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Pine Creek Highlanders #6

Secrets of the Highlander

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He is the father of her child, but the secrets they are hiding are tearing them apart....

Megan MacKeage escaped the smothering protectiveness of the Highland MacKeage clan to work as a scientist on the Canadian tundra. But when fellow researcher Wayne Ferris breaks her heart by rejecting her, Megan returns to Maine alone.... Then she meets the town's new police chief, Jack Stone -- the man she knew as Wayne Ferris. Instead of the quiet scholar he posed as, he's an aggressive private eye who's willing to fight for what he wants, just like all the overbearing men in her clan. So why is Megan still feeling a dangerous attraction? And though Jack claims he followed her here because he loves her, can she ever trust a man with so many secrets?

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

131 people are currently reading
1143 people want to read

About the author

Janet Chapman

28 books1,114 followers
January 22, 1956 – October 28, 2017

Hey guys its Jessica. Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. I apologize for the long overdue wait for Janet’s next book. You’ve all been very patient and loyal fans that she loves. She has been working on this book over the last year and a half while dealing with her battle with cancer. It saddens me to say that she peacefully lost this battle this past weekend while her family was by her side. I apologize if this feels sudden, she was a very private person even to her family. And she truly thought of all of you as her family. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Janet Chapman is the author of twenty-two contemporary and magical romance novels, all of which are set in her beautiful state of Maine. She lives in a cozy log home on a beautiful lake with her husband, surrounded by an eclectic assortment of wildlife that she finds both entertaining and inspiring. Probably best known for her Highlander Series (a saga of twelfth century warriors rebuilding their clans in modern-day Maine that now spans three generations), Janet also has two spin-off magical series (Midnight Bay & Spellbound Falls) and several contemporary family series set on the coast and in the mountains. With over three million books printed in six languages, her stories regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller’s lists.

When she’s not writing (well, when she should to be writing but isn’t), Janet and her husband are traveling the state in their camper throughout all four seasons; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and generally rubbing elbows with Mother Nature while always keeping an eye out for colorful new characters—human and beast—to put in her stories.

author's obituary

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5 stars
1,289 (46%)
4 stars
942 (34%)
3 stars
418 (15%)
2 stars
84 (3%)
1 star
25 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
Profile Image for Marta Luján.
Author 28 books200 followers
December 24, 2019
La sexta novela de la serie Highlanders en Maine es, sobretodo, para quien le guste la fantasía, porque, a pesar de estar muy bien escrita, la autora se ha salido de madre en cuanto a la historia. Ciertamente, resultaba difícil extender una historia basada en viajeros en el tiempo, pero incluir un protagonista medio indio, descendiente de un chamán, con poderes paranormales, y una criatura mitológica... ya resulta excesivo para la credibilidad.

Volvemos a Pine Creek, con sus montañas nevadas, tan mágicas, y la vida cotidiana en el pueblo, aunque poco puede tener de normal cuando la mitad de los habitantes lo forman clanes escoceses fundados por unos viajeros en el tiempo.

La trama se desarrolla sobre la base familiar de los MacKeage y sobre la magia que estos poseen, aunque en este caso hay una sobredosis de fantasía y nos deja el cabo suelto de Kenzie... A pesar de todo, es una novela entretenida y con muchos toques de humor.

Los protagonistas son Megan, una de las gemelas, y que está embarazada de cinco meses. Tras haber sido rechazada por el padre del niño, vuelve a su casa para lamerse las heridas. Lo que menos espera es encontrarse con el padre de su hijo que ahora es policía en Pine Creek y que tiene un nombre distinto. Megan es una joven decidida, aunque al inicio pasa por una etapa un poco depresiva; es alegre, con chispa, y una mujer fuerte. A veces me daba la sensación de que no actuaba como si estuviera embarazada, sino, más bien, como un poco cabeza loca, pero bueno.

Jack es, indiscutiblemente, el protagonista fuerte de la historia. Tiene un pasado trágico, aunque suavizado por la magia de sus antepasados. Me ha gustado que la autora no lo haya puesto como un hombre alto y de complexión musculosa (que para eso ya están los escoceses de la familia), y que sea un pacifista.

Jack se ha instalado en Pine Creek con el único propósito de recuperar a Megan y a su hijo no nacido, a los que perdió cuando estaban en Canadá y la echó de su lado para salvarle la vida. Por eso acepta el cargo de policía, tarea que no le será tan fácil como suponía. El personaje de Jack te conquista con su dulzura, su forma de ruborizarse, y su manera de plantar cara a los Mackeage por el amor de Megan. A veces me ha parecido un poco dual, con reacciones de timidez y otras de arrogancia, pero que, de alguna manera, dan profundidad al personaje.

La narración es muy buena, engancha y cumple su propósito de entretenimiento en todo momento, y, como dije antes, tiene diálogos chispeantes y escenas de humor.
Profile Image for Beth F.
457 reviews399 followers
September 19, 2008
I don’t miss the honey pots, manhoods and velvety love caves of the 80’s romance novels because, frankly, those words make me feel unclean. And I appreciate that many of the modern romance novelists are no longer replacing the words for those body parts with creepy, flowery euphemisms. A lot of them either say it like it is (which I’m vulgar enough to dig) or else leave the nitty gritty details of “insert tab A into slot B” to the imagination. But … apparently one of my no-no words is “scrotum” which appeared on page 200 of this book. Ew.

I gotta say that I was disenchanted with this book long before I reached page 200 and even though I’ve been working on replacing most of the blood in my veins with Dayquil over the past few days, I never actually got high enough to get into this book.

Ridiculous Things About This Book That CONTAIN SPOILERS:
--The heroine, Megan, got knocked up by a man named Wayne Ferris in Canada. He told her he didn’t want anything to do with her. Wayne Ferris shows up several months later, announces to all and sundry that he is really named Jack Stone and that he is a private eye and that he only told her he didn’t want anything to do with her to protect her from a crazy murderer.
--Megan takes him back.
--The first time Jack and five-month pregnant Megan knock boots in the pages of this book, Jack backs off when the baby kicks him. He then announces to Megan that he remembers his parents $%@#ing when he was in the womb. Hold up! What??? WHAT?!?!? Um, no. No, no, no, NO!!!! NOT OKAY! That might possibly be one of the creepiest things I’ve ever read outside of a Stephen King novel.
--Previously mentioned, but the word “scrotum” appears on page 200. I can’t get over it.
--Jack is descended from a family of powerful shamans and regularly dream walks and talks with his deceased family members.
--Jack is a warrior shaman but doesn’t want to admit it because he’s “a pacifist.”
--Jack is never told by any of the characters “in the know” that Matt Gregor is a druid but one day marches up to the Gregor’s cabin and informs him that “you Celts aren’t the only magic in town” and then asks Matt to make an earthquake happen somewhere in Canada (which will force the crazy murderer who is after Megan to stop).
--There’s a dragon in this story.
--When Megan and Jack get married, they ask the dragon to be in the wedding party (not even kidding).
Profile Image for Quinn.
1,219 reviews69 followers
August 29, 2015
Hmmm. How to rate? How to rate? This series is a sentimental favourite of mine, and, like the rest of them, this one was a super-quick, easy, enjoyable read, but I didn’t quite like it as much as I have all of the others.

I know it sounds strange, considering this is a series based around time-travel (although most of the books are set exclusively in the modern day), but the inclusion of the dragon really didn’t work for me. I’m fine with the 1800 year-old druidh priest, the people reincarnated as animals, and the magic, but for some reason the dragon felt completely out of place. Go figure!

With the stories of the original time-travelling warriors having all been told, we are now reading the stories of their children, all born in the modern day but raised with the knowledge and acceptance of magic.

At the end of the previous book, Only With a Highlander, the author created expectations as to who Megan’s love interest would be, and this was completely misleading. As a result, I ended up a bit disappointed. I never really connected with Wayne/Jack, and I didn’t find him half as compelling a character as Kenzie/Gesader.

