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Cursed MacKinnons #4
Haunted Laird
Book four in the Cursed MacKinnons series. Lynn's ghost-hunting trip to Scotland takes an unpleasant turn when she's kidnapped from her camp by a group of men rambling about curses and a brotherhood. In a daring escape, Lynn falls over a cliff and awakens in a cave being guarded by a ghost, who insists she's the key to freeing a man who has been cast in stone by an evil curse. And what a man he is... Padon has been imprisoned for over two centuries, frozen in stone. He's awakened when a sexy siren recites the anti-curse, but he's only partially free. Stone by day, man by night. Passion ignites between him and his savior immediately, which makes falling to the curse each morning that much harder. He and Lynn seek a resolution by making the trek to Padon's family castle. But the kidnappers have other plans and will do whatever they must to make sure this couple never makes it to their destination.
- GenresEroticaRomanceParanormal
153 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2012
2 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Tara Nina
42 books68 followersTara Nina is a southern transplant living in a quiet corner of New Jersey. People think of NJ as the armpit of the nation. But, believe it or not… black bears, deer, gorgeous hawks and other fantastic wildlife manage to sneak by her three dogs at least once or twice a week.
If she’s lucky, she actually takes a moment to enjoy the beauty of nature before tackling the task of mother to her two teenagers and wife to her husband (who she considers to be her third child.)
Occasionally,the family hikes the Appalachian Trail near their home. The outdoors can be a great inspiration for the illusive muse inside of everyone.
When asked what she does for a living… “I’m a romance novelist trapped in the body of an MRI technologist.”
If she’s lucky, she actually takes a moment to enjoy the beauty of nature before tackling the task of mother to her two teenagers and wife to her husband (who she considers to be her third child.)
Occasionally,the family hikes the Appalachian Trail near their home. The outdoors can be a great inspiration for the illusive muse inside of everyone.
When asked what she does for a living… “I’m a romance novelist trapped in the body of an MRI technologist.”
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 14, 2016
If you asked me “After PNR and Urban Fantasy, what is your favorite literary genre?” I would say time travel romances set in Scotland. Whether a modern woman or man travels to historical Scotland (preferably the former) or vice versa, I adore the dual pleasures of the fish out of water character and the beauty, mystery, and romance of Scotland. My all time favorite book series is Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER Series, in part for these reasons (plus, you know, Jamie). There’s something very comforting about reading books set in Scotland, and reading about places that are almost universal in other books set there: the moors and mountains, the layout of Edinburgh (though I’ve never been there, I swear I could find my way around just from years of reading about it.) When Lynn wakes on her first day in Edinburgh and looks out at the Castle, I almost sighed out loud with a feeling like, “I’m home.” I love that.
I admit I haven’t read the first three books in Ms. Nina’s Cursed MacKinnon’s series. HAUNTED LAIRD stands alone to some degree — you can quickly catch up with the events of the previous three books thanks to Ms. Nina’s clever weaving of those events into the current story. And lacking the knowledge of the previous stories certainly doesn’t get in the way of enjoying the YUMMY sex and tension crackling almost constantly, magickally between Padon and Lynn. Even in the face of challenge and danger, they are incredibly drawn to one another — which looks like a plot point if you pay close attention. Again, I don’t know if that’s a spoiler — I’d have to read the others to be sure.
There were a couple of negatives that bumped me out of the story. One is pretty common in Scottish romances, even the best written ones: portraying the unique speech patterns of Scotsmen of whatever time the characters come from is a VERY delicate art form that almost no writer has ever done well. Diana Gabaldon and a few others get away with it. Others have taken the advice of readers who learned how grating constant “nae” and “tae” and other such quirks can be and used them a few times to get the point across, then used speech rhythm, cadence, and carefully place pet names or other words to characterize the speaker. I know we all love how the Scots speak, but… it really yanked me out of the story to read “mi” and other idiosyncratic bits that just didn’t seem right. In fact, a lot of them read more like Irish than Scottish (the use of “o’”, for example) — another chance you take when you try to portray accent in words.
