Laird of the Mist (Highland Fling Romance)

Rating:
Summary: A great sequel to The Border Bride
Review: Courtesy of Love Romances

They met once upon a dream....

And found each other in reality....

Alistair Kirallen was banished from his clan a year previous. He was angry and bitter, feeling he devoted his entire life to helping the Kirallen clan, only to be cast aside when the prodigal son, Jemmy, returned. Alistair has but one purpose, to avenge the death of his brother, Ian, who had been ambushed and murdered in cold blood, by the dreaded enemy, the Darnleys. After roaming aimlessly for a while, only to strike out in his quest, he finds himself back on Kirallen land, living with an old priest, Fergus, in a cave on the outskirts. Fergus sends him off for a cleansing ritual, and hopefully a vision of guidance. Neither ever expected that guidance to come in the form of a beautiful wood sprite, named Deirdre, who comes to Alistair in a dream.

Deirdre is a young woman, very real indeed, who is trapped in a not only loveless, but also brutal marriage as well. All she cares about is protecting her young daughter, Maeve, from the wrath of her father, Brodie Maxwell. She hopes to someday escape the prison she finds herself in, taking her daughter with her, and returning to her beloved home in Ireland, Donegal. She had all but given up hope when a vision of a man appears to her at her favorite haven of peace. She knows it is but a dream though, having dreamed of him before, but never finding this man who stirred her heart and soul. So imagine her stunned reaction upon meeting her dream man in the flesh, as the newest of her husband's swordsmen.

Alistair and Deirdre are stunned to find they dream partner in the flesh, but they can do nothing about their passion for each other as she is married and Alistair believes he is a walking dead man. How else could he have escaped the slaughter that stole Ian from him, as well as all of Ian's men? When Brodie ends up missing and presumed dead from a skirmish, Deirdre decides now is her time to escape, especially since Brodie's father is determined to marry her to his other son, Kinnon. Alistair leaves about the same time and he and Deirdre end up making the journey together. Now nothing stands in the way of their being together, except his morbid belief that Death is stalking him.

When escape appears impossible, they end up in the home of the Kirallens, the laird near death, and Alistair must finally come to terms with his obsession. He has been haunted by a recurring nightmare, reliving the day Ian was killed, and he is convinced there is meaning to this dream, though he can't find it. But when he comes back into the fold of the Kirallens, many believe him a traitor still and danger is around every corner for himself, Deirdre, and Jemmy. Will Alistair resolve his plight before he loses Deirdre forever? And will he uncover the meaning of his dream before the danger stalking them all, calls them all to death alongside Ian?

Ms. English had a tough job on her hands here, making this reviewer come around on the opinion held of Alistair. He was not at all liked in The Border Bride, coming across as "far too bitter, and a bit too power hungry" as quoted from the review written. But she does a wonderful job of redeeming him, and making it understood just why he felt the way he did. Admittedly, it takes most of the book to succeed in this, but that is the idea of a character-driven novel, for the characters to grow and change through their relationships with others.

Once again the book is richly detailed and a very colorful rendering of Scotland is presented. There is even a tough of the paranormal in this story, as seen through Alistair's foreboding dreams. A very impressive sophomore effort by Ms. English, and her talent is no less evident here, in fact it is more noticeable and growth seen. One can't help but fall in love with her characters and the accounts of their adventures. The reader will be left wanting, not because this story was disappointing, it isn't in the slightest, but wanting to read more about the Kirallen clan and their friends.

Rich details, captivating people, plenty of adventure and expectations for more, have become trademarks of Ms. English's novels. This reviewer would love to see more and watch her talent for creating beautiful stories grow and change, to an even more captivating story. Kudos to Ms. English for penning a delight and making even this reader fall in love with Alistair.

Rating:
Summary: What a beautiful sequel
Review: English has just done a lovely job here. There is a softness about her stories (not to be confused with lack of drama) that is like a breath of fresh air. Not shallow fluff atall, but a subtle gentility that I really enjoy after some of the more angst-riddled dramas I get caught up in.

This sequel was just as sweet and magical as The Border Bride and provides much more follow up than I ever expected of Jemmy & Alyson's life (rather than the cameo appearance in many sequels) while carving a warm place in our hearts for Alistair, also.

When last we left our H\H of The Border Bride it was a qualified happy ending. Great love found, yes, but it was also clear that they had a tough road ahead of them.

