Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

For Princess Gabrielle of St. Biel, Scotland is a land of stunning vistas, wild chieftains, treacherous glens, and steep shadows–skullduggery, betrayal, and now murder. Prized for her exquisite beauty, the daughter of one of England’s most influential barons, Gabrielle is also a perfect bargaining chip for a king who needs peace in the Highlands: King John has arranged Gabrielle’s marriage to a good and gentle laird. But this marriage will never take place.
For Gabrielle, everything changes in one last burst of freedom–when she and her guards come upon a scene of unimaginable cruelty. With one shot from her bow and arrow, Gabrielle takes a life, saves a life, and begins a war.
Within days, the Highlands are aflame with passions as a battle royal flares between enemies old and new. Having come to Scotland to be married, Gabrielle is instead entangled in Highland intrigue. For two sadistic noblemen, underestimating Gabrielle’s bravery and prowess may prove fatal. But thanks to a secret Gabrielle possesses, Colm MacHugh, the most feared man in Scotland, finds a new cause for courage. Under his penetrating gaze, neither Gabrielle’s body nor heart is safe.

My thoughts:

This is the last in the Highland Lairds trilogy. I loved the series,but this was not my favorite book in the series. It was confusing at times, too many characters involved in the story line. It was hard to keep track of the "Barons", who did what, etc. I found myself having to reread some of the sections so I could keep up.

There was less "romancing" in this book compared to the others in the series. I think the biggest issue with me was there were so many chapters (53 chapters) building the story line, and when it came to the ending it was quick and over in a one or two chapters and I felt that I was just hanging there.

My Rating: