Highlander Undone

by Connie Brockway

While recovering at his uncle’s estate from wounds sustained in the Sudan, Jack Cameron—a loyal Scottish captain in the British army—is haunted by the words of a dying one of Her Majesty’s Black Dragoons is aiding the slavers they were sent to suppress. But how will he find the traitor without sending the culprit to ground? He finds a way while listening to the voices beneath his open window—particularly those of Addie Hoodless, a beautiful widow, and her brother, Ted, a famed artist commissioned to paint portraits of the Black Dragoons’ senior officers.

Posing as an artist, Jack decides to infiltrate the close circle of friends at Ted’s studio to listen in on the unguarded conversations of the officers. But first, he must win Addie’s trust despite the emotional wounds of her past. Will Jack dupe the only woman he has ever loved or stand down from hunting the traitor? If his real identity is exposed, Addie’s life will be in terrible danger.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Military Fiction

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2015

About the author

New York Times and USAToday best selling author Connie Brockway has twice won the Romance Writers of America's Rita award for best historical romance as well as being an eight time finalist. After receiving a double major in art history and English from Macalester College, Connie entered grad school with an eye to acquiring her MFA in creative writing. Soon enough she jettisoned the idea of writing serious literature for what she considered (and still considers) the best gig in the world, writing romance.

Connie has received numerous starred reviews for her romances in Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal. Library Journal also named her Her 2004 romance, My Seduction, one of the year's top ten romances.

In November of 2011, THE OTHER GUY'S BRIDE (a sequel to the perennially popular AS YOU DESIRE) was Amazon's Montlake Publishing's launch title. Here next book, NO PLACE FOR A DAME will be published September, 2013. A regency set romance, it is also the sequel to ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.Today Connie lives in Minnesota with her husband David, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts.

Reviews

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

****Full Review****

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

"I will be as direct as you, Mr. Cameron." She took a deep breath before plunging on. "I believe I may need you, as much as I suspect you may need me."
"Then Mrs. Hoodless," he said in an odd voice, "I am yours."
 
Recovering from a war injury, Captain Jack Cameron, has been confined to his room, with the window open for fresh air he becomes the unwitting eavesdropper to a trio's everyday and not so every day, conversations. The trio consists of Mrs. Addie Hoodless, her brother Ted, and his friend Gerald. Addie's brother Ted is an artist whose patroness is Jack's uncle's wife and the owner of the dowager house he is recovering in. As Jack lies there, he begins to know the group and develop an affinity for them, especially Mrs. Hoodless. As it is with eavesdropping, Jack hears things not meant for his ears, he learns of Addie's fear of men, notably soldiers, of which her late husband was one of and who used to physically abuse her. He also hears that her brother Ted has been commissioned to paint the portraits of officers of the Black Dragoons, men that he wants to investigate for treasonous acts.
 
Did she unsettle Jack Cameron? The idea was electrifying.
 
Right before Jack was injured, a dying man spoke of a Black Dragoon officer who was working with the slavers in North Africa for profit and giving them information, causing British soldiers deaths. He needs to get close to Ted so he can be in his studio to question the officers but without tipping the guilty one off but this also requires him to get close to Ted's sister who will also be in the studio and is afraid of soldiers, who Jack is one of. Cloaking himself in a dilettantes clothing and affecting an artist's benign mien, Jack gains Addie's trust, Ted's wariness, and access to Black Dragoons. However, Jack soon finds that he started to fall in love with Addie's voice through a window and now simply with her but the deaths of his brothers-in-arms haunt him wanting justice and keeping him lying to her. Addie is recovering herself for the first time since her marriage but can she be saved by the very type of man who first destroyed her?
 
"Addie, it won't be long." He sounded so miserable. "You have only to crook your little finger and any man with an ounce of red blood in his veins will come running."
Their gazes locked. Slowly, she pushed him away, and then she lifted her hand, extended her forefinger, and crooked it.
 
Addie is a character that will pull at your heartstrings, she is naturally a vivacious, saucy, and mischievous woman but after five years of being literally and figuratively beaten down by her husband, she has lost her core. As we the reader come into the picture after her husband has died and only learn of her abuse from Jack recounting what he heard, we do not directly "see" her abuse. Her trauma is told not in harsh abusive scenes but rather emotionally devastating moments, tensing of the shoulders, unnatural quietness, gaze to the ground, and a withdrawing into herself whenever soldiers enter her space. Her brother does his best to support her but Jack's reactions and Addie's strength garnered from his are what the reader is really here for and are wonderfully the strong points of this story. From the aforementioned eavesdropping, Jack is aware of the reasons of Addie's withdrawals and it tears him up inside. He begins to become protective of her but since he is hiding his soldiering background he is forced to leave his overtly strong presence behind and instead covertly use his stinging wit. His actions put him in some confrontational moments, which surprisingly have Addie jumping in to "save" him. Addie's protectiveness of Jack begins to show her that she might just have some hidden strength.
 
"Addie. You must believe me when I say I will never force my will on you."
"How can I ever be sure of that? Give me one good reason to believe you."
He chuckled. "You would never let me."
 
