The Gift: A Highland Novella

By: Margaret Mallory

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

2015 National Readers Choice Award, Best Romance Novella

2015 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Best Novella

Lily's well-honed sense for trouble tells her no healer is safe in London while gangs roam the city looking for witches to burn. In the dead of night, she escapes on a northbound ship, intending to return after Christmas celebrations calm the city's witch fever. But when Lily lands in the wilds of Scotland, her skills for surviving in the city can't save her.

Roderick MacDonald is on a secret mission for his chieftain when he finds a lass near death on a barren hillside and is forced to take her with him. Though this mysterious Sassenach may have the gift his clan needs - and he burns with passion for her - he's determined to resist the enchantment she weaves on his scarred heart. When love blooms amidst the harsh winter beauty of the Highlands, will these two obstinate souls from different worlds accept the Yuletide gift?

©2014 Margaret Mallory (P)2015 Margaret Mallory

Wonderful Yuletide Highlander Story!

Any additional comments?

The Gift by Margaret Mallory is a wonderful Christmas novella that is well written with well developed characters. This is a must read for fans of Margaret's The Return of the Highlander series (it's a prequel), and a great introduction for those unfamiliar with Margaret's books and her writing style.

The Gift centers around Lily who is fleeing London because of a widespread witch hunt within the city and, as a redheaded healer, she knows her days are numbered if she stays. To escape Lily boards a ship sailing north to Scotland. Little did she know that her big city ways were no match for the wilds of Scotland or for the ruggedly handsome and good natured Roderick MacDonald. Roderick saves Lily's life on more than one occasion and he eventually convinces her to travel home with him so she can learn from his grandmother who is an exceptional healer and seer. The rest of the story is their struggle to trust again after being hurt by others, with Lily struggling the most.

I listened to the Audible version of this book narrated by Derek Perkins, who did an admirable job. He clearly differentiated between male and female voices and changed the tempo in the performance when warranted.. Simply put, I highly recommend this audiobook!

Just too short....

Oh, how I wanted more. After reading the three previous books from the Highlander series, I just can't get enough of these period romance stories. Margaret did an excellent job with this short story.

Destiny

Audiobook narrated by the very talented Derek Perkins. This was a fun Novella to listen to. Lily is a strong independent woman who is not easily swayed by a handsome Highlander - not that she isn't tempted! She is determined to make her own way in life and not depend on others. Lily has a talent for healing and well she knows it. Nothing wrong with a woman knowing her self worth and having the confidence to say so. Lily does not make it easy for Roderick MacDonald. The story reminded me of someone finally coming home. The epilogue was the perfect ending to a great story.

A Fun and Enchanting Scottish Yuletide Romance!

What did you love best about The Gift: A Highland Novella?

THE GIFT: A HIGHLAND NOVELLA was an fun and enchanting Scottish Christmastide romance. Even though it's short in length, it was not rushed in the least and felt like a full story. I was mesmerized from the start and the narrator's performance was nothing short of swoon-worthy. I can attest that the book works very well as a standalone.

Since I enjoyed this prequel so much and have committed to listening to the rest of the series, I was glad to find out that this tale precedes The Return of the Highlander series by seventy two years and introduces the parents of famous seer Teàrlag, a key character in the author's Return of the Highlanders' series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Gift: A Highland Novella?

One scene that I've not been able to forget is when Roderick found Lily in the snow.

The scene begins as Roderick is on his way home after successfully completing a mission that his chieftain had assigned to him, when he comes upon a lad obviously near frozen to death in the snow. He rescues the lad, but quickly discovers that the lad is not as he seems.
“Good God, the lad is a lass!”
His grandmother had told him to keep his eyes out for a lass with "the gift." Could this be the lass his clan needs?

Which character – as performed by Derek Perkins – was your favorite?

I can't just pick one! He performed all the characters with aplomb! He was superb! This was the first time I've listened to Derek Perkins. Oh my! He delivered a well-paced, professional performance enunciating a wonderful Scottish brogue. I could listen to him all day and remain infatuated. He seemingly effortlessly differentiated between the characters, so I always knew who was speaking. I would not hesitate to pick up another book that he has narrated. Indeed, I plan to seek other books he's voiced. This rendering had me adding additional workouts so I could hear more. As I neared the end, I noticed that I had thirty minutes left and I just couldn't leave it. I sat in my garage, closed my eyes and just listened. His performance was perfection as I hung on each word.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It most definitely was! When I saw that I only had thirty minutes left, I just couldn't leave it. I sat in my garage, closed my eyes and just listened.

Any additional comments?

This is the first book I've ever read by Margaret Mallory, but it will not be the last as I plan to pick up the rest of the series soon. You should know that this novella includes a wondrous epilogue that provides a truly perfect ending. It certainly left me with a huge smile. I know this fantastic prequel has certainly whetted my appetite to listen to more of this series and certainly more by this narrator. I highly recommend THE GIFT: A HIGHLAND NOVELLA to anyone who enjoys historical Scottish romances with an entrancing fantasy element.

Lovely

I loved this tale. Love meant to be. A Sage old woman, not understood but loved enough for the young to respect and take heed. I'll fated birth in an untimely place in time still cannot stop a heart from loving even when everything shouts turn away. I love that love wins out in the end.

Short and Stubborn

Loved Roderick, but I swear I could have smacked Lily for all her stubborn ways. She was almost unworthy of him. The Narrator was wonderful as always.

Pretty darn good, for a novella!

I rarely enjoy a novella, especially when it is an individual story and not an addition to a novel. However, this novella came across as a pretty complete story. Of course, I would have preferred it to be a 12 hour novel but, I didn’t feel like the story was incomplete. This was a great romance package listen. I would not have spent a credit on it, however, due to it’s short length.
-V from Kansas

I loved this book!

I am new to audible books. I feel I rarely have time to read during my busy days, but now I can listen to stories while cooking, cleaning, etc. I love historical romance novels. This author's stories have kept me intrigued. This is the fourth book I've listened to! I have to say that I've tried listening to auible books read by different narrators and I find this narrator to be my favorite so far. His voice is so smooth to listen to and his accents are on point. He gives life to the story.

Good book - little overpriced

Good book. A little short for almost $11, but still an enjoyable read.
My only issue is that i’m confused about where it falls in the “Return of The Highlander” timeline. It is numbered at book 4.5, but I don’t remember Roderick MacDonald from any of the previous books in the series. ?? Curious

Lovely Quick Listen

I was surprised at how well the author managed to flesh out the personalities and backgrounds of the H/h in such a short book. I liked both characters and loved that they came together. She was much more angsty than he was, but she wasn't just awful with it.

Lily leaves London for the north of England where she has a friend. She's fleeing London to escape the witch hunts that are currently going on. She figures she'll spend Christmas with her friend and then come back to London when things have settled down some. She stows away on a ship headed north but didn't check to see exactly how far north it was going. So, she ended up stranded in Scotland trying to walk back to England (not a very wise choice)

Roderick MacDonald's aging grandmother is the seer for his clan - and there isn't another with the sight to take her places when she passes away. She convinces Roderick that he'll find the 'woman he needs' on the secret mission he's undertaking for the Lord of the Isles. Roderick takes that to mean that he'll find the new seer his clan needs.

Roderick rescues Lily who is lying almost frozen on a hillside in Scotland. He (by hook or crook) manages to get her back to the Highlands. Of course -- on the way, he falls in love with her. Then, the hard part is convincing her that she loves him and wants to stay with him. Of course -- there is a bit of a puzzle about the seer thing too -- that is a nice little twist in the story.

All in all, it is a nice, sweet, short listen!

Sweet Magical Story about the "sight "

This is another author that is new to me and I find novellas are a good way to find out if you like the style of writing of an author. I liked this story and will definitely read more!

Lily has a shop in London where she works as a healer. When she feels it is no longer safe to trade with gangs roaming the city looking for witches to burn, she escapes to Scotland dressed as a boy with the intention of joining up with a friend.

She fails to realise how large Scotland is and is on the point of dying when Roderick MacDonald comes across her.

Roderick' grandmother is the healer for the clan and foresees that he will meet the person with the "sight" who will be able to take over the position from her.

This is the story of whether Lily is the person foretold and if Roderick can persuade her to visit his clan for confirmation.

I wanted to smack Lily a couple of times for being so obstinate but I loved Roderick and the grandmother. This was enjoyable and the ending a complete surprise.

I look forward to reading her "Return of the Highlander" series.