HIGHLAND STORMS (Trade Winds #2)
by Christina Courtenay

PUBLISHER: Choc Lit
RELEASE DATE: 2011
FORMAT: Paperback, 318 Pages
GENRE: Historical Romance

Brice Kinross thinks he’s very different from his flamboyant father and younger brother Jamie, and the only thing he wants out of life is to settle down with the girl he loves. When she jilts him in favour of his brother, however, he is forced to rethink. Taking over his father’s Scottish estate and becoming the next chief of the clan suddenly seems very appealing, but the Scottish Highlands in 1754 is not the hospitable and welcoming place Brice remembers from childhood. In order to successfully take over his inheritance, he’ll need to discover qualities he never knew he possessed. And when he meets a woman who is more than his match and a villain hell-bent on taking what belongs to Brice, life begins to get interesting again. (Goodreads)

REVIEWER: Laura

This book is the sequel to Trade Winds, and is the story of Killian and Jess’s son Brice. But it completely stands on its own right as a novel, so you really do not have to have read Trade Winds before you pick it up.

HIGHLAND STORMS was a very easy read. After being betrayed by his brother and the love of his life, Brice looks for a fresh start. Leaving Sweden, he goes to look after his father’s estate in Scotland. But, when he arrives all is not what it seems. What should be a profitable estate is not doing well, with the clans people living in poverty, Brice suspects foul play.

Housekeeper Marsaili has a tough job running the Rosyth estate. With the difficult Estate Manager Seton to contend with, tight budgets and thwarting unwanted advances every day is a challenge. Let alone being the illegitimate daughter of the previous estate owner.

I liked this novel a lot, it had a villain you love to hate, a hero you really wanted to succeed and a plethora of supporting characters that you loved almost as much as the leads. I liked Brice for his honesty and determination to do the right thing by his inheritance and people. Essentially he’s a good boy, but he had enough brawn and impishness to be an incredibly sexy hero too.

Marsaili is a modern heroine in a historical setting. I completely identified with her, which I think is what me like her so much. Ok, I don’t have loads of suitors knocking on my door, but that aside, she’s hard working, tough and proud. And has a fab pet pooch too.

The novel was much more than a love story. With the suspicion and intrigue at the centre of it, there’s adventure, a superb baddy you rub your hands together in anticipation of him getting his comeuppance and a dark undertone provided by the English occupation of Scotland.

Courtenay does not write what I would class as traditional historical romance novels but historical romance with a bit more grit and depth to them. What I like about her writing is the inclusion of historical detail. Not just the rosy details, but interesting factual details which gives it a greater sense of realism.

VERDICT:

For historical romance with a difference, look no further than Christina Courtenay. HIGHLAND STORMS is the third book she’s written and I think it’s my favourite so far.

RATING: 

CHRISTINA COURTENAY ONLINE
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BOOKS IN SERIES ORDER
1. Trade Winds
2. Highland Storms

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