HIGHLANDER UNBOUND

Author: Julia London ISBN:0743465067 2/2004 HISTORICAL Publisher: POCKET STAR
Time Period: Scotland/England 1449

Liam Lockhart: A noble captian in the Royal Highland Regiment, he is determined to save his ancestral estate...but he never dreamed that would mean surrendering his heart. Ellen Farnsworth: Beautiful, scandalous, and strong-willed, she will use her powers of seduction to fulfill her desires to all imaginable ends... When Royal Highland Captain Liam Lockhart travels to London to reclaim a valuable family heirloom, he becomes infatuated with the bewitching socialite Ellen Farnsworth. But Ellen has her own plans for she envisions a new life for herself and her young daughter--paid for with Liam's stolen heirloom. Can Liam reclaim his family's treasure and the beautiful woman who betrayed him? Find out more about this and the other books in this Scottish trilogy: http://www.julialondon.com/

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

HIGHLANDER UNBOUND tells the story of a brave, bold, and yet tenderhearted Scot, Liam Lockhart of the Lockharts of Loch Chon. Having fought fearlessly against the French, Liam is determined to do whatever he must in order to recover his family's treasure. But in order to retrieve the ruby-eyed "beastie", the backwoods ex-military man must travel to London where he soon discovers the difference between prim and priggish English society and the simple ways of old Scottish tradition (this is a fella who lives by his kilt *G*).

Soon Liam meets and becomes infatuated with the lovely Ellen Farnsworth. Ellen, who's in disgrace with both society and her family, finds in Liam not just a man with integrity and a good heart, but sees beneath to the little boy inside. Both soon begin to fall in love - a collision of two totally opposite worlds - unable to stop what they both feel can never be.

This story isn't at all what I expected. As usual, it's the quick page turner I've come to expect from Ms. London, featuring memorable characters that speak intelligently with emotion, wit, and humor. There are tender and poignant moments, as well as sexual tension - and great sex - between Liam and Ellen. But there is so much more than that. I loved Liam. I absolutely adored him. So strong, yet so innocent in some ways, he kept me smiling through every page I read. It's a different, imperfect and refreshing character that Julia London writes in the charming Liam, and he ended up stealing not only Ellen's heart, but my own as well.

Be assured that as in her previous historical romances, you'll be throat lumping and tearing up in parts when you read HIGHLANDER UNBOUND. And that's good too, because that's just what I like to find in the historical romances that line my keeper shelves.

Liam's brother Griffin's story in HIGHLANDER IN DISGUISE won't be released until 2005, followed a few months later by his sister Mared's story, and you can bet I'll be first in line to read them both. It's just such a long, long time to wait. *sigh*

Nancy Davis