The Most Eligible Highlander in Scotland

Sinclair’s steamy 10th romance set in the 14th-century Scottish Highlands (after Never Kiss a Highlander) packs the erotic punch of its predecessors but lacks their brawly drive. Conan McTiernay, a “good-looking beast” and second youngest of seven brothers in his powerful clan’s ruling family, refuses to consider marriage because he’s convinced it makes a man unreasonable. Instead, he indulges his burning desire to map Scotland. Then he meets Mhairi Mayboill, the beautiful, brainy daughter of a traveling merchant. She’s just as determined to make her own way in life, spurning both marriage and the convent. Highland pride, prejudice, and the fear of losing their freedom make them both oblivious to their potential romantic partnership until two scheming (and unconvincingly mature) preteen nieces and the laird’s lady push them together. Lengthy obstacle-clearing maneuvers and extended in-castle familial subplots produce too much talk and too little action, and bog down this heated Highland fling. (Feb.)