Review: Awaken the Highland Warrior

Awaken the Highland Warrior (Highland Warrior - Book 1) by Anita Clenney

Publication Date: May 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: Paper back, 437pp
ISBN-13: 9781402251238
ISBN: 1402251238

(Received for review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Anita Clenney on the WEB: website, facebook, twitter

Excerpt from Awaken the Highland Warrior

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

A MAN FROM ANOTHER TIME, AND ANOTHER WORLD...
Faelan is from an ancient clan of Scottish Highland warriors, charged with shielding humanity from demonic forces. He has been sleeping for centuries when Bree Kirkland inadvertently wakes him, and he's hungry in more ways than one...

COULD BE THE TREASURE SHE'S BEEN SEEKING ALL HER LIFE...

Modern Bree shocks Faelan in every way imaginable - her dress, her speech, her spunkiness. And he infuriates Bree every time he tries to protect her - can't he see she can take care of herself?

With horrific demon enemies suddenly on the move, Bree discovers that Faelan's duty as protector is in his blood, and she's the only one who can feed him, body and soul...

Thoughts:

Anita Clenney's debut novel, Awaken the Highland Warrior is the beginning of a new Highlander, time-travel series. Readers who are fond of Karen Marie Moning and Diana Gabaldon will find this one intriguing. Full of sexy kilted warriors and disgusting demons, this one is an all out battle between good and evil. Clenney's ability to draw a warrior from the past in present day New York will enchant readers who are looking for something new and fresh in the paranormal realm.

Bree Kirkland has devoted her life to the history of the Civil War. From war re-enactments to digging around for buried treasure. But, the greatest treasure of all was waiting to be found almost in her backyard. When Bree stumbles open a burial vault in the old graveyard near her home, she is astonished to realize the markings resemble those of disk that has sat on her families mantel piece for decades. When Bree opens the vault she expects to find a great treasure, but finds a kilted warrior instead. Faelen has been sleeping in the time vault for over 150 years waiting to be awakened. Thrust into the modern world, Faelan is constantly clashing with Bree, in more ways than one. He is a warrior charged with protecting humanity from the demon hoards, but he has his hands full with a feisty woman, who sets his heart on fire. Will Faelan be able to complete his mission to save the world or will Druan the demon who caused him to sleep prevail?

Anita Clenney's debut novel is full of all the good things that make up a great romance like, passion, sexy heroes and heroines, and conflict. And it packs a paranormal punch as well, with everything from angels and demons to vampires. I loved the good vs. evil premise of the book and fell in love with Clenney's clan of Highland warriors from the first page. Clenney creates a world for the reader that remembers the age of chivalry and what it meant to protect those you cared for and those you didn't even know.

Being of Scottish descent myself, I am always interested to see how an author portrays the Highland spirit and traditions. I thought Clenney did an amazing job of bring past and present together to create a portrait of a Scottish warrior that exemplifies the heroic attitudes and fearlessness the Highlands are known for. I found the fact that all of the warriors were very sexy and handsome added to the overall mystique of the book and those readers who love that ideal of a Scottish man will really like this, I know I did.

Clenney gives the reader a great premise for this book. In writing an author often has to create some obstacle or challenge that the hero or heroine must overcome. "Save the cheerleader! Save the world! (Heroes Season 1) The greatest conflict of all is good vs. evil. Clenney does a remarkable job of bringing this conflict to the forefront in this book. Faelan is literally charged with saving the world. The reader will be caught up in Faelan's own story as well as the main theme of the book. Faelan is saving a world that has all but forgotten him, locked away for over 150 years. He wakes to find that everyone he loved is gone, yet he still presses on and continues his fight for good. Clenney never comes out an calls her Highland warriors angels, but it's interesting that they take their orders from Michael, the Archangel. I think readers will really buy into the whole idea of the book as well as the romantic aspects, which are pretty steamy!

One of the things that I liked most about the novel, is the way the author sets up the entire series. As readers works their way through this engrossing novel, they will pick up on tidbits of what's to come. Clenney's answers several questions in this book, but she also leaves a lot of questions unanswered. I love books that can be read as stand alone's and this one can, but it also really adds a hook for the next installment when there is some lingering mystery. I'm still not entirely sure readers know all there is to know about Bree when this one is over.

The romance in this one is sizzling! Use some caution with younger readers on this one, it might be a little more than they can handle. I recommend this one to both mainstream romance readers and paranormal and urban fantasy fans. This is a great start to a new series and I think Clenney really hit it out of the ballpark with this one. One of the best I've read so far this year!

Awaken the Highland Warrior is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

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




Anita Clenney writes paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Before giving herself over to the writing bug she worked in a pickle factory and a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, and was a secretary, an executive assistant, and a Realtor. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Virginia not far from Washington D.C.