Category: Medieval (1066-1540)

Clara’s Vow by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Clara's Vow (Borderland Rebels, #3)Clara’s Vow by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Borderland Rebels, #3

Release Date: March 16, 2021

When Clara Fletcher’s brother Drake and her mother begin arguing about her future, she is troubled, she has no desire to be a burden to her family, so she decides to take matters into her own hands and runs away with the intention of taking her vows as a nun at the Paisley Abbey. Clara is a skilled healer and longs to help people, so she knows she will be welcomed at the Abbey, but a small part of her grieves the death of her secret dream to have a family of her own.

Reid MacLeod is on his way to see Lord Tavish in Dumbarton Castle with a missive from the King warning of an impending attack by the English when he comes upon a cottage being set alight by English soldiers and it sparks memories of his own childhood tragedy – he intervenes and as he is fighting, he is struck in the back with a dagger. When he wakes, he finds himself in the care of the one woman he has never forgotten – Clara, the sister-in-law of his friend and former commander, Sir William.

Clara was horrified to realize she attacked Reid by mistake and knows she can’t leave him injured. She takes him back to the cave she camped in and discovers it is not just the wound she inflicted that has brought him down, but a previous injury that has become infected. Reid insists that he can’t stay and be treated, that he has an important mission to complete. A mission that Clara decides she will complete on his behalf.

Reid refuses to give up his mission and grudgingly agrees to let Clara accompany him, but plans to leave her at the Abbey and keep her well away from the trouble coming to Dumbarton. Being with Clara makes Reid long for a life that he swore he would never have. After losing his entire family, Reid lives in the hope of avenging them and decided long ago that he would never place his heart in danger of being broken again, but Clara tempts him like no other.

Clara finds herself falling for Reid and begins to hope for a different future, she knows that Reid has closed his heart to love and wonders if she can breach the walls he has erected – but before she can even think of that, they need to complete his mission – a task that seems nearly impossible when Reid is injured again.

This was a well-written, nicely-paced story filled with action, emotion, and steamy love scenes. Clara and Reid are wonderful characters, who each have their own crosses to bear and their journey to HEA is not without challenges. The book delivers a story filled with action, heartache, loss, revenge, surprises, steamy love scenes, a heroine who can hold her own in battle, a hero that will have choices to make, and finally, a HEA that brings a sigh to your heart and a smile to your face. I highly recommend this title, it is definitely my favorite of the series (so far) and while it is the third book in the series, it could easily be read as a standalone title.

*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 Raider by Amy Jarecki

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Medieval (1066-1540), Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

Highland Raider (The King's Outlaws #2)
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The King’s Outlaws #2
Publication Date: 3/9/21
Number of Pages: 262

Gracious! I’m having to write this review without the benefit of any highlighted notes BECAUSE – I was so engrossed in the story I forgot to make the highlights. It is a fun, exciting read with characters I really liked. One of the best parts is that the heroine was strong, intelligent, and resilient without being a total shrew. Sadly, it seems that many authors equate a strong woman with being a shrew. You are going to love both Anya and Angus.

Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of Islay, never expected to be the leader of his clan. He was the second son while his brother Alasdair was a proud warrior and leader. Alasdair was killed in battle against the MacDougalls, but at least he took one of the MacDougalls’ allies with him, Guy O’Cahan. Angus has a dream – and that dream is to have all of the Hebrides under one Lord. If he succeeds in that, the people of the Isles will be safe, his people will be safe, and Scotland will be stronger for it. All he has to do is prove himself to King Robert the Bruce. He wasn’t off to a very good start in impressing the King after the ill-fated battle of Loch Ryan. While it wasn’t his fault, the King blames him for the capture of two of his brothers. He’s given the King and his forces sanctuary at Dunyvaig Castle on the Isle of Islay, but the welcome is wearing thin, especially with the King’s continued distrust of Angus.

Anya O’Cahan, daughter of Lord Guy O’Cahan, and ward of the Earl of Ulster since her father’s death, is a happy-go-lucky girl who doesn’t do well with rules, confinement, or those quiet skills required of ladies. She’d much rather be outside – drawing. She especially needs to escape after hearing that her betrothal to Lord Chahir O’Doherty would be announced in two days. She knows she is expected to marry a man of her guardian’s choice – and the choice could be much worse – she just doesn’t feel anything for him and she’s sure he doesn’t feel anything for her. She’ll do as she must, but…

Anya and Angus cross paths when Robert the Bruce decides to go to his father-in-law, the Earl of Ulster, to ask for help in obtaining the release of his brothers – as well as his wife Elizabeth and their daughter. When they arrive at Carrickfergus, under a flag of parley, they are greeted with a barrage of arrows and a battle ensues. They barely escape to their birlinns and manage to leave – but with the loss of several lives.

Anya is caught outside the confines of Carrickfergus when the battle begins. Yes, she’s snuck out of the castle again and now can’t get back in. She’ll just have to hide in one of the boats in her guardian’s fleet. Except – oops. She hides in the wrong birlinn and ends up in the North Sea during a horrendous winter storm. The only thing between her and death is the much-feared Angus MacDonald – known to all as Fairhair – and feared by all.

This was a delightful read and I loved both Anya and Angus. Angus was nothing like Anya believed – and Anya was everything Angus knew he shouldn’t want. They had quite a merry dance to get to their HEA. I almost despaired they’d ever get to the HEA, but they finally made it. It just took some very stupid actions by Angus to get there. Oh! And the epilogue is absolutely wonderful – it is set seven years into their future and well … just WOW!

I have to say, I didn’t care for Robert the Bruce in this book – but I’d almost bet that this depiction of him is closer to the real one than many of the others I’ve read. He had to be arrogant and ruthless to take on the task he had before him, and this book shows a bit of that. Now, I can hardly wait for the next book in the series, Highland Beast, which features Sir Arthur Campbell.

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