HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER

Author: Jennifer Ashley ISBN: 9780843960044 4/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: DORCHESTER
Time Period: 1820's Scotland

Egan MacDonald was the one person Princess Zarabeth couldn't read. Yet even without being able to hear his thoughts, she knew he was the most honorable, infuriating and deliciously handsome man she'd ever met. And now her life was in his hands. Chased out of her native country by bitter betrayal and a bevy of assassins, Zarabeth found refuge at the remote MacDonald castle and a haven in Egan's embrace. She also found an ancient curse, a matchmaking nephew, a pair of debutantes eager to drag her protector to the alter, and dark secrets in Egan's past. But even amid all the danger raged a desire too powerful to be denied...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Jennifer Ashley knows her way around hunky Highlanders, and I am glad of it! She has created a memorable Scotsman in hero Egan MacDonald, and a plethora of relatives and friends that hold their own in this character driven read. As much as I enjoyed getting to know the clan and their neighbors, some new and some old, the main kidnapping/kill-the-heroine plot in HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER is not quite all that it could be.

Honestly, that whole area of the book can be deleted. For me, the interesting parts of the story are the magic between the hero and heroine, the breaking of a curse, and the escapades of a matchmaking family while supposed ghosties lurk about. Now, do not get me wrong, I realize that the whole reason Princess Zarabeth is with Egan in his rundown castle in the first place, is to keep her safe from those who wish her harm in her homeland. But, so much happens in the story that has nothing to do with that sinister plot, that quite frankly, I forgot about it. Well, until it crops up near the end.

Anyway, I do like HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER, and most certainly enjoy the characters and their frank ways enough to recommend it as a good Scottish read. There haven't been too many of those out there lately, so get one while you can!

Shannon Johnson