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Campbell Trilogy #1
Highland Warrior
The ruthless enforcer of Scotland’s most powerful clan, Jamie Campbell will use any means necessary to vanquish lawlessness and unrest among the feuding Highland clans. Seduction is a game as easily played as subterfuge, but when Jamie poses a as suitor to a rival clan’s daughter in order to expose treason, the line between duty and pleasure is suddenly blurred. Ebony-haired, ruby-lipped Caitrina Lamont defies him, denies him, and arouses him like no other woman.Caitrina has no intention of forsaking her beloved father and doting brothers for a husband–especially a hated Campbell. But Jamie’s raw, sensual strength and searing kiss melt her resistance. When her idyllic world is shattered, Caitrina’s only hope to save her clan lies in the arms of Jamie Campbell, the enemy she holds accountable for its ruin. Can their tenuous truce, born in the velvet darkness of passionate nights, forge a love as strong as the sword that rules the Highlands?
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
192 people are currently reading
4445 people want to read
About the author
Monica McCarty
61 books2,965 followersWhat do you get when you mix a legal career, a baseball career, motherhood, and a love of history with a voracious reader? In my case, a Historical Romance Author.
Like most writers, I’ve always loved to read. Growing up in California there was always plenty to do outside, but all too often I could be found inside curled up with a book (or two or three). I started with the usual fare: The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume. Once I cleared off my bookshelf, I started swiping books from my mom. Some, like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, probably weren’t the most appropriate choice for a pre-adolescent—although they were definitely illuminating. I can still remember the look of abject horror on my mom’s Catholic-girl-face when I asked her what a virgin was. After that rather brief conversation, she paid a little closer attention to what had disappeared off her book shelf, and steered me in the direction of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances. I was hooked. I quickly read through the inventory of the local library and was soon buying bags of romances at garage sales.
In high school, with the encouragement of my father (who I think was a little concerned about the steady diet of romances), I read over eighty of the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written—including Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare. Some of them were tough going for a teenager, but the experience would prove an invaluable foundation for college. After reading War and Peace, I wasn’t easily intimidated.
For some reason Monica decided to go into writing and not fashion.
After graduation, I loaded up the VW (Jetta not Bus) and trekked down I-5 to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English (see why all that reading helped!). I joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and when I wasn’t studying or at football games, did my best to support the local bartending industry. Ah, the good old days.
With that kind of fun, four years of college wasn’t quite enough. So leaving Tommy Trojan behind, I traveled back up north to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School. Once I survived the stress of the first semester, law school proved to be one of the best times of my life—garnering me a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball. (See “The Baseball Odyssey” below).
Law School was also where I fell in love with Scotland. In my third year, I took a Comparative Legal History class, and wrote a paper on the Scottish Clan System and Feudalism. So I immediately dropped out of law school and went on to write Scottish Historical Romances…well no, not quite. You see, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My father was a lawyer, I was a “poet” (i.e., not into math), and I love to argue. It seemed natural.
So I finished law school, got married, passed the CA bar, moved to Minnesota (with a few stops along the way), waived into the MN bar, worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, moved back to CA, had a couple of kids, realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year (due to husband's career) would be extremely difficult, and THEN decided to sit down and write.
And how did I end up writing romance? It’s not as divergent as it seems. What I loved about being a lawyer are the same things I love about being a writer—research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
Like most writers, I’ve always loved to read. Growing up in California there was always plenty to do outside, but all too often I could be found inside curled up with a book (or two or three). I started with the usual fare: The Little House on the Prairie series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and everything by Judy Blume. Once I cleared off my bookshelf, I started swiping books from my mom. Some, like Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight, probably weren’t the most appropriate choice for a pre-adolescent—although they were definitely illuminating. I can still remember the look of abject horror on my mom’s Catholic-girl-face when I asked her what a virgin was. After that rather brief conversation, she paid a little closer attention to what had disappeared off her book shelf, and steered me in the direction of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland romances. I was hooked. I quickly read through the inventory of the local library and was soon buying bags of romances at garage sales.
In high school, with the encouragement of my father (who I think was a little concerned about the steady diet of romances), I read over eighty of the Franklin Library’s One Hundred Greatest Books ever written—including Tolstoy, Confucius, Plato, and the entire works of Shakespeare. Some of them were tough going for a teenager, but the experience would prove an invaluable foundation for college. After reading War and Peace, I wasn’t easily intimidated.
For some reason Monica decided to go into writing and not fashion.
After graduation, I loaded up the VW (Jetta not Bus) and trekked down I-5 to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in English (see why all that reading helped!). I joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and when I wasn’t studying or at football games, did my best to support the local bartending industry. Ah, the good old days.
With that kind of fun, four years of college wasn’t quite enough. So leaving Tommy Trojan behind, I traveled back up north to Palo Alto for three more years of study at Stanford Law School. Once I survived the stress of the first semester, law school proved to be one of the best times of my life—garnering me a JD, life-long friends, a husband, and an unexpectedly intimate knowledge of baseball. (See “The Baseball Odyssey” below).
Law School was also where I fell in love with Scotland. In my third year, I took a Comparative Legal History class, and wrote a paper on the Scottish Clan System and Feudalism. So I immediately dropped out of law school and went on to write Scottish Historical Romances…well no, not quite. You see, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My father was a lawyer, I was a “poet” (i.e., not into math), and I love to argue. It seemed natural.
So I finished law school, got married, passed the CA bar, moved to Minnesota (with a few stops along the way), waived into the MN bar, worked as a litigator for a few satisfying years, moved back to CA, had a couple of kids, realized that a legal career and being a single parent for most of the year (due to husband's career) would be extremely difficult, and THEN decided to sit down and write.
And how did I end up writing romance? It’s not as divergent as it seems. What I loved about being a lawyer are the same things I love about being a writer—research and writing. The only thing missing is the arguing, but that’s what a husband and kids are for, right?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
June 6, 2011
SPOILERS AHEAD
I really anticipated reading "Highland Warrior" from the reviews I got. But after reading it lemme tell you one thing: DO NOT FREAKING READ THIS STUPID BOOK AND IF YOU DO THEN YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
Oh, I admit the beginning of the book draws you in but then it reaches the middle of the book and everything fell apart.
The female lead Caitrina is an irritating, untrusting, heartless little b***h. Throughout the entire book I wanted to shake her until her head pop off and stuff a sword down her throat.I know, kinky. She lives in this glass house full of tinted roses and can see no fault with her father and brothers whereas she nit-picks everything about Jaime. Typical spoil bratty princess who can’t do anything for herself and believe me—she plays her part well.
The male lead is Jaime who is supposedly to be her clan’s enemy and Caitrina has been taught at a young age to hate him but she can’t help but be drawn to Jaimeoh stuff a tissue with it little girl. Jaime is one of those guys you like to have sex with but at the same time you probably don't want to live with him. EVER. Sure at first he’s honorable, has a knight-in-shining-armor feel to him, desirable, and is terribly steamily sexy but then you realize he’s too stupid and too infuriating to be a hero—falling in love with a stupid woman only makes him as desirable as a worm on a gold stick.
These two lovey dovies—hint the sarcasm—probably do deserve each other. They distrusted each other, can't seem to have a decent conversation without fighting and getting their panties in a bunch, and only needed each other for sex. In the book Caitrina's family is dead because of Jaime’s brother and she is "force" to marry Jaime and they can’t help it but use angry sex to get it across that they love each other, yada yada yada. The plot was so boring and predictable that it had me wanting to read my math textbook.
It amused me that McCarty made them confess that they love each other while they were fighting over not trusting each other. Oh, that's funny. I thought "Love means trust. You can't have one without the other." (Jaime, pg 294)
Wow Jaime, you're so smart. If only you and your little girl listen to your advice. No wait, you’re too busy ripping each other’s clothes off and whining about how you can’t trust anyone.You can tell that TRUST is a major issue in "Highland Warrior"
Even at the end Caitrina and Jaime fights for the LONGEST time then they have sex and everything in the world is just peachy. Oh yeah, Caitrina said she'll try her hardest to trust Jaime's and not jump to conclusion and vice versa. Yay! I can see why the love each other! NOT. Keyword: TRY. Ah, hello Ms. Author, aren’t the two lovers suppose to trust each other already?
Blah, waste of two hours I want back with a vengeance.
I really anticipated reading "Highland Warrior" from the reviews I got. But after reading it lemme tell you one thing: DO NOT FREAKING READ THIS STUPID BOOK AND IF YOU DO THEN YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
Oh, I admit the beginning of the book draws you in but then it reaches the middle of the book and everything fell apart.
The female lead Caitrina is an irritating, untrusting, heartless little b***h. Throughout the entire book I wanted to shake her until her head pop off and stuff a sword down her throat.
The male lead is Jaime who is supposedly to be her clan’s enemy and Caitrina has been taught at a young age to hate him but she can’t help but be drawn to Jaime
These two lovey dovies—hint the sarcasm—probably do deserve each other. They distrusted each other, can't seem to have a decent conversation without fighting and getting their panties in a bunch, and only needed each other for sex. In the book Caitrina's family is dead because of Jaime’s brother and she is "force" to marry Jaime and they can’t help it but use angry sex to get it across that they love each other, yada yada yada. The plot was so boring and predictable that it had me wanting to read my math textbook.
It amused me that McCarty made them confess that they love each other while they were fighting over not trusting each other. Oh, that's funny. I thought "Love means trust. You can't have one without the other." (Jaime, pg 294)
Wow Jaime, you're so smart. If only you and your little girl listen to your advice. No wait, you’re too busy ripping each other’s clothes off and whining about how you can’t trust anyone.You can tell that TRUST is a major issue in "Highland Warrior"
Even at the end Caitrina and Jaime fights for the LONGEST time then they have sex and everything in the world is just peachy. Oh yeah, Caitrina said she'll try her hardest to trust Jaime's and not jump to conclusion and vice versa. Yay! I can see why the love each other! NOT. Keyword: TRY. Ah, hello Ms. Author, aren’t the two lovers suppose to trust each other already?
Blah, waste of two hours I want back with a vengeance.
February 10, 2018
This H James Campbell, was like Prince Charming to the heroine. He fell for Caitrina from their first meeting and she had been quite spoilt and rude to him. He asked her father for her hand in marriage but she hadn't wanted to get married and refused his initial proposal. Caitrina was like a shrew in the first part of the story, but to be fair to her, she did have an excuse: because she believed her entire family had been murdered by the H's brother. I had not expected to like Jamie as much as I did because when he was initially introduced in Highlander Unmasked he had not seemed very alpha then. But the author revamped his entire character in this novel and I must say that I grew to love him more than Alec ( the hero from Highlander Unmasked ). What makes this even more interesting ( for devoted fans of the Highland Guard series by the same author ) is that Jamie is a descendant of the studly Arthur Campbell from The Ranger. I love this about Monica's highlander novels. I really enjoyed how the hero broke down the heroine's defences gradually until she came to love him as much as he loved her. It was nice to see a hero who was totally besotted with insta-love.
