Highland treasure

Sands's regressive ninth Highlands Brides romance (after Hunting for a Highlander) hinges on unconvincing sexual chemistry and graphic depictions of abuse. Lady Elysande de Valance is beaten bloody by Baron de Bucci in the prologue, and the balance of the story deals erratically but explicitly with the physical consequences of this trauma. Painted as stronger than the other women around her (including a village woman who dies "with relief" after a similar beating), Elysande escapes de Bucci--a family friend turned traitor to the crown--and takes flight with two loyal minions and an escorting squadron of Highlanders, called in as an implausible favor. Among the Scots is Rory Buchanan, a skilled healer and warrior with a propensity for lurking to watch Elysande get naked. The ensuing plot is standard stuff: pull off innumerable hairsbreadth escapes on a cross-country odyssey to warn Edward III of de Bucci's treachery--and fall in love along the way. The portrayal of Elysande as exceptional among women continues throughout and will turn off many readers ("Elysande De Valance was one of those rare women a man could like, admire, respect, and still want in his bed"). The resulting romance strikes sour notes with enough frequency to keep the reader wincing right alongside Elysande. Agent: Annalise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency.(Jan.)

In her ninth Highlander Bride novel, Sands makes a match in 14th-century Scotland. Lady Elysande de Valance is a damsel in distress--and then more distress--and then even more distress. Her English father, Robert, and Scottish mother, Mairghread, have just been brutally murdered by the villainous Baron de Buci, who is desperate to find a letter that exposes his plot to kill King Edward III. Tempering her usual romance, humor, and sex, Sands adds violence: De Buci breaks all of Mairghread's fingers, kicks her, punches her, and breaks her neck. Fortunately, Elysande is only beaten severely. Before her death, Mairghread sends a message to Rory Buchanan, a Scottish healer who's traveled to England to cure a British lord. She asks him to take her greatest treasure to safety in the Highlands. Sewn into her garments, Elysande has the letter! If the king sees it, de Buci will be drawn and quartered, a process Sands also describes in detail. On the road, Rory and Elysande sleep together for warmth, Rory finds his kilt "tenting" in the morning, and Elysande finds she likes waking up beside him. But de Buci has hired a hit man: While shopping for herbs, Elysande is shoved into traffic and sprains an ankle. While preparing a liniment, she's stabbed in the chest. With her brains, fortitude, and, thank heaven, the love of a cute healer, the battered heroine helps save the king. As a reward, Edward sends 1,000 workers to Scotland to build the couple's dream MacMansion as they prepare to welcome twin bairns. The romance is template Sands but a slightly bloody read for those who are forever plaid. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.