Cover Image: The Highlander Is All That

The Highlander Is All That

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Publisher's Description:

Elizabeth St. Claire has always been hard to please. Dreaming solely of Highlander men her whole life, no prancing London Lord can stand a chance at winning her heart...

… But perhaps a Scotsman can.

Elizabeth watches intrigued as the Highlander of her dreams, a Scotsman named Hamish Robb, arrives to oversee her season at the behest of her cousin, the Duke of Caithness. Elizabeth doesn’t hide her feelings for the striking Scot. But Hamish, determined to obey his order to protect the St. Claire sisters, steadfastly rejects her every seducing lure.

Believing that the debutante Elizabeth deserves a better, wealthier man, Hamish continues to turn away from her affection, even though he doesn’t exactly want to. Can this Highlander Scot resist the tempting seductress’ attempts to win his heart?

My Thoughts:
This wonderfully written, humorous tale is one for the keeper shelf. The combination of these sister's antics and the underlying love stories is a fabulous mix.
Understanding that although it seems a foregone conclusion that both Anne and Elizabeth will get their happily ever after doesn't detract from this story. This book , on the surface is Elizabeth's story but Anne's story is no less involved in the storyline.
All I can say is WONDERFUL! It is a laugh a minute through most of the book. The inclusion of the smelly Lord Twiggenberry as a suitor for Elizabeth, who will not take no for an answer is without a doubt genius.
I simply could not put this one down.
I gave this book a solid 5.0 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 4.5 of 5.0 flames. The intimate scenes between Elizabeth and Hamish were both intense and humorous. Anne and Ranald contribute to the sensuality with their own heated encounter.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

The four St. Clair sisters are looking for husbands, well, not all. Their new found cousin the Duke of Caithness, has set them up for the season. Anne, Elizabeth, Victoria, and Mary, what they go thru is short of amazing and who they pick. The characters are authentic, compassionate and loving. The descriptions are excellent and you feel like you are part of the story. The plot is full of intrigue, fun, and some confused Scots, The author has set it up so it is an easy read, flows smoothly and you can not put it down. There is always something to keep your interest. I love the part where Hamish meets Lady Jersey, a laugh out loud moment. This is an excellent book and I wish I could give it more than five stars.

Was this review helpful?

Nothing is better in a romance that a tough, strong Highlander, and Hamish fit the bill perfectly. Elizabeth was not just your simple miss that only followed the proprieties of society. When the two were together, sparks flew and set afire the novel. I thought this novel was great and I highly recommend to anyone who loves Highlanders. Sabrina York continues to impress me!

Was this review helpful?

Loved it! Sabrina York never fails to deliver the goods. Excellent romance.

Was this review helpful?

This was enthralling, although the story was about Elizabeth and Hamish their were four sisters Anne,Elizabeth,Victoria and Mary and throughout the book you got the sisters stories as well which made for some very funny moments. I thoroughly recommend this book it is romantic and funny and keeps you wanting to see what happens next .

Was this review helpful?

Elizabeth and her 3 sisters are about to be turned out for the "season' in England, so they can find the "appropriate' husbands. The Duke of Hamish has been funding their season and, since he can't come because his wife is close to birth, he sends his two best friends, two Scottish men!!! Oh, the horror! Elizabeth is being hounded by a creepy 'lord' that she can't stand but, there's something about Hamish that draws her. Hamish is also drawn to Elizabeth but, he is a Scot and, not a Lord so, he doesn't feel that he is good enough for a lady of Elizabeth's standing. The love matches that these women make on their own, much to their aunt's dismay and, the merriment that ensues from onset to happy endings is classic Sabrina York and, the only reason that I LOVE HER Historical books!!!!

Was this review helpful?

This book is the much awaited follow up to the novella "The Scot Says I Do" in Say Yes to the Scot: A Highland Wedding Box Set in which we met the St. Claire sisters. This book not only brings back her Untamed Highlanders, but also several of the characters from her Noble Passions series.

The primary hero/heroine in this book are Elizabeth St. Claire and Hamish Robb, but there is a very strong secondary romance between Anne St. Claire and Ranald Gunn, Baron of Bower, as well as secondary-secondary romances for the two younger sisters, Victoria and Mary.

Elizabeth and her sisters are cousins to the Duke of Caithness and he has generously financed their season and given them dowries, but since his wife Lana is expecting their first child, he sends Hamish and Ranald to London to watch over them in his stead. Their chaperone Lady Esmerelda, is disappointed that the duke is not going join them, but decides that having two handsome highlanders around could be used to their advantage. Lady Esmerelda is on a mission and nothing will stop her from finding husbands for the St. Claire girls!

Elizabeth already has a suitor when the book opens, Lord Twiggenberry (OMG - I still crack up over that name), and as much as she knows he would be a good match, she really doesn't like him (or the pomade he uses), she hopes for a love match and preferably with a Scotsman, so when she meets Hamish for the first time - it is like an answer to all her prayers. Hamish is equally taken with Elizabeth, but doesn't feel like he has anything to offer her and tries to quash his desire for her.

The story that ensues is a very amusing tale complete with kidnappings, runaway marriages, an Almack's patroness with wandering hands, stinky suitors and a second chance at love. Yup, this story has something for everyone - laugh out loud moments, heart wrenching moments, steamy moments, lots of cameos and finally several HEAs!

This book could easily be read as a stand alone title but once you read it, you are going to want to read the Untamed Highlander and the Noble Passion series just to find out what you missed!!

I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to next generation of highland heroines!

Was this review helpful?

This was a great book. It was very entertaining and keep me intrigued from start to finish. I have read Ms. York books before and I have enjoyed them very much,but I think this is one of my favorites. It was interesting the story included 4 sisters and there would be suitors, somehow it worked. I found myself laughing at times at the youngest of the sisters, and pulling for the older 2. I will definitely read more of her stories.

Was this review helpful?

****I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ****
I love a good paranormal vampire romance story. Seriously anything that can’t make me fall in love with a blood sucking monster I am going to read it. When I read the synopsis for this book I was in.
Athan is the second son of his clans ruling family. His duty has been since birth has been to protect their future Queen and his brother’s wife. Tendra (Ten) has always independent and strong willed all fostered by her nomadic with her mother. But now Ten is on her own and a new journey is about to begin.
Blood Guard absolutely blew me away. Both the main characters were well written and Ten was a complete badass. She held her own throughout. Athan was still an Alpha and impossible to ignore. The world building was done really well. I didn’t feel like there was any info dumping; everything was revealed in a timely manner. Every minor character in the book was also strong not just some flat character taking up space in the story. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
Based on the ending of this book I believe it is to your benefit to read all the books in order. If you like BDB, Midnight Breed, or the Night Huntress series; you should definitely check this book out.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Sabrina York but I will be going back to read the rest of the books in the series. This book does work well as a stand alone and it is delightful.

It honestly reminded of a Shakespearean comedy. There were issues to overcome but a lot of laughter and everyone gets married in the end. But there are kilts which make everything

Was this review helpful?

I promised fair and honest review for this ARC, so here it is. Sabrina York always tells such wonderfully readable stories and this one is certainly all that. Four sisters, brawny Scots and unscrupulous suitors....all the best bits.

Was this review helpful?

Wonderful tale of romance, lust, and envy through not just the mansions in London but also through the rough lands beyond. This is not the typical historical romance as the author weaves enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing as to how everything is going to work out. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

Aunt Esmeralda is in charge of the season for 4 sisters, Anne, Elizabeth, Victoria and Mary. They are staying in the house of a cousin, The Duke of Caithness. He is unable to come to London from Scotland so he sends two other Scots to protect the girls. Hamish and Ranald have come to keep the girls safe. They are doing as the duke requested.
Anne's heart was broken by a Scotsman who was a rake. He left her believing that all Scots are liars and heart breakers. When two handsome Scots show up, she is automatically willing to think the worst of them.
Elizabeth has had a dream of Scotland and Scotsmen since she was a child. She has romanticized them so when two handsome Scots show up, she is immediately smitten.
Victoria and Mary each have other interests, so the two Scotsmen are interesting but not arresting.
This is a fun read.
Aunt Esmeralda is a character who wants to be in charge of the world and she is well on the way. Anne is a quiet young woman who loves her family but has little or no interest in anyone else. She prefers books to people, especially male people. She believes she will never marry and that makes her perfectly happy. Elizabeth is mercurial. She allows her emotions to rule her actions. One look at Hamish and she is enamored. He is tall and muscular with lovely red hair and even lovelier green eyes. And when he speaks, the accent melts her heart. Victoria and Mary are charming and provide a great deal of humor to the story. They play a part in the story, but theirs are secondary stories.
Hamish and Ranald are partners in a distillery for scotch whisky. Hamish is a commoner who believes he does not deserve someone like Lady Elizabeth. He also believes the Duke would never approve of him declaring himself for Elizabeth.
Ranald is a widower with a small daughter. His attraction to Anne is immediate. He likes her wit and he feels that in order to woo her it will take a very delicate touch. Anne is drawn to him in spite of herself. She likes his quiet confidence, his intelligence and his humor.
There is villainy in the story. There are misunderstandings between lovers. There are gossipy women who intend to see and describe the worst whether it is true or not. There is a great deal of humor in the story.
All four sisters are bright young women who have loving relationships with one another and those relationships include a great deal of teasing and humor. Hamish and Ranald did not look forward to coming to London, but both of them have found young ladies who have made them glad they came. All the characters are quite entertaining.
Ms York has created a terrific story. Although this is part of a series, it is easy to follow. The plot is interesting and holds the reader's interest. There is a happily ever after for everyone.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun, engaging story set in London, with a couple of rogue Highlanders thrown in the mix to make things interesting. Having read the previous three books in the Untamed Highlanders series, I knew I would enjoy the banter between the main characters and hearing about our previous heroes and heroines again. This took me back to Sabrina York's first book in the series, which captured my attention and heart, and I know it will capture yours too.

Elizabeth St. Claire is obsessed with all things Scottish. In fact, after going to Scotland as a young girl, she has ceased to find much about London to recommend it, particularly the foppish men. Give her a tall, brawny Highlander with muscles any day, over a vain London peacock who smells of pomade. When their cousin, the Duke of Caithness, sends two highlanders in his stead to watch over them during the season, Elizabeth find herself smitten. Hamish Robb has no title, but that doesn't matter to Elizabeth, who finds his smile and laughter the best sort of seduction. He, too, is smitten with her, but he knows that he is in no position to be offering her marriage. He vows to stay away. Over time, however, they begin falling in love, but Elizabeth soon finds herself engaged to another man. Can their love endure such heartache?

I greatly enjoyed both characters, particularly Hamish in his charm and good nature towards Elizabeth. He had some wonderfully romantic lines in this book, and Elizabeth ate them up as any good heroine would. However, there was a point in the book where their relationship was tested, and I felt both failed miserably at staying strong in the face of it. Elizabeth finds herself forcibly compromised and engaged to a horrible man, and her family insists on them marrying - which blows me away, considering the willpower Elizabeth had shown up until that point. She barely puts up a fight before giving in, and then Hamish gets roaring drunk and admits he has a widow at home waiting for him. Good job, Hamish. They eventually came through it all with their love intact, but it brought my review down to 4 stars. It all seemed a bit manufactured, much ado about nothing, and I would have preferred to see a bit more fight in Hamish and Elizabeth. Nevertheless, I enjoyed seeing their love grow, and in particular, seeing Elizabeth find out how strong she is on her own.

This series continues to be one of my favorites, and I am eager to read what is next (if there is, indeed, a next book). Sabrina York writes a beautiful romance story, and I encourage any reader of historical romance to give her books a try.

Was this review helpful?

I was invited by the publisher to read this book and I am glad that I was. I read the previous book in the series (but honestly didn't remember what happened in it) but I feel as though it is not necessary to read the previous books in order to understand what is happening.

This book follows sisters Anne and Elizabeth as they are sponsored by their Duke cousin this season in order to find husbands. Anne, due to a previous heartbreak, does not want to get married. Elizabeth is not happy with her suitors. Their lives turn upside down when their cousin sends two of his friends, Hamish and Ranald, in his place to protect and escort the girls.

I definitely enjoyed reading about Elizabeth and Hamish more than Anne and Ranald. Anne just seemed a bit too stubborn and a bit too reserved for me. I did enjoy that the story switched between the four main characters as I feel if it would have concentrated on just one of the couples then the book would have seemed too short and would have fell flat.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a lot of fun, and sexy, and mischievousness abound! Though there are mention of characters, and meeting of people, from all, and I mean all, of the authours previous historical novels, they are part of this story, not part of their story. I haven't read some of them, and I no issue following

This is the story of the 4 St Clair ladies, orphaned and thought out of society until their distant cousin takes them in and gives them a season. Anne is the oldest, at 25, and Mary the youngest at 16. Elizabeth and Victoria and in-between the two, and a year apart. They are staying at Lachlan's London home with their aunt Esmeralda. The Duke can't make it, so he sends his two friends, Hamish and Ranald, to guide the girls through their season

The focus is mostly on Elizabeth and Anne, and the two Scotsmen sent to watch over them. The interactions, the stubborness, and the four girls find love and themselves. There are adventures along the way, kidnapping, elopments, judging ton society, missing people, smelly Earls, a lot of megrims and retching, real and imagined.

I couldn't put it down and turn away once I started. These characters, and this world, they pulled me in and kept me there, and I was happy to be there!

Was this review helpful?

I love this book! Anne, Elizabeth, Victoria and Mary live in London with their Aunt Esmeralda as their parents are deceased. They are distantly related to the Scottish Duke of Caithness who would like to see them find husbands. He sends Hamish Robb and Ranald Gunn, Baron of Bower, to watch over them and scrutinize their suitors. Elizabeth is the main heroine, but all the sisters find their true love. It’s one of the things I enjoyed about this book – more than one HEA.

Elizabeth remembers visiting Scotland as a child and would prefer living there to London. She is being pursued by Lord Twiggenberry, who she does not care for. However, she finds Hamish very attractive and doesn’t care that he does not have a title. Anne, the eldest, is quiet and bookish but something draws her to Ranald, a widower who would like to remarry as he has a young daughter.

Victoria and Mary also fall in love and with men that may surprise you. This book has a lot going on and I don’t like to ruin a wonderful story. I liked that the epilogue features their friends from the earlier Untamed Highlander series as the sisters move to their new homes in Scotland. I’m looking forward to the next installment as the young girls grow up.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and no one influenced my review. Release date is Oct. 10th

Was this review helpful?

Although there were a few elements to this book that I did not enjoy, but overall it was a good read. To start with what I did like, I liked the steamy romance between our main characters, Elizabeth and Hamish. Although I felt that their love developed very quickly, it was full of the passion and chemistry that I like to see in my romances. The romance between Anne and Ranald was less believable due to Anne's past. I didn't think the few interactions they had were enough to convince me she had a change of heart over her decision to never marry. Overall, I liked this romance, but wished the author would have stuck to the romance between our main characters more rather than adding in supplementary romances.

Was this review helpful?

The St Claire sisters are enjoying their first season out after mourning the death of their parents. Thanks to their distant relative, the Duke, they all have dowries, a home for the season, a chaperone, and two emissaries to watch over the four sisters. This story actually included the stories of all four girls: Anne, Elizabeth, Mary, and Victoria, but the focus was mostly on Anne and Elizabeth.

Hamish and Ranald thought that helping their friend, Lachlan, the Duke, watch over the girls would be an easy task, but the St Claire girls, along with Aunt Esmeralda and the members of the ton, make life interesting, to say the least. As the men are Highlanders, they are considered to be savage and uncivilized and yet, the women of the ton are fascinated with them. Elizabeth and Hamish are quickly attracted to each other and act one their attraction. Ranald is instantly attracted to Anne, but she is more hesitant as she had been burned by the "love" of a Scot years before.

What happens when Aunt Esmeralda's plans to get the girls wed to proper gentlemen don't coincide with who the girls choose? Chaos and megrims.

Although there were apparently characters from other stories that made appearances in the story, I did not feel that I missed anything by not having read the other books. The language and thinking of the story were a little more modern at times. I liked Anne's character better than Elizabeth's as she was flighty and immature..

Was this review helpful?