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Highland Fairy Tales #1
Beauty and the Highland Beast
Powerful and dangerous highlander Dair Sinclair was once the favored son of his clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. With Dair at the helm, Sinclair ships circled the globe bringing home incredible fortune. Until one deadly mission when Dair is captured, tortured and is unable to save his young cousin. He returns home breaking under the weight of his guilt and becomes known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.
When a pagan healer predicts that only a virgin bride can heal his son’s body and mind, Dair’s father sets off to find the perfect wife for his son. At the castle of the fearsome MacLeods, he meets lovely and kind Fia MacLeod.
Although Dair does his best to frighten Fia, she sees the man underneath the damage and uses her charm and special gifts to heal his mind and heart. Will Dair let Fia love him or is he cursed with madness forever?
When a pagan healer predicts that only a virgin bride can heal his son’s body and mind, Dair’s father sets off to find the perfect wife for his son. At the castle of the fearsome MacLeods, he meets lovely and kind Fia MacLeod.
Although Dair does his best to frighten Fia, she sees the man underneath the damage and uses her charm and special gifts to heal his mind and heart. Will Dair let Fia love him or is he cursed with madness forever?
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2016
96 people are currently reading
915 people want to read
About the author
Lecia Cornwall
19 books493 followersLecia Cornwall writes historical romance and historical fiction. She lives and writes in Alberta, Canada, amid the beautiful foothills of the Canadian Rockies, with five cats, two adult children, a crazy chocolate Lab, and one very patient husband. She is hard at work on her next book.
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May 26, 2016
Do you have any idea how I'm feeling right now? I'm heartbroken. I'm devastated. I'm so utterly disappointed.
I feel like a teenager who just got stood up at prom night. I can taste the bitterness on my tongue. It's like the Great Breakup of the early 2000s, when Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears parted ways, and proved to me that true love didn't exist in the real world.
Gah.
(Full rant to follow.)
I feel like a teenager who just got stood up at prom night. I can taste the bitterness on my tongue. It's like the Great Breakup of the early 2000s, when Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears parted ways, and proved to me that true love didn't exist in the real world.
Gah.
(Full rant to follow.)
June 23, 2016
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Beauty and the Highland Beast by Lecia Cornwall
Book One of the Highland Fairy Tale seires
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: June 21, 2016
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Powerful and dangerous highlander Dair Sinclair was once the favored son of his clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. With Dair at the helm, Sinclair ships circled the globe bringing home incredible fortune. Until one deadly mission when Daire is captured, tortured and is unable to save his young cousin. He returns home breaking under the weight of his guilt and becomes known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.
When a pagan healer predicts that only a virgin bride can heal his son’s body and mind, Daire’s father sets off to find the perfect wife for his son. At the castle of the fearsome McLeods, he meets lovely and kind Fia MacLeod.
Although Daire does his best to frighten Fia, she sees the man underneath the damage and uses her charm and special gifts to heal his mind and heart. Will Daire let Fia love him or is he cursed with madness forever?
What I Liked:
I downloaded this book on a whim (thank you, SMP!), because I love fairy tale retellings, and I love adult romance novels. This one was good but not great. The writing didn't really work for me, I didn't really love or connect with any of the characters, and I just wasn't feeling the story in general. It wasn't for me, but I am happy that I gave it a shot!
Dair (short of Alasdair) is the heir of the Sinclair clan, one of the most powerful clans in Scotland. Dair was a a sailor, circling the globe with ease and skill, before a terrible tragedy struck the family. A mission went wrong, and Dair was captured. His cousin, Jeannie, was tortured and raped and hung while he was chained. Dair was released, as a message to the Sinclairs. Ever since he was sent back, Dair has been having nightmares and has been screaming like a madman. No one wants to go near him. But an old healer declares that a virgin can save Dair, and Dair's father (the chief of the Sinclair clan) finds Fia McLeod, one of the numerous daughters of the fierce McLead chief. Fia and her sister Meggie arrive at Carraig Brigh, and Fia realizes that Dair isn't mad; he seems sane to her. But there is something else afoot, and Dair and Fia must find out before it is too late for Dair.
More on this below, but I didn't really connect with, or love, any of the characters. I felt so bad for Dair - he is mistreated and misjudged, dubbed as a madman when I'm pretty sure he is suffering from some serious PTSD. Dair is scarred (physically and emotionally), and reacts badly when Fia arrives at the castle. But he warms up to her, and vice versa. Dair is a good man, and there are hints of alpha male that jump out every now and then. A lot of attention was spent on making Dair seem mad, which detracted from him being a lusty romance hero.
I didn't really like Fia, to be honest. She's supposed to be this innocent, sweet girl - think Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Animals LOVE Fia, and all the men ogle her and stare at her breasts. She's supposed to be very beautiful, but noticeably scarred and she has a limp, about which she is very secretive. Fia seemed too naive to me, but she was an okay character.
The author revealed information slowly, about Dair's cousin and the tragedy, about Fia's own tragedy in her past, about the villain of the story and his motives. This was well done.
While this book isn't off-the-charts steamy, there is some pretty heavy chemistry between Dair and Fia. I liked them together; they fit well, and they each need each other more than they realize.
I didn't really care for the ending (some of the reveals were silly and didn't feel right with the story), but I'm amused by one aspect of the ending, and I'm really glad the book wrapped up as nicely as it did. The author ended the book lightheartedly and with hope, which I liked.
What I Did Not Like:
Somehow I just didn't connect with the characters. I'm not sure if it's just me, so if you read this book and had a wonderful reaction to it, I'm glad! Somehow it seemed like everything of this book was written on a surface layer, and didn't dig deeper. The characters seemed one-dimensional, almost like archetypes or caricatures that needed to be brought to life. Yes, we got in Dair's head. Yes, we got in Fia's head. But somehow, they never seemed like real people to me.
And it's not that I didn't like either of them - I think I like them, for the most part. I definitely like and feel so bad for Dair. Fia, eh. But I didn't really NOT like either character. I just didn't connect with them, like I find myself doing in other romance novels.
I'm not sure if I liked Fia or not. She's incredibly naive, and it seems like every male is after her. Every male is staring at her breasts ALL THE TIME - it got annoying really quickly, especially when it wasn't Dair doing the looking. I get that she's supposed to be beautiful but...
I found the writing to be a little poor, definitely not to me taste. A lot of telling and now showing, and a lot of cliche-sounding phrases. Not even in historical romance novels will you find a female protagonist saying "Take me!" to the hero. That's so cliche and definitely a '70s line in romance novels. I could not believe it when I saw that line in this book!
Towards the end, the story started to get a little obnoxious. Some of the explanations for why Dair became as he did were stupid (and they had nothing to do with Dair). I don't want to say that these explanations felt like a cop-out or a rushed ending, but they didn't feel well thought-out, or well-written, in my opinion.
I guess the story was a little boring, too. I wasn't hooked, and I wasn't really dying to know what would happen next. It took me two days to read this book (that's a lot - usually I'll sit down and read a book in one sitting).
Would I Recommend It:
On the one hand, all of the issues I mentioned are subjective and could be limited to me. On the other hand, this isn't necessarily a book I would recommend. Your life won't be too different if you read it, or if you don't read it. It was worth a try, and I'm glad I read it! But it's really not worth the extra effort, if you were on the fence about reading it.
Rating:
3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. This was an impulse download! I do that rarely, which is fine. I don't regret pulling this one from NetGalley, but I wish I had liked it more. I was expecting a little more! Maybe the fairy tale retelling allure was most of why I was excited about this book.
Beauty and the Highland Beast by Lecia Cornwall
Book One of the Highland Fairy Tale seires
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: June 21, 2016
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Powerful and dangerous highlander Dair Sinclair was once the favored son of his clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. With Dair at the helm, Sinclair ships circled the globe bringing home incredible fortune. Until one deadly mission when Daire is captured, tortured and is unable to save his young cousin. He returns home breaking under the weight of his guilt and becomes known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.
When a pagan healer predicts that only a virgin bride can heal his son’s body and mind, Daire’s father sets off to find the perfect wife for his son. At the castle of the fearsome McLeods, he meets lovely and kind Fia MacLeod.
Although Daire does his best to frighten Fia, she sees the man underneath the damage and uses her charm and special gifts to heal his mind and heart. Will Daire let Fia love him or is he cursed with madness forever?
What I Liked:
I downloaded this book on a whim (thank you, SMP!), because I love fairy tale retellings, and I love adult romance novels. This one was good but not great. The writing didn't really work for me, I didn't really love or connect with any of the characters, and I just wasn't feeling the story in general. It wasn't for me, but I am happy that I gave it a shot!
Dair (short of Alasdair) is the heir of the Sinclair clan, one of the most powerful clans in Scotland. Dair was a a sailor, circling the globe with ease and skill, before a terrible tragedy struck the family. A mission went wrong, and Dair was captured. His cousin, Jeannie, was tortured and raped and hung while he was chained. Dair was released, as a message to the Sinclairs. Ever since he was sent back, Dair has been having nightmares and has been screaming like a madman. No one wants to go near him. But an old healer declares that a virgin can save Dair, and Dair's father (the chief of the Sinclair clan) finds Fia McLeod, one of the numerous daughters of the fierce McLead chief. Fia and her sister Meggie arrive at Carraig Brigh, and Fia realizes that Dair isn't mad; he seems sane to her. But there is something else afoot, and Dair and Fia must find out before it is too late for Dair.
More on this below, but I didn't really connect with, or love, any of the characters. I felt so bad for Dair - he is mistreated and misjudged, dubbed as a madman when I'm pretty sure he is suffering from some serious PTSD. Dair is scarred (physically and emotionally), and reacts badly when Fia arrives at the castle. But he warms up to her, and vice versa. Dair is a good man, and there are hints of alpha male that jump out every now and then. A lot of attention was spent on making Dair seem mad, which detracted from him being a lusty romance hero.
I didn't really like Fia, to be honest. She's supposed to be this innocent, sweet girl - think Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Animals LOVE Fia, and all the men ogle her and stare at her breasts. She's supposed to be very beautiful, but noticeably scarred and she has a limp, about which she is very secretive. Fia seemed too naive to me, but she was an okay character.
The author revealed information slowly, about Dair's cousin and the tragedy, about Fia's own tragedy in her past, about the villain of the story and his motives. This was well done.
While this book isn't off-the-charts steamy, there is some pretty heavy chemistry between Dair and Fia. I liked them together; they fit well, and they each need each other more than they realize.
I didn't really care for the ending (some of the reveals were silly and didn't feel right with the story), but I'm amused by one aspect of the ending, and I'm really glad the book wrapped up as nicely as it did. The author ended the book lightheartedly and with hope, which I liked.
