Bound to the Highlander (The Highland Chiefs) Paperback – October 10, 2013

"Bound to The Highlander" by Kate Robbins is the first debut book in The Highland Chief's Series and let me tell you for a first book this book totally dazzled me from start to finish. Plus there is an unusual amount of adventure and intrigue as I literally couldn't put this book down, as you never knew what was about to happen another thing I loved about this read. I totally fell in love with this book! I can see why Ms. Robbins won a TARA award for best debut historical romance in 2013 for this book as well.In this wonderful book it is about the heroine Aileana Chatten who was raised by a loving Uncle who unexpectedly dies and as she is expects she now will have to marry right away and she expects it to be her cousin Gawain Chattan which to her makes sense. Yet she finds out with a bit of a shock and betrayal she is suppose marry a nobleman, a Baron, from a traitorous clan who supports a King that she thinks murdered her Father! Plus she has heard he is a bit of ladies man and philanderer as well. Not exactly the type of husband she dreamed about. Aileana always wanted an equal partnership, yet being the obedient person her Uncle raised her to be, she will do her duty and marry this man.The hero of this book is James MacIntosh and he seems to have a prejudice toward Aileana, her family and women in general. James is not happy about this arrangement that his father and Uncle seemed to have made. He intends not to honor as he is very much one of the King's supporters plus he has a reputation as a libertine, philander going from bed to bed with women. As he is over the top handsome by all accounts, but then again Aileana is extremely beautiful as well. He also has no trust in the fairer sex due to a past betrayal by a former love. Of course when he see's Aileana he is a constant contradiction one second he is as cold, as the next second he just want to kiss the life of her and seems totally smitten.I also loved the secondary characters in this book of Alieana's maid and best friend Gwen and Jame's brother Callum who see's what his brother cannot from the beginning. Callum sees a good woman and that his brother is not being honest of his true feelings for Alieana.There is also a villain in their mix whom James accuses Alieana in being in cohorts with and suspects they are lovers as well. Is she? Or is James so blind by a past betrayal he can't see what's really in front of him as Aileana starts to develop feelings for him. You will have to read this amazing book and find out.I was thrilled to see a backdrop as the reader is introduced to Fergus MacKay and Nessia Stephenson. The hero and heroine for book #two in this (Highland Chief's Series) called "Promised To The Highlander". This is another fabulous book that I have already read and reviewed. As I read out of order which tells you can read alone or in series order.I highly recommend you read "Bound To The The Highlander" first, as I think I would of had a better understanding of some of the characters and what was going to happen in book #two if I had. Again you can read either book in order or as stand alone book, as it's the readers choice.Another thing and reason I was so impressed this being Ms. Robbin's debut book, I love when authors put some actual true historical facts mixed with their own fictional story. BRAVO MS. ROBBINS! As you the reader will see an appearance by King James Stewart I and his Queen Joan!!! I absolutely love when an author does that for me the book becomes so much more as I adore Scottish history!There are so many twist and turns in this book you never knew what was going to happen next. I really love that and that only happens in a spectacular read, which "Bound To The Highlander" absolutely is. I hope you give this new author a chance. I see a big future for her in the literary world of Scottish historical romance and look forward to more books and wonderful stories by this talented author Kate Robbins.I totally loved this captivating, outstanding, dazzling, wonderful book!It was fantabulous!!!Saor Alba~ B

This is the first book that I have read from Ms. Kate Robbins and definitely not my last! Ms. Robbins wrote a very good highland story with amazing major and minor characters of a strong courageous beautiful heroine Aileana after losing her uncle plans to marry her devious hated and untrustworthy shady cousin Gawain but secretly Aileana’s uncle promised and betrothed her to another the handsome philanderer hero James MacIntosh. These two are just very opposite the innocent and the playboy are brought together in a loveless marriage is it possible that they could ever fall in love? For the fact that Aileana would consider marrying Gawain who everyone despises except for maybe Aileana and her attempts to unsuccessfully rebel against the betrothal and marriage to James just made me smile. There is lots of sexual tension, political intrigue and a kidnapping between the two the story is told in quite an amusing way despite all the bad stuff that happens throughout that it was difficult to put the book down. I just really liked Aileana’s spirit and pluck! She wasn’t scared to stand up to anyone whether it be James or Gawain even when both of them either harmed or hurt her she was just a very likable character. I did keep wondering why she wanted to marry Gawain at first. Okay yes he is family but come on how naïve are you when no one trusts him and voices this to her yet still she wants to marry him. Even after reading about Gawain and I were thinking there is more than meets the eye to him and I don’t trust him either. I mean eventually Aileana learns not to trust him but why does she forgive him even after all that he does to her? James on the other hand took me a while to even trust or like. I was a little bit apprehensive of even liking him at all since he was also down right cruel at times to Aileana. After being betrothed to Aileana and then agreeing to marry her it seemed he just grudgingly accepted it since he was forced by not only Aileana’s uncle who is dead and then the king. He doesn’t sound like he really wanted her in the first place. Yes, Aileana is beautiful and that is the only reason it seems that James likes her is that she is beautiful plus he can’t wait to get into her pants throughout most of the book but I kept thinking that their relationship was just doomed from the start. I was wondering when his lust for Aileana would die down and he would find another conquest and bed mate to be intimate with. Many of the minor characters even point that out to him as well so I kept waiting for him to end up in bed with someone else. After Aileana is taken and loses her memory somewhat James becomes a much better guy and really proves his worth as not only a good husband but truly a man in love. I did approve and like him after that and realized okay he is not this womanizer after all. I am just glad he changed after all. Even with all this I still rated this book four stars, would recommend it and will read another book from Ms. Kate Robbins.

So absorbed I just had to stay up until 4 am to finish and immediately bought book 2 straight after.Full of heart-aching misunderstandings, sizzlingly-magnetic attraction and soul-deep love, interwoven with moments of heated and stolen passion at a time that's terrorised by greed, betrayal and conspiracy.An intense ominous (not to mention charged) air surrounds James and Aileana as they struggle with clan allegiance, duty, honour and conflicting emotions as they attempt to thwart danger, uncertainty and imminent threat. Where past histories, intense feelings, deceptive appearances and misperceptions generate trust issues leaving you on emotional tender hooks as you find yourself entangled in Aileana and James' whirlwind romance and Scotland's convoluted Clan politics and  strife.Packed with great characters that are well developed and immersed in their own secrets and enthralling affairs that run pararrel to the main story which can't help but have a profound effect on the leads and keeps the plot flowing and interesting. Exciting, captivating read that keeps you fully glued throughout each twist and turn, romantic entanglement and adventurous intrigue. A tale that is well written and can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone that instantly sucks you into the highlands and straight into the plots secrets and ambivalent Clan alliances that are sure to continue in book 2. A read well worth taking the time to indulge in!!! Robbins is a fabulous find!!

For me historical fiction comes in all sorts of forms. Some novels are serious, very heavy on detail and very well edited. Others are much lighter on detail and less formal in that they give a gist of the period, just sufficient to give the reader a feel for the era. I've read a lot of `highlander' romances and they have varied tremendously in the amounts of detail and in the accuracy of the period. I found Bound To The Highlander an interesting mix but it seemed to lack a thorough editing. From the outset, there's a formality to the syntax which is in keeping with the period, yet there was also a contemporary feel in some of the phrases used - mainly during banter that is more light-hearted - which was different. I, personally, tend to like consistency and found the `modernisms' jarring as I came across them.I thought at first the plotline was going to be quite simple to follow but was glad to find that wasn't the case -there were some unexpected scenes which left me wondering what was coming next; almost as you would expect in a Victorian farce.Aileana's uncle, having arranged a marriage with the MacIntosh clan, sets James and Aileana on an emotionally rocky road, some of its pitfalls seeming too much for Aileana. Mutual desire isn't expected in such engagements, far less a deep and abiding love. How they work through the ties that bind them is quite a tale of political intrigue and potential disaster!I was quite partial to James MacIntosh who has everything a highland hero needs, but I was also drawn to his brother, Calum, who counterbalances James' tough, hard edges. Aileana's maid, Gwen, is a forthright character I liked very much- probably more than Aileana herself who was a mix of modern woman and naïve maiden. Aileana's cousin drove the plot forward, proving that you can't always rely on relatives!If you like Highland Heroes - then Bound to the Highlander will entertain you!

What a fantastic story with believable characters. It takes real talent to not only make you believe the story - picturing the landscape and garden but also to imagine the smells of the stables and Edinburgh castle. The author also makes you care for her characters.If you enjoy gorgeous alpha men and strong, sassy women then you'll love this story.

Couldn't put this book down loved this highland story there was a touch of heartache a lot of romance, laughter between the brothers, true loyalty between Scottish clans something for everyone to enjoy.

Still waiting for it to download. Sorry can't comment.