She’s found the man for her, but he has no plans to stay on her island. Perhaps it’s time to try a little sabotage!Scotland. 1725. The moment she sees handsome Dougal Drummond, Kirsty Macbain tumbles headlong into love. A chance storm a few days before Christmas has blown the gallant Highlander off-course to her father’s isle of Askaval, but once he’s repaired his boat, Dougal is determined to … Dougal is determined to continue on his way. His bright blue eyes are firmly fixed on valiant deeds and a distant horizon. What does he care for a smart-mouthed, independent lassie who forms no part of his plans for his future?
Kirsty is convinced that if only she can keep Dougal on Askaval, he’ll see how perfect they are together. With his boat out of action, he’s trapped in her company. Some surreptitious midnight destruction with a drill and a hammer might help true love to win out. On the other hand, if Dougal discovers what she’s been up to, there will be the devil to pay.
Will this madcap Christmas deliver Kirsty’s heart’s desire – or will her scheming see Dougal sailing away to a life without her?
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4.5 stars rounded up
Dougal Drummond of Bruard has always wanted to be a knight in shining armor on a quest, like the knights of King Arthur’s court, but with peace reigning in his father’s lands, there are no dragons to slay or damsels in distress, so when he hears the tale of Fair Ellen of the Isles, who is being held captive in a tower by her evil father – he knows he has found his quest.
Kirsty Macbain of Askaval is out surveying the damage caused by the fierce storm that swept over the island the previous night when she sees a damaged boat in the harbor, she rides down to greet the stranger, thinking he is crazy to have ventured out alone this time of year, less than a week before Christmas! But when she lays eyes on him, she falls headfirst into love! When he asks where he is, she tells him the Island of Askaval, which is nowhere near the Isle of Innish he was traveling to. She invites him to the house to get cleaned up and fed and he goes willingly, but is clear, he won’t be staying any longer than it takes to repair his boat.
Kirsty offers to help with the repairs and Dougal accepts, he has noticed how attractive she is and he enjoys her company, but he will not be distracted, he has a damsel to rescue! When he tells Kirsty and her father of his quest, they are surprised, they thought the tale of Fair Ellen was a fairy tale and her father is sure she is not on Innish but on Pabbay, while others are sure she is on Scalpay or Canna! Her dad invites him to stay for Christmas, but he is dead-set on leaving as soon as his boat is seaworthy and hopefully set out on the next morning’s tide. He works with Kirsty and they get the boat repaired and he helps gather greenery for the Christmas ceilidh they are having in a few days. Again they ask him to stay and again he refuses.
The next morning Dougal breaks his fast with Kirsty and her father, thanks them for their hospitality and sets off. But when he reaches the quay, he is dismayed to see his boat has taken on water! This will delay him at least a couple of days and he needs to leave – his attraction to Kirsty feels like a betrayal to Ellen and his quest. But with no other options, he stays and lets Kirsty help him with the boat.
And so it goes, he repairs the boat, deepens him admiration for Kirsty and plan to leave, but when an unplanned kiss changes everything and the truth about the damage to his boat st uncovered, tempers flare, words are spoken and hearts are broken. Can their story have a happy ending or will Fair Ellen win the heart of the highlander?
I really enjoyed this story, it was a very sweet love at first sight tale with a bit of steam, wonderful characters, a hero that blushes, a heroine who will do whatever is necessary to win the love of a man set on another and finally a very satisfying ending complete with a fantastic epilogue. I am happy to recommend this story and while this novella is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone title.
f you have read any of my reviews of Anna’s books, you know I am a huge fan of her books! I love her characters, especially her wonderful Highlanders.
Dougal Drummond was born to do great feats of bravery. In order to make a name for himself, he will venture out into the world to prove himself. He is in search of a damsel in distress, Ellen of the Isles. He will venture out in his sailing boat to find Ellen, rescue her, marry her and cement himself a place in history.
Kirsty McBain a lass who lives on her family’s island Askaval. One day out riding she spots a boat limping into the harbor, a braw man with bright red hair.
Kirsty falls in love on the spot. Dougal has to fix his boat and get on with his quest. He cannot let anything stop him, even if starts to think more about Kirsty and less about Ellen. He must get his boat fixed and leave before he forsakes his honor. Little does he know that Kirsty will do anything to get him to stay.
I will admit I wasn’t a big fan of Dougal, he seemed a little naive and selfish. I think that was a deliberate plot twist from Anna because by the end of the book I also loved Dougal! Kirsty deserved a HAE and Anna hit it out of the park! I have said this before, but Anna knows what her readers want and she delivers every time.
I highly recommend this book and any other by Anna Campbell.
This was a sweet Christmas read. Although I felt Dougal was quite self-centred I still liked him because he had such high ambitions to be strong and noble. Kristy was a sweet and capable young lady who knew what she wanted when she saw it. The whole island and characters made for a wonderful read. There was a sex scene and this reviewer skipped it as usual. Another of Ms Campbell’s books that you can’t go wrong with. I received this as an ARC and do my review freely.
I always enjoy this author’s work. Loved Dougal and Kirsty’s story.
What a perfect Christmas season story Anna Campbell has woven in The Highlander’s Christmas Quest. We meet Dougal Drummond, blessed with a knight of lore mentality, who wishes to rescue the fabled Fair Ellen of the Isles from captivity. He is thrown off course when a fierce storm thrusts him and his damaged boat onto Askavel island. Kirsty Macbain, a local lass, falls in love with him at first sight. She and her father offer their hospitality during the time Dougal needs to repair his boat. Kirsty soon finds out he is focused on returning to his voyage to rescue a woman he has never met. She does all she can to keep him on the island as long as possible, hoping he will realize that one who loves him is already there. What a delight it was to read this tale of a young man who wishes to rescue a maiden who will cling to him and rely on his strength to protect her, and a young woman who doesn’t need to be rescued at all. I enjoyed the lively secondary characters in this work, the enjoyable epilogue, and the sweet, sensual encounter between Kirsty and Dougal. Well done. 4 ½ stars!
I was gifted a copy of this work by the author which in no way affected this review. All opinions stated are my own.
The Highlander’s Christmas Quest is the fifth book in Anna Campbell’s “The Lairds Most Likely” series. All though you definitely could read this book as a stand-alone, I highly recommend the entire series! For those of us who are fans of Anna Campbell, this time of year is special to us as we are usually gifted with a Christmas novella from Anna. This year not only did we get a fabulous Christmas story but a hunky Highlander too! 😉
Dougal Drummond is restless now that the Highlands where he lives has become civilized and peaceful. He longs for glory, to do something momentous and great, something worthy of legend. So a week before Christmas, he sets off on a journey to rescue the Fair Ellen of the Isles.
Kirsty Macbain is the only daughter of the Laird of the island of Askaval. When Dougal Drummond’s boat washes up on Askaval island, Kirsty takes one look at the brawny Highlander and falls in love. But what’s a girl to do when the exasperating man is determined to leave the island…
Oh, how I love Anna Campbell and her Christmas stories. I always look forward to what she has in store for us, and this little gem was perfect! Poor Kirsty, I really liked her and the fact that Dougal was so blind to her charms and was set on leaving as soon as possible made me want to knock him over the head! Lol! But then again, maybe Dougal wasn’t as blind to Kirsty’s charms as we might have thought… They were a fantastic couple and the story Anna wove for these two was fabulous, one I struggled to put down. With Anna Campbell’s witty dialogue, a blushing Highlander, a determined young woman set out to get her man, and an absolutely perfect ending, it was easy to fall in love with this story! Anna Campbell never disappoints and this has been an absolutely fantastic series to date. I highly recommend this book, series, and author!
A fun Christmas novella! 5 stars
If you liked the other books in Anna Campbell’s series titled ‘The Lairds Most Likely’, then you will enjoy her fifth story ‘The Highlander’s Christmas Quest’. A fun and quick read!
Dougal is ‘thrown’ on Askaval island where a young woman named Kirsty lives with her father. His plans are simple repair his boat and move on with his voyage. However, when Kirsty sees him, she decides to keep him on her island all for herself. She’ll do everything to make her dream come true. Will this highlander resist to her charm and move on or will he fall for charming lass? Will Christmas do its magic again? A lovely Scottish adventure of Happily-Ever-After.
If you are looking for a quick, Christmas story filled with lots of witty banter, a hero who is determined to play Sir Galahad and a strong beautiful determined heroine to win his heart then this is the book you should pick up, loved it from page one.
Dougal Drummond sets of on a quest to save a damsel in distress that he has heard of and make her his wife and no even foul weather just on Christmas will stop his quest that is until his boat is blown of course and he lands on the Isle of Askaval and he meets the lairds daughter Kirsty Macbain, but even this woman is not going to stop him going after his goal of being a knight in shining armour or maybe not when she is all he can think of.
Kirsty Macbain and the people of Askaval don’t stand on ceremony on this Isle and when on her morning ride she discovers a boat on the shore damaged by the storm and brings to the isle a man who wins her heart on first sight, they get on well as he does with the people of the isle, but Kirsty will do what she can to keep this man here even if he is so determined to complete his quest, not seeing what he could have here, or does he?
Another fabulous tale from Anna Campbell, I loved Dougal and Kirsty and the lengths that Kirsty went too, to keep the man that she fell for, for Dougal it took some time to get past the need to save the damsel in distress even though the he could only see the beautiful Kirsty, when he returns on Christmas Day there is joy all around, the love shines and a sensual future is ahead, a sigh worthy story with lots of smiles This is one that I highly recommend, you can’t go wrong with a Scottish hero on an Isle at Christmas time, thank you Anna Campbell.