Taming the Highlander

The MacLerie Clan #1

by Terri Brisbin

The Beast of the Highlands...

He is the Beast of the Highlands, a man known for his cruelty and unforgiving nature. Now laird of the powerful MacLerie clan and in need of a wife, Connor buys his way to a bride, one he insists not be beautiful like his first wife. He brings Jocelyn to his lair planning to keep her in his bed and out of his life...and heart.

Jocelyn MacCallum saves her family and people with her marriage, but fears for her soul and her life when she becomes bride to the Beast. Against his wishes and orders, Jocelyn begins to make a place in his clan for herself and begins to learn more about the man she wed.

When an old threat rises against the clan and laird, will love be powerful enough to save the woman not known for beauty and her Beast?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Scotland, Historical Fiction, Marriage Of Convenience

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Terri Brisbin is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of more than 50 historical, paranormal and fantasy romances and her books have been released in more than 20 languages and 25 countries around the world since 1998. Her current and upcoming releases will be with Harlequin Historicals and self-published, too.

When not living the glamorous life of a romance author in the southern NJ suburbs, Terri spends her time being a mom of 3, a grammy of 4 and a dental hygienist. And she's always plotting and planning future stories and trips to Scotland .

For more info (more than you could possibly want or need to know) visit her website – www.terribrisbin.com .

Reviews

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 stars

[Beatriz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una historia muy bonita, pero bastante simple. En este género no es de aquellas que queden en la memoria por mucho tiempo, ya que la autora no ahonda más allá de lo estrictamente necesario. Además, la principal intriga es demasiado predecible y a la mitad de la novela ya se sabe como concluirá. Para pasar el rato.

[Liriom_Land · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 🌟

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have had a chance to read from this author, and I was impressed, especially since it was a bit shorter than what I usually like. I felt that it was a great read, and I really enjoyed the set of the story. It is set in a more medieval time period, back to the 1300's. It then sets the stage for a arranged marriage, which begins on a rocky start. Connor has no need for love or tenderness in his marriage, just his wife giving him a heir and then he plans on letting her go back to her family. Jocelyn wants more from her marriage, she wants to make her life here, but Connor has to let her into his life and his heart first. Even though their marriage doesn't begin with roses and daisies, it does turn out to be a emotional and riveting journey. There was so much vivid descriptions and emotions that are displayed, that had me crying a bit. Which hasn't happened in a while, I was surprised. The characters are deeply embedded in the story, and their connection to each other is very sensual at times, and this author captures a beautiful romantic tale of passion, intrigue and a sweet love story. I loved the way this story begins and ends, definitely was a easy read. LOVED EVERY MOMENT!

[Lemon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure if it's the Harlequin historicals that don't work for me or if I just don't care for this author's work since I really only read two of either and they have all been by the same author and publisher (quite unintentionally). I'm thinking the Harlequin historical "template" lacks the historical depth and background I enjoy reading in a historical romance novel. This is only my second book by this author and she is a good a writer and storyteller. I think I just don't care for stories where the hero spends 99.9% of the book ignoring or being cruel to the heroine and I really don't care for doormat heroines typically found in Harlequin novels in general. This book was readable but I think the two elements previously described prevented me from really enjoying the novel. The hero was in love and tormented by the death of his first wife the whole book. The ending and the hero's "epiphany" about being in love with the heroine came suddenly and out of nowhere. I think this type of story needs to be handled very carefully to be convincing and the hero's sudden love for the heroine without proper build-up or development made this one highly difficult for me to buy. Like our hero himself says, lust is not love. There is a scene at the end where the hero gets jealous and possessive that was nice to see, but still not enough to convince me of true love. I'm a fan of smitten heroes, so this one really was not my cuppa, although readers who enjoy an angtsy read typical of a Harlequin novel may enjoy this one.

[Kelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find it hard to like a hero who is nothing but nasty to the heroine the entire book, then all of a sudden loves her? And the heroine supposedly had a backbone though I never saw it. The villain is obvious and the melodrama annoying. Don't recommend.

[Laura V.]

Él todavía llora a su esposa. Ella se acuesta con él pensando en otro.
No hay manera que me crea un romance entre estos dos.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Nellab1984 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Maria Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this a full 4 stars because it was good but there were part that I need to force to read or skip a bit.

The story begin with Conner first wife dead and making it look like he did it. With his wife dead he became a beast and laird of his kingdom and knowing that he need a wife to keep the line going. Then we switch to Jocelyn who is chosen to be the beast next bride and knowing that she has no chose because her family is in ruin accept the marriage. Once there she found out that her brother was held captive and having no chose but to make sure he live and return to their home safe and sound, she agree to the beast demand and become a wife only by name and nothing more. Will Conner be forever haunted by the past of his first wife and never love again even to his current wife or will Jocelyn be the one to tame the beast before she will fall into ruin herself.

In the beginning I hated Conner and what he did to poor Jocelyn, like make her first night a really nightmare and treating her like nothing more then a baby-making machine and not a living person who at least deserve respect. I understand that he love his first wife and what happen to her is horrible and he has the right to mourn for her lose and believe he will never love again for he love only her. I get that but he has no right to treat Jocelyn like she was nothing but a piece of trash because its not her fault that she was chosen to be his wife and she has nothing to do with that. Later on I started to like him and I'm glad that he acknowledged what he did wrong to Jocelyn and he try to fix it before it gets more out of control and even though he may not love her as least respect her and treat her as your wife for she did nothing wrong.

I love Jocelyn because she try to make the best out of this whole situation. She was strong and brave and even though there were time when she had the right to cry or to give up the towel, and I will not blame her for doing it, she stick it up and keep on going and not once showing her weakness in front of anyone because she still had her pride. I'm glad that she did not fall in love with him right away or even think that it was possible unit later on when it wouldn't be a surprise if she did but even still she still held her ground and will only be move until he shows any sign first before she does.

Overall, it was a good book to read to past the time, but I don't know if I wish to continue this series, even if the next one is my favorite character of the story which is Rurick, hope I spell his name right. I'll think about in the future but for now I'll leave it at that.

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was almost done with the book (about 85%) and could not see how my opinion could change by bothering with the lsat 15%. So here it is: I am done.

I realized that my ratings and reviews often have much to do with my aversion or affection for the heroines. This book is a classic case of a low rating resulted from aversion. Jocelyn seems like such a pathetic character to me. We are told that she is:

1. Plain-looking
2. Longing for acceptance
3. Ignored by her own family
4. Wore rags because her father did't care enough to clothe her well

Plaing-looking or not, Jocelyn just seemed so desperate for attention. She wanted approval from her father, didn't get it. She fought her husband for her original family who was headed by a father that traded her for his son. I don't know. Loyalty is admirable and all. I respect that. But in this book, Jocelyn's loyalty seemed misplaced.

I think it is just I do not like a female who is desperate for approval and acceptance. The way Jocelyn is written in this book certainly made me feel that she was seeeking love and acceptance in all the wrong places. I would much rather read about a woman who knows her self-worth and acts accordingly.

[Country Goose · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Worst Romance Ever

Why did I buy this book? It had good reviews, and the story looked promising.

I hated it. I hated it from the get go, and I tried so hard to enjoy it. Connor was whiny, broody, and in just a "pity-me" stage basically through the entire book. I was at 70% when I just couldn't take any more. It was predictable and horribly written... just, no. If you're a serious reader, don't waste your time.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book made me realise that it it had a kilt I’ll most certainly want to read it 😍

[Clara H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[María Alejandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aburrido, sin chispa, predecible.

[GuisBell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bueno la historia no fue tan impresionante como hubiera querido, pero no estaba mal.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 Stars

I read this some time ago, probably 2015 or earlier as I had it marked as read but not rated on Goodreads, which tells me this was around the time I began truly using the site.

At first this was a little slow to get going despite the plot diving right into the arranged marriage and relationship between the two MCs.

It was a wee bit hard to decide if I liked the hero Connor. He by no means made that easy for the reader with his dumb male ideas of what the proper place was for his new wife or his repeated inner dialogue about how he would never love Jocelyn. That, ultimately nearly ruined his character for me. Yes, I know he loved his first wife but, he was also being quite illogical and insensitive to his new wife. And sadly he was too caught up in his own feelings and how he would never be that vulnerable or trust another the same way again that it truly took far too long for him to change get his tune. And THEN, that's when we finally began to see just the type of man Connor was and that man was very likeable.

Now Jocelyn was a little meh at first in the heroine department, but only at first. As the story progresses we see her try to adapt and figure out how to navigate her new situation and the man she now called husband. It certainly wasn't easy, but I loved that Jocelyn found her own way. I really liked her and how she approached things. She handled Connor many times in a way I thought was funny or well deserved. I loved that she was unapologetically herself and was vulnerable enough to be afraid/worried she would fail Connor and not be the wife he needed. It made her more real imo.

I also enjoyed that neither Jocelyn or Connor were easily fooled into jumping to conclusions or outright cruel to one another. Connor came close early on, albeit unintentionally or unaware of how his words or actions effected Jocelyn but he never sought to hurt her on purpose.

Overall once the story got going it was very entertaining. Easy to read and the pacing was a bit condensed and fast paced but also covered a bit of time too. I don't feel as if the story suffered for it or as a reader that we missed out on important scenes. Even with it being mildly predictable, especially in regards to the eventual bad guy and the truth behind his first wife's death, I still enjoyed myself.

I think that had a lot to do with Jocelyn and Connor as a couple. I really enjoyed their dynamic and seeing them grow closer.

If I could have changed anything, I would have had Connors realization about being in love with Jocelyn not be so abrupt and not immediately following a near death experience where he spoke of his dead wife while burning with fever. Took a bit of the magic out of the moment tbh. And also, the epilogue. While cute, it wasn't a true epilogue, merely a brief glimpse from a storytellers POV such as how fairytales end with a third person narrative stating "and they lived happily ever after!" ... That, I'll be honest was disappointing. I'd rather had the scene it mentioned about how Connor felt watching his mate give birth to their child.

Another enjoyable factor was the side characters. Duncan is a bit of a mystery still, but I liked him. And Rurik was a hoot and I loved his loyalty to Connor. Ailsa particularly was a favorite for how she took Connor to task.

[Theresa Mitchell]

Loved The Story

I have read this story twice now and each time it gets better. The story has all the elements of a love story, mystery, suspense, and a villain. It will make you laugh and also cry. The characters are well rounded, and have depth to them. I would highly recommend this book.

[Nila Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

And excellent book with plenty of twists and turns to keep the story that unfolds interesting to the reader. Thank you, Ms. Brisbin, for another outstanding book!

[Cata · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Taming the Highlander" é um livro que se lê muito facilmente. A história base por assim dizer não é nenhuma novidade: Connor McLerie é o homem mais temido das Highlands, conhecido como "A Besta" depois de ter sido acusado de ter assassinado a sua primeira mulher. Agora que é laird e precisa de herdeiros, tem de casar outra vez. Porém, uma vez que os rumores da morte da sua primeira mulher se espalharam, esta é uma tarefa que não se revela fácil. Assim sendo, Connor recorrerá a um pequeno esquema para conseguir a esposa que precisa.

Lady Jocelyn MacCallum não é nenhuma beleza deslumbrante (o que vai de encontro a um dos critérios de Connor para a escolha da segunda esposa), que sempre sonhou que se casaria por amor, mas que vê os seus planos frustrados quando Connor aprisiona o seu irmão e ameaça libertá-lo apenas após esta se casar com ele e consumar o casamento.

Assim, mesmo assustada, Jocelyn aceita a proposta. No inicio a integração não é fácil mas ela acaba por encontrar o seu lugar no clã MacLerie e no coração do seu laird.

O que mais gostei neste livro foi sem dúvida a evolução das personagens que foram muito bem criadas e exploradas, sendo que o meu personagem preferido foi mesmo o Connor, no qual as mudanças são mais notórias. Mais, a autora permitiu-nos a nós , leitoras, ver desde o inicio ,um lado do Conn que só vai sendo revelado às outras personagens de forma gradual. Nós conseguimos saber não apenas que ,no inicio, o Conn é um bruto, mas também porque é que ele é bruto e é impossivel não sentirmos empatia com ele.

Quanto à grande vilã, não foi propriamente uma grande surpresa, uma vez que descobri quem era pouco depois de ela entrar em cena, mesmo assim foi agradável ler a parte em que esta é desmascarada e se entende a extensão da sua maldade e da sua loucura.

