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HERO IN THE HIGHLANDS - Suzanne Enoch
No Ordinary Hero Novel
, Book 1
St. Martin's Press
ISBN-13:  978-1-250-09541-1
October 2016
Historical Romance

Lattimer Castle, Scottish Highlands - 1812

Major Gabriel Forrester loved a hot, bloody, dirty battle, and he is sure getting plenty of it in Salamanca, Spain.  When he sees trouble, he forgets his rank and rides right into the middle of the battle, then he sees a new Lieutenant make a mistake and lead the troops directly into being surrounded by the enemy.  It's only with some hard fighting along with his aide-de-camp, Kelgrove, that the army isn't decimated.  Then the “Beast of Bussaco” as Gabriel is called is sent into General Wellington's tent; perhaps he had exceeded his authority.  But it seems a great uncle he never knew about had died, leaving him a title and an inheritance that he has to return to England to claim.  Lo and behold, Gabriel has inherited a house in London, and three estates, two in England one in Scotland.  The English estates are being well run, but the one in Scotland refuses to answer letters regarding its condition.  Not one to leave things to anyone else, Gabriel and Kelgrove, his aide, go to Scotland to find out what is going on there.

Fiona is in the mud trying to rescue a milk cow when a fancy man in a British Army uniform asks for directions to Lattimer Castle.  Disliking him on sight, of course, she sends him in the opposite direction.  Getting out of a bog, Gabriel and Kelgrove realize they've been led astray.  Being determined, they find their way to the castle and quickly learn the supposed steward has been gone for over two years, and the vixen who led them astray has been trying to do his duties.  After looking over the property, Gabriel realizes sheep are being stolen. Fiona has hired almost the entire countryside to work in the castle and give everyone jobs, and it's no wonder the estate is not making a profit.

All the people claim the problems are a result of the curse of Lattimer, when the English King gave the property to Lattimer, the owner, Malcolm McKittrick, swore on the gallows that the lands would turn to ruin.  Unfortunately, when asked about the property, Fiona wrote back to the lawyers to stop threatening her or she'd put a dirk through their gizzards.  Little did Fiona know what consequences her ill-advised letter would bring about.

Suzanne Enoch once again brings the Scottish Highlands to life with the story of Fiona and Gabriel.  Gabriel considers himself a military man; it's all he's ever known.  And he hopes to get his inheritance settled and go back to his unit, never thinking that as a Duke, there is no way he could fight and lead his men the way he used to do.  Fiona has been in charge of the Lattimer estate for two years since her brother apparently got lost in the bogs.  Told from Gabriel's and Fiona's points of view, Gabriel is blunt and speaks his mind, never one to avoid a fight and disliking lies.  Fiona is blunt and fierce, determined to get the Sassenach Englishman to leave her alone.  It's only when Gabriel realizes that the whole of the Castle area and its inhabitants depend on him for their living and homes, he considers what a lot of hard work it will take to live up to being the Duke of Lattimer.

Secondary characters include Kelgrove, invaluable to Gabriel as his aide, and perhaps he could be the new caretaker.  The Duke of Dunncraigh makes an offer to Gabriel to buy the estate, since only a Scottish born man could take care of the estate and its distillery and factories and many acres for sheep.  There are many other people who don't believe Gabriel is the right person to take over.

HERO IN THE HIGHLANDS will give you a taste of the hard working Scottish people and their love and loyalty to the land.  Perhaps a hard headed soldier is just the person to try to turn around an estate that's gradually going bankrupt with all the troubles that are going on.  It will take two stubborn people to overcome their prejudices and come to realize that the best that is in each of them will be needed to try to save the people of Lattimer.  There're excitement and evil deeds galore to keep everyone enthralled in this story of dedication and love despite their differing temperaments, and for Fiona to realize Gabriel is not her enemy, but maybe an angel in disguise.

Carolyn Crisher
 
   
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