ARC Review: Highlander Reborn by Laura Hunsaker

Highlander Reborn

by Laura Hunsaker

Describe HIGHLANDER REBORN in three words

Angela: Engaging. Primal. Tease

Annie: Temptation. Mysterious. Magical

Laura Hunsaker fuses together her take on vampire mythology with highlander yumminess. What are your thoughts on this?

Annie: Laura puts together two of my favorite things- vampires and highlander. But she does it in a way that is unique and engaging. I wanted to know what Nevin would do when faced with this transformation that he never wanted. Paired with the fact that he is a vampire and a highlander only makes him more interesting...and tempting.

Angela: I thought it was a great idea. The combination of a great warrior as the hero from the highland era with a vampire heroine with a royalty background worked well. I was entranced with Amalia and Nevin's fate to be together despite of their social status.

Readers may want to know... How did you think the book progressed especially since its a short novella?

Annie: I like Laura's voice. It's very concise which makes reading a novella by her enjoyable. HIGHLANDER REBORN is tightly-written and had a believable romance that bloomed wonderfully despite Nevin's initial restraint. I thought that the author created an interesting conflict that was character based but still made it so that Nevin realized he has fallen for Amalia at a pace reader's would believe and accept. That being said, it would be nice to see more from them if future books allow.

Angela: I am not a writer in the least but I have to appreciate the work that is put into any book, short or regular length. However, I am a reader and a reviewer. I want to be honest and say that this novella was not enough for me. I felt Nevin's refusal of his lust and hatred for Amalia to switch to love was a bit fast for me. I do consider that this is a short story and there really isn't enough time for Laura to show that. But after reading this book, I felt very needy for more.

Okay, so this book has a pretty hot panty-melting cover! What were your initial thoughts when you saw it!

Annie: Laura brought me behind the scenes so I got a secret peek at the cover before everything was decided but the first thing I told her when I saw the drafts was, " You picked good, girl. The guy is smokin' " And then I so eloquently expressed that, "I want to sit on his face". Which made Laura spew out her Coke.  That man just does something bad to my ovaries. Also, I'm a fan of the green kilt!

Angela: Well, I have to say that I have been stalking (not really) this model via his photographer Jenn Leblanc. I have seen him as an elf, semi naked, in the lake, dripping wet, as a highlander, etc. I actually saw these proofs before from Jenn and when I saw it on FB for Laura's Book, I was super excited. This guy can rock a book cover and I would read a book just by seeing him in front of it. 

*ARC provided by author

UTC Confession: Laurie Hunsaker

A night out with Laurie Hunsaker (aka The Highland Hussy) and her UTC Confession

Hello Maidens, this is Angela.  I had the pleasure of meeting this woman in person for the very first time since meeting her on Good Reads and Twitter in 2009.  I have to say that she was very nice and welcoming for someone new to reading and new to social media.  We quickly became friends but never had the chance to meet in person.

On Memorial Day weekend, I was in town and well, she took the time to have a drink with me….I mean 2 drinks, two very strong Mai Tais.

Laurie was just what I expected.  She was the tall, sexy, very voluptuous, and very friendly gal I’ve known and chatted with. 

So, I got some updates from her I’d like to share…since some of the gossip we talked about are really TMI and private. j/k.

If you didn’t know, Laurie Hunsaker is the author for Highland Destiny and Amethyst Heat.

Here’s the scoop:

~She has Highland Games (book 1.5) a novella from Magic in the Highlands series.  This story takes place after Highland Destiny (book 1). 

~And Highland Betrayal, (Liam’s Story Book 2) is still in the works…..yes, she needs to hurry up.

~She also has Highland Reborn another Short story.  But this one is a paranormal Highlander with a vamp twist to it.  This one is in the process of submission. 

With that, my short time with her was fun…for the most that I remember anyway. 

Note to self: Never have another Mai Tai in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.  Too damn strong!

Author Override: Laura Hunsaker

 

Author Override is the place where authors take the reins and take you on a journey into their world. Some may allow you into their private writing dens. Others may take you along with them on research trips or interviews. Whatever the case may be, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because here you’ll get an in-depth look into an author’s musings.

Next up on our A Scandalous Affair event, we have a good friend of ours, Laura Hunsaker with us today!  Take it away, girl!

Thanks for having me here, at Under the Covers, Maidens, I’m thrilled to have a chance to have some fun.
 

When Annie suggested I write 10 reasons why you should date a Highlander for Valentine’s Day, oh you know I jumped on that! Nothing makes me happier than thinking of Hunky men in kilts who can wield a sword with deadly skill, but also touch my silky soft skin with the gentlest of caresses.

Imagine this: you have just been stolen from your enemy’s lands by a big, braw warrior. He tosses you onto his horse and rides off. You know not who he is, nor do you care, but the one thing you know is that you want to spend Valentine’s Day with him.

10 Reasons Why Your Valentine's Day Date Should Be a Highlander:

1. The verra long sword.
2. That brogue- He would read you some Robbie Burns *swoon*
3. The castle, because every fantasy should have a castle.
4. The kilt. . . and the mystery of what’s underneath it.
5. The magic of that first kiss
6. The intensity and passion of these warriors could be directed to the bedroom.
7. You like a broody man? These heroes invented broody.
8. He might not bring you flowers, but he’d bring you your enemy’s head on a pike.
9. His riding skills, horse riding skills, that is.
10. The fact that the only thing beneath his kilt is a wee dash of lipstick and his woman’s saliva (quote taken from a real Scotsman via twitter)

[Edited in by Annie: But wait! Some of you may know that Laura is also known as the Highland Hussy. But did you also know that she also has a thing for Fabio? Yes, that's right! Just for fun (and because Laura is SUCH a good sport, I'll leave you all with this wonderful pic of Fabio as a token of my love to you, LOL! Thanks for participating in A SCANDALOUS AFFAIR!]

For a sample of Laura's writing, check out AMETHYST HEAT. It's a free read! For more information on Laura and her books, please visit her website here.

Mackenzie Stewart’s in Scotland for a much-needed vacation. During the castle tour, Mackenzie becomes completely enamored with a painting of one of the previous lairds. Two gentlemen come up behind her and, begging her pardon, they kidnap her, dragging her through time.

The men are sorcerers attempting to end a feud that has plagued their lands for years. Their patron has begun to dabble in the black arts, and between his irrational thirst for power, and his dark secret, the sorcerers are frightened. They believe Mackenzie can break the Stewart curse. They try to convince her to play along with their crazy scheme: marriage to the evil John Campbell.

Before Mackenzie can protest, her carriage is halted and the door thrown open. For a split-second she is arrested by the same beautiful piercing blue eyes that belonged in an oil painting.

Mackenzie then finds herself the victim of a second kidnapping!

Her new captor, however, does nothing but tempt her body and her temper. Believing her to in fact be the betrothed of his mortal enemy the Campbell, Connor originally sets out to capture his enemy’s betrothed. He never thought he would be so attracted to her that he’d want to keep her.

So I’d like to give a copy of the ebook Highland Destiny to a random commenter. Just comment about why you’d like a Highlander for your V Day date. 

Just for fun: I'll give you a BONUS ENTRY if you flood this post with pictures of Fabio. Laura will be thrilled! ;P If you can find one with him in a kilt, even better!