O livro é realmente bom, e esta é uma série que faço questão de seguir.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the typical highlander book. Jocelyn has plans to marry the man who has fostered with her family for years. But Jocelyn's brother has been placed in jail by "the Beast" and her father has agreed to let the Beast marry her in exchange for her brother, supplies and becoming part of the Beast's clan which is great for the clan not to great for Jocelyn. Two hours later Jocelyn is torn from everyone she has ever known and thrown into th arms of a man who does not want a wife but needs a child, sorry an heir, and is still in love with his first wife. The Beast or Connor really is not a beast of course he just has a reputation that he tries to uphold. But he is rather barbaric toward Jocelyn, like he does not speak to her and he pushes her or grabs her, after sex he runs back to his room. Jocelyn accepts this as her fate and she kind of looses herself. Through unexpected Connor and Jocelyn find their way toward each other.

Overall this is a good solid read. I rather enjoyed the secondary characters and parts of the story seemed realistic. Having said that there was no chemistry between the couple, or really between most of the characters it felt flat far to often.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connor is known as The Beast as it is rumored that he killed his first wife, which suited him just fine. But now he needs a wife and in exchange for her brothers life and support for her Clan, Jocelyn has to marry him.

At the beginning she has no real place in her new home but with time she finds not only her place but also her way to Connors heart.
Jocelyn is a great character. She is not the typical beauty portrait in such books but has a fierce and strong character and is very likeable
Connor is a difficult character but once you understand him, he is a great hero.

I also loved the secondary characters - especially Rurik but also Duncan and Ailsa

I really liked this Book but wished that Terry Brisbin would have shortened the first half, where we experienced Connor at his worst to understand his Position and lengthen the Second half where the two fell in love.

All in all a Book well worth reading

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having read the third book in this series, I found myself very keen to get my hands on the first two books in the series. Unavailable through my usual sources I finally managed to track it down in ebook format through Borders' Australian website.
So glad I managed to find it because I really enjoyed this book. At times I was chuckling to myself and I really enjoyed the humour that Terri Brisbin wove throughout the story.
In the end I just adored Connor and Jocelyn and I can't wait to read my next Terri Brisbin romance.

[May ّمي · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it

Scottish daughter of a laird forced to marry another clan laird whom they call a beast and most probably killed his first wife

It has been such a realistic book
In the beginning no one liked the other they referred to each other as Lady and Laird. Then they became a little bit closer and eventually they fell in love

I liked how she told him she loved him and how he showed her that he loves her
I liked Rurik I was looking forward to seeing him tie the knots with that widow

[Maggie Hesseling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and spectacular retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with a different ending. Brisbin makes this first novel not only really accessible, but exciting and interesting. With great characters that we'll see back at a later point in time, this novel not only lays the foundation fir what will become a wickedly good series, it gives a bang opening as well. By the end of the novel, like me, you'll be looking for the next part!

[Luu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bueno bueno, ese es un libro que demuestra que no todos los libros de higlanders van a ser buenos. A pesar de que trata el amor no a primera vista, sino también al segunda amor, porque tanto Jocelyn como Connor tuvieron su primer amor antes de conocerse, y Connor quedó viudo. No me gustó que sea tan vueltero, a veces que se hablen se soluciona mucho.
La lectura... me hacia querer saltar partes. Me pareció que estuvo mal enfocado, al final no terminó de gustarme :/

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book alot, the main characters were very well developed and the main female was not wishy washy,not saying the same thing over and over and was strong in who she was. The storyline was very engaging and kept my interest, had lots of great scenes and a good pace. Look forward to reading more from this author.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a typical Highlander book. There is a mystery of who really killed the lairds first wife. When the truth comes out about the killer the reader (me) has already figured out most of the scheme.

[Halime Yazıcı Mimaroğlu · Rating 4 out of 5]

when I start to read this book I seemed I know this story but later this changed and onether story I discovered. that is good story sometimes happily sometimes sadly bad good story. I liked and I think I'II read other books of this author at first chance .

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow in the beginning then it picks up and has been a fast read since it picked up pace. Didn't want to put the book down once I got going into the story. Suspense, action, romance, some erotica, m/f, hot and steamy. Looking forward to rest of series.