Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Arc Review: Untamed Highlander by Donna Grant

Donna Grant - Untamed Highlander
Dark Sword Series Part 4
Paperback: 325 pages
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance

Release Date: April 26, 2011 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 78-0-312-53347-2

Main characters: Hayden Campbell & Isla

Blurb:

IN THE FLESH

Druid-born and magic-blessed, Isla is one of the deadliest she-devils ever to serve the forces of darkness. As an immortal Highland warrior, it’s up to Hayden Campbell to destroy her and her kind. But for Hayden, Isla is more than a sworn enemy. She is temptation...

ANGEL IN HIS ARMS

Taking Isla captive, Hayden hopes to avenge his kinsmen who died by Druid magic. But when he looks into Isla’s eyes, he sees the secrets of her past. When he touches her skin, he feels the passion in her soul. And soon Hayden comes to realize that this beautiful, beguiling woman is not his enemy at all—she is his destiny. And, even as the forces of darkness conspire against them, their love will conquer all...

Note: For your overall reading enjoyment I suggest strongly to read this series in order because of the ongoing plot and world building.


My Review:
In a world where the forces of darkness plot to rule the world with black magic, a small group of warriors refuses to align themselves with this evil. These immortal Highland warriors all have an archaic god inside them, each has a different power, and they were turned by the forces of darkness but escaped. Now they have joined forces to defeat the evil Deirdre who created them and just when they thought that the battle was won… it starts all over again.

For Hayden Campbell brings home a survivor of the battle, the wounded Isla. Forced to serve Deirdre as a drough Isla shares a connection with her and therefore knows Deirdre has not been destroyed, that they are just in the midst of the calm before the storm. But Hayden not does feel calm at all; he cannot reconcile his budding feelings for this drough with his vow to kill any drough he comes across. But Isla is not his enemy; she is just another victim of Deirdre’s hunger for power. Their passion for one another is something he thought he would never experience, but their love is fragile and Deirdre’s hold on Isla is strong, maybe too strong...

With Untamed Warrior we return to Donna’s Grant fabulous world of the Dark Sword Novels. It is already part 4 in this unique series and Donna Grant created another rich and layered story by blending myth, history, fantasy, suspense, romance and paranormal elements perfectly. Once again Donna Grant had me fall for her story and hero hook, line and sinker from page one, her writing is smooth, fast-paced and addictive with a capital A.

All of the warriors are scarred by their past thanks to Deirdre. But Hayden Campbell is consumed by his hatred for droughs, he can think of nothing else. It was interesting to follow his emotional journey, how he battled with himself to deny his attraction for Isla and his need to protect her versus his need to protect his newfound family (his fellow warriors) and his aversion for droughs. Hayden has the god of massacre inside him, Ouraneon. He has the power to call up and control fire. He hides behind a wall of bluntness but deep down he is very lonely. He copes with his affection for Isla by doing the hot/cold routine; he kisses her passionately then completely ignores her. My heart cried out for Hayden as I so wanted to see him happy again.

Of all the women introduced in this series Isla is by far the most tortured one. Almost 500 years she has been Deirdre’s prisoner, to safe her family she was forced to do Deirdre’s bidding. Forced to serve the black magic for so long Isla hardly knows herself anymore. She is haunted by the awful things she has done and keeps to herself. She is smart, fierce, courageous and her magic is strong. She only survived Deirdre’s cruelty for so long by showing no fear and no emotions. Yet Hayden confuses her, he shatters her self-control to pieces.

I love how Donna Grant builds up their romance. Their attraction is clear and instant from the start, it rolls of the pages in huge waves. Their inner struggle is moving, both have flaws, both lash out, their honesty and bluntness emotionally hurts the other, yet they can’t stay away from each other. They understand one another so well, they recognize the loneliness in each other, and their connection is so deep that it is unbreakable. Their love scenes are passionate and intense. And even though the odds were against them, I was rooting for them! I felt they were a perfect match in every way.

For me the emphasis in Untamed Highlander is on the romance between Hayden and Isla. The ongoing plotline of the battle against Deirdre and her evil is there but more in the background. That does not mean there are no new developments, Isla provides the warriors and reader with new information and as a reader you can feel that change is coming. Still the story is perfectly in balance and reads like clockwork. And I love the dialogues between the warriors, they are full of wit. Each warrior has his own charms and makes you crave for more Dark Sword stories!

Untamed Highlander is a powerful, passionate and emotional read. Hayden will linger long in your heart after you finished this story. I loved the emotional journey of Hayden and Isla, their romance is intense, dark and addictive from start to finish! Next stop in the Dark Sword Series is Shadow Highlander, Galen’s story, it will be released August 30, 2011.


4,5 stars