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Claimed by the Highlander #1
Taming a Wild Scot
In the Highlands of Scotland, plays for power are fought without rules, treachery and intrigue hold court, and, in one woman’s heart, danger stirs as relentlessly as passion...
Wrongfully accused of murder and left to die in a hellish Highland dungeon, Ana Bisset has lost all hope of freedom. But the beautiful healer’s luck takes an unexpected turn when a hooded stranger appears as her rescuer. After a harrowing escape, Ana settles alone in a quiet village where no one knows her past or her reputation. The last thing she ever expects is to meet her mysterious savior again...
Niall MacCurran is no hero, but a warrior on a dangerous mission to expose a threat to the realm. After his decision to free Ana, he now realizes that it is he who needs her help—willing or no—to advance his quest. But his growing feelings for the delicate yet resilient beauty soon jeopardize their safety—and not even Ana’s healing gifts may be enough to protect their love, or their lives.
Wrongfully accused of murder and left to die in a hellish Highland dungeon, Ana Bisset has lost all hope of freedom. But the beautiful healer’s luck takes an unexpected turn when a hooded stranger appears as her rescuer. After a harrowing escape, Ana settles alone in a quiet village where no one knows her past or her reputation. The last thing she ever expects is to meet her mysterious savior again...
Niall MacCurran is no hero, but a warrior on a dangerous mission to expose a threat to the realm. After his decision to free Ana, he now realizes that it is he who needs her help—willing or no—to advance his quest. But his growing feelings for the delicate yet resilient beauty soon jeopardize their safety—and not even Ana’s healing gifts may be enough to protect their love, or their lives.
346 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 5, 2013
23 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Rowan Keats
9 books59 followersProfessional daydreamer. Part-time wordsmith. Lover of movie theater popcorn, quiet sunrises, and all things medieval.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 22, 2020
Ik heb de Nederlands talige uitgave gelezen : Jij bent mijn redding - Candlelight Historische roman 1158
De ten onrechte van moord beschuldigde Ana Bisset wordt door een haar onbekende man uit de kerker bevrijd . Niall MacCurran kwam eigenlijk alleen om zijn halfbroer Aiden te bevrijden maar heeft gelukkig medelijden met Ana en helpt haar ook naar buiten maar daar moet hij haar aan haar lot overlaten . Ze weet ternauwernood aan de achtervolgers te ontsnappen en ze vestigt zich in een dorp waar niemand haar kent als genezeres . Na enkele maanden ontmoeten Ana en Niall elkaar weer en Niall dwingt haar om hem te helpen om een kostbaar sieraad terug te stelen .
Over de rest van het verhaal vertel ik lekker niks :) het is spannend en lekker vlot geschreven met als enige minpuntje dat ik vond dat de verliefdheid van beide hoofdpersonen een beetje uit de lucht kwam vallen .
De ten onrechte van moord beschuldigde Ana Bisset wordt door een haar onbekende man uit de kerker bevrijd . Niall MacCurran kwam eigenlijk alleen om zijn halfbroer Aiden te bevrijden maar heeft gelukkig medelijden met Ana en helpt haar ook naar buiten maar daar moet hij haar aan haar lot overlaten . Ze weet ternauwernood aan de achtervolgers te ontsnappen en ze vestigt zich in een dorp waar niemand haar kent als genezeres . Na enkele maanden ontmoeten Ana en Niall elkaar weer en Niall dwingt haar om hem te helpen om een kostbaar sieraad terug te stelen .
Over de rest van het verhaal vertel ik lekker niks :) het is spannend en lekker vlot geschreven met als enige minpuntje dat ik vond dat de verliefdheid van beide hoofdpersonen een beetje uit de lucht kwam vallen .
March 29, 2016
Overall I liked this book, though I wasn’t 100% sold on why the hero and heroine fell for one another.
Throughout the story, Niall doesn’t treat Ana very well. Their mistrust of one another seems to be present for most of the book and the somehow, they are in love. I didn’t quite buy it.
Despite this, I am intrigued and will continue the series to see how the mystery unfolds!
Throughout the story, Niall doesn’t treat Ana very well. Their mistrust of one another seems to be present for most of the book and the somehow, they are in love. I didn’t quite buy it.
Despite this, I am intrigued and will continue the series to see how the mystery unfolds!
January 18, 2014
Taming A Wild Scot is a romance set in the medieval time period of Scotland around the 1200's. This is one of my all time favorite historical time periods to read in. Many prefer the regency era, however I find this time frame full of passion and a zeal that is hard to find in other time periods. Taming A Wild Scot I found to be the perfect title for this style of story. I was able to obtain this book through my local library, which was really surprising considering it just came out a couple months ago. This author has been on my watch list ever since I found a blog tour on her a little while back. Now I was very excited while reading this, it definitely was near impossible to put down. The story is about a brother to a Laird that is on a mission in aiding his brother, he must obtain a certain object, and Ana is the best way for him to accomplish his mission. They met a year previous when she was in the same jail as his brother, and as she came close to dying, he saves her life. Now she has made a life for herself as the healer, but when Niall claims to be her dead husband, she has no choice but to accept him in her home and life for now. Soon Ana gets pulled into Niall's charm and fierce passion for her. Will Ana choice a life she has made in this village or a passionate love for a man who makes her burn with desire?
Taming A Wild Scot is a wonderful historical romance. From the detail and descriptions in this story, it is evident this author has done quite a bit of research. Atleast on the culture of the time and area of this period. I enjoyed seeing Niall and Ana together, this couple definitely got the blood pumping. They definitely were the type to deny their feelings for each other, when its clearly evident how much they care for each other. But both characters are more stubborn than a ox, so of course the relationship is going to get bumpy. But I found those bumps to be very exciting at times. This story definitely had a mystery element to the plot and I found it very addicting as I was reading this book. There were many characters I enjoyed getting to know. Of course Niall is very Alpha Male of his time. He likes control and order, and Ana is a threat to that. Ana is strong willed and a stubborn "lass". Which is the most amusing of course, when you get the most stubborn of characters together in the mix, especially when there is a romantic relationship involved. The side characters added a unique quality to the story. There is a side story of Niall's brother- Aiden and Isabell (who are the next story in the series).
Overall a stunning medieval romance that sets your heart to pace, a memorable tale of danger and passion!! PURELY SENSATIONAL!
Taming A Wild Scot is a wonderful historical romance. From the detail and descriptions in this story, it is evident this author has done quite a bit of research. Atleast on the culture of the time and area of this period. I enjoyed seeing Niall and Ana together, this couple definitely got the blood pumping. They definitely were the type to deny their feelings for each other, when its clearly evident how much they care for each other. But both characters are more stubborn than a ox, so of course the relationship is going to get bumpy. But I found those bumps to be very exciting at times. This story definitely had a mystery element to the plot and I found it very addicting as I was reading this book. There were many characters I enjoyed getting to know. Of course Niall is very Alpha Male of his time. He likes control and order, and Ana is a threat to that. Ana is strong willed and a stubborn "lass". Which is the most amusing of course, when you get the most stubborn of characters together in the mix, especially when there is a romantic relationship involved. The side characters added a unique quality to the story. There is a side story of Niall's brother- Aiden and Isabell (who are the next story in the series).
Overall a stunning medieval romance that sets your heart to pace, a memorable tale of danger and passion!! PURELY SENSATIONAL!
April 19, 2020
I really liked this heroine! This is an excellent start to the series.
***Review copy courtesy of the publisher Signet Eclipse/Penguin
***Review copy courtesy of the publisher Signet Eclipse/Penguin
June 20, 2021
Ana and Niall Ana has magical healing powers. A lot of the story seems like it is going to be in the sequels of this one, but even though I liked this story I do not like it enough to continue on with this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2013
Amanda‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Review copy provided for an honest review.
5 STARS
I’m so excited to bring to your attention a new author with her debut novel, and in my opinion, a new voice in historical romance. Taming a Wild Scot by Rowan Keats was an enthralling story of intrigue and romance in medieval Scotland. The writing was superb and the plot was wonderfully creative. It was a perfect blend of mystery and love, but also had a unique twist of a paranormal aspect. She captured my attention from the beginning, held it throughout the whole story, and left me wanting more. This story involves a host of characters but centers around two unlikely characters who find themselves entwined by circumstances.
Ana Bisset has been wrongfully accused of murder and escapes her dungeon with the help of a stranger. She never expects to see her savior again but he shows up months later needing her help. Niall MacCurran was on a mission to rescue his brother and ends up saving two lives that night. Months later he sees Ana as a means to further his quest to seek out a traitor, he uses a bit of blackmail to get her help, and acts as her husband.
Both Ana and Niall were likeable but it was Ana I was drawn to from the start. Ana is a compelling, paradoxical character that yearns for a home, garden and a place to settle down. She wants to help people with her special ability to cure the sick but is also fearful to let anyone get too close to discover her abilities. She wants to be ‘normal’ and Niall has a way of pulling these unwanted emotions from her. Her character is developed slowly throughout the book and she is brought to life with real emotions, fears and concerns. Niall had his own problems with locating stolen goods, finding the traitor in his own troops, and keeping an eye on Ana. In these perilous times of clan wars and power struggle, Niall is trying to save his clan and finds it difficult to know whom to trust and to rely on.
Keats story was enthralling and imaginative. The ending was dramatic, which had me glued to my seat because it became a matter of life and death for many of the characters. A few things were concluded, but there are enough loose ends to ensure more intriguing plots in the following books in the Claimed by the Highlander series. I have my favorites in this genre like Monica McCarty and Maya Banks and make them auto reads for me. Rowan Keats I feel will be joining those ranks as well because she has a way of weaving a good tale.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
5 STARS
I’m so excited to bring to your attention a new author with her debut novel, and in my opinion, a new voice in historical romance. Taming a Wild Scot by Rowan Keats was an enthralling story of intrigue and romance in medieval Scotland. The writing was superb and the plot was wonderfully creative. It was a perfect blend of mystery and love, but also had a unique twist of a paranormal aspect. She captured my attention from the beginning, held it throughout the whole story, and left me wanting more. This story involves a host of characters but centers around two unlikely characters who find themselves entwined by circumstances.
Ana Bisset has been wrongfully accused of murder and escapes her dungeon with the help of a stranger. She never expects to see her savior again but he shows up months later needing her help. Niall MacCurran was on a mission to rescue his brother and ends up saving two lives that night. Months later he sees Ana as a means to further his quest to seek out a traitor, he uses a bit of blackmail to get her help, and acts as her husband.
Both Ana and Niall were likeable but it was Ana I was drawn to from the start. Ana is a compelling, paradoxical character that yearns for a home, garden and a place to settle down. She wants to help people with her special ability to cure the sick but is also fearful to let anyone get too close to discover her abilities. She wants to be ‘normal’ and Niall has a way of pulling these unwanted emotions from her. Her character is developed slowly throughout the book and she is brought to life with real emotions, fears and concerns. Niall had his own problems with locating stolen goods, finding the traitor in his own troops, and keeping an eye on Ana. In these perilous times of clan wars and power struggle, Niall is trying to save his clan and finds it difficult to know whom to trust and to rely on.
Keats story was enthralling and imaginative. The ending was dramatic, which had me glued to my seat because it became a matter of life and death for many of the characters. A few things were concluded, but there are enough loose ends to ensure more intriguing plots in the following books in the Claimed by the Highlander series. I have my favorites in this genre like Monica McCarty and Maya Banks and make them auto reads for me. Rowan Keats I feel will be joining those ranks as well because she has a way of weaving a good tale.
August 8, 2020
I grabbed this because I really enjoy Kirsten Potter as a narrator and I was looking for a change from my other current listens. Overall, it was merely an OK listen.
The action/mystery/suspense was done well and I enjoyed that aspect of the story. I struggled with the romance aspect as Niall & Ana never really got along through the entire book. They were obviously physically attracted, kissed, and had sex. However, the power dynamics never transformed into a relationship. Niall spent the entire book coercing Ana to cooperate in his plans & schemes by threatening to reveal her true identity to the authorities. At the point at which they escaped the town, he proclaimed his love and then the book abruptly ended.
While this book has it’s own complete story arc – there are secondary story lines happening that will apparently weave through the whole series. However, I don’t feel invested enough to continue the series.
Kirsten Potter is an amazing narrator and does an impeccable job with the accents. Her narration is what kept me engaged and I’m not entirely sure I would have finished it if I was reading it.
The action/mystery/suspense was done well and I enjoyed that aspect of the story. I struggled with the romance aspect as Niall & Ana never really got along through the entire book. They were obviously physically attracted, kissed, and had sex. However, the power dynamics never transformed into a relationship. Niall spent the entire book coercing Ana to cooperate in his plans & schemes by threatening to reveal her true identity to the authorities. At the point at which they escaped the town, he proclaimed his love and then the book abruptly ended.
While this book has it’s own complete story arc – there are secondary story lines happening that will apparently weave through the whole series. However, I don’t feel invested enough to continue the series.
Kirsten Potter is an amazing narrator and does an impeccable job with the accents. Her narration is what kept me engaged and I’m not entirely sure I would have finished it if I was reading it.
November 2, 2013
Posted at TBR Mountain Range amongst other books I've read this year.
Escaping from prison with Black Warrior Niall's help, healer Ana must face evil personified before her happy-ever-after is within reach. Engaging, similar to the Knights of the Round Table of Arthurian legend or Robin Hood's merry men, TAMING A WILD SCOT is filled with quests.
Healer Ana Bisset finds herself in a hopeless situation when accused of witchcraft. Left without food or water for days, deep in a hole in the dungeon of Lochurkie Castle, it could be just a matter of hours before her death. When the guards take all the lanterns and she's left in the dark to wonder why she is facing death, Ana hears voices and can't stop herself from calling out to them.
Niall MacCurran, a Black Warrior, still feels guilty about leaving the woman he rescued from the Lochurkie dungeon to fend for herself in the woods near the castle. It was necessary in order to save his brother from the very same dungeon. They lost their land, Dunstoras, over the framed attempt and consequent imprisonment of his brother and they are determined to get their home back at whatever cost. Although Niall saved Ana against his better judgment, that's all he could do when speed was of an essence to save his brother. When Niall recognizes Ana at a market in another town, he knows she will help him get access to the manor he seeks, even though he didn't actually save her completely.
Making it publicly known that he is her long lost husband, Niall leaves Ana with no choice but to bring him to her home while going along with his ruse. He knows that she was accused of poisoning the earl she tended at Lochurkie and that no one in this town suspects that, yet, so he uses that knowledge to convince her to help him. Will she return the favor of her life saved in exchange for helping Niall get the evidence he needs to retrieve their land before the king gives it to someone else? Or will Ana once again face death for helping someone other than herself?
Ana won my enthusiasm for her moral fiber right from the beginning. Left in an incomprehensible position to fight for her life, I'm still unsure how she survived what she faced after being held prisoner. And that's not all she will endure, either, so she becomes a heroine even more worthy of respect as her story progresses. Niall, on the other hand, didn't score many points with me when he left Ana for the guards' dogs to chase down after he helped her escape from prison. He did rescue her, but he didn't take it far enough for me to have complete trust in his intentions. Many times throughout the book I doubted that he could love Ana in the way she deserved. Niall won my heart in the end, but I think I expected him to work a lot harder at winning Ana while proving that he deserved her love. She was that great of a heroine, while Niall needed some improvement in regards to his unrealistic expectations. I wanted to smack him a few times but eventually Niall proved his worthiness to my satisfaction.
There are several intriguing secondary characters who hinted at what may happen in future books, as well as one particular unexpected villain who was beyond creepy in his zealousness. Prejudice and fear of the unknown run high in this story, which made me root for the characters' success even more. There are parts of the story that left me quite anxious to see the resolution, so although I enjoyed this story for its simplicity in many ways, those complications heightened my interest even more. I'm hoping to see Ana develop some friendships that she can trust in future books because she's a character who has experienced enough tragedy for one lifetime.
TAMING A WILD SCOT features an engaging adventure for a healer and her brave Scottish warrior aided by the Scot's merry men and challenged by villains you'll love to despise. This first book in the CLAIMED BY THE HIGHLANDER series is predominately historical in flavor, taking place in Scotland in the year of 1285, but it does have a few paranormal elements, primarily magic, that give it a fantasy flare. With its plot's tendency toward adventure, especially the way the book ended, making the reader hope for more interaction with the secondary characters, I feel that this series could easily appeal to historical as well as fantasy readers. I know I'm looking forward to what happens next with this band of warriors and the ladies they love. Reminiscent of the Knights of the Round Table of Arthurian legend or Robin Hood's daring, the CLAIMED BY THE HIGHLANDER series is off to a promising start.
