Review: 3.5 stars- Good read with just a few things keeping it from being great
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 13, 2012
Elena's life has just been turned upside down.  All her carefully laid plans set for after passing the bar exam ruined.  Now she has a chance to start over again in Scotland with a house and land she received from a settlement.  It seems like a good deal, but things begin to go wrong from the time she leaves Arizona.  It all begins with a run-in with a highlander named Faolan who has his own agenda.  She discovers her life is in danger, but can she trust a strange man to help keep her safe or is he part of the problem?  The chemistry between them certainly makes it difficult to push him away.I was drawn into this story from the beginning.  The characters were intriguing and it had a lot of suspense that made me keep reading to find out what happened next.  Elena and Foalan were clearly meant for each other, but they had a lot of things working against them.  You're kept wondering for awhile as to what is really going on that they aren't revealing.  There is plenty of action, romance, and even humor as the story progresses to keep it from ever being dull.  Readers familiar with Karen Marie Moning's Highlander/Fever series will notice some similarities in the Fae mythology used in this book, though it takes a slightly different slant.This wasn't a novel I could easily predict the outcome.  It had a lot of twists and turns in the plot, along with being considerably longer than expected.  This was a good thing since it was enjoyable in most ways.  The only problem with some of the twists was that a few didn't jive for me.  Such as Elena discovering important information that she knew Faolan desperately needed and then keeping it from him until too late.  She knew time was of the essence and yet she cited doubt in her discoveries as her reasoning for not telling him.  This is despite the fact it is clear to anyone reading the story that there is nothing to doubt.  This drove me crazy because it happened a few times with her and some of the others because they chose not to see the obvious.  It seemed there could have been a better way to keep the plot going without using the insecurities of the characters as the main delay tactic.  Maybe it's just me, though.  I've been known to be picky.For those who like their stories to be heavy on the romance, I will say this book provides it in spades.  The sparks fly from the beginning between Elena and Faolon.  They try to fight it, but weaken further every time they are together.  Plenty of time was spent developing the relationship between them and there were numerous spicy scenes for readers who enjoy them (I skimmed most of them because I was more into the plot).  Only the couple's doubts and stubbornness put a wrench into things, but don't think that stops them from getting close.  They have a very difficult time resisting each other.There are a few tiny plot holes that left me wondering.  Such as why Faolan wore a kilt at the airport in Arizona in the beginning, but never wore one again for the rest of the book (which all takes place in Scotland where it would be more natural).  Other unanswered questions may have been intentional since the author left the book open to sequels, either with the same main characters or with a guy (Gabhran) who was introduced in the latter part of the story.  He certainly caught my attention and would be a great lead for his own novel.  I would pick it up in a heartbeat if the author wrote it.  She may have had a few things that niggled at me in this book, but I still enjoyed her writing enough that I'd be happy to read something else written by her.  Highland Shift was definitely worth my time and I would recommend it to others.