Jamie also saved Caitrina from being raped by one of his brother's soldiers. The aftermath of that experience had left her a bit scared to have sex with a man and Jamie was wonderful about that entire situation. Their initial sex scene was so well done: Jamie sublimated his aggressive masculine desires and was patient with Caitrina. He allowed her to take the lead in bed because he wanted her to feel comfortable. It's rare to come across an alpha male H who is this caring and patient. Jamie also tolerated Caitrina's initial bitterness because he put himself in her shoes. He knew that she was hurting because his brother had engineered the massacre of her entire family and he was never rude or demeaning to her. Jamie was the perfect combination of alpha and beta qualities in a H. This was a novel filled with love, lust and plenty of highland intrigue.
Jamie also saved Caitrina from being raped by one of his brother's soldiers. The aftermath of that experience had left her a bit scared to have sex with a man and Jamie was wonderful about that entire situation. Their initial sex scene was so well done: Jamie sublimated his aggressive masculine desires and was patient with Caitrina. He allowed her to take the lead in bed because he wanted her to feel comfortable. It's rare to come across an alpha male H who is this caring and patient. Jamie also tolerated Caitrina's initial bitterness because he put himself in her shoes. He knew that she was hurting because his brother had engineered the massacre of her entire family and he was never rude or demeaning to her. Jamie was the perfect combination of alpha and beta qualities in a H. This was a novel filled with love, lust and plenty of highland intrigue.
April 27, 2023
Kız aptal ve inat olmasa (hatta gerizekali) çok daha güzel olurdu ama jamie için okumaya değer 🙋♀️
November 22, 2020
3,7 ⭐
Começou muito bem, cativou imenso mas depois perdeu-me antes de chegar a meio do livro.
Too much drama... 🙄
Gostei da parte histórica mas o romance em si, tornou-se maçador.
Umas 200 páginas, cortando parte do drama da Caitrina, e possivelmente chegaria às cinco estrelas.
Jamie, um guerreiro tão fantástico, acabou por ser um bocado banana ao ceder a tanto drama.
5 ⭐ para drama queen Caitrina 😈 😂
Começou muito bem, cativou imenso mas depois perdeu-me antes de chegar a meio do livro.
Too much drama... 🙄
Gostei da parte histórica mas o romance em si, tornou-se maçador.
Umas 200 páginas, cortando parte do drama da Caitrina, e possivelmente chegaria às cinco estrelas.
Jamie, um guerreiro tão fantástico, acabou por ser um bocado banana ao ceder a tanto drama.
5 ⭐ para drama queen Caitrina 😈 😂
September 7, 2012
***Some spoilers***
I just loved Caitrina as our heroine. She is fiesty, intelligent, a tad naive, and super cute. I love how she meets our hero Jamie...she climbed a tree to help her brother get a kitten down, but had to undress out of her fabulous gown to do so. Her brother takes off with his kitten, leaving Caitrina stuck up the tree with no help in sight...or is there?
A mysterious man on horseback who is at the clan gathering for the games rescues her and leaves her breathless...
Jamie Campbell, the Earl of Argyle's Henchman and cousin has few friends and a reputation for being the monster in the closet. Really he's a very honorable man who happens to be related to the infamous Earl of Argyle. He has no friends among the clan Lamont, and yet seeks Caitrina's hand in marriage. She is repulsed by her response to him. She cannot believe her father actually likes the henchman. ugh! Until she gets to know him. But will her pride keep them apart?
yes, for a while, but her clan is torn apart and most of her family killed and she blames Jamie...it takes months for him to find her to make sure she's alright.
He saved her from a rape and a fully engulfed castle fire, but she doesn't remember it. It takes a lot of sweet seduction and gentle patience for Jamie (a supposedly emotionless man)to woo Caitrina, but even towards the end she can't give him her trust. When it finally happens, though, it is sweet, and so worth it.
This is one of my favorite Historical romances of all time. I loved it.
I just loved Caitrina as our heroine. She is fiesty, intelligent, a tad naive, and super cute. I love how she meets our hero Jamie...she climbed a tree to help her brother get a kitten down, but had to undress out of her fabulous gown to do so. Her brother takes off with his kitten, leaving Caitrina stuck up the tree with no help in sight...or is there?
A mysterious man on horseback who is at the clan gathering for the games rescues her and leaves her breathless...
Jamie Campbell, the Earl of Argyle's Henchman and cousin has few friends and a reputation for being the monster in the closet. Really he's a very honorable man who happens to be related to the infamous Earl of Argyle. He has no friends among the clan Lamont, and yet seeks Caitrina's hand in marriage. She is repulsed by her response to him. She cannot believe her father actually likes the henchman. ugh! Until she gets to know him. But will her pride keep them apart?
yes, for a while, but her clan is torn apart and most of her family killed and she blames Jamie...it takes months for him to find her to make sure she's alright.
He saved her from a rape and a fully engulfed castle fire, but she doesn't remember it. It takes a lot of sweet seduction and gentle patience for Jamie (a supposedly emotionless man)to woo Caitrina, but even towards the end she can't give him her trust. When it finally happens, though, it is sweet, and so worth it.
This is one of my favorite Historical romances of all time. I loved it.
November 18, 2017
Size kitabı tek cümleyle özetlememe izin verin:
JAMİE CANDIR; CAİTRİNA SALAK, İTİCİ, HERŞEYİ BİLDİĞİNİ SANAN VE JAMİE’Yİ HAK ETMEYEN GICIK KIZDIR!
Gene bir İskoç krizinde güvenilir adreslerden olan Monica’da teselli olurken buldum kendimi. Daha öncede demiştim, tekrar deme gereği duyuyorum: Siz siz olun elinizin alında her zaman birkaç tane İskoç kitabı bulundurun. Elinize geçtiği anda açgözlülük yapıp tüketmeyin ki kriz anlarınızda ellerim bomboş modunda kalmayasınız.
Monica’nın son çevirisi de bir bugünler için beklemedeydi. Akşam kendimi İskoç ateşlerinde yanmaya gönüllü bir şekilde bulduğumda hemen başlayıverdim.
Konu historical ve dev-barbar-vahşi-seksi-savaşçı-erkek fantezisi olduğunda İskoçlar bildiğim, güvendiğim tek adrestir. Monica’da bu türde en iyilerinden. Ülkemizde yeni bir yayınevinin bizi kitaplarıyla buluşturuyor olması çok sevindirici bir durum. Hele hele yayınevinin Nemesis Kitap olması daha da sevindirici. Yayınevi, historical kitaplara olan ilgisini arttırdıkça mutlu oluyorum. Keza takip ettiğim serilerinde de kitapların çıkış aralıkları konusunda hayal kırıklığına uğradığım olmamıştı. Darısı diğer yayıncıları başına diyelim. Okuyucunun beğenisini kazanmak zor bir meziyet değil en nihayetinde.
Baskı için sunu söylemek istiyorum, çeviri güzeldi ya da benim gözüme takılan aşırı bir durum yoktu. Ancak tırnaklarla ilgili sorun neydi bilmiyorum. Hem eksik kullanım hem de yanlış kullanım boldu. Keşke son okuması daha iyi yapılsaydı. Buna rağmen iyi bir iş çıkmıştı ortaya. Yayınevin emeğine sağlık…
Bu lafları söylemeyi bile özlüyor insan…
Kitaba daha doğrusu karakterlere gelirsek… Caitrina en gıcık kadın karakterler kategorisinde ilk beşe girip ödül almaya en yakın adaylar arasındadır benim için. Allah’ım, bir karakter bu kadar mı sinir bozucu olur sorusunun cevabı inanın kitapta gizli. Yahu sen bu şartlar altında bulmuşsun mis gibi adamı daha derdin ne, diye sorarlar insana.
Hani diyorum ki Jamie bu güvensizliğe neden olacak bir hareket sergilemiş olsa, kıza kötü davransa tüm bunlara bir anlam verebilirim ama yok arkadaş, yok! Sürekli bir güvensizlik, kararsızlık…
En nihayetinde Jamie aziz gibi sabırlıydı. Çünkü olanlar karşısında olduğum yerde krizler geçirdim. Dayanılacak gibi değildi. Tüm bunlara rağmen adamın dürüstlüğü, sadakati, ara ara yaptığı esprileri, sert ama şefkatli sevişi, gösterdiği özen beni benden aldı.
HERKESE BİR JAMİE! ÂMİN, çok çok ÂMİN ama en çok bana Âmin. 😍 😉 😇
JAMİE CANDIR; CAİTRİNA SALAK, İTİCİ, HERŞEYİ BİLDİĞİNİ SANAN VE JAMİE’Yİ HAK ETMEYEN GICIK KIZDIR!
Gene bir İskoç krizinde güvenilir adreslerden olan Monica’da teselli olurken buldum kendimi. Daha öncede demiştim, tekrar deme gereği duyuyorum: Siz siz olun elinizin alında her zaman birkaç tane İskoç kitabı bulundurun. Elinize geçtiği anda açgözlülük yapıp tüketmeyin ki kriz anlarınızda ellerim bomboş modunda kalmayasınız.
Monica’nın son çevirisi de bir bugünler için beklemedeydi. Akşam kendimi İskoç ateşlerinde yanmaya gönüllü bir şekilde bulduğumda hemen başlayıverdim.
Konu historical ve dev-barbar-vahşi-seksi-savaşçı-erkek fantezisi olduğunda İskoçlar bildiğim, güvendiğim tek adrestir. Monica’da bu türde en iyilerinden. Ülkemizde yeni bir yayınevinin bizi kitaplarıyla buluşturuyor olması çok sevindirici bir durum. Hele hele yayınevinin Nemesis Kitap olması daha da sevindirici. Yayınevi, historical kitaplara olan ilgisini arttırdıkça mutlu oluyorum. Keza takip ettiğim serilerinde de kitapların çıkış aralıkları konusunda hayal kırıklığına uğradığım olmamıştı. Darısı diğer yayıncıları başına diyelim. Okuyucunun beğenisini kazanmak zor bir meziyet değil en nihayetinde.
