April 18th, 2009 — About, Cursed Lead, Highlander, Julie Garwood, Scotland
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What is highlander romance?
Highlander romance is a subgenre of historical romance. Not to be confused with the show, highlander romance is all about those sexy warrior men. The setting for these romances usually takes place in Scotland or Wales. You may be familiar with the 2008 movie Made of Honor; it was a movie that pitted the typical Highlander, Scottish, hero against a trust fund city slicker. An exemplary novel of this genre is Julie Garwood’s The Bride. Overall, Highlander romances are as formula based as any other genre in romance or fiction.
What are the Clans/Tribes involved in Highlander romance?
I am sure there are more, and if you know of them inform me and I’ll flush out this section!
- Celtics
- Saxons
- Scottish
- Welsh
- Highlanders
- Lowlanders
The lore behind Highlander Romance:
Most Highlander romances will use a Romeo and Juliet theme where the clan/tribe/family rivalry and hatred separate the two lovebirds. They will either fall in love in spite of the mutual dislike or be forced into it by another typical plot line such as the girl’s family being indebted to the hero or his family. The debt will be settled by marriage and unwilling or not family honor must be upheld. Luckily for the main leads, they end up liking each other.
There are also plenty of curses and cursed heroes and heroines alike in Highlander romance. A cursed hero will be destined to lose his love or perhaps has already lost his love and finds a new one. He might be cursed to never find love, get married, bear children, etc. The heroines could face similar curses.
Highlander romance also includes a lot of vendettas and bride stealing.
If you would like to add to this section or review a Highlander romance please contact me!
Originally posted 2008-07-09 21:12:11. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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April 14th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Barons and Baronets, Book Review, Bride Stealing, Children, Hairy, Hannah Howell, Highlander, Kidnapping, Pregnant, Scarred Hero, Scotland, Virgin Heroine, Warrior
Beauty and the Beast by Hannah Howell is not a spectacular read. It is however a pretty solid read. I found several segments to be unnecessary and jumpy and predictable in others. This Highlander romance contains all the elements of the sub-genre including bride stealing, thwarted love, revenge plotting, and battle.
Thayer Saiturn is known as the Red Devil, a knight so fierce and courageous that his name inspires fear in the enemies. The second cousin in line for inheriting a title and land, Thayer knows his place in life is on the battlefield waging war to earn his bread and keep. He wishes for the finer things in life, namely a woman to warm his bed, but he knows his limitations. While men express awe and fear over him, women see nothing but an ugly, very hairy, very red brute covered with many scars (none on his face). He pays for the women in his bed, and does not seek one outside of this arrangement. Betrayed once by a beautiful woman, Thayer vows never to be so weak before another highborn beauty.
Gytha is promised by betrothal contract to the heir of Saiturn Manor. At first it was William, beautiful and strong bodied, but word came that he was dead. So too came word that the second cousin, Thayer was dead. Learning that she is to marry Robert, Gytha expresses disappointment. Robert is weak and his soft looks do nothing for her. She would prefer the knight coming in to witness the wedding – the tall one with flaming red hair, a lithe graceful body, and sweet soft brown eyes.
When she discovers that the red knight is Thayer, the true heir to Saiturn Manor, Gytha is relieved. Robert and his uncle are not but cannot fight the contract. Thayer is dismayed, having thought this to be William’s wedding he was attending, he finds no comfort in learning it is his own. The thought of the inheritance does not soothe him for his bride is the prettiest beauty he has ever seen. He was sure to be cuckold, made a fool of by his marriage to her. Men everywhere were vying for her attentions even as she walked down the aisle. He was doomed, for Gytha could not possibly want him.
Rating: 3 Stars
Originally posted 2008-12-15 23:06:06. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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April 6th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Cathy Maxwell, England, Highlander, Kidnapping, Scotland, Warrior
Cathy Maxwell spins a charming little tale with delightful leads that are fun to read. I was disappointed in the bedroom scenes, however, when the story finally got there. I would have given this novel a four, but the dissatisfaction gleaned out of the lovemaking knocked it down a notch.
In the Highlander’s Bed a clan of Highlanders are in dire need of land, wealth, security, and they’re willing to fight for it. Or they were, but even Gordon’s most persuasive arguments lack the enthralling power to galvanize the people into action. They are becoming lazy, unorganized, and defeated. The pride that once held up their heads is gone and bickering has broken out amongst them.
Gordon needs the Sword of MacKenna to rouse them from their lackadaisical doldrums. However the Sword belongs to an ex-clansman who now enjoys a title from the peerage of England. But there is one thing Gordon is sure of about Tavis, he will protect what is his… even if it’s his sister by marriage. With plans to kidnap Constance Cameron from her remote boarding school, this is where our story starts.
Constance is more than Gordon thought he would get. Feisty and captivating, she fights like the devil and gives pride and purpose back to his people. Constance is more than he imagined and makes him yearn for peace. But the bounty on his head reminds Gordon, that he alone cannot escape the hangman’s noose and what kind of life is that to offer a woman?
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: In the Highlander’s Bed
Originally posted 2008-12-07 06:44:13. Republished by Old Post Promoter
April 1st, 2009 — 5 Stars, Book Review, Cursed Lead, Gentry, Highlander, Julia London, Scotland, Virgin Heroine
Highlander in Love is one of the sweetest, most delightful romances I have had the pleasure to read. Julia London spins a masterful tale that weaves the magic of Scotland into your heart. The intimate scenes between Payton and Mared are thrillingly sensual and are on a scale of not to hot, super hot. Highlander in Love combines all of the genre’s standard plots in a delightful new way.
Payton Douglas, Laird of Eilean Ros, has two hobbies: sheep raising, whiskey brewing. He has been in love with Mared Lockhart for years, the vibrant young woman from the castle Talla Dileas on the other side of the mountain. She does not hold any affection for him at all as he’s a Douglas, the enemy, the man she believes who brought destitution down on the heads of her family.
Mared has a curse upon her, one that has lived in the family for hundreds of years with devastating consequences. No daughter of a Lockhart will ever marry until she looks into the belly of the devil. Those that try to wed find themselves dead or their lovers dead. Separated from the rest of the lochs because of this curse, Mared grew into a young vivacious woman with a lot of sass. Payton finds her irresistible.
However, the Lockharts’ are in dire straights. With the introduction of sheep to the lochs, cows were not bringing in the money they’d used to bring. A large loan of 3,000 pounds was extended by Payton to Mared’s father with her hand in marriage as collateral should they fail to pay the loan back in a year.
Then the scoundrel Hugh MacAlister stole the beastie from the Lockharts, leaving them without a way to repay Douglas. But Mared won’t marry a Douglas! Determined to bring Miss Beitris Crowley into Payton’s esteem, Mared hopes that he’ll offer for Beitris instead. But Payton won’t be deterred, and in desperation Mared breaks off the betrothal.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Wounded by her refusal, Payton lashes out and demands that the loan be paid, as agreed upon the collateral of Mared’s promise. He forces Mared into his house as a housekeeper. But she vows to never serve him.
Packed full of wonderful dialog and scenes, this is just the tip of the iceberg with Highlander in Love. Payton is the new Mr. Darcy; composed, misunderstood, passionate, wealthy, and desperately lonely. How will he overcome Mared’s hate of the Douglas clan and see his way to a future built on the glimmering foundation of dreams?
Rating: 5 Stars
Buy: Highlander in Love
Originally posted 2008-12-02 14:44:15. Republished by Old Post Promoter
March 27th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, Book Review, Bride Stealing, Hannah Howell, Highlander, Knight, Scotland, Virgin Heroine, Warrior
Highland Barbarian by Hannah Howell is an exceptional romance novel. The love story is both captivating and highly amusing. A tale of a Lowlander (with Highlander blood in her veins) and a Highlander (whose warrior skills include brains), this is sure to be on your favorite shelf.