What I Did Not Like:
Somehow I just didn't connect with the characters. I'm not sure if it's just me, so if you read this book and had a wonderful reaction to it, I'm glad! Somehow it seemed like everything of this book was written on a surface layer, and didn't dig deeper. The characters seemed one-dimensional, almost like archetypes or caricatures that needed to be brought to life. Yes, we got in Dair's head. Yes, we got in Fia's head. But somehow, they never seemed like real people to me.
And it's not that I didn't like either of them - I think I like them, for the most part. I definitely like and feel so bad for Dair. Fia, eh. But I didn't really NOT like either character. I just didn't connect with them, like I find myself doing in other romance novels.
I'm not sure if I liked Fia or not. She's incredibly naive, and it seems like every male is after her. Every male is staring at her breasts ALL THE TIME - it got annoying really quickly, especially when it wasn't Dair doing the looking. I get that she's supposed to be beautiful but...
I found the writing to be a little poor, definitely not to me taste. A lot of telling and now showing, and a lot of cliche-sounding phrases. Not even in historical romance novels will you find a female protagonist saying "Take me!" to the hero. That's so cliche and definitely a '70s line in romance novels. I could not believe it when I saw that line in this book!
Towards the end, the story started to get a little obnoxious. Some of the explanations for why Dair became as he did were stupid (and they had nothing to do with Dair). I don't want to say that these explanations felt like a cop-out or a rushed ending, but they didn't feel well thought-out, or well-written, in my opinion.
I guess the story was a little boring, too. I wasn't hooked, and I wasn't really dying to know what would happen next. It took me two days to read this book (that's a lot - usually I'll sit down and read a book in one sitting).
Would I Recommend It:
On the one hand, all of the issues I mentioned are subjective and could be limited to me. On the other hand, this isn't necessarily a book I would recommend. Your life won't be too different if you read it, or if you don't read it. It was worth a try, and I'm glad I read it! But it's really not worth the extra effort, if you were on the fence about reading it.
Rating:
3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. This was an impulse download! I do that rarely, which is fine. I don't regret pulling this one from NetGalley, but I wish I had liked it more. I was expecting a little more! Maybe the fairy tale retelling allure was most of why I was excited about this book.
June 21, 2016
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
'Beauty and the Highland Beast' by Lecia Cornwall is book one in the "A Highland Fairy Tale" series. This is the story of Dair and Fia MacLeod.
Dair was returning on a ship home when they were attacked. Dair was taken along with his crew and his cousin who he cared for and might have possible married. Dair barley survived and his cousin was raped and killed in front of him. So know Dair and his family are dealing with Dair being physically and mentally unhealthy. An old women who helps with birthing said to bring Dair a virgin and she can possible heal him. Dair father goes to the McLeod who has several daughters. There he meet Fia who heals animals and has a way about her that might help Dair. So she and her sister go back to try to save Dair.
Fia has been sheltered most of her life due to a fall that has caused her to have a limp and also slight scars on her face. Fia hopes she can help him...but she is attracted to him. Fia knows that her sister is the actual one that would be the one to marry but can she fight her feelings.
I have read Ms. Cornwall books before and I must say this was the best one I have read so far.
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'Beauty and the Highland Beast' by Lecia Cornwall is book one in the "A Highland Fairy Tale" series. This is the story of Dair and Fia MacLeod.
Dair was returning on a ship home when they were attacked. Dair was taken along with his crew and his cousin who he cared for and might have possible married. Dair barley survived and his cousin was raped and killed in front of him. So know Dair and his family are dealing with Dair being physically and mentally unhealthy. An old women who helps with birthing said to bring Dair a virgin and she can possible heal him. Dair father goes to the McLeod who has several daughters. There he meet Fia who heals animals and has a way about her that might help Dair. So she and her sister go back to try to save Dair.
Fia has been sheltered most of her life due to a fall that has caused her to have a limp and also slight scars on her face. Fia hopes she can help him...but she is attracted to him. Fia knows that her sister is the actual one that would be the one to marry but can she fight her feelings.
I have read Ms. Cornwall books before and I must say this was the best one I have read so far.
Please follow more reviews at the below sites:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1... http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sally.mae.39...
http://sissymae.booklikes.com/
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/
http://romancebookreviewforyoublog.tu...
June 11, 2016
2.5 stars
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.
Dair is the seafaring prodigal son of chief Padraig of the clan Sinclair. When bringing his cousin to France to join a convent, they are captured. After being beaten and forced to watch his cousin raped and murdered, Dair returns home a broken man. His body is slowly healing but his mind seems beyond repair. A healer declares that only a pure virgin can heal him and his father sets out to find him one.
Fia is physically scarred and has a limp from an accident in childhood, therefore, her father and sisters are very protective of her. When Padraig meets her and sees how she heals a bird, he instantly wants to bring her to his son.
Dair and Fia are about to learn the true meaning of strength and healing.
He was still a prisoner, trapped inside the cage of his injured flesh, his damaged bones, his memories of unspeakable horrors. What would it take to set him free?
First in the Highland Fairy Tale series, this story plays off of the beauty and the beast theme. The fairy tale aspects, animals flock to our heroine like Snow White and our hero is a "beast", gave this a very light and fluffy tone. Fia also has an ill tempered cat named Beelzebub whose antics and fear he strikes in the hearts of big strong men, create the comic relief. While the abuse the hero suffered from his imprisonment and mental anguish from watching his cousin raped and hung (actually memories from the hero about this are told by him only once) give him a serious case of PTSD and the story a heavy tone. Unfortunately, these two contrasting tones didn't always mesh well together and gave the story a very uneven feel.
Dair was the best flushed out character with his storyline of being called "mad" by the clans people because of his nightmares, heavy drinking, and claiming he was seeing the ghost of his cousin. It's obvious he has PTSD but in 1700s Scotland, the priest is convinced its demons. Dair will definitely have your sympathies for what he has been through but a lot of his appearances have him solely being "mad". The few times he is not acting the part, he one dimensionally is attracted to Fia because of her gentle beauty. Fia had more facets to her character bio but they were just kind of thrown out there. She is said to have scars and a limp, why her family was protective of her but then her beauty is often discussed and no one seems to find her off putting, so which is it? (I'm not saying a woman can't be scarred and beautiful, just that the author seemed indecisive whether she wanted her heroine to be viewed as overtly beautiful or covertly) Then there was how Fia got her scars, the story is told once, with vague reasoning and details, and never brought up again. Not fully flushed out and incomplete reasoning had me never fully growing attached to our leads.
Along with the heroine's thrown out there details, I have to say the story's plot points, overall, were thrown out there to be left dangling. The villain was fairly obvious and his eventual reasonings made sense but the tie in with the ghost was pretty unbelievable. Sort of . I know the ghost drama was dragged out to create suspense for the reader but it fell extremely flat for me. The reasoning for why Fia's sister came along too, she was the one supposed to marry Dair while Fia was only supposed to heal him, was extremely awkward. It wasn't worked out well, which tied into how indecisive Fia was portrayed. The whole talk of only a "pure virgin" (the word virgin was used 61 times in this story, it got pretty tiring) healing Dair honestly felt like added in nonsense.
The writing at times felt a bit simplistic but that could have been the brought up and dumped elements. I enjoyed the overall concept of the story and the broad way the characters and story moved along and interacted but the structure and plot points to get them there, were willy nilly and some were simply unnecessary. This could overall be called a sweet story, only two bedroom scenes, so if looking for that aspect along with a Scottish setting and in a fairy tale vein, you might want to try and see if this author's style is for you.
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.
Dair is the seafaring prodigal son of chief Padraig of the clan Sinclair. When bringing his cousin to France to join a convent, they are captured. After being beaten and forced to watch his cousin raped and murdered, Dair returns home a broken man. His body is slowly healing but his mind seems beyond repair. A healer declares that only a pure virgin can heal him and his father sets out to find him one.
Fia is physically scarred and has a limp from an accident in childhood, therefore, her father and sisters are very protective of her. When Padraig meets her and sees how she heals a bird, he instantly wants to bring her to his son.
Dair and Fia are about to learn the true meaning of strength and healing.
He was still a prisoner, trapped inside the cage of his injured flesh, his damaged bones, his memories of unspeakable horrors. What would it take to set him free?
First in the Highland Fairy Tale series, this story plays off of the beauty and the beast theme. The fairy tale aspects, animals flock to our heroine like Snow White and our hero is a "beast", gave this a very light and fluffy tone. Fia also has an ill tempered cat named Beelzebub whose antics and fear he strikes in the hearts of big strong men, create the comic relief. While the abuse the hero suffered from his imprisonment and mental anguish from watching his cousin raped and hung (actually memories from the hero about this are told by him only once) give him a serious case of PTSD and the story a heavy tone. Unfortunately, these two contrasting tones didn't always mesh well together and gave the story a very uneven feel.
Dair was the best flushed out character with his storyline of being called "mad" by the clans people because of his nightmares, heavy drinking, and claiming he was seeing the ghost of his cousin. It's obvious he has PTSD but in 1700s Scotland, the priest is convinced its demons. Dair will definitely have your sympathies for what he has been through but a lot of his appearances have him solely being "mad". The few times he is not acting the part, he one dimensionally is attracted to Fia because of her gentle beauty. Fia had more facets to her character bio but they were just kind of thrown out there. She is said to have scars and a limp, why her family was protective of her but then her beauty is often discussed and no one seems to find her off putting, so which is it? (I'm not saying a woman can't be scarred and beautiful, just that the author seemed indecisive whether she wanted her heroine to be viewed as overtly beautiful or covertly) Then there was how Fia got her scars, the story is told once, with vague reasoning and details, and never brought up again. Not fully flushed out and incomplete reasoning had me never fully growing attached to our leads.
Along with the heroine's thrown out there details, I have to say the story's plot points, overall, were thrown out there to be left dangling. The villain was fairly obvious and his eventual reasonings made sense but the tie in with the ghost was pretty unbelievable. Sort of . I know the ghost drama was dragged out to create suspense for the reader but it fell extremely flat for me. The reasoning for why Fia's sister came along too, she was the one supposed to marry Dair while Fia was only supposed to heal him, was extremely awkward. It wasn't worked out well, which tied into how indecisive Fia was portrayed. The whole talk of only a "pure virgin" (the word virgin was used 61 times in this story, it got pretty tiring) healing Dair honestly felt like added in nonsense.
The writing at times felt a bit simplistic but that could have been the brought up and dumped elements. I enjoyed the overall concept of the story and the broad way the characters and story moved along and interacted but the structure and plot points to get them there, were willy nilly and some were simply unnecessary. This could overall be called a sweet story, only two bedroom scenes, so if looking for that aspect along with a Scottish setting and in a fairy tale vein, you might want to try and see if this author's style is for you.