Jack lies by omission to Addie about who he essentially is but the way he strives to find justice for his comrades and torments over having to play Addie falsely makes his undercover work forgivable. The way he went about trying to investigate the Black Dragoons was a bit side-eyeing, it worked as a way to get our leads together but was a bit thin; the overall story was compelling but I'm not sure how tightly all the puzzle pieces fit together. The beginning also had a bit of a clunky start, with the story not gaining its stride until about twenty percent in. The strength here and what Brockway writes so well is the relationships between her characters. Ted is the big brother we all wish we had and his feisty little relationship he has with an American heiress is demanding a book of its own. The villain of this piece was predictable, his motivates a bit sketchy, but stayed away from over-the-top. Each character exists and interacts in a way that adds much to the story and creates a believable world. The stars remain the center pieces of the story, although, I would have loved for Addie and Jack to have had more alone time. The force pulling our couple together was felt and the way Jack plays Addie's knight in shining armor by not stepping in front of her to slay the dragons but by handing her the sword, showing her she has the power while radiating strength behind her, makes him the man you want all romance book heroes to be.
 
"I…I wish…I wish I were someone else. Someone who had never known Charles Hoodless. Someone who could love Jack without equivocation."
He squeezed her hand. "Jack doesn't."
Her breath caught at that. No, Jack didn't.
 
Highlander Undone was a good story but I couldn't help but feel that it didn't quite reach the peak I know Brockway can. The searching for the treasonous soldier was a bit of an unwieldy thread and while there were flashes of brilliant emotion between our leads, they ultimately didn't spend enough time together to develop a truly memorable relationship. This was a pretty clean read with the heat being found in glances and gazes, except for two scenes at the end. If you're a Brockway fan and missing her work, then picking this up is not a question but if new to her, choosing from her backlist would yield better results.

[OLT · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a "coulda/woulda/shoulda" book for me.

COULDA: This could have been a really good romance. Connie Brockway is an experienced romance writer who has written many HRs I've enjoyed. She's usually got a great way of getting that yearning, burning and romantic churning going in the H/h relationship. In this one she has an honorable H who cared about the h but I did not admire his choices in how he dealt with the situation he was in or how he dealt with their relationship and so it wasn't as good a romance as a good Brockway can be.

WOULDA: I would have liked this much more if only there had been a better way of developing the plot. See, this H is an ex-soldier in the Cormack Highlanders who learns of treasonous activity in Africa by an unidentified officer of the Royal Dragoons. Treason that ends in the unnecessary deaths of many soldiers. When the H is badly wounded in Africa and sent home, more or less to die, as he recovers he makes plans to uncover the unknown traitor. Unfortunately, his undercover investigation plans are somewhat implausible and a bit silly. Without having an artistic bone in his hunky body, he plays at being a foppish artist so that he can hang around the heroine's brother's studio. The brother is painting the portraits of various Royal Dragoon officers and, oh, heck, I don't know. Somehow it seems like a good idea to the hero.

SHOULDA: There are actions this hero should have taken sooner to suit my taste. Even if I'm not happy with plot choices in a book, I can still like it if the romance is darned good. But I'm not all that fond of deception and the hero here deceives the heroine for far too long about his identity. Yeah, that makes for more uncertainties and tensions as the romance develops and maybe some readers like that. I just plain do not appreciate deception, even if in a noble cause. I saw the possibility much earlier on in the story for the hero to come clean and solicit the help of the heroine in his investigation. Instead he chooses not to and I choose not to like this book as much as I could have, would have and should have if he had done the right thing.

[Lady Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Highlander Undone, Connie Brockway creates a complicated hero, a heroine with hidden scars, and a tangled plot involving deception, treachery, and romantic yearning. Yet although I enjoyed the book, I could not help but think that the plot got away from the author at times (or perhaps it just got away from me). There are moments, however, during the developing romance between Jack and Addie where their unexpressed attraction to one another is so stirring, so passionate, and yet so chaste that heartstrings are tugged and a little tear may appear in the reader’s eye.

The main characters are likable and compelling. Captain Jack Cameron, handsome and brave, is a career soldier in the Cormack Highlanders. (The book’s title is a bit misleading: aside from Jack’s being in a Highland regiment, don’t expect anything else distinctively “Highlander-ish” in this story.) Although he was grievously wounded and sent home from the Sudan to die, he recovers with the assistance of Wheatcroft, his “factotum-cum-nursemaid-cum-valet.” Perhaps his recovery is related to his obsession, for he is determined to discover the identity of a traitor who is aiding the slavers that the army was sent to fight. His decision to masquerade as an artist is rather audacious, given that he has no artistic skills and knows virtually nothing about art. He manages to fake things by posing as a dilettante and “fribble,” although Addie’s brother Ted suspects that there is something bogus about him.

Please visit Romantic Historical Reviews to read the rest of this review.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from 2015

B+ for narration / B for content.

Connie Brockway’s latest novel Highlander Undone is a well-written story which features a mystery running alongside a tender and well-written central romance. I enjoyed reading the book, and chose the audiobook for review because it afforded me the chance to listen to Napoleon Ryan, a narrator whose name I’ve seen cropping up more and more frequently as a narrator of historical romance but haven’t yet heard.

Seriously wounded while on active service in the Sudan, Captain John (Jack) Cameron of the Gordon Highlanders is sent back to England to recover from his injuries, entrusted to the care of his only living relative, his great-uncle Lord Merritt. Jack spends a number of months confined to the dower house on his uncle’s estate, and because he is bedridden, becomes inadvertently privy to a number of conversations that take place on the terrace below his open window.

The usual participants in these discussions are Ted Pfyfe, a well-known portraitist, and his widowed sister, Addie Hoodless, whose husband Charles was a member of the Black Dragoons regiment.
Before he succumbed to his injuries, Jack had received some very disturbing information to the effect that a British officer in that very regiment had been instrumental in perpetuating the slave trade that the army had been sent to North Africa to curtail solely in order to line his own pockets; and that the same officer had also caused the delay of important orders, which ultimately led to the massacre of hundreds of soldiers at Khartoum. As he recovers, Jack becomes resolved to discover the identity of that man – but he must do it without any official assistance so as not to alert him and cause him to go to ground. Jack is at a loss as to how he can possibly go about his inquiries; but when he overhears Ted telling Addie that his latest commission is to paint the portraits of a number of Black Dragoons officers, it seems he has been handed a golden opportunity. Lady Merritt is Ted’s patron, so Jack should have no problem gaining access to his studio. He’s sure that the boredom caused by the inactivity necessitated by their sittings will loosen the men’s tongues and allow him to gather the information he needs.

There is, however, a problem with that plan in the form of Addie Hoodless. From the conversations he has overheard, Jack knows that Addie’s marriage was not at all happy and that her husband was a brute and a bully who physically abused her. She is uncomfortable around men in general and soldiers in particular, believing them all to be callous thugs like her late husband; so in order to infiltrate their circle, Jack decides to act the part of a harmless, flamboyantly-dressed and slightly effete dilettante.

When Addie meets Jack for the first time, she is astonished – and pleased – to realise that she is strongly attracted to him. She spent six miserable years learning not to feel or show any emotion, and has continued to be quiet and effacing during the year of her widowhood. But Jack’s handsome face, his kindness and his ready wit make an immediate impression on her, and before long, the two are becoming firm friends. Jack is similarly taken with Addie, and the closer they become, the more conflicted he becomes, unable to reconcile his growing feelings for her with the fact that he is deliberately deceiving her.

I enjoyed the story in spite of a few rough edges and the rather huge coincidence of Ted’s just happening to be painting the portraits of the very men that Jack is out to investigate. But the bulk of the novel is devoted to the romance between Addie and Jack, which is very well done. Both are engaging, attractive characters, and I was impressed with the subtlety with which author shows how badly Addie was affected by her husband’s cruelty. We are never witness to his brutality, but the way she withdraws into herself, both physically and mentally; the way she reacts to most of the men around her is clear indication of the trauma she suffered. On a more positive note, the author also does an excellent job in showing us how Addie, with Jack’s support, begins to reinvent herself and to rediscover the vivacious, outgoing woman she once was. And Jack is a delicious hero – handsome, honourable and highly intelligent with a biting wit that he employs to great effect on numerous occasions.

I admit to being less satisfied with the secondary plotline of the book, which is concerned with Jack’s search for the traitor. His identity is obvious early on, so it’s really a case of how Jack is going to prove his suspicions rather than a “whodunnit”, which is fine, but this element of the story doesn’t feel as well developed as the romance. I was also less than impressed with the way Addie treats Jack towards the end of the book. It’s true that he lies to Addie by omission, but she is too concerned with her own issues to be able to see the bigger picture and while her reaction is certainly plausible, it is also rather petty when all is said and done.

Napoleon Ryan’s name has been on my radar for a while, but this is the first time I have listened to him – and I’m pleased to say that his performance is polished and entertaining. He has a pleasant, cultured baritone voice that is easy on the ear, and his portrayal of Jack Cameron is very good indeed. He gives him a gentle Scottish burr that is accurate and consistent, and adds a husky note which is very attractive; and in the parts of the story when Jack has to act the ennui-laden fop, he raises his pitch slightly and drops the huskiness, his delivery reminding me a little of the camp cabin-crew character played by Alan Cumming in The High Life, an old BBC2 sitcom. The other principal male roles are equally well performed and I was very impressed with Mr Ryan’s vocal range, both in terms of pitch and dynamics. He gives the character of Paul Sherville (a former colleague of Charles Hoodless) a loud bass growl which never sounds strained, and I thoroughly enjoyed his characterisation of Ted Pfyfe – the sort of big brother every girl should have! – who sounds very 1940s BBC; a kind of cross between Noel Coward and George Sanders, which works brilliantly.

His female voices are decent, although his interpretation of Lady Merritt certainly falls over the edge into caricature. Addie is very softly spoken and while Mr Ryan doesn’t resort to falsetto, she sometimes sounds a little too “prissy”, for want of a better word. But that’s a very small niggle, and wasn’t enough to spoil my enjoyment of the overall experience. I am looking forward to listening to this narrator again.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B at AAR.

Connie Brockway's latest historical romance, Highlander Undone, boasts a dash of intrigue, a strong period feel, witty dialogue, a secondary romance (that cries out for its own book!) and a couple of engaging protagonists. It's a well-crafted and enjoyable read, even though there are a few things that felt a bit rough around the edges and the set-up is a little weak.

John (Jack) Cameron, Captain of Her Majesty’s Cormack Highlanders is serving in the Sudan when he is badly wounded and sent back to England to recover and convalesce. He spends several months confined to bed in the quiet of the dower house on his great-uncle’s estate, and because he is bedridden, is an unintentional eavesdropper on the conversations that take place on the terrace outside his open bedroom window. The participants are most usually his aunt’s protégé, Ted Phyfe, a popular portraitist, and his sister, Addie Hoodless, the widow of an officer in the Black Dragoons.

