Obsessed (Wild Mountain Scots, #1)

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I have been waiting for this. I’ve made no mystery about my love for Jolie Vines’s Scottish Highlander heroes and heroines. She has this amazing capacity to craft heroes who adore their heroines, and it makes you light up inside at the revelation of their love stories. But something has always felt underwhelming in the later chapters of her stories (epilogues excluded). Once the heroine accepts/acknowledges her love for these brawny, masculine heroes who adore them, the story loses a bit of its shine. It drags sometimes in ways that undermine the overall feel for the book, so I oftentimes give her books 4 and 4 ½ star reviews. I still adore her characterizations and the decidedly Scottish and English voices of her stories, but I’ve always expected a bit more. And that may be my fault, but I knew that there was more for her to give. And she has done it in her newest book, Obsessed. Let’s just say that I’ve become a bit obsessed with the hero and heroine of this story, Lochinvar “Lochie” and Caitriona “Cait.” So let’s begin about all the reasons why I adored this book, cementing it as tied for my favorite book with her Love Most Say Least:For me, this book’s plotting and story development feel the most evenly paced. I believe this is the case because there is some romantic suspense within this story for both Lochie and Cait. As such, Vines is so careful to reveal the evolution and resolution to each of their stories that your interest in the story development is maintained through to the end. Even then, the resolution makes you feel replete. This felt different from her other books where the finality of the story was grounded in characterization (which is also the case here) instead of the story. I LOVED that aspect of Obsessed.Additionally, Vines plays with ideas about $exuality in this book that are intriguing. She speaks to it in her acknowledgments, and it’s an aspect of $exuality that is rarely discussed or shown in romance. In doing that, Vines continues to push the envelope of romance writing along with pushing the boundaries of her own romances. It’s clear that she isn’t interested in generating staid romance. She seeking after evolution. Cait’s characterization as a beautiful woman who doesn’t feel strongly about love with any man is so contrary to romantic heroines that I adore reading her. Vines has thrown out the formula and rewritten it for Obsessed.There is a psychology to this book that also intrigues me. While Vines handles Cait’s depiction well in this story, she also plays with the idea of the perceptions of others on our own perception of ourselves. Let me grow tangential here. I’ve been thinking recently about the impact of parents posting about their children online, how they are creating an idealized version of their children that their children can later consume. I’ve wondered how that might craft a different version of identity for their children that isn’t grounded in reality. And I’ve worried that we are raising a generation of confused children for it. In Obsessed, Vines plays somewhat with that idea of the influence of how others view our lives and its traumas in crafting our identity and choices in the present. This is shown in both Lochie and Cait’s depictions, making for an intriguing and thoughtful read. I love how Vines uses this idea to connect these two, adding gravity to their depiction.While it’s clear that Lochie and Cait feel something for each other, it takes much of the story for that knot to be unraveled. And as Vines has done well in the past, Lochie embodies the Vines hero well. However, unlike past stories, it’s done in a way that isn’t rushed and keeps the tension of the story driving forward.There is so much to love about Jolie Vines’s Obsessed. I could wax poetic forever on the depth of storytelling and characterization in this story. But to do so would ruin the book for her readers. Instead, I challenge you to run and grab this book today. It still has some traditional romance elements, but I see Vines astutely and brilliantly pushing the boundaries of romance with Obsessed. Honestly, you won’t want to put Lochie and Cait down.

Wild Mountain Scots book 1. Lochie and Cait. He's on the run with daughter in order to protect her. They met in a funny way. They're neighbors and help each other out. They battle their feelings, and then Cait's stalker. Angsty, twisty, dramatic, hopeful and oh so tingle worthy.

