Synopsis:
The
timeless romance, soaring passion—and gorgeous men—of Scotland comes to
modern-day America. And the rules of love will never be the same…
Isabel
Buchanan is fiery, funny, and never at a loss for words. But she is struck
speechless when her mother returns from a trip to Scotland with a
six-foot-tall, very handsome souvenir. Izzy’s mother is so infatuated by the
fellow that Izzy has to plan their annual Highland Games all by herself. Well,
not completely by herself. The Highlander’s strapping young nephew has come
looking for his uncle…
Alasdair
Blackmoor has never seen a place as friendly as this small Georgia town—or a
girl as brilliant and beguiling as Izzy. Instead of saving his uncle, who seems
to be having a lovely time, Alasdair decides he’d rather help Izzy with the
Highland Games. Show her how to dance like a Highlander. Drink like a
Highlander. And maybe, just maybe, fall in love with a Highlander. But when the
games are over, where do they go from here?
Author Bio:
Laura Trentham is an award-winning author of contemporary
and historical romance, including Then He Kissed Me and The
Military Wife. She is a member of RWA, and has been a finalist multiple
times in the Golden Heart competition. A chemical engineer by training and a
lover of books by nature, she lives in South Carolina.
Elizabeth's Review
My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend
Review Copy Provided by Publisher via Net Galley
One of my favorite things about Ms Trentham‘ work (at least the books I’ve read) is her ability to make the setting of the story as much a part of things as the characters. This is true with A Highlander Walks Into a Bar.
Set in Highland, GA - two real highlanders show up and set in motion events that change the lives of at least 2 couples. Alisdair and his uncle Gareth are the heartbreaking Highlanders matched up with Isabelle and her mother, Rose. While the focus of the story is on the younger couple, the older pair are definitely part of the action.
I found all of the characters likeable and the situations around them engaging and interesting. Ms Trentham pulled me in and had me invested in them finding resolutions to see if a happily ever after was possible.
I am curious to see what is in store for the good people of Highland in the future!
View all my reviews
Laura Trentham Blog Tour Q&A A HIGHLANDER
WALKS INTO A BAR
1. What inspired you to
write A Highlander Walks into a Bar?
It was actually a Buick car commercial
from a couple of years ago where a grandson picks his grandmother up from the
airport and she says saucily, “I did a lot of shopping in Italy.” From behind
her luggage steps an Italian gentleman. Of course, my writer brain kept
picturing what happened after the three of drove off and twisted it into an
entire story but had to make up a town for them to return to!
Another big inspiration is a real-life
place: Helen, Georgia, is a town that has transformed itself into a German
village. It’s picturesque and they celebrate Octoberfest every year. I twisted
that concept and made my little town of Highland, Georgia, into a Scottish
village including an annual Highland Games that the Buchanan ladies put on
every summer which is an important aspect of the book.
2. Introduce us to your
main characters!
Isabel Buchanan is the daughter who
picks her mother up from the airport only to be surprised by the appearance of
Gareth Blackmoor, who happens to be keeping his title of Earl of Cairndow a
secret from everyone in Highland, Georgia, including Rose Buchanan, Isabel’s
mother.
Alasdair Blackmoor is Gareth’s nephew
and heir to the title and castle in Scotland. He’s been sent to round up his
wandering uncle and to make sure he isn’t being taken advantage of by some
pushy American women. Complications ensue, including love (of course!)
3. Lots of aspiring
authors out there. Any advice for them?
To become a better writer, you must
write. Sounds simple, but I know so many aspiring authors who get stuck in
their own head. They plot and make inspiration boards and talk about writing,
but when the fingers hit the keyboard, they get mired in doubts. Just get the
words down. They don’t have to be perfect; they don’t even have to be good, but
you can’t fix a blank page!
4. How is A Highlander
Walks into a Bar different from your other books?
While
it’s still a Southern small town romance, it has a definite rom-com vibe.
Expect low angst and lots of laughs! I love to read reviews where they reader
has literally laughed out loud at several points.
5. I know asking
someone’s all-time favorite book is a loaded question so what’s your current
favorite read?
Two series I have loved lately are
Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy (a fantasy retelling weaving medieval
Russian history and folklore) and Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell’s
mysteries (a Victorian butterfly hunter teams up with a taxidermist to solve
mysteries. I mean, seriously, how can you beat that combo?!)
6. Alright, the ultimate
question: why should we read your book?
If you need a pick-me-up, good-time,
laugh-out-loud book, then read A
Highlander Walks into a Bar!
7. Favorite quote or
scene you wrote in A Highlander Walks
into a Bar?
As the
woman continued to stare at him as if he were the bearer of the bubonic plague,
his smile faltered. He stuck out a hand. “I’m Alasdair
Blackmoor.”
Although
he registered a split-second hesitation on her part, she took his hand. “Isabel
Buchanan.”
Her
handshake was firm and no-nonsense, but her palm was soft and her hand small in
his. On closer inspection, her eyes striated into all different shades of brown
and amber, and freckles dusted her cheeks. He hung on to her hand for too long,
but couldn’t seem to pry himself away.
Breaking
the spell, she wrested her hand from his, pulling it into a fist. Was she
planning on throat-punching him? He rubbed his neck and took a step back, out
of the radius of her magnetic energy, and her reach. On her approach, she’d
seemed birdlike, insignificant even, but up close, he was having a hard time
not staring like a first-class prat.
He was
punch-drunk with exhaustion. It was the only logical explanation.
She stuck
her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, stretching her red V-neck T-shirt
tight. His gaze dipped instinctively and then stuck around to read the print on
the pocket over the soft curve of her left breast: Highland. The Heart of
Scotland in the Blue Ridge.
She
cleared her throat. His gaze shot to hers, and he blinked to try to refocus his
thoughts. “I was admiring . . . I mean, reading your shirt.”
“It’s not
a novel.”
His face
heated. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d blushed this hot and fierce.
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About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary and sports romances, including her two new indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Madrona Island Series. Jami’s new releases consistently rank in the top fifty on the sports romance and sports genre lists on Amazon, and she has hit the Amazon top hundred authors list in both contemporary romance and genre fiction multiple times. Jami ranked Number Seven on Kobo’s Top Ten Most Completed Authors, an honor bestowed on the year’s “most engaging” authors based on an average page completion rate by their readers.
Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland cross with a tennis ball fetish, a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat, and an opinionated Hanoverian mare.
Jami works in IT for her day job and is a former high school business teacher. She’s a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan and is waiting for the day professional hockey comes to Seattle. An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it’s the most beautiful place on earth.
Connect with Jami!
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