Unaware they have an audience, Addie and Ted often speak of personal matters pertaining to Addie’s unhappy marriage to a man who consistently abused her and who injured Ted when the latter tried to intervene. Addie, once a vivacious, extrovert young woman has had the life literally beaten out of her; and even though she is now a widow, she is uncomfortable with men in general and with soldiers in particular, believing them to be as cruel and brutish as her late husband.

As Jack regains his health and strength, he recalls that in the moments before he was injured, he had received some truly shocking information. An officer in the Black Dragoons regiment was abusing his position in order to make enormous profits from the slave trade and, to protect those profits, had delayed important orders which ultimately caused the death of hundreds of soldiers. Jack has vowed to find the man responsible and have him brought to justice, but he can’t do anything openly. Alerting his superiors will bring the lumbering machinery of Whitehall into play, and that risks bringing any investigation out into the open and giving the culprit time to cover his tracks.

Overhearing that Ted has been commissioned to paint the portraits of a number of the officers in that very regiment, Jack realises that he has been given the ideal opportunity to gather information unobtrusively. His great-aunt is Ted’s patron, so Jack will easily be able to gain access to the artist’s studio and hang around to take advantage of the loosened tongues that the boredom of long sittings is bound to produce in Ted’s subjects.

The one possible stumbling block is Addie, who will certainly not welcome a former soldier into their circle. So Jack adopts the effete, unthreatening persona and flamboyant clothes of a dilettante, and, in spite of Ted’s initial caution, is made welcome. Addie is pleasantly surprised at her reaction to this attractive, seemingly gauche young man, recognising her feelings as attraction, something she hadn’t thought to feel ever again.

Jack is a wonderful hero – compassionate, clever and intuitive, with a biting wit which he wields as effectively as a rapier when called upon to do so. Even before he sets eyes on Addie, he is falling for her, and the reality of her only goes to strengthen his already strong attraction. That the attraction is reciprocated, he can’t doubt – but knowing of her hatred of military men, he daren’t hope for anything more between them once she knows the truth of his identity and of his mission to find the traitor. Yes, Jack lies to Addie by omission, but the author maintains the reader’s sympathy for him by leaving the reader in no doubt that he is deeply torn between his growing love for her and by his need to see justice done for his fallen comrades.

Although the reader never sees the abuse Addie endured at first-hand, Ms Brockway very cleverly shows us how badly she has been traumatised by the way she reacts to the men she meets. She withdraws into herself, almost trying to become invisible and Jack, knowing something of her history, is torn apart from just watching it. Gradually, however, with Jack’s friendship and support, Addie begins to re-invent herself and to rediscover the mischievous, lively young woman she used to be – and this is one of the strongest and most memorable elements of the book. There are a couple of wonderful moments when, believing Jack to be in danger, she actually forgets to be afraid and stands up for him, and it’s this instinct that lights the spark and shows her that she is perhaps stronger than she believed herself to be. The romance is well-developed and the couple has great chemistry, although I would have liked them to have spent a little more time alone.

I mentioned that there are some rough edges, and these are principally to do with the secondary storyline of the search for the villain – whose identity is never in question – so the story is more a “how do we catch him?” than a “whodunnit?”. I don’t have a problem with that, but the plotline doesn’t quite hang together and isn’t as well thought-out as the rest of the novel. Also, Ted’s just happening to be painting soldiers in the very regiment that Jack wanted to investigate, and Jack’s just happening to hear about it was too contrived for my taste. I realise fiction is often based on fortunate happenstance, but that was a convenience too far.

Those quibbles apart, however, Highlander Undone is worth reading for the central relationship alone, and for Jack, who is pretty much the perfect romantic hero.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Connie Brockway wrote one of my favorite historical romances, My Dearest Enemy, I knew I would like this one. Highlander Undone is a witty, and enjoyable everything that I love about historical romances. Connie Brockway's writing is comical each of the characters are facetious but yet when it's time for the emotional heartache you can feel the change from quick-witted to somber and earnest. Jack and Addie together are a combustible pair. Addie, I love, but there were times I wanted to smack her. Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack...sigh I love Jack (Jack is also one of my favorite names; blame it on Mia Sarah in Legend I love the way she says that name.) Jack is strong, intelligent, compelling, and loyal. The story was engaging and enjoyable.

Jack is a soldier through and through but he is tired of all the killing, and when he learns that someone was being paid off by the slavers and is responsible for the deaths of so many he is determined to find who is responsible and bring them to justice. Jack is mortally wounded and barely survives, in his time mending at his great-uncles country home he finds the way to infiltrate the Black Dragoons invisibly.

Addie was mentally abused by her husband, his constant berating and demeaning or her turned her from a vivacious girl into a timid woman. The death of her husband is her chance to start over, helping her artist brother with his commission of painting the officers of the Black Dragoons by play hostess. The introduction to Jack, a shy artist in over his head in the artist community, awakens something in her she thought she lost long ago.

The closer Jack comes to finding the culprit the closer he becomes with Addie. He knows Addie's late husband has something to do with it but doesn't want her to suffer anymore because of the man. They fall in love and Jack knows he must confess to Addie who he really is, but will her fear of soldiers be overcome by his love or will she be overwhelmed by her fear to fully give her self and her love to Jack.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Connie Brockway is an author who has a distinct writing style that I always find refreshing and engrossing. I absolutely adored her older romances such as As You Desire and My Dearest Enemy so I was ecstatic to see that she is still writing and publishing. Highlander Undone is a decent example of her writing skills and unique characters.

