Sad to say but Highland Tryst by Jean Canavan is one of the most incompetent, dullest historical romances I’ve read…ever.
Highland Tryst by Jean Canavan
Rating: 
Published: 1986
Illustrator: Elaine Gignilliat
Imprint or Line: Tapestry Romance #85
Published by: Pocket Books
Genres: Historical Romance, Highland Romance
Pages: 312
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Introvert Reader
TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠
The Book
Highland Tryst by Jean Canavan… It’s a Tapestry historical romance and it’s not good.
Let me spoil this turkey and save anyone who’s even contemplating reading this mess of a book their valuable time. As far as I know, we only live one life, and there’s no reason to spend a moment of it in undeserved agony.
(Highland Tryst is also about 30 years out of print, so I don’t feel too bad about hurting anyone’s career.)
The Plot
Kathlyn and Alex are from warring Scottish clans. When Highland Tryst begins, they are already lovers, frequently meeting for very intimate encounters. They’ve seen each other naked, inside and out. They know what the other looks like, sounds like, smells like…
So to be totally clear: they’ve HAD SEX WITH EACH OTHER MANY TIMES.
Their families discover the affair. The secret lovers are cruelly separated. Kathlyn flees from her family into the wilderness and comes into danger.
Duncan, an ugly, deformed stranger, rescues her. His looks repel Kathlyn at first. He cares for her and shows her his gentle nature. Duncan is so kind that eventually, they fall in love.
And HAVE SEX.
So now, Kathlyn is torn between two men. On the one hand, there is her handsome former lover. On the other is the kind–yet ugly–stranger who saved her.
Guess what? There’s a twist…
Duncan is actually Alex! He was in disguise the whole time. With a bit of mud here, some padding there, a change of facial expressions, and viola! He created a new secret identity that only he and the plastic surgeons of the 21st century could master.
All is well and Kathlyn and Alex have their HEA.
Final Analysis of Highland Tryst
Highland Tryst by Jean Canavan. What can I say about it? It was dumb… Just dumb.
And boring, to boot!
(COVER POINTS DO NOT COUNT.)
| Rating Report Card | |
|---|---|
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| Characters | |
| Writing | |
| Chemistry | |
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| Cover | |
| Overall: | 1.2 |
Synopsis
WHEN THE GREAT CLANS OF SCOTLAND SHED BLOOD FOR HONOR, KATHLYN SURRENDERED…TO A DANGEROUS LOVE!
Daughter of a powerful laird, Kathlyn was a proud, wild beauty. One man could turn her fiery eyes soft as the Highland mist: Alex Lindsay, a fierce warrior, passionate lover, and an enemy of her clan. But in a furious moment, Kathlyn’s father raised his mighty sword…and Alex lay dying at her very feet.
The anguished Kathlyn fled her home, caring little whether she lived of died. Then Duncan, a pitiable outcast, coaxed her tenderly back to life…and so she promised to spend her years with him.
But the grief within her heart soared to joy when Alex appeared before her eyes — alive. Now she must betray her vow to gentle Duncan — or lose again the only man that she could ever love!
Highland Tryst by Jean Canavan
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