This mystery was related from a unique point of view...as a Scot gamekeeper's journal being transcribed by his neice (a pregnant gunsmith married to a policeman)....nothing to jarring, but a delightful interweaving of enjoyable characters in a rural community. The editorial notes by the neice enhanced her uncle's account of the events, giving a delightful twist to his perspective. This was the first time I had run across a Gerald Hammond mystery and I was pleased to discover there are several of these treasures out there for me to explore. I will be acquiring more for summer reading.

This book is a reference book, not something to read through for pleasure. Certain parts, however, do reward the reader from a purely literary point of view; in particular, the author's description of the battle of Culloden just might bring a tear to your eye. The reference material on clan backgrounds, relationships, surnames, tartans and so forth is extremely well researched and detailed. Someone interested in Scottish genealogy will find this volume of much greater value than the paperback things sold at Scottish games and festivals. For me personally, the book contains more information in one place on my own surname than any other reference I've come across. It's a pity it's out of print--seems as though the good ones always are

John Cunningham has been invalided out of the army. He caught a tropical virus while serving in the Falklands War. With his pension, savings, and a partner, he is striving to make Three Oaks Kennels a going concern. He trains the dogs, his partner Isobel handles them at field trials, and Beth, John's significant other acts as both kennel maid and nursemaid to them both. In this novel, Beth's uncle, the famous artist, George Muir, is killed in an explosion and has left Beth a painting and his Labrador puppy, Jason. John and Beth travel north to collect both and visit with the widow, Aunt Hattie. John isn't satisfied that the explosion was an accident, and notifies the local police, but doesn't tell Beth or Hattie. Other family problems arise involving the inheritance and Muir's other paintings.

There is more than enough going on in this mystery to keep anyone happy. Family squabbles, murder, swindlers, and goodness knows what else. I was a little offended by the author referring to Beth as John's mistress, but other than that, I enjoyed the mystery thoroughly and hope to work my way through the whole series.

A fun and interesting book to read for those with some familiarity of Highland Games. It gives a unique view of a portion of Scottish history that is being kept alive and growing in the U.S. as well as Scotland today. Great information on all forms of athletic events and their history. Many that aren't played in the U.S. but interesting to read about all the same. While the list of games in the U.S. is out of date it's no problem because contacting most of the games listed will update you to many more being played all over the world today.

This is a really good book. The leader of a the Campbell clan has plans for revenge on his enemy, the MacQuarie, who he thinks killed his son. He plans to fake a truce by marrying his nephew to his enemy's daughter. Once she is with child he is going to reveal a devestating secret that will destroy the MacQuarie family. But the headstrong daughter of Lachlan MacQuarie has set her sights on a different Campbell - he's more likely to inherit the leadership of the Campbell clan anyway. She journeys to to the Campbell stronghold to change their leader's mind.

The story was really good and the descriptions wonderfully done. My problem was the end, where every major character ends up happily ever after. It was just to contrived. Duncan and Lachlan hated each other. Duncan was mad with grief over the loss of his son. He was ready to do whatever it took to get his revenge. And all of a sudden the two are beaming together over the weddings. It's just too incredible.

Other than that, a great read. I highly recommend it.

Perfect for reading to oneself or sharing with the whole family. Hastings manages to bring alive the past, sharing tales of a long-ago culture. My only complaint with this book is that I wished there'd been a bit more dialogue and less description. Do try the recipe for old-fashioned baked beans - it was popular in our house.

This is a nice collection of 70 hikes in the central arizona area, for Sedona, Prescott, the Bradshaw mountains, Sierra Prieta, Juniper Mesa, Mingus Mountain, and Grantite Mountain areas. The presentation is simple and direct. Each hike has a road-to-trailhead map and description as well as a trail map and trail description. Each also has an interesting altitude profile diagram. B&W photos are included for many hikes. Also includes latitude and longitude for tailheads so you can feed it into a GPS. If you are planning some hiking time in the Prescott, Verde Valley, or Sedona area, this is a good book to have.

This book is the third in Ruth Langan's popular Highland series. I remember reading and enjoying these books in 1991, when they first came out. This book focuses on Megan, the youngest of the MacAlpin sisters. Her two older sisters have married and left the family home, so Megan is left to rule. Unfortunately, she is wounded and is taken to Ireland with no memory of who she is or where she comes from.

Sean O'Mara, the man who rescued MacAlpin, and who is rescued by her at times throughout the story, begins to fall in love with her. Even though he does not know her past history, Megan's actions show him the sort of person she is, and O'Mara is enchanted by her.

While the romance is sweet and I found Megan, Sean and Sean's brother Colin all to be wonderful characters, the story unravels as it goes on. The intrigues at O'Mara's home in Ireland are a bit far-fetched. The final scenes with the appearance of the MacAlpin clan from Scotland and Megan's final decision were thinly plotted and frankly quite ridiculous. If only the end of the book were as good as the beginning....

Aileena is captive in an arranged marriage to a crippled man.When she finds a wounded man hiding out on their place, she puts himin a hut and cares for him. Before long, Alex and Aileena have fallen in love. Aileena and Alex are fated to be lovers, but they must face and triumph over hardship and danger, and a secret as old as Aileena herself before they will be able to live happily ever after. Joyce Carlow's fourth "Highland" book offers an exciting love story, written with an obvious love of the Scottish highlands.

In 1605 Scotland, Griffin Campbell is expected to marry Maigrey MacGregor as heir to his clan's chieftain. However, Griffin has not only never been with a woman, but he suffered a childhood trauma and vomits at the thought of just a kiss. He thinks of his friend Jix Ferguson who traveled back in time from the twenty-first century, but has returned to her home married to his clansman Jamie. He ventures inside the cave she described and touches the crystals. The next thing he knows is that he is in the Scottish home of Jix and Jamie in her century.

A bewildered Griffin meets Jix's friend, University of Texas Physicist Doctorate student Chelsea Brown. They hit it off immediately, but his female phobia stops him from making love while she feels too mousy for the muscular warrior. They travel to Texas where he sees a picture of his seventeenth century cousin Duncan about to be hanged in 1882. Griffin and Chelsea find the crystals and as they fall in love journey to rescue his kin.

The sequel to HIGHLAND DREAM, HIGHLAND FLING is a wild time travel ride that takes readers on a trip through three different centuries. The key to the story is that the displaced individuals do not easily adapt to their new world especially Griffin who, for instance, tries to kill small barbarians hiding inside a box that Chelsea calls a TV. The story line is loaded with action and the crystals provide a time mechanism though Jamie's explanation of magic seems displaced. This is a winner for those readers who relish a romantic Back to the Future.

Harriet Klausner