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lcmarie19's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this story! Seriously LOVED it!
This is honestly one of the few historical romances that I was in love with by page five. This book was such an emotional, suspenseful read. It follows Mariel Brandon who has become a spy for a deadly man, in order to protect her brother. Her mission is to seduce the head of a powerful clan, Kieran McDonald, and get him to take her to his castle. She definitely finds Kieran and she definitely seduces him. What she didn't expect was to fall in love with her target.
There are so many things I can say about how much I loved this story. I've never read anything by Madeline Martin before, but I can definitely say that after reading this book, I am on board to read more. I'm not a fan of historical fiction, I tend to find them boring and wordy. Not only was this book engaging from page one, but the writing was just fantastic.
I loved these characters. Every single one of them. I love how the progression of the relationships, friends or romantic, were deliberate but not too quickly paced. I love how believable each of the relationships were. I loved how Kieran's character came off as this hardcore, tough guy but Martin's portrayal of a more complex being made his all the more interesting.
I love how strong yet feminine Mariel was in the book. It is so common to create a tough and strong female lead, but forget her femininity. Martin packaged that all together so well with Mariel and I loved that about her.
This story is, in my opinion, driven equally by the characters as well as the world. And I find that it can be hard to do both. Especially when it comes to romance stories, historical or not. I just can't say enough good things about this book. I loved it all.
I highly recommend this book and I eager await a time when I can get my hands on another Madeline Martin book. She's gained a new fan in me!
This is honestly one of the few historical romances that I was in love with by page five. This book was such an emotional, suspenseful read. It follows Mariel Brandon who has become a spy for a deadly man, in order to protect her brother. Her mission is to seduce the head of a powerful clan, Kieran McDonald, and get him to take her to his castle. She definitely finds Kieran and she definitely seduces him. What she didn't expect was to fall in love with her target.
There are so many things I can say about how much I loved this story. I've never read anything by Madeline Martin before, but I can definitely say that after reading this book, I am on board to read more. I'm not a fan of historical fiction, I tend to find them boring and wordy. Not only was this book engaging from page one, but the writing was just fantastic.
I loved these characters. Every single one of them. I love how the progression of the relationships, friends or romantic, were deliberate but not too quickly paced. I love how believable each of the relationships were. I loved how Kieran's character came off as this hardcore, tough guy but Martin's portrayal of a more complex being made his all the more interesting.
I love how strong yet feminine Mariel was in the book. It is so common to create a tough and strong female lead, but forget her femininity. Martin packaged that all together so well with Mariel and I loved that about her.
This story is, in my opinion, driven equally by the characters as well as the world. And I find that it can be hard to do both. Especially when it comes to romance stories, historical or not. I just can't say enough good things about this book. I loved it all.
I highly recommend this book and I eager await a time when I can get my hands on another Madeline Martin book. She's gained a new fan in me!
rainelle_barrett's review against another edition
4.0
Marial and Kerians story has a lot of passion and intense steam. I enjoyed reading the sensual seduction that played between the two characters. The writer did a wonderful job of keeping their romance at the forefront of the book. The background story of the mission from both parties I would like to have read more of. The characters were pretty charming even Colin with his bad self. The story reads like a page turner on a rainy day.
aharner88's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! Kieran and Mariel's story.It was exciting, heartwrenching, and kept me on the edge of my seat! I got to be part of the ARC team for this book and I am so glad I did! Madeline's books are always so good, and this one was no exception. The deception of a highlander was well written, and thoroughly entertaining. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!!
teaandbooklover's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
I'm glad I stuck with this because in the beginning the Heroine really bothered me with her forcefulness of character. As the story went on and I learned more, I liked her more, but even towards the end I didn't know if I could trust her to still do the right thing.
At time I felt Kiernan was too good for Mariel, and too 'standoffish' because she was so pushy.
I enjoyed this book overall but for me it rates a 3.75. I will probably read more of this author's books.
I'm glad I stuck with this because in the beginning the Heroine really bothered me with her forcefulness of character. As the story went on and I learned more, I liked her more, but even towards the end I didn't know if I could trust her to still do the right thing.
At time I felt Kiernan was too good for Mariel, and too 'standoffish' because she was so pushy.
I enjoyed this book overall but for me it rates a 3.75. I will probably read more of this author's books.
wendylalala's review
5.0
Highland Deception is a Highland Historical Romance like none I've read. It combines action, adventure, high-stakes, trans-formative love and thrilling passion against the background of personal and political intrigue. In perfect balance, the intrepid, kick-ass heroine must learn to expand her heart to include, not only the hero, but an entire community while the hero, who already loves an bears responsibility for his community, must learn how to weave intimate commitment into his understanding of devotion. Add to all this vivid description and lush prose that transports the reader to the highlands of old. This is a debut not-to-be-missed!
catkaz's review
4.0
Mariel Brandon is a quick-witted English beauty who has seen more than her fair share of heartache: her parents died in the plague and she used all her wits and strength to keep herself and her little brother Jack alive. Unfortunately, she can't stay out of the web of the truly un-likeable Aaron, a master manipulator who does other people's dirty business--or rather, has his debtors, people like Mariel, do other people's dirty business while keeping himself (and his fresh manicure, I'd imagine) clean.
Mariel is daring, brave, and devoted to her brother, but she's stuck in Aaron's employ ("employ") until her debt is paid. Aaron finally promises to release Jack if she completes one more mission: find two people in a castle on the Isle of Skye, clan Macdonald's fortress. Mariel has a few months to seduce Kieran, the head of the clan, to gain information and access and provide Aaron's client with the location of the two refugees. If she succeeds, Aaron promises to release both Jack and Mariel from his clutches. If she fails, her brother will die. Mariel's never failed...yet.
But--and you saw this coming--Kieran turns out to be a gorgeous be-kilted man she just can't help falling in lust/love with. Fortunately for her, the feeling is mutual. Unfortunately for her, the stakes are absurdly high. One poor decision, one secret whispered in the wrong ear, could mean death for her, Jack, and Kieran. As you might imagine, people who hire assassins don't have many qualms about killing their hired help and/or reneging on promises, and, too, head clansmen don't like being deceived.
I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would--not because I doubted Martin's writing ability, but because I am not so much a romance reader. The first few chapters, I'll be honest, I might have rolled my eyes once or twice--how convenient, I thought, that Kieran is literally the first person Mariel meets at a party after getting her assignment. Of course he is more taken with her than with the rich blonde all the other men are drooling over; of course he is a beautiful specimen of ripply-muscled manhood.
But! This is not all rippling muscles, although there are plenty (and well-written--no judgement here, I like muscles as much as the next lady!) for those who are interested: very quickly after Mariel meets Kieran, things get real. Despite the lust, they don't/can't trust each other; she outwits him; they've each got some painful scars, literal and otherwise; the journey to Skye is arduous and the welcome less than friendly. They are constantly aware of and aroused by each other, but it's like playing near the edge of the high-dive: each knows that it can get far too deep, far too fast. And that was one of the best parts of this story, I thought. It's fast-paced, and there are twists and turns, and surprises, and it is for sure action-packed, but the resolution of their sexual tension is (mostly) a slow burn. So there were two main contrasts: the strains of lust vs. responsibility, and the fast-paced action scenes vs. the slow work of trust-building. Both are well-written.
Two other things I enjoyed were the development throughout the story of Mariel's strength and Kieran's, well, upstandingness. Mariel is a "strong female character" to be sure, but she has a fully developed back story (that's unveiled over the course of the book with some very disciplined pacing on the part of the author) to explain her strength. I worried at the beginning that she would veer too much into a stereotype--gorgeous woman, haunted by her past, turns into badass--but she's drawn tenderly and has real scenes of weakness, indecision, and hurt, and her yearning to be free of Aaron is overwhelming and palpable. She is the driver of this story, and she is good at it.
In the same way, Kieran isn't a stereotypical brawny specimen, long-haired, brutal in battle, etc. I mean, he is that. But he is also a new, wounded leader struggling with what that means, and he is thoughtful in more ways than one, and he values Mariel's boundaries and consent (a turn-on if ever there was one), and he sometimes makes regrettable decisions but learns to live and forgive.
In short: great debut novel. I am looking forward to see what Martin does next.
Mariel is daring, brave, and devoted to her brother, but she's stuck in Aaron's employ ("employ") until her debt is paid. Aaron finally promises to release Jack if she completes one more mission: find two people in a castle on the Isle of Skye, clan Macdonald's fortress. Mariel has a few months to seduce Kieran, the head of the clan, to gain information and access and provide Aaron's client with the location of the two refugees. If she succeeds, Aaron promises to release both Jack and Mariel from his clutches. If she fails, her brother will die. Mariel's never failed...yet.
But--and you saw this coming--Kieran turns out to be a gorgeous be-kilted man she just can't help falling in lust/love with. Fortunately for her, the feeling is mutual. Unfortunately for her, the stakes are absurdly high. One poor decision, one secret whispered in the wrong ear, could mean death for her, Jack, and Kieran. As you might imagine, people who hire assassins don't have many qualms about killing their hired help and/or reneging on promises, and, too, head clansmen don't like being deceived.
I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would--not because I doubted Martin's writing ability, but because I am not so much a romance reader. The first few chapters, I'll be honest, I might have rolled my eyes once or twice--how convenient, I thought, that Kieran is literally the first person Mariel meets at a party after getting her assignment. Of course he is more taken with her than with the rich blonde all the other men are drooling over; of course he is a beautiful specimen of ripply-muscled manhood.
But! This is not all rippling muscles, although there are plenty (and well-written--no judgement here, I like muscles as much as the next lady!) for those who are interested: very quickly after Mariel meets Kieran, things get real. Despite the lust, they don't/can't trust each other; she outwits him; they've each got some painful scars, literal and otherwise; the journey to Skye is arduous and the welcome less than friendly. They are constantly aware of and aroused by each other, but it's like playing near the edge of the high-dive: each knows that it can get far too deep, far too fast. And that was one of the best parts of this story, I thought. It's fast-paced, and there are twists and turns, and surprises, and it is for sure action-packed, but the resolution of their sexual tension is (mostly) a slow burn. So there were two main contrasts: the strains of lust vs. responsibility, and the fast-paced action scenes vs. the slow work of trust-building. Both are well-written.
Two other things I enjoyed were the development throughout the story of Mariel's strength and Kieran's, well, upstandingness. Mariel is a "strong female character" to be sure, but she has a fully developed back story (that's unveiled over the course of the book with some very disciplined pacing on the part of the author) to explain her strength. I worried at the beginning that she would veer too much into a stereotype--gorgeous woman, haunted by her past, turns into badass--but she's drawn tenderly and has real scenes of weakness, indecision, and hurt, and her yearning to be free of Aaron is overwhelming and palpable. She is the driver of this story, and she is good at it.
In the same way, Kieran isn't a stereotypical brawny specimen, long-haired, brutal in battle, etc. I mean, he is that. But he is also a new, wounded leader struggling with what that means, and he is thoughtful in more ways than one, and he values Mariel's boundaries and consent (a turn-on if ever there was one), and he sometimes makes regrettable decisions but learns to live and forgive.
In short: great debut novel. I am looking forward to see what Martin does next.
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