Review of Highland Spitfire (Highland Weddings #1) by Mary Wine
Highland Spitfire is the first book in the series Highland Weddings.
The Robertsons and MacPhersons have been feuding for three generations. The Regent of Scotland tricks both clans to meet and forces a marriage between the Lairds' children.
Bharic MacPherson certainly didn't want to wed Ailis Robertson, and it was mutual. But neither expected the passion that ignited between them. Even though wed, Ailis has refused to be bedded, and Bharic must woo his bride.
I've only read a handful of Scottish historicals, all of them written by Maya Banks. I thought I'd give Mary Wine a try since I enjoy historical romance.
This was better than I expected, and delightfully steamy as Bharic tempts Ailis with sensual touches.
At the beginning, both characters came across as angry, prejudiced offspring of families that hate each other, but soon I got to know both of them and discovered Bharic to be a gentle, honorable man and Ailis to be a strong, capable, loyal woman who knows her worth.
Bharic's wooing of his wife was sweet and sensual, and watching Ailis's walls crumbling was a delight. She slowly warmed to the idea of being Bharic's wife, though she took her duties as mistress of the castle seriously from the beginning. The distrust shown to her by the servants and Bharic's brother were both frustrating and understandable. Though it brought about some funny moments.
Learning different customs of medieval Scotland was lovely, and I enjoyed piecing together the history of the story. I found the historical elements to be easy to understand and they smoothly added to the story. While Ailis was a strong woman, appealing to modern readers, she also fit into the context of the time period.
The descriptions were wonderful, and I had a strong picture of both the time period and the setting. I could easily picture the characters, clothing, weapons, and horses that filled out the story. Without accurate and in-depth descriptions, the story wouldn't work.
I loved the dialog, strong and smooth with appropriate accents, language, and slang to make it realistic for the setting. It delved into cheese often, but it felt natural for the characters.
Overall, a strongly written novel with an interesting plot and characters to root for.
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