Book Review - Highland Pursuits

 **** I give Highland Pursuits by Emmanuelle deMaupassant 4 stars! *I was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.*

I was captured by the snappy pace and humor of this book from page one. I was surprised by the more serious aspects that surfaced. Both halves of the story were enjoyable and somehow blended together perfectly.

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What I Liked:

• Quick paced with a lot of humor. It’s a short, enjoyable read. I found it very easy to fall into.
• I was surprised by the more serious themes. I was expecting it to be all naughty jokes and scandalous escapades and although there is plenty of that to be enjoyed, there was romance, a feminist theme, and an amazing story of a young woman discovering who she is beneath layers of who she’s expected to be. I have to love that.
• There were a lot of delightful little character side stories – a man losing a glass eye at a horse race for example – that really made the characters and the story world rich and believable. There’s not a dull moment.
• It was a simple, straightforward book and I honestly appreciated that I didn’t need to think too hard, but got to sit back, enjoy, and even learn a little in the process.
• Can Morag be my grandmother? Please?
• There is so much hiding in this book – hints of politics, double entendres scattered where you may not expect them, and some really touching truths of life.

 
What I Didn’t Like:

• Chapter 32. This chapter hopped through the dreams of the people in Castle Kintochlochie. I didn’t mind that at all, but it switched from past to present tense. It just stuck out to me and broke up the flow of the rest of the story in my eyes.
• Some of the scenes seemed a bit forced. But, many flowed very naturally with a skillful use of setting to create the desired tone. 

 
Would I Recommend and to Whom:
There were some raunchy bits to this tale but it somehow wasn’t as naughty as I expected. If you’re looking for a quick, erotic read but you also enjoy an underlying feminist theme, a coming-of-age story, or snarky humor check this one out.
 
Favorite Quotes:

• “I think I’ve spent far too much time letting things happen to me rather than making things happen, Granny.”
• Her body, an archive of desire, remembered everything.
• “I can never really work out what men are really thinking.”

“Why should you! Why not spend time deciding what you’re thinking instead?” said Morag.

• If Lady Finchingfield could overlook Percival’s mother expelling cigarette smoke from her nostrils in the manner of a horse snorting steam on a chilly morning, then Ophelia could put up with marriage to a man lacking sex appeal.
• Nature had bestowed upon him a brain never intended for strenuous exercise.

​In celebration of the launch of her 'Highland Pursuits’, Emmanuelle is not only offering three signed paperback copies, via Goodreads here, but has her entire catalogue on sale for 99c/99p from March 1st-8th: Baby Love, Scarlet, Cautionary Tales and Gentlemen's Club (as recommended by Stylist Magazine)
 
Find 'Highland Pursuits' on Goodreads  and for sale on Amazon
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