Category: Jacobean/Stuart Era (1603-1714)

The Stuart Era is 1603-1714 and The Jacobean era refers to the period in English and Scottish history that coincides with the reign of James VI of Scotland, who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I.
Preceded by: Elizabethan era
Followed by: Caroline era
Monarch: James VI and I

Never Marry A Highlander by Callie Hutton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Jacobean/Stuart Era (1603-1714), Part of a Series, Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

Never Marry a Highlander: The Mackays of Dun Ugadale

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: The MacKays of Dun Ugadale #2
Publication Date: 3/15/24
Period: Jacobean/Stewart Era – 1616
Number of Pages: 194

Craig MacKay is a highly skilled warrior. He’s handsome, he’s brave, he’s intelligent, he’s honorable, and the ladies love him as much as he loves them. He has always claimed he’ll never marry – so – what is he doing volunteering to marry the woman to whom his brother is betrothed? His brother, Robin, their Laird, is in love with another woman. Robin will marry the woman to whom he is betrothed out of honor, but he’ll be miserable – and Craig knows it. It was an arranged marriage that was foisted upon Robin and Craig is pretty sure the betrothed’s brother won’t care which MacKay brother marries his sister as long as one of them does. Turns out he is right – and he has a new bride.

Lady Lenora Gunn Gordon is a widow and the sister of Laird David Gunn. Lenora’s world is one of abuse and distrust. The males who should have protected and cared for her used her as a punching bag instead. Her father didn’t even recognize her when he saw her in the hallway, David beat her and then married her off to an abusive husband who also beat and raped her, and after her husband died David took over the abuse again. No, Lenora does not trust any man – and never will. She has no choice but to accept the change in betrotheds, and why should she care since it has all been her brother’s choice? This MacKay will be just one more man to control and abuse her.

I enjoyed getting to know Lenora and Craig as they negotiated their way over the many pitfalls along the way to their HEA. Lenora fought a hard battle to keep from coming to trust and love Craig, but it was one she couldn’t win. Craig was always kind, caring, concerned, and interested and he wore her down – she couldn’t help coming to care for him. The same was true for Craig. He never expected to come to care for the termagant who became his wife. He expected they would both lead their individual lives. I enjoyed seeing the two work through their differences.

I missed reading the first book in this series and will begin reading it as soon as I finish writing this review. That means that I really enjoyed this book – and that this book can be read as a standalone. You’ll want to read the first book, but you don’t have to enjoy this one.

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

His Secret Highland Bride by Allison B. Hanson

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Jacobean/Stuart Era (1603-1714), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

His Secret Highland BrideHis Secret Highland Bride by Allison B. Hanson

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Clan MacPherson, #1

Release Date: May 13, 2024

After fighting abroad for five years, Shane MacPherson, now a guilt and grief-stricken widower is back in Scotland and must take over as Laird of his clan now that his father has passed away. He must also honor an agreement made by his father to marry the Laird of the Wallace clan’s daughter. He is on his way home to Cluny Castle to face the responsibilities bearing down on him, when he comes across a woman being assaulted on his lands, he is horrified to realize the men are MacPhersons and intervenes. This is when he meets Lindsay and with her, he finds peace for the first time since his beloved wife died. She seems to understand his grief and helps him heal. Yet neither is quite honest with the other, Shane believes Lindsay to be a maid and she believes him to be a simple soldier. They find a bit of happiness together and though they both think they are promised to others thanks to their fathers, they plan to defy them by marrying. But eventually Shane must return home and it is there that his short-lived happiness ends.

Lindsay Wallace was sent to the MacPherson clan by her mother to tend her ailing aunt, but when she arrived it was to learn that her aunt had already passed. She tries to help her uncle and his children, but is treated horribly by them and wants to return home. Her parents refuse and inform her of her impeding nuptials to the Laird of the MacPhersons. After the way she has been treated by them, Lindsay wants nothing to do with the MacPherson clan and certainly doesn’t want to marry their Laird. Shane is the only MacPherson she has met who seems honorable and they form a friendship of sort. She agrees to marry him to save herself, but wonders if she is doing the right thing, since he clearly still loves his first wife. When they return to Shane’s home, Cluny Castle, the truth comes out and any chance of happiness she might have had vanishes.

I am torn about this book, the writing was good and the characters likable, but the pace of the story was slow and the misunderstandings and misassumptions dragged on way too long to be truly enjoyable. The story has a lot going on and a lot of action, but relies heavily on misunderstanding, secrets and lies to keep the story moving forward – all of which become tiresome to the reader, especially when the issues could have easily been resolved with a bit of honest conversation. Personally, I didn’t feel any chemistry between Shane and Lindsay – he was still in love with his wife and blamed himself for her death, making it almost impossible for him to move on and then when he decided that it was time, he found something else to feel guilty about – UGH! And Lindsay wasn’t much better, she was a hypocrite who was quick to jump to conclusions and to judge and very slow to forgive – Double UGH! I didn’t hate this book, but I didn’t love it and wouldn’t read it again. This is the first book in the and while I didn’t care for this story, I would definitely read the next book.

*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. *