Highland Captive

By Hannah Howell

Book Overview

New York Times bestselling author Hannah Howell breathes life into the enchanting beauty of the Scottish Highlands in this epic romance between a strong-willed captor and the striking young woman he both confines and protects . . . The windswept Scottish Highlands hold great beauty, but also great danger. So when Aimil Mengue is abducted by a feuding clan, she is right to fear for her life--and her virtue. For Aimil's keeper is the infamous warrior Parlan MacGuin. Aimil sets out to hate him, but Parlan is more honorable--and infinitely more alluring--than expected. Though betrothed to another, Aimil cannot deny her startling desire for the man who holds her captive... Parlan MacGuin knows well his reputation as a fierce warrior; he uses it to claim land and lovers. But beautiful Aimil is a different type of conquest. Now Parlan feels an unfamiliar longing for the woman he keeps at ransom as their forbidden passion threatens to spark an unstoppable blood feud--or forever fill their hearts . . .

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1420147110
• ISBN13: 9781420147117
• Release Date: December 2019
• Publisher: Zebra
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.1" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Entertaining....

I know this was a reprint, but I had never read it. This was a very enjoyable book. It contains everything a good romance novel needs to be successful and captivating. Hannah Howell is one the best Highland Romance writers in the industry.

A Solid Hannah Howell

It has been awhile since I read this book, as it is indeed a reprint ( and renaming) of "Elfking's Lady." It is a bit slow in the first few pages, but once Aimil is abducted, the pace picks up. Aimil has been betrothed to Rory Fergueson since she was in the cradle. The problem is that she dislikes him, and has heard very bad things about him. So has her brother Leith. But her father is determined on the wedding, no matter what. For some reason, Aimil's father has pretty much turned his back on Aimil completely. When Aimil started to mature physically, she began to look more and more like her deceased mother, and her father became more and more withdrawn and cold toward Aimil. Enter the MacGuin's. Parlan is the head of the family, and has a younger, much more rash brother, Artair. He captures Aimil and Leith, and nearly succeeds in killing both, especially Leith. Parlan is furious! The only saving grace is that Aimil's prize horse, Elfking, is also captured. Parlan is thrilled to have such a fine horse to add to his stable. The only drawback is that Aimil appears to be the only one that can control Elfking, nor will she willingly walk away from her beloved horse! As the story develops, of course the relationship also does between Aimil and Parlan, brought together through Elfking. Artair isn't quite done messing things up, but he isn't the bad guy here, just the stupid one! When we get to know Rory Fergueson, skin truly crawls! He is so twisted and evil, and so determined to have his way, you keep wondering if he will indeed succeed in at least some of his goals. There are some good plot twists that I didn't see coming in this one. If Ms. Howell and/or the publisher haven't cut the book from the original, it is a good, strong story of love overcoming many obstacles, and surviving many hardships and tragedies. Both Aimil and Parlan come into the story as strong characters, who have already survived many hard things. They are drawn to each other because of their love for Elfking, and horses, but also because of their similar values and beliefs. They compliment each other nicely. If you are a Hannah Howell fan, you will love this book. If you are like me, and your copy of "Elfking's Lady is a bit tattered and torn, you will rejoice in the opportunity to get a nice new shiny one! If you are a first time Hannah Howell reader, I might recommend some of her others, depending on your individual tastes, but this is still a good, solid example of her writing, especially of her early books. So take a chance if you love good romance, don't mind a lot of written Scottish brogue, and love to sigh happily at the end of a book!

reprint of an early 1990s novel

In 1500 in Scotland, Aimil and her brother Leith are riding the moors when the ferocious MacGuin clan captures them. Their leader Black Parlan holds the siblings for ransom as he expects her betrothed and her family to pay a fortune, and plans to make her horse Elfking his. Aimil is frightened of the Laird because of the rumors of his dining on babies. However, except for his desire to steal her steed, she quickly finds her warden is a caring leader; nothing at all like his reputation claims. Aimil refuses to give him her beloved horse as he demands. He understands the love of a good horse so he offers her an alternative choice; she replaces her horse as his ride. As they battle to love, her fiancé plots to kidnap her and his former lover unites with Aimil's former intended. This is a reprint of an early 1990s novel (called ELFKING'S LADY) that showcases Hannah Howell's talent before she became the Queen of Highland historicals. The lead couple is a fun entry ad their gender war over her horse is amusing but turns warm when they kiss. Although the villains should have known better than to try an abduction with Parlan's reputation; fans of the author will enjoy one of her fine earlier tales. Harriet Klausner

A pleasure to read

While out riding the moors in the Scottish Lowlands, Aimil and her elder brother were captured and taken captive by a group of Highlanders. Held for ransom, she is initially petrified and feared for their lives, for tales of the fierce MacGuin laird is legendary among the feuding Scottish clans. Commonly referred to as the Black Parlan, he is rumored to roast and eat babies and pick his teeth with their bones. But it doesn't take long before Aimil realizes that Parlan is both kind and reasonable and not the murderous and unmerciful laird that he is rumored to be. But Aimil must now face another problem for the Black Parlan has set his sights on her magnificent horse, Elfking. When she refuses to give her beloved horse over to him, she is forced to make a choice: either give herself to him or hand over Elfking. Well no prize for guessing what her choice is. And so she gets to keep her magnificent white stallion and gains another one in the process. Both of the main characters are very likable. Aimil is fiery, stubborn and beautiful, while Parlan is arrogant, sexy and oh-so-male. What makes this book so enjoyable is the humor. The verbal spats between Aimil and Parlan made me laugh. Throw in some hot love scenes as well, plus a great support from the secondary characters and you know you're in for a lot of fun reading. And to complicate the story further, there is the jealous ex-lover determined to get the hero back and that evil betrothed determined to destroy Aimil and Parlan. Those villains really will keep you hanging on to the end to see justice done. Fun and entertaining, ELFKING'S LADY is a delightful read from start to finish. I would also recommend AMBER FLAME, which I consider to be even better than this.

This book is one of Hannah's best

A young woman caught on a raid with her elder brother, Aimil is at first terrified knowing that the rumors of the Black Parlan are dark and dreadful. But Parlan is a shock to both siblings, for he proves that he's both noble, and reasonable. He's also very attracted to Aimil. The trouble is that the man who's been betrothed to Aimil since birth is demanding her return, and determined to destroy both her and her beloved Parlan, if he has to drag them both into the grave with him.