The other thing I was a little down on was how hard Ms. Nina seemed to work to say that “Oh, look at the gays. They’re okay. They’re so cute but sort of sad.” Maybe I’m hyper-sensitive about it because I read and write so much m/m. The portrayal of the tragic gay guardian ghost Jasper and his unrequited love was sweet on its face, but ultimately gets blown off in deference the the insta-lust between Lynn and Padon. It was nice of Jasper and Lynn to be so understanding of one another’s place in Padon’s life (Padon mentions how he “didn’t feel the same way” about Jasper at least three times — OKAY, YOU’RE STRAIGHT, WE GET IT!), but it felt kind of patronizing. As did the sort of two-dimensional background relationship of Travis and Fin. I’m glad to see a nice gay couple as just *there* in a story, like any other tertiary couple, but that Lynn keeps going “awww” in various ways about them got to be a little annoying, like she was seeing well trained dogs in action for the first time.
I also wasn’t crazy about the way things wrapped with her initial reason for coming to Scotland, which I won’t spoil. It seemed too easy and pat. But that’s one of the tricky things about writing and reading novellas — I know this from experience! So I shouldn’t be so hard on this point. There is only so much you can cover in such a brief amount of time, especially when you’re writing erotica.
It’s a good sign when I get attached to characters in such a short story, and want to not only go back and read the books that I missed, but also keep up with the upcoming volumes. There’s sweetness and steam here that is irresistable. The paranormal theme throughout also tickled my interest, of course. The negatives ultimately didn’t get in the way of the many more positives. Did I forget to mention the HAWT? Both Lynn and Padon sound very sexy, and when paired with the spectacular looking people on the cover, I’m WAY into that! LOL
But the thing that struck me the most about HAUNTED LAIRD was that sense of comfort I mentioned in the beginning. The familiar scenery of Scotland, the big, hunky Scotsmen (with swords! W00t!), and the magick that can make anything happen at any time. All in all, I have to say I’m glad I took the time to read HAUNTED LAIRD, and I’m definitely interested in reading the rest of the “Cursed MacKinnon” series!
I admit I haven’t read the first three books in Ms. Nina’s Cursed MacKinnon’s series. HAUNTED LAIRD stands alone to some degree — you can quickly catch up with the events of the previous three books thanks to Ms. Nina’s clever weaving of those events into the current story. And lacking the knowledge of the previous stories certainly doesn’t get in the way of enjoying the YUMMY sex and tension crackling almost constantly, magickally between Padon and Lynn. Even in the face of challenge and danger, they are incredibly drawn to one another — which looks like a plot point if you pay close attention. Again, I don’t know if that’s a spoiler — I’d have to read the others to be sure.
There were a couple of negatives that bumped me out of the story. One is pretty common in Scottish romances, even the best written ones: portraying the unique speech patterns of Scotsmen of whatever time the characters come from is a VERY delicate art form that almost no writer has ever done well. Diana Gabaldon and a few others get away with it. Others have taken the advice of readers who learned how grating constant “nae” and “tae” and other such quirks can be and used them a few times to get the point across, then used speech rhythm, cadence, and carefully place pet names or other words to characterize the speaker. I know we all love how the Scots speak, but… it really yanked me out of the story to read “mi” and other idiosyncratic bits that just didn’t seem right. In fact, a lot of them read more like Irish than Scottish (the use of “o’”, for example) — another chance you take when you try to portray accent in words.
The other thing I was a little down on was how hard Ms. Nina seemed to work to say that “Oh, look at the gays. They’re okay. They’re so cute but sort of sad.” Maybe I’m hyper-sensitive about it because I read and write so much m/m. The portrayal of the tragic gay guardian ghost Jasper and his unrequited love was sweet on its face, but ultimately gets blown off in deference the the insta-lust between Lynn and Padon. It was nice of Jasper and Lynn to be so understanding of one another’s place in Padon’s life (Padon mentions how he “didn’t feel the same way” about Jasper at least three times — OKAY, YOU’RE STRAIGHT, WE GET IT!), but it felt kind of patronizing. As did the sort of two-dimensional background relationship of Travis and Fin. I’m glad to see a nice gay couple as just *there* in a story, like any other tertiary couple, but that Lynn keeps going “awww” in various ways about them got to be a little annoying, like she was seeing well trained dogs in action for the first time.