Review Courtesy of Romance Junkies, written by Dorine Linnen.
Escaping from prison with Black Warrior Niall's help, healer Ana must face evil personified before her happy-ever-after is within reach. Engaging, similar to the Knights of the Round Table of Arthurian legend or Robin Hood's merry men, TAMING A WILD SCOT is filled with quests.
Healer Ana Bisset finds herself in a hopeless situation when accused of witchcraft. Left without food or water for days, deep in a hole in the dungeon of Lochurkie Castle, it could be just a matter of hours before her death. When the guards take all the lanterns and she's left in the dark to wonder why she is facing death, Ana hears voices and can't stop herself from calling out to them.
Niall MacCurran, a Black Warrior, still feels guilty about leaving the woman he rescued from the Lochurkie dungeon to fend for herself in the woods near the castle. It was necessary in order to save his brother from the very same dungeon. They lost their land, Dunstoras, over the framed attempt and consequent imprisonment of his brother and they are determined to get their home back at whatever cost. Although Niall saved Ana against his better judgment, that's all he could do when speed was of an essence to save his brother. When Niall recognizes Ana at a market in another town, he knows she will help him get access to the manor he seeks, even though he didn't actually save her completely.
Making it publicly known that he is her long lost husband, Niall leaves Ana with no choice but to bring him to her home while going along with his ruse. He knows that she was accused of poisoning the earl she tended at Lochurkie and that no one in this town suspects that, yet, so he uses that knowledge to convince her to help him. Will she return the favor of her life saved in exchange for helping Niall get the evidence he needs to retrieve their land before the king gives it to someone else? Or will Ana once again face death for helping someone other than herself?
Ana won my enthusiasm for her moral fiber right from the beginning. Left in an incomprehensible position to fight for her life, I'm still unsure how she survived what she faced after being held prisoner. And that's not all she will endure, either, so she becomes a heroine even more worthy of respect as her story progresses. Niall, on the other hand, didn't score many points with me when he left Ana for the guards' dogs to chase down after he helped her escape from prison. He did rescue her, but he didn't take it far enough for me to have complete trust in his intentions. Many times throughout the book I doubted that he could love Ana in the way she deserved. Niall won my heart in the end, but I think I expected him to work a lot harder at winning Ana while proving that he deserved her love. She was that great of a heroine, while Niall needed some improvement in regards to his unrealistic expectations. I wanted to smack him a few times but eventually Niall proved his worthiness to my satisfaction.
There are several intriguing secondary characters who hinted at what may happen in future books, as well as one particular unexpected villain who was beyond creepy in his zealousness. Prejudice and fear of the unknown run high in this story, which made me root for the characters' success even more. There are parts of the story that left me quite anxious to see the resolution, so although I enjoyed this story for its simplicity in many ways, those complications heightened my interest even more. I'm hoping to see Ana develop some friendships that she can trust in future books because she's a character who has experienced enough tragedy for one lifetime.
TAMING A WILD SCOT features an engaging adventure for a healer and her brave Scottish warrior aided by the Scot's merry men and challenged by villains you'll love to despise. This first book in the CLAIMED BY THE HIGHLANDER series is predominately historical in flavor, taking place in Scotland in the year of 1285, but it does have a few paranormal elements, primarily magic, that give it a fantasy flare. With its plot's tendency toward adventure, especially the way the book ended, making the reader hope for more interaction with the secondary characters, I feel that this series could easily appeal to historical as well as fantasy readers. I know I'm looking forward to what happens next with this band of warriors and the ladies they love. Reminiscent of the Knights of the Round Table of Arthurian legend or Robin Hood's daring, the CLAIMED BY THE HIGHLANDER series is off to a promising start.
Review Courtesy of Romance Junkies, written by Dorine Linnen.
October 15, 2013
This books starts in a hole in a dungeon and ends on a cliff, and the adventure in between was filled with mystery, angst, magic, passion and intrigue. Niall MacCurran saves Ana Bisset on a whim, and is happy to find her in a place where he can use her to aid his quest.
Niall is definitely not a hero in the traditional sense, he blackmails, pushes and wrangles Ana into helping him with no qualms about how it could affect Ana that is until he falls for her. I enjoyed watching him redeem himself and prove that love really does change how a man acts.
Ana is a gifted healer and only wants to live a peaceful life and plant a garden. Unfortunately being the town healer with a Friar on her case means her life is anything but peaceful and that’s before Niall arrives and throws even her somewhat peaceful life into turmoil.
We also spend a bit of time catching up with Niall’s brother and his actions, I believe that his book will probably be next and the dangerous mission will continue with that book. That is my biggest complaint about this book, it ended without giving me a real grasp of Niall and Ana’s future, I only hope that future books in this series will give me a glimpse of their future.
That small complaint aside, I’ll be looking forward to the next in the series, and recommend this story to fans of historical romance with that extra touch of magical whimsy.
Reviewed by Sheri for Cocktails and Books
Niall is definitely not a hero in the traditional sense, he blackmails, pushes and wrangles Ana into helping him with no qualms about how it could affect Ana that is until he falls for her. I enjoyed watching him redeem himself and prove that love really does change how a man acts.
Ana is a gifted healer and only wants to live a peaceful life and plant a garden. Unfortunately being the town healer with a Friar on her case means her life is anything but peaceful and that’s before Niall arrives and throws even her somewhat peaceful life into turmoil.
We also spend a bit of time catching up with Niall’s brother and his actions, I believe that his book will probably be next and the dangerous mission will continue with that book. That is my biggest complaint about this book, it ended without giving me a real grasp of Niall and Ana’s future, I only hope that future books in this series will give me a glimpse of their future.
That small complaint aside, I’ll be looking forward to the next in the series, and recommend this story to fans of historical romance with that extra touch of magical whimsy.
Reviewed by Sheri for Cocktails and Books
July 16, 2014
Rowan Keats' debut was powerful, intense, and thoroughly engaging. Ana has been wrongfully accused of murder and has lost most of her spirit and soul during her ordeal, yet the dangerous radiating from her rescuer Niall was enough to spark the life in her again. Then, as they set out on a journey as treacherous as her past, they will confront adversities in politics, love, and face enemies with their life. This was thrilling, adventurous, and a book I would recommend to all lovers of Scotland and historical romance.
*Review copy complimentary of the publisher for an honest review
*Review copy complimentary of the publisher for an honest review
Want to read
March 29, 2013My editor sent me the manuscript for this one after I tweeted that I wished someone would write a new medieval. Proving that if you ask (or tweet), you will receive. LOL
February 3, 2017
I enjoyed this book however I feel like it does not bring the reader in as much as some other books. The romance is cute and it does a good job with the characters but I felt that there is something missing. The story about the necklace is a little confusing and it takes some time to understand by the end it makes more sense though. I liked Ana's character and the way Niall comes in her life and makes her claim to be her husband worked well. I did find it interesting when he seemed to take it more seriously than someone just using her. At first he was but he came to care for her and it was obvious that he did. I liked how he was a little jealous and became protective and they both saved eachothers life. I thought that her healing gift was interesting and although it was completely fiction it made an interesting conflict with the church man who seemed the villian of the story who seemed crazy. It seemed like it would be frustrating to be accused of witchcraft by the people you saved and that they would not appreciate it and instead turn their backs on her. Some might just let them die but Ana felt her gift should be used despite the danger to herself.
November 21, 2019
This was such a stiff book! The hero was determined and unbending. He was quite incapable of tender emotion- yet somehow I wasn’t overly annoyed with him and was still rooting for his purpose.
The heroine was sweet. I don’t know how she managed to fall in love with Niall despite his roughness with her in the beginning. Maybe cause she was alone ? I don’t know but it confused me. When they finally kinda, sort of bridged the gap between it was much nicer.
The plot was nice, lots of suspense and all. A decent read altogether.
The heroine was sweet. I don’t know how she managed to fall in love with Niall despite his roughness with her in the beginning. Maybe cause she was alone ? I don’t know but it confused me. When they finally kinda, sort of bridged the gap between it was much nicer.
The plot was nice, lots of suspense and all. A decent read altogether.
September 16, 2021
2.5 stars.
Too disappointed.
When I reached the end, I wasn't satisfied with their ending. I want to know more and what about the brother? It doesn't made sense. Should have removed his story from this one and have his own novel , which I'm sure is out. It's an okay story but I do not like it enough to continue on with this series.
((I didn't realized this story has some magical healing. I'm not really interested into fantasy powers, druids, paranormals, etc.))
I'm glad they found each other and love.
Ana❤️ Niall
Too disappointed.
When I reached the end, I wasn't satisfied with their ending. I want to know more and what about the brother? It doesn't made sense. Should have removed his story from this one and have his own novel , which I'm sure is out. It's an okay story but I do not like it enough to continue on with this series.
((I didn't realized this story has some magical healing. I'm not really interested into fantasy powers, druids, paranormals, etc.))
I'm glad they found each other and love.
Ana❤️ Niall
November 29, 2013
Debut author Rowan Keats brings readers a new voice in the Historical Romance genre. Taming a Wild Scot is the first book in the Claimed by a Highlander series and the readers first look at the author's writing style. With a lush highland setting and a whisper of the paranormal this a novel that transcends a few boundaries and will keep the readers interest with ease. This isn't your typical highland romance, as the hero isn't the Laird and the heroine isn't the daughter of an opposing clan, which makes for a refreshing take on a highland romance. A great first effort!
The first book in the series and a debut too. That's a big challenge for a new writer. There is a lot to consider. Not only does the author have to set up the book, introduce the world and the characters, but he/she has to build interest and background that will make readers want to continue to the next book in the series. Sometimes the actual story of the first book is left by the wayside and doesn't get the attention it deserves. Keats does a good job with some aspects of the process and struggles with others in Taming a Wild Scot.
The actual storyline has a lot of potential. I liked the fact that Keats made the hero the bastard brother of the Laird and not the Laird himself. There are just too many highland books that use the laird of a clan as the hero, when there are so many other directions an author could go. I also enjoyed the fact that the heroine isn't your typical heroine either. She isn't the wife or daughter of an opposing clan, but a healer who has been accused of murder. That was refreshing start to the book. I am always very interested in how the highlands are portrayed being of Scottish decent myself. And I thought this was an original idea that was creative and authentic to the period.
There were definitely some good points here. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and how Niall, the hero was basically on a quest to find a piece of evidence that would clear the name of his clan. As the hero of the story Niall had good points and bad ones. He frees the heroine from the dungeon. She is bad need of food and assistance, but then he leaves her alone to fend for herself. I wasn't too sure I was on board with that idea. A hero should have done a bit more to protect and care for someone is such obvious need. He is very loyal to his clan though, and it seems apparent that his mission to free his brother was his first concern and that is somewhat redeeming.
Unfortunately, he continues with his un-hero like behavior when he later meets Ana again and blackmails her into helping him with his quest once again. I know this was a plot device to build tension and urgency in the story and it essentially works very well, but there was still that inkling of whether or not to 'like' the hero or not. It gave me a bit of pause. In most romances, readers really want to like or love the hero and heroine and it was bit hard to do with this one. He seems a good sort, loyal and driven, but not exactly hero materiel.
Ana on the other hand was a very good heroine. She had all the qualities I was looking for in a heroine and she was unique. Ana isn't a highland princess but she was damsel in distress. When readers meet her she is left for dead in a dungeon because of the death of an Earl. She is a healer, which I thought was a great touch. There are many stories of women like Ana in Scottish lore and history for that matter. She had a gift, a somewhat supernatural ability to heal. She uses her talents to help others, which gives her air of being noble and trustworthy. The one flaw in her character seems to be self doubt.
Ana was constantly fretting over her situation. She was worried about using her gift because she might be labeled a witch. She wasn't sure she was ever good enough for the hero, when in fact I was wondering whether he was good enough for her. I would have liked for her to be a bit more stalwart and strong like many highland women of the time had to be. Given she did not have a clan at her back and she isn't like everyone else, I was able to overlook a lot. She may have had issues with self-esteem but she was still very likable.
The chemistry between Naill and Ana is undeniable even from their first meeting. It is obvious that these two are attracted to each other and eventually they get to act on their feelings. The heat was well written and staged. Keats did a very good job of building up to the physical aspect of their relationship, if not necessarily the emotional side. The reader may have a hard time figuring out if these two can survive together. Niall is on a mission and it transcends every part of his life, even his relationship with Ana. A woman wants to be the center of a man's attention at least once in a while.
So there were good things and not so good things about this first effort by Rowan Keats. All in all I liked the book and I will read the next book in the series. I have to give Keats credit. This was an original theme in a very saturated market. There is a lot of potential for a series here and I think Keats will perfect her skills with writing a good hero as the series continues. Niall isn't a bad hero, he just doesn't live up to his potential, how realistic is that? LOL The ending of the book answers some questions but leaves others for the next book in the series. There was definitely enough here to make me want to see what happens next. That brother of his is up to something!
The first book in the series and a debut too. That's a big challenge for a new writer. There is a lot to consider. Not only does the author have to set up the book, introduce the world and the characters, but he/she has to build interest and background that will make readers want to continue to the next book in the series. Sometimes the actual story of the first book is left by the wayside and doesn't get the attention it deserves. Keats does a good job with some aspects of the process and struggles with others in Taming a Wild Scot.
The actual storyline has a lot of potential. I liked the fact that Keats made the hero the bastard brother of the Laird and not the Laird himself. There are just too many highland books that use the laird of a clan as the hero, when there are so many other directions an author could go. I also enjoyed the fact that the heroine isn't your typical heroine either. She isn't the wife or daughter of an opposing clan, but a healer who has been accused of murder. That was refreshing start to the book. I am always very interested in how the highlands are portrayed being of Scottish decent myself. And I thought this was an original idea that was creative and authentic to the period.
There were definitely some good points here. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and how Niall, the hero was basically on a quest to find a piece of evidence that would clear the name of his clan. As the hero of the story Niall had good points and bad ones. He frees the heroine from the dungeon. She is bad need of food and assistance, but then he leaves her alone to fend for herself. I wasn't too sure I was on board with that idea. A hero should have done a bit more to protect and care for someone is such obvious need. He is very loyal to his clan though, and it seems apparent that his mission to free his brother was his first concern and that is somewhat redeeming.
Unfortunately, he continues with his un-hero like behavior when he later meets Ana again and blackmails her into helping him with his quest once again. I know this was a plot device to build tension and urgency in the story and it essentially works very well, but there was still that inkling of whether or not to 'like' the hero or not. It gave me a bit of pause. In most romances, readers really want to like or love the hero and heroine and it was bit hard to do with this one. He seems a good sort, loyal and driven, but not exactly hero materiel.
Ana on the other hand was a very good heroine. She had all the qualities I was looking for in a heroine and she was unique. Ana isn't a highland princess but she was damsel in distress. When readers meet her she is left for dead in a dungeon because of the death of an Earl. She is a healer, which I thought was a great touch. There are many stories of women like Ana in Scottish lore and history for that matter. She had a gift, a somewhat supernatural ability to heal. She uses her talents to help others, which gives her air of being noble and trustworthy. The one flaw in her character seems to be self doubt.
Ana was constantly fretting over her situation. She was worried about using her gift because she might be labeled a witch. She wasn't sure she was ever good enough for the hero, when in fact I was wondering whether he was good enough for her. I would have liked for her to be a bit more stalwart and strong like many highland women of the time had to be. Given she did not have a clan at her back and she isn't like everyone else, I was able to overlook a lot. She may have had issues with self-esteem but she was still very likable.
The chemistry between Naill and Ana is undeniable even from their first meeting. It is obvious that these two are attracted to each other and eventually they get to act on their feelings. The heat was well written and staged. Keats did a very good job of building up to the physical aspect of their relationship, if not necessarily the emotional side. The reader may have a hard time figuring out if these two can survive together. Niall is on a mission and it transcends every part of his life, even his relationship with Ana. A woman wants to be the center of a man's attention at least once in a while.
So there were good things and not so good things about this first effort by Rowan Keats. All in all I liked the book and I will read the next book in the series. I have to give Keats credit. This was an original theme in a very saturated market. There is a lot of potential for a series here and I think Keats will perfect her skills with writing a good hero as the series continues. Niall isn't a bad hero, he just doesn't live up to his potential, how realistic is that? LOL The ending of the book answers some questions but leaves others for the next book in the series. There was definitely enough here to make me want to see what happens next. That brother of his is up to something!