Really enjoyed Cait and Lochie's story. Both characters have demons in their past they are dealing with and fortunately find each other. Great storyline and all characters are interesting. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

The story line just wasn’t for me. The couple each had tremendous baggage with lots of secrets & intrigue. I couldn’t relate to Cait, at all, with her supposed asexual sexual orientation that is suddenly sparked by the interim mountain rescue, leader Lochie. There rather odd consummation of their mutual chemistry was edgy, & sexy, but happened early in the book. By chapter 17, it was seemingly all over, due to Lochie’s reticence, due to his temporary job, and despite no real satisfaction on his end.It’s an intriguing story, and very steamy, although a tad weird. There’s no real intimacy, being completely unnatural for Cait, seemingly impossible with the secret’s of Lochie’s past. At 35%, I decided to give up, because I anticipated a lot of angst, with little fulfillment of true intimacy. Cait’s character was just plain bizarre, and I just didn’t like her coldness, and strange disconnect between intimacy and sex. If you don’t mind and edgy slow burn, with lots of on and off again connection, as well as, loads of secrets, then the book might be for you. However, for me, I like lots of romance, love & intimacy with the sexy times. DNF for me at Chapter 17, but I won’t give up on any author who writes about alpha Scotsmen.

This novel was a good read with suspense and all the usual romance clichés. However, the author nestled this into a suspense filled storyline that keeps you guessing until the final reveal. Well worth the read.

If you're looking for an easy and quick read, this is for you. With an easy to love FMC and a rough on the outside, but gooey on the inside MMC, you'll fall in love with this story, and all the characters and setting. I love Scotland, and I love a strong Scottish man with an accent.Some of the scenes were a little cringe-worthy, almost too much cringe for my liking, but it made it all the more real. Jolie captured real emotions and real characters to go along with it.

It was a very sweet romance with a great plot. The hero was very protective, which I always love and he found a family!

This book has it all. Beautiful people. Warm hearts. Worthy, adventurous action a plenty, due to the setting being a Rescue Operation, high in the mountains. The hero Lochie and the heroine Cait are neighbors who warm up to each other very slowly but surely, thanks to the unintended help of Lochie's daughter, Isla, who is absolutely adorable. The supporting characters in this novel are Cait's family, the MacRae Clan. They are numerous in number, being the off-spring of four powerful brothers, who are also key players along with their wonderful partners. These people are contemporary, open, welcoming and inclusive. They are people I would love to know and I will miss them. I highly recommend this book.

What a great read. I kept trying to read it with a Scottish Accent lol. It was like two souls colliding but afraid to admit it. A stalker and hiding to save a child.

As a fan of romantic suspenses, I was set on diving into this book as soon as possible. But it took me a lot longer than I expected, but none of that matters. Because HOLY SMOKES. This book was FIRE. From the characters, to the suspense, the plot and THE SEX. I am completely and wholly blown away by this book. Jolie Vines, you have a new fan and I thank you for writing this book.Cait and Lochie are such brilliant characters. She’s spent most of her life believing that she’s asexual because she’s never been turned on by sex or even remotely interested in it. Cait also has trouble feeling things for people outside of her family and it’s weighed on her for years. As someone who is beautiful, Cait’s been the object of affection for lots of people growing up and she despises it. But she’s a smart, brilliant and sassy woman. And honestly, I related to her as much as I loved her. Lochie is a single dad, moving away from his hometown to give his daughter a better and safer life. There’s a lot of chaos in his past that makes him want to protect his daughter from and he’s landed up being Cait’s neighbour.These two butt heads right from the start. And it’s so frustrating because you KNOW they’re going to end up making out like teenagers. And yet, it’s so wonderful to watch. That kind of chemistry is just perfect. Lochie is the first man that Cait’s felt lust towards, she’s turned on by his mere presence and it confuses her at first. But when he reciprocates and they decide to take things to the next level….oh boy, it’s beautiful.Lochie is a grumpy cinnamon roll, let me just put that out there. But more importantly, he’s willing to let Cait dictate how their sexual relationship should work. Whatever she wants, he’s willing to give it a try. But then he takes it up a notch and he teaches her how to find her pleasure, forgoing his own. And guys, it’s fantastic. There’s quite a bit of sex, so if you’re like me and you like multiple sex scenes, then this is going to be perfect for you.Because it’s a romantic suspense, if I say anything more, you’re going to be spoilt. Just brace yourself for an incredibly wild and beautifully crafted ride. There’s sexy Scottish men, a large family, an adorable little girl and two main characters that will slay you from the first page onwards.

This is so well written. It's a gripping story with a very strong connection between the protagonists. The pace is just perfect. I am moved by the storytelling. The suspense hammered my heart. This one is reserved for a 2nd reading.