Category: Medieval (1066-1540)

The Highlander’s Destiny by Mary Wine

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

The Highlander's Destiny (Highland Rogues, #2)The Highlander’s Destiny by Mary Wine

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Rogues, #2

Release Date: November 3, 2020

After waiting years for Cormac Grant, her betrothed to claim her, Cora Mackenzie is restless and jumps at the chance to ride out with her brother’s men to deliver a message to Rolfe Munro. She is aware by doing so, her brother is letting her know that she is free to follow her heart rather than marry Cormac. Cora likes Rolfe, but he doesn’t inspire feelings anything deeper than friendship. She and the party are returning to Mackenzie land when a vicious storm breaks and Cora is washed away. She fights for her life and amazingly survives, but drenched and freezing, she won’t last long, so it is nothing short of miraculous that she sees a man standing just a few feet away.

Faolan McKay is stunned to see a beautiful woman cursing the sky, but he quickly realizes that she is not a mythical siren, but a flesh and blood woman in danger of freezing to death. He helps her to the tower and gets her out of her wet clothes, tucks her into bed and climbs in to share his heat. When she wakes, he is gone. She dresses and ventures out of the tower. She soon discovers that the tower is part the construction of a look out for the McKay clan. There are no women at the site and she rolls up her sleeves and cleans the kitchen and prepares a meal. She is intrigued by Faolan and feels the spark that she has been hoping for, she can see that he returns her regard, but he holds himself at bay and when a maid named Brynna shows up from the McKay Keep, Faolan immediately has her act as chaperone and takes Cora to the Keep.

Things at the McKay Keep are tense and Cora soon learns that Faolan is the half-brother of Malcolm, the laird of the McKays and that he used to court Malcolm’s wife Noreen – who happens to be the half-sister of her betrothed. Tensions escalate and Faolan and Cora end up married, but when Faolan fails to consummate the marriage, believing he will seek an annulment to free Cora, Malcolm gets involved and things turn deadly. Soon Faolan and Cora find themselves as Laird and Lady of the clan with the possibility of HEA within reach, but plots to destroy them abound and they will have to root out a traitor before they can even think about their future.

This was a very good, well written, fast-paced story with very likable characters. The book has action, betrayal, warm to steamyish love scenes, multiple villains, accusations of witchery, traitors, some amusing banter, great secondary characters, a very sweet, romantic declaration of love and finally a very, very, very hard won HEA. As much as I enjoyed this book, there were some things that left me baffled and some minor inconsistencies and typos, that didn’t ruin the book for me, but that did rob it of a five-star rating. This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title with no problems. Overall, I did enjoy this book, I am happy to recommend it and I will definitely be looking forward to the next installment in the series.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested from NetGalley and the Publisher. All opinions are my own.*

The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal by Heather McCollum

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Medieval (1066-1540), Scottish/Highlander1 Comment

The Highlander's Unexpected Proposal (The Brothers of Wolf Isle, #1)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Brothers of Wolf Isle #1
Publication Date: 10/19/20
Number of Pages: 199

What do you get when you mix pirates, betrayal, deep secrets, and a curse together with family loyalty and love? The answer, of course, is an outstanding story. I loved getting to meet Adam Macquarie and Lark Montgomerie along with all of the brothers who will have their stories in the upcoming books – Beckett (Beck), Eagan, Callum, and his twin, Drostan.

The Macquarie’s, who live on Ulva (Wolf) Island, were cursed over a hundred years ago. Wilyam Macquarie had courted – and impregnated – a young woman from the island, and then he married another in order to form a better political alliance. The young woman then hanged herself, and her distraught mother put a curse on the Macquarie’s. Their island is now uninhabited and there are only five Macquarie’s left in the world. To break the curse, the Macquaries must learn what love is – and they must stop producing bastards. The five remaining Macquaries are determined to save their clan, break the curse, and reclaim their island. That determination has brought Adam (the clan chief) and his brother Beck to the Beltane festival to find wives for themselves.

Yes, Adam wants to save his clan and break the curse, but his real reason behind wanting to do that is because he wants a home. A real home. He and his brothers have had a house while living with the Maclean clan on the Isle of Mull, but it isn’t a real home. Not a place filled with love and belonging. He wants that for himself and his brothers – and in order to get it, they have to break the curse.

Lark Montgomerie has been told that she MUST choose a husband at this festival. Her family will not be taking her back home with them. She can choose – sort of – but she has no dowry and Roylin Montgomerie will sell her to the highest bidder if she doesn’t choose. When two vile creatures are the only two in contention for her hand, she begs a handsome Highlander she’s only just met to wed her. Amazingly, he agrees and they are wed on the spot.

Both Lark and Adam are keeping secrets – secrets that can break them apart. Not a very auspicious beginning for a lifelong relationship. During their perilous journey back to Wolf Island, Adam learns just how resourceful, brave, and skilled Lark really is – and admiration begins to grow. What will happen when they get to Wolf Island and all of Adam’s secrets are revealed? Will she just leave him? Then, what will happen when Lark’s deepest, darkest secrets are revealed?

There are those who do not wish to see the Macquarie clan reclaim their island nor break the curse. Dark forces gather about them and only the strong bond between Adam and Lark, his brothers, and the Maclean’s can save the day. Between kidnappings, curses, pirates, and betrayals, their road to their HEA won’t be an easy one.

I absolutely loved both Adam and Lark. They are such good people – dedicated, strong, caring – and they definitely deserve their HEA. I was left wondering about Lark’s sisters though. It seems they were left in what could be a very unhappy situation, so I wonder if we’ll just never hear from them again, if they will eventually find their way to Wolf Island, or if maybe they’ll also get their own stories. I can hardly wait for future books to find out. Up next is Beck’s story and it sounds like a great one as well.

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