January 20, 2014
Review originally posted on The Book Pushers here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/11/04/...
Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date: Nov 5th
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley
In the Highlands of Scotland, plays for power are fought without rules, treachery and intrigue hold court, and, in one woman’s heart, danger stirs as relentlessly as passion…
Wrongfully accused of murder and left to die in a hellish Highland dungeon, Ana Bisset has lost all hope of freedom. But the beautiful healer’s luck takes an unexpected turn when a hooded stranger appears as her rescuer. After a harrowing escape, Ana settles alone in a quiet village where no one knows her past or her reputation. The last thing she ever expects is to meet her mysterious savior again…
Niall MacCurran is no hero, but a warrior on a dangerous mission to expose a threat to the realm. After his decision to free Ana, he now realizes that it is he who needs her help—willing or no—to advance his quest. But his growing feelings for the delicate yet resilient beauty soon jeopardize their safety—and not even Ana’s healing gifts may be enough to protect their love, or their lives.
This blurb came from the author’s website.
It has been a while since I read a historical romance so when the blurb for Taming a Wild Scott looked intriguing I decided to give it a try. While I enjoyed the overall idea, unfortunately I had some issues with the execution. I found I had a difficult time following some of the characters, action, and understanding the logic used by both the hero and heroine at different times. This story started off with a great hook–the heroine is dying in a pit, accused of murder, and the hero reluctantly adds her to his rescue mission but only goes far enough to get her out of the castle. He gives her a knife and some water then goes his separate way. This certainly made me curious.
Two months later, Niall spotted Ana in a village and decided to gain her assistance either willingly or through blackmail. The first thing that I found questionable was that they ended up in the same village months later. This struck me as almost a bit too much of a coincidence but I let that slide because I wanted to know what was so important as to result in blackmail. I also had hopes that the blackmail thread would vanish as the two got to know each other and their respective motivating factors.
The action in this story flashed between the village and local keep, a hideaway in the forest, and back by the original castle grounds where Ana had been imprisoned. Niall and his band of men decided to split into two separate groups, each focused on a different aspect of the overall problem. Half of them hid out near the village and the other half went back to the castle. Each time the story jumped from the local area back to the castle, I found myself distracted from what was supposed to be the primary action and main characters. While I understood events were happening simultaneously, equal emphasis was placed on them, which detracted from the romance. I might have had an easier time following the action if I was already familiar with the characters and their relationships with each other. Unfortunately the way I was introduced to them and how their connections were fleshed out seemed rather haphazard instead of deliberate. I think I would have preferred to have a shorter story that focused primarily on Ana and Niall, then a second story taking place during some of the same time that focused on the second group.
I also struggled with the relationship between Ana and Niall. Both of them continued to either cling to or use the original thread of blackmail throughout the majority of the story. As a result, I did not buy into their love for each other because it seemed too sudden instead of growing over time. I thought that each took unnecessary risks, done out of desperation maybe, but without considering the effects of their actions. Niall kept insisting that Ana do things to help him regardless of the fact that she was already under suspicion. I also had the impression, for most of the story that once he succeeded in his mission and she was no longer useful, he would just leave her as he did after the initial rescue. For Ana’s part, there was one particular scene when she decided to use her healing powers that I thought was incredibly stupid given the fact that twice her cottage had been the subject of an unannounced search that included any fresh wounds on Niall. In my mind, she was practically daring them to come and see evidence that something unusual was happening.
I enjoyed the overall idea and loved the opening chapter but Taming a Wild Scott did not live up to its potential for me. I struggled with several of the key elements, including the romance between Ana and Niall, and as a result, I found it extremely difficult to suspend disbelief regarding other elements. The inclusion of a secondary storyline that received almost as much attention also took away from my awareness of the primary romance. I think the amount of world-building and back-story included in Taming a Wild Scott was at the cost of the actual relationship-building. I hope that the second book has a much smoother focused delivery.
I give Taming a Wild Scott a C-
Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date: Nov 5th
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley
In the Highlands of Scotland, plays for power are fought without rules, treachery and intrigue hold court, and, in one woman’s heart, danger stirs as relentlessly as passion…
Wrongfully accused of murder and left to die in a hellish Highland dungeon, Ana Bisset has lost all hope of freedom. But the beautiful healer’s luck takes an unexpected turn when a hooded stranger appears as her rescuer. After a harrowing escape, Ana settles alone in a quiet village where no one knows her past or her reputation. The last thing she ever expects is to meet her mysterious savior again…
Niall MacCurran is no hero, but a warrior on a dangerous mission to expose a threat to the realm. After his decision to free Ana, he now realizes that it is he who needs her help—willing or no—to advance his quest. But his growing feelings for the delicate yet resilient beauty soon jeopardize their safety—and not even Ana’s healing gifts may be enough to protect their love, or their lives.
This blurb came from the author’s website.
It has been a while since I read a historical romance so when the blurb for Taming a Wild Scott looked intriguing I decided to give it a try. While I enjoyed the overall idea, unfortunately I had some issues with the execution. I found I had a difficult time following some of the characters, action, and understanding the logic used by both the hero and heroine at different times. This story started off with a great hook–the heroine is dying in a pit, accused of murder, and the hero reluctantly adds her to his rescue mission but only goes far enough to get her out of the castle. He gives her a knife and some water then goes his separate way. This certainly made me curious.
Two months later, Niall spotted Ana in a village and decided to gain her assistance either willingly or through blackmail. The first thing that I found questionable was that they ended up in the same village months later. This struck me as almost a bit too much of a coincidence but I let that slide because I wanted to know what was so important as to result in blackmail. I also had hopes that the blackmail thread would vanish as the two got to know each other and their respective motivating factors.
The action in this story flashed between the village and local keep, a hideaway in the forest, and back by the original castle grounds where Ana had been imprisoned. Niall and his band of men decided to split into two separate groups, each focused on a different aspect of the overall problem. Half of them hid out near the village and the other half went back to the castle. Each time the story jumped from the local area back to the castle, I found myself distracted from what was supposed to be the primary action and main characters. While I understood events were happening simultaneously, equal emphasis was placed on them, which detracted from the romance. I might have had an easier time following the action if I was already familiar with the characters and their relationships with each other. Unfortunately the way I was introduced to them and how their connections were fleshed out seemed rather haphazard instead of deliberate. I think I would have preferred to have a shorter story that focused primarily on Ana and Niall, then a second story taking place during some of the same time that focused on the second group.
I also struggled with the relationship between Ana and Niall. Both of them continued to either cling to or use the original thread of blackmail throughout the majority of the story. As a result, I did not buy into their love for each other because it seemed too sudden instead of growing over time. I thought that each took unnecessary risks, done out of desperation maybe, but without considering the effects of their actions. Niall kept insisting that Ana do things to help him regardless of the fact that she was already under suspicion. I also had the impression, for most of the story that once he succeeded in his mission and she was no longer useful, he would just leave her as he did after the initial rescue. For Ana’s part, there was one particular scene when she decided to use her healing powers that I thought was incredibly stupid given the fact that twice her cottage had been the subject of an unannounced search that included any fresh wounds on Niall. In my mind, she was practically daring them to come and see evidence that something unusual was happening.
I enjoyed the overall idea and loved the opening chapter but Taming a Wild Scott did not live up to its potential for me. I struggled with several of the key elements, including the romance between Ana and Niall, and as a result, I found it extremely difficult to suspend disbelief regarding other elements. The inclusion of a secondary storyline that received almost as much attention also took away from my awareness of the primary romance. I think the amount of world-building and back-story included in Taming a Wild Scott was at the cost of the actual relationship-building. I hope that the second book has a much smoother focused delivery.
I give Taming a Wild Scott a C-
July 3, 2025
This was a really good book, I felt it was a bit drawn out in a few places but that was probably just me being impatient. Lots of detail and good character development. I was very not happy when the town the FMC was about to burn her at the stake with no evidence. Just because a pious man said so.
January 26, 2026
Author is so versed in 13th century Scotland to the point where I was googling things on every other page. I wasn’t huge on the 3rd POV of the brother, it took me out of it. Definitely a fun read, but I’m not jazzed about the premise of the sequel so this will prob be it for me.
June 25, 2017
3.5/5 stars. Could have done without the magical healing skills of the heroine.
