REVIEW: HIGHLAND GUARD by HANNAH HOWELL

I should have written this review before now, but for some
reason I could not find the words to write and so it was placed on the back
burner. Well, as you can see I have finally gotten around to it. So here goes
nothing.

My experience with this author is somewhat limited, only
having read one of her books prior to this. 
With that said I have to admit that I did not enjoy it as much as I was
hoping for.  The plot is good, but the
story left me feeling as if something was missing. It did not engage my
emotions as I was expecting. It left me with an empty feeling. My issue with
this book was the language.  I had a hard
time trying to figure out what was being said, which made it a difficult read.

Highland Guard is book #20 in the Murray family series.  In this installment we meet Sir Harcourt
Murray and Lady Annys Mcqueen.  Lady
Annys has recently lost her husband and is facing opposition from her in laws. In
a bid to protect her son’s legacy she requested the assistance of Sir Harcourt
Murray.  These two had a history and with
it came a secret that she could not afford her late husband’s family to
discover. The discovery could lead to her son losing his legacy.  Annys and Harcourt care deeply for each other,
however, there are obstacles standing in their way of being together. Will they
be able to move past these barriers? 
Will Harcourt walk away like he did five years ago or will he stay and
fight for the woman he loves?

What I liked most about this story is the way in which the
people of Glencullaich worked together to protect their land. These are people
who have little or no fighting experience, but are willing to learn to defend
what is rightfully theirs.

There were some characters that I loved and some I just
could not find myself being drawn to. My favorite, however, is Benet, Lady
Annys’ son. I loved his pets as well. They brought some humour to the story.

Highland Guard is a story of love and the sacrifices made as
a result. It depicts how dangerous greed and the love for power can be.  It can lead to self-destruction. Overall, I
found this to an ok read. It was not my favorite, but I will recommend for
readers who enjoy reading about the Scottish highlands.