The Border Bride’By: Elizabeth EnglishRT Book Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥RT Cover Rating: ♦♦♦Jemmy Kirallen loved his life at sea; leaving his home and clan he hated all the fighting and killing. He lost his brother Ian and Uncle Stephen in a clan war between the Kirallen’s and the Darnley’s, a long time feud dating back years. He was not cut out to be the next leader of his clan, his distant father letting him go without so much as, I need you to stay son. After his brother’s death he is summoned home by his ailing father not necessarily to take over the clan, but to help him make peace with the Darnley’s. His father in his attempt at peace between the two clans he arranges a marriage between Jemmy and the Darnley’s daughter Maude. Jemmy agrees to the forced marriage at his father’s request only to stop the needless killing and then he will go back to his ship and sea life, his only love now.But there is deception in the two clans. After the Kirallen clan takes Darnley’s only son as heir hostage Darnley is bound and determined to wipe out the entire Kirallen clan so he inspires to deceive the Kirallen’s. To get his son back he agrees to a marriage between his daughter Maude and Jemmy. But what he really does is sends his unclaimed daughter by his leman Alyson Bowden.Wow, does the sparks really start flying now.Alyson Bowden, unclaimed by her biblical father the Lord Darnley has worked in the kitchens of Alysford Manor but has been forced by Lord Darnley to wed the son of their worst enemy Jemmy Kiralen. But the clincher is, the marriage is supposed to be her half sister Lady Maude. Alyson looks like Maude from distance and has to learn to be a lady real quick and act her part. She marries Jemmy and falls head over hills in love with the man with the reputation of a Pirate, a man she has never met. But, she has to keep her father’s deception a secret. That the Darnley clan is going to attack and kill everyone of the Kirallen’s or her five year old brother Robin will be killed. That her father would take Robin and use him as the leverage to keep Alyson in check and carry out this devious plan to get revenge on the Kirallen clan is appealing and sick. The man is truly a bad person.As the story continues it just gets better. The author introduces the characters to make them seem real and you will be quickly immersed in their lives. This book has murder, deception, lies, love and ghosts as the author takes you into the Scottish world and its fierce warriors, lords and ladies.The editing was good, not too much of a distraction while you’re reading. Not a lot of intimate scenes to speak of save but one that was very tastefully written by this author. Fighting, well not so much in the point of actual war but there are a lot of past events spoken of by both clans. The author seemed to have done her homework in Scottish history.The story moves along at a good pace and I didn’t become bored, but found myself wanting to know how this love story would turn out.Questions you will ask yourself:Do the clans go to war?Will Alyson tell Jemmy about her father’s deception?Who is the ghost?It’s not the best I’ve ever read in the Highlander/Scottish books but it was a story and I liked the author’s way of perceiving her characters lives. However I would like to see what happens with Allistair so I would read the next book for sure.
This was definitely full of intrigue, and went in a direction that I wasn't expecting. My first impression of the book was ... bleak. The heroine has to pretend to be her snotty half-sister throughout much of the book, which proves to be a challenge for her. Add to that some knights who don't like/trust her, a father who could care less what happens to her, a husband who is less than thrilled with the marriage, and a ghost or two ... and this turns into one heck of a suspense story.But luckily all works out (sort of), and I liked that it wasn't completely happily ever after at the end. The final chapter also sets up for the next book in the series, which I probably will read eventually.
Do You like book The Border Bride (2014)?
I do love a good Scottish Highlander book and this one doesn’t disappoint.This book tells the story of a century hold feud between the Darnleys and Kirallens. After the young son of the Darnleys tries, fails and gets caught while trying to steal sheep from the Kirallens the Laird has had enough. He strikes a bargain with Lord Darnley that he will spare his sons life if he agrees that his daughter marries his son. Lord Darnley agrees to this bargain but is already trying to find a loophole so he doesn’t have to send Maude – and that he has done. He blackmails his baseborn daughter Alyson (by kidnapping her young brother) to masquerade as Maude to buy him some time to get an army together to wage a battle against the Kirallens.Now all Alyson needs to do is keep Laird Kirallens son Jemmy distracted enough to pass as Maude to help ensure her brothers life – she just never counted on falling for him in the process. Now the choices are laid out in front of her: if she reveals the truth her brothers life is forfeit but if she stays quite then Jemmy and his clan will suffer a certain death.It is a long book but well worth a read if you like Highlander romances – keeps you guessing to the end wondering how things will turn out.https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
—Sarah Greenwood
Not horrible, just kind of meh. Pretty much the formula Highland romance novel with not a lot of genuine-feeling history to it. Reluctant bride, secrets, obstacles, brink of disaster, happy, if improbable ending. The end. I'm not sure how these two even managed to fall in love with all the intrigue and posturing. Mostly left me wondering what's so hard about saying what you think for once. Is there such a thing as a romance novel that doesn't rely on nitwittery and misunderstandings to drive the plot?I realize I don't have to read just because it's free, but for once I'd like to read one that didn't have me yelling all the way through it to "Just say it out loud, already! Don't you know the old adage about what happens when you ASSUME?" You could then fill up those extra 300 pages you didn't have to write with actual romance and sex. Much more efficient.
—Jeanne Johnston
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this tale of love and betrayal in medieval Scotland/England. The romance was sweet and you couldn't help but root for Alyson to succeed. I will say that the book felt overly long. About 2/3 of the way through things got repetitive and tedious. The characters needed to make up their minds and DO something. Too much going over and over in their heads. At that point I found myself skimming and that is never a good thing.It was great to see the character growth and I liked the twist HEA. I Recommend if you can overlook those few flaws.
—Sommertime
