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Kiwi Bride #2
The Billionaire's Kiss
Highland Kiss is a contemporary romance with a Scottish, alpha male hero and a sassy, virgin heroine. They are flawed, passionate, and very relatable to readers who enjoy sensual contemporary romance.
Ruby Williams-Chan is ecstatic when the man of her dream, Brian, invites her to his ancestor's home on her big overseas trip. Her plan of a romantic holiday, however, goes haywire when a hunky Scotsman abducts her to his Highland Manor. Ruby is outraged by this arrogant brute who sets her pulse racing and is determined to escape at all cost. Her attempts, however, are futile, and the only option available is to wait for Brian to rescue her while she plays cat and mouse with her captor.
In order to help his sister, Susan, and her ex-fiancé, Brian, get back together, over protective brother Alec Hasting whisks the woman he convinced is standing in the way to his isolated country estate. Making the beauty stay put and out of trouble, however, is harder than Alec imagined. Worst of all, he finds her terribly desirable, her sweet innocence and strong spirit truly refreshing, and that he’s falling in love with her.
Ruby Williams-Chan is ecstatic when the man of her dream, Brian, invites her to his ancestor's home on her big overseas trip. Her plan of a romantic holiday, however, goes haywire when a hunky Scotsman abducts her to his Highland Manor. Ruby is outraged by this arrogant brute who sets her pulse racing and is determined to escape at all cost. Her attempts, however, are futile, and the only option available is to wait for Brian to rescue her while she plays cat and mouse with her captor.
In order to help his sister, Susan, and her ex-fiancé, Brian, get back together, over protective brother Alec Hasting whisks the woman he convinced is standing in the way to his isolated country estate. Making the beauty stay put and out of trouble, however, is harder than Alec imagined. Worst of all, he finds her terribly desirable, her sweet innocence and strong spirit truly refreshing, and that he’s falling in love with her.
Unknown Binding
First published January 20, 2014
49 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
About the author
Alexia Praks
53 books636 followersAlexia is a self-proclaimed hermit, puppers-loving girl who likes to write anything romance—be it contemporary, historical, fantasy, paranormal, or a combination of any of these. Currently residing in Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud), she spends seventy percent of her time watching anime and reading comics and the other thirty percent daydreaming about food and procrastinating. Whatever’s left she actually uses to write books that may or may not bring her a few precious gold coins to support her lifestyle.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 11, 2015
Read on Wattpad.
I found the writing hard to get used to with this one. I also couldn't stand the constant cocky attitude from Alec. And it REALLY irked me how he still kept pushing even when Ruby was saying no. Just because you can eventually seduce her to the point of being on the brink doesn't mean her initial no is invalid. There should never be a need for a girl (or guy) to say no more than once before you back off. Ruby also wasn't a likeable character for me. I get she's supposed to be innocent and naive but she just came across as weak in my eyes.
I found the writing hard to get used to with this one. I also couldn't stand the constant cocky attitude from Alec. And it REALLY irked me how he still kept pushing even when Ruby was saying no. Just because you can eventually seduce her to the point of being on the brink doesn't mean her initial no is invalid. There should never be a need for a girl (or guy) to say no more than once before you back off. Ruby also wasn't a likeable character for me. I get she's supposed to be innocent and naive but she just came across as weak in my eyes.
July 13, 2015
I started it thinking I'll have to add it to my permanent "bookcase" after reading it. But no drama, or humor (if there was implied) or tears or anything moved me. What this book read to me was some sort of excuse for "you have money you can do anything". Roby read like a stupid preteen, never once realising she lived through kidnapping, imprisonment, abuse (verbal and his constant gripping and grabbing and tugging), rape and brainwash. He never once tried to get to know her, didn't even know what she did for a livig... It left me feeling slightly nauseated and a huge head ache... especially because he never felt sorry for what he did, by not telling anyong and demanding the secret be kept, he knew a few years of jail would be a small price to pay. The love story read like a sick joke and I'm sorry I went past the page 50 or something ...
Sorry too because the author's other book (Sakura something...) was really interesting and I liked it.
Sorry too because the author's other book (Sakura something...) was really interesting and I liked it.
October 29, 2018
Honestly i liked the other books by the author not this.. i could feel NO chemistry between Alec and Rose. I honestly didnt understand why he fell for her. I get get he was attracted to her - thats it. Again i didnt know why Ruby fell for him too. This book was way boring for me tbh.
September 25, 2015
ARC kindly provided by Alexia Praks in exchange for an honest review.