With his Laird on his deathbed, Sir Artan Murray cannot refuse the task of going to the Lowlands to lure Cecily, his Laird’s niece, home again. Throw in her tempting dowry and the fact that his Laird wants to make him, the second son of twins, the heir and future Laird, Artan finds himself traveling south before he knows it. In his heart of hearts, Artan knows he could never marry a girl no matter how bonnie she is or how bonnie her dowry. He wants a marriage like his parents, as all the Murray’s wed for love.
When he first lays eyes on Cecily Donaldson, Artan thinks he’s seen an angel. Glorious red hair and beautiful green eyes have tempted him as no woman has ever tempted him. Stealing kisses, usurping her arranged betrothal’s rights, and fighting off a few dozen men are all fun and games until Artan overhears a conversation from the girl’s guardians between her betrothed. His questions and fears answered, Artan knows what he must do.
He will have to kidnap his future bride from the midst of wolves and take her back with him whether she wants to go or not. Cecily, hurt and betrayed, struggles against her passion for this Highland barbarian. Her struggles however are halfhearted, because when Artan touches her or kisses her or loves her, she burns for him with a yearning that can’t be denied.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Originally posted 2008-11-27 22:13:51. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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January 31st, 2009 — Contests, Covers, Highlander
Last night was the last chance to enter the DIY Highlander Cover Contest and this morning and all day is set aside for voting. You vote by leaving a comment on the entry you like the best for both cover and background. We have two great entries by two great artists.
Sasha presents Laird of the Manor, a contemporary romance with a historical background centered around mock battles.
Zarabeth presents The Highlander’s Heir, a historical romance featuring a feisty plump heroine and a hero with a mission.
Also take a moment to think about the next DIY cover. What would you be interested in see next? We’ve had Pirates and Highlanders, perhaps we need Vikings or werewolves? Maybe corporate bosses and their secretary mistresses? Leave a suggestion!
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January 20th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Movie Reviews
I thought to start something new at RRN. I love romantic comedies and I have an entire collection of them so why not add movie reviews to the blog over the weekends as a refreshing break from novel reviews. Feel free to submit your own movie reviews at reviewromancenovel[@]yahoo[.]com.
The movie I’ve chosen to start us out recently came out on DVD. When I saw it in theaters I thought my best friend would just die! The heroine’s name was her own and she had two beaus one a sexy NYC devil and the other a true Highlander, bagpipes and all. I was right!
Patrick Dempsey plays Tom Bailey the lovable schmoozer, who when in college invented the coffee collar and got into bed with the wrong girl. Hannah, played by Michelle Monaghan, is full of sass and her first act on finding Tom in her bed is to spray him with perfume right in the eyes. She follows the act by telling Tom that he’s ugly in artistic terms and leaves him to her very drunk roommate.
After that it seems they were inseparable and the story picks up again at the start of a typical (Sun)day for them. Coffee, art, walk in central park, desserts at the best bakery in the city, oh and of course shopping for a wedding gift for another one of Tom’s father’s weddings… he’s on five, six, seven? Both Tom and his father are very wealthy.
At the end of the wedding montage, Hannah announces the job offer to acquire paintings from Scotland. Tom urges her to accept and discovers that it’ll be six Sundays before he’ll see her again. We watch him bungle through them in mindless and sometimes desperate acts until he comes to the conclusion we as watchers have always known - he loves Hannah.
Unfortunately for Tom, he finds out the night he plans to tell her of his affections that she’s going to marry someone else. This someone she met in Scotland and he’s as perfect as any male can be. Poor Tom, how can he compete? To make matters worse Hannah asks Tom to be her maid of honor and that’s when the story really kicks off and we discover if Tom is made of honor or selfishness. Can he love her enough to fight for her? Does he love her enough to let her go?
