Product Description

A place where love and war collide--and she would be possessed by the Scottish chieftain they called . . . barbarian

Enter a world of breathtaking romance and rugged adventure. Enter the world of Kilgannon--an unforgettable story of love and treachery in a great Scottish clan. Kathleen Givens's magnificent novel sweeps from Queen Anne's London to the Highland wilderness . . . and into the hearts of one proud, passionate family: the MacGannons of . . . Kilgannon.

Mary Lowell wasn't interested in marriage despite her aunt's determination to find her a husband by the end of the London Season. Then Alex MacGannon, Earl of Kilgannon, strode into the ballroom and commanded her heart. They called him a barbarian, a rough-hewn Scot--chieftain of clan MacGannon. They said no woman could hold him, as he set sail on the high seas. But Alex returned to claim Mary Lowell as his own, to carry her off to Scotland, to his magnificent ancestral castle, Kilgannon. And as the Highlands are torn by rebellion, Mary will find passion--and danger--in the rugged land she would now call home.

Watch for the next book in the magnificent Kilgannon saga: The Wild Rose of Kilgannon, coming in November 1999 from Dell.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43404 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-12
• Released on: 1999-10-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 400 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780440235675
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Setting: Scottish Highlands, 1712
Sensuality: 7

Mary Lowell is enjoying the social whirl of a London season when Alex MacGannon, Earl of Kilgannon, walks into her aunt's ballroom. It's love at first sight but their courtship isn't an easy one; instead, it's fraught with misunderstandings, the intervention of another jealous suitor, and an attack on Mary's life. Despite her aunt's warnings about the danger and hardships of life in the Highlands, Mary is determined and marries her handsome Scotsman. She quickly learns that marriage to a Scottish laird involves complications that she's never considered, while Alex finds that having a beautiful, intelligent wife can sometimes make life difficult. And as if settling into marriage and sharing their life isn't challenging enough, the threat of betrayal and war swirls over Kilgannon, threatening their happiness and the lives of the clan.

The world of well-to-do Londoners and Highland clansmen comes alive in this memorable historical, immersing the reader in the sights and sounds of the early 1700s. The characters are well drawn, while the tightly woven plot keeps one turning the pages without pause. The sequel to this story, The Wild Rose of Kilgannon, is soon to follow, bringing us the further adventures of Mary and Alec. --Lois Faye Dyer

From Publishers Weekly
Givens's debut romanceAset in England and Scotland in the early 1700s, when tensions ran high during Queen Anne's reignAsubtly weaves a tale of personal and historical conflict. Mary Lowell, a sheltered young Englishwoman, is shocked by her strong feelings when she meets barbaric Scottish chieftain Alex MacGannon, Earl of Kilgannon, at a ball in London. After a rocky courtship, MacGannon whisks Mary back to his clan in the Scottish Highlands, where they face danger amid tumultuous rebellion. Alex displays both a sense of humor and unshakable integrity, and Mary's quiet strength is revealed through her first-person narration. The only serious flaw in this well-researched historical is that, in her effort to set up a sequel, Givens fails to resolve major conflicts, a tactic that may leave readers dissatisfied. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
In eighteenth-century England, a woman's highest achievement is to marry well, and everyone expects Mary Lowell to announce her engagement to Lord Campbell, but she doesn't feel passionate about him, or any man, until she meets Alex MacGannon, a Highland chieftain and the earl of Kilgannon. There are many obstacles to this cross-cultural attraction. As a Highlander, Alex is considered a barbarian in Mary's world, and he admits to something even more sinful in the eyes of British society: he has a small fleet and is involved in trade. Alex's clan is none too happy about the match, either, as talk of a Scottish rebellion accelerates. Although Alex has no liking for James Stewart, he believes that he must side with his neighbors, which upsets Mary because this is treason against her king. The strong characters and involved plot keep the reader's attention, which is a good thing because there's lots of story here but no solid conclusion. Fans who miss Arnette Lamb, however, will enjoy Givens. Patty Engelmann

Customer Reviews

Attention Gabaldon and Donati fans...
I came across this book in a search for something like Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series or Sara Donati's "Into the Wilderness". While not quite the same standard of the other two authors, Kathleen Givens does not disappoint. English lady Mary Lowell is stuck in something of a mundane existence. She is being courted by a man whose intentions are unclear. Her friends are getting married, while she is being passed back and forth between relatives. One night, at one ball, she meets Alex MacGannon, Earl and laird of Kilgannon. In a time when feelings between Scotland and England are unsettled, at best, these two people ignore their heritages and fall in love. Questions of mysterious attacks, sinking ships, and jealous family members threaten the new found relationship. But through it all, love will triumph.

Givens has done a good job with "Kilgannon". I found a lighter version of Gabaldon's "Outlander", but a little more strictly romance. The characters are a little weaker, but all in all, this is a good story. So, if you are an "Outlander" fan like myself, waiting impatiently for the next installment, give this on a try.

A nice surprise!
After I read the online reviews of this book "KilGannon" I ordered the books here on Amazon...It was a pleasent surprise for my part after I finshed reading these two books (KilGannon, and the wild rose of Kilgannon) The books are wonderful.. yes, some reviewers think these two books reminded them of the OUTLANDER series...I personally own these books, so I agree with them. The KilGannon's story line is like this: Everyone expects Mary Lowell to marry the handsome Scotsman, Robert Campbell, whom she has known for years. Except there is a small problem: He hasn't proposed yet! Everyone else in the ton seems to be so sure that Mary is Robert's fiancee. In the meantime, Mary becomes fascinated with and falls in love with another handsome Scotsman, Alex MacGannon-Laird of KilGannon. Mary is an Englishwoman who is expected to marry well and Alex is considered a 'barbarian' by members of the ton. And then there are the mysterious accidents that befall Alex that point to a relentless enemy. But then they got married and Mary is welcomed into the hearts of Alex's clan. But marriage doesn't mean living happily ever after for this couple because of the highland politics via love as Alex finds himself [drawn] into the plot to restore the Stuart throne.(the Jacobite uprisings) It is refershing to see that not only Kathleen Givens manages to make her main characters lively, interesting and 3 dimensional, but that she also does this with the secondary characters as well. All in all, this is an excellent read. If you are facinated by Scottish Romance novels, I high suggest you read The KilGannon and its' sequel. :)

A thoroughly good read.
I picked this book up on a whim and am so glad I did. The characters are real and I never found myself questioning their thoughts or actions. You appreciate Mary's struggle to come to terms with life in the Highlands which is so different from her easy & boring life in London (before Alex came along). Alex is charming, funny and romantic. It's easy to see why Mary fell for him, he respects her mind and heart and never treats her terribly, as I've seen a lot in romance novels, man treats the woman horribly yet because he's attractive she puts up with it and falls in love. Mary is an intelligent woman with a good heart, she is very likable. It's a good book to curl up with on a rainy day.