Guest Review: The Highlander's Reward by Eliza Knight

The Highlander's Reward 
(Stolen Bride #1)
by Eliza Knight
Paperback, 260 pages
Published July 19th 2012 by Eliza Knight (first published July 11th 2012)
ISBN13 9781478259541
Courtesy of Author

BOOK ONE: The Stolen Bride Series 
She belonged to another… But was destined to be his… 
Lady Arbella de Mowbray abhors the idea of marrying an English noble occupying Scotland. When she arrives in Stirling, she is thrown into the midst of a full battle between the Scots and the English. Besieged by rebels, she is whisked from her horse by a Highland warrior who promises her safety. But when he kisses her she fears she's more in danger of losing herself. 
The last thing Magnus Sutherland wants is to marry the beautiful English lass he saved. As the laird of his clan, he has a responsibility to his clan and allies. But when Arbella is attacked by one of his own men, he determines the only way to keep her safe is to make her his. A decision that promises to be extremely satisfying. 
Magnus brings Arbella to his home of Dunrobin Castle in the Highlands. And that’s where the trouble begins… Their countries are at war and they should be each other’s enemy. Neither one considered their mock marriage would grow into a deeply passionate love. What’s more, they were both unhappily betrothed and those who've been scorned are out for revenge. Can their new found love keep them together or will their enemies tear them apart?

Goodreads 
Purchase at Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble

Crystal L.’s Thoughts:


"Ye will see one day brother, that even though ye're the Laird Sutherland, love will come up to catch ye in its grasp." Ominous words spoken to our hero Magnus by his sister Lorna as he escorts her to the home of her betrothed. Of course Magnus scoffs at his sister. He thinks that love is a game for fools; a game that he has no time for since he is the Laird of a rather large clan in the Highlands of Scotland. Little does he know that he will run into William Wallace on the way home after dropping his sister off. Wallace talks him into staying for a battle against the English who have possession of Stirling Castle. After the battle he runs into a mob of battle crazed Scottish soldiers who have our English heroine, Lady Arbella, in a fight for her life. After rescuing her from the mob, the only way he can see to keep her safe in the Scottish countryside from those who would kill her for being English, is to marry her. It also doesn't hurt that if he marries Arbella he escapes a marriage that he doesn't want to the spoiled daughter of the neighboring Laird, Ina.

This was a good read that I would recommend. Sometimes historical romances are hard for me to get into. They have to carry either a superbly intriguing plot or characters I enjoy to hold my attention. This book held the right kind of characters for me. Arbella was a fascinating mix of sweet and saucy for an English Lady, and Magnus was rough on the outside but a big gooey Highlander on the inside. This book has some action, a saucy heroine who spends half her time blushing and the other half axing, knifing and knocking people the hell out, and a sometimes shy - sometimes witty romance. I'm looking forward to the sequel that involves Magnus' brother Blane!

Rating: 4 Wine Glasses - Loved It!