Baskı için sunu söylemek istiyorum, çeviri güzeldi ya da benim gözüme takılan aşırı bir durum yoktu. Ancak tırnaklarla ilgili sorun neydi bilmiyorum. Hem eksik kullanım hem de yanlış kullanım boldu. Keşke son okuması daha iyi yapılsaydı. Buna rağmen iyi bir iş çıkmıştı ortaya. Yayınevin emeğine sağlık…
Bu lafları söylemeyi bile özlüyor insan…
Kitaba daha doğrusu karakterlere gelirsek… Caitrina en gıcık kadın karakterler kategorisinde ilk beşe girip ödül almaya en yakın adaylar arasındadır benim için. Allah’ım, bir karakter bu kadar mı sinir bozucu olur sorusunun cevabı inanın kitapta gizli. Yahu sen bu şartlar altında bulmuşsun mis gibi adamı daha derdin ne, diye sorarlar insana.
Hani diyorum ki Jamie bu güvensizliğe neden olacak bir hareket sergilemiş olsa, kıza kötü davransa tüm bunlara bir anlam verebilirim ama yok arkadaş, yok! Sürekli bir güvensizlik, kararsızlık…
En nihayetinde Jamie aziz gibi sabırlıydı. Çünkü olanlar karşısında olduğum yerde krizler geçirdim. Dayanılacak gibi değildi. Tüm bunlara rağmen adamın dürüstlüğü, sadakati, ara ara yaptığı esprileri, sert ama şefkatli sevişi, gösterdiği özen beni benden aldı.
HERKESE BİR JAMİE! ÂMİN, çok çok ÂMİN ama en çok bana Âmin. 😍 😉 😇
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December 9, 20174,5/5 me encanta cómo escribe esta mujer...
November 17, 2017
Heroine is a bitter bitch. Not interested!
December 18, 2011
Adorei! Devorei este livro pois nao conseguia parar de ler! É uma história leve, básica mas eu gosto destes romances onde os protagonistas odeiam-se mas no fundo amam-se *.* e acaba sempre tudo bem, portanto acabamos o livro com um sorriso no rosto! Foram umas horas de leitura bem passadas, recomendo para quem gosta deste tipo de romances. :)
February 5, 2014
Why is it that every book I see that has "Highland" in the title has to have a half-naked man on the cover? Not that I object to half-naked men in principle, but they're all starting to look the same...
3.5 stars for content and 4.5 stars for the narration
I’m not normally one for Highlander romances, but I picked this audiobook up because I enjoy listening to this particular narrator and thought I’d give it a go.
The story is simple, but well told. Caitrina Lamont is the daughter of the chief of the Clan Lamont and has led rather a sheltered life. She’s beautiful and intelligent, but somewhat spoiled and never wonders at how her father can afford to keep her in fancy dresses when there are parts of their home and lands which are in need of attention.
When she meets Jamie Campbell (in rather ridiculous circumstances, I admit) she can’t help but feel the stirrings of an intense attraction. He’s handsome, strong and clearly more than able to handle a spoilt young woman, but he’s not come to the Highlands to dally. Or rather, that wasn’t his original intention. Jamie is known far and wide as the Earl of Argyll’s henchman, his “enforcer”, and has a fearsome reputation for being cold, ruthless and getting the job done by whatever means necessary. England and Scotland have been recently united under King James (1st of England and 6th of Scotland), and while James cements his rule in England, Argyll is, to all intents and purposes, the ruler of Scotland.
Jamie has come to meet with the Laird of Lamont in order to gain information as to the whereabouts of rebels of the MacGregor clan. He believes that Lamont is sheltering them because of a long-standing alliance and obligation, and intends to find the proof he needs by spending time at Lamont. On seeing the laird’s daughter, Jamie thinks that pretending he is searching for a wife – and that he is taken with the lovely Caitrina – will be the perfect cover for the true nature of his visit.
But the Campbells and the Lamonts are age-old enemies and as soon as Caitrina discovers Jamie’s true identity she is adamant that she wants nothing further to do with him. This aspect of the plot – “I fancy the pants off you but have to pretend to hate you because our clans don’t get on” does seem to be one of the stock-in-trades of the Highland romance that I don’t particularly care for, but fortunately it isn’t allowed to go on for too long.
A raid on Lamont in Jamie’s absence has tragic consequences – Caitrina’s father and brothers are killed, the place is all but razed to the ground and many of the castle’s inhabitants are killed in the attack. And worse (but unbeknownst to Caitrina), the assault is led by Jamie’s outlaw half-brother, Duncan, who is also seeking revenge on the MacGregor clan and has attacked Lamont with the intention of flushing them out.
Having realised what is happening, Jamie hurries back to Lamont and arrives in time to save Caitrina and to help with the defence of what is left of the castle.
Caitrina is naturally devastated at the loss of her family and her home, and she finally begins to grow up a little, seeing that her previous life had been one of undeserved ease and luxury. But she can’t stay there forever – and when Jamie proposes they marry in order to ensure her safety and so that she can reclaim Lamont, she agrees. Her main priority now is to rebuild her home and look after the well-being of her clansman and marrying Jamie is the only way she can do that. (Not that she doesn’t still fancy the pants off him – she does, and with good reason ;-))
For the most part, I thought the relationship between Jamie and Caitrina was well-developed. What starts out as an intense, mutual physical attraction begins to mature into something more as Caitrina comes to see that her husband – though a Campbell – is an honourable man, and one she can trust. She also begins to move past her grief for her father and brothers and to find a happiness with Jamie she’d never thought to experience again; while Jamie, too, is allowing himself to relax and let out the softer side of himself that he has always had to rein in before.
I found it very refreshing that Jamie was almost always unfailingly honest with his wife. There are several occasions when situations arise in which he has to tell her unpleasant truths – some of them things that will reflect badly on him - but he doesn’t shy away from it, believing she has a right to know. I confess, each time such a situation came up, I was on the point of rolling my eyes and waiting for something to be hidden and thus cause more conflict between them – but each time, Ms McCarty thankfully defied my expectations.
What didn’t work for me was Caitrina’s attitude towards Jamie in the last quarter of the novel. She is torn between her loyalty to her family and her loyalty to her husband – an impossible choice, and one the nature of which Jamie understands all too well. But her decision to hide the truth about her brothers from Jamie plunges them all into danger and even when she realises what she has done, she still can’t completely trust her husband. She becomes petulant and issues a ridiculous ultimatum, then drags Jamie to bed for hot, make-up sex, believing his enthusiastic participation means she’s got her own way. Which, of course, she hasn’t, so she hares off to see Argyll, without realising that Jamie has found his own solution to the problem over which they’ve been at odds.
Fortunately for her, Argyll isn’t a complete bastard – and Caitrina finally comes to realise that while Jamie has been painted as Argyll’s yes-man, the relationship between the men is in fact one of mutual respect and a certain amount of give-and-take, and that Jamie is perfectly capable of standing up to his powerful cousin when the occasion and his sense of justice demand it.
Roger Hampton is a narrator of whom I’ve become aware over the last year, having so far enjoyed his work on Grace Burrowes’ MacGregor Trilogy. He has a distinctive voice with a slightly husky quality which is very attractive and easy to listen to; and he is also one of the few narrators I’ve come across so far who is able to accurately and consistently employ a Scottish accent! All the characters in this audiobook are Scotsmen and women, and he skilfully navigates back and forth between the different characters and accents and his narration. He uses a number of variations in tone and accent for all the male characters, employing a rich, deep bass/baritone for Jamie which contrasts nicely with the slightly higher pitch and nasal tone he adopts for Argyll. Mr Hampton is also able to portray female characters convincingly, by employing a slight raising of pitch and softening of tone, and I thought his performance of Caitriona was very effective.
All in all, Highland Warrior was an enjoyable audiobook. Although the story itself was fairly predictable, and I’m not sure it’s a book I would have opted to read in the normal way of things, Roger Hampton’s expertly realised performance brought the characters to life and most definitely enhanced the overall quality of the experience.
3.5 stars for content and 4.5 stars for the narration
I’m not normally one for Highlander romances, but I picked this audiobook up because I enjoy listening to this particular narrator and thought I’d give it a go.
The story is simple, but well told. Caitrina Lamont is the daughter of the chief of the Clan Lamont and has led rather a sheltered life. She’s beautiful and intelligent, but somewhat spoiled and never wonders at how her father can afford to keep her in fancy dresses when there are parts of their home and lands which are in need of attention.
When she meets Jamie Campbell (in rather ridiculous circumstances, I admit) she can’t help but feel the stirrings of an intense attraction. He’s handsome, strong and clearly more than able to handle a spoilt young woman, but he’s not come to the Highlands to dally. Or rather, that wasn’t his original intention. Jamie is known far and wide as the Earl of Argyll’s henchman, his “enforcer”, and has a fearsome reputation for being cold, ruthless and getting the job done by whatever means necessary. England and Scotland have been recently united under King James (1st of England and 6th of Scotland), and while James cements his rule in England, Argyll is, to all intents and purposes, the ruler of Scotland.
Jamie has come to meet with the Laird of Lamont in order to gain information as to the whereabouts of rebels of the MacGregor clan. He believes that Lamont is sheltering them because of a long-standing alliance and obligation, and intends to find the proof he needs by spending time at Lamont. On seeing the laird’s daughter, Jamie thinks that pretending he is searching for a wife – and that he is taken with the lovely Caitrina – will be the perfect cover for the true nature of his visit.
But the Campbells and the Lamonts are age-old enemies and as soon as Caitrina discovers Jamie’s true identity she is adamant that she wants nothing further to do with him. This aspect of the plot – “I fancy the pants off you but have to pretend to hate you because our clans don’t get on” does seem to be one of the stock-in-trades of the Highland romance that I don’t particularly care for, but fortunately it isn’t allowed to go on for too long.
A raid on Lamont in Jamie’s absence has tragic consequences – Caitrina’s father and brothers are killed, the place is all but razed to the ground and many of the castle’s inhabitants are killed in the attack. And worse (but unbeknownst to Caitrina), the assault is led by Jamie’s outlaw half-brother, Duncan, who is also seeking revenge on the MacGregor clan and has attacked Lamont with the intention of flushing them out.
Having realised what is happening, Jamie hurries back to Lamont and arrives in time to save Caitrina and to help with the defence of what is left of the castle.
Caitrina is naturally devastated at the loss of her family and her home, and she finally begins to grow up a little, seeing that her previous life had been one of undeserved ease and luxury. But she can’t stay there forever – and when Jamie proposes they marry in order to ensure her safety and so that she can reclaim Lamont, she agrees. Her main priority now is to rebuild her home and look after the well-being of her clansman and marrying Jamie is the only way she can do that. (Not that she doesn’t still fancy the pants off him – she does, and with good reason ;-))
For the most part, I thought the relationship between Jamie and Caitrina was well-developed. What starts out as an intense, mutual physical attraction begins to mature into something more as Caitrina comes to see that her husband – though a Campbell – is an honourable man, and one she can trust. She also begins to move past her grief for her father and brothers and to find a happiness with Jamie she’d never thought to experience again; while Jamie, too, is allowing himself to relax and let out the softer side of himself that he has always had to rein in before.
I found it very refreshing that Jamie was almost always unfailingly honest with his wife. There are several occasions when situations arise in which he has to tell her unpleasant truths – some of them things that will reflect badly on him - but he doesn’t shy away from it, believing she has a right to know. I confess, each time such a situation came up, I was on the point of rolling my eyes and waiting for something to be hidden and thus cause more conflict between them – but each time, Ms McCarty thankfully defied my expectations.
What didn’t work for me was Caitrina’s attitude towards Jamie in the last quarter of the novel. She is torn between her loyalty to her family and her loyalty to her husband – an impossible choice, and one the nature of which Jamie understands all too well. But her decision to hide the truth about her brothers from Jamie plunges them all into danger and even when she realises what she has done, she still can’t completely trust her husband. She becomes petulant and issues a ridiculous ultimatum, then drags Jamie to bed for hot, make-up sex, believing his enthusiastic participation means she’s got her own way. Which, of course, she hasn’t, so she hares off to see Argyll, without realising that Jamie has found his own solution to the problem over which they’ve been at odds.
Fortunately for her, Argyll isn’t a complete bastard – and Caitrina finally comes to realise that while Jamie has been painted as Argyll’s yes-man, the relationship between the men is in fact one of mutual respect and a certain amount of give-and-take, and that Jamie is perfectly capable of standing up to his powerful cousin when the occasion and his sense of justice demand it.
Roger Hampton is a narrator of whom I’ve become aware over the last year, having so far enjoyed his work on Grace Burrowes’ MacGregor Trilogy. He has a distinctive voice with a slightly husky quality which is very attractive and easy to listen to; and he is also one of the few narrators I’ve come across so far who is able to accurately and consistently employ a Scottish accent! All the characters in this audiobook are Scotsmen and women, and he skilfully navigates back and forth between the different characters and accents and his narration. He uses a number of variations in tone and accent for all the male characters, employing a rich, deep bass/baritone for Jamie which contrasts nicely with the slightly higher pitch and nasal tone he adopts for Argyll. Mr Hampton is also able to portray female characters convincingly, by employing a slight raising of pitch and softening of tone, and I thought his performance of Caitriona was very effective.
All in all, Highland Warrior was an enjoyable audiobook. Although the story itself was fairly predictable, and I’m not sure it’s a book I would have opted to read in the normal way of things, Roger Hampton’s expertly realised performance brought the characters to life and most definitely enhanced the overall quality of the experience.
July 12, 2020
3.5 ilk defa bu yazardan bir kitap okudum çok ta merak ediyordum ama sarmadı
September 3, 2017
"Caitrina'nın saçını okşadı. Göğsündeki tuhaf hissi, kollarındaki bu küçük kadına karşı duyduğu aşırı hassasiyeti düşündü. Eşine karşı... Bunun yeterli olacağını zannetmişti ama yanılıyordu. Dahasını istiyordu. Çok daha fazlasını. Onun sevgisini, güvenini ve saygısını istiyordu. Son ikisi olmadan, ilkinin olması mümkün değildi."
CAITRINA'YI VURABİLİYOR MUYUZ?!
İskoç Savaşçı'yı okumaya karar verdiğimde pdf listemi karıştırıyor ve güzel olabilecek bir şeyler arıyordum. Zaten kitabı da goodreadste @Kübra sayesinde keşfetmiş, onun yorumuyla merak ederek indirmiştim. Sevip sevmeyeceğimi tam bilmiyordum çünkü historical romance geçmişim sadece yıllar önce okuduğum tek bir kitaptan ve birkaç hikayeden ibaretti.-ki o hikayelerin hiçbirisini hatırlamıyorum, kitaptan da sadece genel hatlar aklımda kalmış.
Durum böyle olunca da açıkçası bu türden biraz çekiniyordum. Zaten yıllardır uzak durmamın da bir sebebi okuduğum kitabı - Unutulan Kraliçe- öyle çok fazla sevmeyişimdi. Bu yüzden de riskli bir tercih yapmak istemiyordum ve tarihi aşk romanı okumuyordum. Ama bir yandan da bu türe giriş yapmak ve cidden güzel olan kitaplarını okumak istiyordum.
Evet, böyle de tutarlıyımdır kendi içimde hfhjfd
Ama bu kitabı zaten yakın bir zamanda okumayı planlıyordum ve listede görünce de 'neden olmasın ki?' dedim ve başladım. Sevdim mi? Evet. Bayıldım mı? Hayır. Türe çok daha iyi bir giriş yapabilirmişim gibime geliyor.
Kitapları sevmemdeki en büyük etken karakterlerken ve Caitrina beni çıldırmanın eşiğine getirmişken, ki olayları da olması gerekenden basit bulmuşken bu kitaba verdiğim yıldızların tek sebebi Jamie Campbell'dı. Net.
"Caitrina için hala her şey çok basitti- ilk baştan beri böyleydi. Yüzeyin ilerisini göremiyordu."
Caitrina, bana göre kitabın başından beri tutarsız davranan bir karakterdi ve daha ilk sahnelerde bile ona hiç ısınamamıştım. Şımarık ve ilgilendiği tek şey elbise kumaşları olan bir kızdı ve gördüğü herkesten derin bir saygı bekleyip bu saygıyı kendisinin göstermeyişi hiç hoş değildi. Jamie'yle ilk tanıştığında bir ağaç dalında asılı duruyordu ve doğru bir şekilde yardım istemek yerine, sanki adam onu kurtarmak zorundaymış gibi davranıyordu. Üstelik olayları o kadar basit düşünüyordu ki, çıldıracaktım. Bir insanın kötüyse gerçekten kötü, iyiyse de saf iyi olduğuna inanıyordu ve aksini de bir türlü kabul etmiyordu.
Masal mı be bu?
Üstelik Jamie'ye o kadar çektirdi ki, taş olsa çatlardı. Jamie'nin sadaketle, kan bağıyla ve fedakarlıkla bağlı olduğu üstüne -kuzenine- olan nefretini sürekli Jamie'ye yöneltiyordu ve adamı yaralayıp duruyordu. Yerel halkın Jamie'ye taktığı Fedai, İnfazcı gibi kaba lakapları kullanarak adamı aşağılıyor, görevini küçümsüyor ve sırf soyadı yüzünden adamı yargılayıp duruyordu. Ki o lakapların o adama takılmasının tek sebebi de Jamie'nin İskoçya'daki kanunsuzları yakalamak, yasaları uygulamak ve İskoçya'ya güvenli bir düzenin yerleşmesini sağlamak için çalışmasıydı.
Ee, meyve veren ağacı taşlarlar tabi. Nankörler.
Bakın abartmıyorum, Caitrina'nın adama bunları söylemeyi geç öpüp başına koyması lazımdı.
Caitrina ondan nefret ederken bile Jamie onu, ailesini, gururunu ve klanını düşünüyor, onun için her şeyi göze alıyor ve onun iyi olması için her şeyi yapıyordu. Caitrina sürekli kendi içinde çelişiyor, adamdan hem nefret edip onu görmeyi bile istemiyor hem de adam yokken onu düşünüyordu. Kızıyor, soyadını ve ailesini aşağılıyor ama Jamie'nin kollarına girince de adama koala gibi yapışıyordu. Yok neymiş efendim sadece fiziksel bir çekimmiş falan.
He Caitrina he.
Ve şunu söyleyeyim ki, adamın hiç suçu olmamasına rağmen adama bir kere bile güvenmedi. Bir cümlede ona güvendiğini söylüyor ama iki cümle sonra 'yoksa hata mı yapıyorum? Sonuçta o bir Campbell.' havalarına giriyordu. Ki Jamie Caitrina'nın güvenini kıracak hiçbir şey yapmadı, kızı korudu, onunla ilgilendi, kaç kere kendi hayatını umursamayıp onun hayatını kurtardı. Ama daima görevine olan bağlılığı, kanunlara olan inancı yüzünden suçlandı.
"Sevgi yarım yamalak olmaz. Ya vardır ya yoktur. Ya bana -ve kararlarıma- güvenirsin ya da güvenmezsin."
Jamie çok şey istiyordu. Caitrina'nın gözleri yandı. "Bunu nereden biliyorsun? Kendini herkesten uzak tutan sensin. Kimseye ihtiyacı olmayan da. Sen sevgiden ne anlarsın ki?"
"Çok şey." Jamie'nin sözleri bir kırbaç gibi indi. "Ama şu anda hiçbir şey anlamıyor olmayı dilerdim."
Ah Jamie be, ah yavrum ne çektin sen bu kadından ya.
Kitabı okurken sevdiğim tek karakter Jamie'ydi çünkü Caitrina'nın bütün o çelişkilerine, güvensizliklerine ve sürekli fikir değiştirmelerine rağmen Jamie'de bunlardan hiçbiri yoktu. Ne istediğini bilen, gücünün ve kendi sınırlarının farkında olan, doğru ve yanlış hakkındaki kesin çizgilerine rağmen her şeyin bu kadar net olamayacağını bilen, söylentilerin ve genel kabullerin arkasındakileri gören, aldığı görevi kutsal sayıp onu yerine getirmek için de her şeyi yapabilen bir karakterdi ve kişiliği o kadar güçlüydü ki, onu sevmemin en büyük nedeni de buydu. Onurluydu, gururluydu ve bu konuda asla taviz vermiyordu. Üstelik Caitrina'ya tek bir baskıda bile bulunmamıştı-onun söylediğinin aksine. Daha en baştan Caitrina'ya karşı oluşan hislerinin farklı olduğunu hissediyor, onlardan kaçmak yerine onları sindiriyor ve bu yeni duygularla başa çıkmaya çalışıyordu. Kimsenin ne düşündüğünü umursamıyor ama Caitrina'nın en ufak bir şeyi yanlış anlama ihtimali onu hemen açıklama yapmaya itiyordu.
Herkesin söylediğinin aksine merhametsiz ve duygusuz değildi, iş duygularını kabullenmeye gelince bundan hiç utanmamış ve aşkını sahiplenmişti. Caitrina Jamie'ye karşı olan hislerinin klanına ihanet olduğunu düşünürken Jamie hem onu sevebileceğini hem de ailesine ve görevlerine bağlı olabileceğini biliyordu. Zaten kitap boyunca Caitrina'dan tek bir isteği vardı: Onu görevi ve kendisi arasında bir seçim yapmak zorunda bırakmaması.
