Highlander's Ransom (The Sinclair Brothers Trilogy

I love books like this where the heroines are strong characters, and the heroes are chivalrous strong warriors. If it wasn't for my deep love of indoor plumbing, deoderant, and shaving my legs, I would say I was born in the wrong era.

This author mangles the English language on every page. Aside from the frequent misuse of words and phrases, some of them quite silly (“her head spun and bile rose in the back of her throat”—call an exorcist!), historical events from 1303 to 1308 are depicted that didn’t happen until centuries later. Kilts were not worn in Scotland for another 250 years; tartans did not represent clans, only regions; steaming dishes could not have been served on the fourth floor of distant towers, being far removed from the kitchens; Arthurian courtly love as a concept did not yet exist in English language books; a Scottish castle of a minor clan laird would not have had thick rugs on the floors or libraries filled with books, the printing press not having been invented yet. Lazy author, ridiculous book.

This was a very slooowww book. I skimmed through large sections just looking for dialogue between the characters. I am a huge fan of romance books-I read all kinds-but I am used to the characters actually talking with each other.

I was disappointed. It's an often-repeated story of a rugged handsome Scot and the beautiful, clever, yet helpless & naive maid. This one was English. It's tiresome. There's nothing clever in the plot, and I've read the same, basic story with different names. I did (with many skipped paragraphs) get to the end just to make sure it was not a book I'd read before. I was glad to be finished. I wouldn't recommend.

Good story & good romance. I like a strong heroine that is smart & spirited. The hero, Robert, was a good match. He made mistakes while thinking he was doing the right things for his clan, but he soon realized that he was wrong.

This is a familiar storyline told really well. Our h Alwin is a strong, vibrant and brave female, unlike so many. She is traded to another English lord in the early 1370s but kidnapped along the way. Nice intrigue without being tiresome, wonderful romance. Not a cliffhanger.

A little confused over one paragraph where she was looking into the clans history. Called them Saxon and Norse. With a French relative. That would be Norman. No Celt? Just confused. Otherwise pretty good story. Easy read. Great characters. Looking forward to the next one.

Let's see:
Misplaced 21st century ideas in a medeival setting? Check.
Repeatedly regurgitated ideas that are as subtle as getting smacked in the face with a trout? Check.
Generic, one-dimensional bad guy? Check.
Almost complete lack of external conflict? Check.
Complete misunderstanding of 14th century social norms? Check.

SPOILER ALERT
The first half of this book they're traveling. Almost every chapter begins with "they got ready to go." It got pretty painful because nothing really happened. There was a lot of internal reflection going on for the two main characters - That's where the regurgitated ideas come in that are repeated throughout the book.

Alwin is a very feminist character, which is completely misplaced for the time period. Women back then were raised from birth to be submissive to their fathers and then to their husbands and no matter how powerful a woman was, that's just how things were. Despite the constraint, women could be very strong and capable (fun side note, Longshanks' daughter in law actually deposed his son/her husband because he was so ineffective). Instead Alwin talks about how spirited and fiery she is, and how she resisted being oppressed, and (over and over) she wouldn't be a pawn! Yet all she seems to do it complain and be angry. The first time Robert is cold to her she shuts down.

Did I mention spoilers? Because spoilers.

Robert is hard to pin down because his character was whatever the plot needed him to be at the moment. He has a plan to marry Alwin to get revenge on her betrothed AND her father. Kind of cool, some intrigue going on. So he marries her but they don't consumate the marriage specifically so it can be annulled later. A misunderstanding of what an annulment is leads to the marriage being consumated. His plan falls through so Robert is going to send her to her betrothed. They're married now in the eyes of the church - it can no longer be annulled and she can't marry anyone else and they should both know that. Alwin talks about how disgraced she is - no, sweetie, you're married.

The ending to this was a door slammed in the face. There's no conclusion, but of course the main male character has brothers, so there's going to be a series for each brother to continue the story. Very obnoxious. Generic bad guy makes three appearances in the entire thing, once to show off his generic bad guy-ness, once to have him actually interact in the story, and once via underling sent to kill Alwin. That's it. This story is about as deep as a puddle.

There is very little external conflict and what there is feels contrived. Generic Bad Guy tries to the Alwin from Robert - she's so strong and brave for fighting back! Not kidding, huge conflict because for no apparent reason Alwin falls asleep under a desk and no one can find her. Then someone is going to kill her and - I couldn't make this up - Robert's horse protects her until he can come rescue her. And because she won't just complacently allow herself to be sexually assaulted and murdered, that also makes her brave and strong. No. That makes her human.

After all this - add accounting. Alwin creates a new system for the household ledgers. By the end of the book I was so sick of hearing about her system and ledgers that I was hoping one of them would fall off a shelf and knock her out of a window, or she'd get plague.

The author also wanted to share with us whatever research she used to name characters, which comes out via dialogue.

