwoman. In the Outlander novels, Claire is a contemporary woman who time-travels (OK, that's rather far-fetched, but it works!) to the eighteenth century and so she can narrate the novels and be convincing! A good historical romance is a real treat for me--unfortunately, this one doesn't fit the bill.

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Summary: cheap ripoff
Review: This book just seemed like a bad ripoff from the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. It was boring and I had a hard time finishing it. I don't care about the characters because they are so one dimensional. Read the Outlander series if you want good writing, good stories and outstanding characters!!!

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Summary: If you love Scotland and Men in Kilts, this is the book !
Review: This book was so good, I started reading and could not put it down till I finished it. If you like Scotland you have to get this book. Both characters are strong people you can't help but love. The Best part is that the sequal will be out the first of November. If you are like me, I don't like the book to end, I don't want to say goodbye to characters I have come to love. Mary and Alex's story will continue on in The Wild Rose of Kilgannon. I can't wait!!!!!! If you like Garwood, Lindsey, Coulter, McNaught, You will Like this author and what she has done with this book.

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Summary: An unexpected wonder from a new author reinvigorates fiction
Review: This new author is a natural! This novel is an excellent combination of a forbidden love story with powerful historical accuracy and intellect. But she never loses you. Givens writes in the first person, an extraordinary achievment for such a complex story. Well done. I cannot wait for the sequel.

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Summary: A Timeless Historical Romance Masterpiece!!!
Review: This novel unveils the captivating insight into human emotionsreminiscent of Jane Austen and the research caliber of a RhodesScholar combined into a modern day masterpiece. It is refreshing to see such authenticity in a contemporary novel that can still manage to evoke such powerful sentiment. I couldn't put it down!!!

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Summary: A moving, touching romance of intriguing character.
Review: This novel was obviously written by a woman with a humble appreciation of deep human feelings & the power of love. I was up reading until 3 am crying and smiling at the moving words & carefully orchestrated prose. This novel itself is as complex and beautifully crafted as the love story itself. Read this and feel your stomach turn to butterflies as you fall in love all over again.

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Summary: Kilgannon
Review: This was an excellent read. The story moved right along w/no slow parts. I especially appreciated that there was no animosity or struggle (to be together) between the two characters, Alex & Mary. So many "romances" keep couples apart until the end of the book, using that as the main storyline, using antagonists like other women or men (jealousy), misconceptions and the like. I often find myself thinking of the hero/heroine "just tell the other what is going on and stop keeping it to yourself." It was refreshing to have a couple facing outward struggles together, for a change.

I finished the book last night, only to discover there is a sequel. Bummer, I thought, another "Outlander" (series by Diana Gabaldon)! Now, I'll have to run out tonight and buy it, "The Wild Rose of Kilgannon."

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Summary: Jane Austen Meets Braveheart
Review: What if a prim and proper English girl fell in love with a handsome blond man in a kilt? In the London of 1712, Scottish laird Alex MacGannon was considered a barbarian and his pursuit of her inappropriate, but to Mary Lowell he was irresistible and she threw caution to the wind with barely a second thought. Mary had imagined that marrying Alex would be adventure enough for one lifetime. But fate has other plans for these two as they are tossed into a whirlwind of political and personal passions - and treachery. And someone is trying to kill Alex . . .

Come with me to a place called Kilgannon and discover Mary Lowell's world. Mary and Alex's love story was too big to be contained in one volume and continues in the second in the series, The Wild Rose of Kilgannon, released just three weeks after Kilgannon. And there are more to follow.

I fell in love with Scotland and its history a long time ago and thoroughly enjoyed researching this book and the rest of the series. (Who can resist a tall blond man in a kilt? Not Mary, and not me!) My thanks go to Amazon for this opportunity to talk about my books. See you online!

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Summary: Romance of the Clan lives on.
Review: What single gal with a Scottish ancestory would not like to go back into time and dream that Mary is of her own stock. For those of us who only read an occassional romance, the story line is classic, and the characters are bold and courageous. How can the reader resist our Alex who is introduced to the reader as the 18th century bad boy--James Dean in kilt--who not only is handsome but has brains to boot. Mary is the 21st century woman living within the 1700s and all its conformities. We cannot help but say, "You go, girl!" She is willing to throw her fist up to the gentile, uppercrust English Society and marry a man whose honor and devotion to his people is unwaivered. Beyond the basic love story lies a the lore of the Scottish Highlands. For those of us who have studied our past and learned the stories our ancestors, Kilgannon provides yet another visual picture of what lives were like on the rustic terrainsof Scotland. We catch a glimps into the survival of individual families as well as well as survival of a nation. We are given a story which aply melds the lore of land with the romance of the day. Boy meets girl and girl becomes a queen. The reader is left with a smile and a search for the checkbook in order to buy the sequal.