THE HIGHLAND GROOM

Author: Sarah Gabriel ISBN: 9780061234972 1/2009 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Early 1800s

Her time is nearly out... To claim her inheritance, Fiona MacCarran must marry a wealthy Highlander, and soon. Arriving in the misty Highlands as a school teacher, she despairs of finding an acceptable groom ... until she meets Dougal MacGregor. She knows he's just a smuggler, and yet when the handsome laird pulls her into his arms, she forgets about obligations, the law, and finding that perfect Highland groom. He must save his clan... Moving his finest whiskey—and fast—is the only way Dougal can protect his people. It should be simple, but nothing is easy with Fiona MacCarran around. He cannot allow himself to be distracted by the sensual school mistress. After all, a Highland rebel and a law-abiding lass could never have a future together... or could they? Soon they are caught in a battle between honor and desire, with the only victory lying in sweet, sweet surrender.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Sarah Gabriel sets her historical romance novel, THE HIGHLAND GROOM, in the early 1800's in the Scottish Highlands, where Lowland teacher Fiona MacCarran has gone to teach and hopefully fulfill her part of the stipulations of her grandmother's will so that she and her three brothers can receive their inheritance. Fiona must not only find a fairy to draw for the illustrations in her Grandmother's book that her brother James is finishing, she must also marry a wealthy Highlander with a title. If Fiona and her brothers don't succeed, their cousin will inherit everything. James has sealed his part of the deal and in attempting his part, Patrick has taken a job as a revenue officer, pursuing those who distill and smuggle illicit whiskey. Dougal MacGregor is Laird of Glen Kinloch, a rogue with a licensed distillery and a secret fairy recipe for a special whiskey. Dougal is drawn to Fiona, but exceedingly wary that her brother Patrick is using her as bait in a trap to catch the smuggler.

Gabriel creates characters that are at once believable and instantly lovable. Dougal is mysterious, rising out of the fog to capture Fiona's imagination. Fiona is brave, adventurous, and ready to drop anything for a chance to see a fairy, even hiding with this scoundrel in a hay cart that is smuggling kegs. Apparently the fairies are as enchanted by Fiona as Dougal is, and Fiona gets her chance to draw her illustrations for the book. It takes Dougal a bit of time to trust Fiona. The people of his glen will be put at risk if she shares what she's seen and heard while teaching the children. She opens her heart to him, risking her entire fortune if the attorneys don't consider him appropriate, but she feels he's got wealth of all the right things that matter.

THE HIGHLAND GROOM is a finely crafted tale of love, trust, loyalty and passion. Readers will appreciate the rugged scenery of mountains as well as man, and Gabriel is infinitely adept at creating beautifully passionate moments between the fiery Fiona and her lusty Laird.

Susan Barton