Cover Image: Highland Devil

Highland Devil

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When I started this book, I was completely lost. So i looked it up and found out this was book #22 in a series. wait, what?!? Book 22?!?! I'm not sure if this pulls characters from other books or not, I would assume it would have to. And I don't know if this book picks up where book 21 left off. However, if you are like me and reading book 22 without having read any others (I don't know why you would be doing this), the action in this book starts immediately. Bear with it. You will come to understand what is going on.
This tale was an interesting enough one. Mora is on the run from her mad cousin. Mad as in crazypants not angry. Well, he was angry too....but mostly crazypants!
The romance in this book is definitely a slow burn romance. I wasn't sure it was even going to happen at all. I was like...maybe books 1-22 are all just build up to a giant Murray family lovefest in book 23? But then it hit eventually. Honestly though it was a little wishy-washy and not very grand. The romance kinda disappointed me since I had waited most of the book for it.
I did enjoy meeting all the different families and clans. The characters in the book were well done and I liked many of them. Freya was instantly my favorite character though. LOL.
While I enjoyed this story once I got into it a bit more, as a romance novel, I don't think this book was for me. I'm sure there are are a ton of people that would love this though, so definitely check it out for yourself.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased honest review.

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This was a very slow and mellow read for me, but that's not to say that I didn't enjoy it. The main characters were believable and endearing. I rather liked Gybbon and Mora. I liked the side characters too, and I'm sure that had I read any of the previous books I would have understood a lot more of what was going on. But I haven't, so I just went with what I was given and it didn't really affect this story I thought. I got a good chuckle here and there, but mostly I just enjoyed the interactions between Gybbon and Mora. And oh how I loved Mora's cat!! The bad guy was truly a bad guy and it was great to see him finally get his comeuppance at the end in the way he did.

Given the chance, I'm not sure how excited I would be to read more of this series. It was entertaining enough, and I liked it, but I think I have many other books that I would like more

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Overall this was an enjoyable, relaxing read that gently balanced with some romance & action but not too heavy on either end. While there were some moments that Mora came off as surprisingly naive while at others quite bright & charming, she was a likable heroine you could root for. Gybbon, like wise was a likable hero who was charming and caring (if occasionally dense - but that's part of the charm). there were a few instances where things felt a little disjointed or as if the timeline was inconsistent, but nothing that caused more than a brief pause in reading. one of the highlights of this story (as with many of this author's) is the inclusion and emphasis of family & friendships which brings forth a nice sense of humor as well as strengthens the story itself. The plot of the evil cousin out to kill just about everyone in his quest of greed is a little over the top but the ending and how things come to be resolved is satisfying (go good guys!). the book as an even read - nothing too exciting or too annoying, more just right for a few hours relaxation reading in the evening before bed. While not my favorite of the series, it was solid installment.

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When a red-haired woman tries to steal Sir Gybbon Murray’s horse on his journey back to the Murray stronghold, he thanks his lucky stars that his horse Jasper is a rude lout and that the pretty thief is not so injured that she can’t tell her tale. He’s no nursemaid to delicate lasses, but Mora Ogilvy is fleeing her ruthless cousins, fearing for her life. And when she tells him of the home they’ve taken from her and the man they say she murdered, Gybbon cannot let such injustice stand. Still, she needs to recover from her wounds, and staying close to Gybbon in his brother’s keep is a seductive solution.
A well written fast paced story that had treachery, murder, intrigue & of course romance. The characters have plenty of depth. Gybbon & More are very likeable & they are attracted to each other from their first encounter. It is of course Freya & Andrew who steal the book! It was a roller coaster of a read, at times the events so engrossing that I was totally lost in the book. This is another book in the long running Murrays series but could well be read on its own
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

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HIGHLAND DEVIL By Hannah Howell
Highland Devil is the 22nd book in this series. Hannah Howell does a great job with the Scottish accents, fully developed characters, and a solid story line. It is a well written story with fleshed out characters. I have read books by Hannah Howell for years.
This was an enjoyable tale about a young woman, Mora Ogilvy that is running for her life after a cousin tried to kill her, he had already killed her parents, tried to have her older brothers killed in France, and wanted to kill her young brother. As she flees she tries to steal a horse from Gybbon Murray. He after hearing her tale is determined to help her. This story also brings back an old favorite, Laird Sigimor to help in her protection. This book did not have the heat that I am used to in her books. I didn't think they had much passion for each other. I am curious about the title as well since Gybbon is more hero as he is taking care of Mora than the devil the title proclaims him to be. I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher, and am leaving an honest review .

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Mora Ogilvy is on the run. She has just learned that her cousin killed her parents. When Mora's cousin tries to murder her and her younger brother, Mora and her brother make a mad dash for escape. Mora sends her brother to a friend for safe-keeping and heads off to her mother's family for help.

Sir Gybbon Murray is surprised and angered when a woman tries to steal his horse. He thwarts Mora's plans, but after wringing the truth from her, Gybbon decides to come to her aid since he knows her mother's kin. Gybbon fights his attraction to Mora, but despite his best efforts, finds himself caving in. Maybe Gybbon and Mora were fated to meet. Maybe, just maybe, Mora is the one. First things first, put and end to her murderous cousin, then Gybbon can see where things go.

I give HIGHLAND DEVIL by author Hannah Howell a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Mora leads Gybbon a merry chase. I love the interaction between them. Gybbon has no idea what all he is in store for. I liked that Mora had spirit and fire. She was willing to do whatever needed to be done to get justice for her parents and to protect her younger brother. I am so glad she ran into Gybbon. He truly is her knight in shining armor. Together, they can do anything. I cannot wait to read more by Ms. Howell.

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Highland Devil (Murray Family, #22) by Hannah Howell I give this 3 1/2 stars
Mora has been forced from her home by a greedy cousin....She meets Gybbon (hero) when she tries to steal his horse and is bucked off. Of course he agrees to help her reach her cousins, the Cameron's. You get to reconnect with characters from previous books. Thanks to #NetGalley for letting me preview this book. She is a virgin who falls quickly into bed with our hero...he is reluctant to marry and admit he loves her. There is not a lot of romance in this book...they do get justice for her family and their HEA. The book is ok but not my favorite from Hannah.

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Highland Devil? Not so much. Mora is on the run from her murderous cousins who are determined to take over the small inheritance Mora’s family was given by their father, Mora’s uncle. She happens upon the hero Gybbon, who agrees to take her to safety. If you did not read this book as a ‘romance’ it would probably be more enjoyable. The first half read more like an adventure of one girl standing up to her relatives and making her way to safety. I was really enjoying the book. Then all of a sudden, Gybbon climbs into her bed, after maybe one chaste kiss? It just didn’t feel fluent. In fact, when I was first reading and making my impressions of Mora, she seemed very young to me. Much too young and immature for Gybbon, who by the way, was no devil at all. (was he even the devil in the title?). My biggest problem with the book was how ho hum everyone was. For example, I’m on my way to my death, let’s talk about mundane facts while you fix my hair. Someone is coming to kill me, I think I will go alone and talk to them, no big deal at all. Oh no, someone has been kidnapped, should we go right away and save them, no, let’s wait until tomorrow! You see my point?? Several times I wanted to say ‘wake up people! Have some urgency here!’ But alas, there was never any. If you like your romances to have a sloooooow burn, and be full of appropriate period dialogue, then this is the book for you! I received a copy of this book free for my honest review, and this is it!

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In return for being given this ARC, I am giving a fair and honest review. I do so enjoy reading Hannah Howell's stories. She writes as Scottish as they come with braw Scot laddies and bonnie lassies who overcome so much in the beautiful but wild land they love. Aye, it is a guid tale, ye ken?

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Mora Ogilvy is on the run for her life. After the death of her parents, she has the care of her little brother and the family home until he comes of age. Mora has two older brothers but they went to France to fight and have not been heard from in two years, After her oldest cousin admits to killing her parents and are going to kill her and her brother in order to get their home and land. She sends her brother off to a friend of her mothers and she takes off in another way.. She runs into a man camping for the night and tries to steal his horse....
Sir Gybbon Murray watches as Mora tries to steal his horse but is thrown from him instead. After hearing about what happened to her parents he decides to help her to get to her cousins keep for help. But what he doesn't know is that while trying to escape, Mora is hurt and her wound is festering..
The ;longer the two are together the stronger their feelings for each other get.

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I’ve always been loyal to Hannah Howell because she was the one or first authors I read when I began reading romance novels. She is definitely s talented writer. The characters are fleshed out. Our heroine, Mora, has been forced from her home by her greedy cousin. While on the run, she meets our hero, Gybbon. Of course he agrees to help her to reach her cousins, the Cameron’s. What follows is a classic Howell novel. I used to love the highlander series, but as much as I hate to say it, they all seem like the same book. There is always a villain who does atrocious thing and is “mad”, always a hero who is reluctant to wed and to admit he loves the heroine, always a virgin heroine who falls quickly into bed with the hero and is determined to not pressure him. It worked for me many years ago, but not anymore. Now I feel like it’s just a long eye roll. So if your are looking for something fresh and different, then skip. Or if you are looking for classic Hannah Howell then you should love this one.

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3.5 Stars rounded up to 4
Series: Murray Family #22
Publication Date: 7/31/18

This was quite an interesting read. The plot was tightly written and the characters were likable and relatable. The romance was such a slow burn that I began to wonder if it was there at all. They finally slept together, but neither of them had any thoughts of love or marriage – just lust. Then, all of a sudden – they were in love and didn’t mind if they were forced to marry. I also had to wonder why the title was Highland Devil – unless it was named for Robert, the villain of the story. He was certainly a devil and worse.

This was more an ensemble cast rather than having an outstanding hero who does heroic things to save his lady. Sir Gybbon Murray doesn’t command a large force of men or have his own large keep, etc. However, he is the brother of Harcourt Murray who is Laird of his clan. He is also good friends with Sigimor who is laird of his clan and a kinsman of Mora. Gybbon works with and follows the lead of these two lairds in order to protect and rescue Mora.

Mora was preparing to flee her family home when her four cousins break into the house. She manages to get her younger brother out the window so he can run to a nearby friend for protection. Mora isn’t so lucky. Her cousin grabs her, hits her and taunts her with the fact that he has already murdered her parents and that her two older brothers won’t be returning home. Mora knows she has to escape and when her tiny runt of a cat claws her cousin’s face, she knows that is her chance. She grabs her kitten and heads out at a run, but not before Robert’s knife manages to scrape down her side. She gets out and finds a place to hide, but she knows her cousins will be hot on her trail.

Mora heads to the home of her mother’s kinsman. She stays on the road as much as she can but hides when horses are approaching. One rider passes on a beautiful horse – and – to her good fortune, she sees that same rider camping out further down the road. If he’ll just leave the site for a moment or two to relieve himself – she can ‘borrow’ his horse. When he finally does leave the area of the campfire, she sneaks in and saddles his horse, then awkwardly climbs aboard – only to find herself promptly tossed on the ground by the horse.

The horse’s owner, Gybbon, feeds her and gets her story out of her. Then, when her cousins stop in at his campsite, he hides her from them. Gybbon tells her he will take her to Sigimor’s keep and that he was planning to stop by there anyway. They ride along hiding when others approach and finally make it to Sigimor’s keep.

After they rescue her young, seven-year-old brother, Sigimor decides she’d be safer at Gybbon’s brother’s keep and they devise a plan to get her there safely.

I was really proud of Mora – she was being so strong, smart, and brave. I was just thinking, hey, this is going to be good because she isn’t going to do any of those TSTL things. She’s really being smart – and then, of course – comes the TSTL event.

I did enjoy the read, but if you are looking for gripping excitement and swashbuckling heroes, then you will probably find this book a little slow. I kind of like the ensemble approach and the fact that the hero can and does take advice and direction.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

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I won't be able to post my review on this book to other sites due to the fact that I'm 1 starring the book.
What first turned me off was the writer kept repeating herself. Mora would be having thoughts of their situation (2-3 paragraphs of them) then Gybbon would repeat the exact same thoughts about the situation. This happened for most of the book and almost looked like the author was trying to fill space since there wasn't a reason to repeat everything. They trusted everyone around them except Robert and his brothers. Everyone they ran into they told their whole plan to. They told Maggie's neighbor exactly where they were going and why. Mora told the cook everyone who was coming for her and they'd save her. Then Mora pulled the "too stupid to live" card by going by herself ,without telling anyone or taking protection, to her uncle who didn't listen the first time they tried to tell him what his son was doing. Robert had killed pretty much everyone and yet no one tried to stop him. It's almost like the author was doing "overkill" on the villain. The killings and attempts Robert was trying to blame on Mora were to idiotic for anyone to believe with her size and stature. The last part that I couldn't handle... While staying at Sigimor's manor, everyone uses the "secret" doors. Because they stayed there once or twice several years ago and they were distantly related kin, Sigimor told Mora's mother all about them? That just wasn't done..ever. Only those exceedingly close to the Laird that lived at their manor knew about secret escapes and even then, very few knew. In the beginning of the book, Mora's parents were loved by everyone, even at the keep. Including the Laird loved them. After Mora is taken prisoner and is pondering her situation after 1 comment from Roberts father, she realizes that the Laird had actually raped her mother before she married Mora's father and that was the reason they never went near the Laird. How she worked out that whole story of the raping before marriage from 1 comment about her mother being a "fallen woman" makes no sense as well as it coming from out of the blue.

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Greetings Reader,

I heard a tale this weeked of a romance that took place long ago circa 1400’s Scotland. Gybbon Murray, brother of Laird Harcourt Murray, was travelling when someone attempted to steal his horse. The would be thief was Mora Ogilvy, on the run from her greedy and ruthless cousins. Gybbon, brave man that he was, decided to aid and protect her despite the dangers. With the support of other clansmen (many of which have their own romances) Gybbon rescues her youngest brother Andrew and carts Mora off to safety. Gybbon and Mora were destined from the start, their attraction met no resistance and their love was soon accepted. Mora trusted in Gybbon and he in turn felt protective of her and the rest was just a matter of evading villains. Everyone wondered, would Gybbon permanently or temporarily give up wandering to settle down? Would his answer prove him to be a devil? Alas, dear reader while he pondered the matter Mora unwittingly walked into a trap and he had to set off to rescue her from certain death. It was a sweet and staid romance with a semblance of eminent danger.

--- Lady Pendragon

https://ladybookwormpendragon.tumblr.com
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36542213-highland-devil

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Another great book by a truly gifted author. Hannah Howell is one of my top two favorite authors. I have read almost all of her books. Her books draw you in and keep you turning the pages until the end and then you still want more. Her realistic storyline and amazing characters pull you in and make you feel at home. Her closely related clans that are interwoven throughout her series make you feel like you are catching up with friends. This is Mora and Gybbon's story and like all of the other books this author writes it is another amazing read. I cannot say enough good things about this book and this author. I would definitely recommend this book.

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I received a copy of this e-book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Mora Ogilvy's life is in danger and she must get help. Her psycho cousin has killed her parents, possibly killed her brother's who went off to fight in France and is now after her and her 7 year old brother. Her brother is safe at the moment with a family friend and she is going to her mother's family for help.

On his way back home, Sir Gybbon Murray catches Mora trying to steal his horse...oy yeas, borrow it she said. He finally gets some of her story and finds that she is traveling to his good friend Sigimond's home so he agrees to help her.

Will they make is to safety before Mora's cousin finds her? Can Gybbon keep her safe and will her mother's family help?

I guess I don't have to tell you that there is an attraction between Gybbon and Mora. I like the way their relationship developed...it was very natural although there were times of tension between them of course.

There is such a great cast of characters in this story! Mora and her family were raised in a loving house as was Gybbon, who has an extended family beyond the imagination. Sigimond, Mora's distant relative is fierce but can deny his wife nothing. The show stealer though has got to be Freya, Mora's little tiny cat with a personality bigger than she will ever be!


I am a huge fan of the author's. She is the one who made me fall in love with the highlander. This book started off a bit slow for me but it didn't last long before I couldn't put it down.

If you are a fan of the highlander and this era then this is a must read!

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Her parents have been killed and her older brothers are missing and now Mora is on the run and trying to keep herself and younger brother safe from her cousin Robert who is trying to set her up for crimes she didn't commit. When she comes across Sir Gybbon Murray and tries to steal his horse he decides to protect her.

This was an enjoyable story to read while visiting old characters from previous books. A story full of questions, plotting and love.

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This is a well written period piece, it has family treachery, action, well thought out characters and some hot scenes between our hero and heroine. Although I did not find much of the building romance between Sir Gybbon and Mora that I like to “feel” in my romance novels, the storyline was written in a manner that held my interest to the end.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

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An insane cousin who kills her parents sends a young woman on the run. Trying to steal a Scotsman's horse turns into the rescue of herself and her brother. Clans come together to stop a madman from more killing. An unusual cat and laugh out loud humor keep the darkside from coming on too strong.

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You'd think a series with this many books in it would be getting dull and stale, but nothing is further from the truth with this book and writer!! A fun and sexy historical romance!

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