Early Book Review: Possession of a Highlander by Madeline Martin

Possession of a Highlander is the second book in the Highlander series by Madeline Martin. It is currently scheduled for release on August 11 2015. Brianna Lindsay's grip on the inheritance that is rightly hers hangs by a thread. If the town finds out her father has died Brianna will be forced into marriage with her loathsome cousin, Lord Robert, and will lose all of Edzell Castle and its lands. To protect her home, she'll have to trust a complete stranger, a brooding Highland barbarian who sweeps into Edzell with a small retinue and insists on replacing her Captain of the Guard. He proves his worth by defeating her men and she has no choice but to accept his offer. Though his motives are suspect, Colin MacKinnon has nobility in his blood and good intentions in coming to Edzell. He seeks his own kingdom and sets out to conquer Brianna in the best way he knows how, with seduction. Together, they must navigate a treacherous world of spies and intrigue, of legacy and fidelity, of love and betrayal, to find what is truly worth possessing.

Possession of a Highlander is a historical romance with plenty of intrigue and conflict. Brianna has a loyal castle of retainers, but with the loss of her father and the wondering mind of her maid she is in need of help. When an effort to receive aid results in the loss of her Captain of the Guard and the arrival of Colin there is only more trouble on the way. Her relations are more trouble than help, and while Colin seems to good to be true, and she certainly does not trust him. I liked Brianna's spunk and dedication to her people, she wasn't just avoiding marriage to her cousin for herself, she also knew that he and his father were cruel and would be bad leaders for everyone involved. Colin might have come in with grand plans for himself, but he also proves to be smart and chivalrous. I like that on several occasions he proves himself even better than even he thinks he is, and is willing to risk his safety and pride for the sake of the greater good and Brianna's welfare. I really liked Brianna’s character, and Colin’s as well. I was a little less thrilled with some of the secondary characters, particularly the cousin and uncle that caused all sorts of issues. Perhaps that was because I felt like it dragged on a little too long with the series of complications. However, I still enjoyed the book as a whole and was glad to see the final resolution. 

Possession of a Highlander is a complicated but enjoyable read. I liked the main characters, but was occasionally disappointed with the pacing. Despite that minor bump, I still am very happy with the read and would recommend the book to fans of the author and the genre. It might have been a little more complicated than most stories with a few extra layers of conflict, but it is well worth the read.