Review: First half dragged...picked up in the second, but overall disappointing
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2012
This Scottish historical did not live up to my expectations. I have read a lot of historical novels and have a "Best Scottish/Highlander Historical Romances" list on Amazon, so I have a pretty good idea of what garners the highest reviews.Set in the late 15th century, the story tells of Flanna MacGowan, who was not loved by her father who sent her to a French convent until she was summoned home to Scotland as he neared death. Refusing to marry, she became leader of clan MacGowen and has sworn vengeance against the cattle-thieving, murdering Forbes clan. She decides to capture for ransom the wife of the Forbes laird, but instead, Flanna takes the twin brother of the laird, Roderic Forbes, known as Roderic the Rogue. Roderic is famous for being crafty, powerful and arrogant. Confronted with the MacGowan's tales of atrocities, Roderic denies his clan has been responsible and goes about trying to find out who did the deeds.At the beginning, Flanna (hate that name, sounds like a nightgown) came off a bit stupid. After all, wouldn't she know her target, the Forbes' clan leader's wife, just had a baby and would be in no shape to ride? Then one of Flanna's young warriors kills one of their own men. Egads, what a disaster. So right off, I'm thinking Flanna isna too effective at controlling her men. Roderic was not the man advertised either.Greiman can write well enough and has the Scottish voice down; however the story seemed to drag. It just never took off for me. The heroine wasn't appealing (a shrew for most of the book), and the hero, while charming, seemed to follow her around like a puppy and was not the strong warrior he was supposed to be, at least not until the end. I got tired of his stealing into her room every night just to stare at her. Please. I did not find their chemistry believable. In fact, there was much I didn't find believable. If I had to rate the book based on the first half...the story and the interaction between the two main characters...I'd give it a 2. But it picked up in the last half, so I'm giving it 3 stars. Still, I agree with the reviewer who said Flanna's confession of love came late...so late it didn't quite seem real.This is the second book in the Forbes series. I have not read the others so I cannot speak to them. Here's the list if you care to read more:Highland JewelHighland FlameHighland WolfHighland ScoundrelHighland EnchantmentHighland Hawk