This was fine, but it felt kinda 'generic highlander romance'. I will go ahead and still try the next one though. ( )

I remain a bit unclear on if I liked this or not. The sense of the unfair permeates the story to an extent that does not permit full enjoyment. ( )

Forced marriage trope is one of my favorite tropes and when well done, it can be actually a lot of fun. Just think, two people from feuding clans are forced to marry and both are very weary of not just each other but of everyone around them.

I'm sorry, but I had a lot of trouble connecting to the two main leads. I was hoping for at least a bit of chemistry, but ... no. I felt that they were just ... there. Their animosity took too long to be resolved and that bothered me.

The only thing I did like is the way the author took her time in writing about the clans and the life they lead. She obviously did her research and I enjoyed that aspect of the story very much.

I have to be honest and say, just skip it.

Melanie for b2b

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
( )

Highland Spitfire is an enemies to lovers romance where our hero and heroine are forced to wed by the King's Regent to end a decades-old feud between the Robertson and MacPherson clans. While the Regent's intentions to end the feud were necessary, he definitely could have went about it better. The way the situation played out guaranteed a hostile situation between our couple and their clans.

Our heroine, Ailis Robertson, is the twenty-two year old laird's daughter who hasn't been in a particular rush to get married. Having the union thrust upon her to save the lives of her clan members provided a bleak overcast to what should have been a happy day for Ailis. I admired her courage for agreeing to wed her enemy - her altruism set a good example for both clans and showed that she was more mature than the thick-headed men determined to carry a grudge. But seriously - when aren't women the more mature ones??? I liked Ailis and had a decent emotional connection with her. Being forced into her enemy's territory where most looked on her with suspicion and misgiving was definitely hard for the girl, and those conflicts were where Mary Wine drew me into the story and made me sympathize with Ailis.

Our hero is Bhaic, is current Tanis of Clan MacPherson and heir to the laird. First of all, how the heck do you pronounce this name? Bake? Bike? Bach? It drove me a little batty. I really wish more books had a phonetic spelling the first time an uncommon or difficult name is introduced. Bhaic was a hard hero to love. Once he brings Ailis home to his clan, he doesn't do much to ease her transition or make her feel at home. In fact, he allows his brother Marcus to continually disregard Ailis' feelings and basically humiliate her and treat her like a spy. I wanted to kick both of the numpties in the shins repeatedly, and I would not have blamed Ailis if she would have run back home to her father.

While I enjoyed the story, there were just a couple things that didn't work for me. I didn't care for any of the MacPherson clan. At times, Ailis' attraction to Bhaic felt forced, particularly in the midst of arguments/spats. And along those same lines, the hot and cold aspect of the interactions were happening so rapidly that it left me feeling dizzy. They would be spitting at each other, then have a warm or amusing comment where you think things are turning around, but the next comment they are back to being spiteful. It got to be a little too much. And finally, once our couple finally consummates their marriage, the number of intimate scenes took over the story for a bit. While I always want a bit of sexytime in my romances, I found myself wanting to get back to the plot on this one. But other than that, I liked Ailis - and I really liked Helen. I liked the friendship that formed between the girls - both hostages in an enemy's territory - and I liked the way they stuck together against the thickheaded men. I am guessing that Helen will be the heroine of the next book so I am looking forward to that.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars / 3 flames. ( )

Marriage and feuding clans!

When Ailis Robertson is forced into marriage to the son of the clan's bitter enemies, Bhaic MacPherson by the Kings's Regent her despair knows no bounds. Not that Bhiac is any happier. In fact his treatment of her, dumping her at his castle, ignoring her and in that non acknowledgement of Ailis's place as the Lady of the Castle, sowing the seeds for further hurt and unhappiness.
I enjoyed reading Highland Spitfire, although the storyline was a tad predictable. All those feuding Scots and the hated English conquerors making them dance to their tunes. An indisputable historical fact that has been working so well for the historical romance genre.
Plenty of scope for intrigue, unforgiving causes, enmity...and love!
The reluctant wife who wins over the castles staff ...and eventually its Laird is a tried and true theme but here it works.
I look forward to brother Marcus's story.

A NetGalley ARC ( )