Friday, May 14, 2010

Book Review of Paula Quinn's Ravished by a Highlander & Giveaway

 I enjoy a good romance novel and I'm partial to the highlander and historical romances.  If you're looking for a fun historical romance, I recommend Paula Quinn's Ravished by a Highlander
Ravished by a HighlanderThe blurb:
Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady.  For her own protection, she has been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown's most closely guarded secret.  Until a shocking betrayal -- and a bold rescue -- land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he's not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress.  He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched.  Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire. . .and desperate for more.  With Davina's secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can't live without.

Review:
I enjoy the historical romances with loyal, protective, and kind Scottish warriors who fall for intelligent, independent and witty young women.  In Ravished by a Highlander Paula Quinn introduces us to Davina Montgomery, a beautiful English lady who is of such high birth that she's been hidden for most of her life. We don't know who she is exactly, just that she's surrounded by soldiers and nuns in the middle of nowhere. 

Somehow, four Scottish warriors come across Davina just as the convent is under attack.  Robert MacGregor somehow finds himself agreeing to save the damsel in distress and is unwilling to leave her to her fate.  He joins the fight to protect her.  Though he tries to leave her somewhere safe, it soon becomes apparent that Davina will not be safe anywhere.

Davina knows the danger that she brings and tries to protect the MacGregors by refusing to tell them her background and her real name.  Davina's attempts to protect Robert MacGregor and his cousins amuses them at first, but as they realize who she must be, they gradually recognize the incredible risk that they take.  By the time that Davina admits her identity, Robert is willing to risk everything that he has to keep her safe. 

Davina's been protected all her life, so she's overwhelmed by the attraction that she feels towards Robert.   Robert has always been focused on his family and his responsibilities, so his willingness to risk everything for Davina is a measure of his love for her.  This seemingly hopeless love story is captivating.  Ravished by a Highlander is a keeper!

ISBN-10: 0446552380 - Mass Market Paperback  $6.99
Publisher: Forever; Original edition (May 1, 2010), 368 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

About Paula Quinn, in her own words:
I was the kid in school who raced to get to English class, especially on Poetry day. There just wasn't anything better than standing in the front of an audience and reading moving prose. Of course, Sister Mary Elizabeth didn't consider Bad Company lyrics stunning verse, but I made sure to toss some Edgar Allen Poe into the pot for balance. The true thrill came from reading my own work. I still have every journal, and there were many, stashed away in my closet, each page filled with my careful script, i's dotted with hearts.

I typed my very first novel on an Adam computer. Yes, that's Adam, not Apple. A paranormal romance (the first one of it's kind in the early eighties) but no one was interested, much to my shock and amazement. Will I admit it was a cheesy novel? Never! I still have it, dot matrix as black as the day it was first printed up.

Putting away my trusty Adam, I went on to bigger and better things, like marrying my childhood sweetheart and having three children. But I once read that authors don't choose to write; writing chooses them, and there were an endless store of characters in my head to prove it. So we traded in the Adam for an Apple. I promised my husband that I wouldn't be gone long, and off to Camelot I went. Most of me returned home, but there's a part that remained in the medieval world of knights, castles, and chivalry. I've since brought my family there and they love it as much as I do, although I suspect my husband was a crusader knight long before I envisioned him in a red cross tabard. But that's another story entirely. I think I'll write it in pen and dot my I's with hearts.

I'm a disgustingly sappy romantic moved by music, beautiful words, and the sight of a really nice pen. I live in Manhattan with my knight in shining armor. We have three beautiful children, two dogs and too many reptiles to count. I love to read romance and science fiction and have been writing since I was eleven. I'm a faithful believer in God and thank Him daily for all the blessings in my life. I love all things medieval, but it’s my love for Scotland that pulls at my heartstrings.


Want to read more about Ravished by a Highlander and Paula Quinn?  Visit these participating blogs.