Hislerinden çekinmiyordu, Caitrina için her şeyi yapıyor ve ona güveniyordu ama aynı karşılığı bir türlü göremediğini düşünüyorum. Sürekli Caitrina'nın çelişkileriyle, suçlamalarıyla ve güvensizlikleriyle uğraşmak zorunda kalıyordu. Adamla yatarken hiçbir sorunu yoktu ama iş en ufak bir lafına güvenmeye gelince işi 'Sen bir Campbell'sın!' a bağlıyordu ve bir süre sonra bundan o kadar sıkılmıştım ki Caitrina'nın düşüncelerini okurken gözlerimi devirip duruyordum. Jamie'nin düşüncelerini anlatan kısımlara geçmek için resmen sayfa sayıyordum çünkü Caitrina'nın sesli tepkileri ve hareketleri bile bir süre sonra beni bunaltmaya başlamıştı, düşüncelerine hiç katlanamıyorum.
Allah aşkına insan iki cümlede bir fikir değiştirir mi ya?
"Belli ki ikimiz de yanılmışız. Benim sana olan aşkımı, senin karşında eğileceğim fikriyle karıştırdın. Ben de senin ikna yöntemlerini gerçek duygularla karıştırdım."
Ayrıca Jamie sürekli onun sevgisini kazanmayı dileyip bunu hayal ederken, bunun için her şeyi yaparken Caitrina'nın tek yaptığı onu görevleri için suçlamak, birisinin en ufak lafıyla Jamie'nin bütün davranışlarını ve sözlerini çöpe atıp onu acımasızca yargılamak, kendi isteklerini yaptırması gerektiğinde de bedenini ve Jamie'nin ona olan sevgisini kullanmaktı.
Bir adamın aşkı ve sabrı ancak bu kadar suistimal edilir arkadaş.
Ay yorumu yazarken bile içim şişti.
Kitapla ilgili bir diğer sevmediğim şeyse olayların çok durgun ilerlemesiydi. Jamie'nin görevlerini ve klanlar arası düşmanlığı düşününce daha fazla olay olmalıydı ve heyecanı yüksek tutulmalıydı diye düşünüyorum.Ne Jamie'nin o 'meşhur acımasızlığı'nı kanıtlayacak bir hareket gördük, ne adama verilen gerçek bir görev vardı ne de klanlar arasında düşmanlıktan doğan bir çatışma yaşandı. Ayrıca McGregorların çok büyük bir olay gibi bahsedilip bunu kanıtlayacak hiçbir şey yapmayışları, hatta kitapta bir kez olsun onlarla bir sahne yaşanmaması beni hayal kırıklığına uğrattı. Sürekli Campbell klanının acımasızlığından bahsediliyordu ama yaşanan en gerilimli şey Jamie'nin kardeşi Collin'in saldırısıydı. Kabul etmem gerekir ki bu kısma şaşırmıştım ama beni şaşırtan tek kısım da buydu. Herkes Argyll'in acımasızlığını konuşup ona düşman olurken adamın bunu destekleyecek hiçbir şey yapmaması da ayrı bir hayal kırıklığıydı. Bir tek bende mi böyle bilmiyorum ama böyle iddiaları görünce bunların altının doldurulmasını istiyorum. Adam acımasız mı? Bunu kanıtlasın, gerekirse her yer kan gölüne dönsün istiyorum. Haksız yerlere insanların evlerini istila edip kanunların arkasına mı sığınıyor? O zaman saldırı yapabildiği kadar yapsın ve çevirdiği entrikalarla kanunları nasıl elinde bükebildiğini görelim. Ama bu kitapta düşündüğüm tek şey Argyll'in İskoçya için kanunları uygulamak istediği ve Jamie'nin de bu göreve haklı bir saygı duymasıydı. Niyeyse bütün halk düşman olmuş ama adamların tek yaptığı güvenli bir ortam oluşturmaya çalışmaktı.
"Aşık olunca böyle mi hissetmek gerekiyordu? Kontrolünü kaybetmesi mi lazımdı? Parçalara bölünüp, farklı yönlere dağılması mı lazımdı? Sinirden saçlarını yolmak istemesi mi gerekiyordu? Eğer öyleyse, buna ihtiyacı yoktu."
Biliyorum çok olumsuz konuştum ama bahsetmeden geçemeyeceğim bir diğer konu da şu ki kitapta daha fazla aşk bekliyordum. Yani tek gördüğümüz Jamie'nin hisleri ve Caitrina'yla bir araya geldikleri her seferde alakasız konularda konuşup tartışmaları ve Caitrina'nın Jamie'yi kırmasıydı. Bir süre sonra bu o kadar çok olur hale geldi ki, Caitrina Jamie'ye aşık olduğunu söyleyip ona güvendiğini anlatırken buna inanmıyordum. Ki zaten bu 'her engeli aşıp duyguları söyleme' kısmının da acele bir şekilde yazılmışçasına geçiştirildiğini düşünüyorum. Güzel bir aşk okumayı planlıyordum ama elimde olan tek şey altı doldurulmamış söylentiler ve aşık bir adamın harcanışıydı. Ki üstelik Jamie'nin hislerine ve karakterine bile kitapta çok fazla yer verildiğini düşünmüyorum. Onu böyle sevmemin asıl nedenlerinden biri Caitrina'nın duygusuzluğunu görmek ve herkesin adamdan boşu boşuna nefret etmesiydi. Böylece hak ettiği sevgiyi daha fazla anlayabiliyordum ve onu seviyordum.
Aslında bu kadar yermeyi düşünmüyordum ve şimdi de verdiğim puan fazla gibi geliyor ama Jamie'nin hatrına puanı kırmaya içim el vermiyor. Hem okurken de bu kadar olumsuz hissetmişim gibi gelmiyordu jhdkf
Bu türde daha fazla kitap okudukça diğerleriyle karşılaştırma yapıp puanı düşürebilirim, bilemiyorum.
CAITRINA'YI VURABİLİYOR MUYUZ?!
İskoç Savaşçı'yı okumaya karar verdiğimde pdf listemi karıştırıyor ve güzel olabilecek bir şeyler arıyordum. Zaten kitabı da goodreadste @Kübra sayesinde keşfetmiş, onun yorumuyla merak ederek indirmiştim. Sevip sevmeyeceğimi tam bilmiyordum çünkü historical romance geçmişim sadece yıllar önce okuduğum tek bir kitaptan ve birkaç hikayeden ibaretti.-ki o hikayelerin hiçbirisini hatırlamıyorum, kitaptan da sadece genel hatlar aklımda kalmış.
Durum böyle olunca da açıkçası bu türden biraz çekiniyordum. Zaten yıllardır uzak durmamın da bir sebebi okuduğum kitabı - Unutulan Kraliçe- öyle çok fazla sevmeyişimdi. Bu yüzden de riskli bir tercih yapmak istemiyordum ve tarihi aşk romanı okumuyordum. Ama bir yandan da bu türe giriş yapmak ve cidden güzel olan kitaplarını okumak istiyordum.
Evet, böyle de tutarlıyımdır kendi içimde hfhjfd
Ama bu kitabı zaten yakın bir zamanda okumayı planlıyordum ve listede görünce de 'neden olmasın ki?' dedim ve başladım. Sevdim mi? Evet. Bayıldım mı? Hayır. Türe çok daha iyi bir giriş yapabilirmişim gibime geliyor.
Kitapları sevmemdeki en büyük etken karakterlerken ve Caitrina beni çıldırmanın eşiğine getirmişken, ki olayları da olması gerekenden basit bulmuşken bu kitaba verdiğim yıldızların tek sebebi Jamie Campbell'dı. Net.
"Caitrina için hala her şey çok basitti- ilk baştan beri böyleydi. Yüzeyin ilerisini göremiyordu."
Caitrina, bana göre kitabın başından beri tutarsız davranan bir karakterdi ve daha ilk sahnelerde bile ona hiç ısınamamıştım. Şımarık ve ilgilendiği tek şey elbise kumaşları olan bir kızdı ve gördüğü herkesten derin bir saygı bekleyip bu saygıyı kendisinin göstermeyişi hiç hoş değildi. Jamie'yle ilk tanıştığında bir ağaç dalında asılı duruyordu ve doğru bir şekilde yardım istemek yerine, sanki adam onu kurtarmak zorundaymış gibi davranıyordu. Üstelik olayları o kadar basit düşünüyordu ki, çıldıracaktım. Bir insanın kötüyse gerçekten kötü, iyiyse de saf iyi olduğuna inanıyordu ve aksini de bir türlü kabul etmiyordu.
Masal mı be bu?
Üstelik Jamie'ye o kadar çektirdi ki, taş olsa çatlardı. Jamie'nin sadaketle, kan bağıyla ve fedakarlıkla bağlı olduğu üstüne -kuzenine- olan nefretini sürekli Jamie'ye yöneltiyordu ve adamı yaralayıp duruyordu. Yerel halkın Jamie'ye taktığı Fedai, İnfazcı gibi kaba lakapları kullanarak adamı aşağılıyor, görevini küçümsüyor ve sırf soyadı yüzünden adamı yargılayıp duruyordu. Ki o lakapların o adama takılmasının tek sebebi de Jamie'nin İskoçya'daki kanunsuzları yakalamak, yasaları uygulamak ve İskoçya'ya güvenli bir düzenin yerleşmesini sağlamak için çalışmasıydı.
Ee, meyve veren ağacı taşlarlar tabi. Nankörler.
Bakın abartmıyorum, Caitrina'nın adama bunları söylemeyi geç öpüp başına koyması lazımdı.
Caitrina ondan nefret ederken bile Jamie onu, ailesini, gururunu ve klanını düşünüyor, onun için her şeyi göze alıyor ve onun iyi olması için her şeyi yapıyordu. Caitrina sürekli kendi içinde çelişiyor, adamdan hem nefret edip onu görmeyi bile istemiyor hem de adam yokken onu düşünüyordu. Kızıyor, soyadını ve ailesini aşağılıyor ama Jamie'nin kollarına girince de adama koala gibi yapışıyordu. Yok neymiş efendim sadece fiziksel bir çekimmiş falan.
He Caitrina he.
Ve şunu söyleyeyim ki, adamın hiç suçu olmamasına rağmen adama bir kere bile güvenmedi. Bir cümlede ona güvendiğini söylüyor ama iki cümle sonra 'yoksa hata mı yapıyorum? Sonuçta o bir Campbell.' havalarına giriyordu. Ki Jamie Caitrina'nın güvenini kıracak hiçbir şey yapmadı, kızı korudu, onunla ilgilendi, kaç kere kendi hayatını umursamayıp onun hayatını kurtardı. Ama daima görevine olan bağlılığı, kanunlara olan inancı yüzünden suçlandı.
