Highlander Unmasked [Mass Market Paperback]

Having thoroughly enjoyed "Highlander Untamed", I was eager to begin "Highlander Unmasked" and for the first chapter I was delighted. However, as the story progressed or should I say as the subjective thoughts of the characters progressed, I could barely get through the book. I found myself skipping page after page filled with nothing more than the Alex's and Meg's personal musings about how they felt about themselves and each other. This type of non-dialog between the characters made up the bulk of the book. What a disappointment after reading the first book! What made "Highlander Untamed" so good is the story was the focus of the book and the subjective thoughts and feelings of the characters were well balanced within the story. Not so with "Highlander Unmasked" - this book was burdened down with redundancy, restating the same thoughts and feelings over and over and OVER again, the same trap most, but not all, (never Julie Garwood) romance writers seem to fall into. This constant restating of personal subjectivity seems to be a cop out on writing the STORY. What a shame, this book showed such promise. Had the story focused more on Alex and less on Meg, it would have worked much better and grounded the story; it was after all called "Highlander Unmasked". Although in the beginning Alex was strong and manly, as the story unfolded Alex was basically dazed and confused most of the time, and the easy charismatic nature brought out in the first book was gone. Meg was nosy and pushy, with little discrimination and undermined Alex's efforts to the point he was more in danger from her meddling than from his enemies. In the first book, Rory and Isabelle were strong defined characters. You got a strong sense of Rory as a man and Isabelle faced her flaws and made conscious decisions to come up against herself and work through them. In this book, Alex and Meg are fragmented, whiny, and constantly conflicted characters for the most part, and there's way too much of Meg. What showed great promise disappointed greatly.

Meg MacKinnon has to marry in order to defend her clan's holdings. Faced with a deadline to achieve marital bliss, she heads to court in search of a husband. Alex MacLeod must keep his identity and purpose hidden. Too bad for him that Meg recognizes him as one of the men who aided her and her mother during a roadside attack.

Ms McCarty does a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. Meg and Alex are both strong, very likable, but not over powering.

I did feel there were times when the story bogged down with details and I rolled my eyes at a few phrases. But, the author did stay focused on the plot and kept the action moving.

This is my first read of this author and I have already scribbled a note to myself listing the title of her next book to go in my tbr pile.

CarolASpradling.com author

Never has a man held such a burden. In Alex MacLeod's mission hangs the fate of his Highland people, a way of life. He must do everything in his power to prevent the King's plan to colonize the Highlands with Lowlanders. In Edinburgh, Alex uses his cunning, stealth and charm to disguise where his loyalties lie. The King's men, not knowing of the serpent lying in their midst, reveal the details of their mission. Only a beguiling woman stands in his way. A woman who awakens a need in him he never new existed with the power to devastate his mind, body, soul and the fate of his people.

Never has a woman held such a burden. Meg MacKinnon holds the fate of her clan in her hands. With an ailing father, she needs to find a trustworthy and loyal husband who will support her simple brother as chief. The Edinburgh court holds her answer, that is until she attacked on her journey there. Amidst the horror of the battle she is saved by a mysterious highlander, whose visage -days later- she cannot forget. An encounter at court with the brother of a neighboring clan chief raises her suspicions. A man with honor, strength and loyalty? Although she may wish it, he is not a man for her. A mercenary is not the man to support her brother and help lead her people. How could a man who displays sweet tenderness and love be loyal to no one? Meg has her doubts and will stop at nothing until her highlander is unmasked.

I love these types of books. A book where the hero has to make a life altering decision -his people vs his woman. *Sniff* Lots of roller coaster of emotions here. *semi spoiler* Just as he realizes that he loves her, he must be cruel and push her away in the worst way possible. His duty to his people comes before his heart. This comes just as heroine finally realizes that she has found true love. Not just a another duty that she humbly has accepted for all these years. The devastation is immediate. The reader is sucked into a whirlwind of emotion. Rooting for the highland people and for the love of the H/H -seemingly impossible.

So if you like highlander tales (seriously, who doesn't like those sexy Scots? ;))with a bit of bittersweet and tender emotion added to the mix then you love this one. A deluge of historical detail, which I found fascinating. Great characterizations and an action filled plot that has several swoon worthy scenes. This can be read as a stand alone book. The prequel 'Highlander Untamed' is good (****), but I found this one even better.