Review: How to Marry a Royal Highlander

Posted 19 January, 2016 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 19 Comments

*I received a free copy of How to Marry a Royal Highlander from Kensington Books via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *


Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Review: How to Marry a Royal HighlanderHow to Marry a Royal Highlander by Vanessa Kelly
Series: The Renegade Royals #4
Published by Kensington Books on 30 June 2015
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley

4.5 Stars

Illegitimate yet thoroughly irresistible, the Renegade Royals are leaving behind their careers as daring spies for the greatest adventure of all…

At sixteen, Alasdair Gilbride, heir to a Scottish earldom, fled the Highlands and an arranged betrothal. Ten years later, Alasdair must travel home to face his responsibilities. It’s a task that would be much easier without the distracting presence of the most enticing woman he’s ever met…

After one escapade too many, Eden Whitney has been snubbed by the ton. The solution: rusticating in the Scottish wilderness, miles from all temptation. Except, of course, for brawny, charming Alasdair. The man is so exasperating she’d likely kill him before they reach the border—if someone else weren’t trying to do just that. Now Eden and Alasdair are plunging into a scandalous affair with his life and her reputation at stake—and their hearts already irreparably lost…

How to Marry a Royal Highlander is exactly the kind of historical romance I enjoy the most. Stubborn ladies and hot highland lords – what’s not to love?

Review - (un)Conventional Bookviews

It’s not often I read a Historical Romance that is also a Romantic Suspense! How to Marry a Royal Highlander is both, though, and I know that is part of why I enjoyed Edie’s and Alec’s story so much. Add to that that Edie had been in a scandal, and she had to leave London for the rest of the season, to stay away at least for the whole winter. Alec, with help of Edie’s twin sister Evie’s husband Wolf managed to persuade a very involved mother that the Scottish Highlands was the best place to go to make the ton forget all about Edie and her possible indiscretions.

I’m pretty sure I had already fallen in love with both Edie and Alec in How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy, and getting to know both of them better cemented my feelings for them. Seeing them get to know each other, and first become aware of their own feelings towards each other – then realizing all that was at stake for them to be able to be together was a delight. But it was definitely not an easy path for either of them, especially because several people did not at all want Alec to come home and take his rightful place as the laird. Not only was the romance titillating, the characters grew in a way I hadn’t suspected, and while I liked both of them at the beginning of the story, I absolutely loved them by the end.

Because of the suspense elements, there was never a dull moment, and added to that was the fact that Alec had been promised to his cousin, Donella, since he was 16 – at what time he ran away from home to see the world, and not be forced into a loveless marriage. Needless to say, his family wasn’t exactly happy to see him arrive home after ten years, with an English lady and her mother in tow. This brought on several laugh out loud moments, as well as some very well done tension that made How to Marry a Royal Highlander impossible to put down.

Written in third person point of view, and in past tense, the story unfolded at a nice, even pace, with some scenes paced faster, to make the excitement more palpable. I think both historical romance fans and romance suspense fans will enjoy this installment, which can be read as a stand-alone.

Fave Quotes - (un)Conventional Bookviews

“Now, what was that ye were sayin’ about my beloved homeland, lassie?” he asked as he stood next to Wolf. “Surely ye can’t be thinkin’ it’s anything but heaven on earth.”
“Oh, God,” she muttered. “Please, not the brogue.”
He simply laughed.

The man was ridiculously handsome – and nice when he wished to be. It made Edie feel rather gloomy, probably because she was used to men like him falling at her feet. So far, however, Gilbride seemed entirely immune to her charms.

“Ah, lassie, you can’t fool me,” he said, that seductive Scottish burr roughening his voice. It dragged across her nerves, making her shiver. “I’m not one of those manmilliners you lead around by the nose like docile geldings. I know very well you’ve been avoiding me.”

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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19 responses to “Review: How to Marry a Royal Highlander

  1. This sounds great. I don’t read too many highlander stories, but the mix of historical and romantic suspense sounds fun. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

  2. This sounds like an absolute delight, Lexxie, and I love the quotes you shared! It’s nice to know the characters won you over and that they grew in ways you didn’t expect. The suspense element has me that much more excited about reading this as well. You said it can be read standalone but you met them previously. Does it help to read the books in order?
    Happy Tuesday, my dear! I hope the week goes well and I’m looking forward to a nice long chat! **BIG HUGS**

    • Yes, it was definitely a delight, Brandee, and I know you’ll love this story as well! I really think this can be read on its own… but of course there is always an extra element of enjoyment when you have already met the characters before they get their own story.
      Happy Tuesday to you, too, my dear! *BIG HUGS*

  3. You know I love this series and have this to read but I don’t know why I never read it. I guess it just got lost in the sea of review eARC’s from last year. 🙁 I am going to have to dig it out. 🙂

  4. it’s true that it’s rare when we have a good mystery in them but it’s always so nice when it’s the case. I love HR but it’s been a few months I haven’t read one… I think I heard about the author but I can’t remember the book.

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