Month: July 2018

Claiming the Highlander’s Heart by Lily Maxton

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

Claiming The Highlander's Heart (The Townsends, #4)Claiming The Highlander’s Heart by Lily Maxton
Tracy’a rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Townsends, #4

Release Date; July 9, 2018

I have read a lot of historical romances and I think it is safe to say that I have never read this particular storyline before.

Georgina Townsend, the youngest and last unattached Townsend has just returned from a trip to Glasgow, while in town, she got some very troubling and unsettling news from her doctor, she is still processing that information when she learns that her house was robbed and her mother’s music box was stolen.

Unwilling to just accept the box is gone, Georgina tracks down the thieves and joins their band of outlaws to learn the whereabouts of the last link she has to her mother. She is a little surprised by the group and is undeniably attracted to their leader, Malcolm “Mal” Stewart.

Mal returned from the war to learn his family had been forced out of their home and left for Nova Scotia, but died aboard ship during a typhus outbreak. Alone in the world and extremely angry, Mal decides to make the “Lords” responsible for the clearances pay by stealing sheep. He is sort of a Robin Hood type and has a band of strays that have joined him. When Georgina approaches, he is instantly smitten, but the others are leery and decide she needs to be tested. Georgina gives them a false name – Catriona MacPhearson and is willing to do whatever is necessary to stay with the group until she gets what she came for.

She passes their test with flying colors, she also learns that she and Mal share a love of music and they play exceptionally well together. Her feelings are getting muddled and when their raid goes wrong and Mal is shot – she chooses to stay with him. They take Mal to a remote cottage to heal and while there, he gives her the music box as a gift. But instead of leaving right away, she stays until she is sure he will recover and then leaves without a word.

Weeks pass, Malcolm is still hurt and upset that she left, but tells himself to forget her. She is not faring much better. So when he takes a chance and tracks her down – he is shocked to find out who and what she really is. Georgina is shocked (and elated) to see Malcolm, but is also worried – will he tell her brother? The desire between them is even stronger than they remembered – but neither is willing to give an inch. Plus Georgina has a secret that may change everything between them.

This is a well written, well paced story with an unusual storyline as well as a heroine with a unique problem. There is a lot of desire, some steamy love scenes, dangerous situations, an exceptional hero, very likable secondary characters, some heartache, some joy and a sigh worthy HEA.

This is the fourth book in the Townsends series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

Sapphire Nights by Patricia Rice

On By BarbaraIn Contemporary, Paranormal / Fantasy3 Comments

Sapphire Nights (Crystal Magic Book 1)Sapphire Nights by Patricia Rice

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Crystal Magic #1
Publication Date: 3/27/18

The writing is excellent with well-developed characters, a tight, well-written story, a complex and interesting mystery and a lovely romance. The mystery will keep you guessing right up until the end – it is filled with plots and sub-plots and so many twists and turns.

Samantha (Sam) Moon arrives in the small mountain town of Hillvale, California without an actual memory of who she is, where she comes from – nothing – it is all a total blank. The only reason she has any idea of her name is that she found it written on something in her car – well – she thinks it is her car – after all, she was driving it. How did she get here – there is an address programmed on the GPS – did she program it? Why is she here? She’s been in a bit of a befuddled state, but her mind is finally clearing a bit – at least she can think – but she still has absolutely no idea who she is or why she is in this place.

Hillvale is a mysterious, very small town populated with what the locals call Lucys and Nulls. The Nulls are pretty much just what the name says – plain, ordinary, logical with no belief in anything that is magical or mystical. The Lucys seem – and many actually are – looney. They often talk in jibberish and never, ever get directly to the point and say what they actually mean. They have various talents – some assist restless spirits to the other side, some tell futures by reading tarot cards, some create spells and sculptures that protect people and spaces – well, you name it and there is someone with that talent. Many of the people are hold-overs from the old hippie commune days. Days that are better forgotten, but can’t be. They were days filled with drugs, betrayals, fraud, and evil.

Chen Ling Walker is more than he seems. He’s the county deputy assigned to patrol and police the Hillvale area – but – that isn’t all he is. He’s here on a mission – he intends to find out what happened to his father when he was in this area nearly 20 years ago. Walker is sure his father was murdered here, but his body has never been found. Walker fully intends to find out what happened, but the locals are tight-lipped and will not speak to anyone – especially an outsider. Walker is still trying to recover from the murder/suicide of his wife and son, so he has taken a sabbatical from his job as CEO of his own company. He had to get away – and this is the perfect thing for him to do.

The descriptions are so vivid that you can feel the evil surrounding you. Your heartbeat will speed up and you can only wonder who or what is causing all of that evil. More and more is revealed as Sam remembers who she is and how she got here. Then, she learns more about her family background and her ties to this place. She is in danger here – the evil is stalking her.

Can she and Walker save her from that evil? Can they solve the mystery behind the disappearance of Walker’s father? Can two people from such different worlds find love and happiness? Well – you’ll just have to read the story to find out!

Now, I will say that I’d have liked MORE at the ending – an epilogue – an additional chapter – something. Perhaps we’ll learn more in additional books in the series, but I’d have liked to see how/if Sam and Walker work things out in this book.  Will they end up living in his town or hers?  Will they be together at all?

The book is interesting and filled with lovely, quirky characters that you’ll quickly come to like. I think it might be fun to live in a town like Hillvale.

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”