July 10, 2017
3/10. Not really a stand-alone book.
July 21, 2017
I wanted to read a book by a scottish reader since I am scottish. It was so good, that I'm reading #2 now.
March 11, 2018
our heroine and hero spent no time together, save for having sex, being wounded, or sleeping, and yet we're in love. 🤷🤦
July 29, 2018
Ana is way too forgiving....and Niall is a jerk in the beginning
June 13, 2023
Thank you for such a great story
November 16, 2013
Reviewed here
This book starts in the midst of a pretty dramatic situation. We meet Ana, the heroine, stuck in a prison, seemingly just hours from her death. She hasn’t eaten in days and her body is starting to shut down. Ana is a healer and had been wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder. Lucky for her, when a group of men help to break out the man sharing her prison cell, one of the men takes pity on her and helps her to escape as well. Yes, you may have guessed it – this is the hero, Niall.
Niall is able to get Ana a short distance from the prison, but then has to leave her in order to complete his own mission of freeing his brother. I am not going to lie, this didn’t go over well with me. I had a super hard time with Niall just leaving poor, starving Ana within spitting distance of her captors. He felt bad and all, but still, he left her to do something with his clan of men. (We are not privy to any details at this point, or even really later as to why he couldn’t help Ana more.) Poof. Gone. Ana survives, and that is all well and good, but this becomes somewhat indicative of their relationship.
Ana and Niall meet up accidently months later when he finds her practicing her healing skills in a brand-new town where no one is aware of her past. Ana has dreams of setting down roots there, except Niall decides he needs to use Ana to achieve his goals without any care as to how it affects her. He threatens to out her to the townspeople as a murderer so that she will offer him the cover of being her supposedly deceased husband. I usually like the fake relationship story line, but it fell a little flat for me because it was forced upon Ana. This was blackmail – not mutual flirting; Ana was getting nothing out of the deal. Well, except maybe she gets a little teeny bit of something with Niall around. It wasn’t like there was an issue with the chemistry between them – THAT was actually one of the best-written aspects of the book. Their attraction for each other was obvious. I had no doubt that they wanted to BE together (ahem, physically), but I was not sure that they should be together. I wasn’t ever really sure Niall was good enough for Ana, or that she wanted to be with him for the right reasons. I liked them in the sack but never fully got onboard with them outside of it!
One of my biggest issues with this story was Ana’s self-doubt. Ana had doubts about herself being with anyone long-term due to how her mother had died. She repeatedly reminds herself that Niall deserves someone better for his partner. Well, I don’t know. He left you to basically die and then blackmailed you. How does this put him up on a pedestal? Ana was a very strong character in some ways, but this seemed like almost martyrdom and it didn’t really work for me.
The story line itself in Taming a Wild Scot was interesting and fast-paced. We know Niall is searching for the piece of evidence he needs to clear his family name, but I didn’t get enough details about his motivations, his family, and his life overall. He is part of some secret clan of men that protect their ancient family lands, but I was never clear about what this actually entailed and why they do it. I was also not sure how everything fit together and the story seemed to jump around. It moved back and forth between Ana’s and Niall’s points of view, and then it’d jump to Niall’s brother Aiden, who is on a whole other venture. There are bits and pieces about the reasons why he is doing what he is doing, but I almost felt like I had missed a previous book and didn’t completely understand what was going on. (Yes, I checked – there are no earlier books. This is actually the first book in the series, and a debut novel at that).
I must be a total hero slut, because once I realized I could not completely love Niall, I knew I wouldn’t completely love the book. I have loved books before when I didn’t love the heroine, but I must need to like the man candy. Is that sexist? Maybe, but it’s the truth.
All that said, I probably will read the next book in the series just to find out what the heck Aiden is doing and what the whole deal with Niall and his clan of men is about. Inquiring minds want to know, right?
Bottom Line
Overall, Taming a Wild Scot is an interesting book, although sometimes it feels a little disjointed and rushed. Read it for the chemistry and promise of more to come in future books in the series, but don’t go looking for an Alpha that will knock your socks off.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.
This book starts in the midst of a pretty dramatic situation. We meet Ana, the heroine, stuck in a prison, seemingly just hours from her death. She hasn’t eaten in days and her body is starting to shut down. Ana is a healer and had been wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder. Lucky for her, when a group of men help to break out the man sharing her prison cell, one of the men takes pity on her and helps her to escape as well. Yes, you may have guessed it – this is the hero, Niall.
Niall is able to get Ana a short distance from the prison, but then has to leave her in order to complete his own mission of freeing his brother. I am not going to lie, this didn’t go over well with me. I had a super hard time with Niall just leaving poor, starving Ana within spitting distance of her captors. He felt bad and all, but still, he left her to do something with his clan of men. (We are not privy to any details at this point, or even really later as to why he couldn’t help Ana more.) Poof. Gone. Ana survives, and that is all well and good, but this becomes somewhat indicative of their relationship.
Ana and Niall meet up accidently months later when he finds her practicing her healing skills in a brand-new town where no one is aware of her past. Ana has dreams of setting down roots there, except Niall decides he needs to use Ana to achieve his goals without any care as to how it affects her. He threatens to out her to the townspeople as a murderer so that she will offer him the cover of being her supposedly deceased husband. I usually like the fake relationship story line, but it fell a little flat for me because it was forced upon Ana. This was blackmail – not mutual flirting; Ana was getting nothing out of the deal. Well, except maybe she gets a little teeny bit of something with Niall around. It wasn’t like there was an issue with the chemistry between them – THAT was actually one of the best-written aspects of the book. Their attraction for each other was obvious. I had no doubt that they wanted to BE together (ahem, physically), but I was not sure that they should be together. I wasn’t ever really sure Niall was good enough for Ana, or that she wanted to be with him for the right reasons. I liked them in the sack but never fully got onboard with them outside of it!
One of my biggest issues with this story was Ana’s self-doubt. Ana had doubts about herself being with anyone long-term due to how her mother had died. She repeatedly reminds herself that Niall deserves someone better for his partner. Well, I don’t know. He left you to basically die and then blackmailed you. How does this put him up on a pedestal? Ana was a very strong character in some ways, but this seemed like almost martyrdom and it didn’t really work for me.
The story line itself in Taming a Wild Scot was interesting and fast-paced. We know Niall is searching for the piece of evidence he needs to clear his family name, but I didn’t get enough details about his motivations, his family, and his life overall. He is part of some secret clan of men that protect their ancient family lands, but I was never clear about what this actually entailed and why they do it. I was also not sure how everything fit together and the story seemed to jump around. It moved back and forth between Ana’s and Niall’s points of view, and then it’d jump to Niall’s brother Aiden, who is on a whole other venture. There are bits and pieces about the reasons why he is doing what he is doing, but I almost felt like I had missed a previous book and didn’t completely understand what was going on. (Yes, I checked – there are no earlier books. This is actually the first book in the series, and a debut novel at that).
I must be a total hero slut, because once I realized I could not completely love Niall, I knew I wouldn’t completely love the book. I have loved books before when I didn’t love the heroine, but I must need to like the man candy. Is that sexist? Maybe, but it’s the truth.
All that said, I probably will read the next book in the series just to find out what the heck Aiden is doing and what the whole deal with Niall and his clan of men is about. Inquiring minds want to know, right?
Bottom Line
Overall, Taming a Wild Scot is an interesting book, although sometimes it feels a little disjointed and rushed. Read it for the chemistry and promise of more to come in future books in the series, but don’t go looking for an Alpha that will knock your socks off.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.
March 18, 2017
Great Story! Glad I found this author. Kirsten Potter is one of my favorite narrators.
August 12, 2016
Ana Bisset was once wrongly accused of murder. She was starving to death until a man came to her rescue. Niall, the man who rescued her was there to save a family member, and took piety on her. Years later Niall finds her when he’s looking for a necklace to clear his family’s name. He uses her, posing as her husband.
Taming a Wild Scot is the first book in the Claimed by a Highlander series. As is typical of historical romances, the story switches between Ana and Niall. It also switches to Niall’s family member Aiden, who will be the star of book two, When a Laird Takes a Lady. The story is set in the 13th century, a fact that swayed me to gobble it up.