October 23, 2024
I was intruded to this book by Anna @ Herding Cats and Burning Soup. I read her review, featured here, and become intrigued. Historical Romance's are not a genre I usually pick up, but her review made this book sound fascinating and something I might relish.
Their was so much to savor. Dair, the laird’s son and future heir, has been gravely injured and is grief stricken so much that he has gone rather mad. Fia, one of many daughters to a neighboring clan see’s her chance to see a little of the world and maybe help heal the laird’s son.
I loved both Fia and Dair. Both have scares inside and out. They also complement each other in that he’s bold and she’s gentle. I just loved seeing them together. They both needed someone to see them, help them heal, and see past the scars. Watching them come together was sweet and endearing.
There is also danger afoot and strange things happening in the clan. Rumors and murmurs of witch craft, evil, and that Dair is not fit to rule. Some shady things go down and a few people I definitely wished harm too. I’m curious to see where things will go from here.
Overall, I had a marvelous time. I’m glad I gave Beauty and the Highland Beast a try. I was captivated from the first to last pages and can’t wait to read the next in A Highland Fairy Tale series.
Rated: 4 Stars
Their was so much to savor. Dair, the laird’s son and future heir, has been gravely injured and is grief stricken so much that he has gone rather mad. Fia, one of many daughters to a neighboring clan see’s her chance to see a little of the world and maybe help heal the laird’s son.
I loved both Fia and Dair. Both have scares inside and out. They also complement each other in that he’s bold and she’s gentle. I just loved seeing them together. They both needed someone to see them, help them heal, and see past the scars. Watching them come together was sweet and endearing.
There is also danger afoot and strange things happening in the clan. Rumors and murmurs of witch craft, evil, and that Dair is not fit to rule. Some shady things go down and a few people I definitely wished harm too. I’m curious to see where things will go from here.
Overall, I had a marvelous time. I’m glad I gave Beauty and the Highland Beast a try. I was captivated from the first to last pages and can’t wait to read the next in A Highland Fairy Tale series.
Rated: 4 Stars
July 1, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Oh there was so much fun in Beauty and the Highland Beast. For starters I'm a total sucker for the whole Beauty and the Beast trope. Total. Sucker. Thrown in a growly, injured, maybe insane hero, a scarred heroine who was gentle and kind, a devil cat named Beelzebub who put the fright in big brawny highlanders and had them doing his bidding, a little magic and danger lurking where least expected. Gah, yes. It was entertaining as all get out. Plus...that cover!
The quick of it is that Dair--the laird's son and future heir--has been gravely injured and gone rather mad with grief after his cousin was murdered in front of him and it was claimed only a virgin could heal him. So off his daddy went to find him a virgin bride. And options a plenty were found with the neighboring clan who's laird had like a dozen daughters. Desperately wanting to get out of the house Fia agrees to go and see if she can help heal the laird's son.
I loved the hero and heroine. Both are scarred and damaged--walking with limps and plagued by things that have happened in the past. He's brash and bold and she's gentle and caring. I loved them together. That they had similar issues--though came about them in very different ways. And that she was able to heal his hurts. She was a healer and just had a way about putting people at ease. They both needed someone to see them just for them. That saw past their scars and the damage that had been done to them and just loved them for them. I loved that they both helped each other find themselves.
There was something afoot though. Strange happenings and stirrings in the clan. Murmurs that Dair wasn't fit to rule the clan after his father's passing and was truly mad. Murmurs of witches and evil and just some shady stuff. I definitely was wishing harm on a few people by the end and definitely wouldn't have been as forgiving. I'm curious to see what will happen next with the series but some of the folks are really gonna have to win my forgiveness for certain behaviors.
Overall, I had a good time with this one. It's a fairly lengthy read but I just flew through it and kept "needing" to take breaks from work around the house to read another chapter or four. lol One thing that was a little strange but could have just been me was this is a Highlander romance with lots of yummy Scots but I kept feeling like it had an English tint to it. It was a strange feeling. Took a little getting used to but still...a good time.
May 22, 2016
DNF @ 52%
Beauty and the Highland Beast is one of those books that in theory sounded great, but in practice failed to engage.
"He was a curse no sane woman would want."
This is one of those times when I'm really struggling for anything positive to say. I'm pretty devoid of any feelings if I'm honest. I didn't dislike the characters, but I failed to form any connection to Dair or Fia, it lacked romance and the more I read, the less interested I became.
"He looked at the cat again, at the bored expression, the edgy swish of his tail, the tense, restless muscles, and knew just how the beast felt.
When the character that you find most interesting is a cat, then it's time to bow out. You can't win them all.
Copy received courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion. On this occasion I'm sorry I can't be more positive.
Beauty and the Highland Beast is one of those books that in theory sounded great, but in practice failed to engage.
"He was a curse no sane woman would want."
This is one of those times when I'm really struggling for anything positive to say. I'm pretty devoid of any feelings if I'm honest. I didn't dislike the characters, but I failed to form any connection to Dair or Fia, it lacked romance and the more I read, the less interested I became.
"He looked at the cat again, at the bored expression, the edgy swish of his tail, the tense, restless muscles, and knew just how the beast felt.
When the character that you find most interesting is a cat, then it's time to bow out. You can't win them all.
Copy received courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion. On this occasion I'm sorry I can't be more positive.
June 24, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Strong Dair Sinclair, heir to the clan of Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh, was highly respected. But while on a mission to aid his cousin Jeannie, they are all captured, and his cousin so full of life is tortured right in front of him. An English prisoner helps him escape and get him home. Dair struggles with a madness, scarred and in pain. The healer of the clan makes a prediction, that if he finds a virgin--she will heal him. Dair's father is desperate to help his son. He arrives at the MacLeod clan, looking for one of the Laird's daughters to accompany him back home. He meets lovely Fia MacLeod, who is kind and is a healer of damaged animals. He knows that she is just what his son needs. Fia is overprotected by her family, and had dreamed of having adventure and some freedom. When she meets Dair Sinclair, she knows that he has a long way to go, but also she senses his deep pain and his strength. But there are traitors to the clan, who are seeking revenge...
Plot and Story Line
Beauty and the Highland Beast is the first book in the newest series by this author. When I first head about this book, I was very excited. Because a fairy tale mixed with sexy highlanders---count me in!! I truly enjoyed this book, and boy Lecia Cornwall did great things with this story and kept me on my toes for most of the story. Its starts out when we first see when the son is returned to his father, he is gravely injured, but he haunted by the memories of his cousin. Dair loved her, but in a way a friend loves another friend. Now his character really got to me in ways I didn't expect. He is scarred, angry and bitter. He knows his clan looks at him as if he is mad and crazy. Now this is where Fia comes in. Fia is kind and caring, but suffers from a limp and scars of her own. She knows that she can never have marriage or children, and wants to enjoy this moment. Fia knows how to handle big, burly grumpy men and Dair is the epitome of it. The chemistry that develops between Dair and Fia is just perfect, I adored seeing these two together. Even though there are some set backs, these two fight for each other. The plot twist, of a traitor, really added a sense of thrills and danger to the story. I loved seeing the growth in the story and development of the characters, especially in Dair and Fia. This story really got to me, grumpy heroes, strong willed heroines and a feisty feline. What more do you need!!
The Cover
Such a wonderful cover----I love the dress, with all the green and the flow of the plaid, and the castle in the background.
Overall View
Beauty and the Highland Beast is a classic fairy tale highlander style----riveting, enticing and engaging on every page!!
Summary
Strong Dair Sinclair, heir to the clan of Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh, was highly respected. But while on a mission to aid his cousin Jeannie, they are all captured, and his cousin so full of life is tortured right in front of him. An English prisoner helps him escape and get him home. Dair struggles with a madness, scarred and in pain. The healer of the clan makes a prediction, that if he finds a virgin--she will heal him. Dair's father is desperate to help his son. He arrives at the MacLeod clan, looking for one of the Laird's daughters to accompany him back home. He meets lovely Fia MacLeod, who is kind and is a healer of damaged animals. He knows that she is just what his son needs. Fia is overprotected by her family, and had dreamed of having adventure and some freedom. When she meets Dair Sinclair, she knows that he has a long way to go, but also she senses his deep pain and his strength. But there are traitors to the clan, who are seeking revenge...
Plot and Story Line
Beauty and the Highland Beast is the first book in the newest series by this author. When I first head about this book, I was very excited. Because a fairy tale mixed with sexy highlanders---count me in!! I truly enjoyed this book, and boy Lecia Cornwall did great things with this story and kept me on my toes for most of the story. Its starts out when we first see when the son is returned to his father, he is gravely injured, but he haunted by the memories of his cousin. Dair loved her, but in a way a friend loves another friend. Now his character really got to me in ways I didn't expect. He is scarred, angry and bitter. He knows his clan looks at him as if he is mad and crazy. Now this is where Fia comes in. Fia is kind and caring, but suffers from a limp and scars of her own. She knows that she can never have marriage or children, and wants to enjoy this moment. Fia knows how to handle big, burly grumpy men and Dair is the epitome of it. The chemistry that develops between Dair and Fia is just perfect, I adored seeing these two together. Even though there are some set backs, these two fight for each other. The plot twist, of a traitor, really added a sense of thrills and danger to the story. I loved seeing the growth in the story and development of the characters, especially in Dair and Fia. This story really got to me, grumpy heroes, strong willed heroines and a feisty feline. What more do you need!!
The Cover
Such a wonderful cover----I love the dress, with all the green and the flow of the plaid, and the castle in the background.
Overall View
Beauty and the Highland Beast is a classic fairy tale highlander style----riveting, enticing and engaging on every page!!
June 23, 2016
5 Words: Beauty, family, scars, love, cure.
This was a really interesting take on Beauty and the Beast, but rather than being a retelling, it was more like it was inspired by it, but just a bit.
The story itself jumps around a little bit, and it's quite slow to start. I'm a fan of slow-burners so I liked that about it. I wasn't so sure about Dair's seemingly instant attraction to Fia, it seemed to go against his character. But the passion between them? Loved it.
I loved that the heroine had her flaws, that even her family sometimes resented her for them. I loved her self doubt and how despite everything she stayed strong and feisty.
I'll definitely read on :)
I received a copy of this for free via Goodreads First Reads.
This was a really interesting take on Beauty and the Beast, but rather than being a retelling, it was more like it was inspired by it, but just a bit.
The story itself jumps around a little bit, and it's quite slow to start. I'm a fan of slow-burners so I liked that about it. I wasn't so sure about Dair's seemingly instant attraction to Fia, it seemed to go against his character. But the passion between them? Loved it.
I loved that the heroine had her flaws, that even her family sometimes resented her for them. I loved her self doubt and how despite everything she stayed strong and feisty.
I'll definitely read on :)
I received a copy of this for free via Goodreads First Reads.
June 11, 2016
I love Scotland. I call it land of my dreams. So I read almost anything that is Scottish. When I saw this book on NetGalley, I requested it simply because of its Highland setting.
This story is true to its name. It has a beauty and the beast theme going on. The beauty is our heroine with a limp and the beast is our hero who suffered from "being mad".
I started mentally snorting when I read that this old woman, who was summoned by the hero's father hoping that she could heal his "mad" son, told the simple-minded man that his son could be cured by giving him a virgin. This was early on in the book too. This superstitious bit really troubled me. I am not much for a "magical" kind of book. I could live with some "unusual" abilities in the characters. But this story had a rocky beginning with me because of this virgin business.
This story also took a while to actually get to the point. I do not like it when it takes a while for lead characters to meet. By "a while", I mean more than 10 pages. If a writer cannot get to the point, which is introduce lead characters and have them somehow meet each other before we hit the 11th page, he/she pretty much has lost me by then. I understand the writer wanted to talk about how the hero ended up being in this mad status and how the heroine had a kind heart and somehow could relate to animals like on one can. Not being an animal person myself, this animal/magical bit again, was lost on me.
If I could, as a reader, give new writers a piece of advice, it would be: make your characters real. The characters in this book are fictional. I knew it from the beginning to the end. Never once was I able to relate to either one of them. It was a magical/fictional tale, not poorly written but has not spoken to me on any level. I regret to say that I felt like a bored bystander reading this book.
*The review is for an ARC from the publisher on NetGalley.
This story is true to its name. It has a beauty and the beast theme going on. The beauty is our heroine with a limp and the beast is our hero who suffered from "being mad".
I started mentally snorting when I read that this old woman, who was summoned by the hero's father hoping that she could heal his "mad" son, told the simple-minded man that his son could be cured by giving him a virgin. This was early on in the book too. This superstitious bit really troubled me. I am not much for a "magical" kind of book. I could live with some "unusual" abilities in the characters. But this story had a rocky beginning with me because of this virgin business.
This story also took a while to actually get to the point. I do not like it when it takes a while for lead characters to meet. By "a while", I mean more than 10 pages. If a writer cannot get to the point, which is introduce lead characters and have them somehow meet each other before we hit the 11th page, he/she pretty much has lost me by then. I understand the writer wanted to talk about how the hero ended up being in this mad status and how the heroine had a kind heart and somehow could relate to animals like on one can. Not being an animal person myself, this animal/magical bit again, was lost on me.
If I could, as a reader, give new writers a piece of advice, it would be: make your characters real. The characters in this book are fictional. I knew it from the beginning to the end. Never once was I able to relate to either one of them. It was a magical/fictional tale, not poorly written but has not spoken to me on any level. I regret to say that I felt like a bored bystander reading this book.
*The review is for an ARC from the publisher on NetGalley.
September 24, 2016
I've given this a C+ at AAR (mostly for the final section!)
I’m always up for a good fairy-story retelling, and having heard good things about this author, I picked up Beauty and the Highland Beast with reasonably high expectations. I can’t, however, say that they were met, because while the writing is very good and the tension that leads to the dramatic finale is skilfully built, the characterisation of the two leads is inconsistent and the romance is underdeveloped.
Alasdair Og Sinclair, the son of the chief of the Clan Sinclair has a formidable reputation as a leader of men, a skilful strategist and as a man with a good head for business. Using his talents in all those fields, he has made his clan a fortune and proved that he will be a worthy chief when his time comes. But tragedy strikes when he is tasked with escorting his cousin Jeanne to a French convent. At Berwick, they are captured by a group of English soldiers who are bent upon revenge on Dair for his engagement and plundering of their ships. His crew is murdered, Dair is tortured and savagely beaten and Jeanne is abused, raped and killed in front of him, leaving him a broken man. One of his captors helps him to escape and to return home, but Dair is so badly injured in body and mind that his survival is in doubt and he is believed to be mad. The Sinclair orders the local healer be brought to attend his son, but she knows there is little she can do. She tends to Dair as best she can, cleaning and dressing his wounds, but knows there is nothing she can do about his mental state. Fearing for her life should she anger the chief, she suggests that as a virgin was – indirectly - the cause of Dair’s state, then only a virgin will be able to heal him.
Padraig Sinclair sets out immediately to find his son a virgin bride, and, knowing that The Fearsome McLeod is blessed with a dozen daughters, pays a visit to his stronghold with a view to securing the hand of one of the McLeod ladies for his son. Of the four or five of the ladies of marriageable age, it seems that the one best suited to the task is clumsy, scarred Fia, who spends most of her time healing wounded animals. She is quiet, a bit odd and is often almost invisible amongst her bevy of beautiful sisters, but she agrees to travel to Carraig Brigh to see if she can do anything to help, believing she is going there as a healer and not as a potential bride.
Dair is immediately rude and dismissive of Fia, but she sees past his injuries and dishevelled appearance to the angry and lost soul beneath and finds she wants to help him, regardless of his unpleasantness. She realises that what needs is the simple comfort to be found in the presence and understanding of another person, something she is able and willing to provide. Fia blossoms at Carraig Brigh, gaining confidence in her healing skills and discovering a previously unsuspected backbone of steel which enables her to stand up for herself when necessary. But this is one of the inconsistencies I mentioned; the change from the timid, clumsy and unremarked daughter to the young woman who captivates practically all of the men of the Clan Sinclair happens almost immediately, and it’s as though she’s become a different person. The same is true of Dair, who is supposedly full of anger, tortured by his memories and plagued by guilt, and yet after one night of Fia soothing his agitated dreams by singing to him, much of that anger and guilt seems to disappear. It’s a very difficult balance to strike when a character in a book is traumatised; the trauma has to be believable if it is going to put the character into the dark place required by the story, but if the author goes too far, then the cure/redemption is not credible. The problem here is not that Dair’s return from the edge of madness is not possible, it’s that it happens very quickly and without much effort on his part or Fia’s.
The story proceeds as expected, but the romance between Fia and Dair is poorly developed and ultimately disappointing. I never felt a strong attraction or deep emotional connection between them, and in fact, they don’t spend a great deal of time together; instead, there is a lot of filler about Fia’s ferocious cat and her activities as a healer. As I write this review, I am struggling to recall anything memorable about either the romance or the leads. Fia is kind and understanding and Dair is … grumpy, which doesn’t really qualify him for the Beastly epithet as per the book’s title. I admit, however, that he made more of an impression on me later in the story, when events force him to assume leadership of the Clan and he gets the opportunity to really show what he is made of. That said, however, the change from supposed madman to decisive leader is another transition that happens far too quickly.
The pacing of the book is uneven, with the first two-thirds being rather slow and the final third suddenly ramping up the tension and the action. This section is the best thing about the book; the author takes things in a darker direction and does a good job of showing what a perilous thing it was to be a woman and a healer at this point in history.
Beauty and the Highland Beast had the potential to be a much more engaging novel than it actually is, but it suffers because too much time is devoted to peripheries at the expense of character development and interaction. Dair isn’t much of a beast; his horrific experiences are certainly enough to have unbalanced anyone, but not enough time is spent on exploring his mental state and showing him gradually responding to Fia’s persistence and gentle care. Fia is set out to be the unattractive, shy sister who is unlikely to marry; yet suddenly she’s charming the birds from the trees and men are falling over themselves for a bit of ointment and a bandage! Nothing is made of how she must feel at being sidelined by her family (albeit unintentionally) and all in all, she’s fairly nondescript. There are better retellings of Beauty and the Beast out there, so I’d encourage you to seek out one of those instead.
I’m always up for a good fairy-story retelling, and having heard good things about this author, I picked up Beauty and the Highland Beast with reasonably high expectations. I can’t, however, say that they were met, because while the writing is very good and the tension that leads to the dramatic finale is skilfully built, the characterisation of the two leads is inconsistent and the romance is underdeveloped.
Alasdair Og Sinclair, the son of the chief of the Clan Sinclair has a formidable reputation as a leader of men, a skilful strategist and as a man with a good head for business. Using his talents in all those fields, he has made his clan a fortune and proved that he will be a worthy chief when his time comes. But tragedy strikes when he is tasked with escorting his cousin Jeanne to a French convent. At Berwick, they are captured by a group of English soldiers who are bent upon revenge on Dair for his engagement and plundering of their ships. His crew is murdered, Dair is tortured and savagely beaten and Jeanne is abused, raped and killed in front of him, leaving him a broken man. One of his captors helps him to escape and to return home, but Dair is so badly injured in body and mind that his survival is in doubt and he is believed to be mad. The Sinclair orders the local healer be brought to attend his son, but she knows there is little she can do. She tends to Dair as best she can, cleaning and dressing his wounds, but knows there is nothing she can do about his mental state. Fearing for her life should she anger the chief, she suggests that as a virgin was – indirectly - the cause of Dair’s state, then only a virgin will be able to heal him.
Padraig Sinclair sets out immediately to find his son a virgin bride, and, knowing that The Fearsome McLeod is blessed with a dozen daughters, pays a visit to his stronghold with a view to securing the hand of one of the McLeod ladies for his son. Of the four or five of the ladies of marriageable age, it seems that the one best suited to the task is clumsy, scarred Fia, who spends most of her time healing wounded animals. She is quiet, a bit odd and is often almost invisible amongst her bevy of beautiful sisters, but she agrees to travel to Carraig Brigh to see if she can do anything to help, believing she is going there as a healer and not as a potential bride.
Dair is immediately rude and dismissive of Fia, but she sees past his injuries and dishevelled appearance to the angry and lost soul beneath and finds she wants to help him, regardless of his unpleasantness. She realises that what needs is the simple comfort to be found in the presence and understanding of another person, something she is able and willing to provide. Fia blossoms at Carraig Brigh, gaining confidence in her healing skills and discovering a previously unsuspected backbone of steel which enables her to stand up for herself when necessary. But this is one of the inconsistencies I mentioned; the change from the timid, clumsy and unremarked daughter to the young woman who captivates practically all of the men of the Clan Sinclair happens almost immediately, and it’s as though she’s become a different person. The same is true of Dair, who is supposedly full of anger, tortured by his memories and plagued by guilt, and yet after one night of Fia soothing his agitated dreams by singing to him, much of that anger and guilt seems to disappear. It’s a very difficult balance to strike when a character in a book is traumatised; the trauma has to be believable if it is going to put the character into the dark place required by the story, but if the author goes too far, then the cure/redemption is not credible. The problem here is not that Dair’s return from the edge of madness is not possible, it’s that it happens very quickly and without much effort on his part or Fia’s.
