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Highland Barbarian (2000)

by Ruth Ryan Langan(Favorite Author)

3.77 of 5 Votes: 2

languge

English

genre

Romance

series

Highlander

review 1: Ruth Langan wrote a series of Highland novels over the years, some of which I'm already familiar with. Many years ago I read Ruth Langan's "Highland Heather" and "Highland Fire" the sequels to "Highland Barbarian." I enjoyed those two books so much and have very fond memories of them. "Highland Heather" was the tale of middle sister Brenna and how she was used as Queen Elizabeth's pawn and captured by the enigmatic Morgan Grey, "The Queen's Savage," to mend the rifts between the British and Scots. "Highland Fire" was about the youngest sister, Megan, and a story filled with lots of action, amnesia, and a great, strong-willed heroine paired with a yummy Irish hero.Here in "Highland Barbarian" we see eldest sister Meredith's story. Perhaps if I had read this years ago, I wou... moreld have like it, but I found the story to be a by-the-numbers tale filled with same-old/same-old.After the death of her father, Meredith is now leader of the MacAlpin clan and must join in an arranged marriage to an ally. However her marriage is cut short when her bridegroom is killed and Meredith is captured by Brice Campbell, the Highland Barbarian. Brice has apparently attacked the MacAlpins many times in the past (Or has he? Is he just a patsy for a more obvious, easily-telegraphed villain? Yes, he is.)Meredith tries to escape, is thwarted, makes friends with Brice's clan members, and slowly falls in love. But despite her love, Meredith escapes when she is conveniently captured by an enemy's of Brice who tried to rape Meredith earlier on. Brice saves the day, but Meredith flees back to her people anyway without so much as a thank you. The only mildly amusing part is at the end when Queen Mary switches places with Meredith because they look so similar being slim redheads and all (like that's all you have to do to look exactly like someone: share the same hair color). Mary wants some alone time with Bothwell, so Meredith will stand in her stead and judge over arguments. And then the villain shows up and the predictable ending comes to its predictable end.This wasn't a terrible book, but it just didn't excite me. The love story was bland and the action just didn't thrill me. Books #2 & #3 are much more superior to this one. 2 1/2 stars
review 2: Meredith MacAlpin is left as leader of her Border clan at 17 when her father is allegedly murdered by the "Highland Barbarian" Brice Campbell. She agrees to marry the younger brother of a neighboring laid, Gareth MacKenzie (because she dislikes the laird and would never marry him) in return for his clan's protection. On her wedding day, Campbell arrives seeking vengeance against the laid, whom he accuses of spreading false rumors designed to besmirch his name. He kills the brother, thinking him to be the laird, and when a fight breaks out, kidnaps Meredith and whisks her back to his castle in the Highlands. Here, Meredith meets Mary, Queen of Scots, who is good friends with Campbell and begins to reconsider her opinion of him. When MacKenzie attacks Campbell's castle and nearly kills him, Meredith overhears him confessing that he is responsible for all the murders - including her father's - that have been blamed on Campbell. It's then she realizes she loves Campbell and so, when she finds a very weak pulse, nurses him back to life. Ah, but, Meredith is only 17 and, so, reasons that if she goes back to her Border clan and rallies them, she'll be able to defeat MacKenzie and keep Campbell safe, since MacKenzie has told everyone near and far that he killed Campbell in the raid. And, this last nonsense is why I gve this onoy 2 stars. Meredith sneaks out one night, is captured by yet another "bad guy," encounters the queen again, and is nearly killed by MacKenzie. Then, the idiot Campbell leaves her, while she's still recovering "for her own good". Argh!! All this unnecessary drama made the book a tad overlong, nor to mention predictable. less

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