What little history is included seemed to be fairly accurate, and the writing wasn't horribly atrocious, but I definitely won't be reading more from this author. It's tedious and I could barely finish.

Lady Alwin always wanted to be loved by her father, but that never happened as she was born a girl, given a boys name, and very opinionated. Her fathered offered a dowry for her hand in marriage, and Raef Warren gladly accepted it. Even established transportation to Him. Although, what Alwin didn’t realize she was going into the lions den.

Laird Robert dispised Raef Warren. He laid in wait as he saw a carriage and Warren men protecting it. When the tine was tight the over cane the men and took Alwin. Little did Robert realize he obtain his most prized possession. Robert knew he had to do all in his power to protect and make Alwin his, but would it cost his clan?

.

As a part of the Scottish resistance, Laird Robert Sinclair was in the borderlands hoping to raid a supply delivery meant for his nemesis, Lord Raef Warren, when a much better means of revenge fell into his lap, and he captured Warren’s betrothed hoping to ransom her. Alwin was a strong heroine, that managed to show a lot of backbone, without being abrasive or unreasonable about it, and I really liked her. Robert could be frustrating at times, as all males are, but I couldn’t help but like him and his strong sense of honor. The style of writing reminded me a lot of Julie Garwood’s Highlands’ Lairds Series (The Secret/Ransom/Shadow Music). Great book and I look forward to reading Garrick’s story!

Note: This book was provided to me by the author for an honest review.

This was a classic highlander novel. Brooding handsome hero and beautiful, young, fiery but kind and sweet heroine that changes the hero. It was predictable but still a good read. The book loses points because the ending was really rushed and did not maintain the tension long enough. It concluded too quickly, and then the author threw in an extended love scene. There was too much internal dialogue and chewing ideas over (a term I never realised I disliked until it kept appearing in the first half of this book). Overall not a bad story. I would be interested to see if later novels by this author overcome these issues.

I typically read contemporary romance, but I was drawn to this book instantly. Prince has a way of putting you right in the middle of the story. I loved Alwin's spirit. Her need for freedom after a lifetime of oppression at every angle is heartwarming, and there is a subtle fire about her. Robert is both gruff and caring. It can be difficult for author's to capture such a multifaceted character, but Prince does it so well. I was torn between wanting what was best for Robert's clan and wanting him and Alwin to live happily ever after.

ALSO! I found myself having some inappropriate thoughts about Burke throughout the whole book. I can't wait to pick up his story.

I loved Robert and Alwin, I really liked that Alwin was so strong and such a fighter all the way through the book. I love strong female role. I was in awe of this fast paced, dramatic adventure. Filled sensual tension, danger, adventure, suspense and the romance that is medieval Scotland. There was a lot of emotion in this story, I love reading a book that can make you cry, or laugh. My only complaint would be that Alwin forgave to easily, every man walks all over her and uses her, and she always forgave like it never happened, she should of made Robert grovel more with his last deceit, but again she forgave like he never deceived her.

I found this story riveting. While it’s the first part of a trilogy it was great as it’s own story. I became invested in the characters immediately and loved the battles set in the time of “Longshanks” and Bruce. Enjoy!

Robert is the Laird and all alpha male. Alwin is a strong female dealing with life in a male dominated society. They meet when he unknowingly captures her. The heat between them is scorching. This was a great read and I will definitely read more by Prince.

Great Story. Love the hero Robert and his heroine Alwin. Their adventure and Love Story will set this series for the next three books . There are so many characters who come to play in Robert's and Alwin's story I could not stop turning the pages . I will look forward to completing this series and going into the Highland protector series which involves the Sutherland clan.

I wasnt overly thrilled by this book, but I liked it. The writing was well enough and the charachters were strong.....I just wish a heroine who is subjected to what Alwin was would, once, tell a man she loves and outright ruins her life and breaks her heart to jump in the lake with all his cruel treatment. It truly bothers,me that females in these stories are always forgiving. There wasnt anything fresh or exceptional here that would make me think to recommend this book.

This book begins a series of well crafted spicy historical romance novels. Set in the early 1300's which was a turbulent time for Scotland and England. I am enjoying these stories of honorable men who are unsure of their worthiness to love and strong women who are subjected to the whims of the men in their lives.

Emma Prince does a great job of blending history with love and passion. This is a good story, interesting characters and men in kilts...Highlanders in kilts...oooh ahhh! Can't wait to read the next installment!

Good plot. Writing could be better.
From dialog (the hero uses "Lass" way too often) to the inconsistency of the story (one paragraph the hero doesn't care if the heroine despises him as along as she lets him explain. The very next paragraph he says he can't stand the thought of her hating him), this tale could use some polishing. The writing didn't flow. Too much description on ordinary things.
After the first 10 pages I started to wonder what book the other reviewers were reading to give this book 5 stars.