The story proceeds as expected, but the romance between Fia and Dair is poorly developed and ultimately disappointing. I never felt a strong attraction or deep emotional connection between them, and in fact, they don’t spend a great deal of time together; instead, there is a lot of filler about Fia’s ferocious cat and her activities as a healer. As I write this review, I am struggling to recall anything memorable about either the romance or the leads. Fia is kind and understanding and Dair is … grumpy, which doesn’t really qualify him for the Beastly epithet as per the book’s title. I admit, however, that he made more of an impression on me later in the story, when events force him to assume leadership of the Clan and he gets the opportunity to really show what he is made of. That said, however, the change from supposed madman to decisive leader is another transition that happens far too quickly.
The pacing of the book is uneven, with the first two-thirds being rather slow and the final third suddenly ramping up the tension and the action. This section is the best thing about the book; the author takes things in a darker direction and does a good job of showing what a perilous thing it was to be a woman and a healer at this point in history.
Beauty and the Highland Beast had the potential to be a much more engaging novel than it actually is, but it suffers because too much time is devoted to peripheries at the expense of character development and interaction. Dair isn’t much of a beast; his horrific experiences are certainly enough to have unbalanced anyone, but not enough time is spent on exploring his mental state and showing him gradually responding to Fia’s persistence and gentle care. Fia is set out to be the unattractive, shy sister who is unlikely to marry; yet suddenly she’s charming the birds from the trees and men are falling over themselves for a bit of ointment and a bandage! Nothing is made of how she must feel at being sidelined by her family (albeit unintentionally) and all in all, she’s fairly nondescript. There are better retellings of Beauty and the Beast out there, so I’d encourage you to seek out one of those instead.
June 21, 2016
Beauty and the Highland Beast by Leica Cornwall is #1 in the mesmerizing, new series "A Highland Fairy Tale". First, this is not your Mama's Fairy Tale, nor, the "Beauty and the Beast" tale you read as a child, but a fast paced, dark Highland Fairy Tale with twists and turns.
Meet, Dair Sinclair the only son and heir of the clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. He is returned home devastated, scarred, tortured, broken and a lost soul in body, soul and mind. His entire crew was slaughtered and his beloved young cousin, Jeannie was tortured, raped and hanged in front of him, by English soldiers. Dair, is now known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.
Enter, Fia MacLeod, of the Clan MacLeod, a virgin, with scars of her own. A gentle soul, who likes to help others, including animals. She has a beloved cat, Beezlebub, some believe to be the devil himself.
There is a fair amount of laugh-at-loud moments intertwined within this dark, compelling and powerful tale.
Filled with dark moments, sadness, guilt, devastation, betrayal, hurt, passion, the power and beauty of love, healing and forgiveness.
The characters are flawed, compelling, emotionally damaged, and prove beauty is only skin deep. Evil can lurk within a beautiful and non-flawed body, as jealousy and revenge takes over the person, making them evil and ugly.
A mesmerizing tale with superstitious Highlanders, and the power of true love and acceptance.
A unique Highland Romance, that will keep readers on their toes, and reading late into the night. I look forward to the next installment of "A Highland Fairy Tale". Fans of Historical Romance, flawed Highlanders, feisty but flawed lasses, Scottish warriors, superstition, a fierceness of sisters, fear of witchcraft, and a beautiful, epic love story, will truly enjoy this dark and daring tale. An absolute delight! A awesome Highland Fairy Tale! A must read!
Received for an honest review from Net Galley.
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR
Meet, Dair Sinclair the only son and heir of the clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. He is returned home devastated, scarred, tortured, broken and a lost soul in body, soul and mind. His entire crew was slaughtered and his beloved young cousin, Jeannie was tortured, raped and hanged in front of him, by English soldiers. Dair, is now known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.
Enter, Fia MacLeod, of the Clan MacLeod, a virgin, with scars of her own. A gentle soul, who likes to help others, including animals. She has a beloved cat, Beezlebub, some believe to be the devil himself.
There is a fair amount of laugh-at-loud moments intertwined within this dark, compelling and powerful tale.
Filled with dark moments, sadness, guilt, devastation, betrayal, hurt, passion, the power and beauty of love, healing and forgiveness.
The characters are flawed, compelling, emotionally damaged, and prove beauty is only skin deep. Evil can lurk within a beautiful and non-flawed body, as jealousy and revenge takes over the person, making them evil and ugly.
A mesmerizing tale with superstitious Highlanders, and the power of true love and acceptance.
A unique Highland Romance, that will keep readers on their toes, and reading late into the night. I look forward to the next installment of "A Highland Fairy Tale". Fans of Historical Romance, flawed Highlanders, feisty but flawed lasses, Scottish warriors, superstition, a fierceness of sisters, fear of witchcraft, and a beautiful, epic love story, will truly enjoy this dark and daring tale. An absolute delight! A awesome Highland Fairy Tale! A must read!
Received for an honest review from Net Galley.
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR
December 16, 2018
The book at first engaged me with the old healer convincing the Chief a "virgin maiden" could actually cure his son's madness, ALL TO SAVE HER OWN ASS!!
Unfortunately, that old lady and the heroine's wild cat (scaring to death big muscular warriors), were the only memorable moments in the plot.
The hero is a cocky ladies' man that ends up scarred inside and out.
On the surface, he makes sense for the “beast” role.
Dare St. Clare's ship is attacked while on route to deliver Dare's younger cousin to a convent to become a nun.
They are both captured and tortured and he's left alive to witness his beloved cousin suffer and die right in front of him.
An english man helps him escape but, with the guilt for his cousin's death hunting him and the injuries threatening his life, he's in so much pain everyone believes he's gone mad.
His father fears that too hence he follows the old healer directions: he finds the perfect virgin maiden!
Fiona McCloud called Fia by family and friends, has grown up sheltered in her father's home with her 11 sisters.
When she was little, an accident left her limping and scarred.
Now, a little side note:
Fiona's scars, her limp...why?
Moving on...
She's "a healer of wild animals" and she approaches Dare the same way.
He finds himself attracted to Fia but he does his best to make her run away because he hates the idea of being rejected for his scars.
Dare's reasons are selfish and he doesn't really change like The Beast does.
Likewise, the heroine's low self esteem didn't remind me of the fierce and gentle “Belle” (that ends up saving the beast from his “curse”) at all .
When Dare refuses to seduce her because he doesn't want to ruin her... she wants him to do it anyway.
Why ?
Because he is the first man showing interest in her as an attractive woman and she feels he's her only chance to experience sex.
She knows he will probably use her and never take responsability for his actions yet she's desperate to let him do it because NO ONE ELSE EVER WILL?! WTF??
Her passive acceptance of “her fate” as the clumsy unattractive spinster is SO underwhelming.
Throughout the book, it seems to me that the only people that see her as an ugly spinster, beside herself, are family members.
EVERYONE ELSE sees her as very beautiful and capable! Why?
Was the author confused on how to portray her? I have no idea. All I know is, it bothered me.
Also… I could spot the antagonist right from the start and the "twist" was very poorly done.
I enjoy Beauty & the Beast retellings but I'm peculiar about them.
In this case, the story is neither originally/cleverly retold nor is it particularly compelling.
I listened to the audiobook from beginning to end but I can't say this was an "ok read" for me and give 2 stars😩
⭐ 1 Stars ⭐
~ MY RATINGS ~
Writing: I listened to the audiobook
Plot: 1.5 /5
Hero: 1.5 /5
Heroine: 1.5 /5
Secondary Characters: 2 /5
MC's chemistry: 2 /5
Steam: 2.5 /5
Triggers: Hero brags about past sexapades but there's no OW/OM drama. Hero struggles to overcome his cousin's violent loss (she was tortured and raped in front of him)
Recommended to: Wouldn't recommend it BUT if the things that bothered me aren't a problem and you're looking for a Beauty and the Beast retelling , the book might work for you.
Are you looking for a specific mix of ingredients for your next read?
August 4, 2016
I liked some aspects but the mystery was kinda obvious even for me, who doesn't usually know who did it lol. I did like the scottish setting and that our heroine may have been scarred but she didn't go around telling her tale of woe.
I'm curious enough to keep reading the series and see what other characters may get a book! ;) PLus that cover, SO PRETTY! (yes, I know xD)
I'm curious enough to keep reading the series and see what other characters may get a book! ;) PLus that cover, SO PRETTY! (yes, I know xD)
July 2, 2017
This was a goo read with well developed characters. Those looking for a true Beauty and the Beast story might not like this version. Why? Well, there isn't a beast, were-creature or anyone truly cursed. What the reader gets is deception, betrayal, misunderstandings, a towns worth of people you want to kick and an all around good highland tale.
August 7, 2018
Lecia Cornwall NAILED it! 👌🏻
June 21, 2016
3.5 / 5 Fangs
Beauty and the Beast and Scotland are two things that I am OBSESSED with. When I found out this book was a Scottish retelling of Beauty and the Beast , I knew I needed to read it.
I had really high expectations going into this book. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to all of my expectations. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would.
I loved the setting of this book. I thought the author did a great job at creating the Scottish backdrop. The setting was believable and interesting. I loved learning about the castles and culture. Cornwall really nailed that aspect of this book.
The Beauty and the Beast aspect of this book was a hit and miss for me. I appreciate that the author really took her own spin on Beauty and the Beast , but I would have liked a few more aspects of the classic tale to be involved in this story. I liked the idea of a kind woman changing a "mad" and damaged man. However, I wish there would have been more resentment between the two characters in the beginning. Dair was a little harsh at first, but that changed pretty quickly. I would have liked for him to be more resentful towards Fia.
Fia was extremely kind and understanding, and I liked that a lot! However, I thought Fia should have been a little more guarded and cautious around Dair. She seemed to fall for him pretty quickly. I would have liked to her to have disliked him and then slowly fall in love with him.
All of that being said, I did like the overall Beauty and the Beast concept weaved into this story. Fia and Dair did seem like a great match, even if it did feel like insta-love.
I though Fia was a great main character. I really liked how kind she was. It was really refreshing to read about such a sweet and innocent main character. It was nice to see her start to stand up for herself and go after the things she wanted. It was a little annoying how everyone seemed to fall in love with her instantly, but besides that, I didn't have any issues with her.
Dair was tough and ferocious. I thought his character and his back story was really interesting. I felt like some of his secrets were dragged out a little too long, but I still found them intriguing. Dair definitely made me swoon numerous times though out this book. I would have liked him to have a few more "beast" like qualities, but that wasn't that big of a deal.
Some parts of this book were a bit slow. I would have liked to see more character and relationship development instead of some of the slower filler chapters. The last part of the book was really exciting, which I ate up! The book became action packed and there were twists that I was not expecting. Cornwall definitely knows how to turn the tables when you least expect it!
Overall, I thought this was easy and nice read. There were a few things I didn't like about this book, but I definitely enjoyed this book as a whole. I would love for Cornwall to write more fairytale retellings set in Scotland!
3.5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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Beauty and the Beast and Scotland are two things that I am OBSESSED with. When I found out this book was a Scottish retelling of Beauty and the Beast , I knew I needed to read it.
I had really high expectations going into this book. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to all of my expectations. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would.
I loved the setting of this book. I thought the author did a great job at creating the Scottish backdrop. The setting was believable and interesting. I loved learning about the castles and culture. Cornwall really nailed that aspect of this book.
The Beauty and the Beast aspect of this book was a hit and miss for me. I appreciate that the author really took her own spin on Beauty and the Beast , but I would have liked a few more aspects of the classic tale to be involved in this story. I liked the idea of a kind woman changing a "mad" and damaged man. However, I wish there would have been more resentment between the two characters in the beginning. Dair was a little harsh at first, but that changed pretty quickly. I would have liked for him to be more resentful towards Fia.
Fia was extremely kind and understanding, and I liked that a lot! However, I thought Fia should have been a little more guarded and cautious around Dair. She seemed to fall for him pretty quickly. I would have liked to her to have disliked him and then slowly fall in love with him.
All of that being said, I did like the overall Beauty and the Beast concept weaved into this story. Fia and Dair did seem like a great match, even if it did feel like insta-love.
I though Fia was a great main character. I really liked how kind she was. It was really refreshing to read about such a sweet and innocent main character. It was nice to see her start to stand up for herself and go after the things she wanted. It was a little annoying how everyone seemed to fall in love with her instantly, but besides that, I didn't have any issues with her.
Dair was tough and ferocious. I thought his character and his back story was really interesting. I felt like some of his secrets were dragged out a little too long, but I still found them intriguing. Dair definitely made me swoon numerous times though out this book. I would have liked him to have a few more "beast" like qualities, but that wasn't that big of a deal.
Some parts of this book were a bit slow. I would have liked to see more character and relationship development instead of some of the slower filler chapters. The last part of the book was really exciting, which I ate up! The book became action packed and there were twists that I was not expecting. Cornwall definitely knows how to turn the tables when you least expect it!
Overall, I thought this was easy and nice read. There were a few things I didn't like about this book, but I definitely enjoyed this book as a whole. I would love for Cornwall to write more fairytale retellings set in Scotland!
3.5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
June 14, 2016
Dair Sinclair was once a dashing privateer, until he returned from his last voyage a broken man. Dair was made to watch his beloved cousin Jean being raped, tortured, and killed, while he was chained to a wall and unable to help her. Dair is scarred and limps; in every way, he is but a shadow of the man he once was. Chief Padraig Sinclair, Dair’s father, will do anything to heal his son. One evening, the Sinclairs kidnap a midwife, Moire o’ the Spring, who uses herbs and potions, purportedly magical. Moire heals Dair as best as she can, but lies to save her life and tells Padraig that only a virgin will cure Dair. And Padraig, along with five clansmen, travels to the MacCleods, who have several daughters of age. Poor Fia, who is always nearly forgotten, is one of the two daughters chosen to travel back to Carraig Brigh with the Sinclair clansmen. Fia was injured as a child, she walks with a limp and she is also scarred, but she is a healer of wild animals. As Dair almost behaves as one, maybe Fia can handle him, and become his bride as well; she has nothing to lose…
BEAUTY AND THE HIGHLAND BEAST is somewhat of a Scottish Gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with some differences. Fia and Dair are both Beauty and Beasts, although Fia is beautiful, while Dair once was. Ms. Cornwall’s descriptions are vibrant and vivid, and the Sinclair castle, the scenery, and the clothing came alive under the author’s pen; it felt entirely authentic. Fia is a delightful character, gentle and kind if a bit too clumsy, and she shows a tremendous amount of growth as, feeling appreciated, she becomes a self-assured young woman, and Dair also comes around eventually. I felt however that at time, it was a bit over the top, especially when it came to Fia’s cat from hell, Beelzebub. Those episodes bordering on slapstick were, in my opinion, unnecessary and distracted from an otherwise touching and tender love story. I was a bit taken aback at first by the ruggedness of those Scotsmen, and in this case it took getting used to what I am certain is quite historically accurate. BEAUTY AND THE HIGHLAND BEAST is a story of two lost and damaged souls who find themselves, and each other, amidst betrayal and witchcraft accusations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
BEAUTY AND THE HIGHLAND BEAST is somewhat of a Scottish Gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with some differences. Fia and Dair are both Beauty and Beasts, although Fia is beautiful, while Dair once was. Ms. Cornwall’s descriptions are vibrant and vivid, and the Sinclair castle, the scenery, and the clothing came alive under the author’s pen; it felt entirely authentic. Fia is a delightful character, gentle and kind if a bit too clumsy, and she shows a tremendous amount of growth as, feeling appreciated, she becomes a self-assured young woman, and Dair also comes around eventually. I felt however that at time, it was a bit over the top, especially when it came to Fia’s cat from hell, Beelzebub. Those episodes bordering on slapstick were, in my opinion, unnecessary and distracted from an otherwise touching and tender love story. I was a bit taken aback at first by the ruggedness of those Scotsmen, and in this case it took getting used to what I am certain is quite historically accurate. BEAUTY AND THE HIGHLAND BEAST is a story of two lost and damaged souls who find themselves, and each other, amidst betrayal and witchcraft accusations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2016
A wonderful story about Scotland, Highlanders and their lasses. There is everything you could want in a Historical Romance, adventure, mystery, betrayal and two compelling complex protagonists.
Dair is the heir to a powerful clan who has brought the clan into the modern world while keeping a reputation as a strong and respected Highlander. The last voyage brought tragedy to Dair and his clan. He is haunted by the murder of his crew and especially his cousin, Jeannie. He returns to Scotland a broken man who just wants to die. He is haunted by nightmares and his clan thinks he is insane.
Fia is a young Scottish lass who is scarred and walks with a limp, but it does not detract from her sweetness and innocence. She is a healer of various stray animals because she knows that is how she is seen by her own clan. They love her but tend to forget she is around.
Can Fia help Dair heal physically as well as emotionally? Will Dair let her into his life to heal him heart and soul. There is a evil betrayer that is attempting to kill Dair and destroy his Clan. Can Dair and Fia survive the treachery that is stalking them and have their HAE?
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I enjoyed it very much. The research that the author put into this story made it a pleasure to read. The story was fast paced, fascinating and a lovely way to spend a weekend. I recommend this to anyone who loves Scottish Romance.
Received a complimentary copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
Dair is the heir to a powerful clan who has brought the clan into the modern world while keeping a reputation as a strong and respected Highlander. The last voyage brought tragedy to Dair and his clan. He is haunted by the murder of his crew and especially his cousin, Jeannie. He returns to Scotland a broken man who just wants to die. He is haunted by nightmares and his clan thinks he is insane.
Fia is a young Scottish lass who is scarred and walks with a limp, but it does not detract from her sweetness and innocence. She is a healer of various stray animals because she knows that is how she is seen by her own clan. They love her but tend to forget she is around.
Can Fia help Dair heal physically as well as emotionally? Will Dair let her into his life to heal him heart and soul. There is a evil betrayer that is attempting to kill Dair and destroy his Clan. Can Dair and Fia survive the treachery that is stalking them and have their HAE?
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I enjoyed it very much. The research that the author put into this story made it a pleasure to read. The story was fast paced, fascinating and a lovely way to spend a weekend. I recommend this to anyone who loves Scottish Romance.
Received a complimentary copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
June 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. This was a first-time author for me and I was thrilled to find a romance author from Calgary! ( woop! Fellow Canuck! )
What I especially appreciated was the depth of research. Often writers who dapple in this genre sacrifice deft research, dialect and little idiosyncrasies of the day in hopes that the fun, steamy action will compensate.
While the book has a snide sense of humour and plenty of steam, Cornwall is in possession of a taut verisimilitude transposing us into the clans of old. Bad Scotch dialect does many ills at pulling a reader out of the story, but Cornwall hits all the the right notes. In short, she doesn't "overdo" it. Both Fia and Dair, scarred outsiders, are intricately developed with plenty of backstory and a pervading warmth that reaches to the end of your fingertips.
The balance between romance and the quest for HEA coupled with tragic flashbacks and several pulse-quickening moments is perfectly executed here.
I am very excited to read more by this exciting voice in historical romance.
What I especially appreciated was the depth of research. Often writers who dapple in this genre sacrifice deft research, dialect and little idiosyncrasies of the day in hopes that the fun, steamy action will compensate.
While the book has a snide sense of humour and plenty of steam, Cornwall is in possession of a taut verisimilitude transposing us into the clans of old. Bad Scotch dialect does many ills at pulling a reader out of the story, but Cornwall hits all the the right notes. In short, she doesn't "overdo" it. Both Fia and Dair, scarred outsiders, are intricately developed with plenty of backstory and a pervading warmth that reaches to the end of your fingertips.
The balance between romance and the quest for HEA coupled with tragic flashbacks and several pulse-quickening moments is perfectly executed here.
I am very excited to read more by this exciting voice in historical romance.
July 15, 2017
Liked this one, but can't remember most of it. A damaged son of a Scottish Laird meets a scarred daughter of another Scottish laird - a.k.a.- the h and she's a virgin who's also considered to be a witch. A strange cousin and revenge and that's about all I can recall. However, I did like when I read it so giving it a three stars here.
February 25, 2017
I couldn't get into the story, I was bored and wanted this to end so bad. The concept seemed so great but once I started reading, I wasn't impressed. I wish I loved this one but it didn't captivate me and I was ready to put this down so many times I'm proud of myself for finishing.
August 14, 2017
I have had Beauty and the Highland Beast on my TBR for a while, so I was happy to see it come out in audio just in time for my latest road trip. I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings, so I was extra excited about a Highland beast!
Dair Sinclair is our beast. He is a once proud son, rumored to be a pirate, with all the cocky swagger that entails. But after being captured and tortured, Dair has returned home a broken man whom most of his clan thinks to be mad. Between injuries, scars and nightmares, he made a sympathetic beast.
Fia Mcleod is one of the dozen daughters of the Fearsome Mcleod. Having a sad story, scarring and disability herself, she is often overlooked by her father and the rest of her family. Fia spends her days healing wild things, birds and foxes and felines. So when Padraig Sinclair is looking for a wife for his son, Fia seemed like the perfect choice to soothe the beast. So Fia and her devil cat Beelzebub, find themselves at the Sinclair keep facing a daunting task with Dair's injured soul.
Dair and Fia were perfectly matched. Fia was compassionate and seemed to know exactly what Dair needed, even when he denied himself simple human comfort. And Fia's frailty piqued Dair's protective instincts and gave him something to worry about besides his own demons. It was interesting to see how they each coped with similar disabilities, and their own unique trauma.
But danger is lurking around Dair and Fia, and an evil plot is afoot. There are questions about Dair's sanity and ability to lead the clan... and Fia's fae-like beauty and healing efforts are bringing about whispers of witches and curses. The odds were definitely against the two, and it didn't seem like love was going to win the day. The culprit behind the plot conflict was predictable, but I still enjoyed it and thought it enriched the story.
Speaking of enrichment, there were some humorous moments to this story as well. Fia's cat, Beelzebub, earned his name. I loved seeing the fierce Highland warriors freak out about the feline and cater to its every whim. It definitely got some chuckles out of me.
This is my first time listening to this narrator, Ruth Urquhart. She did a good job with the accents and character affectations, and held my attention throughout the story. I would definitely listen to her again.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook that I received from the publisher, Tantor Audio.
May 18, 2024
I saw this recommended on Bookstagram and I couldn't resist. A Beauty and the Beast set in Scotland where both protagonists are scarred. Like, bruh. You're begging me to read this. I really liked this book although they kept calling her "virgin" more than her given name. It got really annoying, mostly because I felt like they were making fun of my own embarrassing chaste status. Beauty and the Highland Beast is the story of a laird's son who goes through a horrific traumatic event with his cousin that only a virgin can help soothe his beastly temperament. Fia is from a neighboring clan who is a healer but is scarred and has a limp. She fits the virginial requirement, but is the least eligible of her beautiful sisters. Over time it shows that the inside can need as much healing as the outside. I liked this two, but he was very resistant to the match. Fia was a darling babydoll and I loved reading about her. I'm really interested in the series as it combines my two favorite things: fairy tale retellings and Scottish romances. I'm keen to continue this series and see which story gets the next Caledonian makeover!
June 17, 2018
Kurzbeschreibung
Schottland, 1706. Einst war er ein starker Mann, der Stolz seines Clans, aber nun ist Dair Og gebrochen aus den Händen der Engländer zurückgekehrt. Wenn seine Schreie durch die Nacht dringen, spricht man flüsternd von dem "Wahnsinnigen von Carraig Brigh". Doch eine Prophezeiung besagt: Eine jungfräuliche Braut wird Dair von seinem Leiden befreien! Aber welche zarte Unschuld wird freiwillig ein Highland-Biest heiraten? Die letzte Hoffnung ist die schöne, junge Fiona, eine der zwölf Töchter des Lairds der MacLeods. Können ihre zarten Hände und ihr weiches Herz dem Highlander seinen verlorenen Lebensmut zurückgeben - oder ist er für immer verloren?
Meinung
"Die Schöne und das Highland - Biest" ist ein Hochland Märchen von Lecia Cornwall. Das Buch ist am 1. Juni 2018 im Cora Verlag erschienen, umfasst 400 Seiten und ist als Taschenbuch oder als ebook erhältlich. Die Autorin hat bereits mehrere Bücher veröffentlicht. Für mich war dies das erste Buch von ihr. Lecia Cornwall liebt Märchen und alles was schottisch ist. Sie findet Schottland magisch und den perfekten Ort um märchenhafte Geschichte zu erzählen. So entstanden ihre Highland Fairy Tales, in denen sie Aspekte ihrer Lieblingsmärchen miteingearbeitet hat. Fiona ist eine der zwölf Töchter des Fürchterlichen MacLeods und nichts Besonderes. Doch sie könnte zu etwas Besonderem werden, denn es heißt das der "Wahnsinnige von Carraig Brigh" nur von einer Jungfrau geheilt werden könne. Und dessen Vater bittet gerade sie um Hilfe. Fionas Drang zu helfen und zu heilen, sowie die Aussicht auf ein kleines Abenteuer, lassen sie dem Unterfangen zustimmen. Doch es gibt keine Blutungen zu stillen, keine Wunden zu nähen und keine Entzündungen einzudämmen. Wie soll sie Wahnsinn heilen der von schlimmstmöglichen Erlebnissen und Erinnerungen herrührt?
Fiona Margaret MacPhail MacLeod ist die drittälteste Tochter von Donal MacLeod. Vorkommnisse in ihrer Kindheit haben sie gezeichnet und sie zum Schützling der Familie werden lassen. Trotzdem wird sie oft übergangen, übersehen oder vergessen. Sie fühlt sich nicht wohlbehütet sondern beinahe erdrückt. Sie hat nicht die Hoffnung ihre Heimat je zu verlassen zu dürfen oder einen Mann zu finden und eine Familie zu gründen. Sie hat ein Händchen für Tiere, nimmt sich ihrer Verletzungen an und pflegt sie. Fiona ist bodenständig, vernünftig, liebenswert, herzlich und mitfühlend. Alasdair Og Sinclair, Laird o' the Seas, genannt Dairs, ist der Erbe eines gewaltigen Vermögens und der zukünftige Clanchief der Sinclairs. Dairs ist achtundzwanzig Jahre alt. Früher war ein guter Mann, ein weiser Seefahrer und Händler, ein würdiger Erbe - er war gutaussehend, charmant, geistreich und kühn gewesen ... doch nun war er innerlich tot. Der Mann der er einmal gewesen war, den gab es nicht mehr, und ein Wahnsinniger kann unmöglich das nächste Clanoberhaupt werden. Nett und für die Erzählung passende Charaktere hat die Autorin hier erschaffen. Die Schöne ... zwar gezeichnet, doch trotzdem äußerlich sowie innerlich schön. Das Biest ... verunstaltet und unfreundlich, ohne jegliche Hoffnung auf Errettung.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir leicht. Der Leser findet mit einem Prolog ins Buch, der erklärt warum sich Dairs Vater auf die Suche nach einer heilenden Jungfrau macht. Schnell erkennt der Bücherliebhaber, dass Dair von Schuldgefühlen und Schmerz geplagt, von Albträumen heimgesucht wird und nur Rachedurst ihn aufrecht hält. Doch es ist eine Zeit des Aberglaubens und der Einbildung welche zu absehbaren Verwicklungen und Entwicklungen führt. Durchwegs ansprechend und erfrischend erzählt, wenn auch ein wenig vorhersehbar, auf jeden Fall unterhaltsam. Was zum Teil auch an Fionas "biestigem" Haustier liegt, das sie auf die Burg der Sinclairs mitgebracht hat, welches dort sein Unwesen treibt, den Clan auf seine eigene Art beschäftigt und durchaus zum Unterhaltungswert beiträgt. Dieser Rabauke hat mir gut gefallen. Eine neugierig machende Grundstimmung geleitet den Leser durch die Geschichte, denn natürlich gibt es Geheimnisse, Intrigen und Gefahren. Die Idee des Hochland Märchens hat Lecia Cornwall hier einladend umgesetzt. Für Freunde des Genres hält das Buch schöne Lesestunden bereit.
Erzählt wird großteils aus der Sicht von Fiona und Dairs, aber der Leser erfährt das Geschehen zwischendurch auch aus anderen Perspektiven. Mit dem Schreibstil der Autorin kam ich gut zurecht. Leicht, klar, mitreißend und flüssig führt sie durch die Zeilen. Die Sprache fand ich meist gut zur Geschichte passend und das Erzähltempo angenehm.
Fazit: "Die Schöne und das Highland - Biest" ist ein Hochland Märchen von Lecia Cornwall. Durchaus ansprechend, erfrischend und unterhaltsam erzählt die Autorin die Geschichte der reizenden Fiona und des wahnsinnigen Alasdair. Freunden des Genres kann ich die Erzählung durchaus empfehlen. Von mir gibt es **** Sterne.
Zitat
"Es liegt in deiner Hand, ob er lebt oder stirbt oder so bleibt wie er ist, mit einem Bein im Diesseits, mit dem anderen im Jenseits."
( Pos. 899 )
Schottland, 1706. Einst war er ein starker Mann, der Stolz seines Clans, aber nun ist Dair Og gebrochen aus den Händen der Engländer zurückgekehrt. Wenn seine Schreie durch die Nacht dringen, spricht man flüsternd von dem "Wahnsinnigen von Carraig Brigh". Doch eine Prophezeiung besagt: Eine jungfräuliche Braut wird Dair von seinem Leiden befreien! Aber welche zarte Unschuld wird freiwillig ein Highland-Biest heiraten? Die letzte Hoffnung ist die schöne, junge Fiona, eine der zwölf Töchter des Lairds der MacLeods. Können ihre zarten Hände und ihr weiches Herz dem Highlander seinen verlorenen Lebensmut zurückgeben - oder ist er für immer verloren?
Meinung
"Die Schöne und das Highland - Biest" ist ein Hochland Märchen von Lecia Cornwall. Das Buch ist am 1. Juni 2018 im Cora Verlag erschienen, umfasst 400 Seiten und ist als Taschenbuch oder als ebook erhältlich. Die Autorin hat bereits mehrere Bücher veröffentlicht. Für mich war dies das erste Buch von ihr. Lecia Cornwall liebt Märchen und alles was schottisch ist. Sie findet Schottland magisch und den perfekten Ort um märchenhafte Geschichte zu erzählen. So entstanden ihre Highland Fairy Tales, in denen sie Aspekte ihrer Lieblingsmärchen miteingearbeitet hat. Fiona ist eine der zwölf Töchter des Fürchterlichen MacLeods und nichts Besonderes. Doch sie könnte zu etwas Besonderem werden, denn es heißt das der "Wahnsinnige von Carraig Brigh" nur von einer Jungfrau geheilt werden könne. Und dessen Vater bittet gerade sie um Hilfe. Fionas Drang zu helfen und zu heilen, sowie die Aussicht auf ein kleines Abenteuer, lassen sie dem Unterfangen zustimmen. Doch es gibt keine Blutungen zu stillen, keine Wunden zu nähen und keine Entzündungen einzudämmen. Wie soll sie Wahnsinn heilen der von schlimmstmöglichen Erlebnissen und Erinnerungen herrührt?