I also wasn’t crazy about the way things wrapped with her initial reason for coming to Scotland, which I won’t spoil. It seemed too easy and pat. But that’s one of the tricky things about writing and reading novellas — I know this from experience! So I shouldn’t be so hard on this point. There is only so much you can cover in such a brief amount of time, especially when you’re writing erotica.
It’s a good sign when I get attached to characters in such a short story, and want to not only go back and read the books that I missed, but also keep up with the upcoming volumes. There’s sweetness and steam here that is irresistable. The paranormal theme throughout also tickled my interest, of course. The negatives ultimately didn’t get in the way of the many more positives. Did I forget to mention the HAWT? Both Lynn and Padon sound very sexy, and when paired with the spectacular looking people on the cover, I’m WAY into that! LOL
But the thing that struck me the most about HAUNTED LAIRD was that sense of comfort I mentioned in the beginning. The familiar scenery of Scotland, the big, hunky Scotsmen (with swords! W00t!), and the magick that can make anything happen at any time. All in all, I have to say I’m glad I took the time to read HAUNTED LAIRD, and I’m definitely interested in reading the rest of the “Cursed MacKinnon” series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2013
Originally posted on TBQ's Book Palace
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I really need to stop jumping into the middle of a series. After finishing Haunted Laird I knew that this was such a series where I should have read the previous books. I felt a little lost, and many things were mentioned in passing that had happened in the first books. Despite this, I still liked this book, and I think I'll go back and start the series in order some day soon.
Cursed Scottish warriors? Um, yes please! :) Padon definitely made my heart pound a little harder, and all but made me melt a time or two. Every time he called Lynn “mi wee one”, a sigh escaped my mouth. I want my own Padon!
I do wish that we could have seen a bit more of the relationship between Padon and Lynn... It felt rushed, as if within the few days that they knew each other, everything was set and they knew they'd be together forever. No problems, no questions asked. On the one hand, I like the whole “I just met you but I can't live without you”, but on the other hand I want more than just insta-love holding the couple together. I'd like to know how things are going to work out for Padon, suddenly living in modern times, and he was born a few hundred years ago. His new life will not be a walk in the park!
3 STARS! This was my first time reading any of Tara Nina's books, but I don't think it will be my last! I have book one, which I picked up while it was a freebie from BN a while back, and I may have to start it soon. I liked the idea behind this series, and I loved the spicy heat to the story, but I think the only thing missing was a bit more connection between the hero and heroine before their HEA. All in all, a good book, and one that I read quickly.
~ * ~ * ~
I really need to stop jumping into the middle of a series. After finishing Haunted Laird I knew that this was such a series where I should have read the previous books. I felt a little lost, and many things were mentioned in passing that had happened in the first books. Despite this, I still liked this book, and I think I'll go back and start the series in order some day soon.
Cursed Scottish warriors? Um, yes please! :) Padon definitely made my heart pound a little harder, and all but made me melt a time or two. Every time he called Lynn “mi wee one”, a sigh escaped my mouth. I want my own Padon!
I do wish that we could have seen a bit more of the relationship between Padon and Lynn... It felt rushed, as if within the few days that they knew each other, everything was set and they knew they'd be together forever. No problems, no questions asked. On the one hand, I like the whole “I just met you but I can't live without you”, but on the other hand I want more than just insta-love holding the couple together. I'd like to know how things are going to work out for Padon, suddenly living in modern times, and he was born a few hundred years ago. His new life will not be a walk in the park!
3 STARS! This was my first time reading any of Tara Nina's books, but I don't think it will be my last! I have book one, which I picked up while it was a freebie from BN a while back, and I may have to start it soon. I liked the idea behind this series, and I loved the spicy heat to the story, but I think the only thing missing was a bit more connection between the hero and heroine before their HEA. All in all, a good book, and one that I read quickly.
January 15, 2013
Haunted Laird is part of the series written around a curse on 7 brothers over 200 years ago. This is a stand alone but I would read them in order.
