Highland Shift by Laura Harner
Series: Highland Destiny #1
Published by Indie
Published on: December 16, 2013
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Werewolves
Pages: 473
Format: eBook
Source: Freebie
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Elena MacFarland wonders what everyone else knows about her new farm that she doesn’t, and whether she’ll live long enough to find out. Betrayed by her fiancé and the powerful Worthington family, Elena fights back and negotiates a comfortable settlement with one small caveat: she must live in Scotland for two years. One kidnapping and two attempts on her life later, the darkly arrogant Scot, Faolan MacGailtry declares himself her new protector and moves into her farmhouse. Major problem? He was present at all three incidents. Elena decides to follow the adage to keep her friends close and enemies closer—but which is he? One by one, Elena uncovers Faolan’s darkest secrets: his Druid heritage, his connection to her past, and finally, the deadly curse that is powerful enough to destroy them both.
Reader notes: This is the first book of the Highland Destiny series and includes multiple paranormal elements, including Druidry, Fae, shapeshifting and magick. Heat level warning: slowly builds from extreme sexual tension toward full erotic romance.
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Here’s something a bit different from the usual shifter romance. Druids, Fae magick and mythology, ancient artifacts, and prophecy, all add to this story that features a female lawyer from Arizona and a Scottish highlander wolf shifter. There’s a lot to like about this read, but there is also things that annoyed me a bit.
Elena has been tricked by a her ex-fiance and his father. I am leaving out the details, but ultimately she ends up losing everything except for a Scottish home in the middle of nowhere. If she stays on the land for six months, it’s hers free and clear. So she moves to the wilds of Scotland, meeting a gorgeous Scottish man, Faolan, along the way. They have an immediate connection. As in, electrical-which is mentioned a few times. It’s not long before she is getting attacked by thugs, and realizes that six months is a lot of time in which someone could kill her, before the land and house are hers. But of course this isn’t a simple mystery. It’s not hard to figure out who the culprit is behind the attacks though. And actually the way it was done, that wasn’t a problem for me at all. However, there was a problem about why she was given the house in the first place-didn’t make a lot of sense to me. Enough said.
If you like a paranormal romance with way more explicit sex scenes than the norm, this could just be your next favorite read. This was a fairly long book, just a bit under 500 pages, and I think if you took away some of the many sexy scenes it really wouldn’t have ruined the read. I did skim a few of them after awhile. Just too many and seemed a bit like filler after awhile. I did enjoy the main characters though. They were both strong characters with major chemistry together, although there were times I wanted to shake Elena for some really stupid decisions. Why is it that the female usually makes all the bad moves in a book?
This book had just about something for almost any paranormal/fantasy fan. It really was a much deeper story than I was expecting to get so that was a pleasant surprise for me. In addition to the main characters, there were some good peripheral characters, a horrible villain and his henchmen, and of course the Scottish setting. An enchanted island, a castle, hidden treasure, a curse, ancient magick, this story has all that and more. It even has a new male character introduced towards the end that the next book(Highland Pull)is about. And yes, he was interesting enough to have me wanting to read his story as well. Another good thing? No cliffhanger or love triangle here.
Recommended to all adult paranormal romance readers that like a fairly complex and well written story to go along with the romance.
FYI-originally published in 2011.
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I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
Sounds like an interesting read but I also hate unnecessary sex scenes. 🙁
Stormi recently posted…My TBR List: August ~Let’s Vote!
Yes it had a lot of different paranormal aspects that made it different and I liked that. I expect sex scenes in a paranormal romance but too many just begins to be pretty redundant 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Highland Shift by Laura Harner
There is something weird with that cover
blodeuedd recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in July 31 2015 and review
You think? Not sure what you mean…
Lorna recently posted…Review: Highland Shift by Laura Harner
Sounds like a good start to a new series.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Review: Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow With Kool-Flow Micro-Vented Bamboo Cover
It was a good start 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Highland Shift by Laura Harner
I got this one as a freebie a while back and let it sit on the kindle. I’ll have to pick it up again since you have my interest renewed with your review, Lorna. 🙂 I’ll keep in mind that if it gets long that I can skim a few sex scenes. I’ve read her stuff before and that was true of those books, too. LOL!
Sophia Rose recently posted…Witness by Piper Davenport #Review #AfternoonDelight
This was my first by her. I did notice that the next book is a lot shorter so maybe it’s not as much sex? I dunno, but someday I may continue the series. I probably got it as a freebie too 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Highland Shift by Laura Harner
I have no issue with sexy-time, but like it to be balanced. You have me curious about the world and I love the elements you described. I will think about it
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Sunday Post #172- Sticky and Humid…Hello August
I don’t have an issue with sexy time either 🙂 but this book was so long, and when that’s due to sex scene after sex scene then it’s a bit wearing on me to finish it. It easily could have been 100 pages shorter. Other than that, I quite enjoyed the world the author has built.And it’s a freebie!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Highland Shift by Laura Harner
Sounds like a diverse paranormal
Yes it actually really was 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Highland Shift by Laura Harner
I know what you mean about sex scenes that seem to be put in to make the book longer, I tend to skip them too. A shame you found a few issues that irritated you. What a bugger of an ex too…
Naomi @ Naomi’s Reading Palace
Naomi recently posted…The Veil by Chloe Neill ~ Review & Quote-tastic
It actually was a pretty good story. And yeah the ex and his father are real pieces of work!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Highland Shift by Laura Harner
Geepers. It’s like an explosion of paranormal, isn’t it? Sounds fun!
Joy // Joyousreads recently posted…Hoarders, Books Edition: Episode 154
It actually was a fast read for as long a book it is and I did enjoy most of it 🙂
Well, you have me curious, Lorna. I mean, I’d like it if someone were to give me a home in Scotland free and clear if only I live there for 6 months straight. But I am worried about the attackers…and why she ended up in that position in the first place. I like the sound of the chemistry between Elena and Faolan, and that they’re strong characters. Too bad about the over-abundance of sex scenes. But if you’re reading the next in the series, I’m guessing it’s a pretty solid read. 🙂
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…#COYER Review ~ Wasted Lust ~ JA Huss
It did keep my interest and I did like most of the characters-it just was really long so the sex scenes did turn out to be a bit redundant at times. It just could have been shorter and not lost anything 🙂 I haven’t bought the next book yet so I don’t know.
Lorna recently posted…Review: Highland Shift by Laura Harner