On a Highland Shore

A reviewer

This book had a slow start. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a history book, but the story was interesting so I continued. I¿m glad I did, because it had an excellent exciting ending! It really seemed to take forever for the hero and heroine to meet. Gannon was a strong hero-very manly, an equal to men much older and more powerful than he. It was difficult to picture him with blonde hair, though. ¿Gannon MacMagnus¿ just sounds like a dark-haired guy. And Margaret, the heroine, was likable. She made mature decisions when faced with difficult circumstances. Women had so few options and so little control over their lives back then. Nor, the bad guy was deliciously evil! He was the most complicated and interesting character in the book. It had some humor too, like how all the Irish were convinced of their natural superiority over the Scots and vice-versa. And the scene when Gannon first wore a feileadh [kilt] was funny. Also, this book is not for those who like really steamy sex scenes, because there were none. There was sexual content but it lacked sizzle. If only the love scenes had been as detailed and graphic as the fight scenes! This book is not the usual titillating, everyone lives ¿happily ever after¿ superficial romance. It is a good read if you like a more realistic love story framed by politics and war strategies and history.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

fine medieval romance

In 1263 in Somerstrath, Scotland, Margaret MacDonald, the daughter of the Laird, looks forward to her upcoming wedding to Lachlan Ross in a few weeks. However, her euphoria is crushed when she catches Lachlan with her sister Fiona. Their fathers insist Lachlan and Margaret wills still marry and her future spouse swears this was an aberration and he will be a faithful husband Not long after that her newly formed doubts turn to rage and sorrow when marauding Norsemen attack her family¿s keep, killing everyone except her and her younger brother taken prisoner by the invaders. Not long after the massacre, Gannon MacMagnus comes across the shocked Margaret and provides her with aid. Needing any help she can get if she is complete her quest to rescue her sibling, she accepts his help though the kind stranger is obviously of Viking blood. Though Gannon doubts her brother can be rescued by them, he agrees to help her try even as they fall in love one step at a time. --- ON A HIGHLAND SHORE is a fine medieval romance that runs on two subplots for the first third of the novel before the separate strings of Margaret and Gannon tie together. The story line emphasizes the Norsemen impact on Scotland, but not just the typical invades that kills, rapes and plunders. Instead the audience also sees the positive impact on society especially through Gannon and his kin. Kathleen Givens gives her readers a delightful thirteenth century romance starring two likable characters in love who must overcome their respective heritages especially the recent massacre if they are to forge a permanent relationship. --- Harriet Klausner

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Loved it!

I loved this book and wish I could find more by this author......it was kind of long but worth the read!

Excelllent Historical Novel

I enjoyed this novel for it's realistic portrayal of 13th century life. The characters are well-developed and the story line is quite believable. It's not just another trivial 'romance' novel.

One of my favorites! And I read a lot!

I was captured by this book. I love her style of writing, her desciptions of the Vikings, the 'love of legends' between the two main characters. I couldn't wait until my busy days were over and I could curl up with this!

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