Now we come full circle. Alistair is redeemed and in a big and believable way; ie redeemed through human growth and acquiring perspective. We see a lot of things made right and get another welcome view of Jemmy & Alyson's love.

Do read Border Bride first. You will enjoy this one twice as much. Then prepare for an utterly satisfying 'happy ending' when you finish Laird. *sigh* Very nice, Elizabeth.

The only reason I don't give this 5 stars is because I would love for it to have been longer. The material was certainly there for it.

Rating:
Summary: Believe
Review: I read a lot of books. This one caught my attention brcause of the highland fling theme. I enjoye it thouroughly. Lately I've been into time travel romances yt this was a magical and enjoyable escape.

Rating:
Summary: A terrific sequel to a fine book
Review: With Laird of the Mist Elizabeth English has given her readers a terrific sequel to The Border Bride. For those of us who couldn't put down Border Bride, Ms. English has served up another page-turner as she traces the adventures of Allistair in 14th Century Scotland. You don't have to have read Border Bride to enjoy this book, but you'll want to after you finish Laird. Let's hope a third book is planned in this highly engaging series.

Rating:
Summary: Great Sequel
Review: Wow! This new author has just exploded on the scene with her second novel and sequel to the Border Bride! Her Star is certainly rising and I advise all of you out there to watch her.

This is the sequel to The Border Bride - and although I would say that it can and does stand alone, your enjoyment will be doubled if you read the other first and then pick up this one. In reading the Border Bride, I was not overly fond of our hero Alistair Kirallen but in the opening of this sequel, you begin to see what motivated him to this point in his life and you come to care deeply, as he struggles to overcome his feelings of guilt and rage. The author, lets you see into his heart, and the reader can feel his pain and deep abiding sorrow over the loss and blame he feels towards his foster brother Ian.

There is a touch of the mystical here, where Alistair first sees the woman who will pull him back to the land of the living. Alistair and Deirdre met in a dream, but when the reality of life puts them together the all encompassing sexual attraction is sizzling, but extremely dangerous for both. Deirdre Maxwell is the heroine in this story, the very battered and abused wife of a madman in a neighboring clan, Brodie Maxwell, and Alistair did not know she was Brodie's wife when he signed on with him as a `sword for hire'.

What follows is an edge of your seat thriller that had me biting my nails as it seemed as though these two would never get together, due to battles, treachery, and inopportune moments of guilt. As in her previous novel, you will also be amused by the entrance of the ghostly spectre of Alistair's foster brother Ian. Their conversation/arguing back in forth when no one else could see him was an amusing touch. All in all, this book is destined for my keeper shelf and Ms. English will become an immediate buy! Outstanding work and I cannot wait for the next offering whom I hope will cover Ronan, and young Robin and Maeve.

Rating:
Summary: Great Sequel
Review: Wow! This new author has just exploded on the scene with her second novel and sequel to the Border Bride! Her Star is certainly rising and I advise all of you out there to watch her.

This is the sequel to The Border Bride - and although I would say that it can and does stand alone, your enjoyment will be doubled if you read the other first and then pick up this one. In reading the Border Bride, I was not overly fond of our hero Alistair Kirallen but in the opening of this sequel, you begin to see what motivated him to this point in his life and you come to care deeply, as he struggles to overcome his feelings of guilt and rage. The author, lets you see into his heart, and the reader can feel his pain and deep abiding sorrow over the loss and blame he feels towards his foster brother Ian.

There is a touch of the mystical here, where Alistair first sees the woman who will pull him back to the land of the living. Alistair and Deirdre met in a dream, but when the reality of life puts them together the all encompassing sexual attraction is sizzling, but extremely dangerous for both. Deirdre Maxwell is the heroine in this story, the very battered and abused wife of a madman in a neighboring clan, Brodie Maxwell, and Alistair did not know she was Brodie's wife when he signed on with him as a 'sword for hire'.

What follows is an edge of your seat thriller that had me biting my nails as it seemed as though these two would never get together, due to battles, treachery, and inopportune moments of guilt. As in her previous novel, you will also be amused by the entrance of the ghostly spectre of Alistair's foster brother Ian. Their conversation/arguing back in forth when no one else could see him was an amusing touch. All in all, this book is destined for my keeper shelf and Ms. English will become an immediate buy! Outstanding work and I cannot wait for the next offering whom I hope will cover Ronan, and young Robin and Maeve.