The Laird of Stonehaven

by Connie Mason

A Faery woman fears she will lose her healing powers if she dares to succumb to the virile Highlander who haunts her dreams.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Paranormal

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Connie Mason or Cara Miles is the best-selling author of more than fifty historical romances and novellas. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as American locales. Connie was named Story Teller of the Year in 1990 by Romantic Times and was awarded Career Achievement award in the Western category by Romantic Times in 1994. Connie makes her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida with her husband Jerry.

Prior to her first published work in 1984, Connie was a full time homemaker. Always an avid reader, writing was one of Connie's dreams.

In 1995 Connie was featured on a segment of the CBS news show 48 Hours, a television production that devoted an entire program to the romance novel industry. Connie was also featured in an article published by National Inquirer.

In addition to writing and traveling, Connie enjoys telling anyone who will listen about her three children and nine grandchildren, and sharing memories of her years living abroad in Europe and Asia as the wife of a career serviceman. In her spare time Connie enjoys reading, dancing, playing bridge and freshwater fishing with her husband.

Reviews

[April Brookshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same ole, same ole. Blair's father is dying, her evil half brother wants to marry her off to his evil BFF. Blair calls herself a "Faery woman" and throughout the entire book claims that it's not the same as being a witch. Do spirits speak to you, Blair? Yes! Can you make it rain for days, Blair? Yes! Do you have magical powers, Blair? Yes! Wake up call, so-called Faery woman! You are a witch!

So in comes Laird Graeme. He's hot, thinks she's hot, her father's dying wish is that they get married to protect her from the villians. He doesn't believe in witches until he sees her do some freaky things. Of course there's the bitchy mistress, a kidnapping and justice served to the villians. And they live happily ever after!

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'M ON A CONNIE MASON ROLL YA'LL!! I THINK THIS LAIRD IS THE FIRST I'VE ENCOUNTERED OF ALL THE HEROES SHE HAS WRITTEN WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS FAITHFULNESS & LOYALTY AND HE'S ALSO THE MOST NORMAL ONE. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating but I'm serious, Graeme is one of the few that shows us that the author's just dicking with us when she writes those other horrible rapist heroes.

GRAEME is forced into a marriage he doesn't want all because he owes a man a debt. Though reluctant, he does marry his wife because she's beautiful (SHALLOW, I KNOW! But I'll admit I do like reading about beautiful people) but, his doubts grow tenfold when the rumours about her being a witch become rampant. I think Graeme is the only one I actually LIKE amongst all Connie Mason's heroes. He can be protective of his wife, he protects her from dangers and people who want to harm her because they believe she's a harmful witch. He's also crazy about her since they married but because of her powers, he hopes that he won't fall in love with her just to spare her life. There's a prophecy about the Faery woman that should she fall in love and not have it returned, she'll lose her powers. Graeme and Blair will endure a lot of ups and downs that make this story lively and hard to put down. Throw in three challenges by fire, water and stone, Graeme will find himself always saving his wife's own life from being snuffed out by supernatural powers. What made those moments great is the fact that he and Blair are either fighting or having had some misunderstanding. ANGST! It's filled with angst. Just know that while Graeme has his faults, at least he's not a cheater and he's hellbent on making sure Blair makes it out alive everyday. Truly, he's a gem amongst C.M's other heroes. I KID YOU NOT. After devouring more than 10 stories by C.M, I would know.

BLAIR is a Faery Woman. No, she's not a witch but YES she does have healing powers - like the kind that makes your leg whole again if it has been shattered by a boulder (and yes, this did happen in the story with Graeme towards the end). Blair doesn't want to marry the strange Laird whom her Father insists she marries on his deathbed to save her life from her scheming brother. The story was a series of never ending trials for Blair - people who are against her for her powers, her husband's conniving ex-mistress, her own brother and supernatural trials. Now that I think about it, she's quite a strong and capable person with a good heart. No matter how Graeme forbids her from healing, it's in her soul to do it and never leave anyone broken. I liked how selfless she is, not to mention unreserved about passion. She's willing to have sex with her husband, thus he doesn't stray as well. I have to point this out because normally some of her heroines can be so missish it gets annoying.

OVERALL this one was a gold mine! I'm still dazed that Connie Mason can actually write a romance without cheating, and having PROPER characters in them that don't get all hysterical and ridiculous. What's bloody great?! We still get to enjoy the angst.

[Wan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Laird of Stonehaven was a surprise! I didn’t realize that it was also a PNR (slightly) on top of a Highlander Romance….very satisfying. Don’t know if that’s because I’m back on the anything-highlander-craze. -- What a treat. This stand alone went along nicely with the Hawk by Monica McCarty, another of my favorite Highlander/Historical Romance Authors.

As for writing style, I think Connie Mason captured the 15th Century Scotland very well. -- I’m really not expert in Highland History at all but some how I totally bough what she was selling. The characters were well written and believable. As we all know, Scotland was really big in Faery, folklores, and all things magical. Hence, a story of the Highland Laird and Faery Woman totally rocks. The clans’ feuds were something I’d never get tired of. And they were plenty of them for us to enjoy reading for a lifetime.

Ahh..did I mention hot scenes. Miss Connie kept the story at a very quick pace and interesting. Well, they were plenty and sizzling scenes all thru the book that kept me interesting and I ended up read the book in less than 24 hrs. (How about that for a busy mom! Luckily, my son got his playmate to occupy him with so I only had to stop reading to feed them.) -- Now, I’m looking forward to reading more of her novels.

[Ashley-Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

so annoying! Not even 50 pages in and the hero and heroine have gone back and forth at least six times with

"I can't make love to you because I'm scared to fall in love!"
"that's ok I'll get a mistress"
"but I want to sex you up!"
"me too"
"but I can't make love to you because I'm scared to fall in love!"
"that's ok I'll get a mistress"
"but I want to sex you up!"

also, the woman insists she's not a witch but she can heal people magically and talk with spirits?

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faery woman fears she will lose her healing powers if she dares to love her Highlander husband. Steamy and romantic book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Qué cosa más repetitiva y que protagonista más tonta! La verdad es que lo terminé por cabezonería

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the mystical faery aspect of this story. The cries of witch annoyed me, but I knew that was normal, because fear stems from ignorance or lack of understanding and that was made clear throughout the book. It was fascinating when she’d use her powers and just as intriguing to see how she won folks over little by little, save a few determined to not give her a chance. Initially, the ignorance and fear that Graeme showed I was okay with, but as he got to know her and that fear didn’t subside nor did he want to learn was frustrating, but still understandable. All the angst was defined and explained so I understood why certain characters were of a certain opinion or another. I absolutely adored Blair to pieces and am a sucker for fae aspects in a novel when done right. This was done so well. It brought in the history of the time as well as giving a magical and powerful heroine that even with all her true goodness, was truly selfless and pure. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between our hero and heroine, but also predicted and loved the side romance between Alyce and Stuart, who quickly became beloved supporting characters without and with bumps. This was such a well done book, hands down. I highly recommend.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book on my bookshelf, so it was the only reason why I read it, it must have been a yard sale buy. I’m not into stories with healers, so this didn’t capture me. The heroine was incredibly stupid and gullible, did she really think her brother could be trusted? The whole witch thing really dragged, the story dragged.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it's okay.

It's not up to CJ's usual standard. Everyone was too perfect and if I had to hear the word carry or witch one more time, I'd puke.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read for me. Looking forward to reading more from this author

[Molly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuyyyyyyyyy rebuscada. No termina un conflicto que empieza otro. No da respiro, pero no genera intriga.
Tres estrellas porque.... q se yo, toy de buen humor jajajaja

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good story, prevented from being a 4-star by the fact that the heroine, after pains are taken to establish her as independent, spirited and intelligent in her own right, fails to recognize several fairly obvious options to save herself from her various predicaments.

She: "Faery woman" and healer, sometimes accused of witchcraft. Her father, on his deathbed, calls in a favor from the hero and demands he marry her to save her from her wicked brother's evil exploitations. There's a prophecy that she'll lose her powers if she loves in vain, setting her up to resist the hero's seductions, since he can't admit he loves her.

He: young man who feels a "pure love" for Joan of Arc, whom he protected until she was executed for her various so-called sins. Having seen the poor woman's violent death by fire, he has convinced himself (what else is new?) that he no longer feels softer emotions. He reluctantly agrees to wed and protect the heroine. But of course he can't resist her.

Villain(s): Heroine's brother, a greedy schmuck who wants her to marry his nasty friend because the friend has promised to let him keep her dowry. Failing that, this guy will do whatever he must to see her dead before she bears a child, since her inheritance would revert to him if she dies without an heir.

His friend, who wants to exploit heroine's powers to enrich himself.

The village midwife who is jealous of the heroine's healing powers.

The hero's former leman, who is jealous, period.

Here's the thing: At a couple points in the story, heroine thwarts the various villains by threatening them with nasty spells, leaving one to wonder why she doesn't use the same threats to make them just go away. She could even threaten that, if they take her life, a greater curse will fall on them. The only reason she doesn't think of this is that there'd be no story. But it leaves us wondering why SOMEONE, if not the hero then the supposedly intelligent hero, doesn't think of the obvious.

[Lori T-m · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a pretty good read. The first half (or slightly more) didn't hold my attention so much that I couldn't put it down, but it held my attention better towards the end. I hate to say this on a book review but the book sort of "went on and on" but I still enjoyed it. Blair is a faery woman and her dad is dying and wishes her to be married to the laird of stonehaven because, for some reason, he is the only one who can protect her. They must consummate the marriage ASAP because her evil brother is on his way back and he wishes her to be married to someone else (a bad guy) so that he (the brother) can keep her dowry. The bad guy only wants blair for her powers and nothing more or less. There are also some other "bad guys" (mostly a midwife and a maid of the house who has slept with the laird up until blair has shown up). Blair and her husband have first agreed to only have sex to break her hymen/prove she is no longer a virgin, and then never do it again. The prophecy says if she loves a man who doesn't love her back, she will lose her powers. Her husband has told her he can't love another woman (his last love was also a witch/faery and she was burned at the stake). They end up having more feelings for each other than either would like to admit. There are trials they go through together, they get angry with each other, blair gets kidnapped, but in the end they stay together and are there for each other. He saves her, she saves him, he saves her, she saves him. Some parts seemed repetitive (like the fact that in the beginning, someone always walks in on them and interrupts anytime they seem to get intimate at all). Another goodreads member wrote that there was too much sex and that this book was almost pornographic. I won't complain about that because it's exactly what i like to read and i felt like it had just enough balance between sex and plot.

[DelilahW · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of many Connie Mason books that I've read recently and unlike most, I really liked this one. The heroine Blair, in addition to her great beauty, actually had some brains and usefulness in her. I liked Graeme, he was a good strong alpha male but not a crazed psycho like Tony in Caress and Conquer. The storyline with Blair's witchcraft caught my interest, as I too practice witchcraft. Standard Connie Mason villains pop up (like Graeme's previous mistress Glenda). I thought the vernacular of the dialogue fit pretty well with the location and time frame. All in all, I would recommend this one.

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice read. I wish I could say more than that, but saying it was nice is the perfect word for this book.
I didn't like how the conversations would go in circles and I found myself skimming through some parts.
I did really like the story though. It was sweet with lots of love scenes (sometimes it was too much for me, but that's just my preference and I don't hold it against the book).
Over all a very solid three stars. Not sure if I will re read, but nice enough to give a review and especially for a quick plane ride.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

gooood

[iomai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing,dramantic, and romantic. An amazing read but the sexual content was high.

[Malati · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a good read with a predictable plot. However, when I read the book info about the Faery Woman, she didn't turn out to be what I thought.... oh well.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK - I know this is just a fun read with no literary value but you should see the guy on the cover!! He's got a really big sword! hahaha

[Eddie Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author was too hung up on sex, almost pornographic to my taste, leave out the sex and it is a good read.

[Sunderbug · Rating 1 out of 5]

to much smut

[Dani Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Romance with a supernatural twist. Great escape reading!

[Jolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good not great.. 3.5 stars. Still love this author

[RomLibrary]

Scotland 1432 …

Visions … He appeared nightly in her dreams -- magnificently, blatantly naked. A man whose body was sheer perfection, whose face was hardened by desire, whose voice made it plain he would have her and no other.

And Prophesies … Blair MacArthur was a Faery Woman, and healing was her life. But legend foretold she would lose her powers if she gave her heart to the wrong man. So the last thing she wanted was an arranged marriage. Especially to the Highland laird who already haunted her midnight hours with images too tempting for any woman to resist.