A Scottish beauty Lures the Laird to sin!Exchanging elegant society balls for clan wars, Logan Rathmore has returned to Scotland as the new Laird of Ardvarrick. Peace is within grasp when he meets musician Ailsa McInnis from a rival clan. Her stubborn pride and innocence fascinate him–but with her now under his protection, he must do nothing to abuse her trust. The fragile peace is dependent on … dependent on his being able to resist the forbidden temptation she presents…
From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.
Lairds of Ardvarrick
Book 1: Forbidden to the Highland Laird
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Having not read a lot of novels set in Scotland, I did not know what to expect. The story itself slowed down in the middle, though it did pick up by the end. Logan, the Laird of Ardvarrick came across as a very nice person, a bit too English, not quite as strong as I presume a Laird should be. Ailsa was little more then a servant in her uncle’s castle despite her massive talent on the harp. The harp is a centerpiece of the story.
The storytelling is engrossing although I looked up a lot of Scottish terms. The villian of the piece though caught many times was never fully punished, but was allowed to marry the Laird of Contullach’s daughter. There is an HEA for Logan and Ailsa.
Ratings lost one star due to steaminess.
3.5 stars, as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1pQ
Logan Rathmore is the new Laird Ardvarrick, and has returned to his Scottish home after ten years away living in England. Logan attended school there, and grew quite comfortable with his English life, and actually feels a bit uneasy about resuming life in the land of his birth. Many of his clan feel that he has become much too English, and he knows that he has his work cut out for him. One of Logan’s first objectives is to make peace with a neighboring clan, one his clan has been at odds with for a long time. He sets off to make his proposal to their leader, Fingal Contullach. While Fingal doesn’t welcome him with open arms, he is willing to listen to Logan’s proposal. Fingal’s heir and future son-in-law, Ewan, shows no such restraint, and is openly hostile and insulting to Logan. There is also a lovely young harpist who catches Logan’s eye, as well as captivating him with her beautiful playing.
Ailsa McInnis is Fingal’s orphaned niece, and the clan’s harpist. Their family lore states that unless she remains a maiden, she will completely lose her musical ability, which is substantial. As Fingal is very fond of hearing Ailsa play, he is hoping to keep her from getting married. Ailsa is content with her life with the exception of being harassed and badgered by Ewan, who is constantly trying to have his way with her, despite being betrothed to Fingal’s daughter. She finds Logan attractive and charming, but expects that they will never become more than slightly acquainted.
Logan and Ailsa do have occasion to meet again, and when a villainous act requires Ailsa to be rescued, it’s Logan who comes to her aid. Their heightened emotions lead them to share a night of passion, which leads to a hasty marriage with unresolved issues and conflicts. Ailsa frets over her believed inability to play the harp; Logan has received word that his first love back in England is now widowed; and Ewan is intent on having Alisa and destroying the tentative peace between the clans.
I enjoyed reading FORBIDDEN TO THE HIGHLAND LAIRD and really liked the lead characters. Logan is an honorable man who is determined to fulfill his position as laird to the best of his ability, though life in Scotland feels foreign to him upon his return. He treats his new bride with affection, courtesy, and kindness. Ailsa does show her youth by some of her behavior, but she’s quick to show her loyalty to her new husband. Their evolving love is sweet, even as they battle a villain who is truly a despicable man, one I believe got off lightly for his transgressions. FORBIDDEN TO THE HIGHLAND LAIRD is the first book in a new series, and it’s one which will appeal to fans of Scottish romance, or to those who enjoy a hasty marriage of necessity which becomes a happily ever after.
Good book. The story begins a few years after the first Jacobite Rebellion, and interactions between the English and the Scots remain a bit tense. Logan Rathmore arrives at Ardvarrick to take up his duties as Laird after his father’s unexpected death. Until he was sixteen, Logan lived in Scotland but was then sent off to England to his mother’s family to finish his education. He hasn’t been back in the ten years since then. Now he must refamiliarize himself with his homeland. Two weeks later, Logan’s off to visit his nearest neighbor, Fingal Contullach, the rival clan’s laird. On the way, he encounters Ailsa, the castle harpist, who instantly fascinates him.
Ailsa is Fingal’s niece and follows in her mother’s footsteps as the castle harpist. Though a family member, Ailsa is frequently ignored unless playing, and even then feels more like part of the background. She is wary when she meets Logan, having been warned against men, but she’s also intrigued.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Logan and Ailsa. It is a slow burn, as they see each other rarely over the first few months. Logan received a stern warning from Fingal that Ailsa was off-limits, but that didn’t stop his fascination with her. There is a beautiful scene at Contullach where, sensing her loneliness, Logan shares his love of poetry with her. But the feelings he stirs in her frighten Ailsa, as she’s been told all her life that letting a man into her life would end her ability to make music. However, when she overhears a plot that would break the tentative peace between their clans, she is determined to warn him. Once again, a short time together allows them to get to know each other a little more, but it isn’t enough. Logan fights hard against his attraction, well aware of what is at stake, but there’s no doubt that she’s taken hold of his heart.
