OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Highlander Unknown" by Claudia Wilson.]

What’s not to love about a Scottish romance novel? Dashing men in kilts, fiery lasses, and the inevitable fireworks that occur when the twain meet. Claudia Wilson gives the reader all that and more in her debut novel, Highlander Unknown. Susan Stewart is a young and boisterous woman awaiting the arrival of Alexander McDonald just a few days prior to their arranged marriage. Though she is promised to a man she has yet to meet, an unknown wedding guest has caught Susan’s eye and has stolen more than a few kisses from her.

To say that Alex McDonald is pleasantly surprised by his bride-to-be is an understatement. His desire to learn more about Susan before their big day has led him to sneak into her keep and hide his true identity from her until their marriage is sealed with a kiss. The happy couple does not have long to enjoy their honeymoon stage because someone is actively trying to harm Susan. Alex and his men must find out who is behind the attacks and what is motivating the aggressor to harm his new wife.

Wilson weaves a tale of harmless deception, anticipation, and intrigue that will keep readers guessing. In addition to the obligatory romance plot, there is a very complex mystery that spans multiple clans and keeps the reader guessing for much of the book. Her writing keeps you invested in the affable characters and immensely interested in the unfolding plot against Susan and Alex.

While the romantic thread of the plot is cute and captivating, the book can have a tendency to drag on when dealing with the politics behind the attempts on Susan’s life. Characters suddenly appear that aren’t always fully explained, and the dialogue can feel a bit repetitive and banal. Aside from a healthy number of grammatical errors, there were accidental inconsistencies that may be distracting for some readers. I noticed a mention of harvesting lemons when lemons were not yet cultivated that far north in Europe. Also inconsistent to the time period was an obsession with constant bathing and cleanliness. The ending of the book wraps up very suddenly despite a meticulous buildup.

I think that some time with an experienced editor would take this fun book to the next level. There were enough enjoyable aspects to make up for the errors I encountered. While this is a historical romance novel, it is written in a modern manner that would appeal to lovers of classic historical romances as well as those into novels that tend more toward new adult. Since this book has so much great potential, I rate it 3 out of 4 stars.

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Highlander Unknown
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I'm not really into romance, and men in kilts have never really done much for me (I know! I know! I'm unusual.). I'm glad you enjoyed this one; it sounds like a nice enough story, despite the editing issues. Thanks for the review.

Shame about the anachronisms in an otherwise promising historical romance.

This sounds like a promising romance, despite the few inconsistencies and errors. You must have a keen eye to spot the mistakes with the lemons and bathing issues. Well done!

This sounds like a good book for a lazy summer day. Thanks for the recommendation!

I agree wih the previous person's comment. This sounds like a good summer read, especially if I were sitting on a beach somewhere. The cover of this book is very appealing to me. The fact that the author built in a good mystery also draws me to this story. Thanks for an excellent review.

You had me at "dashing men in kilts"! The plot sounds intriguing in spite of the sudden entrance of some characters and the errors. Thank you for a most enjoyable review!

I don't see anything unique about the romance but the mystery behind the attacks on Susan is intriguing and worth following. I think I'll read it despite its sudden ending. So, thanks a lot for your awesome review. It's thoughtful and honest.

I love Scottish romances. That's why I liked the tv series Outlander so much. This book looks awesome it is definitely on my want to read list!

This sounds fun but the whole hidden identity thing is one of my least liked tropes outside of spy novels and superhero stories.

Well done on the review. I actually wished you were reading the whole story to me. I guess that I will just have to read the book.

This is like a promising romance, despite the mistakes made. The story line has a good history. It's very nice.

Great review! As someone who has never read this book but loves a good Scottish romance, I can't wait to pick up this book and start reading. I'm really intrigued by the mystery aspect, it's nice to see a little action in romance books. Amazing fact checking on the lemon cultivation and even the cultural context behind cleanliness and hygiene. I would have never spotted that while reading. I'm a little sad that the ending might not live up to what the book builds up to but I guess I'll only know if it's enough for myself once I finally read it. Thank you so much for this review, I don't normally pick up a lot of romance books nowadays since they seem to all sound the same but I live that this has that added twist of a mystery which from your review actually sounds well written up to a point.

Oh sounds like my kinda book, thanks for reviewing