Highland Heat

Starred review from January 3, 2011
In 2010's Highland Hellcat, Deirdre Chattan took a lover, who used her and cast her aside. This dramatic and vivid sequel, set in 1439, opens with Deirdre in a convent, atoning for her sin. When Joan Beaufort, widow of King James I, seeks sanctuary in the convent, Deirdre disguises herself as the queen and sets out to draw away her pursuers. Quinton Cameron, earl of Liddell and a friend of Deirdre's father, captures her, discovers the subterfuge, and decides to keep her in custody so he can seduce her. Determined never to trust a man or her own passionate nature, Deirdre tries to resist her attraction to gruff yet gentle Quinton. Scorching love scenes threaten to set the sheets aflame as Deirdre's sparring with Quinton creates the perfect romantic tension for their lusty affair.

February 1, 2011
As in Highland Hellcat (2010), Wine uses her experiences with a historical reenactment group to give life to this tale set in 1439 in Scotland. Deirdre Chattan, daughter of a highland chief, is exiled to an abbey after having sex with her fianc', who then jilted her. When Dierdre comes face to face with the mother of the boy king of England, Joan Beaufort is on the run to her lover. Because Deirdre looks so much like her, Joan wants the young woman to trade places with her to evade the kings evil adviser. After she does, Deirdre is captured by highland lord Quinton Cameron and held in his keep because hes unsure who she really is. The chemistry between them is volatile, so after Deirdre escapes, Quinton pursues her tirelessly. Although Deirdres concerns about womens rights and freedom step over the line to twenty-first-century sensibilities, Wine provides a lively and exciting adventure around Dierdres search for love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)