Early Book Review: Just in Time for a Highlander by Gwyn Cready

Just in Time for a Highlander is the first book in the Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands series by Gwyn Cready.  It is currently schedule for publication on February 3 2015. It's tough being a woman in a man's profession, especially for Abby Kerr, the unexpected chieftess of Clan Kerr. Loathe to marry but in need of a strong arm, Abby wishes for a Scots warrior and gets Duncan, the historical reenactment hobbyist. Wall Street Impresario Duncan MacHarg isn't bad with a fencing foil, but he's no Highlander. When a misdirected spell plucks him from the 21st century, he lands in 1705 Scotland at the feet of the fiercest woman he's ever laid eyes on. The English are on the border and the fiscal affairs are far from being in order. The independent Abby needs help, but could the strange man brought to her possibly by more help than hindrance?

I really wanted to love Just in Time for a Highlander, and to start with I did. I like Abby’s character and her friends. The conflict she faces, trying to lead her clan when so many men are against women having any kind of power. She is a strong and is working very hard to balance everything she needs to do to help her clan thrive. Duncan is intelligent and honorable. He wants to help Abby, but is unsure as to when in the history of Scotland he has landed and how he can be helpful. The attraction between the two is strong, and there is a suitor waiting for Abby in the wings, in a bunch or other complications. The characters are all pretty strong, and I really liked some of the side characters. However, it got to about a third of the way through the book and instead of moving towards a resolution more complications. When I got about halfway through the book the trend was still the same and I was starting to get a little anxious to finish. I liked the final resolution, and most of the complications were fine and made perfect sense in the book. I just felt like the book could have been more cohesive and faster paced without a few of the issues included. I can think of two or three complications that could have been excluded entirely with no loss to the drama and plot of the book.

Just in Time for a Highlander was a solid time travel romance. It was a little long and involved for my tastes, but I can see why some others might enjoy it more than I did. The characters and history are well done however.