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In the Highlander's Bed
by Cathy Maxwell
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Avon (2008-02-01)
ISBN: 0061122106
EAN: 9780061122101
Dewy Decimal #: 813.54
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Release Date: 2008-01-29
SKU: MM2470
Condition: Very Good
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Highland warrior Gordon Lachlan has spent his life fiercely battling the English. Now, to claim victory for his clan, he must retrieve the legendary Sword of the MacKenna from the hands of his mortal enemies. His plan: to kidnap Constance Cameron from her remote boarding school and force her wellborn relatives to surrender the sword as her ransom. But Lachlan is surprised that the woman he's snatched from her bed is no malleable miss. Constance longs for adventure. She's tantalized by Lachlan and his passionate cause . . . and tempted enough by his seductive ways to wonder what it would be like to find herself in the Highlander's bed . . .
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Customer Reviews
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Splendid
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-11-13
*** Back cover synopsis ***
Highland warrior Gordon Lachlan has spent his life fiercely battling the English. Now, to claim victory for his clan, he must retrieve the legendary Sword of the MacKenna from the hands of his mortal enemies. His plan: to kidnap Constance Cameron from her remote boarding school and force her wellborn relatives to surrender the sword as her ransom.
But Lachlan is surprised that the woman he's snatched from her bed is no malleable miss. Constance longs for adventure. She's tantalized by Lachlan and his passionate cause... and tempted enough by his seductive ways to wonder what it would be like to find herself in the Highlander's bed...
*** Review (without spoilers ^_^) ***
Picking up right after the teaser from the previous book, "Bedding The Heiress", Gordon Lachlan and his men sets out to complete his plan of kidnapping Constance Cameron. Even though she is not a docile being, and would not come to him willingly to complete his plan, she was also running away from boarding school which gave Gordon a better access of abducting her.
Along their rough journey back to Gordon's camp, through struggling and drastic imprisoning, the two develops an unexplainable attraction towards each other. While Constance has no objection to falling for Gordon, he on the other hand knew he must refrain himself from any intimate contact with her for the sake of the sword that he and his people needed. But circumstances only allowed the two to get closer and to have the chance to explore the feelings they had for each other.
*** Personal opinion ***
I liked the story from beginning to end. Maybe it does lack a bit of adventure but reading about the main characters made up for that. The reason why I didn't give it a 5 star was because I felt there wasn't enough chemistry between Constance and Gordon. Although they were shown together from the start of the book, their little adventure from the boarding school to Gordon's camp lacked the affection that would show their attraction towards each other, hence making it seem a bit hard to believe that they were really that strongly in love with each other.
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Maxwell Remains in Top Form With Common Plot - 4-1/2*
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-05-09
Set in Scotland, 1808, the Highland laird Gordon Lachlan has lost much and he is desperate to rally the people to fight back against the English. He knows that if he can obtain the legendary Sword of the MacKenna - it would bring hope to his down-trodden people. In order to retrieve the sword he planned to kidnap Constance Cameron from her remote boarding school knowing that by her family ties to the Duke of Colster, would make him honor bound to exchange her for the sword.
Constance Cameron hated England, Scotland and especially the strictures placed upon her by the headmistress of her school who tried to erase all of her American barbarianism and turn Constance into a lady. Constance was determined to run away and return to her beloved Ohio Valley in America, but on her way to freedom she was snatched up by Gordon Lachlan who dragged her deeper into the Highlands. Furious at having her plans thwarted, Constance was anything but the meek and compliant young miss Gordon was expecting did not appear. Instead, she was exactly what Gordon and his clan needed to bring harmony and order to his clan, and a passion long thought gone to this Highlander's bed.
*** Cathy Maxwell continues to churn out some very delectable historical romances, and though the kidnapped captive falls in love with her captor theme has been used over and over again, Maxwell's descriptive writing, smart dialogs, and lovely characterizations keep you entertained throughout. Although the plot is common enough, the characters were brought wholly to life. In my opinion, Constance's feisty and adventuresome, roll-with-the-punches attitude really dominated the story, once she became convinced and committed to Gordon's cause.
The dialogs were fresh and the chemistry between Gordon and Constance was well done. Gordon quickly saw that he had met his match in stubbornness, leadership and especially passion. There were many humorous moments interspersed within the adventure as well as poignant and emotionally drawn moments surrounding Gordon and Constance as they shared tragic events from their past that helped create a kinship between them. The healing relationship Constance facilitated with Gordon's sister Fiona was extremely well done, as well as helping Grace, another woman of his clan, to build her self esteem.
Maxwell reintroduces the sisters who were lead characters from her two previous titles in this series, Miranda Cameron from THE PRICE OF INDISCRETION, and Charlotte Cameron from IN THE BED OF A DUKE along with their spouses and let me say, these are all stand alone reads, although now that you know they are out there, you just might want to pick them up.
Maxwell is still at the top of her game in the humorous Regency era historical romance genre, and if not on your auto-buy list yet she should be!
Marilyn Rondeau, [...]
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A Bit Disappointing
Rating  (2)
Date: 2008-04-24
I bought this in hopes that it would live up to it's positive reviews. I was quite disappointed. Initially the premise seemed a bit predictable but promising. As the book progressed, it started to bore me and then enrage me with the female protagonists' change of heart. She seemed to be too malleable after starting out as an independent woman for her time. This was the first book that I've read by Cathy Maxwell and I think it will be my last.
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In the Highlander's Bed
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-04-08
Gordon Lachlan has kidnapped Constance Cameron. He intends to ransom her for the Sword of the MacKenna, which he plans on using to free his people from the English. Constance's brother in-law, the Duke of Colster, has the sword. Gordon was not expecting Constance to be an independent and fierce foe though. She holds her own against him. Once back at Gordon's camp, Constance slowly finds herself helping his people rather than fighting with him and them. She makes them a stronger clan. In the process, Gordon begins to see her in a new light. Not only is their love forbidden, but when the ransom is paid, they will be torn apart.
In The Highlander's Bed is a very good story. Constance is a bit of a miracle worker though. She makes amazingly fast changes in the clan and turns enemies into allies fast, making things feel a bit rushed. In The Highlander's Bed is an incredibly romantic story of forbidden love as well. Gordon and Constance go from enemies to lovers. It's passionate and heartwarming. I am very eager to read Gordon's sister Fiona's story. Her plight is heartbreaking and yet I sense she is much stronger than she believes herself to be.
Nannette
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
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Simple tale of kidnapping and love
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-03-22
This is a very simple story of a kidnap victim who falls in love with her honourable captor (if 'honourable' and 'kidnapper' can be part of the same character!). Constance Cameron is a young American woman who wants to run away from the boarding school in Edinburgh in which she has been placed by her two sister, heroines of previous books by this author. As Constance finally escapes the school she is kidnapped by a Scottish man, Gordon Lachlan, the leader of a rebellion.
Constance is unlike most women that Gordon has previously met, being spirited and resourceful. She tries to escape him at all opportunities as she wants to sail back to America on a ship that leaves Edinburgh in four days. However once Constance is taken to Gordon's camp her attitude seems to change remarkably quickly - she agrees to join their rebellion and helps to organise the camp. There's a healthy dose of unrealism here where one short speech by Constance is enough to change the entire mood of the camp. Constance also facilitates the breaking down of barriers between Gordon and his half-sister, Fiona, who was the victim of an attack by English soldiers and who partly blames Gordon.
Constance is meant to be exchanged for the Sword of the MacKenna, a symbol for the rebellion. Of course, when the time comes for the sword to be exchanged, Gordon isn't so sure that it's an easy trade. With a price on his head and his people relying on him for their future, what chance does he have with Constance?
This book was a reasonable enough read with a variety of characters and some local colour. The historicity and geography go a little awry occasionally and Gordon's ability to give up his long-held rebellion plans seem a little hasty but it didn't ever become boring and Constance was a worthy heroine. The plot really was rather simple, however, with little depth to the characters apart from Fiona. This is the fourth in a series and although it isn't necessary to have read the previous books it might help to explain some of the other characters' behaviour if the reader is already familiar with them.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008
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