2.75 stars. I wanted to love this, but I did not. It was pretty boring. I didn't care for the female protagonist. And the male protagonist, while sexy and a little bit interesting, it wasn't enough. I was really looking to get lost in a historical romance, but the story pretty much lost me. There were good parts, but unfortunately, they were not enough. ( )

...so the weirdest part about this book is that our sexually objectified highlander and his English rose fall in love over a week. A week.

Did I mention that he kidnapped her away from her fiancé? Oh, no, I didn't. Well there it is. He came into her keep, ripped her clothes from her, changed her into other ones, threw her over his shoulder and walked out the fucking door.

And she's in love with him now. I guess.

I did quite like Duncan's character, there was more depth to him than in a lot of the other novels I've read. This whole jealousy-super-possessive-don't-you-ever-touch-her thing can be so flat, but this author did it quite well.

The ending was really good? Most of the book was fairly standard and had quite noticeable plot holes but the ending was really good? I was rather alarmed, confused. Usually the endings to these books are predictable and end up with the heroine declaring her pregnancy at an awkward moment.

The preview for the next book seemed really good, as well. I am all about women pointing guns at men who threaten them with marriage.

ANYWAY. 3 stars, if you'd like an arbitrary rating. ( )

I would give this book a 3.5.
This is the first book by Julianne MacLean that I've read and I certainly enjoyed her writing style bringing the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to life in Captured by the Highlander.
Amelia starts out an innocent who is completely naïve who grows through the book into a brave, strong and loving woman. She see's the good in everyone, believing someone on their words alone. Duncan, who abducts her when her fiancé,an officer in the British army, who's a rapist and murderer, isn't in his room at the Fort.Duncan certainly opens Amelia's eyes to the way of the world, not in a harsh way, though being abducted was certainly an eye opener for her. Duncan's a multi-faceted character dedicated to his country and clan, walking the thin line between his duty and his feelings. He seeks revenge for the brutal murder of his betrothed but Amelia shows him that there is more to life then bloody battles and death. Duncan also sets Amelia senses on fire whenever he's near. He's sexy, domineering and lusty and just the man of Amelia's dreams. Their relationship runs an emotional gauntlet and I thought handled very well.

Towards the end, the story is rushed and everything is wrapped up nicely. I certainly had a good time reading this historical romance with it's well matched lovers.
Jack Murphy ( )

I was bored. The dialogue was stilted and I could never fully connect with the characters. Actually I don’t think they ever connected with each other. They moved like robots. The emotions were stuck on the page. I will admit I liked Duncan from the start- he was a brave and yet fair highland warrior. Though he was named The Butcher he was actually interested in saving innocents from pain by ridding the world of the evil men who inhabit it. I hated Angus (Duncan’s best friend and companion) literally from the moment he appeared. I know people as ignorant, close-minded, and cold-hearted exist, but he made my skin crawl every time he was mentioned.
Amelia was the worst heroine I have encountered in a LONG time. She was selfish. She was naive, even in the last chapters when a heroine should have gone through a soul-shifting identity realization, or at least matured some. She was just plain annoying. Actually by the end I kind of hoped the book would end with her death… which is a horrible thing to wish.
The plot was such an interesting starting place that it was a huge disappointment that it didn’t deliver. I just never completely engaged. There were plot twists, for example Duncan’s true identity, that didn’t even make sense to me. There was no foreshadowing. I just kept thinking it would get better… It never did. Not for one second. When the couple reached happily ever after I was relieved that I was finished with the book and could move on with my life.
The whole thing left me with a sour stomach. ( )

Captured by the Highlander is my first highlander book and I must say I really like the thought of a hot warrior in a kilt. And Duncan aka “The Butcher” is extremely hot; with his long black hair, rippling muscles and strong, experienced hands. Mmmm.... Duncan can pillage me anytime.


He takes what he wants and will not be stopped. But like most great alphas his tender side comes out when he finds that special lass. Which he finds, while breaking into Fort William. But he doesn’t have lusty thoughts on his mind, nay, he looking for his enemy, Colonel Richard Bennett. But to Duncan’s surprise he finds the lovely Lady Amelia instead.


The Butcher plans to use Amelia as bait for Colonel Bennett so they run and hide for days together. As they spend more time together, an attraction begins to grow between them. Amelia starts to see Duncan for the gentle and kind man he can be; instead of the blood thirsty Butcher.


Even though this a romance book with the usual formal, don’t be fool, there are some great twists to the plot and the characters. We get to see the naive Amelia grown into a feisty wee lass. And after all, the world is not always black and white when it comes to love and war.


Captured by the Highlander has it all, action, lust, Stockholm Syndrome and sexy men in kilts. After reading this hot highlander book I plan to read more about Scots and their need to claim their women. I must say, I’ll take a hot sweaty highlander warrior over a gentlemen any day. I love a Scottish brogue. ( )