There were a few moments of ridiculousness that were over the top, the sex humor was funny and only a little gregarious, there was the obligatory bathroom scene in the male locker room but I laughed at it instead of thinking ‘oh jeez, another one?’ The chemistry between Dempsey and Monaghan was terrific and the whole cast was excellent. So pop the popcorn and kick up your heels to a Scottish tune and enjoy a night of tomfoolery - pun intended.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Originally posted 2008-09-21 17:22:06. Republished by Old Post Promoter
January 17th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Hannah Howell, Heiress, Highlander, Kidnapping, Knight, Scotland, Survival, Virgin Heroine, Warrior
I had a hard time setting Highland Hearts aside to get some work done once I started it. I ended staying up late last night to finish it. This story is exciting and thrilling and you’ll be sure to love it even if Highlander romance is not your cup of tea.
Contessa Delgado’s journey to love begins the moment she releases Sir Revan Halyard from her Uncle Thurkettle’s dungeon. Footsteps and voices descend the stairwell leading down to where they are and Revan does what any dashing knight would do when life was in danger - hold a girl by sword point and threaten to skewer her if Thurkettle and his men don’t drop their weapons.
Feisty Tess has a wicked tongue and gives him a verbal lashing even as he drags her onto his horse and rides into the woods as if the devil were on their heels. When arrows start to rain down on them without a care to Tess’ safety and some aimed even more deliberately at her the urge to get away is even more dire. What uncle would shoot to kill his niece? An uncle who wanted all the wealth she just inherited from her trust, that’s who.
When they rest at last Tess tells Revan what she thinks of his gratitude for her saving his life and he swears then that he never truly meant to run her through with his sword, the threat just had to look real. Then Revan asks Tess to face some hard facts. Tess acknowledges to Revan that she is aware of at least three other incidences where her uncle’s tried to kill her and make look like accidents. Revan having kidnapped Tess has made it far easier to kill her and lay the blame elsewhere.
Revan guesses it is because of fortune and Tess murmurs her agreement and tells him a paltry version of her inheritance not revealing her full wealth to the handsome knight. She then asks Revan why her uncle had locked him up and he reveals that he is a knight in service to the king. Together they patch what clues Revan was able to gather on his mission to spy for King James II and what Tess can deduce from clues she unwittingly encountered in her uncle’s keep of treason and betrayal her uncle and their neighbor Douglas were cooking up together.
Their knowledge puts them in even more danger as they now have to get their information to the king, avoid her uncle’s men and the Douglas men out to get them, and while they do not fight the growing fires that flare between them their love is not an easy one. This novel is truly about passion on the run as Revan and Tess land in one mess or another.
Rating: 4 Stars
Originally posted 2008-09-18 05:44:22. Republished by Old Post Promoter
January 3rd, 2009 — Acting, Contemporary, Contests, Covers, Highlander, Scotland
Excellent, Love Romance Passion has it’s second entry for the Highlander Romance Novel Cover Contest. This entry was submitted by Sasha, who also participated in the Pirate Novel Cover Contest. Leave a comment to vote for this entry as the winner is chosen based on the amount of comments they receive. Feel free to vote more than once as new entries come in that strike your fancy.
Model: Florent (the fantastic Sir Flowee!)
Designer: Sasha
Romance Novel Title: Laird of the Manor
The Tale:
Enchanting and alluring, Highland Laird Iain Buchanan was born to a clan of warriors. Living in the 21st century, he embraces his Caledonian heritage by reenacting the acts of his ancestors pasts each year in the Scottish Highland Games! He still lives in his family’s ancient manor housed in Northern Scotland aka the Scottish Highlands.
Artist Comments:
Image took about 20-25 hours over 3 weeks to manipulate.