The novel starts with Ana near death. Niall saves her, but then jumps on his horse, and rides off (not exactly into the sunset) leaving her to all the details in truly escaping. She runs from men and hounds at her heels, forced to truly save herself. None the less, when Niall shows up in Ana’s life years later, her first though is how grateful she is, until he decides to blackmail her. Act as if he is her husband, or he can tell that she’d escaped murder charges. While Ana is not an easily swayed kitten, she does understand that this is the 13th century and she is a woman. While she might have a sharp tongue her common sense is stronger, and she agrees. I didn’t like how Niall goes about things. Despite my misgivings the two are off to a good start. He feels a little guilt, and Ana gets warm and fuzzy when Niall is around.
Then the story unfolds a little more. Niall is a part of a group of men trying to bring honor back to his family name. The only problem with this is the lack of information in the background. I understand that Niall cares what happened in the past, but it doesn’t make it feel more concrete. Instead the past is a hazy confusing group of events that are never made clear—death, necklaces and some betrayal. Anyway, the group of men is hiding out in the woods outside of town, waiting for Niall to complete his mission, have some bearing on the story of getting back the necklace.
Back in town, Ana is getting bullied by the local priest. The healers always seem like fair game. Only this priest, while doesn���t see any witchcraft out of Ana isn’t that far off. She might not be a demon or have a pact with Satan, but she can heal people, magically. Ana knows when it’s time to get out of town, but as it happens Niall tells her not to leave, he’ll have a chat with the priest. You know, cause bros in the 1200s understand one another. Only they don’t.
In the end Niall must make a choice between Ana and his family’s honor, in like two or three days of meeting her, again.
The problem here for me isn’t with the couple romantically. The pacing between them starts out strong, but then fades out. I didn’t understand the full ramifications of what happens without the necklace. The little bits of Aiden’s point of view didn’t add much to the storyline for me. It did set up for the next book, but other than that he had very little to do with Ana and Niall. All-in-all I think I wanted more out of the story.
- Beth
Taming a Wild Scot is the first book in the Claimed by a Highlander series. As is typical of historical romances, the story switches between Ana and Niall. It also switches to Niall’s family member Aiden, who will be the star of book two, When a Laird Takes a Lady. The story is set in the 13th century, a fact that swayed me to gobble it up.
The novel starts with Ana near death. Niall saves her, but then jumps on his horse, and rides off (not exactly into the sunset) leaving her to all the details in truly escaping. She runs from men and hounds at her heels, forced to truly save herself. None the less, when Niall shows up in Ana’s life years later, her first though is how grateful she is, until he decides to blackmail her. Act as if he is her husband, or he can tell that she’d escaped murder charges. While Ana is not an easily swayed kitten, she does understand that this is the 13th century and she is a woman. While she might have a sharp tongue her common sense is stronger, and she agrees. I didn’t like how Niall goes about things. Despite my misgivings the two are off to a good start. He feels a little guilt, and Ana gets warm and fuzzy when Niall is around.
Then the story unfolds a little more. Niall is a part of a group of men trying to bring honor back to his family name. The only problem with this is the lack of information in the background. I understand that Niall cares what happened in the past, but it doesn’t make it feel more concrete. Instead the past is a hazy confusing group of events that are never made clear—death, necklaces and some betrayal. Anyway, the group of men is hiding out in the woods outside of town, waiting for Niall to complete his mission, have some bearing on the story of getting back the necklace.
Back in town, Ana is getting bullied by the local priest. The healers always seem like fair game. Only this priest, while doesn���t see any witchcraft out of Ana isn’t that far off. She might not be a demon or have a pact with Satan, but she can heal people, magically. Ana knows when it’s time to get out of town, but as it happens Niall tells her not to leave, he’ll have a chat with the priest. You know, cause bros in the 1200s understand one another. Only they don’t.
In the end Niall must make a choice between Ana and his family’s honor, in like two or three days of meeting her, again.
The problem here for me isn’t with the couple romantically. The pacing between them starts out strong, but then fades out. I didn’t understand the full ramifications of what happens without the necklace. The little bits of Aiden’s point of view didn’t add much to the storyline for me. It did set up for the next book, but other than that he had very little to do with Ana and Niall. All-in-all I think I wanted more out of the story.
- Beth
October 5, 2014
4 stars.
It is uncommon to meet the heroine of a romance in prison, but that’s where we meet Ana. She’s been confined in an oubliette - a hole in a dungeon, basically used for prisoners their captors plan on forgetting about. Rarely are these prisoners fed or given anything to drink, and Ana’s case is no exception.
Why is she here? How does she escape?
Fantastic beginning for an historical romance.
★★★
This, the first book in Rowan Keats’s Claimed by the Highlander series, takes place late in the 13th Century - a time in which clergymen held great sway in the towns and villages, a time where witches were burned alive at the stake. Our Heroine, Ana Bisset, is imprisoned under a charge of murder by witchcraft as we open the book. After her escape (more on that in a moment) she wants nothing so much as to avoid such a charge ever again.
Her escape from a hopeless situation happens thanks to the swoony awesomeness of Our Hero, Niall MacCurran. In a moment fraught with portent - and some very yummy vibes - the two of them escape the prison into the forest, where they have to part ways.
And that’s just the prologue.
What I Like:
The Hero. Niall MacCurran is a man with a quest. An honorable sort, he still appears to be leading a band of outlaws apart from “civilization”. Seeing the woman he had rescued sometime before, however, in a favorable location gives him an edge to fulfill his quest.
Of course he’s gonna go after it! And...after her, too. Because she’s beautiful and gifted…
Yes.
The Heroine. Ana Bisset is a healer and she has a gift. A splash of the paranormal enters into this story with her because when she has to - she can make healing happen. But it’s not without consequences…
Ana is strong, smart, resilient, and always rather skittish. Because healers often came under suspicion regarding witchcraft, as she knew far too well.
The setting. Keats sets up the medieval village and stronghold nicely, with good period details. Nothing jars me as being out of place.
The romance. Nicely built up, with some heat that is hot without being overdone. THANK you.
The plot. There are good guys and bad guys (can’t tell you who they are!) I like that there is a mystery, a quest for redemption, and a romance all happening at the same time. The balance was steady and I never felt like one portion held sway too long over the others.
But! I want to know! The title is Taming a Wild Scot - but I still don’t know which Scot was being tamed...
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
It is uncommon to meet the heroine of a romance in prison, but that’s where we meet Ana. She’s been confined in an oubliette - a hole in a dungeon, basically used for prisoners their captors plan on forgetting about. Rarely are these prisoners fed or given anything to drink, and Ana’s case is no exception.
Why is she here? How does she escape?
Fantastic beginning for an historical romance.
★★★
This, the first book in Rowan Keats’s Claimed by the Highlander series, takes place late in the 13th Century - a time in which clergymen held great sway in the towns and villages, a time where witches were burned alive at the stake. Our Heroine, Ana Bisset, is imprisoned under a charge of murder by witchcraft as we open the book. After her escape (more on that in a moment) she wants nothing so much as to avoid such a charge ever again.
Her escape from a hopeless situation happens thanks to the swoony awesomeness of Our Hero, Niall MacCurran. In a moment fraught with portent - and some very yummy vibes - the two of them escape the prison into the forest, where they have to part ways.
And that’s just the prologue.
What I Like:
The Hero. Niall MacCurran is a man with a quest. An honorable sort, he still appears to be leading a band of outlaws apart from “civilization”. Seeing the woman he had rescued sometime before, however, in a favorable location gives him an edge to fulfill his quest.
Of course he’s gonna go after it! And...after her, too. Because she’s beautiful and gifted…
Yes.
The Heroine. Ana Bisset is a healer and she has a gift. A splash of the paranormal enters into this story with her because when she has to - she can make healing happen. But it’s not without consequences…
Ana is strong, smart, resilient, and always rather skittish. Because healers often came under suspicion regarding witchcraft, as she knew far too well.
The setting. Keats sets up the medieval village and stronghold nicely, with good period details. Nothing jars me as being out of place.
The romance. Nicely built up, with some heat that is hot without being overdone. THANK you.
The plot. There are good guys and bad guys (can’t tell you who they are!) I like that there is a mystery, a quest for redemption, and a romance all happening at the same time. The balance was steady and I never felt like one portion held sway too long over the others.
But! I want to know! The title is Taming a Wild Scot - but I still don’t know which Scot was being tamed...
