Highland Angel

Shallow characterization, poor narrative or maybe I could not stand another faux Scots accent but I found this book intolerable. I actually gave up on it less than half way through which might be a first for me!7

I love Hannah Howell's books! She really knows how to bring passion and romance to the pages!

I am sad to see reviews on this book that are less than complimentary. Howell created a unique storyline in Highland Angel. It contains depth and realistic emotion. Having been a police officer for more than 20 years, I found the story to be genuine and compelling. People like the villian (Roderick) really exist, both past and present; and, there are heros in our world just like Payton and his love Kirstie. I've read all of Ms. Howell's books. It was nice to read something that wasn't based on the story of a man and women journeying and lusting while sitting on a horse. This was an excellent love story!

This book impressed me from the very first pages, as a very charming and spunky, Kirstie MacIye, bargains with Sir Payton Murray for his assistance. Kirstie needed a champion in bringing to justice the husband who tried to drown her, and was abusing small children to satisfy his sick obsessions. Sir Payton was renowned for his prowess with a sword both on the battlefield and in the boudoirs of the numerous woman who sought out the very handsome knight, but Kirstie needed him to accept the bigger challenge of bringing her husband to justice. Risking an all out feud between clans, Payton takes on the challenge of both toppling a powerful and evil laird and bedding the very captivating and beautiful Kirstie. I don't know when I've enjoyed a heroine as much as the very spunky Kirstie. Her droll sense of humor and cutting edge tongue gives you terrific dialogs with bantering back and forth as Payton does his best to seduce her while the dangerous game of cat and mouse intensified in trying to take down her husband. The romantic aspect and the sensualness of the chase was exquisitely done as Kirstie and Payton fell in love, not so much with the attractiveness of each others physical being but more with the essence they discovered of each others heart and soul. The secondary characterizations of the children were also deftly handled from the anguish and shame felt by the abuse of their innocence, to the healing and renewal of trust Kirstie and Payton were able instill. The author seemed to open up many avenues for sequels with some of the children - especially Callum and Simon which I would certainly welcome. All in all, I found this to be an extremely enjoyable, funny, and sensual novel in spite of the serious plot. This was for me a total read and one I can highly recommend.

Sir Payton Murray is known as much for his trysts as for his sword prowess in defense of the helpless. A desperate Lady Kirstie MacIye interrupts Payton's rendezvous with a married woman when she begs him to help her. She accuses her husband Sir Roderick of trying to kill her and abusing the children. Unable to resist the plea of beautiful lass, Payton agrees to rescue the lads though her clan and his clan might not appreciate his interference.Payton abducts the children from under Roderick's literally iron fist and brings them to his home to be with Kirstie. As Payton and Kirstie begin to fall in love, the shadow of an irate vengeful Roderick crosses over their relationship for he is coming with treachery and deceit as his prime weapons.HIGHLAND ANGEL is an intense historical romance starring two courageous heroes and a vile villain, who is so malevolent he seems more devil than human. This leads to readers wondering why anyone in his clan leadership tolerated his behavior. Payton is kind of like an Errol Flynn character, swashbuckling whether he "battles" the ladies (married of course) or evil knaves. Kirstie is his perfect mate as she brings out the best in him. The abuse subplot is interwoven into a fine historical romantic suspense that will bring elation to sub-genre readers.Harriet Klausner