Month: April 2023

Highland Beast by Heather McCollum

On By TracyIn Elizabethan Era (1558-1603), Medieval (1066-1540), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Tudor Era (1485-1603)Leave a comment

Highland Beast (Sons of Sinclair, #4)Highland Beast by Heather McCollum

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Sinclair, #4

Release Date: April 25, 2023

Bàs Sinclair is the youngest of the George Sinclair, Chief of the Sinclair’s children, his birth resulted in the death of the chief’s beloved wife and killed whatever compassion his father once had. Filled with rage at her death, George seems to forget he has a daughter and focuses on his four sons, claiming them to be the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and at the tender age of five, naming Bàs, whose name literally means Death, as the Horseman of Death – the executioner of the clan, tell him that his mother was his first execution. Bàs fulfills his role, but it eats at him and robs him of peace and companionship, as no one aside from his family wants anything to do with him. But that changes when he rescues a woman and a baby in the forest near his home.

Shana Drummond is on the run, trying to save her sister and newborn nephew from certain death. Shana is a widow who became a midwife after the loss of her own son, when her sister Ivy requests her presence for the birth of her child, Shana learns the truth about Ivy’s marriage and her pregnancy. Convinced her husband, Erskine Oliphant, the chief of the Oliphant clan means to kill her and her son Edward, she begs Shana to save Edward by taking him from the castle and letting Erskine think he died. Shana agrees but plans to return as soon as she finds someone to protect Edward. What she didn’t plan for is wolves or a handsome Highlander with his own pet wolf. She stays with him, and even shares a kiss with him, but doesn’t tell him she plans to leave, and she hopes he can forgive her, as she wants to return to him, intrigued by this gentle and tender-hearted warrior. But she doesn’t know who he is and won’t find out until they meet again at her execution and she learns that he is the “Horseman of Death”. That knowledge changes everything she hoped for, because how can a midwife who is a bringer of life share her life with an executioner and a bringer of death? And with threats of witchcraft and treason being thrown around, is Bàs willing to plunge his family into a war for her?

I’m not sure I can adequately convey my feelings about this book, to say that I loved it would be putting it mildly, I never wanted it to end. Bàs and Shana are now one of my favorite romance couples; I loved their connection, their passion, their support of each other, and their willingness to defend each other. This story had me experiencing a complete gamut of emotions; fear, anger, passion, betrayal, remorse, guilt, forgiveness, joy, and finally love. The book is filled with emotion, wonderful characters, intrigue, banter, lots of babies, glimpses of the previous characters’ HEAs, a squirrel named Betty, interesting (and somewhat horrifying) historical facts, steamyish love scenes, and finally a hard-won HEA. This is the fourth book in the series and can be read as a standalone title without a problem, but do yourself a favor and read the series in order. I highly recommend this title and was overjoyed to learn that the author is going to finish the series by giving readers the “Horsemen’s” sister, Hannah’s story!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

View all my reviews

The Rose of a Sultan’s Son by Linda Rae Sande

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Rose of a Sultan's SonBarbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Heirs of the Aristocracy #8
Publication Date: 4/14/23
Period: Early Victorian – 1844
Number of Pages: 330

I am always excited when I get a new book from this author! Her books are always filled with delightfully entertaining, witty, ready-for-romance characters you’ll absolutely wish were in your own life. Then, what could be better than getting two romances for the price of one? Yep, I think all of her books probably have two romances each. If you are tired of prickly, angsty, naval-gazing, will they/won’t they romances, then this is the author for you.

If you’ve read this author’s works, you know her characters are somewhat interconnected. It is similar to what Stephanie Laurens does with the Cynster family, only this author has several characters from different families who relate to or know each other. I like that because when one of those earlier characters pops up, you get to remember how lovely it was to read their book and it is nice to see where their lives have taken them since. However, don’t let that concern you because if you haven’t read any of those other books, you’ll do just fine reading this one.

We met and loved Ertugrul (pronounced Er-too-rule) and David Bennett-Jones, in The Lady of A Sultan, and we now get to see them find their HEAs. Ertugrul is the son and heir of Ziyaeddin, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and David is the son and heir of Viscount Bostwick. David has decided to end his Grand Tour and return to England to find a bride. Unbeknownst to David, Ertugrul, who is accompanying him, plans to find an English bride as well. Will it be a long and arduous Season for them? Will the matchmaking mamas drive them crazy? Or, does one of them already know who they want and they just have to make it happen? What about those matchmaking papas – that should make for some interesting situations. Hmmmmmm.

Lady Rose, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Arily, was a diamond of the first water when she had her come out, but now she is a wallflower. Why? There was a carriage accident that caused a severely broken leg that healed badly. Damaged goods? Even as a duke’s daughter it is hard for a suitor to get past her sometimes need for a cane or a wheeled chair. She’s not content to become a spinster, but she is resigned to that being the likelihood.

Adeline, who is David Bennett-Jones’s sister, has also become a wallflower, but that is mostly by her choice. Several of her friends – especially Rose – seem to be relegated to the ranks of wallflowers, so she’ll just join them. She’s not especially looking forward to becoming a spinster, but she has many plans for her future with or without a husband. Among those plans is running her mother’s charities. She works there two or three days a week and loves being able to help others. If someone wants her hand, they’ll have to find her because she isn’t actively looking.

It was lovely to see David, Rose, Ertugrul, and Adeline find their perfect mate and their lovely HEA. The book is excellently written, perfectly paced, and filled with memorable characters and romances that will make your heart sing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews