Rating: 4 stars
Buy Links:  Amazon | All Romance
Length: Novella

Officer Darren Holden is shocked to find a strangely dressed, unconscious man in an L.A. alley. He is even more surprised to recognize the man as the one he has been dreaming about for a while. An inexplicable attraction and curiosity has Darren checking on the man while he’s in the hospital. When the man wakes up, Darren’s need to take care of him is undeniable. The man, Duncan, insists that he is from a different time and has no idea how he came to Los Angeles, a city of which he has never heard.

Duncan MacGregor has never been like the other men in his clan. He’s never been attracted to women, although he would never admit it out loud. When his father forces him into a betrothal, Duncan has no choice but to go along with it. But unbeknownst to Duncan, the clan witch has other plans for him. After Duncan unknowingly takes the witch’s potion, he wakes up in a strange place where people ride metal monsters and buildings are bigger and more elaborate than anything he’s ever seen. But being found by the beautiful police officer who has been haunting his dreams puts Duncan at ease.

Duncan’s story is just too outrageous for Darren to believe, but the pull between the pair is too strong for either man to deny. Darren is determined to help even if he doesn’t quite believe Duncan’s story and Duncan is determined to make Darren believe him so that they can build a future together. But when Duncan’s past comes calling, he must make an impossible decision between love and duty.

I should let you know that I was immediately attracted to this book, not because of the cover. Not because of the blurb. But because of the title. It’s lust that initially attracted me to this book. There are a few things out there that can make me melt, and two of those are a man in a kilt and with an accent. I was guaranteed that with this book and not disappointed at all.

So, let’s get to the yays and nays, shall we?

I love this world and the story. The mix of 18^th century Scotland and 21^st century America. The contrast of the two time periods and cultures. It was all so magical and exciting. I love the addition of forbidden magic and the mistakes caused by magic. I adored watching Duncan experience everything in this new world for the first time. He was like a kid in a candy store. Destiny and love play a wonderful part in this story. Both the world and plot are captivating from beginning to end. The romance is lovely and so sweet. It’s a heartwarming, feel-good story.

And how could I not love Duncan? Besides the fact that he was the man in the kilt and with the sexy accent, Duncan has this air of innocence and vulnerability. He’s a man who has lived in a culture steeped with tradition. He’s a man of duty and honor, but also a man of dreams. His attraction to the man of his dreams was a destiny he never thought would come true, but when it did he never doubted it, never turned back or regretted his decisions. I like that where he is innocent and vulnerable, he’s by no means weak – physically or mentally. He has morals, goals, and beliefs that he won’t back away from. He’s a wonderful character.

I like Darren, too. I think he could have been a better developed. He’s a good guy and a good cop who only wants to help. He wants to believe what Duncan says, but his feet are firmly planted in the reality of the 21st century. Magic isn’t part of his life, so it’s hard for him to accept. But he does believe in his feelings for Duncan, and wants to keep the Scot in his life permanently. He’s strong and determined. I just would have liked more from him. More than just he’s a cop and a good guy.

I also would have liked the relationship to be better developed. It happened in such a short amount of time. I like the destiny tie-in to the relationship, but I would have liked to see it develop more all around. The declarations of love felt off, forced. I wanted more to the end of the story as well. I had questions that weren’t fully answered by the end. So the story could have been longer for several different reasons.

Overall, A Highlander in L.A. is a story that has a realistic and fantastic storyline. The characters are strong and likable. And the world is a wonderful journey in itself. Even with the few quibbles I had, I really liked the story overall. If you love men in kilts who speak in sexy accents, I dare say this book is for you. If you like a story with magic and destiny, this book is for you. If you love sweet love stories with happy endings, this story is for you.

Cover: I really like this beautiful cover by Posh Gosh. First and foremost, kilt. I just love the depiction of Duncan set against the L.A. skyline. It’s pure eye candy for me.