Review: Disfigured Hero... Feisty Heroine... Kept Me Dialed
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 26, 2014
Heroine:  Fiona Haines must travel to Scotland to warn her rogue brother, Jack, that he is being sought by the Prince Regent's men because it is believed he has bedded the prince's wife.  If they find him, they plan to hang him.  She has been away from Scotland for some years and isn't excited to return but loves her brother, so off she goes.  Once she arrives in Edinburgh, her elderly uncle insists that she seek out their clan's laird - Duncan Buchanan - who will be traveling to Fiona's destination during the Christmas holiday.Hero:  Laird Duncan Buchanan was formerly considered handsome, gifted in sport and had a reputation for hunting and bedding beautiful women.  Further, Duncan and Fiona have some history and Fiona isn't keen on asking Duncan nor his "people" for any favors.  Unbeknownst to Fiona, Duncan is no longer the rake she remembers due to a fire at his estate wherein one of his best friends was burned to death and Duncan himself sustained severe disfigurement and injuries.  He is now a recluse and although currently in Edinburgh, doesn't go out in society.Story:  Because Duncan can't refuse Fiona's uncle's request to provide her with transportation to Blackwood, where Jack has gone off hunting, he agrees to give her and her maid transportation.  He will travel along with most of his face covered up and Fiona will believe him to be a servant.  Of course, things immediately go awry - Fiona's maid runs away and Duncan's servant must try and find her - leaving Duncan and Fiona alone to try and get to Blackwood, Duncan's estate before they freeze and starve.  Still in the guise of a servant, Duncan is mostly silent and Fiona chatters a mile a minute and relates many stories of her life in London, once in awhile making sarcastic comments on Duncan Buchanan who insulted her years ago and was one of the major reasons she left and spent all those years in London.Fiona begins to have feelings for this tall, strong, Highlander even though she believes him to be a servant. Duncan, starved for the attention and affection of a woman, chastises himself for his past cruel and selfish behavior, especially when he realizes he has caused Fiona pain.  Although he doesn't remember his hurtful comments to Fiona, he has no doubt he is guilty because that sounds just like something he would have done during his former life.I was dialed in with this little novella and truly enjoyed the storyline.  It's nice to find a story where someone who was selfish and somewhat cruel thinking only of their own pleasures is given the opportunity to have a turnaround and becomes an individual who cares about others.  After all the revealing, there is some anger but of course, the H/h have their sweet HEA.