Jack Cameron is an injured Scottish captain who is sent to recover from his wounds at his uncle's estate. He is not expected to survive, but he does through the skills of his uncle's servants and his own sheer will. Right before his injury, he was informed that a member of the British Black Dragoons is using the conflicts in the Sudan to further their own fortunes and Jack vows revenge for his fallen comrades. He decides to go "in disguise" and befriend a portrait artist who is commissioned to paint all the Black Dragoons in order to discover who the culprit was. Things, of course, get complicated when Jack starts to get involved with the artist's widowed sister, Addie Hoodless.

The best part about Highlander Undone was the portrayal of the hero and heroine. Jack is a loyal commander who is devastated to learn that someone was making money of the deaths of his soldiers. His fierce need for revenge shows his loyalty and his ability to care for those around him. By pretending that he is a gentle artist-in-training, Jack is able to show the softer side of his personality. Addie was very admirable due to her ability to overcome her difficult past. Her late husband was abusive and she managed to survive through her own determination. Of course, there are emotional scars from such an ordeal, but she is slowly working her way back to being comfortable with life again.

Jack and Addie's romance was a nice combination of sweetness and sexiness. They are physically attracted to one another from the beginning, but avoid intimate contact due to Jack's masquerade and Addie's reluctance. So, they are able to spend time getting to know one another through conversation and outings. I was worried about whether the connection would be true since Jack is pretending to be a different type of person. But, the author does a good job of emphasizing that he is still acting like himself just without the expectations of an army captain. I especially liked the fact that he was halfway in love with Addie before even meeting her since he used to overhear her conversations while he was recuperating.

Jack's lie does go on longer than I would have liked and I wasn't the biggest fan of some of the choices he made. I appreciated his desire to get revenge, but thought that he could have gone about the whole thing in a way that didn't hurt so many people. The groveling scenes at the end were well-done and made me believe everything could be resolved. I just wish the truth had been divulged sooner.

Besides the romance, there is also the mystery around which of the Black Dragoons took advantage of the situation in the Sudan. I figured out the culprit early on and I am pretty sure that is way the author intended it to work. Much of this plot involved figuring out how to get the villain to admit it and find the proper justice for the deceased. It was well-balanced with the rest of book and I was happy with the way that everything was resolved.

Highlander Undone is a stand-alone novel that I think could appeal to a variety of historical romance readers. There is a strong-willed heroine who has some real issues to overcome and a sexy Scottish hero who finds someone that helps him learn more about himself. Brockway's voice is beautiful and subtly humorous which I really enjoyed as well. I had a good time reading this and am looking forward to her next romance.

I received a free eARC of this book from Montlake Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those romances that will set your heart racing because the author took the time to show us who the hero and heroine are and what they’re all about.

As a matter a fact, that’s why I love reading romance. I’m in seventh-heaven when I meet not just a handsome hero or a beautiful heroine, but it’s what’s in their hearts that matters to me more than their appearance.

Jack and Addie were all that I expected and wanted them to be and their story will touch your heart because it’s a story of heartbreak, passion and hope. I honestly couldn’t put it down and dreaded the end because I just didn’t want to leave these two, that’s how much I loved them.

Melanie for b2b

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher

[Jultri]

DNF. Underwhelming start, esp the hero.

[Desi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sort of what one would call a solid steady type book. Slow start, (verrryy slow), rather clever and quip filled dialogue and some endearing characters. Even-keeled throughout, no spectacular highs nor devastating lows. I liked the mains, and I loved her artist brother.

The portrayal of trauma from past physical abuse was maneuvered so well by the author it somehow didn't overshadow the book or become the only relevant aspect of the female's character.

The conflict/mystery's solution was given almost instantly (it was kind of funny how quickly), so thankfully finding the proof was pretty much in the background of the actual characters interacting. So much so it sometimes seemed like it was barely happening at all. Like did he forget totally about his important mission? Is no one gonna, like maybe, organize a search of the suspect's place? How's that for an idea? This weird non-action in terms of, I dunno, trying to solve the case rather than hanging around the studio in tight yellow pants, strangely also kinda worked well for this book. At one point the hero says “They convinced me my talents for investigation could avert miscarriages of justice”. Now...He's a sweet dude, but I really wouldn't call his lackadaisical investigation indicative of talent.

Enjoyable overall, but it will admittedly take some patience for some to get through it. I'm not sure it ever actually revved up past it's ambling pace or if by mid-book I just got used to the rhythm and started to enjoy the perambulation.

Lines I Liked

“He had tried to stay clear of her but circumstance and Addie’s own unaccountable determination to champion him threw them together. In the past two weeks he’d added a visual vocabulary to the things he’d learned about her without ever laying eyes on her: the way one corner of her lip crooked when she was trying to suppress her amusement; the soft inhalation that accompanied her spontaneous appreciation of a novel she was reading; above all the telltale deadening of her expression whenever her husband was mentioned.”
-------

“But what the moonlight robs of color, it returns in subtlety and texture.” She touched the dark, glossy leaves of the overhanging holly. “There is something about a graphite landscape, the feathered silver on the lawn, the impenetrable blackness of deep shadow, that is mysterious and evocative. Color can too easily hide the essential nature of a thing, its basic structure, its form.”
--------

“Addie tossed up her long skirts with the easy manner of a child, and eagerly Jack leaned forward to help her with her skates, reaching out for a cotton-clad calf. Ted cut him off with a knowing smile and a murmur pitched for his ears alone: “I don’t care how timorous a virgin you purport to be, I’ll lace my sister’s boots.”
“Of course,” Jack said, forcing a harmless smile to his face”

[Stephanie (Jump) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved Connie Brockway's works for awhile now, the way she spins a tale of potent longing and emotions in As You Desired and her humour and wit in My Dearest Enemy and The Other Guy's Bride - so I was delighted to get my hands on an Arc copy of her latest story.

