Quest of the Highlander

Crowns & Kilts, Book 5

By: Cynthia Wright

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Wright “magically blends passion and history!” (RT Book Reviews)

A Highlander no more...?
Lennox MacLeod was raised on the Isle of Skye as the grandson of the powerful chief of Clan MacLeod, yet his kind heart and artistic talent set him apart from other Highland warriors. When Lennox uncovers a shocking secret, he angrily sets out on a quest to discover where he truly belongs.

Bold dreams dashed
Beautiful, strong-willed Nora Brodie has devoted her life to becoming a master weaver of royal tapestries, even though men scoff at a woman achieving such a goal. At Stirling Castle, Nora is determined to make her dreams come true, until the night a dissolute Englishman steals something she can never replace.

The winds of fate
Hiding a shameful secret, Nora must leave Stirling, and the only person who can help her is the splendid Highlander Lennox MacLeod. Traveling together, Lennox and Nora forge a passionate bond as lovers and soul mates. But upon arriving in Tudor London, truths are revealed and choices loom. Does the flame of love stand a chance against powerful winds of fate?

This full-length Scottish historical romance is book 5 in the Crowns & Kilts series but can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. In Quest of the Highlander, listeners will reunite with Andrew and Micheline from Of One Heart (Crowns & Kilts, book 2).

©2020 Cynthia Challed (P)2020 Cynthia Challed

Another Delightful Wright/Campbell Pairing!

Once again, fans of medieval romance will delight in Cynthia Wright’s latest foray into 16th century Scotland, where passion and love abound.

Lennox MacLeod has never felt part of his clan. He doesn’t really look like anyone in his family, he considers himself more of an artist than a Highlander, and his grandfather, chief of Clan MacLeod, doesn’t seem to fully accept him. Despite feeling this way, Lennox loves his family. One day, while helping his sister prepare for travel, he unwittingly uncovers a shocking family secret. Hoping to learn more, he sets out on a quest to discover his true parentage.

Nora Brodie is an artistic woman trying to make her mark in a man’s world. Learning skills from her father, Nora’s dream is to become a master weaver, creating tapestries for royalty. As a woman, this dream is difficult, if not impossible to achieve. Nora and her father travel to Sterling Castle where she hopes that a demonstration of her skills will allow her to attain her dreams. Unfortunately, a chance encounter ruins all of Nora’s prospects and she is determined to escape.

Nora persuades kindhearted Lennox to take her with him on his journey and so their adventure begins. Traveling through Scotland and England, both are determined in their individual quests but they soon discover a passion for each other along the way.

Lennox is the 3rd MacLeod sibling from the Isle of Skye. His brother Ciaran and sister Fiona both try to convince Lennox that family bonds are strong, no matter what blood travels through their veins. But Lennox is resolute and feels the need to find answers he seeks.

As one can expect from a Cynthia Wright book, the details of medieval Scotland and London are well depicted, as are the courts of James V and Henry VIII. Her descriptions of food, clothing, and the settings are spot on. In addition, Wright describes the art of tapestry making in the 16 century. This is a topic that I knew nothing about, but delighted in the descriptions of the looms, bobbins, and cartoons. These cartoons are not what you would expect them to be.

I highly recommend visiting Cynthia Wright’s Pinterest boards, including her latest for Quest of the Highlander. She includes pictures of historical figures, clothing, and castles of the time. Also included are pictures of the Stirling head medallions, galleys, and tapestries.

QUEST OF THE HIGHLANDER is a strong addition to the Crowns and Kilts series. One of my favorite things about Cynthia Wright is how her books are all interconnected. While it can stand alone, knowing the back story of the MacLeods adds to the enjoyment. New readers can go back and learn about the MacLeod siblings in Abducted at the Altar and Return of the Lost Bride. There are also cameos from Andrew, the Duke of Aylesbury, and Micheline from OF ONE HEART. Even Andrew’s sister Cicely tries to lend a hand. (And if you are really paying attention, the St. Briac family eventually winds up in America with the Beauvisages and one of the Duke of Aylesworth’s descendants is in THE DUKE & THE COWGIRL, in the Rogues Go West series.)

I was delighted to listen to Tim Campbell’s narration of QUEST OF THE HIGHLANDER and he did not disappoint. Tim’s ability to bring a multitude of characters to life, including a variety of accents (Scottish, French, British), allows the listener to become immersed in each character as you are drawn into the story. Campbell is truly a master at his craft and paired with Cynthia Wright’s words, the story is engaging, satisfying, and an absolute listening pleasure.

Loved it

Another beautiful love story by Cynthia Wright. I couldn't stop listening. I finished it in a day. I hope this is not the last one in this series. I love the St. Briacs and the Mcleods.
Tim Campbell was great as usual. He makes the stories even better. More please of the series Crowns and Kilts.
I will definitely be listening to this whole series again. I already listened to the first 4 books twice and will be listening to it all again in the near future.