The Highlander is all That
First things first, y’all. If you find this title charming and quirky, then this book will most likely be your booknip. The vibe matches the twee vibe of the book perfectly, so if you’re game for the blending of twenty-first and eighteenth centuries, ignore my following ranty review and click ‘buy now’. If you’re skeptical of the title, then let me tell you why I think you should be, and if you’re already enraged by it, allow me to confirm your gritted teeth and eye rolling.
Elizabeth St. Claire is a picky lady who needs a husband. As distant cousins of the (Scottish) Duke of Caithness, she and her sisters are under his protection, which is one million percent fine by her, as she has a Highlander fetish to rival the best of them. When the duke sends several of his most trusted men to escort Lizzie and her sisters through the London season, Lizzie is immediately taken by one. And by ‘taken’, I mean begins to flagrantly seduce.
Hamish Robb is a good man but knows he’s no societal match for Lizzie, despite his sexual attraction to her. He thwarts her advances until he doesn’t, but in between there are hijinks aplenty. Not only do we follow Lizzie and Hamish’s potentially exploding chemistry, but her three sisters are enmeshed with partners throughout the book as well. We spend a lot of time with the giggling sisters as they find their lads, but drama follows each pair. Throughout the two hundred and fifty-odd pages of the book, there are kidnappings, runaway marriages, inappropriate older ladies, historically questionable steamy moments, and multiple happily ever afters. It’s the book equivalent of a three-ring circus where you’re not really sure where to look or if any of it is a good idea.
There are a lot of readers of historical romance who want the emphasis on the historical and some who care less about details. There are some readers who are delighted by twenty-first century characters encased in corsets and cavorting at house parties, but for some that’s anathema. I’m someone who normally falls into the ‘less about details’ camp, but I still like to feel as though it’s possible the book is historically appropriate. Licenses taken are one thing, but this one just crossed all of my lines for believability.
You may be wondering why I haven’t given a flat out F grade. Well, my standard for that grade is pretty strict: I fail a book when I believe it’s offensive, damaging, or can think of literally no one who should read it. This book is none of those things; I just couldn’t be doing with it to such an extent that I’d hesitate to read any other works by the author. In the vast tent of Romancelandia, however, I’m sure there are some for whom this will be an all-out delight and I wish them joy as they read.
Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K
Recent Comments
On the other hand, this might be a good choice for someone who has recently read some dark and depressing books and needs a little… ginger ale. :)
Totally fair. TOTALLY. I, personally, would recommend a different brand of said ginger ale, but to each their own, haha!
There are many, many better brands of ginger ale out there, though :)
So this might be like the generic diet ginger ale Dad bought by accident? ;)
I’m not the biggest fan of Highlander romances anyway, but I’ve read this author before and I knew not to go near this with the proverbial ten foot pole. As for the title… yeah, I’m in the gritty teeth and eyerolling brigade
When I read that title, I thought for sure this had to be some kind of time-travel book! No. Just…no.
Your review is a perfect example of why disclaimers, such as you used, are helpful. This week on Smexy Books, this book received an A review. http://smexybooks.com/2017/10/review-the-highlander-is-all-that-by-sabrina-york.html
I saw that A review at Smexy and was skeptical. That title alone makes me feel slightly stabby.
I try to always think of “who would like this” as I read – so I’m glad that instinct is helpful! That review is a prime example of why art is subjective, eh? I’m largely over titles like this (except I give Maya Rodale a pass for reasons I’m not fully able to articulate beyond “they work for me”), so I was also skeptical going in. When a character named Lord Twiggenberry appeared on page one, I knew I was in for – what to my taste – was a long one.