Song of the Highlands
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Song of the Highlands
By Sharon Gillenwater

Publisher: Questar
This is a Pallisades Premier novel
Year of Publication: 1996
428 pages


REVIEW
by Miriam Bartlett

Setting
This book is set in England and Scotland in the Summer of 1810. The majority of the book is set in London during The Season. Towards the end of the book, the story is based at a castle on the north east coast of Scotland. The book's characters are all mostly from the upper class of British society and so the story revolves around that class.

Main Characters
Kiernan Macpherson is the new Earl of Branderee. Kiernan was raised in the highlands of Scotland by his parents - his father was a forester and his mother kept house. Kiernan was in the Army as a piper for 12 years prior to his return to Scotland in 1809, and he returned from the army just after his father died. Kiernan was deeply dissapointed in not being able to return and work beside his father in the forests of the scottish highlands. Then, a distant cousin and his family all died when their ship sank and Kiernan is suddenly the new Earl of Branderee. Kiernan left his highland home with his mother and sister and lived for a few months in Branderee, his castle on the Scottish coast. Now, he has decided it is time to enter society and makes friends within his class, so he takes his family to London. Kiernan struggles with London and the ways of Society, one situation that Kiernan accidentally finds himself in, is that of winning a property during a game of cards. Kiernan has won a run down English Estate and now he must decide what to do with it and it's occupants, particularly the former owners sister - Lady Mariah Douglas.

Jeanette Macpherson is the 19 year old sister of Kiernan. She is a "levelheaded lass" who likes to see th good in everyone and is therefore very trusting of everyone she meets. This is a good trait in Scotland, but it makes life difficult for her in London, where people are not all worthy of her trust. She has huge faith and is a very committed Christian and is determined to marry a Christian. Jeanette wants to stay in London for the Season and enjoy all that London Society has to offer. At her first ball she is surrounded by many men vying for her attention. The next day there are many flowers delievered for Jeanette. She doesn't know what to do with all the attention. How will she decide if she likes any of them?

Ailsa Macpherson is Kiernan and Jeanette's mother. She is a loving, Christian woman who has spent the past year mourning the loss of her husband. She still misses him greatly and her health is deteriorating rapidly as her depression continues. She doesn't really want to stay in London for the Season, but agrees to stay because Jeanette wants to so much. Ailsa refuses to go out to parties and only agrees to go on short trips around the Park nearby. As the story progresses she is slowly lifted out of her depression after help from many and varied people.

Gabriel Macpherson is a friend of Kiernan's. Gabe is not closely related to Kiernan - they may be distant cousins, but they're not sure. They have been friends since childhood - Gabe was from an upper class Scottish family and his family encouraged his friendship with Kiernan eventhough they weren't of the same class. That friendship continued into adulthood as the two friends went to war against Napoleon together. Now, 13 years later Gabriel is living with Kiernan and trying to help him understand the workings of the upper class. Gabe is a charming fellow with a happy personality who makes friends very easily. Gabe, like the other Macphersons, is a committed Christian.

Lady Mariah Douglas is Lord Glenbuck's sister and the sole inhabitant of the run down estate, Stillwater, that Kiernan Macpherson inherits. Mariah has a past filled with scandal and pain and she has almost become a hermit since she moved to the estate in the english countryside nine years ago. She is a committed Christian and she enjoys being self-sufficient, which has been a necessity for her as she doesn't have any money and her brother does not support her. Now, her brother has lost the castle and the first she hears of it is when Kiernan arrives at the estate to investigate his new land. She has been hurt in the past and so when Kiernan asks her to accompany him to London and become his mother's companion and his sister's chaperone, she is wary. She doesn't want to return to London to face those who started some rumours about her that really hurt her nine years ago.

Minor Characters
Pryse Douglas is the Earl of Glenbuck. He is Lady Mariah Douglas' half brother. He is 50 years old and has lost nearly all his families wealth through gambling. When he loses Stillwater to Kiernan he doesn't even tell Kiernan that his sister is still living there. Will Pryse ever change? Does he really hate his half-sister?

Sir Edgar Pittman is Lady Mariah Douglas' closest neighbour when she lives at Stillwater. He has wanted to buy Stillwater for many years, but Glenbuck wanted a price that was too high.

Rev. Jordan Wylde is the local Anglican minister near Stillwater. He is a close friend of Mariah. He is not happy as a minister and would much prefer to be a secretary, which is something he has done on a temporary basis for Sir Edgar. He is a committed Christian, who still mourns his wife and daughter who died a few years ago.

James Wilton is more commonly known simply as "Wilton". He is the Butler that came with the London townhouse the Macphersons have rented for the Season. He comes from the gentry and used to be a stage actor. His acting is still a passion for him and his dramatic voice are a cause of much amusement in the Macpherson household.

Delia Stanwell is a friend of Mariah's, who lives in London. Delia and Mariah went to school together and have remained friends since, eventhough they haven't seen each other for over nine years. Delia married Lord Godfrey Stanwell, who is a prominent politician in London. Delia is also a committed Christian.

Tony Drake is Jeanette's most adamant admirer. He is well liked by all, but he is not a Christian and because of that Jeanette is not sure if she should encourage him to court her.

Dominic Thorne is 39 years old and a friend of Glenbuck's. Mariah met Dominic when she was in London originally and she doesn't think very highly of him. Dominic is a womaniser and likes drinking and gambling. He has plenty of money, so he is able to maintain these pursuits. When he catches Jeanette at her first ball to stop her from falling he is warned off Jeanette by Kiernan, yet Dominic is still attracted to the young beauty, Jeanette.

Fletcher Card is one of Jeanette's dance partners at her first ball. Unfortunately, he cannot dance very well and at one point suceeds in knocking Jeanette completely off balance and she ends up flying through the air, until Dominic Thorne catches her. Fletcher is very shy and Jeanette feels sorry for him, so after the ball she agrees to give him dancing lessons to improve his skills.

Critique
This is a very well written book that is full of complex twists. I enjoyed the complex nature of this book, which is a rare trait in a Pallisades novel. Sharon Gillenwater explores many characters in this book in great detail and that is fantastic. It is however, very romantic. This did not bother me - in fact I really enjoyed that element, but others may find this not to their liking. If you want a very romantic and yet complex and fun novel, I thoroughly recommend this book!

9/10

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