Taming the Highlander

by Terri Brisbin

Book Overview

Lady Jocelyn MacCallum had always believed she would marry for love. But the price of her brother's freedom was to become fearsome Connor MacLerie's new bride -- a bargain that could cost Jocelyn her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373294077
• ISBN13: 9780373294077
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Harlequin Special Releases
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Another Heart Warming story!

Taming The Highlander (Harlequin Historical Series) Book Review: Taming the Highlander After the death of his beloved wife Kenna, Connor MacLerie vows never to marry again - until he comes to his senses, and with a little urging from his family realizes he needs an heir. Connor sends his cousin Duncan to fetch him a wife. Lady Jocelyn MacCallum had virtually no warning before the MacLerie messenger showed up and turned her world upside down. She was given an ultimatum. If she wanted to save her brother, who was being held prisoner by the Maclerie, she would have to become his wife. She wanted to marry her true love, Ewan, not the "BEAST" who was rumored to have murdered his first wife. Unable to live with herself if she didn't do everything in her power to save her brother, Jocelyn accepts. She's swiftly whisked away to Lairig Dubh. Once within the walls of the Castle she quickly realizes that the "BEAST" isn't as bad as everyone believes. She sets out to make the "BEAST" fall in love with her. Will Jocelyn be able to "tame" her highlander or will she die trying? You'll have to read to find out! Terri Brisbin writes an emotional story about the healing power of love, with a twist some may not see coming! I give this book 4 **** stars. Check out the authors website: [...]

Good Scottish Medieval

Jocelyn MacCallum is from a poor clan, but she has a loving family and is looking forward to marrying Ewan MacRae, who has been fostering w/ the MacCallums. All of this changes in an instant when Jocelyn's brother is imprisoned by Connor MacLerie, the Beast of the Highlands, who demands Jocelyn as his wife in return for Athdar's freedom. Connor is in desperate need of an heir, but is rumored to have murdered his first wife and can obtain a replacement only by coercion. In short order, Jocelyn finds herself amongst strangers at Broch Dubh Keep as the new bride of a fearsome man who wants her only for her breeding capabilities. Connor is cold and distant, both in the marriage bed and out of it. Despite the difficult circumstances of her marriage and her precarious position in Connor's household, Jocelyn tries to make the best of her circumstances and befriends the inhabitants of the local village. Gradually, she earns the regard of her new clan members, if not her husband. Eventually, even as Connor's icy heart seems to be softening towards Jocelyn, further misfortune strikes both of them, darkness returns to Broch Dubh Keep, and the life of another bride of the Beast is endangered. I enjoyed this Scottish medieval. One of the things I particularly liked was that Ms. Brisbin didn't sugarcoat the relationship between Connor and Jocelyn. Arranged marriages were a fact. Heirs were essential, love was not. (Of course, since this is a romance, we readers do get our happy ending.) Ms. Brisbin also doesn't sugarcoat the realities of medieval life. By our standards, life was not easy, pretty, or luxurious. Ms. Brisbin presents what I think is a fairly accurate picture w/out being overly negative or off-putting. Another thing I enjoyed was how full and well-developed the secondary characters were: the loyal second-in-command, Duncan; the brave and irrepressible Rurik; the fiesty Ailsa; the young mother, Margaret; the three young village boys; Ewan MacRae; Connor's kinswoman, Rhona; and others. They all added depth to a satisfying read. This was my first book by Ms. Brisbin, but I'm looking forward to reading more from this skillful author.

4-1/2* Sweetly Sensual Highland Romance

There wasn't much warning before Jocelyn MacCallum's world was turned upside down. For duty, love of clan, and to gain the release of her imprisoned brother, she would be wedded and bedded to the "The Beast", Connor MacLerie the fearsome laird of the powerful MacLerie clan. With arrangements finalized she had two hours to gather her belongings and be escorted to her groom. Swearing to himself to never love another, Connor intentionally perpetuated the belief that he had caused his late wife's demise. As Laird he needed an heir so sent his man to bring back a bride `neither fair of face, or a terrified twit'. Jocelyn was more angry than terrified and her temper and outspokenness would soon shock, then amuse, but more importantly, would gain Connor's respect. *** Brisbin delivers a compelling read of two people wed together for duty's sake and neither wanting or expecting love to enter the equation. Building their relationship slowly it gave Jocelyn time to come to her own conclusions that as surly as he appeared, Connor was not the `beast' everyone believed. Connor eventually took notice of Jocelyn, outside of the bedchamber, as she wormed her way into his heart undermining his defenses. Assorted secondary characters were terrific with engaging qualities and personalities, barring the villain in the piece who was somewhat of a surprise in the climatic ending. However, the real strength behind this story was the tightly woven strands in the development of the relationship between Connor and Jocelyn. Brisbin showcases her impressive talent in delivering a very palatable, pleasantly paced, sensual romance that her fans should relish. Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Very good, but...

I stayed up till 4 a.m. last night to finish this one, I love Highland Romance's and I really enjoyed this story. The first thing I have to say, that was constantly on my mind while reading, is how similar the premise was to Julie Garwood's "The Bride," (one of my all time fav's). The Prologue, the circumstances on how the heroine Jocelyn comes to be bartered to the Laird Connor and even the plot pertaining to his first wife's demise and the threat to his new one. The fact that he's not willing to open his heart again to a new wife, and even the perpetrator are all so similar that I'm not sure if I was happy to have found another so like one that I loved, or if I was annoyed that it fell short in comparison. The only reason I feel that it fell short is that the H/H didn't have enough really great scenes together. Sure they had sex often, but I'm talking about the tender moments, the flirtations, the winks, those she seemed to share with his sexy cousin Rurik. For the majority of the story Connor holds himself from her to the point that he seems very one-dimensional. He was aloof and dull, I feel that there was more tension between Jocelyn and his cousins Duncan and Rurik that, had the plot permitted, either one would have made a much better match for Jocelyn. I really needed to see more of Connor, his "the sex is great, but I don't want you" attitude lasted way too long. And it was very realistic, in a way. She had her heart set to marry another, and he needed an heir but didn't want to risk his heart again. But with their consummation scenes, she's repeating another man's name in her head to get through it, and he's only interested in getting it done and going back to his room, he doesn't see to her at all if you catch my drift. Just enough to ease his way, and that's all, throughout too much of the story. The somber mood really needed to be lightened a lot more between these two to have made this story an exceptional read. It definitely was a good book, I'm just sad in a way that I found an author who could really tell a great story, one that even brought tears and smiles, but lacked in only one very significant way... chemistry between the H/H. I live for the creative banter some authors give us between their characters. I guess this author chose to give us these moments through her secondary characters. So yes, this is a very good book, I am floundering with whether or not I would recommend it...Yes, it is definately worth the time spent,but If you haven't read "The Bride" yet, I would have to say that they are both very good in differant ways. Since Garwood has put her writing of historical's on hold I am ever vigilant in my search for Highlander's. I have found that Lynsay Sands, Sue Ellen Welfonder, Kinley Macgregor and Karen Marie Moning are just as fabulous.