Title: Ravished by a Highlander
Author: Paula Quinn
Series: Children of the Mist #1
If you like highlander romances, you MUST read this book!
I LOVED this book! I’ve read a lot of romances, particularly a lot of highlander romances, and was prepared for a cheesy, unrealistically wanton portrayal of testosterone and damsels in distress. I was pleasantly surprised to find both of those elements, but in no way were they cheesy. I think they could have easily crossed that line, but something kept it on the sensible side of ridiculous.
I must note that I listened to the audiobook, and Carrington MacDuffie did a fantastic job! Her Scottish accent was excellent, and she did male voices very well, even varying the tones and inflections to distinguish between them. Ironically, it was her narrative of Davina that gave me trouble. The only way I can describe how she made the heroine sound is to bring to mind a man taking on a falsetto and pretending to speak as a woman in mockery. Davina’s “voice” was so high and fake that it made me cringe at times. Otherwise, she simply brought the story to life.
There were only two issues I had with the story. The first is that I didn’t buy the evil guy just taking a brief look at Edward on the ground and being satisfied he was dead. He didn’t seem the type to leave survivors, so I was amazed he didn’t have his men checking each body for signs of life, especially an English captain. Even back then they had to know what pulses were. And it sounded like they stood near Edward and mulled around for a while–I have a hard time believing no one noticed him breathing in all that time, or the fact that he hadn’t turned gray or rigor mortis hadn’t begun to set in. But I understand that Edward’s survival, while not integral to the plot or even the subplot, did change how the story unfolded. While he wasn’t an evil character, I seriously disliked him, and–don’t judge me–was glad when he died. Finally.
Secondly, I found it a bit odd that Rob didn’t insist on an explanation from Davina as soon as they were out of immediate danger. They were both reluctant to put the clan MacGregor in whatever danger might follow her, yet she was not forthcoming with information on the situation and he didn’t insist on knowing what they were up against. I can’t imagine a smart and cunning warrior, leader, like Rob allowing himself and his men to go about blindly. It’s one thing to protect against danger, but to fight and win you have to use strategy, and strategy will only work if you know exactly who the enemy is. I’m not sure why Quinn delayed the information with excuses of distrust and fear, my guess would be to build suspense and drama, but I don’t think much, if anything, would have changed timeline-wise if Davina had divulged her secret sooner. I kept expecting Rob to get high-handed (in the interest of responsibility) and act like the laird’s first born that he is and demand answers.
I’d never read Paula Quinn before, but if all her books are this good, she will be joining my keeper shelves. I’ll start by finishing this series! I really, really hope the following books are just as wonderful, though too often the quality of subsequent novels declines. Fingers crossed!
P.S. I just checked out Ms. Quinn’s website and learned that most of her books revolve around the MacGregor clan, in generations. Knowing that, I think I’ll wait to read more of her until I can start at the “beginning.” I’m sure her books–or at least each series–can stand alone, but it makes sense that Ravished was not truly the first book, because I did get the feeling that I’d missed something, like an inside joke, while listening to the scenes including Rob’s father and mother, who starred in Laird of the Mist. I’ve never really gotten into the series that span generations… The concept sounds creepy. Ish. Idk, we’ll see.
