Sword of the Highlander (Berkley Sensation) [Mass Market Paperback]

Sword of the Highlands is a lot like Karen Marie Moning's highlander series. Veronica Wolff gives life and love to two characters, Magda Deacon and James Graham. It's a tremendous story about a true man in history. James Graham has led many battles in the War of the Three Kingdoms. Wolff provides great insight into this time period.

Magda is an heiress in New York City who works in the Metropolitan museum, restoring paintings. She is called into work for the weekend by her boss Walter to restore seventeenth century paintings for the upcoming exhibit. This is when she first sees the portrait of James Graham and curiosity sparks. She finds out from Walter that James had been captured, imprisoned, and hanged. Walter leaves her to do her job and Madga finds she is unable to concentrate on her work. That is when she is drawn to the portrait and sent back to the seventeenth century to land right in James Graham's lap.

James Graham, the first Marquis of Montrose is the sword of the highlands. He will go to all ends of the Earth to save Scotland and bring justice to his people. He doesn't know what to make of Magda, but he finds himself intrigued by her. Magda knows that she can't leave this time period or the man she is so drawn too.

War follows at their very heals everywhere they go. Magda and James meet memorable and loyal friends who fight along beside them against Campbell and the Covenanters. You can't help but fall in love with James as Magda has.

I truly would like to see the painting of James Graham that inspired this book. It'd be interesting to see if he's as handsome as Wolff described. This is a great read and the first I have read of Veronica Wolff. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

SWORD OF THE HIGHLANDS
VERONICA WOLFF
Historical Romance / Time Travel

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Beautiful, auburn-haired Magdalene Deacon, member of Manhattan's most philanthropic society family, made it her business to be the best of the best in the arcane world of identifying, cleaning and restoring old paintings. Since her brother's accidental death, she'd thrown herself into her work - assistant curator of European Art at a prestigious museum. While preparing an exhibit of 17th century paintings, she was captivated by a portrait of James Graham, first Marquis of Montrose. With his charismatic image coming to life in her dreams, Magda was compelled to learn more, and discovered that handsome, vital James was captured, imprisoned, and executed in the prime of life. Compelled to take return to the museum for one more look at his enigmatic portrait, Magda touched the canvas; then reality dissolved.

A resounding "oof" was James Graham's response when a woman landed on top of him in his bed. Although his brain was groggy with sleep, the rest of him was awakening nicely. But although Magda was a nice armful, her obvious panic and disorientation quickly extinguished his initial response. His innate courtesy soon had him soothing her into sleep, but his curious mind took note of her unusual attire, strange personal effects, and odd accent. He found himself intrigued - a novel sensation for a man who found few females to hold any mystery.

SWORD OF THE HIGHLANDS is an artful blend of historical fiction and romance, sprinkled with a bit of revisionist fantasy and a dash of "what if." Much of the setting, character of the times, and events actually happened. The romance of Magda and James is well developed and utterly believable. While history shows that the real James came to an untimely end, the author's literary ruse , having him disappear into anonymity with his true love (who rescues him from prison), is a much more satisfying resolution. It's an entertaining fancy to note that the name of the real James Graham's wife was also Magdalene. All in all, a delightful read, an entertaining mix of fact and fiction, and a fun romance that convinces the reader that a modern woman could adapt to living in the past and that a man from the past could grow to understand a modern woman.

Veronica Wolff was an aspiring art historian when she realized that academic writing was not the place to explore her romantic flights of fancy. She lived everywhere from Hawaii to Texas to India before finally settling in northern California where she lives with her husband and two children. Visit her at www.VeronicaWolffcom.

Deana
Enchanting Reviews
July 2008

Robin of Night Owl Romance - 5/5 Hearts

Magda Deacon wortks as an art curater for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While cleaning some old paintings, she finds herself captivated by an old portrait of a seventeenth-century Highlander. As she reaches out to touch the painting, she finds herself falling though time.

James Graham, First Marquis of Montrose, is suprised when he's awaken from a deep sleep to find a woman, Magda, sitting on top of him. The more time James and Magda spend together, the more they find themselves falling for each other. But with war on the horizon, can they make their love work and stay together.

Ms. Wolff writes a passionate tale of two people from very different times finding love. I found this book to to be very entertaining. I was lucky enough to read her first book, Master of the Highlands, and her second book is even better. Her next book is titled Warrior of the Highland. I was unable to find a release date for this one, but keep your eye out for it.

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