This was a solid enjoyable read. While As You Desired will still be my favourite, in Highlander Undone Connie has built likeable well-rounded characters that feel real, created a romance and thrown in a little mystery and intrigue - although the identity of the villain is not kept in suspense for too long (as there are not many pausible suspects and the writer chooses to trail the villain's thoughts not long after he appears). It is not a light humorous read like some of her other pieces but there is sharp wit in the characters' dialodge.

It's an interesting premise. Captain Jack Cameron hears about a traitor in the army and was wounded immediately after. He spends 2 seasons recovering giving him a chance to hear the conversations of our heroine and her brothers. In this way he is privvy to know intimate facts about her unhappy abusive former marriage (she is now widowed) that no stranger or even friends would nornally be privvy to know. He also learns of who she is as a person. He becomes her proector in some sense.

Our heroine is likeable and strong in her own ways. I felt for her when she felt in tears and I too felt sadness hearing about her vibrant younger self. Even Ted is a wonderfully rounded character (seems like he could get his own story later?). The story moved at a good pace with the romance bossoming believably - no insta-love here!

I look forward to more from Connie Brockway.

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting: North Africa, West Sussex County, London, UK 1886-87
Genre: Romance
Captain Jack Cameron wants to find what officer from the Black Dragoons was involved in the slave trade the Army was in the Sudan to stop. This same officer, to aid his crime, delayed orders to the front, causing soldiers' deaths.
Addie is the widow of an Army officer who died in the Sudan. It wasn't a good marriage, so now she hates military men.
Ted is Addie's brother, an artist, who has been commissioned to paint portraits of several officers from the Black Dragoons when they return to London.
Jack needs to find a way to investigate the officers Ted is to paint, but Addie will be acting as chaperone to a young lady who has also commissioned a portrait. Since Addie hates military men, he can't present himself as an officer. So he poses as an artist to get in with the group.
Jack and Addie are drawn together over the course of the story, which leads to a satisfying HEA.
The writing is excellent - grammar, phrasing, and spelling - and it is a smooth read. After spending the past couple of weeks reading self-published ebooks, this was a welcome relief. Jack and Addie are likable, well-rounded characters. Even the secondary characters have a bit more depth than is standard in a book of this length. The plot is cohesive. And the dialogue was great. It's nice that there was the feel of time passing, without it being forced. It allowed for a more natural relationship, so there wasn't that insta-love one finds so often with these shorter books. And big plus for me is that it is set in the Victorian era.
i got this book on audio yesterday afternoon, and except for a few breaks, I read it through the night to finish. This was a great read/listen, and I Can recommend it highly.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say, Connie Brockway is hit or miss with me. I loved her earlier works like As You Desire and My Dearest Enemy, which were genuinely funny. But then some of her other books did nothing for me. Like this one. The premise sounded good, and I thought it was going to be sort of humorous: Highlander soldier masquerades as someone of questionable sexuality to find a traitor, but then he falls for a young widow who thinks he's gay. Instead it wound up being a story of a young widow who was subjected to the worst brutality at the hands of her husband who was in the same regiment that our hero is investigating. Of course, she's sworn off anyone that's in the military now, convinced they're all alike - sadists. Our hero keeps up the charade (half-heartedly as the plot continues) and the heroine actually falls for him, because he's so "safe" and proceeds to throw herself at him. I just didn't buy it. Eventually, the truth comes out and she hates him for being a soldier and lying to her and he must court her - and she doesn't make it easy for him - until she's almost killed, of course. Frankly, I was just fed up with her and was glad someone (her brother) finally told her to wise up. Oh well, convoluted plot or not, I still am fond of this author, though it's a death knell if I'm not big on the heroine. I had high hopes for this one, but alas - another miss.

[Zeinab Dh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this in exchange of an honest review, the book was awesome very captivating I loved the characters they were charming full of life you can connect to them very fast the plot and story line were good the author knows how to make her readers desire more of her work I recommend this to everyone

[Cariadne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved Connie Brockway’s contribution to My Scottish Summer. The short adventure she provided that collection was the best of the bunch and the reason I needed to get that book! It was full of wit and romance… and it was contemporary, which Highlander Undone is clearly not. Now, I have enjoyed some of Brockway’s historical romances and was looking forward to reuniting with her new historical with another dashing Scottish hero, but had a hard time focusing and figuring out this story.

There were plenty of moments around Jack’s playacting as a dilettante that was out there in a comedic way, but the novel was so serious, the comedy was more shock. And by comedy, I mean a lot of gay innuendos that would certainly shock genteel society, very macho military men and even many of the art patrons that make up the characters in this book. Again, the novel was so serious that Jack’s fake flamboyance was very jarring and odd. In one sentence, he is serious and gravely strategizing the take down of his opponent. Then in the next sentence he’s daintily plucking at his lace sleeves and drolly putting out homosexual double entendres to vex our evil villain. It’s a clever concept, BUT was not executed well.

