I’ve read a few Amanda Scott books over the years, and they generally come in around the B-/C+ range for me. Highland Lover is similar to the others I’ve read; the historical research is well done, and the plot is just slightly slow and plodding. A slightly-too-naive heroine kicked the grade down to average for this one.

Lady Alyson MacGillivray jumps at the chance to go on a sea voyage with her husband, Niall Clyne. Though they’ve been married over two months, they have spent very little time together; Niall spends most of his time with Mungo, a fellow knight serving the Earl or Orkney. The purpose of the voyage is to secretly escort Scotland’s Prince Jamie to a new hiding place, away from the prying eyes of his scheming uncle, the Duke of Albany. As the voyage proceeds, Alyson finds herself spending more time with young Jamie and his servant Will – and very little time with Niall. Suddenly, the ship is attacked by pirates. And not typical pirates – they are very interested in Jamie and not at all interested in the cargo. They seize Jamie, the Earl of Orkney, and some others. Alyson, who hid in a trunk at the beginning of the attack, is left to drown when the ship begins to sink.

Happily, Jamie’s servant Will stayed behind to save Alyson (her husband couldn’t be bothered). Both of them are rescued by Captain Jake Maxwell, who has been secretly following the ship. When they discuss events together, they decide that someone must have betrayed Jamie. They resolve to report to higher authorities, and make their way by land and sea back to Scotland. They decide that Niall is probably dead; he isn’t likely to command much of a ransom, so they probably just threw him overboard. En route Alyson meets a fellow widow, and, after some frank talk with her, Alyson learns that Niall wasn’t actually much of a husband. She also gets to know Jake, finding him surprisingly easy to talk too. Jake likes Alyson as well. She’s brave, uncomplaining, and beautiful. He is amazed to learn that she’s also still a maiden; in the time they’ve been married, Niall hasn’t bothered to consummate the union.

This makes phase two of the story pretty easy. The travelers visit St. Andrews just when Father Antonio, a Papal Legate, is in attendance. Father Antonio and the resident bishop are both dismayed that Alyson has been travelling unchaperoned with a group of men. Jake tells them of her unconsummated union, and they decide that the best solution is for Jake and Alyson to marry. Fortunately, a Papal Legate has the ability to grant annulments. Jake has been enjoying his fancy free existence on the high seas, so he’s a little surprised to discover that he actually wants to marry Alyson. Unlike Niall, he plans to consummate the union immediately.

The pair returns to Alyson’s family home after that, surprising her relatives with their news. Of course, they aren’t out of the woods. Niall may or may not be dead, and though he’s an unassuming, weak man, Mungo isn’t – and he wants Alyson’s lands. Jake and Alyson will have to resolve the issues with Alyson’s past so they can enjoy a future together.

One of the attractions of road romances is that the couple is on the move. There’s something new and exciting around every corner. In the case of Highland Lover, that’s less true. They may be on the go, but it seems more like a casual amble. It does provide Jake and Alyson with lots of opportunity for conversation, and they chat up a storm (though I found it somewhat hard to believe that a naive, Medieval maiden would speak so frankly to another man about where her husband had and hadn’t touched her). The frequent conversations give a context to their love; they clearly like each other, and when the time comes to marry we all know it will work out.

The historical details are well-researched and interesting. Amanda Scott does not write wallpaper history. The differences between types of ships are described in detail. Taverns and castles seem very real. The reader gets a definite sense of time and place.

Jake and Alyson are basically likable – but I’m not sure that this makes them interesting. “Pleasant” is probably the best word for both of them. They are nice, earnest people with a nice story. Alyson is perhaps a bit over the top in her naivete. She really has no idea that Niall was supposed to do anything other than lie down beside her. Surely someone could have told her how babies were made (and eventually, someone does: Jake).

I had some issues with the portrayal of Niall and Mungo, who are both clearly gay as Christmas. Granted, this is 1403, not a time when homosexuality would have been considered acceptable. Still, it bothered me that they were both such jerks. Niall is more of a jerk by omission and weakness; he’s so enamored of Mungo that he doesn’t pay attention to Alyson or her needs. Mungo is an actual jerk – and that’s a nice way of putting it. As villains go, they weren’t my favorites.

But really, there’s nothing awful or truly objectionable about this book. Unfortunately, nothing is spectacular either. It’s your basic C book, and historical details aside, it’s not really worth going out of your way to read it.