I have been waiting for the next installment in this series to come out. I have fallen in love with the MacKinnon "brathairs". This book provides more of the ongoing mission of Brother Leod to wipe out the MacKinnon clan. So we have magic, love, sex, revenge, curses, heroines built like real women and smokin' hot Scottish lairds. The book has its suspenseful moments, it also has a not one but two very touching scenes with ghosts and a crack up gay couple there to help out the heroine.
Padon and Lynn spark from the second they set eyes on each other and we even get a hot waterfall sex scene. The sex is only a secondary part of the book and really takes a backseat in this one to the adventure that Padon, Lynn, Fin and Travis take to get to a HEA at the end.
I must say even though I have been waiting for this book it took me the first maybe two chapters to really get into it. The beginning of the book, for me anyway, dragged a little. I also wouldn't have minded a bit more of the mind blowing sex that Lynn and Padon have. I felt that the books before this were 5's for sure this one I debated between a 3 and a 4. I think if I had not read the books before this one would have been a solid 4 and that is why I gave it the 4 in the end.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have been waiting for the next installment in this series to come out. I have fallen in love with the MacKinnon "brathairs". This book provides more of the ongoing mission of Brother Leod to wipe out the MacKinnon clan. So we have magic, love, sex, revenge, curses, heroines built like real women and smokin' hot Scottish lairds. The book has its suspenseful moments, it also has a not one but two very touching scenes with ghosts and a crack up gay couple there to help out the heroine.
Padon and Lynn spark from the second they set eyes on each other and we even get a hot waterfall sex scene. The sex is only a secondary part of the book and really takes a backseat in this one to the adventure that Padon, Lynn, Fin and Travis take to get to a HEA at the end.
I must say even though I have been waiting for this book it took me the first maybe two chapters to really get into it. The beginning of the book, for me anyway, dragged a little. I also wouldn't have minded a bit more of the mind blowing sex that Lynn and Padon have. I felt that the books before this were 5's for sure this one I debated between a 3 and a 4. I think if I had not read the books before this one would have been a solid 4 and that is why I gave it the 4 in the end.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 1, 2013
I have to first start by saying this is totally another reason why I'm so glad I became a MacKinnon Clan member!
True to form this book rocks!
Another "brathair" has been found...and it's nice that Lynn is not some stick figure (even is the cover girl shows different...lol)
Lynn is cool...I really liked that she is completing a dream she had made when her husband was still alive. It's so gosh darn sweet! She's so open to the fact that things aren't always what the appear to be and that's really up lifting for a character.
Travis and Fin where too cute..OMG!!! You just couldn't not like them....Well maybe Fin in the beginning, but you get over it.
I really and I mean REALLY wish someone would water board Brother Leod already!!! After four "brathairs" and I still wish I could jump into the book and help take out the jerk!!!! (Aside from founding one of the missing "brathairs")
I think I could handle all the chaos it takes finding one....this one only took a kidnapping...falling off a cliff...a hot ghost named Jasper...AWESOME WATERFALL SCENE.....a mad dash through a dark forest..being doubled crossed... yep after all this ...why the heck not finish the job...The SHOWER SCENE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!
Of course the SUNRISE AT THE END....HMMMMMM
Wonderful book for mature adult readers!
True to form this book rocks!
Another "brathair" has been found...and it's nice that Lynn is not some stick figure (even is the cover girl shows different...lol)
Lynn is cool...I really liked that she is completing a dream she had made when her husband was still alive. It's so gosh darn sweet! She's so open to the fact that things aren't always what the appear to be and that's really up lifting for a character.
Travis and Fin where too cute..OMG!!! You just couldn't not like them....Well maybe Fin in the beginning, but you get over it.
I really and I mean REALLY wish someone would water board Brother Leod already!!! After four "brathairs" and I still wish I could jump into the book and help take out the jerk!!!! (Aside from founding one of the missing "brathairs")
I think I could handle all the chaos it takes finding one....this one only took a kidnapping...falling off a cliff...a hot ghost named Jasper...AWESOME WATERFALL SCENE.....a mad dash through a dark forest..being doubled crossed... yep after all this ...why the heck not finish the job...The SHOWER SCENE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!
Of course the SUNRISE AT THE END....HMMMMMM
Wonderful book for mature adult readers!
December 15, 2012
I recieved the ebook for a book tour and honest review.
Lynn is in Scotland for more than ghosts. She is going on the trip she dreamed of and planned with her late husband. I felt for Lynn, her loneliness and then confusion when she meets the cursed Padon. Lynn has to decide to go forward with her life and say goodbye to the past. Tara made Lynn’s emotional struggle heartfelt.
Padon is a very hot 200 year old Scotsman. His anxiety with his current situation and today’s technology was well done and believable. It would have been easy to overdo it. I liked Padon from the start. He knew what he wanted and went after it/her. The thoughts he has during daylight hours are hot!
This is a story of two people finding their one despite the years. I would recommend this book to any fan of Paranormal Romance. It’s a nice change from shifters and vamps.
This review was also posted on Darker Passions
ETC: typo
Lynn is in Scotland for more than ghosts. She is going on the trip she dreamed of and planned with her late husband. I felt for Lynn, her loneliness and then confusion when she meets the cursed Padon. Lynn has to decide to go forward with her life and say goodbye to the past. Tara made Lynn’s emotional struggle heartfelt.
Padon is a very hot 200 year old Scotsman. His anxiety with his current situation and today’s technology was well done and believable. It would have been easy to overdo it. I liked Padon from the start. He knew what he wanted and went after it/her. The thoughts he has during daylight hours are hot!
This is a story of two people finding their one despite the years. I would recommend this book to any fan of Paranormal Romance. It’s a nice change from shifters and vamps.
This review was also posted on Darker Passions
ETC: typo
January 21, 2013
3 1/2 stars....
I would like to thank Innovative Book Tours for allowing me to be a part of their tour and review this book. I found the story line to be well written and thought out. It's always hard to jump into the middle of a series, but this book could have easily stood alone. The characters were easy to like and empathize with, especially Lynn's guilt over what she considered cheating on her dead husband.
The sensuality was hot, not quite steaming, but hot enough. The scenes were well written, then erotic level was strong.
Overall this was a good book. The only drawback that I could see from it was that it was indeed the middle of the series, and it would have been nice to get it from the beginning. Looks like I'll have more books to add to my TBR pile.
I would like to thank Innovative Book Tours for allowing me to be a part of their tour and review this book. I found the story line to be well written and thought out. It's always hard to jump into the middle of a series, but this book could have easily stood alone. The characters were easy to like and empathize with, especially Lynn's guilt over what she considered cheating on her dead husband.
The sensuality was hot, not quite steaming, but hot enough. The scenes were well written, then erotic level was strong.
Overall this was a good book. The only drawback that I could see from it was that it was indeed the middle of the series, and it would have been nice to get it from the beginning. Looks like I'll have more books to add to my TBR pile.
January 21, 2013
Tara pens "Haunted Laird" in a plot that is filled with twists and turns. The 4th book in the 'Cursed MacKinnons' series that will keep you turning the pages. I started this series with this book, which hooked me in right away. And it really didn't take all that long to figure out who was who but I do recommend starting with the first book. Highly recommended to all paranormal romance fans.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
December 28, 2020
This is about the fourth time I have read this series.
Another great book in this series that gives us a bit more tension and adventure to enjoy.
Reading the previous books will make reading this a better experience.
It just takes too long between books for this impatient reader.
4 brothers saved, 3 to go.
I do begrudge paying twice and a lot more for the same book as I bought these years ago from EC and then Amazon U.S. but cannot update due to country change.
Another great book in this series that gives us a bit more tension and adventure to enjoy.
Reading the previous books will make reading this a better experience.
It just takes too long between books for this impatient reader.
4 brothers saved, 3 to go.
I do begrudge paying twice and a lot more for the same book as I bought these years ago from EC and then Amazon U.S. but cannot update due to country change.
May 17, 2013
Can't wait for the next brother to be found. This is a great sensual series!
October 24, 2015
I wish there were more Scottish warriors frozen as statues in our times-and that I would come across one.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews