I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book

This book was very true to the setting in which the book was written and the characters a joy to read about. I am a huge Amanda Scott fan but unfortunately for me this book was very slow.

Delightful, entertaining, action packed and intriguing historical romance. The descriptions of the area, people and way of life where just detailed enough to fuel the imagination and keep the readers attention to the very end.

Lady Fiona Ormiston is so full of sass and spunk you can't help but adore her and root for her happiness. Sir Adham MacFinlagh, an ungroomed, barbaric Highlander with a ready mind and strength of charter is so alluring he just draws you in. Loved all the twists and turns in their adventure and supporting story line. Looking forward to more from this series.

This is an enjoyable, well written book but I like Amanda Scott's earlier series better, especially Border Nights. I very much like that this author stays true to the history of Scotland. This book takes place in 15th century Scotland, a time of strife for that country.

Sir Adam MacFinlagh is a highland warrior loyal to the King. Lady Fiona Ormiston is one of the queen's ladies and not fond of highlanders, though she is attracted to Adam. The king decides they will marry. While not thrilled to be living in the highlands, she is attracted to her husband and wishes he wasn't gone so much. Adam loves her but has to answer when the king calls.

Much more that I won't spoil. They do get their HEA and I can recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC. No one influenced my review.

Fiona is a lady in waiting to the Queen and one night Adham catches her swimming at night. The King later on decides that they would make a good match and decides they should marry. There is a lot his Scottish history in this read and great chemistry between Adham and Fiona. I really liked it.

This is my first novel my Amanda Scott, and likely to be my last. I made it about half way through the book before finally giving it up. I love historical romances, especially those set in Scotland, but this one fell short on the romance. To me, a Highland romance is about Highlanders who are rugged, tough, and break the "rules" of society. Adham may have been tough, but the Highland part of him stopped there. He was too proper to be a true Highland romantic hero. The novel itself just lacked a true connection between Adham and Fiona, and the romance just wasn't there. While I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book and the vivid descriptions, it just lacked the pull of a Highland romance.

Late one moonlight June night in 1431, on the North Inch of Perth, Sir Adham MacFinlagh spots a graceful lass, clad only in her shift, stepping into the waters of the river Tay. Adham is not a “fanciful man” but if he were, “he might have called it magical.” He is content to watch the water sprite float away from him, buoyed by the current, until “in an eddying swirl, she vanished beneath the sparkling dark surface.”

Suddenly fearful, he dashed after her. Heedless of rocks, the uneven terrain, and other such minor obstacles, he cast off his badric, belt, and heavy wool plaid as he ran.

Lady Fiona Ormiston savored the rare sense of freedom she felt deep beneath the surface, as her arms swept her forward and her legs kicked hard against the Tay’s strong current, heading back the way she had come. She was smugly pleased that she could hold her breath long enough now to count nearly to two hundred.

There you have the crux of the tempestuous relationship that unfolds between Adham and Fiona—he is protective and brave while Fiona is capable and sensible, except for the times when her yearning for freedom and solitude lead her into what some might dub foolhardiness. Adham is concerned for the safety of a young noblewoman, all alone outside the city gates, and he radiates disapproval.

“Does anyone else know you are swimming here?” he asked. His voice was deep and so vibrant that it seemed to hum through her, strumming unusually pleasant chords in her body and instilling an unexpected calmness there, as well.

Those feelings did naught to help her identify him, though, nor did she trust her own calm. Doubtless, he was good with animals. But she was no dumb beast.

Adham insists on escorting Fiona to her quarters (she is a lady-in-waiting to Queen Joanna, wife to King James of Scotland) even though she protests mightily, to no avail: “…she felt a prickle of unease but had time for no more before he picked her up as if she had been a sack of oatmeal and slung her, face down, over his left shoulder.” A ferocious cat snarls out of the shrubbery along the path and sinks sharp-clawed paws into Adham’s arm. Of course the cat could only belong to Fiona who promises to behave as she untangles her cat from the judgmental stranger’s arm, making Adham feel guilty about how he has treated the strong-willed swimmer.

Irked by her insistence upon having her own way, he had briefly forgotten that she was a noblewoman, a lady, and he a knight sworn to behave honorably. Instead he had behaved as he might toward one of his saucier younger cousins.

Calamitously, her father, Lord Ormiston, counselor to the king and a senior member of the court, is waiting at the gates of the town. After Fiona’s father dismisses her abruptly, he invites the young knight from the Highlands to stay with him for what remains of the night. Is this a clue that the met-by-chance couple will be married by daybreak? Not quite but Adham is a valuable pawn to the king and his courtiers. Adham is loyal to King James, in fact he was elevated to the knighthood by the king, but he also related by blood to the disloyal noblemen from the northern isles of Scotland.

Fiona and Adham meet again at court, careful not to give rise to gossip, but the littlest gesture—a touch to a shoulder—has each of them thinking about the other.

She could feel where his hand had touched her shoulder, and she felt other sensations when she thought about him. For reasons she could neither describe or understand, he had a strong effect on her. She wanted to know more about him.

Doubtless, the desire was no more than simple curiosity about a Highland barbarian. In fact, though, and if one discounted his untidy appearance and odd garments, the man seemed no more barbaric than Davy was.

Admittedly, it was unusual for her to think about any man as much as she had thought about Sir Adham, whom she had known for less than a day.

It’s pretty obvious that Fiona’s feelings for Adham are not sisterly, although Adham and her fierce brother Davy have a lot in common. When the king and Fiona’s father suggest the two marry, Adham agrees, with the proviso that Fiona not be compelled to wed him. Adham realizes he wants nothing more than to marry Fiona, and so he tells her.

“If you mean to say nae, say it.”

“I will say aye, sir, although I fear that I may regret it.”

Grinning, he said, “Doubtless, we will both have some regrets. We do seem able to talk to each without speaking in riddles or thinking things we do not say aloud. So, when one of us irks the other, mayhap we’ll be able to see it through.”

She smiled, feeling warm all. “I like you, Sir Adham MacFinlagh.”

“Tis a good start,” he said. “You fascinate me, lass.”

Could there be a more eloquent, realistic, and hopeful proposal? Adham and Fiona travel to the Highlands after their marriage and therein lies a tale. But whatever the obstacles in their path—the marriage of an aristocratic lady and a Highland bred warrior—they have growing affection on their side. As Adham tells Fiona after taking “delightful liberties” with her lips, “You would entice a man made of stone, my lady.” Perhaps Lady Fiona will not be a reluctant highlander after all.

I'd consider this more historical fiction with a side of romance but it was still a great story. It was so beautifully detailed that I felt like I was in Scotland. The story unfolds at a steady pace and kept my attention the entire way through. The romance was sweet and added just the right touch to this historical.

This is a slow moving love story that is full of intrigue and action and drama and amusement. Adham is a simple knight, a gentleman and warrior, who King James asks to form an alliance with his most trusted advisor by marrying the man's daughter, Fiona. Fiona is a ladies maid to Queen Joanna, she's a simple girl who likes her privacy and a bit of freedom. They marry and go back to the highlands so that Adham can collect information about who might be plotting against the king. Throughout the story two bumbling idiots are trying to kidnap Fiona to use as leverage over her father. The storyline is rich with details and interesting characters. Adham is not a favorite of mine, he's too oblivious to his wife's feelings, wants and needs. I do love Fiona. She is feisty, but not overly much, and she is brave and has just enough independent tendencies to make her fun. My favorite characters though are Argus and Eos.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my voluntary and honest opinion of it.

'The Reluctant Highlander' by Amanda Scott is the story of Lady Fiona Ormiston and Sir Adham MacFinlagh.
Fiona has been ordered by the King to Marry Adham. Fiona has been comfortable with the life she has but goes along with the Marriage. Although Adham is totally different than any one she is used to being around. Adham is finding that he is starting to have feelings for his new wife. This was a story of strangers marrying as requested and slowly starting to learn about the other as their days go on. Each thinking something of the other when meeting and going into this marriage...but then that previous preconception starting to change. Later though they are put to the test again when it is thought that Adham family might have ties to the enemy.
Overall found this book to be very good.
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."

I was quickly drawn into the story. The characters were vivid and you could see Abham and Fiona growing together and beginning to trust each other. The descriptions are complete, like the wedding of Fiona and Abham, it was beautiful and the way the lochs looked at night, so dark and flat. Unfortunately, once he got her home safely. He had to travel, there was a war brewing. There were some twists and turns in the plot which just added to the interest of the tale. I was up all night, I could not put this down I absolutely loved this book and found the story amazing.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The marriage of Fiona and Adham was arranged on the spur of the moment by James the King. War was a part of the Highland life and was constantly on the horizon. A battle where many were killed is in the book but the gruesomeness was not detailed. Adham survived the battle but was captured by a Comyn seeking revenge and later rescued by Fiona and Rory. The book has intrigue, suspense, a battle and the growing love between Fiona and Adham. The romance was somewhat lacking . I enjoyed the book but sometimes the language was hard to understand exactly what they meant. Its still a good read.

It is easy to see why Amanda Scott is a bestselling author. Her research, character development and vivid imagery of Scotland in the 1400's was beyond my expectations.

From the very beginning, I adored Lady Fiona Ormiston. She was adventurous and bold, yet remained dignified and lady-like While stealing away late one night to enjoy a swim in the moonlight, Sir Adham arrives to see her in the water. Thinking she was drowning, he jumps in to save her. Although Fiona sees him as a ruthless barbarian, she soon warms to him and the chemistry between them comes close to igniting. When King James and Fiona's father suggest that Sir Adham should take Lady Fiona's hand in marriage, the two somewhat reluctantly, agree. But then the passion begins and the love flourishes.

I would have given this 5 stars, but there was a great deal of talking politics. I know it was important to the story to understand the history of Scotland, but it made parts of the story drag on a bit and there were a few times I had to put the book down. Once we got beyond the history of all the battles, it got really good again and I absolutely loved the ending. No spoilers. You need to read this for yourself to see what happens.
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This was a charming tale about Fiona, who thinks she knows exactly what she would want in a man were she desire to marry, and Adham, who knows what he wants at first sight. I loved how Fiona came to see beyond the scruffy, somewhat unkempt and definitely less-than-fashionable exterior of Adham and appreciate him for his inner beauty, strengths and steadfast loyalty. There was just the slightest Beauty & The Beast feel to this story, but not enough to keep the story from developing and showcasing its own unique merits. Fiona thinks all Highlanders are wild heathens, and it is heartwarming to watch her get to know Adham's people, and learn just how mistaken she was, as she comes to care for them as if they were her own. But, when King and Country call Adham and his clansmen to war, will she lose her new husband and the welcoming people in her newfound home?

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Open Road Integrated Media in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Amanda Scott has done a good job writing The Reluctant Highlander. A lot of research has gone into this book. If you enjoy stories about Scotland or history you should enjoy this book. Plenty of history and romance. The first part, I had some trouble getting into the story but once I became familiar with the Scottish words and phrases I did enjoy it.

I enjoy reading Highlander romances, but this one didn't keep my interest. Ms. Scott is a talented author and writes well. She clearly researched history for this story. However, the romance took a back seat to the plot. There was so many relationships to keep track of, who was related to who, who was loyal to King James and the dialogue spoken in dialect really got annoying after a while. I could barely make out what they were saying while the story plodded along.

I have read other novels by Ms. Scott and will certainly read more, but "The Reluctant Highlander" missed the mark for me.

A little too much Scottish detail for me. Hard to read the dialect and follow the story. Doesn't feel like a great romance. The initial encounters were detailed and then they were rushed through and not very exciting.

Publisher's description:

An uncertain bride looks for love with a man as wild and mysterious as his Highland home in this new Scottish romance from a USA Today bestselling author.

Ordinarily, Lady Fiona Ormiston wouldn’t think of forming an alliance with an ungroomed, barbaric Highlander, despite the protection he offers. But now, by request of the king, Sir Adham MacFinlagh, a brazen stranger and outsider unlike anyone she has met before, is to be her husband. Torn from solitude and the comfort of her family to make a home with the rugged knight, Fiona surrenders to Adham’s powerfully passionate—and shockingly tender—touch, only to discover her new husband’s family ties may lie with an enemy of the king.

A sense of duty may have brought Adham to the marriage bed, but it’s his powerful feelings for his beautiful, willful wife that will be his undoing. Ultimately, the bold knight will have to decide: Does his allegiance lie with his blood ties to the man who hopes to bring down the king or with the bride who has stolen his heart?

My Thoughts:

This is not the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last.
The historical detail in this book is very well researched and detailed, however I felt the love story was lacking. It was too sketchy and needed to have more depth.
I thought it needed more love story and less history and politics.
I gave this book 3.75 of 5 stars for storyline and character development. It had too much historical detail and not enough character interaction.
The sensual level gets 2.5 of 5 flames.
I received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley from the publisher to read. This in no way affected my opinion or review of this title which was read and reviewed voluntarily.

This delightful novel is filled with history and romance. The book covers some turbulent times in ancient Scotland -- 1429-1431. It is a time when the king is trying to bring peace and continuity to his governance but many of the Highland lords don’t like his policies and they are supporting another to rule parts of the country. It is a time filled with subterfuge and the king isn’t sure who he can trust and depend upon. It is a dangerous time to be a Scot – not the most dangerous in their history, but still unsettled and turbulent.

Sir Adham MacFinlagh is a true hero in every sense of the word and I really liked him. Also he’s a true Highlander and warrior. Adham has a bit of a sad family history, yet he’s remarkably well adjusted and happy in his family relationship. He is a firm supporter of the king even though he doesn’t agree with everything the king wants to do.

Lady Fiona Ormiston is the daughter of the kings most trusted advisor. She’s smart, sassy and independent even though she’s in service to the queen. She thinks Highlanders are all barbarians and is surprised to find she likes Adham when she meets him while she’s out for a midnight swim in the loch (yes, she snuck out).

Through the machinations of the king and Fiona’s father Adham and Fiona find themselves married to each other. I’ve read several reviews that say this book is very short on romance and that they didn’t have time to fall in love. Well – I beg to differ. The book covers well over a year in time and although Adham is away a lot to do the kings work, he comes home regularly. The book plainly says that, so they have all of that time to learn to love and appreciate each other without each visit being specifically spelled out.

There is, of course, a set of bad guys aside from the turbulence and battles that take place. It is nice to see them get their comeuppance.

One thing I really liked was the ‘Glossary’ at the beginning of the book. I would have liked it to have been a little bigger, but I was happy that it had one at all because most of the books don’t.

"I requested and received this 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."

This was a great story about the Scottish Highlands. The descriptiveness of the surroundings as well as the way of life back then was amazing.I thught I was back in that time period. Fiona showed that a strong woman was an asset back in those times and who wouldn't want a hot, hunky knight for a mate? Loved this book.

Historical romance is one of my favorite genres. I enjoy learning about the time period, the customs and local. I felt like this one ended up being more about the politics of the time rather than really letting me get to know how life was like in Scotland during this time period. I really got bogged down with all the names and how they were all related. It felt like everyone was a cousin or uncle and the political leanings of each was difficult to keep straight.