There are obstacles ahead before Logan and Ailsa can reach their happy ending. A selfish, vindictive man has them both in his sights. I loved Ailsa’s fight and initiative and Logan’s pride in her when he found her. But even when Logan claims her for his own, Ailsa has issues that keep her from believing that Logan truly wants her. She worries about being up to the task of Lady of Ardvarrick even though Logan shows her how she’s valued and appreciated. The one thing he can’t do is get past her assertion that her music is gone forever. Her family spent years grooming her to believe in a curse, and nothing he says will convince her otherwise. I ached for Ailsa and her unhappiness and hoped that eventually, his words would have some effect. Nearly losing Logan in another attack forces Ailsa to face those demons in a last-ditch effort to save him. I loved the culmination of that confrontation and the emotion that spilled from the pages as she finally believed. The epilogue was terrific, and I can’t wait for the next book.
I loved how Scotland and its history was almost another character in the book. I liked the peeks into their daily lives, from the weeks spent at the shirling cottage to the looks at the differences between life at Contullach and Ardvarrick. Watching Logan return to his Scottish roots was terrific. The landscape was not forgotten either. The descriptions of Ailsa’s practice glen, the land over which they traveled, and even the homes themselves made me feel as if I was there.
Book: Forbidden to the Highland Laird
By Sarah Mallory
Series: Lairds of Ardvarrick, Book #1
Publisher: Harlequin
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The Scottish Highlands
1720
Logan Rathmore has come back to Scotland to assume his father’s title as Laird of since his father has died. He had not seen the burial of either of his parents his Scottish Laird father or his English mother a few years earlier due to slow mail and Logan being such a distance away. He also has been healing a broken heart from an English lady who had rejected his offer of marriage for being too Scottish. He goes on a grand tour for several years hoping to lose his Scottishness. Yet returns finds her married to a rich old man with a title! So basically nothing is holding him back in England.
He is not exactly greeted with open arms in in Scotland dressed like a sassenach, even his speech sounded English no longer having a brogue accent. Plus he had been gone so long! Yet he does see he had become soft as all he did in England was go to balls, play cards, gamble, take a stroll in the park. It wasn’t breeding animals, working in the fields, checking on your tennents. Really making a difference in people’s lives, he realized he did want to make things easier and better with everyone in his clan, including making a profit too.
His father wasn’t an easy man and he wanted to smooth the feathers of one of his father’s enemies who was his neighbor . So Logan decides to go introduce himself again and to lets him know the plan he has that will make a profit on cattle for both of them. On his way he hears this beautiful harp player in gaelic called a clársach. He meets and can’t help but flirt with her. This is Ailsa McInnis the harp player at Contullach castle but also the niece of Laird Fingal and their harpist. Ailsa is very beautiful and but who can never marry, fall in love or have family.
According to the clársach legend once a harpist innocence is taken they can no longer play the instrument. The problem is Ailsa as much as she plays the instrument she does find herself attracted to the new Laird of Ardvarrick.
It is obvious to some this attraction between Logan and Ailsa. Plus their is the Contullach heir, Ewan Cowie who does not want the two clans to find peace. Even is it will be a positive agreement that can increase the revenue Even though he is to marry the Lairds daughter he wants Ailsa. He sdoesn’t care if he has to take her by force! He doesn’t like the idea that this Laird is attracted to Ailsa and plans on taking her no matter what. Yet he also threatens her with harm if she refuses his offer to make her his mistress by force. Plus he hates Logan as he has insulted on him in more than one occasion.
Yet when Cowie puts the woman he Logan cares about in danger he no longer cares if Fingal will be angry. Will he be able to save this damsel in distress?Yet what future can Logan and Ailsa have as she feels she is worthless without her musical gift. Logan definitely wears his heart on his sleeve. Will he have another rejected broken heart? Read this wonderful story and find out!
This is the first book in this fantastic Lairds of Ardvarrick series which absolutely blew me away. This story which gripped me right from the start. I thought the story of this harp playing maiden who is believed will lose her gift of music If she loses her innocence was very clever. Plus I really felt for this heroine who felt she was basically worthless without this gift of music that was passed from her family for generations of harp players. Also I felt for Logan who also was confused in what world he belonged in the Scottish or English world. It seemed he had to prove his worth too! Both definitely had self esteem issues to work through.
I definitely recommend Forbidden to the Highland Laird. It is a book readers won’t be able to put down and will be rooting for this couple. Readers will wonder if this couple can even accomplish a happily ever after ending.
Disclaimer: I received an advance readers copy through the author and Harlequin Publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
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