There was no great climax in this book, like there has been in most of the others, but I was fine with that. I find the writing engaging enough in its own right. But, unfortunately, because I didn’t really feel the relationship like I have in the other books, I can’t rate this as highly. And then there was the dragon... It was like the author felt the need to include something magical in this one, so just threw that in, and it really wasn't necessary.
Profile Image for Caro.
1,776 reviews42 followers
February 3, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book. Great characters, interesting moments, creativity, bantering, emotions, some steaminess, fun family and a perfect ending. Great for the escape read or just lazing the day away. I may read again and will look forward to finding more books in this series. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,712 reviews1,122 followers
March 30, 2013
Megan McKeage went to work on the Canadian Tundra and met a Wayne Ferris where she fell in love only to have her heart broken by him, and now pregnant and returned back to her family, is determined to start a new and fresh start with her child. Only things hardly go as planned, especially if your from the MacKeage Clan. Then the new chief of police Jack Stone, she finds out in a unexpected way, is the same man as Wayne...and now after just buying a home for herself she has no idea what to do. Megan knows that she can't trust Wayne/Jack, because he hurt her once, and he definitely could do it again. Jack, still feels guilt over the way he had to hurt Megan, but he is a private eye, and had to keep who he was a secret, and when Megan was in danger he did the only thing he could in order to protect her...but at what cost?? Can Megan and Jack look past the hurt and betrayal to find and hold onto their love once more?....
Secrets Of The Highlander is the sixth in the Highlander series. After reading Megans' parents book I was excited to read her book, and I have just loved this series so far...and each book that I read I only want to read this author more and more. I feel like I am practically addicted to her writing and her stories, and I just can't get enough of them....definitely a well worth it read to be sure. Secrets of the Highlander is one of those romances that just pulls at your heart, I felt a kinship with Megan, and was on her side most of the time...because even though Jack is trying to protect her....he definitely needs to work for it to get her trust back...and I was entertained seeing him try....I just loved the wit and humor that is in this book...there were parts that I just burst out in laughter...and those of you who have read this book know exactly what parts I am talking about (LOL) and those that haven't well...you just need to read this series and you will laugh your heart out....but I did love the romantic side to the story as well...the wit I found was a perfect balance with the love story and with a spice of mystery and some fast paced action. There was such pure pleasure in reading Secrets Of The Highlander and I am thrilled to have found a new favorite author.

Profile Image for Bookcrazy.
1,091 reviews
November 24, 2015

Diesmal geht es um Megan , die Tochter von Grace & Greylen MacKeage.
Es geht also wie im Vorband bei dem es um die 7. Tochter ging um die nächste Generation.

INHALT:
Megan kehrt zurück zu ihrer Familie nach Schottland. Sie ist noch enttäuscht von ihrem Ex-Freund, da sie schwanger ist, und er sich von ihr deswegen getrennt hat.
Ihre Familie versucht sie zu beschützen und will sie mit dem neuen Polizeichef Jack verkuppeln, bei dem es sich um niemanden anderen handelt als ihren Ex-Freund.

MEINE -/+ BILANZ:
- der männliche Protagonist ist kein Highlander :(
- er ist eine Art pazifistischer Schamane, dazu passt wohl eher nicht, dass er der neue Polizeichef ist, deshalb wird er auch bei einem Einsatz niedergeschlagen, da er keine Waffen dabei hatte
+ er hat Träume in denen er seine Familie, seine Urahnen sehen kann und mit ihnen redet
- er kann auch das Kind in Megans Leib sehen, seinen Sohn und ihn halten? Hatte er jetzt schon Babygröße oder war er noch ein kleines Würmchen? Hab das nicht wirlich kapiert
- er kann sich an seine ersten Lebensmonate erinnern und daran wie er im Babybauch war und seine Eltern Sex hatten???
+ er will Megan zurück
+ sie verzeiht ihm nicht so gleich
- Megan kauft sich ein teures Haus, neben Jack, ohne nach dem Preis zu fragen - ja klar!
- obwohl sie gewisse eigene Magie hat, verfährt sie sich dauernd
- generell fand ich die Meinungsänderungen (von beiden) auch etwas zu abrupt, zuerst kalt - dann heiß - ging mir tw. etwas zu schnell
- Kenzie, der sich in einen Panther verwandeln kann, wieso kam der am Anfang vor? und auch der Drache? Für ihre eigenen Bücher? Wenn Kenzie wenigstens ein Konkurrent gewesen wäre, aber so war seine Rolle etwas sinnlos für mich.
- der Drache auf ihrer Hochzeit - wie bizarr war das denn? Time Travel war ja bisher okay, aber die Veränderung in diese paranormale Gestaltwandler-Schiene finde ich nicht so passend und überzeugend

Trotz all dieser Kritikpunkte hab ich das Buch eigentlich recht gern gelesen, wobei für mich etwas zu wenig Chemie zwischen den beiden Protas spürbar war. Gegen Ende hin wurde mir aber die Handlung zu abstrus mit diesen paranormalen Elementen und deshalb kann ich diesem Buch nur

2.5 Sterne

geben.
Profile Image for Rick Bylina.
Author 10 books17 followers
March 9, 2008
Several mysteries play second-fiddle in this romance novel, but darn I wanted more investigation into the mysteries because at times they seemed more interesting than Megan and Jack's volatile romance with baby already in tow. Jack's character was perplexing. Strong, insightful, and resilient in one scene, he retreats into his alter ego, nerdish Wayne, in the next as the Megan and Jack play ping-pong with their heritage and emotional baggage. Still, it was a very good read that kept moving forward with the mysteries and romantic entanglements effectively wrapped up by the end of the book while setting the foundation for yet more Highlander adventures in Maine. True romance and mythological creature lovers will probably give it a five, but as a genre-straddling mystery reader, I'll have to bring it down half a peg.
Profile Image for BJ Rose.
733 reviews89 followers
January 16, 2010
Now here's a wedding to remember: the ceremony was performed by an 1800-year-old priest, and attended by two druidhs, six time-traveling highland warriors - and a dragon!

This was not really a 5* read, but I upped it a little because the author resisted the temptation to have a last-minute confrontation with the villain or with any of his henchmen - you know, where the heroine does something stupid and is captured or imperiled by the villain, and the hero has to rush to her rescue. This hero out- planned the villain, and that was very refreshing. And it left time for other things to be resolved - remember that dragon?!

It has been fun to follow the stories of these time-traveling warriors and their offspring - one more to go!
Profile Image for Tonya Warner.
1,214 reviews13 followers
August 24, 2011
A very nice continuation of the Highlander series.

Megan MacKeage knows in her heart there was more than there seemed to Wayne Ferris' rejection of her when he discovered she was pregnant. Finding out that the new police chief in town is Jack Stone aka Wayne Ferris, adds to her mistrust of him.

Jack knew when he sent Megan away to save her and his child, he would have to work to win her back. Finding out the secrets of his past and willing to embrace his heritage is what it will take to protect her and his son, he trusts her with his heart. Finding out Megan might not trust him is devastating to him, but he is willing to walk thru fire, and face a dragon to win her trust.
Profile Image for Marcia  Haskell.
632 reviews11 followers
October 13, 2012
"He is the father of her child, but the secrets they are hiding are tearing them apart.... Megan MacKeage escaped the smothering protectiveness of the Highland MacKeage clan to work as a scientist on the Canadian tundra. But when fellow researcher Wayne Ferris breaks her heart by rejecting her, Megan returns to Maine alone.... Then she meets the town's new police chief, Jack Stone -- the man she knew as Wayne Ferris. Instead of the quiet scholar he posed as, he's an aggressive private eye who's willing to fight for what he wants, just like all the overbearing men in her clan. So why is Megan still feeling a dangerous attraction? And though Jack claims he followed her here because he loves her, can she ever trust a man with so many secrets"
Profile Image for Kathryn.
502 reviews7 followers
January 22, 2018
I read the first book by this author more than 10 years ago. I got it free from a book club for joining. I've read every one in the series. 8 years ago or so I posted a review in my journal about the book... and someone asked me how does it compare to the Outlander Series. I had never heard of the series. Now I can answer.... Janet Chapman has a different style. and in her books the magic was on purpose, and in Outlander they were accidentally traveling at first... and later traveling on purpose through time.
Profile Image for Amy.
3,726 reviews95 followers
May 12, 2014
A great read! This contemporary romance brings in just the right amount of fantasy, magic, suspense and Scottish history to make this -- the story of Megan MacKeage and Wayne Ferris aka new Police Chief, Jack Stone, an extraordinary tale!
Profile Image for Rhonda.
44 reviews
June 21, 2010
Another great installment to the series. Each time I start the new book I think, "i don't know if I am going to like this one?" and then I am totally into it and can't put it down. I am so glad I started reading this series.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,089 reviews13 followers
May 25, 2013
Another good entry in the Highlander series. Jack broke Megan's heart to protect her and she made him work for it to get her love back. And how can you not love Megan's protective dad. I love the humor and romance in these stories.
Profile Image for Mareli.
1,034 reviews32 followers
April 1, 2014
Not bad but I didn't like Jack (or Wayne) so much. Even if I can understand his need to get Megan far from they were I think he chose the wrong way.

And Jack is not alpha enough for me, I like him but I don't love him...

Onto the next one!
49 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2008
GRRR! It could have been a lot longer! Left too many unanswered questions for me. Some good humor and the story was interesting enough to keep me reading and looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for SJuhl4.
228 reviews4 followers
March 24, 2011
This series is excellent. I wondered what would happen with Jack and was not disappointed. Janet Chapman writes a great paranormal romance.
Profile Image for Jen Taylor.
256 reviews13 followers
July 28, 2011
Another great Highlander book by Janet Chapman! A must read.
Profile Image for Grace.
21 reviews
August 20, 2012
I enjoyed this book but I wish there was more to the ending. It just ended. There could have been so much more.
Profile Image for Wanda Ballou.
51 reviews6 followers
May 21, 2013
Continuing on with history fantasy and just the right touch if love
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews

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