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
November 15, 2013
It is uncommon to meet the heroine of a romance in prison, but that’s where we meet Ana. She’s been confined in an oubliette - a hole in a dungeon, basically used for prisoners their captors plan on forgetting about. Rarely are these prisoners fed or given anything to drink, and Ana’s case is no exception.
Why is she here? How does she escape?
Fantastic beginning for an historical romance.
★★★
This, the first book in Rowan Keats’s Claimed by the Highlander series, takes place late in the 13th Century - a time in which clergymen held great sway in the towns and villages, a time where witches were burned alive at the stake. Our Heroine, Ana Bisset, is imprisoned under a charge of murder by witchcraft as we open the book. After her escape (more on that in a moment) she wants nothing so much as to avoid such a charge ever again.
Her escape from a hopeless situation happens thanks to the swoony awesomeness of Our Hero, Niall MacCurran. In a moment fraught with portent - and some very yummy vibes - the two of them escape the prison into the forest, where they have to part ways.
And that’s just the prologue.
What I Like:
The Hero. Niall MacCurran is a man with a quest. An honorable sort, he still appears to be leading a band of outlaws apart from “civilization”. Seeing the woman he had rescued sometime before, however, in a favorable location gives him an edge to fulfill his quest.
Of course he’s gonna go after it! And...after her, too. Because she’s beautiful and gifted…
Yes.
The Heroine. Ana Bisset is a healer and she has a gift. A splash of the paranormal enters into this story with her because when she has to - she can make healing happen. But it’s not without consequences…
Ana is strong, smart, resilient, and always rather skittish. Because healers often came under suspicion regarding witchcraft, as she knew far too well.
The setting. Keats sets up the medieval village and stronghold nicely, with good period details. Nothing jars me as being out of place.
The romance. Nicely built up, with some heat that is hot without being overdone. THANK you.
The plot. There are good guys and bad guys (can’t tell you who they are!) I like that there is a mystery, a quest for redemption, and a romance all happening at the same time. The balance was steady and I never felt like one portion held sway too long over the others.
But! I want to know! The title is Taming a Wild Scot - but I still don’t know which Scot was being tamed...
I received this as an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2023
Túto knihu som si vybrala čisto podľa obálky a teda aj túžby si znovu prečítať nejaký historický román zo škótskeho prostredia. Autorku som nepoznala, ale to mi priveľmi neprekážalo. Anotácia znela veľmi lákavo, tak prečo nie? Bohužiaľ, počas čítania som stratila všetky svoje nádeje, nakoľko som na knihu mala pravdepodobne veľmi vysoké očakávania.
Čo sa týka samotného deju, myslím si, že nebol zlý. Možno by som ho trochu viac rozpracovala, nakoľko ma veľmi trápila odmlka medzi časmi - doba, kedy ju Niall opustil po úteku z väznice a potom samotné stretnutie. Trochu som dúfala, že sa možno dozviem, ako mal nejaké výčitky svedomia. Predsa, nechal tam úbohu ženu, ktorá bola na pokraji smrti. Ďalej ma trochu štvala logika celého príbehu, kedy ju vlastne "ukecal" vyhrážaním, aby mu pomohla. Okrem toho mi prišlo, že kniha mala niekedy veľmi dobre našľapnuté, no všetko sa to pokazilo v sekunde.
Ana ako postava bola fakt silná a mala som ju pomerne rada. Nejak mi síce neprirástla k srdcu, no život jej poriadne naložil. Už len samotné obvinenie, pretože na koho by to asi bolo najlepšie zvaliť? Potom väznica a útek, ktorý bol teda naozaj behom o život. A následne jej do života prikvitne neokrôchaný Niall, ktorý si myslí, že strachom ju dokáže prinútiť aby spolupracovala. Teda, áno, dokázal, no o to som k nemu nemala nejak veľké sympatie. Páčilo sa mi, ako aj za cenu vlastného života chcela druhým pomáhať, čo jej bolo nakoniec aj trochu osudné.
Niall, ako som už hovorila, bol spočiatku veľmi neokrôchaný. Už keď ju tam nechal, potom prišiel a mal tú drzosť sa jej vyhrážať prezradením, mala som chuť ho praštiť lopatou a zakopať pod zem. Všetko bral pomaly ako samozrejmosť a v hlave mu behal len jeho plán. Pritom nemyslel na to, že tým ohrozí Anu, čo sa niekoľkokrát stalo. Ku všetkej cti mu je to, že ku koncu sa polepšil a v závere celého príbehu sa zachoval ukážkovo.
Ich rodiaci sa vzťah ma udivoval. Doslova som nechápala ako ich autorka chce dať dokopy. Nakoniec sa jej to podarilo, no doteraz nechápem ako to zvládli. Ešteže sa k sebe telesne priťahovali ako magnet. A teda koniec už bol ten dobrý koniec, ktorý poteší nejedného romantika.
Samotný príbeh bol pre mňa miestami skvelý, miestami zdĺhavý. Nenávidela som pasáže, kedy Niall chodil za svojou družinou do lesu. Bolo to síce dôležité pre náš príbeh, no jednoducho ma nebavili. Za to pasáže o liečení a teda aj mágii, ktorou Ana disponovala, ma skutočne bavili. Samotný záver bol za mňa trochu rozpačitý. Na jednej strane som ho čakala po celú dobu. Niekto jednoducho musel prísť na to, čo Ana robí a že je to čarodejníctvo. Na druhej strane som nečakala, že sa im podarí dokončiť misiu a okradnúť tamojšieho pána.
Čo sa týka samotného deju, myslím si, že nebol zlý. Možno by som ho trochu viac rozpracovala, nakoľko ma veľmi trápila odmlka medzi časmi - doba, kedy ju Niall opustil po úteku z väznice a potom samotné stretnutie. Trochu som dúfala, že sa možno dozviem, ako mal nejaké výčitky svedomia. Predsa, nechal tam úbohu ženu, ktorá bola na pokraji smrti. Ďalej ma trochu štvala logika celého príbehu, kedy ju vlastne "ukecal" vyhrážaním, aby mu pomohla. Okrem toho mi prišlo, že kniha mala niekedy veľmi dobre našľapnuté, no všetko sa to pokazilo v sekunde.
Ana ako postava bola fakt silná a mala som ju pomerne rada. Nejak mi síce neprirástla k srdcu, no život jej poriadne naložil. Už len samotné obvinenie, pretože na koho by to asi bolo najlepšie zvaliť? Potom väznica a útek, ktorý bol teda naozaj behom o život. A následne jej do života prikvitne neokrôchaný Niall, ktorý si myslí, že strachom ju dokáže prinútiť aby spolupracovala. Teda, áno, dokázal, no o to som k nemu nemala nejak veľké sympatie. Páčilo sa mi, ako aj za cenu vlastného života chcela druhým pomáhať, čo jej bolo nakoniec aj trochu osudné.
Niall, ako som už hovorila, bol spočiatku veľmi neokrôchaný. Už keď ju tam nechal, potom prišiel a mal tú drzosť sa jej vyhrážať prezradením, mala som chuť ho praštiť lopatou a zakopať pod zem. Všetko bral pomaly ako samozrejmosť a v hlave mu behal len jeho plán. Pritom nemyslel na to, že tým ohrozí Anu, čo sa niekoľkokrát stalo. Ku všetkej cti mu je to, že ku koncu sa polepšil a v závere celého príbehu sa zachoval ukážkovo.
Ich rodiaci sa vzťah ma udivoval. Doslova som nechápala ako ich autorka chce dať dokopy. Nakoniec sa jej to podarilo, no doteraz nechápem ako to zvládli. Ešteže sa k sebe telesne priťahovali ako magnet. A teda koniec už bol ten dobrý koniec, ktorý poteší nejedného romantika.
Samotný príbeh bol pre mňa miestami skvelý, miestami zdĺhavý. Nenávidela som pasáže, kedy Niall chodil za svojou družinou do lesu. Bolo to síce dôležité pre náš príbeh, no jednoducho ma nebavili. Za to pasáže o liečení a teda aj mágii, ktorou Ana disponovala, ma skutočne bavili. Samotný záver bol za mňa trochu rozpačitý. Na jednej strane som ho čakala po celú dobu. Niekto jednoducho musel prísť na to, čo Ana robí a že je to čarodejníctvo. Na druhej strane som nečakala, že sa im podarí dokončiť misiu a okradnúť tamojšieho pána.
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