Review
Rating Plan
1 star : Strongly did not like the book, writing and plot was bad. Idea of the book was against my liking.
2 star : Didn't like it, didn't find it interesting or gripping. Seemed to drag on to me.
3 star : An average book. Wasn't bad or good. Everything else was well done. Original idea.
4 star : Like a 3 star but has potential to it as a series or the book grew on me as it progressed and certain scenes captured me. I Enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.
5 star : I LOVED IT! I stayed up late until 3 am. Author is a genius, characters, plot, idea, development, EVERYTHING was EXCELLENT. Nothing else can possibly be said except that its 5 STAR!
Review
‘Highland Kiss’ is a new adult contemporary romance with a Scottish, alpha male hero and a sassy, virgin heroine.
It will be New Zealander Ruby Williams-Chan’s first time abroad and overseas, as well as away from her family and home, and she is going on a vacation across Europe, finally! Her first stop is Edinburgh, Scotland and she is ready to visit all its historic wonders whilst residing in Brian’s mansion. After crossing paths with him back home, the two intend to travel together to see what comes of their attraction and Brian is intent on making Ruby his girlfriend. But things don’t turn out the way she plans. Billionaire Alec Hasting’s sister, Susan, is trying to restart a broken relationship with her ex-fiancé but after finding out he is to bring a woman from overseas home, she fears that her future with the man she loves is not to happen. Unperturbed, Susan plans a kidnapping; who better to do it than her own brother. Yet after arriving at the manor where Alec has secreted away Ruby, the two grow closer and are falling in love despite the circumstances that brought them together. Yet Alec is not who he seems; he was once her dearly beloved, childhood friend, ‘Alee’. Yet due to unintentional interference from Susan and ex-fiance, Brian, misunderstandings and doubts start to arise between Ruby and Alec, threatening their budding relationship.
The setting was lovely due to its location in a large manor surrounded by expansive ground in England and added its own appeal to the novel. It created a sense of tranquillity in the otherwise turbulent events of the story which I really liked.
The characters were dynamic, full of chemistry and passion. The story itself was captivating, warm and fun.
There were a few flaws to the novel such as the off-kilter grammar, some typos and spelling mistakes. The story was also really cliché, but I personally liked that.
It was a fun continuation of the series and the second story of the group of four friends which the series will capture.
Congratulations to Alexia Praks on yet another published book!
Rating Plan
1 star : Strongly did not like the book, writing and plot was bad. Idea of the book was against my liking.
2 star : Didn't like it, didn't find it interesting or gripping. Seemed to drag on to me.
3 star : An average book. Wasn't bad or good. Everything else was well done. Original idea.
4 star : Like a 3 star but has potential to it as a series or the book grew on me as it progressed and certain scenes captured me. I Enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.
5 star : I LOVED IT! I stayed up late until 3 am. Author is a genius, characters, plot, idea, development, EVERYTHING was EXCELLENT. Nothing else can possibly be said except that its 5 STAR!
January 10, 2016
Almost did not finish reading this book, but keep reading it although most of the time i just skip alot. I like the 1st book but this one a big no no for me, i'm sorry :-(
Did not like how Alec treated Ruby and how stupid Ruby because she didn't realize that she's being kidnapped. I hope the next book is better.
Did not like how Alec treated Ruby and how stupid Ruby because she didn't realize that she's being kidnapped. I hope the next book is better.
July 30, 2019
Honestly, this book made me so mad, that I stopped reading it. It really saddened me I had to do that, as I liked the first book. Not that the first book didn’t have some flaws too, but not as eye catching as this one.
This book is really silly and unrealistic. I mean for christ sake Alec kidnaps Ruby, just so his sister can get back with her ex-fiancee, Brian, just so she can be ‘happy’ again. And don’t get me startet on how Alec’s staff just makes the conclusion that Ruby is suicidal. As that is the only reason why Alec would lock her inside a room. On top of that Ruby falls in love with him. I know this is supposed to be a romance book, but I mean, Why the f**k would Ruby fall in love with Alec. First of all he freaking kidnapped her and afterwards forces her to have sex with him. I just don’t get it. How can you fall in love with someone like that.
So yeah this didn’t make much sense to me.
The writing is a bit different from other books but when you first get the hang of how it works it’s not that hard to read. I actually kind of like that writing style as you get point of views from everyone.
