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Devil's Highlander

(Clan MacAlpin #1)

Veronica Wolff (Goodreads Author)

3.83 · Rating details · 251 ratings · 16 reviews

They share a haunting past...and an unspoken passion.

FIRST IN THE ALL-NEW CLAN MACALPIN SERIES.

After Scotland's Civil Wars, the orphaned brothers and sisters of the MacAlpin clan reclaimed the abandoned Dunnochen Castle as their birthright. Now they must rely on each other as they right the wrongs of their troubled history...

Tormented war hero Cormac MacAlpin gets a ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 335 pages

Published August 3rd 2010 by Berkley

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Oct 22, 2012 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014-books-read, romance, historical-romance

Good story of love and redemption. Cormac and Marjorie had been good friends as children, along with Cormac's twin brother Aidan. When they were ten, Aidan was kidnapped as they were playing. Both Cormac and Marjorie felt responsible and it affected them deeply. They turned away from each other and moved on alone. Marjorie devotes herself to good works, spending her time caring for orphaned boys. Cormac took himself off to fight in Scotland's wars and has returned scarred and bitter. When Good story of love and redemption. Cormac and Marjorie had been good friends as children, along with Cormac's twin brother Aidan. When they were ten, Aidan was kidnapped as they were playing. Both Cormac and Marjorie felt responsible and it affected them deeply. They turned away from each other and moved on alone. Marjorie devotes herself to good works, spending her time caring for orphaned boys. Cormac took himself off to fight in Scotland's wars and has returned scarred and bitter. When Marjorie comes to him for help finding a missing boy he refuses, feeling that it's no use. But he can't let her attempt it on her own, so off he goes to help.

I was a little torn about Marjorie. I liked the way that she's so intent on helping the boys of the city, especially to keep them safe. She's never forgotten what happened to Aidan and blames herself for the game they were playing at the time. When one of her boys goes missing she's sure that it's the same thing that happened to Aidan, so she heads off to ask Cormac for his help. She'd always been in love with him and expected to marry him, but feels that he blames her for Aidan's disappearance. She's willing to deal with that to get Cormac's help. When he refuses to help her she tells him she'll do it without his help and stalks off, but is secretly relieved when he agrees to help after all. There's a lot of heat between them now that they're grown, but they attempt to resist it at first. Marjorie is trying to concentrate on saving Davie. I got rather frustrated with her at times because she asked for his help but then argued with him every time he tried to do something. Being around him so much brought her feelings back to the surface and they got stronger throughout the book. I did like the way that she tried to show Cormac that Aidan's disappearance wasn't his fault. She also worked hard to show him that what he did during the war doesn't affect the way she feels about him. But it seemed like every time they made progress in their relationship something would happen to cause them to pull apart. I often felt like she didn't really have enough faith in him. She nearly ruined everything at the end, but they managed to pull it off.

Cormac had always loved Marjorie and planned to marry her when they grew up. After Aidan was kidnapped he felt so guilty that he couldn't be around her. After he returned from fighting he felt especially damaged by the things he had seen and done. They left him seeing only the bad things in life. He spends his time fishing, a job he can do alone so he doesn't have to inflict himself on other people. He's surprised by her request for his help, but feels that it's too late to do anything. He can't stand the idea of her trying it on her own, so he goes along to keep her safe. But being with her all the time is hard on his heart as his love grows stronger, but his guilt won't let him hope for happiness. It was kind of fun seeing him try to resist her as she pulls out all her tricks to get him to admit his feelings. I felt kind of sorry for him as he tried so hard to keep Marjorie safe and she kept walking right into trouble. I also enjoyed seeing the way that she broke down his walls and finally got him to accept that he wasn't responsible either. Just as it looked like everything was going to work out there was a surprise twist that threw his plans completely off. I really worried for a bit that it would go horribly wrong, but it didn't. I'm looking forward to the next book. ...more

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Sep 05, 2010 Katie(babs) rated it liked it

Marjorie Keith has loved Cormac MacAlpin forever. She and Cormac used to be best friends when they were children, but that ended the day Cormac's twin brother Aidan was mistaken for a beggar boy and forcibly sent to Barbados when he was only ten. Both Cormac and Marjorie blame themselves even though they were just children. Cormac went off to fight for his country while Marjorie suffered silently. Now thirteen years later, Cormac has come back and spends his days fishing. Marjorie aches for Marjorie Keith has loved Cormac MacAlpin forever. She and Cormac used to be best friends when they were children, but that ended the day Cormac's twin brother Aidan was mistaken for a beggar boy and forcibly sent to Barbados when he was only ten. Both Cormac and Marjorie blame themselves even though they were just children. Cormac went off to fight for his country while Marjorie suffered silently. Now thirteen years later, Cormac has come back and spends his days fishing. Marjorie aches for Cormac and wants more than just a fragile friendship between them. She comes to him for help. Marjorie tends to the children that are in a poorhouse, and one small lad in particular, five-year old Davie has gone missing. She thinks he has been taken much like Aidan was and wants Cormac’s help to find Davie.

Cormac longs to lose himself in Marjorie's arms, but he feels he is not good enough for her. He's damaged and has been since that day he couldn't protect Aidan. He's done some horrible things since then, and if Marjorie knew, she would turn away from him. When he refuses to help Marjorie, she has no choice but to investigate herself, which will lead her to the dangerous docks where ruffians lurk in the shadows. Cormac thinks Marjorie is stubborn and not thinking correctly. She tries his patience, and because he doesn't want any harm her to come to harm, he decides to help.

Cormac and Marjorie maneuver through a dark world of child slavery with shocking results. Marjorie may think Cormac is the very devil at times, but she wants nothing more than to give him peace. She sees such despair and loneliness in his eyes and will do whatever she can to make him see that he is deserving of love.

Cormac is one lusty Scotsman in Devil's Highlander, and the underlying sexual tension between him and Marjorie is hot and very sexy. These two have always had a deep bond starting from childhood that grew into adulthood. Because of a tragedy, Cormac turned away from Marjorie. But his "Ree", as he likes to call her, won't let him walk away from her. She wants Cormac, faults and all.

This is a typical story where the tortured hero thinks he isn't worthy of the heroine because of something that isn't necessarily his fault. Cormac is more than depressed over the loss of Aidan, but soon he lightens up when he and Marjorie pretend to be husband and wife. Those scenes are sweet and funny and these two are not afraid to share affection with one another, which leads to some wonderful love scenes.

Devil's Highlander doesn't have many memorable secondary characters and relies mainly on Cormac and Marjorie to keep the reader interested as they team up to take down some rotten individuals. There is a small twist at the end that some may not see coming that sets the stage for the next Clan MacAlpin novel, Devil's Own.

This was my first book by Veronica Wolff and a very enjoyable read. I look forward to her next Scottish romance with a hero who may be damaged and finally set free by the love of his heroine.
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Aug 01, 2010 Bookaholics rated it really liked it

Devil’s Highlander by Veronica Wolff
Historical Romance- Aug. 3, 2010
4 stars

Cormac’s twin Aidan was kidnapped when he was 10 years old. The cruel loss of Aidan caused his family to crumble. For years, Cormac, haunted by guilt, unsuccessfully searched for his brother. After years of fighting wars and staying abroad, Cormac comes home hardened and scarred. Marjorie, his childhood sweetheart, comes to him asking for his help to find a kidnapped orphan. Marjorie, too, blames herself for Aidan’s Devil’s Highlander by Veronica Wolff
Historical Romance- Aug. 3, 2010
4 stars

Cormac’s twin Aidan was kidnapped when he was 10 years old. The cruel loss of Aidan caused his family to crumble. For years, Cormac, haunted by guilt, unsuccessfully searched for his brother. After years of fighting wars and staying abroad, Cormac comes home hardened and scarred. Marjorie, his childhood sweetheart, comes to him asking for his help to find a kidnapped orphan. Marjorie, too, blames herself for Aidan’s disappearance. Can the two of them learn to care for each other despite the lingering guilt over Aidan’s kidnapping?

The premise for Devil’s Highland is interesting and sad at the same time. Cormac blames himself for not keeping watch over Aidan and for being the one that survived the kidnapping. Marjorie blames herself for getting the boys in the situation that led to Aidan’s kidnapping. With so many traumatic events going on, one cannot help but root for Cormac to find redemption through saving another orphan. I enjoyed these characters so much I wanted Marjorie and Cormac to get together.

What I also enjoyed about this book is its historical depth. In the past, little boys were used to clean the chimneys. Some of them died trapped in the chimneys when they got too big. Unwanted orphans, beggar children, and these chimney boys were often kidnapped and send to work in the plantations of the new world. Set against such deeply inhumane background, Wolff’s novel has such potential and realism.

Wolff’s rich details and brisk pacing keeps the action fast and frantic. The chemistry and tension between Cormac and Marjorie also adds to the tense atmosphere. I kept wondering when is the love scene going to happen? Wolff is an engaging writer who creates two believable characters. Albeit, the characters are nothing new really: gruff, tortured hero and spunky, spitfire heroine. But, Wolff is a talented writer who gives Cormac and Marjorie their own unique voice.

Devil’s Highlander is definitely a recommended read especially for those who love the Highlander genre. This book has it all: romance, swashbuckling, and a rich historical background.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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May 08, 2010 Tori rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, review-for-smexybooks

3.5 Stars

Marjorie and Cormac have loved each other since they were children.

When a childhood dare goes horribly wrong and results in Cormac's brother Aidan being kidnapped, Marjorie and Cormac go their separate ways both consumed by shame and guilt. Marjorie now needs Cormac's help. A young child she cares for has disappeared and she fears the boy has suffered the same fate as Aidan. Though 20 years have passed since they last laid eyes on each other, the passion between them still blazes out of ...more

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Jul 31, 2010 Judith rated it really liked it

Two people who were childhood friends and secretly enchanted with one another are not re-connecting after being torn apart by the disappearance of a twin brother to the hero, Cormac. After Aidan was gone--kidnapped by slavers--both Cormac and Marjorie carry a load of guilt that has impacted their entire growing up years as well as their early adulthood. Now, another boy has disappeared and Marjorie goes to Cormac as the only one she truly trusts to understand her deep agony over this loss from a ...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Jennifer rated it really liked it

loved the main character, Cormac . He is the way I like all my kilted men big, brooding and brawny. The main female character of the story , Marjorie well she was another story. I started to like her and then she became what I have really not liked about my highland books. She doesnt take direction too well and when she gets in trouble all she can do is wish her big, brawny, highlander was there and she should have listened to him and wrings her hands and bemoans her fate on and on and ...more

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Mar 09, 2011 SheLove2Read rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2011

I don't know why I didn't like this book more, as it had all the elements of a good Highland romance. Maybe it was the TSTL heroine. Or maybe the hero with the same tired "I'm not good enough for you" trope. Or perhaps the childish way the two acted around each other. Regardless, this was a huge disappointment for me as a fan of the author. The two main characters were the ONLY ones I didn't like! i am looking forward to Aiden and also Gregor's story though.

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Jul 31, 2010 Robin Priddy rated it really liked it

Marjorie Keith needs help. Someone has taken a young boy she has been caring for and nobody will help her find him. Marjorie has spent her time trying to care for the children who live on the streets, the ones who have no family to care for them. To her this is the most important thing she can do with her time. When she was a child she was great friends with two twin boys, Cormac and Aidan MacAlpin. During a visit the children were left alone while their mothers went to the market. Someone broke ...more

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May 24, 2011 Tonya rated it it was amazing

It was very very good!!!!! Beautifully written love story that starts out with young love losted and they come together to live happy everafter!!!!

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Jan 22, 2014 Meaghan rated it really liked it

had a more interesting and historical-based plot than many romance novels. i liked it.

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Aug 18, 2010 LInda L rated it really liked it

Excellent Scottish romance/mystery. It's Book 1 of a series, and I'm looking forward to book 2.

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May 09, 2010 Tracy's Place rated it liked it

3.5 out of 5

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Aug 13, 2014 Normal added it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook-nook

9781101188989

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Aug 11, 2010 Kendra rated it liked it

Shelves: z-added-in-aug-2010, romance, z-read-in-august-2010

New series by the author, a bit slow and drawn out, but pretty good.

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About Veronica Wolff

Veronica Wolff

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Veronica Wolff is an award-winning, bestselling author who likes monsters, fight scenes, and first kisses. Sometimes all at the same time. She lived everywhere from Texas, to Hawaii, to India, before finally settling in Northern California, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and a small menagerie of rescued pets. She writes for both kids and adults in several genres, including Scottish ...more