Throughout the read from NetGalley, I kept wanting to abandon it. I hate to be a quitter, though, especially on a Connie Brockway book! and kept slogging through to the Author's Note. Unfortunately,
I just couldn’t figure out the tone Brockway was aiming for and kept thinking if someone like Mary Balogh tackled this plot, it would’ve offered a better balance of being a revenge-deception-romance or if someone like Julia Quinn tackled this, it would’ve been a delightful and heartfelt jaunt. In my eyes, Brockway’s effort to craft a winning story was exactly as the title states: Undone.

[Trish R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turned out to be a really good read..

So, I started reading this book and got bored at chapter 10 and stopped and read 3 other books then came back to this. I should have gone a little further because it was in chapter 11 that it became exciting. I really liked Jack and Addie, his pretense at being a fop and her liking him for it. And I loved how much Addie grew, from a frightened widow to a brave I’m-not-taking-any-crap-from-anyone-anymore, because her dead husband was a military man and viciously cruel human being, and really made a mess of her. And she was scared to death of military men and that’s what Jack was. He did play the pretend effeminate very well, but that was ALL thanks to the narrator. This book really wouldn’t have been so good just reading it.

The story was about artists and bohemians and the ton. Murder, blackmail, and a terrific love story. No angst or misunderstanding, which made it a great read.

There was explicit sex in this book, Jack “taking care of Addie” without going all the way, at about 50%, then them doing their “thing” in the last chapter of the book. There was not an ounce of sexual tension between them so that made the sex kind of boring. AND d*mn and h*ll were the only swearwords used.

As to the narrator: He was fabulous! Every single man had his own voice and the ones he did for Ted and Corporal Veitch were especially great. For Ted he sounded gruffly effeminate and for Veitch he was soooo blustery. Jack went from sounding feminine to sounding sexy. (Bad guy) Sherville sounded really evil, Gerald sounded more feminine than the women, Halvers sounded gruff and nice all at the same time. Addie sounded soft-spoken and refined Mrs. Merritt sounded high pitched and stuffy and Zephrina sounded very immature. Wow, the women all sounded just like women, not like a man trying to sound feminine. Napoleon Ryan did a fantastic job.

[Beth Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain John (Jack) Cameron was a captain in Her Majesty’s Cormack Highlanders who was fighting the war in North Africa in 1886. He believes that many of the deaths were due to an error made by their own leaders and he has vowed to take down the men who caused so much death. When he is injured, his only living relative, his Great Uncle, hides him in his wife’s cottage.
While he is recovering he discovers that other people that are staying in the cottage for the season. They are all artists, except Addie, the sister of one of the artist’s .Jack and Addie; develop a strong friendship, as Jack’s pursuit of revenge inadvertently helps pull Addie out of her shell. Will the secrets they share bring them closer together in order keep them both safe from the evil man in both their pasts, or will it push them apart?
I enjoyed following Addie on her journey of finding herself. I also found myself really liking the way Jack became the protector of Addie.
I found the story line good; the pace of the events, with the twists and turns unfolding kept pulling me back in.
I love the ending. It was done very well, I really liked the way Connie Brockway wrote this book, and I look forward to reading anything else she writes.
I would recommend this book to anyone because there is a little bit of everything in this book from the romance, war, art, happiness and personal growth.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and I give this book 5 stars.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting setting, England of late Victorian times, and references to General Gordon's disastrous North Africa campaign and the artists of the Pre-Raphaelite and early Arts & Crafts movement. I liked the story and the protagonists, but the villain was drawn in such broad strokes it was hard to take him seriously. I kept expecting to hear hissing from the audience when he emerged on the scene.

Nonetheless, the story showcases Ms. Brockway's talents and will please her many fans. There's even a secondary love story that could be a set-up for a subsequent novel.

[Kathleen]

I love this author. Cannot wait for her new book!

[Romancing the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Danielle U
Book provided by NetGalley

Highlander Undone by Connie Brockway is one intriguing yet hot romances that readers will love. A dying soldier tells another about what is really going on inside the country. This disturbing news leads Jack determined to find out all he can until he's been it in the back. Soon he wakes up in an unknown place, safe for the moment. But as he heals he ends up listening to all conversations that the household isn't aware of. What he learns, helps him come up with a plan to question others within enemy line. But will it be worth the risk? Jack soon falls in love with the one woman he has to deceive and all thoughts of losing her makes him rethink his choice.

Connie Brockway is a talented writer who knows how to heat up the pages. Her characters like Jack and Addie come to life. Their attraction to one another and blunt words will leave readers with a sense of wanting to read more. Connie doesn't disappoint. The heat only inflares as the fast paced plot unfolds. An unknown enemy prescence and Jack risking his life and Addie's to find the answers left me with a shiver down my spine. But like real life things worth wanting and needing never come easy. The readers will be taken in suspense as Jack puts all risks at hand. Just the intrigue of who is behind all of the terror, is one of the major lures that the Highlander Undone presents. I highly recommend this brilliantly well written story to all and rate it a five out of five stars.

[Joycee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars. 😬

I enjoyed this one, even though - as other reviewers had commented - it wasn’t fair of Jack to continue the deception for so long. I knew that there would be a plot device whereby she would find out right before he was planning to reveal all, and then she wouldn’t allow him to explain. At first.

But I was also a tad miffed at Addie for painting all soldiers with same brush stroke (is that the saying)? That just because you were a soldier, you must relish violence and harshness and cruelty? I suppose I too can not fathom being in a war, a battle, and having to make a life-or-death choice. But there are honorable soldiers, and those who defend rather than offend, shelter rather than attack, yeah?