I looked at the covers of Karen Marie Moning’s books for inspiration ([link]) and I spent way too much time listening to Blake ([link]) and Celtic Thunder to get *inspired* ([link])
**NOTE: yes, ALL parts of the graphic are manipulated together: Florent, Florent’s Shadow, the sky, the cuffs, the kilt, the manor, the Highland beach, the tattoo, the lights etc. etc. etc. Nothing came together, I composed the entire thing! **
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January 3rd, 2009 — Bastard, Contemporary, Contests, Covers, England, Foster/Orphan, Gentry, Heiress, Highlander, Plump/Endowed Heroine, Scotland, Spinster
Today I have the pleasure of presenting the first of the Highlander Novel Cover Contest entries. Be sure to vote by leaving a comment on the entries that you enjoy! The winner is determined by the amount of vocal support they receive before the end of the month!
Model: Alex, who is really Scottish.
Designer: Zarabeth
Romance Novel Title: The Highlander’s Heir
The Tale:
Patrick Kelley, the bastard grandson of the Laird Joseph Kelley knew only two things. He needed a wife and he needed an heir. The passing of Laird Joseph Kelley left Patrick with a dilapidated castle in Edinbourough, a stack of debts, and responsibilities he couldn’t ignore. The fields needed new tenants and tenants meant new homes built with money he didn’t have. Despite his severe loathing of London Society he would have to venture there to find and wed an heiress.
Emiline Pembroke was a plump cousin and companion of the beautiful Jessamine Pembroke, the only heir to the fortune of the Earl, Byron of Pembroke. The Earl’s estate in Wales was Emiline’s preferred setting for her quiet and uneventful life as a spinster at the age of 26. Her cousin’s coming-out ball would only be the 1st tiresome event of the next season in London, where she would dutifully sit and sip in the companions’ corner, unnoticed and unwanted.
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January 1st, 2009 — Contests, Covers, Highlander, Scotland, Warrior
I was hoping to have an example cover to share with everyone like I had with the Pirate contest - but my friend who owns a kilt is being a little shy at the moment. Perhaps if you leave some encouragement he’d be more inclined to don it and show of his legs!
About:
This contest runs from January 1st, 2009 to January 30th, 2009. Winners will be the entry with the most unique user comments on their blog post detailing their novel cover. Additional votes will be acquired in a Twitter poll on the 30th and the winner will be announced on the 31st of January. Good luck! I can’t wait to see what creative things you do!
Prize:
$10 gift card to Amazon. Go ahead and buy yourself a kilted warrior or three. I hear their swords are mightier in bed than they are out of bed!
Rules of Entry:
Each contest is considered fresh. This means previous winners are welcome to join in all the fun again if they so choose.
1. The guy in your photo must be someone you know. Don’t bother submitting Patrick Dempseys in mini-kilts or Mel Gibsons in war paint. I’ve seen these warriors in action - I want fresh meat!
2. You must do your own photo editing. It is on your honor as a Highlander!
3. He must be bare-chested. Show those bulging pectoral muscles and rippling abs!
4. In addition, we should see plaid (or a kilt) somewhere in the cover. Bonus points for bagpipes, tattoos, swords, castles, and lochs.
5. The image should be: 468 pixels wide by 420 pixels tall.
6. Must include a name for your novel, like mine was entitled Her Highlander. We’re a superstitious lot, Highlanders, and a sword without a name will not slay many men in battle.
7. Tell us your Highlander story behind the photo. A hearty mug of ale goes great with a boastful tale. We want Glory and Happily Ever Afters in the making.
8. Submit to the wee lass, Keira at reviewromancenovel@yahoo.com
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December 1st, 2008 — About, Highlander, News, Scotland, Warrior
What are they? I know this is pretty subjective and that personal tastes vary greatly, but I am pretty positive we can come up with a list of ones to recommend between us. Personally, my history with Highlander is brief. I only started to read them since the beginning of this year. While my love affair with them has been a short one, it has certainly developed into a strong preference.
Of the ones I’ve read in the past year I would recommend the following as my top five:
Highland Barbarian by Hannah Howell
Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Medeiros
Highlander in Love by Julia London
The Bride by Julie Garwood
Highland Hearts by Hannah Howell
But there are many more authors and titles out there for us to read. What have you read that you would recommend as one of the best Highlander romances? I’m very curious - I must stock up and get them to read for myself!
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