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Shana Galen’s The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure is more of a lighthearted romp than usual, but the book is still graced with her typical sense of emotion and drama, although the first half of the plot is creaky, with plot choices and character beats that feel less fresh than they ought.
A dismayed Ines Neves eavesdrops upon her sister Caterina and her brother-in-law Draven (hero and heroine of book five in the series, The Claiming of the Shrew) arguing about her future. Tired of Caterina’s understandable but overprotective babying and of working at her lacemaking shop, Ines decides to escape the odious whirl of the ton -and the pressure of a possible engagement to cartwright Mr. Podmore – by doing the only thing her impulsive spirit will allow her to do – jump into a carriage to avoid him.
The carriage she ends up in is being rented by a handsome Scotsman named Duncan Murray. Duncan has been pressured by his domineering mother to come to England to find himself a well-born lady to marry, but has been thoroughly disappointed in his search. He is equally dismayed to find Ines asleep on the floor of his carriage just after it makes a pitstop outside London. Ines decides to cover up for her faux pas by giving him a fake name (Beatriz) and then using only her native tongue (Portuguese) around him. Unable to understand her language or know what she’s on about, he decides to take Ines to his friend Nash’s estate. Nash is fluent in Portuguese thanks to the war, and thus can translate for them.
Stratford Fortesque meanwhile, is dealing with women problems of his own. Emmeline Wellsley, a distant cousin, has decided to run off as well, shunning the possibility of a fourth disastrous season and yet another raft of disappointing men who sneer at her generous curves. Emmeline thinks her flight will finally shock her mother into allowing her some personal freedom. Straftord immediately sets off in pursuit, as Emmeline deals with all manner of distractions and disruptions. Soon Emmeline, her new doggy friend, and Stratford are headed back home.
The two couples meet up on the way and agree to rest at Nash’s estate, the men having all known one another from their wartime service. Emmeline and Ines soon strike up a friendship, and Emmeline agrees to keep Ines’ true identity a secret from Duncan, but as the couples get closer, danger descends, forcing all four of them to flee for the highlands and Duncan’s estate.
As both couples take the road trip of their lives, they must dodge rivers, outrun a pack of vicious dogs, duck bullets (an unsuccessful notion in Duncan’s case) and avoid the pursuing Draven, who will absolutely kill Duncan if he learns how close the man has come to besmirching Ines’ honor. Ines, scarred by life with an abusive father, plans not to be wed, and Duncan’s emotional scars from life at war keep him from proposing to the girl. Meanwhile, longtime friends Stratford and Emmeline each worry they’re not good enough for the other – Emmeline due to her size, Stratford due to his own secret insecurities. As love and lust knock on each couple’s proverbial door, they must figure out how to move forward.
The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure suffers a bit for its choice to pack two love stories into a single volume. I liked Emmeline and Stratford’s story best of the two – I love a plus-sized heroine, and was glad that Emmeline’s inner conflict rested more upon her mother’s lack of acceptance as to who she was versus thinking she didn’t deserve Stratford. He’s a good beta hero, and I liked his romance with Emmeline, but the romance between Duncan and Ines isn’t as successful. It feels a little bit more melodramatic, and is generally impacted by their mutual stubborn inability to see past their familial scars. Duncan’s mother is a demanding viper; Ines’ physically and emotionally abusive father was so revolting it has put her off of the notion of marriage for good – and their romance didn’t work as well for me. Duncan is also one of those “nae bonnie lassie” Scottish heroes with a phonetic accent, for those who dislike that highlander trope.
Each character is interesting, if not as outstanding as some of the author’s other fearless gents and iron-willed ladies. But I really appreciated Ines’ battle to be seen as an innovator and equal in the family lace-making business.
The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure generally lacks Galen’s usual penchant for angst and melodrama. The stakes are a little lower than usual in the book, which is less a derring-do adventure than a domestic dramady. But it’s a fine change of pace and she manages to make it compelling. As always, her sense of space and time enchants and solidifies the story.
But the convoluted plot of the novel, however, does not. Perhaps focusing on one of the love stories instead of both would have made the book a sharper and more memorable read. The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure isn’t my favorite Galen and definitely not my favorite among the Survivors series, but it’s an entertaining and warm story that still provides a worthwhile reading experience.
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Grade: B
Book Type: Historical Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 08/09/20
Publication Date: 09/2020
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
Lisa Fernandes is a writer, reviewer and recapper who lives somewhere on the East Coast. Formerly employed by Firefox.org and Next Projection, she also currently contributes to Women Write About Comics. Read her blog at http://thatbouviergirl.blogspot.com/, follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thatbouviergirl or contribute to her Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MissyvsEvilDead or her Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/missmelbouvier
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The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure? Is this a nod to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure? ;)
More than likely so!
The cover makes me shiver. I know the Highlands well and, frankly, I can’t ever recall, even at the height of summer, that it was warm enough late in the afternoon (as the picture suggests) to run around outside with your top half virtually naked. I love stuff set in Scotland but after reading Lisa’s review, think she might have been a full grade too generous. Nothing in her review entices me. Sorry, Lisa.
And of course the Highlands are known for their hardy old-growth coniferous forests!
Pre-blinkin’-cisely!!
Very true. But the author is self-publishing now so probably has to stick with stock photos of women in big dresses – probably wedding dresses by the look of that one – and a bit of photoshopping!
Precisely the point I wanted to make!
Also, covers change between editions.
The dress is one thing – but if you’re photoshopping, it’s just as easy to use the actual Highlands for your background as it is the Willamette Valley!
I think the “dress” looks nothing like a wedding dress as Caz suggested. Looks like a very large Army tent to me, flapping in the breeze. Oh well, I do take the point that self-published authors may have no choice in covers so perhaps a plain brown wrapper would be better rather than something that really is off-putting.
Different strokes for different folks!
Usually unless a cover is completely egregious or very ugly, I usually don’t think it’s worth pointing out. IMO, this cover’s fine.