"Sevgi yarım yamalak olmaz. Ya vardır ya yoktur. Ya bana -ve kararlarıma- güvenirsin ya da güvenmezsin."
Jamie çok şey istiyordu. Caitrina'nın gözleri yandı. "Bunu nereden biliyorsun? Kendini herkesten uzak tutan sensin. Kimseye ihtiyacı olmayan da. Sen sevgiden ne anlarsın ki?"
"Çok şey." Jamie'nin sözleri bir kırbaç gibi indi. "Ama şu anda hiçbir şey anlamıyor olmayı dilerdim."
Ah Jamie be, ah yavrum ne çektin sen bu kadından ya.
Kitabı okurken sevdiğim tek karakter Jamie'ydi çünkü Caitrina'nın bütün o çelişkilerine, güvensizliklerine ve sürekli fikir değiştirmelerine rağmen Jamie'de bunlardan hiçbiri yoktu. Ne istediğini bilen, gücünün ve kendi sınırlarının farkında olan, doğru ve yanlış hakkındaki kesin çizgilerine rağmen her şeyin bu kadar net olamayacağını bilen, söylentilerin ve genel kabullerin arkasındakileri gören, aldığı görevi kutsal sayıp onu yerine getirmek için de her şeyi yapabilen bir karakterdi ve kişiliği o kadar güçlüydü ki, onu sevmemin en büyük nedeni de buydu. Onurluydu, gururluydu ve bu konuda asla taviz vermiyordu. Üstelik Caitrina'ya tek bir baskıda bile bulunmamıştı-onun söylediğinin aksine. Daha en baştan Caitrina'ya karşı oluşan hislerinin farklı olduğunu hissediyor, onlardan kaçmak yerine onları sindiriyor ve bu yeni duygularla başa çıkmaya çalışıyordu. Kimsenin ne düşündüğünü umursamıyor ama Caitrina'nın en ufak bir şeyi yanlış anlama ihtimali onu hemen açıklama yapmaya itiyordu.
Herkesin söylediğinin aksine merhametsiz ve duygusuz değildi, iş duygularını kabullenmeye gelince bundan hiç utanmamış ve aşkını sahiplenmişti. Caitrina Jamie'ye karşı olan hislerinin klanına ihanet olduğunu düşünürken Jamie hem onu sevebileceğini hem de ailesine ve görevlerine bağlı olabileceğini biliyordu. Zaten kitap boyunca Caitrina'dan tek bir isteği vardı: Onu görevi ve kendisi arasında bir seçim yapmak zorunda bırakmaması.
Hislerinden çekinmiyordu, Caitrina için her şeyi yapıyor ve ona güveniyordu ama aynı karşılığı bir türlü göremediğini düşünüyorum. Sürekli Caitrina'nın çelişkileriyle, suçlamalarıyla ve güvensizlikleriyle uğraşmak zorunda kalıyordu. Adamla yatarken hiçbir sorunu yoktu ama iş en ufak bir lafına güvenmeye gelince işi 'Sen bir Campbell'sın!' a bağlıyordu ve bir süre sonra bundan o kadar sıkılmıştım ki Caitrina'nın düşüncelerini okurken gözlerimi devirip duruyordum. Jamie'nin düşüncelerini anlatan kısımlara geçmek için resmen sayfa sayıyordum çünkü Caitrina'nın sesli tepkileri ve hareketleri bile bir süre sonra beni bunaltmaya başlamıştı, düşüncelerine hiç katlanamıyorum.
Allah aşkına insan iki cümlede bir fikir değiştirir mi ya?
"Belli ki ikimiz de yanılmışız. Benim sana olan aşkımı, senin karşında eğileceğim fikriyle karıştırdın. Ben de senin ikna yöntemlerini gerçek duygularla karıştırdım."
Ayrıca Jamie sürekli onun sevgisini kazanmayı dileyip bunu hayal ederken, bunun için her şeyi yaparken Caitrina'nın tek yaptığı onu görevleri için suçlamak, birisinin en ufak lafıyla Jamie'nin bütün davranışlarını ve sözlerini çöpe atıp onu acımasızca yargılamak, kendi isteklerini yaptırması gerektiğinde de bedenini ve Jamie'nin ona olan sevgisini kullanmaktı.
Bir adamın aşkı ve sabrı ancak bu kadar suistimal edilir arkadaş.
Ay yorumu yazarken bile içim şişti.
Kitapla ilgili bir diğer sevmediğim şeyse olayların çok durgun ilerlemesiydi. Jamie'nin görevlerini ve klanlar arası düşmanlığı düşününce daha fazla olay olmalıydı ve heyecanı yüksek tutulmalıydı diye düşünüyorum.Ne Jamie'nin o 'meşhur acımasızlığı'nı kanıtlayacak bir hareket gördük, ne adama verilen gerçek bir görev vardı ne de klanlar arasında düşmanlıktan doğan bir çatışma yaşandı. Ayrıca McGregorların çok büyük bir olay gibi bahsedilip bunu kanıtlayacak hiçbir şey yapmayışları, hatta kitapta bir kez olsun onlarla bir sahne yaşanmaması beni hayal kırıklığına uğrattı. Sürekli Campbell klanının acımasızlığından bahsediliyordu ama yaşanan en gerilimli şey Jamie'nin kardeşi Collin'in saldırısıydı. Kabul etmem gerekir ki bu kısma şaşırmıştım ama beni şaşırtan tek kısım da buydu. Herkes Argyll'in acımasızlığını konuşup ona düşman olurken adamın bunu destekleyecek hiçbir şey yapmaması da ayrı bir hayal kırıklığıydı. Bir tek bende mi böyle bilmiyorum ama böyle iddiaları görünce bunların altının doldurulmasını istiyorum. Adam acımasız mı? Bunu kanıtlasın, gerekirse her yer kan gölüne dönsün istiyorum. Haksız yerlere insanların evlerini istila edip kanunların arkasına mı sığınıyor? O zaman saldırı yapabildiği kadar yapsın ve çevirdiği entrikalarla kanunları nasıl elinde bükebildiğini görelim. Ama bu kitapta düşündüğüm tek şey Argyll'in İskoçya için kanunları uygulamak istediği ve Jamie'nin de bu göreve haklı bir saygı duymasıydı. Niyeyse bütün halk düşman olmuş ama adamların tek yaptığı güvenli bir ortam oluşturmaya çalışmaktı.
"Aşık olunca böyle mi hissetmek gerekiyordu? Kontrolünü kaybetmesi mi lazımdı? Parçalara bölünüp, farklı yönlere dağılması mı lazımdı? Sinirden saçlarını yolmak istemesi mi gerekiyordu? Eğer öyleyse, buna ihtiyacı yoktu."
Biliyorum çok olumsuz konuştum ama bahsetmeden geçemeyeceğim bir diğer konu da şu ki kitapta daha fazla aşk bekliyordum. Yani tek gördüğümüz Jamie'nin hisleri ve Caitrina'yla bir araya geldikleri her seferde alakasız konularda konuşup tartışmaları ve Caitrina'nın Jamie'yi kırmasıydı. Bir süre sonra bu o kadar çok olur hale geldi ki, Caitrina Jamie'ye aşık olduğunu söyleyip ona güvendiğini anlatırken buna inanmıyordum. Ki zaten bu 'her engeli aşıp duyguları söyleme' kısmının da acele bir şekilde yazılmışçasına geçiştirildiğini düşünüyorum. Güzel bir aşk okumayı planlıyordum ama elimde olan tek şey altı doldurulmamış söylentiler ve aşık bir adamın harcanışıydı. Ki üstelik Jamie'nin hislerine ve karakterine bile kitapta çok fazla yer verildiğini düşünmüyorum. Onu böyle sevmemin asıl nedenlerinden biri Caitrina'nın duygusuzluğunu görmek ve herkesin adamdan boşu boşuna nefret etmesiydi. Böylece hak ettiği sevgiyi daha fazla anlayabiliyordum ve onu seviyordum.
Aslında bu kadar yermeyi düşünmüyordum ve şimdi de verdiğim puan fazla gibi geliyor ama Jamie'nin hatrına puanı kırmaya içim el vermiyor. Hem okurken de bu kadar olumsuz hissetmişim gibi gelmiyordu jhdkf
Bu türde daha fazla kitap okudukça diğerleriyle karşılaştırma yapıp puanı düşürebilirim, bilemiyorum.
August 15, 2020
It was an OK read. I honor the way the hero was biding the law and at the same time trying to do justice. Not everything is black and white here but I still admire him.
Some of the things from the book just irritate me. I feel like there wasn't enough interaction between the hero and the heroine. I wanted more of their interaction.
Some of the things from the book just irritate me. I feel like there wasn't enough interaction between the hero and the heroine. I wanted more of their interaction.
June 29, 2010
4 stars – Historical Romance
This had a good story, a smokin' hot alpha highlander hero, and steamy sex, but I didn't like it quite as much as her MacLeods of Skye trilogy. Still, hot highlanders and hot sex are reasons enough for me to read the rest of the series. :)
This had a good story, a smokin' hot alpha highlander hero, and steamy sex, but I didn't like it quite as much as her MacLeods of Skye trilogy. Still, hot highlanders and hot sex are reasons enough for me to read the rest of the series. :)
January 14, 2021
Şu İskoçlar konusunda benim için bir Julie Garwood'un bir de Monica McCarty'nin yeri bambaşkadır!!
Diana Gabaldon da var ama onu tamamen ayrı bir yerde tutuyorum! Hem Jamie adına aşık olmama sebep olan karakterin yaratıcısıdır kendisi.
Yine burada da müthiş bir Jamie karakteri var. Ama Caitrina denen cadaloz için aynı şeyleri söyleyemeyeceğim.
Şöyle beş yıldızı basıvermeyi çok isterdim ama Ezginin Günlüğündan eksik bir şey mi var şarkısını gönderiyorum yazara.
Neyse.
O müthiş Macleodları da çok özlemişim. {Rory (kalp) ben}
Diana Gabaldon da var ama onu tamamen ayrı bir yerde tutuyorum! Hem Jamie adına aşık olmama sebep olan karakterin yaratıcısıdır kendisi.
Yine burada da müthiş bir Jamie karakteri var. Ama Caitrina denen cadaloz için aynı şeyleri söyleyemeyeceğim.
Şöyle beş yıldızı basıvermeyi çok isterdim ama Ezginin Günlüğündan eksik bir şey mi var şarkısını gönderiyorum yazara.
Neyse.
O müthiş Macleodları da çok özlemişim. {Rory (kalp) ben}
November 10, 2022
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jamie Campbell is a great hero. A feared warrior who is known as the Earl of Argyll's henchman by Highlanders, he is not a brute but rather a man trying to do the right thing for his homeland. He has an innate sense of justice and honor and when he falls for Caitrina, he falls hard.
Jamie is the kind of romance hero that I love...a strong alpha warrior, but when he decides that that Caitrina is the woman for him, he is 100% devoted to her and has a tender, loving side that acknowledges her pain and trauma.
This book is heartbreaking almost from the jump as Caitrina and her family suffer a great tragedy at the hands of Jamie's brother and they must cope with the fact that they are members of warring clans.
Caiti repeatedly struggles with the choice between her family/clan and Jamie and these two worked for their HEA.
Many trigger alerts in this one too...though not from the hero. Underneath all his armour he is tender and loving and helps Caitrina love again after horror and tradgedy.
Jamie Campbell is a great hero. A feared warrior who is known as the Earl of Argyll's henchman by Highlanders, he is not a brute but rather a man trying to do the right thing for his homeland. He has an innate sense of justice and honor and when he falls for Caitrina, he falls hard.
Jamie is the kind of romance hero that I love...a strong alpha warrior, but when he decides that that Caitrina is the woman for him, he is 100% devoted to her and has a tender, loving side that acknowledges her pain and trauma.
This book is heartbreaking almost from the jump as Caitrina and her family suffer a great tragedy at the hands of Jamie's brother and they must cope with the fact that they are members of warring clans.
Caiti repeatedly struggles with the choice between her family/clan and Jamie and these two worked for their HEA.
Many trigger alerts in this one too...though not from the hero. Underneath all his armour he is tender and loving and helps Caitrina love again after horror and tradgedy.
September 3, 2017
3,5
Monica McCarty'nin kitaplarını genelde çok seviyorum, bu kitaptan o tadı alamadım. Benim damak tadıma göre, içindeki cinsellik biraz fazlaydı. Konu cinsellik olması değil elbette, okuduğum kitapları bilenler bilir, bu beni rahatsız eden bir şey değildir ama historicalda bu kadar sık sık olması sanki konu bulamıyor da, uzatmak için yapılıyor gibi tat veriyor.
Karakterlerin işlenişini yeterince doyurucu bulmadım ancak İskoç beylerin varlığını birazcık da olsa hissedebildim, ama yine de adındaki o İSKOÇ SAVAŞÇI sözünü göremedim.
En beğendiğim şey yine en sondaki Yazar Notu oldu. Kadın gerçekten de araştırıp da yazıyor :))
Monica McCarty'nin kitaplarını genelde çok seviyorum, bu kitaptan o tadı alamadım. Benim damak tadıma göre, içindeki cinsellik biraz fazlaydı. Konu cinsellik olması değil elbette, okuduğum kitapları bilenler bilir, bu beni rahatsız eden bir şey değildir ama historicalda bu kadar sık sık olması sanki konu bulamıyor da, uzatmak için yapılıyor gibi tat veriyor.
Karakterlerin işlenişini yeterince doyurucu bulmadım ancak İskoç beylerin varlığını birazcık da olsa hissedebildim, ama yine de adındaki o İSKOÇ SAVAŞÇI sözünü göremedim.
En beğendiğim şey yine en sondaki Yazar Notu oldu. Kadın gerçekten de araştırıp da yazıyor :))
February 22, 2019
3.5 stars
For a sweet H who was really crazy over the h from the beginning
The h was something of a brat but in the face of great tragedy, she matured
I liked their love story ... the constant back and forth over the h's lack of trust was tiring but ultimately, believeable; they were from enemy families after all ...
For a sweet H who was really crazy over the h from the beginning
The h was something of a brat but in the face of great tragedy, she matured
I liked their love story ... the constant back and forth over the h's lack of trust was tiring but ultimately, believeable; they were from enemy families after all ...
July 23, 2015
me ha encantado. Caitirina se enfrenta de golpe al mundo real y Jamie un guerrero, ejecutor de la ley.
Una historia preciosa y muy bien escrita. Jamie me ha conquistado
Una historia preciosa y muy bien escrita. Jamie me ha conquistado
January 3, 2018
Güzeldi. Eskiye nazaran artık daha çekilebilir buluyorum bu dramaları, yoksa sinirlene sinirlene okunacak bir hikaye de denebilir. Bu yazarın Asi kitabını hiç unutamıyorum, gözümde kalpler beliriyor. Jamie Campbell da beklediğimden iyi çıktı. Dediğim gibi sakin sakin okuyabildiğim bir evreye eriştim, çok mutluyum :P
October 24, 2014
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is my first read by this author and I'll definitely give her another go.
I loved the hero. He was besotted from day one and not above rather ruthlessly manipulating events to force the heroine's hand in marriage, something I always fall for. Especially since he truly wanted her to be happy and was a very honorable man.
The heroine was sometimes difficult, but I didn't dislike her. I tried to put myself in her shoes. She'd been pampered and deliberately shielded from the world by her father and older brothers. This wasn't her fault and her personality and views were to be expected. Still she was someone who fiercely loved those close to her down to the average servant and was not a mean or heartless person.
I always found it ironic that men of those times liked to think of women as shallow and frivolous, but they deliberately kept them ignorant of the real world and encouraged them to remain nearly childlike. It was a self fulfilling prophecy when they behaved in such a way. I don't believe this heroine had ever been more than a few miles from her home in her life. This led to someone with a very limited world view who saw things as black or white, good or evil and no one aside from the hero ever challenged that view.
When she was disillusioned it came as a huge blow and adjusting to it was hard for her and painful for the reader as well. McCarty didn't flinch from the brutality of the times and I respect that. I hate whitewashing history to make everything sweet and fluffy.
When it comes to the heroine's sometimes stubborn and difficult behavior, I tried to remember how much clan loyalty and feuds meant to Scottish highlanders of the time. Her distrust for the hero was very understandable given the circumstances and the fact that all of her clansmen hated her new husband. She was in a difficult situation and obviously very torn and confused in this new world of complexity and split loyalties.
However, I think the author let it drag a bit toward the end with the heroine's constant flip-flopping between trusting and not trusting the hero. It's easy to sit back and judge after the fact, but IMHO McCarty pushed the h's distrust (no matter the justification) to a point that could have turned some readers against her and lost this book a 1/2 star on my part.
I do want to check out the rest of the series. There was one person in this novel (the H's brother) who deserved a serious comeuppance and that didn't happen here. I'm hoping he'll get it in book 2 or 3. Of course, historically, men did get away with such actions in those times and McCarty may choose to let that happen in his case. If so, I'll respect the decision because I'd rather have a villain go unpunished than have a brutal time in history turned into a fluffy-bunny dreamland.
ETA: Audio Review - Roger Hampton is one of the few male narrators in romance that I can tolerate. Most men make the heroine sound like a linebacker in drag (YMMV). I think he does an exceptionally good job of doing the female voices. It has to be be hard to voice another sex. Not sure of the accuracy of the accents, but sounds good to me. The heroes sound bone-meltingly sexy.
This is my first read by this author and I'll definitely give her another go.
I loved the hero. He was besotted from day one and not above rather ruthlessly manipulating events to force the heroine's hand in marriage, something I always fall for. Especially since he truly wanted her to be happy and was a very honorable man.
The heroine was sometimes difficult, but I didn't dislike her. I tried to put myself in her shoes. She'd been pampered and deliberately shielded from the world by her father and older brothers. This wasn't her fault and her personality and views were to be expected. Still she was someone who fiercely loved those close to her down to the average servant and was not a mean or heartless person.
I always found it ironic that men of those times liked to think of women as shallow and frivolous, but they deliberately kept them ignorant of the real world and encouraged them to remain nearly childlike. It was a self fulfilling prophecy when they behaved in such a way. I don't believe this heroine had ever been more than a few miles from her home in her life. This led to someone with a very limited world view who saw things as black or white, good or evil and no one aside from the hero ever challenged that view.
When she was disillusioned it came as a huge blow and adjusting to it was hard for her and painful for the reader as well. McCarty didn't flinch from the brutality of the times and I respect that. I hate whitewashing history to make everything sweet and fluffy.
When it comes to the heroine's sometimes stubborn and difficult behavior, I tried to remember how much clan loyalty and feuds meant to Scottish highlanders of the time. Her distrust for the hero was very understandable given the circumstances and the fact that all of her clansmen hated her new husband. She was in a difficult situation and obviously very torn and confused in this new world of complexity and split loyalties.
However, I think the author let it drag a bit toward the end with the heroine's constant flip-flopping between trusting and not trusting the hero. It's easy to sit back and judge after the fact, but IMHO McCarty pushed the h's distrust (no matter the justification) to a point that could have turned some readers against her and lost this book a 1/2 star on my part.
I do want to check out the rest of the series. There was one person in this novel (the H's brother) who deserved a serious comeuppance and that didn't happen here. I'm hoping he'll get it in book 2 or 3. Of course, historically, men did get away with such actions in those times and McCarty may choose to let that happen in his case. If so, I'll respect the decision because I'd rather have a villain go unpunished than have a brutal time in history turned into a fluffy-bunny dreamland.
ETA: Audio Review - Roger Hampton is one of the few male narrators in romance that I can tolerate. Most men make the heroine sound like a linebacker in drag (YMMV). I think he does an exceptionally good job of doing the female voices. It has to be be hard to voice another sex. Not sure of the accuracy of the accents, but sounds good to me. The heroes sound bone-meltingly sexy.
February 6, 2010
This is the first book in Monica McCarty's 2nd trilogy, and for those who have read her first 3 books, the hero of Highland Warrior, Jamie Campbell is not unknown. We got to know and (even though we didn't root for him to win the heroine) like him in Highlander Unmasked. But since then Jamie has grown up, matured and became a fierce and feared warrior, but of course we, the readers know that underneath that hard and fearsome exterior is a kind hearted and fair man. I wouldn't summarize the plot of the novel, you can read that at the product's description, let me just say, that Monica McCarty got even better (if that is possible) since her first trilogy. Both the hero and the heroine are sympathetic and likable characters, Caitrina is a passionate, headstrong and compassionate (and of course strikingly beautiful) heroine, and Jamie is a swoonworthy hero: tall, dark, handsome, loyal, courageous and strong, with a kind heart and strong sense of justice.
McCarty's story telling is gripping and will transport you to the misty green medieval Scotland in no time! Her writing style is exceptional, with such a superior writing quality that I haven't seen for quite some time in other recent romance writers. Her writing is amazingly brilliant and evocative, she paints such a real picture of the scene, of the characters, that you feel you are there witnessing what is happening, or at least watching it like a movie!
