Highland Angel

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointing New Book from Hannah Howell
Review: I am usually a fan of Hannah Howell, but her newest book "Highland Angel" was a great disappointment. A major plot point concerns sexual abuse of children and that immediately concerned me. I found it so distasteful,I really couldn't enjoy the book in any way. The next time she has a new book, I will be wary of just buying it without checking out the contents.

Rating:
Summary: no 'highlands' in 'highland angel'
Review: I have never read any of Ms. Howell's other "highland" titles, and having read this one, I probably will not waste my time.
I have read some awful historical romances, and this one would have to fall into that category. It certainly doesn't deserve the distinction of being called "historical" and even stretches the line to being a period piece.
This is one of those books where it looks like the characters and plot line have abolutely no relevance at all to the location or time frame that the work is supposedly set. What is Scots about this story? Some obscure hints at fueds that any logical discussion could forestall [as it eventually does!] is the only nod to clans that the author throws out to us. Give me a break!
I get absolutely no feeling for Scotland or Scots at all from reading this book. Whether this is weak research or just weak writing I can't say.
I'm sorry, but this story is not even remotely plausible. No doubt sexual abuse and child abuse have been rampant throughout history, but the author's use of this topic sounds like she is jumping on a soapbox. She lost me very early on with the way she dealt with this issue.
If you enjoy stories that evoke the beauty and majesty of the Scottish Highlands, don't be taken in by the title as I was, and skip this one.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe 31/2 Stars?
Review: I was eagerly awaiting Howell's new Highland romance, but I was a little disappointed. It was still good with some interesting dark moments, but I thought Highland Knight and Highland Bride were better.
The book begins when Kirstie seeks out Payton Murray to help avenge her and to protect many abused children. Kirstie's husband tried to drown her because she knew about his propensity for young children. In fact, that is why he married her at 15 without a menstrual cycle (GROSS, I KNOW). The guy was SICK! Anyway, Payton agrees to help and they eventually fall in love, but they find it hard to damage the sicko.
As characters go, Kirstie should have been more careful. I mean if a guy is out there who tried to kill me and believes me dead, I would not step foot outside of my hiding place. But, when do romance characters ever act responsibly? Also, Payton got on my nerves because he was just a little too perfect. I like my heros to have some minor flaws. Payton's only flaw was sleeping with married women.

Rating:
Summary: intense historical romance
Review: Sir Payton Murray is known as much for his trysts as for his sword prowess in defense of the helpless. A desperate Lady Kirstie MacIye interrupts Payton's rendezvous with a married woman when she begs him to help her. She accuses her husband Sir Roderick of trying to kill her and abusing the children. Unable to resist the plea of beautiful lass, Payton agrees to rescue the lads though her clan and his clan might not appreciate his interference.

Payton abducts the children from under Roderick's literally iron fist and brings them to his home to be with Kirstie. As Payton and Kirstie begin to fall in love, the shadow of an irate vengeful Roderick crosses over their relationship for he is coming with treachery and deceit as his prime weapons.

HIGHLAND ANGEL is an intense historical romance starring two courageous heroes and a vile villain, who is so malevolent he seems more devil than human. This leads to readers wondering why anyone in his clan leadership tolerated his behavior. Payton is kind of like an Errol Flynn character, swashbuckling whether he "battles" the ladies (married of course) or evil knaves. Kirstie is his perfect mate as she brings out the best in him. The abuse subplot is interwoven into a fine historical romantic suspense that will bring elation to sub-genre readers.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: intense historical romance
Review: Sir Payton Murray is known as much for his trysts as for his sword prowess in defense of the helpless. A desperate Lady Kirstie MacIye interrupts Payton's rendezvous with a married woman when she begs him to help her. She accuses her husband Sir Roderick of trying to kill her and abusing the children. Unable to resist the plea of beautiful lass, Payton agrees to rescue the lads though her clan and his clan might not appreciate his interference.

Payton abducts the children from under Roderick's literally iron fist and brings them to his home to be with Kirstie. As Payton and Kirstie begin to fall in love, the shadow of an irate vengeful Roderick crosses over their relationship for he is coming with treachery and deceit as his prime weapons.

HIGHLAND ANGEL is an intense historical romance starring two courageous heroes and a vile villain, who is so malevolent he seems more devil than human. This leads to readers wondering why anyone in his clan leadership tolerated his behavior. Payton is kind of like an Errol Flynn character, swashbuckling whether he "battles" the ladies (married of course) or evil knaves. Kirstie is his perfect mate as she brings out the best in him. The abuse subplot is interwoven into a fine historical romantic suspense that will bring elation to sub-genre readers.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Serious Plot - Great Story with Humor
Review: This book impressed me from the very first pages, as a very charming and spunky, Kirstie MacIye, bargains with Sir Payton Murray for his assistance. Kirstie needed a champion in bringing to justice the husband who tried to drown her, and was abusing small children to satisfy his sick obsessions. Sir Payton was renowned for his prowess with a sword both on the battlefield and in the boudoirs of the numerous woman who sought out the very handsome knight, but Kirstie needed him to accept the bigger challenge of bringing her husband to justice. Risking an all out feud between clans, Payton takes on the challenge of both toppling a powerful and evil laird and bedding the very captivating and beautiful Kirstie.

I don't know when I've enjoyed a heroine as much as the very spunky Kirstie. Her droll sense of humor and cutting edge tongue gives you terrific dialogs with bantering back and forth as Payton does his best to seduce her while the dangerous game of cat and mouse intensified in trying to take down her husband. The romantic aspect and the sensualness of the chase was exquisitely done as Kirstie and Payton fell in love, not so much with the attractiveness of each others physical being but more with the essence they discovered of each others heart and soul. The secondary characterizations of the children were also deftly handled from the anguish and shame felt by the abuse of their innocence, to the healing and renewal of trust Kirstie and Payton were able instill. The author seemed to open up many avenues for sequels with some of the children - especially Callum and Simon which I would certainly welcome.

All in all, I found this to be an extremely enjoyable, funny, and sensual novel in spite of the serious plot. This was for me a total read and one I can highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Serious Plot - Great Story with Humor
Review: This book impressed me from the very first pages, as a very charming and spunky, Kirstie MacIye, bargains with Sir Payton Murray for his assistance. Kirstie needed a champion in bringing to justice the husband who tried to drown her, and was abusing small children to satisfy his sick obsessions. Sir Payton was renowned for his prowess with a sword both on the battlefield and in the boudoirs of the numerous woman who sought out the very handsome knight, but Kirstie needed him to accept the bigger challenge of bringing her husband to justice. Risking an all out feud between clans, Payton takes on the challenge of both toppling a powerful and evil laird and bedding the very captivating and beautiful Kirstie.

I don't know when I've enjoyed a heroine as much as the very spunky Kirstie. Her droll sense of humor and cutting edge tongue gives you terrific dialogs with bantering back and forth as Payton does his best to seduce her while the dangerous game of cat and mouse intensified in trying to take down her husband. The romantic aspect and the sensualness of the chase was exquisitely done as Kirstie and Payton fell in love, not so much with the attractiveness of each others physical being but more with the essence they discovered of each others heart and soul. The secondary characterizations of the children were also deftly handled from the anguish and shame felt by the abuse of their innocence, to the healing and renewal of trust Kirstie and Payton were able instill. The author seemed to open up many avenues for sequels with some of the children - especially Callum and Simon which I would certainly welcome.

All in all, I found this to be an extremely enjoyable, funny, and sensual novel in spite of the serious plot. This was for me a total read and one I can highly recommend.