Highland Savage - Hannah Howell

I adore stories set in medieval England, Ireland and Scotland - as long as they have a strong female character who stands her ground and preferably wields a sword. I thought I would love Highland Savage. The main character, Kat, is in hiding with her band of compatriots. The group races out in the night to help those in need. The cruel half-sister has taken charge of the area, and the struggle for power is dire.

Into this mix comes Lucas. Here's the first problem. "Off-stage", a year or so before this story begins, apparently Lucas met Kat and the two made love. Then Lucas was beaten up and thrown off a cliff by a group of bandits, while Kat was held nearby. Lucas was told - by these cruel bandits - that Kat ordered the beating. Of course, Lucas believes the nasty bandits and immediately condemns the woman he was infatuated with, simply on their say-so. He returns to the scene of the crime for revenge.

I really would have liked to have a "prologue" laying out their love for each other, the situation of the attack, and then had it say "a year later ..." As it stands, as a reader I have no connection at all to these two people, an no real sense of why they adored each other. How long were they courting before they made love? Was it a one time thing before this bandit attack? Why did she love him? We don't know. All we know is that he's back for vengeance, she jumps in to rescue him, and now they're hiding out in caves together. He blames her for his damaged leg and heart. She's pouty because her true love has turned on her so easily.

This leaves the rest of the story to work through that damaged pride. He cares for her tenderly when she's injured - but she figures he doesn't love her. She moons over him every chance she gets, but he still doesn't trust her. I understand of course that romance novels are all about these sorts of misunderstandings, but it just didn't seem "real" here. I really have to believe that it's because the context was never laid down. We never got a chance to see the great connection that was damaged. We only get to see them trying to repair the harm, and even there it seems on-again, off-again.

I could complain about the heavy Scottish accent put into every line, but that happens in a number of books. You just have to settle in and accept the "Weel, I dinnae ken what that mon did ..."

An OK read, but not one I'll keep on my shelves.

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