Participating Sites:
http://bookswithcoffee.wordpress.com/ 4/28/2010 Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
http://chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com/ 4/28/2010 Giveaway
http://skyreads.blogspot.com/ 4/28/2010 Giveaway
http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com 4/28/2010 Feature, Review
http://dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com/ 4/28/2010 Giveaway
http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com 4/28/2010 Giveaway
http://www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com 4/29/2010 Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
http://seductivemusings.blogspot.com/ 4/29/2010 Review, Giveaway, Q&A
www.bibliophilicbookblog.com 4/30/2010 Review, Giveaway
http://thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com 4/30/2010 Feature, Giveaway
http://www.mindingspot.blogspot.com 4/30/2010 Review
inthehammockblog.blogspot.com 5/2/2010 Review, Giveaway
http://mommyreadstoomuch.blogspot.com 5/3/2010 Review, Giveaway
http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com 5/3/2010 Giveaway
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com 5/5/2010 Giveaway, Guest Post
http://www.saveyspender.com 5/5/2010 Review, Giveaway
www.booksoulmates.blogspot.com 5/5/2010 Review, Giveaway
www.booksoulmates.blogspot.com 5/5/2010 Review, Giveaway
www.mgpblog.com 5/5/2010 Review, Giveaway
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com 5/5/2010 Review, Giveaway
http://triciareads.blogspot.com 5/6/2010 Review, Giveaway
http://www.kballard87.blogspot.com 5/7/2010 Review, Giveaway
www.froggaritasbookcase.net 5/7/2010 Review, Giveaway, Q&A
http://www.literarylolita.com 5/9/2010 Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com 5/10/2010 Review, Giveaway
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com 5/10/2010 Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
www.rexrobotreviews.com 5/10/2010 Feature, Review, Giveaway, Q&A
http://thebooktree.blogspot.com 5/10/2010 Feature, Giveaway
http://chickwithbooks.blogspot.com 5/11/2010 Review, Giveaway, Guest Post
www.justjenniferreading.blogspot.com 5/11/2010 Review, Giveaway
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/ 5/11/2010 Giveaway
http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/ 5/11/2010 Review, Giveaway
www.tarmyblogspot.com 5/11/2010 Review

Want your own copy of Ravished by a Highlander?  Join the contest below.

CONTEST DETAILS:

To enter, just comment below.

Rules:
1. Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win. No email address, no entry.
2. You must be a follower to join the contest.

The contest is limited to US and Canada only. No P.O. boxes. The contest ends at noon on June 15, 2010.

Thank you so much to Anna and Hatchette Book Group for sponsoring the giveaway and this review opportunity!

23 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun highlander romance. Thanks for the contest.

    dawnpnr(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've got this on my TBR list. It sounds good. Please enter me in the contest.

    I'm a follower.

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Please count me in. I am a follower.
    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Count me in please. I am a follower
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes!! Enter me please.

    I follow on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. There are lots of good reviews for this one!!!

    usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  7. This sounds like a great read. This is a very good review of this book

    jellybelly82158 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would love to be entered! I am a follower.
    Thanks!
    bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have read other Paula Quinn Highlander books, and they were fun reads. This sounds like another winner.
    castings at mindspring dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so looking forward to reading this novel. Please enter me too.

    I'm a follower

    mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

    ReplyDelete
  11. Enter me, I'm a follower.
    caliblue7 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd like to win this one for my wife. She likes romance novels.
    johnnystruckwash at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would love to be entered, thanks!

    misusedinnocence@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Paula Quinn is a fantastic writer. I would very much like to read this book. Please enter me into this giveaway.

    Thank you,

    Christine
    womackcm@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  15. Please count me in, I am a follower.

    copperpenny12(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. please enter me
    spynaert@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like a wonderful romance novel. I would love to read this one. Please enter me. Thanks!

    I am a follower!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would love to read this!
    dmkayes@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love highlander books and would love to win this book - please enter me in your giveaway.

    budletsmom at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh sounds steamy!

    starry943@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow through Google Reader.
    tiredwkids at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Please enter me - I'm a follower!

    hawaiismn(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sounds good. I'm a Starting Fresh follower.

    Laura_in_TX
    123yes456@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete