Review: Engaging Read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 24, 2013
A young woman alone and making her way in the perilous times of early fourteenth century Scotland is easy prey.Fallon MacCrery, a healer, is bereft of family after the death of her uncle that took her in after the death of her parents. Even though she's a petite raven-haired beauty, most people avoid her because of her second sight. She has visions of deaths to come. She's had visions of the deaths of those she loves since the age of four. She feels like her second sight is a curse that she cannot get rid of and is more inclined to run than to be proactive about impending dangers. She loves the irascible rogue Bryce Fraser, but fears he too will die if he should ever choose to commit to her. Yet, deep down in her heart she knows he is her own true love.Bryce Fraser has neither land nor title. He is a restless soul driven by a horrifying memory of what happened to his first love while he had to watch, unable to stop the cruelty of it all. Moreover, he is wanted by the English for treason and murder. He has pledged his sword to Robert the Bruce, the man Scottish patriots feel is the true king of Scotland. After the war in Scotland is settled, he plans to go to the continent and sell his sword and skill as a warrior to the highest bidder to make his fortune. While he loves women, he commits to none--he feels unworthy after what happened to his first love. He is truly a flawed hero searching for redemption.The relationship Fallon and Bryce forge gets tested to the nth degree as they strive to stay alive through battles, deaths, captivate and way too many harsh words between them. How love wiggles its way in amid all the strife and works its magic to nudge these two along toward their destiny kept me turning pages.If you read B. J. Scott's Highland Legacy, a previous novel about the Fraser clan you will get to catch up on what is going on with many characters you met in the first book. Highland Quest will give you insightful side stories about Connor and Caitlin at Fraser Castle as well as actions of the crude, older brother Alasdair who abdicated his position as Laird of the Fraser clan. He fights alongside the Bruce and tries to watch his little brother Bryce's back in battle, all the while trying to send Bryce home to a better way of life. Their reactions to each other give the reader insight into each of their true characters.The antagonists with their lack of conscience about their abhorrent deeds, their greed, and their lack of loyalty to Scotland create barbaric conflicts. Some of their actions create heart-pounding moments that seem to be impossible for the hero and heroine to escape.Even though I felt as if I were on the outside looking in on the happens part of the time and the writing didn't seem quite as polished as in the first book, I still didn't want to put the story down because of the skillful way Ms. Scott wove together the events of turbulent times with its horrific cruelties yet never let that strong thread of love fray. Highland Quest entertains and is often spellbinding.Originally posted at Long and Short Reviews