Laiden's Daughter by Susan Tisdale

I've been meaning to read a Scottish fiction book for a while, so I came across the Clan MacDougall Series. It was only about two dollars on amazon kindle, which was nice. I really liked this story. The jokes were funny, the relationships were there and the story was clear cut.

In the story, a girl from england gets sold to an earl by her brothers for two sheep. Her mother has been long dead, and she learned that the man she thought was her father wasn't really her father at all. When the earl attempts to rape her, she stabs him and escapes. She ends up in the hands of the highlanders, who are warm, noble, chivalrous, kinds, moral...they are basically everything a person hopes for in a family. While she is with them she learns about her mother, who was also a highlander, and falls in love with a man named Duncan.

Now, before I go on a rant about how I love this book, I want to talk about the name Duncan. It is one of those names that you don't understand until you understand. That probably doesn't make sense so I'll explain it a little more. When I was younger I lived with my grandparents for a while because my parents got divorced. They had a westy named Duncan Gordon (Gordon because that is the family last name). Now, whenever I thought about the name Duncan I always thought of a dog, or a boy was was kind of geeky. My father also wanted to change my little brothers middle name to Duncan, and I thought that was utterly ridiculous, because, like I said, the name Duncan was a weird name. Then, one day I learned that my granny on my dad's side's maiden name was Duncan. I also started learning about the culture, and suddenly the name made sense. At this point, I can't remmember why I disliked the name. The name Duncan, like so many other things about Scottish culture, is something that you don't get, until you go a little deeper into the culture. Anything I thought I wouldn't like about this culture followed the same pattern, once I really looked at it, I ended up seeing the beauty in it. Well anyway, back to the book...

Admittedly, I don't like the cover. I don't really like when real people are on the cover of books becasue it distorts my image of them. There are two covers, and just for the record, I dislike them both. I still loved the book though, so I digress.

Obviously I loved this book for the culture, just like in the movie Brave. There were tartans, there were horses, there was the beauty of the highlands, the beliefs, the clans, the names, and much more. I am proud, however, to say that this book also had a great story. When I was reading the story, I could picture everything happening like a movie. The dialogue was the best, I could practically hear them speaking with an accent, and you know I spoke the gaelic words I knew outloud when they showed up (which was rarely, but thats okay). The main character Aishlinn (love, love, love her name!), was a little annoying in the begining with her insistance that she is plain/ugly. I understand why the author did that, but it showed up so much in the book that I got tired of it. By the end of the book, the girl became the kind of spirited character that I love to read about. She was witty, and a real spit-fire. I can't get enough of those strong female leads, but you know, I'm not against a girl who needs to be cared for every now and then either.

Duncan was charming. The author really showed how a warrior could have a gentle heart. That is something I love about scottish men (or at least how they are portrayed), they care about their women. They are loyal, caring, kind, noble, but at the same time they aren't considered less of a man for that, and they are still fierce on the battle feild. No matter how old they are, they are still hellions, big-hearted, kind, hellions. While the rest of the world seems to be reading things like fifty shades of gray where the man punishes and abuses the woman, things like that tend to make me sick. I prefer the real relationships, the real love, and the fantastic unrealistic man that would do anything for the one he loves. I'm a sucker for happy endings, can't you tell?

THe next one in teh series is callsed Findley's Lass, and it won't be out until december. I can't wait. Honestly, before this book I haven't read a single thing all summer. My focus has been off, and my stress high. I've been getting too distracted, or worried to read. This book changed that, thank god! Now that I've read one I do like, maybe I can get myself to read one that I don't like. Its worth a shot. I'm actually really sad this story is over, because I can't seem to find another like it. I guess thats what makes it a good story though.

I learned two new phrases in this book that were pleasant surprises. In the book the first one was haud yer wheest, but when I google it, it comes up as haud yer wheesht. I'm not sure which one to believe, but they both mean to be quiet/shut up/ hold your tongue. The next phrase I learned was mo chuisle, which means my darling. I think mo chuisle is irish, but I'm not sure. I also learned that a child can be called a bairn. These phrases also inspired me to find a few more phrases like these, so here are a few...

A cadger's curse--a worthless thing A fiddler's biddin--a last minute invitation aff the gleg--off the mark caw cannie--proceed carefully Bou yer hoch--sit down Haud tryst--keep one's word Oot o thocht--beyond belief Steek yer hert--harden one's heart Win ower--fall asleep I won't go too over board with these. --JSparrow