Fiona Margaret MacPhail MacLeod ist die drittälteste Tochter von Donal MacLeod. Vorkommnisse in ihrer Kindheit haben sie gezeichnet und sie zum Schützling der Familie werden lassen. Trotzdem wird sie oft übergangen, übersehen oder vergessen. Sie fühlt sich nicht wohlbehütet sondern beinahe erdrückt. Sie hat nicht die Hoffnung ihre Heimat je zu verlassen zu dürfen oder einen Mann zu finden und eine Familie zu gründen. Sie hat ein Händchen für Tiere, nimmt sich ihrer Verletzungen an und pflegt sie. Fiona ist bodenständig, vernünftig, liebenswert, herzlich und mitfühlend. Alasdair Og Sinclair, Laird o' the Seas, genannt Dairs, ist der Erbe eines gewaltigen Vermögens und der zukünftige Clanchief der Sinclairs. Dairs ist achtundzwanzig Jahre alt. Früher war ein guter Mann, ein weiser Seefahrer und Händler, ein würdiger Erbe - er war gutaussehend, charmant, geistreich und kühn gewesen ... doch nun war er innerlich tot. Der Mann der er einmal gewesen war, den gab es nicht mehr, und ein Wahnsinniger kann unmöglich das nächste Clanoberhaupt werden. Nett und für die Erzählung passende Charaktere hat die Autorin hier erschaffen. Die Schöne ... zwar gezeichnet, doch trotzdem äußerlich sowie innerlich schön. Das Biest ... verunstaltet und unfreundlich, ohne jegliche Hoffnung auf Errettung.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir leicht. Der Leser findet mit einem Prolog ins Buch, der erklärt warum sich Dairs Vater auf die Suche nach einer heilenden Jungfrau macht. Schnell erkennt der Bücherliebhaber, dass Dair von Schuldgefühlen und Schmerz geplagt, von Albträumen heimgesucht wird und nur Rachedurst ihn aufrecht hält. Doch es ist eine Zeit des Aberglaubens und der Einbildung welche zu absehbaren Verwicklungen und Entwicklungen führt. Durchwegs ansprechend und erfrischend erzählt, wenn auch ein wenig vorhersehbar, auf jeden Fall unterhaltsam. Was zum Teil auch an Fionas "biestigem" Haustier liegt, das sie auf die Burg der Sinclairs mitgebracht hat, welches dort sein Unwesen treibt, den Clan auf seine eigene Art beschäftigt und durchaus zum Unterhaltungswert beiträgt. Dieser Rabauke hat mir gut gefallen. Eine neugierig machende Grundstimmung geleitet den Leser durch die Geschichte, denn natürlich gibt es Geheimnisse, Intrigen und Gefahren. Die Idee des Hochland Märchens hat Lecia Cornwall hier einladend umgesetzt. Für Freunde des Genres hält das Buch schöne Lesestunden bereit.
Erzählt wird großteils aus der Sicht von Fiona und Dairs, aber der Leser erfährt das Geschehen zwischendurch auch aus anderen Perspektiven. Mit dem Schreibstil der Autorin kam ich gut zurecht. Leicht, klar, mitreißend und flüssig führt sie durch die Zeilen. Die Sprache fand ich meist gut zur Geschichte passend und das Erzähltempo angenehm.
Fazit: "Die Schöne und das Highland - Biest" ist ein Hochland Märchen von Lecia Cornwall. Durchaus ansprechend, erfrischend und unterhaltsam erzählt die Autorin die Geschichte der reizenden Fiona und des wahnsinnigen Alasdair. Freunden des Genres kann ich die Erzählung durchaus empfehlen. Von mir gibt es **** Sterne.
Zitat
"Es liegt in deiner Hand, ob er lebt oder stirbt oder so bleibt wie er ist, mit einem Bein im Diesseits, mit dem anderen im Jenseits."
( Pos. 899 )
December 27, 2021
A beauty and the beast retelling in the highlands.
Genius.
Genius.
March 21, 2017
I'm a sucker for the Beauty & the Beast trope. Enjoyed this one a lot, although we knew who the villain was real early in the story so there was no real reveal about it. Thanks to the reader (I can't remember who it was right now) who recommended this at the Amazon forum.
May 17, 2016
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
4.5 stars
I really liked this book, Dair and Fia are both wounded souls and both need saving.
Dair has been through hell and barely survived - he was captured by the English and forced to witness the murder of his crew as well the torture, abuse and murder of his beloved cousin Jeannie. He was beaten and tortured himself and then released as a warning to his family. He suffered injuries that almost killed him, those injuries left him with a limp and scars both inside and out. He also suffers from nightmares and has been labeled as "mad" by his clan. His real problem is survivors guilt - he cannot forgive himself for the deaths of his crew and his cousin and that guilt is slowly killing him.
Dair's father is desperate to save his only son and sets out to find a virgin to cure him. He finds Fia McLeod - she is a gentle, loving soul and he knows that she can "cure" Dair. He convinces her to come home with him to help his son. Fia is scarred and has a limp herself - she has known pain and guilt and her heart aches for this man's son.
When Dair and Fia meet - it is most definitely not love at first sight. But Fia calms something in Dair and as much as he fights it - he is drawn to her. Fia is also captivated by Dair, but she knows that she is not a suitable bride for him. She tries to ignore the feelings that he stirs in her - but the closer they grow, the harder it is to stay away.
What neither of them know is that there are forces at work against them - a villain that is determined to destroy Dair and Fia - no matter the cost. When the unthinkable happens and Dair and Fia are separated - it was heart breaking to read. They each believe the other has perished and are both fighting for their own lives.
Fia returns to her family and grieves the loss of her love. Just as she is about to accept an offer of marriage, the author throws a twist in the plot. The ending of this book was so sweet and just perfect for this story.
I would happily recommend this book and look forward to more in the series!
4.5 stars
I really liked this book, Dair and Fia are both wounded souls and both need saving.
Dair has been through hell and barely survived - he was captured by the English and forced to witness the murder of his crew as well the torture, abuse and murder of his beloved cousin Jeannie. He was beaten and tortured himself and then released as a warning to his family. He suffered injuries that almost killed him, those injuries left him with a limp and scars both inside and out. He also suffers from nightmares and has been labeled as "mad" by his clan. His real problem is survivors guilt - he cannot forgive himself for the deaths of his crew and his cousin and that guilt is slowly killing him.
Dair's father is desperate to save his only son and sets out to find a virgin to cure him. He finds Fia McLeod - she is a gentle, loving soul and he knows that she can "cure" Dair. He convinces her to come home with him to help his son. Fia is scarred and has a limp herself - she has known pain and guilt and her heart aches for this man's son.
When Dair and Fia meet - it is most definitely not love at first sight. But Fia calms something in Dair and as much as he fights it - he is drawn to her. Fia is also captivated by Dair, but she knows that she is not a suitable bride for him. She tries to ignore the feelings that he stirs in her - but the closer they grow, the harder it is to stay away.
What neither of them know is that there are forces at work against them - a villain that is determined to destroy Dair and Fia - no matter the cost. When the unthinkable happens and Dair and Fia are separated - it was heart breaking to read. They each believe the other has perished and are both fighting for their own lives.
Fia returns to her family and grieves the loss of her love. Just as she is about to accept an offer of marriage, the author throws a twist in the plot. The ending of this book was so sweet and just perfect for this story.
I would happily recommend this book and look forward to more in the series!
December 28, 2016
2.5 stars
It starts off well enough, and I thought we were headed for some good stuff. Then it becomes honestly BORING. I forced myself to finish it, even though it got cartoonishly bad.
I got to thinking it may help other readers if I say what specifically was bad about it.
It starts off well enough, with a strong sense of fairy-tale romance. Then it starts to drag, as we wade through several chapters of stolen glances. After the first few chapters it abandons the Beauty & the Beast archetypal structure and becomes a mediocre tilted-kilts and kisses sex romp. And then it becomes an improbable melodrama, complete with over-the-top and screamingly obvious villain. None of these Mary Sue and Gary Stu characters--giving a character a couple of scars and saying they're "clumsy" doesn't mean they aren't a Mary Sue--can tell who the villain is, even though they're all but wearing a sandwich board painted with "I AM THE OVERTHETOP VILLAIN" in flashing red letters. That glaring stupidity made the characters far less endearing to me.
The last third of the book stops being interesting, deciding instead to be a dull-witted climax with ridiculous twists and turns.
It starts off well enough, and I thought we were headed for some good stuff. Then it becomes honestly BORING. I forced myself to finish it, even though it got cartoonishly bad.
I got to thinking it may help other readers if I say what specifically was bad about it.
It starts off well enough, with a strong sense of fairy-tale romance. Then it starts to drag, as we wade through several chapters of stolen glances. After the first few chapters it abandons the Beauty & the Beast archetypal structure and becomes a mediocre tilted-kilts and kisses sex romp. And then it becomes an improbable melodrama, complete with over-the-top and screamingly obvious villain. None of these Mary Sue and Gary Stu characters--giving a character a couple of scars and saying they're "clumsy" doesn't mean they aren't a Mary Sue--can tell who the villain is, even though they're all but wearing a sandwich board painted with "I AM THE OVERTHETOP VILLAIN" in flashing red letters. That glaring stupidity made the characters far less endearing to me.
The last third of the book stops being interesting, deciding instead to be a dull-witted climax with ridiculous twists and turns.
June 29, 2016
It's not the exact reproduction of the Beauty and the Beast theme as the title suggests.
Fia is the hidden beauty sort. Due to a childhood incident, she's got a bad limp and her body has scars at multiple places.
Dair's recently returned from a sea voyage, having lost his crew, cousin to the torture of Sassenachs (what the Scots called the English then.). Released only to set an example to the other Scots, he's tormented less by the immense physical injuries and more by the horrific memories of how his cousin Jeannie was raped, tortured and hanged.
Quite honestly, both the leads seemed to be on a similar footing as far as conventional physical beauty goes and they both have suffered intense trauma. Why should one be called a beauty and the other a beast is beyond me.
The romance is pretty sweet so it balances out some negatives for me.
Fia is the hidden beauty sort. Due to a childhood incident, she's got a bad limp and her body has scars at multiple places.
Dair's recently returned from a sea voyage, having lost his crew, cousin to the torture of Sassenachs (what the Scots called the English then.). Released only to set an example to the other Scots, he's tormented less by the immense physical injuries and more by the horrific memories of how his cousin Jeannie was raped, tortured and hanged.
Quite honestly, both the leads seemed to be on a similar footing as far as conventional physical beauty goes and they both have suffered intense trauma. Why should one be called a beauty and the other a beast is beyond me.
The romance is pretty sweet so it balances out some negatives for me.
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