Category: Elizabethan Era (1558-1603)

The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the History of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history.
Preceded by: Tudor period
Followed by: Jacobean era
Monarch: Elizabeth I

Highland Surrender by Heather McCollum

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

Highland Surrender (Sons of Sinclair, #5)Highland Surrender by Heather McCollum

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Sinclair, #5

Release Date: October 24, 2023

Erik Halverson, the leader of the lethal Wolf Warriors of Norway and three of his best men travel from Norway to carry out a mission for the Dowager Queen Sophie of Denmark-Norway. Queen Sophie is the mother of Scotland’s Queen Anne, and she believes that the Sinclair “Horsemen” are too powerful and will try to take the crown from King James and her daughter. She kidnaps Erik’s only living relative, his younger sister Iselin, and holds her at court with threats of marrying her to her chancellor until Erik abducts the Sinclairs’ sister, Hannah. She thinks that by taking Hannah, she will gain control of the Sinclair’s, thus saving her daughter. Erik is not happy with this plan, but he will do anything to save his sister. He travels to Girnigoe Castle and is relieved to learn none of the Sinclair brothers are in residence, he hopes to find and take Hannah before they return, but his hopes are dashed when he is unable to to learn which woman is Hannah and the youngest brother, Bas returns earlier than expected. But not one to give up, he figures out who she is, and when she seems bent on seduction, he uses that in his favor to steal her away. But things go downhill from there when stowaways in the form of Cait and Gideon’s daughters, Libby and Trix, a storm, traitors, and the burning attraction he feels for Hannah. How can he turn her over to Sophie, yet how can he not?

Hannah Sinclair wants a child, she is almost 30 and has no prospects for marriage, thanks to her overprotective brothers. So when she meets Erik, who is posing as a trader, she decides that he is perfect for her needs, since he will be gone by the time she learns if she is pregnant and her brothers will have no way to find and kill him. Unsure of how to seduce a man, she turns to her sisters-in-law, who are more than happy to instruct her. Things get a bit complicated when Bas returns early, but not even that is going to deter her, she lures Erik to the stables, and just as things start to heat up, he turns the tables on her and steals her away to his ship. At first, she is furious and bent on making him pay, but when they are blown off course and have to land in the Isles to make repairs, she learns the truth and knows that there is no way this doesn’t end in war. She knows her brothers will never back down and Erik makes it clear that he won’t either, so it is up to Hannah to find a way to save them all. But can she save her heart from breaking?

This was the final installment of the series and what an ending it is! I thought this was a great story, I loved Erik and Hannah, they had great chemistry, they have both suffered loss, and they both have a deep love for their families. They are perfect for each other, but the lies, secrets, and circumstances all mean that happily ever after is all but impossible. This book is filled with deadly highlanders, equally deadly Norse warriors, fearsome wives, mischievous little girls, laugh-out-loud moments, fan-yourself moments, nail-biting moments, and a heaping helping of heartache before our lovers find their HEA. This was a fantastic end to a wonderful series and definitely a must-read title. This book could be read as a standalone title, but I strongly recommend reading the series in order for the best reader experience.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

*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.*

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.*

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