Catholic me had to chuckle, though, at the part where the Merritts found it the worst sort of betrayal that their son opted to become a *gasp* Catholic priest!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connie Brockway is one of my favorite romance authors. I loved this book! A seasoned military officer, recovering from a career-ending injury, tries to find the traitor who betrayed his troops to their deaths. To do so, he goes undercover as a witty dilletante, (think Scarlet Pimpernel), using his diminished physical state after a lengthy recovery to fit into his young cousin's foppish clothing. Hiding his true nature goes against his character however, and his anguish over the necessary deception while falling in love with his social sponsor is truly delicious. Thank you, Ms. Brockway, for another wonderful read!

[Freda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abused widow stands up! I very much enjoyed this historical suspense romance - the unusual female lead is a widow who survived a physically abusive marriage, not a 17 year old virgin heiress on her first season. That alone set this apart from other period pieces (late 1800s). The male lead, a Highland Scot, oh boy, was not expected to survive his war wounds, but he did and went on a mission to unmask a traitor, a plot which took him into the sphere of his lady. The development of the female lead, from abused victim to independent woman was well done - well worth the time to read!

[Sandra Dagg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good read. I enjoyed the story and would definitely read it again. I admit to being a bit frustrated with the female lead's lengthy indecision about the man she loved, but the circumstances she had dealt with previously made it understandable. When it counted, she showed her mettle and made up for her fence-sitting admirably. Good love story, suspense and good character development too, at least for me. Recommend to anyone interested in historical romance of the Regency period.

[Susan (the other Susan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet. If you like your romantic heroes Beta, Jack is kind and brave and so patient, heroine Addie has to take things into her own hands, so to speak. A bit dragged-out, and villain was so over-the-top he might have suffered from altitude sickness, but a satisfying read for fans of historical romance.

[Yael · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.
This book was just ridiculous. The plot was completely unbelievable. The characters are all 1 dimensional... I guess this author is a hit or miss for me and this one sadly was a miss. I usually devour these types of books in a couple of days but this one took forever...

I loved her MacLaren Isle series and "As you desire" but some of her other books are a dud.

[Lana Gillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and romantic...

The background mystery was interesting. I loved the variety of characters. The conversations were hilarious. The romance was sweet and passionate. Very enjoyable. Thanks.

[Listener · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like the heroine.
Never felt the chemistry between the main characters.
The end was anticlimactic.
Meh.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I received an eARC of this book from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. Jack was such a wonderful hero - he is brave, loyal, honorable and of course he's gorgeous. He is wounded in the war and is at his uncles home recovering. Before he was wounded, he learned something terrible about an unnamed soldier whose greed caused the deaths of many men. Jack's honor will not let him ignore this and he is determined to uncover the traitor - no matter what. While still bedridden he overhears Addie and her brother talking - they are unaware that they are being listened to and have very candid conversations. Jack then hatches a plan to investigate the soldiers while in disguise as an artist. He has learned that Addie's brother will be painting the portraits of several of his suspects. He has also learned quite a bit about Addie and her marriage.

Addie is the widow of a very cruel man - who happened to be a soldier in the very division Jack is investigating. Based on her experience with her husband Addie doesn't trust soldiers or her own heart. She acts as hostess for her brother Ted who is an up and coming portrait artist. When she meets Jack for the first time, she is shocked by her reaction to him and feels like she is coming back to life after feeling nothing for so long.

Knowing how Addie feels about soldiers Jack is torn between doing what he feels he must for his fallen comrades and the guilt of deceiving Addie. He is totally in love with her, buts knows she will never forgive his betrayal.

This was a very emotional story. There were times in the book that I honestly didn't think there could be a happy ending. I was also a bit disappointed with Addie towards the end of the book - I think she dragged her feet and played games with Jack a little too long. I understood her reluctance to trust herself and she does redeem herself - but it felt like too little too late.

The book has very few love scenes, but they are well done and potent. I normally like a steamier read - but the scenes in this book were just right for this story.

There are also quite a few interesting and entertaining secondary characters - the best being Addie's brother Ted. I hope his is the next book :)

I would recommend this book, it is not a light read, but nether is it dark or oppressive. It will make you think and the end will make you smile. What more could you want?

[Nicole McCrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tried reading this book a few weeks ago, and after the first chapter I stopped. I guess I wasn't feeling it. But last week I tried again and was rewarded. The heroine, Addie, has been hurt before and is a frightened, meek woman. The hero, Jack, was a Captain in the military and is desperate to uncover a conspiracy, even if that means dressing as an artist and looking like a silly, unimposing man to gain Addie's trust.

What I liked most about this book was Addie. There was incredible character development with our heroine. She learned about herself, her wishes and dreams, and all with Jack's help. It made their relationship that much more enjoyable. He was not overbearing and pushy, but neither was he spineless. Brockway, in my opinion, did a wonderful job flushing out a relationship that was not simply a domineering alpha male and his easily led female as often happens.

I also enjoyed the dialogue, and Jack's quick witticisms. I found myself laughing at his quick phrases, and I was impressed Brockway was able to write such quick, sharp phrases. She was fleshed out some great secondary characters which added to the plot.

My one detraction, the reason I gave this book 4 instead of 5 stars, was the ending. I won't reveal anything, but I was disappointed by the final outcome. It seemed to me as if Brockway couldn't find a better way to tie up her book, so ended it as simply as she could.