This book is really silly and unrealistic. I mean for christ sake Alec kidnaps Ruby, just so his sister can get back with her ex-fiancee, Brian, just so she can be ‘happy’ again. And don’t get me startet on how Alec’s staff just makes the conclusion that Ruby is suicidal. As that is the only reason why Alec would lock her inside a room. On top of that Ruby falls in love with him. I know this is supposed to be a romance book, but I mean, Why the f**k would Ruby fall in love with Alec. First of all he freaking kidnapped her and afterwards forces her to have sex with him. I just don’t get it. How can you fall in love with someone like that.
So yeah this didn’t make much sense to me.
The writing is a bit different from other books but when you first get the hang of how it works it’s not that hard to read. I actually kind of like that writing style as you get point of views from everyone.
January 10, 2019
This was so bad, this might be the only book till yet which I had to leave in middle because I couldn’t handle the nonsense of this female lead. Seriously, in name of love writer literally just wrote such a BS..
I tried really hard to go through the kidnapping in name of such love stories(by which time this was going steep ridiculous) but when she got the chance to call someone for help and said nothing, that was above the water level.
And the dream of her mother when she called home. Something representing the male admirer to come in your life.
And that’s it. I am done with this book. Not interested. Zilch, nope,nada.
I tried really hard to go through the kidnapping in name of such love stories(by which time this was going steep ridiculous) but when she got the chance to call someone for help and said nothing, that was above the water level.
And the dream of her mother when she called home. Something representing the male admirer to come in your life.
And that’s it. I am done with this book. Not interested. Zilch, nope,nada.
October 1, 2017
Stockholm syndrom anyone?
March 7, 2018
The drama just keeps on coming with this one lol, I really love the way Praks writes be used it feels like the story could stop at any moment only to be pushed back in with another chapter!
April 19, 2018
If I wrote this, I’d have Ruby running away and dying a death where she slips and falls down a ravine and drowns in the creek. A perfect ending for a character who’s TSTL.
June 26, 2018
hai Alexia. it's a beautiful story can't wait to read 2 part
July 5, 2019
I totally loved how they kept fighting their infatuation with each other. This made for some interesting events but very enjoyable read.
May 16, 2020
...this was so. I don’t even know. I see where the author was trying to going with this, but this felt kind of like stockholm syndrom.
October 19, 2022
4 out of 5 stars
March 19, 2015
Ruby is finally going on a vacation across Europe, but things don't turn out the way she plans. While in Edinburgh, Scotland Ruby is "kidnapped" by Alec Hasting who happens to be her childhood friend (Ruby doesn't recognize him though) and although his intentions are good (trying to help his sister get back with her ex-fiancé) kidnapping is still kidnapping, Despite the circumstances Ruby and Alec draw closer together and even fall in love yet due to unintentional interference from Alec's sister Susan and her ex Brian (who was a little infatuated with Ruby and vice versa which led to the kidnapping in the first place) misunderstandings and doubts arise between Ruby and Alec. Their relationship might not make it before it really even started, but you'll have to read to see what happens. >_<
March 3, 2016
I really loved the first book in this series so when I saw that the second one was free on iBooks, I just had to have it! Romance novels are definitely something that I have to be in the mood for, so I was glad that this book appealed to me the way that it did. The characters are written with this aura around them that were a pleasure to read but at the same time became flat at some points, but had an overall appeal that worked for them. The story flowed well and never got to the point where I couldn't get through a certain chapter or couldn't immerse myself into the plot line.
November 30, 2015
the book was awesome...I really liked this one because of the beautiful scene....never had I thought to come across such a stubborn character like ruby...earlier in the book she seemed like a quiet, shy, calm woman..but through out this book she acted like a wild woman..
the way alec manhandled her was really AWE!!!
I just loved alec, he seemed like the mature, reasonable and loving boyfriend...OMG!!!!
the way alec manhandled her was really AWE!!!
I just loved alec, he seemed like the mature, reasonable and loving boyfriend...OMG!!!!
February 9, 2015
Amazing Story!!!!!!
I always read historical novels but I gave this one a chance , and I'm so glad I did!!!! The story was captivating, heartwarming, and full of passion!!! The story line, the chemistry between the main characters, and the way is was written was just perfect!!! I'll guess I just found a new author to follow.
I always read historical novels but I gave this one a chance , and I'm so glad I did!!!! The story was captivating, heartwarming, and full of passion!!! The story line, the chemistry between the main characters, and the way is was written was just perfect!!! I'll guess I just found a new author to follow.
February 20, 2015
This was heartfelt and very intriguing. I loved how this story unfolded and I could not put this down. I recommend this book!!!
April 27, 2016
Better than the first book in the series
March 14, 2016
It was a good book! Nice to get out of a reading slump!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews