Beloved Highlander [Mass Market Paperback]

Margaret Mackintosh is the daughter of an English general who bought Glen Dhui after it was confiscated from the Grants. He met the eighteen-year-old Gregor when he was imprisoned after the rebellion, took a liking to the lad and lobbied for his freedom, for which Gregor is grateful. He has now been deceived into betrothing Meg to their neighbor the Duke of Abercauldy a man, he later learns, suspected of murdering his first wife. Knowing that he is too old to fight off Abercauldy, he sends Meg to bring back Gregor Grant who he thinks is the only man who can save them all. Just how Meg does not know, but she'll do anything for her father, and if he thinks Grant can help them, so be it.

But what he has in mind will change their lives forever. Is Gregor willing to resume his rightful place as laird - even if it means marrying the brave and fiery Meg? And will Meg agree to marry the golden haired, fierce warrior Gregor? And is there more to it than a marriage for their mutual benefit?

I loved Gregor's character and Meg's as well. He's sweet, strong, warm and honorable and she's strong, competent, pragmatic and passionate. An enjoyable romance even if the Abercauldy aspect of the story was a bit weak.

At the request of her father, General Mackintosh, Lady Margaret (Meg) set out on a mission to find Captain Gregor Grant, the man who would have been Laird of Glen Dhui, had he not obediently followed his Jacobite father and lost his inheritance in the uprising of 1715. General Mackintosh, Meg's father, had befriended the young Gregor years before and through a set of circumstances, both had saved each other's lives. Now, the General was looking for Gregor to save his daughter from a marriage contract he had arranged to a Duke whom he had recently learned might be a murderer.

Lady Margaret's (Meg) first impression of the glorious man she had imagined the boy artist, Gregor Grant had become, was disillusionment when she discovered him, in a tavern - drunk, wounded, and smelling the worse for wear after fighting a duel over a married woman. Conversely, in Gregors inebriated state, this fiery haired Scottish lass with the brightest, bluest eyes he'd ever seen, though dressed in men's trews, looked like an angel.

Meg's father, knowing Gregor to be an honorable lad, was hoping that the years had not changed him, and asked that Gregor marry his daughter in an attempt to prevent the Duke of Abercauldy from marrying her. Gregor, who was already very much attracted to Meg, agreed, but only if she approved it as well. Both are very much in love with one another but their individual histories made them each afraid to admit it to one another.

The supporting characters of Michael Bain (Gregor's man) and Alison, as long lost lovers were a special treat and a well-crafted and enjoyable couple. The pace was adequate and the lead duo was a delight. All in all, this is another satisfying historical romance from an author who is fast making her mark and gaining fans in this genre.

Margaret finds Gregor drunk and wounded from a duel over a woman. She persuades him through her courageous actions to come home with her to meet the General although she is disappointed that he does not live up to her image of him based on the drawing she found that he did when he was a teen. The General asks Gregor to marry Margaret to correct his error in judgment. Gregor agrees only if Margaret agrees. She reluctantly does and they wed. Though both already love one another neither trusts the other's motives. They also must contend with an irate spouse and Abercauldy.

This is an exciting eighteenth century romance, though the resolution of the conflict with the villain occurs too easily. The story line moves rapidly forward from the moment Margaret confronts a drunken Gregor until the climax. Gregor and Margaret are a wonderful duet whose mistrust is understandable. The support crew sustains the plot's pace and enables the audience to comprehend what makes the lead duo act as they do. The bottom line is that this is a fun tale that readers will enjoy.

Harriet Klausner