Enchanted by the Highlander is the fourth book in a charming and enchanting Scottish series that reimagines fairytales by Lecia Cornwall. Gillian MacLeod is shy and quiet, the least likely of all her sisters to seek out excitement and adventure. But on a moonlit night at a masquerade ball, Gillian steals a kiss from a mysterious stranger, knowing she’ll never see him again. John Erly, disowned by …
John Erly, disowned by his noble English father, started a new life in Scotland. Most people are suspicious of the foreign mercenary and he does everything is his power to avoid romantic entanglements. But he can’t forget the bewitching beauty who kissed him in the dark, and stole his heart, even though he has no idea who she might be.
A year later, John is given the duty of escorting Gillian to her wedding and immediately recognizes her as the temptress he’s dreamed of for months. There’s not much he can do when she’s promised to another man, but fate intervenes and this time, passion–and adventure–can’t be denied. Honor demands he stay away from the MacLeod’s enchanting daughter, but love has a very different ending in mind…
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Once I started reading this delicious book, I couldn’t put it down. So, yes, I pulled an all-nighter and it was worth absolutely every sleepless minute. Just as the title suggests – you will be enchanted. The book is wonderfully clever, delightfully humorous and is sweetly romantic. It has it all and, as always, the author fills the story with unexpected twists and turns. The writing is flawless, the pacing is perfect, the characters are robust and fully developed, and the romance is enchanting.
I just have to say that I absolutely LOVE the MacLeod’s. You have this huge, gruff, fearsome Highland warrior, Donal MacLeod, known as Fearsome MacLeod. He has had nine wives and a dozen daughters. He has loved all of his wives and adores his daughters. Watching the daughters manage and outmaneuver their gruff father is delightfully entertaining.
Gillian Alanna MacLeod is a ghost in her own home. No, not literally, but it is as if nobody really sees or knows her. They love her unquestionably, but they don’t really know who she is. She is shy and quiet, so everybody assumes she isn’t the smartest among them. They just decide things for her – without even asking her – and she lets them. If she’s asked a question, they answer for her. If she’s speaking, they just speak right over her. There are great hidden depths to Gillian and she longs for love and adventure – the kind of love her married sisters have. While she is quiet and shy – she is also very, very brave and intelligent. While others talk and babble, she observes and comes to understand.
John Erly, an Englishman who has been disowned by his father, has lived in the Highlands for the past five years. He serves as Captain of the Guard for his friend Dair Sinclair (from the first book in the series). John is always ‘the outsider’ and while he is respected for his skills, he really isn’t accepted as one of them. He is charming, caring and very honorable, but he adopts a persona as a rogue.
Gillian first sees John when she stops off at her sister’s home on her way back from Edinburgh. Everyone immediately warns her to stay away from John because he is a Sassenach, a womanizer and he has nothing to offer her. However, she’s intrigued, watches him and becomes convinced that he is not at all what he appears to be. It is all a face he puts on to protect himself. She wants to speak with him, but he avoids her because he has also been warned to stay away from her. On the night of her sister’s masquerade ball, she engineers a meeting with John – and a life-changing kiss. She knows who she is kissing, but he does not.
Ten months later, Gillian returns as a betrothed woman. She has just stopped off to visit with her sister on the way to Edinburgh to be married. Circumstances conspire to make it necessary for John to escort her overland to Edinburgh rather than her going by sea. That means a torturous ten-day trip that John dreads because he has never forgotten his kiss from the mystery woman – and he’s realized that it was Gillian. To add more pain to the task, he is the one who is to act for her father and give the bride away.
The trip is both dangerous and humorous. You’ll love all the other highlanders they meet and add to their entourage along the way. I’m hoping that those Laird’s will end up being the heroes in upcoming books. During that journey, Gillian becomes a hero with songs and stories written about her.
This delightful book has a wonderful ending – conducted in typical Fearful MacLeod fashion. You want to kiss him and bop him on the head – frequently. Gillian’s sisters are also delightful and have their hand in managing their father and getting John and Gillian their HEA.
I always try to include the things I like and the things I don’t like, in my reviews. However, I absolutely LOVED everything about this book. The only thing that I questioned was — Isn’t a Prologue supposed to be something that happens days, months, weeks, or years before the beginning of the book? It isn’t something that runs concurrent or directly adjacent to the first chapter. In this book, the Prologue just runs right into the timeline of the first chapter. So, my question is – Why not just label the Prologue as Chapter One and go from there?
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
Enchanted by this book! Each tale in the MacLeod sisters series is better than the last one. I have loved each book in the series, this one especially. The characters are wonderful, each misunderstood by those around them. There are adventures, danger, twists and turns and a few villains to boot. Gillian is considered the quiet, shy one of Donal MacLeod’s daughter. As each person around her answers for her, or thinks they know what she wants, little are they aware in Gillian there beats a heart seeking adventures and love. John Erly is an Englishman living in Scotland. Although he is Alasdair Og’s captain, he tends to stand apart from the others. Dair just happens to be married to Gillian’s sister. On a layover at Dair’s home, Gillian and John spy each other and are fast attracted to each other. Here is where is all becomes unraveled. Gillian knows what she wants, and against all her family’s warnings and a marriage arranged by her father, she wants John. While traveling to her Edinburgh wedding, her group is attacked. Here Gillian finds her voice and strength. I don’t like spoilers in reviews so I won’t say any more, just that this is a very worthwhile read. There are more unmarried MacLeod sisters so I hope that means more books. I received this eBook from NetGalley for an honest review.
Gillian is a misunderstood woman. I enjoyed her infinite patience with her family as well as her curiosity and love for nature’s beauty. Her talents were surprising, but it just showed how strong she really was. I was drawn to John because of his selflessness in helping others without needing recognition. The two complimented and surprised each other which made this a fun read for me.
I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.
The title says it all — This book was completely enchanting! I loved this Cinderella-esque retelling with a Scottish Highland flair. It combined the best of historical romance and fairy tales. Cornwall put in just enough twists to put her original stamp on the fairy tale theme.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this story from NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Lecia Cornwall has another winner with her latest release, Enchanted by the Highlander. This story is very well-written, contains witty dialogue, a fun plot and three-dimensional characters who appeal to the reader. I especially liked Moire, the healer who seemed to have a touch of “the sight” and always was there when she was needed. The main characters Gillian MacLeod and John Early made for a fascinating couple. They were able to overcome all the stumbling blocks placed in their way to their happily ever after.
This is a fun read for all Scottish Highlander fans.
Enchanted by the Highlander by Lecia Cornwall
A Highland Fairy Tale #4
With elements of Cinderella and a few other fairy tales I remember from childhood I have to say this was a thoroughly enjoyable story!
Gilllian McLeod, one of twelve daughters, is the quietest and least understood of the sisters. She steps outside of her usual boundaries to kiss a man she finds attractive while at a masked ball only to not hear from him again for so long that she finds herself engaged to another man. When Gilly meets again with John Erly, the man she kissed, he realizes who she is but believes there is no hope for the two of them. He is entrusted with her safety to get her to the wedding on time and the story at that point begins to pick up.
This story has a masked ball, a secret kiss, an overland journey, bad men to thwart, proposals aplenty, a coming into one’s own, a competition among worthy opponents and eventually true love’s kiss and true love to be found.
I enjoyed this book – perhaps not quite as much as some of the previous stories – but could not put it down once I began. I am eager to read about each and every one of the sisters and who they will end up with (8 more to go?) and also wouldn’t mind knowing what happens to some of the warriors mentioned in the story as well as the men who proposed to but did not win Gilly.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars