[null, null, {"document_url": "http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-tbr-challenge-review-highland.html", "unformatted_src": "https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343715360l/226082.jpg", "src": "https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343715360l/226082.jpg", "alt_text": "Highland Destiny (Murray Family, #1)", "rendered_width": 191, "rendered_height": 320}, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-tbr-challenge-review-highland.html", "unformatted_src": "http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360517706s/8158992.jpg", "src": "http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360517706s/8158992.jpg", "alt_text": "MacRieve"}, null, {"document_url": "http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-tbr-challenge-review-highland.html", "unformatted_src": "http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354200468s/13561164.jpg", "src": "http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354200468s/13561164.jpg", "alt_text": "Dare You To"}, null, {"document_url": "http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-tbr-challenge-review-highland.html", "unformatted_src": "http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1305124508s/172691.jpg", "src": "http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1305124508s/172691.jpg", "alt_text": "Conspiracy in Death"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-tbr-challenge-review-highland.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ8Gv9EiFJc/WD33pXbjUoI/AAAAAAAAFGw/hx9hrRQ2d1APWDlfafP1t32zZeLVMGy1ACK4B/s1600/index.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ8Gv9EiFJc/WD33pXbjUoI/AAAAAAAAFGw/hx9hrRQ2d1APWDlfafP1t32zZeLVMGy1ACK4B/s1600/index.jpg", "formatted_filename": "index", "alt_text": "I'm an...", "rendered_width": 200, "rendered_height": 200}, null, null, null]

2015 TBR CHALLENGE REVIEW: "Highland Destiny" by Hannah Howell Highland Destiny by Hannah Howell

(Murray Family #1)

Goodreads -- Amazon -- Book Depository

Historical Romance -- Medieval Scotland

Zebra -- Published in 1998
Mass Market Paperback, 303 pages
Read in March 2015
Received thru Paperback Swap

Alpha Hero, Highlands, Family Saga

"Young Eric is gone."

Read for the 2015 TBR Challenge--March--Series Catch-Up.  The challenge is hosted by Wendy the Super Librarian.

Why I Chose It For My TBR Challenge Read: I know it looks weird to be doing the first book in a series during the month that the TBR Challenge is focusing on "catching up" on series.  I have been a big fan of the Murray Family series since I was in high school, but I have never read the book that started it all.  So, while I am still haven't read the two most recent releases, I decided to finally read Highland Destiny which has been sitting on my shelf for four years.

This book starts off with Balfour Murray, lord of his clan, learning that his younger brother, Eric, has been kidnapped by a rival clan.  The Murray and the Beatons have been feuding for thirteen years ever since Balfour's father was accused of getting the Beaton lord's wife pregnant.  During an unsuccessful attempt to rescue Eric, Balfour and his men meet up with a small, but fiery young woman named Maldie.  She has some healing abilities and volunteers to help with Balfour's other brother Nigel's injuries.  Of course, things get complicated when Maldie is brought to Doncoill and Balfour and her fall for one another.

As a long-time reader of this series, I found it interesting to see the first appearance of the trends that have become synonymous with the Murrays.  Maldie is a small, but spunky heroine and Balfour is a tough-minded knight hero with some vulnerabilities deep down in his soul.  There is plenty of drama that would have been easily solved if the two main characters had just talked to one another.  And, of course, there is Hannah Howells' trademark use of Scottish dialect throughout the entire story.  This is often a turn-off for readers, but I don't find it that distracting especially since I get used to it after a few chapters.

The Murray Family series is one of my guilty pleasures due to the fact that the characters and stories can get repetitive especially if you read too many at one time.  But, sometimes I enjoy knowing what I'm going to get when I start a book.  They are a good palate cleanser since I almost always like the main characters and look forward to seeing them get a happy ending. 1. Highland Destiny
2. Highland Honor
3. Highland Promise
4. Highland Vow
5. Highland Knight
6. Highland Bride
7. Highland Angel
8. Highland Groom
9. Highland Warrior
10. Highland Conqueror
11. Highland Champion
12. Highland Lover
13. Highland Barbarian
14. Highland Savage
15. Highland Wolf
16. Highland Sinner
17. Highland Protector
18. Highland Avenger
19. Highland Master
20. Highland Guard
Posted by Jennifer at 9:27 AM Labels: 2015 tbr challenge, 3 stars, hannah howell, historical romance, murray family series, review