The emotions, attractions, friendships, loves, loyalties, hate, betrayals are described very powerfully, they are not just words, but raw, overwhelming or heartwarming emotions. McCarty wove so much sensuality into the whole story, that it keeps simmering all through. I love reading about the H/H inner struggles and thoughts and emotions, and McCarty gave me that to perfection!
If you are a historical romance lover, if you love your heroes to be larger than life, broad, noble, strong, honourable Scots, if you like to read sensual, heartwarming good quality romance, then I think you'll simply love this book!
McCarty's story telling is gripping and will transport you to the misty green medieval Scotland in no time! Her writing style is exceptional, with such a superior writing quality that I haven't seen for quite some time in other recent romance writers. Her writing is amazingly brilliant and evocative, she paints such a real picture of the scene, of the characters, that you feel you are there witnessing what is happening, or at least watching it like a movie!
The emotions, attractions, friendships, loves, loyalties, hate, betrayals are described very powerfully, they are not just words, but raw, overwhelming or heartwarming emotions. McCarty wove so much sensuality into the whole story, that it keeps simmering all through. I love reading about the H/H inner struggles and thoughts and emotions, and McCarty gave me that to perfection!
If you are a historical romance lover, if you love your heroes to be larger than life, broad, noble, strong, honourable Scots, if you like to read sensual, heartwarming good quality romance, then I think you'll simply love this book!
April 4, 2013
In Highland Warrior, Jamie Campbell is a enforcer of justice, and is wanting to know the location of Alistair of the MacGregor clan that are outlaws, and knows that since the Lamont Clan had close ties to the MacGregor clan, he plans on finding where Alisdair is being hidden. So he plans on wooing the sweet Caitrina who mesmerizes his body and soul. He finds himself drawn to her like a moth to a flame. He knows that even though there is a ulterior motive to him courting Caitrina, after tasting her sweet kisses, he knows that there is a connection between them that can't be denied. Caitrina Lamont has three brothers and a father that she loves dearly, and she knows that she doesn't want to settle down and marry. She is content until she meets the compelling highland warrior that entices her with tender embraces and a passion she finds within in that she didn't know existed. But her hopes come crashing down when her beautiful serene world falls apart and loses all of her family and her clan driven out, she knows Jamie's cousin is responsible, but will their feelings toward one another be strong enough to endure the coming challenges?
I truly loved this and had it read in a couple of hours, since I just read it non stop, without stopping. The pages flew by so fast since I was so entranced into this beautiful love story. I truly loved Caitrina and Jamie. Jamie fights for justice and hunts down outlaws, however all that he is and believes in will be challenged after he connects with his one true love. Caitrina, after losing her family and almost being killed herself, never suspected to see Jamie again. However when he proposes marriage to her in return he will help her rebuild her clan, she knows she has a duty to her people. But this arrangement hold many surprises that will teach this handsome couple the meaning and importance of loving and trusting amidst a dangerous world. I have loved reading from this author, she writes such compelling scottish romances that touch the soul. You will never be disappointed with Monica McCarty.
I truly loved this and had it read in a couple of hours, since I just read it non stop, without stopping. The pages flew by so fast since I was so entranced into this beautiful love story. I truly loved Caitrina and Jamie. Jamie fights for justice and hunts down outlaws, however all that he is and believes in will be challenged after he connects with his one true love. Caitrina, after losing her family and almost being killed herself, never suspected to see Jamie again. However when he proposes marriage to her in return he will help her rebuild her clan, she knows she has a duty to her people. But this arrangement hold many surprises that will teach this handsome couple the meaning and importance of loving and trusting amidst a dangerous world. I have loved reading from this author, she writes such compelling scottish romances that touch the soul. You will never be disappointed with Monica McCarty.
October 27, 2010
Well this was actually a disappointment. I had such high hopes for this book and it ended up being everything I did not want it to be. Maybe the problem was those high standards I had. It's not that I did not like it because I did. It's just that it was not as good as I thought it would be.
First the main characters were too stubborn to really get to like them. I get it that they went through a lot, but so many times their trust was put to test and all those times both failed. I was so upset all the time because they just kept screwing it up over and over again! I just never got to really care about this couple because they never really got to trust one another , specially the heroine.
Then there was the fact that most of the time it felt like I was reading a contemporary romance, a very predictable one. Maybe the plot was historical, with the highlanders and all, but the way the characters behave and spoke was so contemporary that the story never got to see real to me.
Still the romance was good. I like it as a whole and the story had some great moments. But I never felt immerse in the book. I just won't be rushing to read the next.
First the main characters were too stubborn to really get to like them. I get it that they went through a lot, but so many times their trust was put to test and all those times both failed. I was so upset all the time because they just kept screwing it up over and over again! I just never got to really care about this couple because they never really got to trust one another , specially the heroine.
Then there was the fact that most of the time it felt like I was reading a contemporary romance, a very predictable one. Maybe the plot was historical, with the highlanders and all, but the way the characters behave and spoke was so contemporary that the story never got to see real to me.
Still the romance was good. I like it as a whole and the story had some great moments. But I never felt immerse in the book. I just won't be rushing to read the next.
April 27, 2009
Jamie Campbell sounds gorgeous, very many and oh so seductive. Poor wee lass, Caitrina Lamont doesn't stand a chance against his charms. Hated enemy or not! What a great dilemma she has in front of her...Jamie or her clan. Hummm I know who I'd choose. LOL
A great and terrible feud exists between the Campbell's and Lamont's. Caitrinia is a strong female loyal to her family and loathe to be exiled - like her Campbell mother - because of her attraction to Jamie. She fights this attraction as long as she can and then...disaster strikes and Jamie may be her only ally.
A spectacular start to the Campbell trilogy followed by Highland Outlaw. Monica McCarty writes the best tales of Scotland and of rugged Highlanders. Her descriptions are so real you can smell the sweat of the men and the heather of the highlands.
A great and terrible feud exists between the Campbell's and Lamont's. Caitrinia is a strong female loyal to her family and loathe to be exiled - like her Campbell mother - because of her attraction to Jamie. She fights this attraction as long as she can and then...disaster strikes and Jamie may be her only ally.
A spectacular start to the Campbell trilogy followed by Highland Outlaw. Monica McCarty writes the best tales of Scotland and of rugged Highlanders. Her descriptions are so real you can smell the sweat of the men and the heather of the highlands.
December 16, 2017
hatun gene döktürmüş.
keşke yayınevi her ay bir kitabını yayınlasa.
historical denildiğinde aklıma gelen isimlerin en başında gelir kendisi.
yine yine enfesti.
Jamie'nin gözlerine baktı. "Seni seviyorum Jamie Campbell."
Jamie, Caitrina'nın dudaklarına hafif bir öpücük kondurdu. "Ben de seni seviyorum. Ama bu iki kelimeyi asla bir arada duymamıştım."
"Ne?"
"Sevmek ve Campbell."
Caitrina gülümsedi. "Buna alışsan iyi edersin çünkü sonsuza dek bu iki kelimeyi yan yana duyuyor olacaksın."
keşke yayınevi her ay bir kitabını yayınlasa.
historical denildiğinde aklıma gelen isimlerin en başında gelir kendisi.
yine yine enfesti.
Jamie'nin gözlerine baktı. "Seni seviyorum Jamie Campbell."
Jamie, Caitrina'nın dudaklarına hafif bir öpücük kondurdu. "Ben de seni seviyorum. Ama bu iki kelimeyi asla bir arada duymamıştım."
"Ne?"
"Sevmek ve Campbell."
Caitrina gülümsedi. "Buna alışsan iyi edersin çünkü sonsuza dek bu iki kelimeyi yan yana duyuyor olacaksın."
May 23, 2017
Her zamanki gibi Monica harikalar yaratmış. Kız karakter kitabın sonuna kadar sabrımı zorlasa da Jamie harikalığı ile bunu kapattı neyse ki.
May 19, 2017
cati ye gerçekten gıcık oldum. Ama Jaime efsaneydi
May 11, 2020
4 and 1/2 Stars! First in the Wonderful Campbell Trilogy!
I have read all three in this series (Highland Warrior, Highland Outlaw and Highland Scoundrel) and loved them all. I prefer this trilogy to the MacLeod Trilogy. All three of these are strong Highlander reads.
Set in the early 17th century Scotland, this first story is that of Jamie Campbell, who is cousin the Earl of Argyll and his “enforcer” strong arm of the law. Jamie's all about bringing criminals to justice and his current assignment is to hunt down the MacGregor outlaws. So, he travels to Ascog Castle on the Isle of Bute where the Laird Lamont is believed to be harboring MacGregor fugitives. Jamie intends to pose as a suitor to the Laird’s famously beautiful, willful and outspoken daughter, Caitrina, while he searches for the MacGregors. He did not plan on falling for the girl when he claimed a kiss as a boon to rescuing her from a tree where she is stuck in her underwear (long story).
Caitrina has no plans to marry at all, preferring to stay with her father and brothers where she is happy. But the ravages of the war between the Argyll and the MacGregors will change her life and, to save Ascog and her people, it seems the only option for her will be Jamie Campbell.
This is a great story of how love can come from tragedy and resentment for wrongs can be forgiven. McCarty develops the characters and back stories well and has great sexual tension between the characters. My only negative on the three books in this series is that her love scenes all seem the same, well described but a bit too measured when one might like to see passion overtake control once in a while. Still, it's an enthralling Highlander romance. I recommend this one and all three in this trilogy!
I have read all three in this series (Highland Warrior, Highland Outlaw and Highland Scoundrel) and loved them all. I prefer this trilogy to the MacLeod Trilogy. All three of these are strong Highlander reads.
Set in the early 17th century Scotland, this first story is that of Jamie Campbell, who is cousin the Earl of Argyll and his “enforcer” strong arm of the law. Jamie's all about bringing criminals to justice and his current assignment is to hunt down the MacGregor outlaws. So, he travels to Ascog Castle on the Isle of Bute where the Laird Lamont is believed to be harboring MacGregor fugitives. Jamie intends to pose as a suitor to the Laird’s famously beautiful, willful and outspoken daughter, Caitrina, while he searches for the MacGregors. He did not plan on falling for the girl when he claimed a kiss as a boon to rescuing her from a tree where she is stuck in her underwear (long story).
Caitrina has no plans to marry at all, preferring to stay with her father and brothers where she is happy. But the ravages of the war between the Argyll and the MacGregors will change her life and, to save Ascog and her people, it seems the only option for her will be Jamie Campbell.
This is a great story of how love can come from tragedy and resentment for wrongs can be forgiven. McCarty develops the characters and back stories well and has great sexual tension between the characters. My only negative on the three books in this series is that her love scenes all seem the same, well described but a bit too measured when one might like to see passion overtake control once in a while. Still, it's an enthralling Highlander romance. I recommend this one and all three in this trilogy!
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