Review: Moonstruck Madness

Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain

Publication Date: February 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical Romance
ISBN-13: 9781402242434
ISBN: 1402242433

(Received for review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Laurie McBain on the WEB: Fantastic Fiction, Facebook

Excerpt from Moonstruck Madness

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

SHE'S ONE THING BY DAY, SOMETHING ELSE BY NIGHT...

After escaping the slaughter of her clan at a young age, Scottish noblewoman Sabrina Verrick provides for her siblings by living a double life, until the night she encounters the Duke, and her secret and all she holds dear is threatened...

HE'S SO DISILLUSIONED, HE'S COMPLETELY VULNERABLE...

With is inheritance at stake, Lucien, Duke of Camareigh, sets a trap for the Scottish beauty with the piercing violet eyes, never imagining what will happen when the trap is sprung...

As their lives become irreversibly entangled, Lucien and Sabrina become each other's biggest threat, as well as their only salvation...

Thoughts:

Laurie McBain's writing career began at age twenty-six. She has seven historical romances to her credit with lavish settings and entertaining characters. Moonstruck Madness was originally published in 1977 and has been re-issued to a new generation of romance readers.

Sabrina Verrick was in Scotland during the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Losing her grandfather during the fighting, Sabrina and her family must flee to England in order to save their lives. Unable to find the family treasure before leaving, they have little in England and must fight to survive. Sabrina undertakes a daring adventure masquerading as the highwayman, Bonnie Charlie and stealing from the rich in order to provide for her siblings, Mary and Richard. When Sabrina inadvertently meets the haughty Duke of Camereigh during a robbery, she has no idea how he will change her life. Will Lucien be able to tame her wild Scottish spirit or will she throw away her chance at love?

Laurie McBain has crafted a novel that will grab the interest of the reader from the first page. Though the book is set in England, the fighting spirit of the Highlands is very present in the story, lending an Old World feel to the book. McBain's attention to detail is flawless as she describes the Battle of Culloden, as well as the intricacies of an English ball. She does a wonderful job of setting the scene for each part of the book. From Sabrina's double life as Bonnie Charlie to Richard's need for eyeglasses.

The character development was very well done. It is easy to see the fire within Sabrina, the quiet confidence of Mary and the indomitable spirit of Lucien. Each character is allowed to grow as the book goes on. Sabrina must learn to let down her guard and not be in control and Lucien struggles with the scars on his heart as well as his cheek. Both heroine and hero are very high-spirited and passionate about everything in their lives. The heat between the two of them is just as bright. With steamy love scenes and heated quarrels the two come together and find love, if they can hold on to it. The author does an excellent job of creating tension between the characters. She gives them both a reason to stay together and a reason to leave. It was a very interesting technique.

This is great historical romance, with lots of heat. I would recommend it to lovers of historical romance and fiction, because of it's great detail in the historical aspects of the book. I enjoyed this one and believe the author has a way with setting the scene.

Moonstruck Madness is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Laurie McBain became a publishing phenomenon at age twenty-six with her first historical romance. She wrote seven romances, all of which were best sellers, selling over 11 million copies. All have been out of print for over five years. She is a winner of the RT Reviewers' Choice Award. She lives in the bay area.