Category: Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454)

In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or Medieval Period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. The Middle Ages is the middle period of the three traditional divisions of Western history: classical antiquity, the medieval period, and the modern period. The medieval period is itself subdivided into the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages.

In Her Highlander’s Bed by Lynsay Sands

On January 21, 2023January 18, 2023 By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

In Her Highlander’s Bed by Lynsay Sands

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Brides, #11

Release Date: January 24, 2023

Allissaid MacFarlane wakes to learn that Maldouen MacNaughton tried to kidnap and marry her elder sister Claray for the sole purpose of killing their family and taking over the MacFarlane’s holdings, but thankfully she was saved by the man known as the Highland Wolf, who is actually Bryson MacDonald, her thought-to-be-dead betrothed. Now married to Bryson, Claray is safe, but it seems that MacNaughton has decided to turn his attention to the next sister – Allissaid. To save his family, her father has decided to marry off all the sisters and has sent for their betrothed as well as his nephews Aulay and Alick Buchanan. Ordered to stay in the keep and prepare for the arrival of her groom, Allissaid is trying to make sense of everything when she is told that her brother Eachann is missing. Against her father’s orders, she slips out of the keep to look for him and is soon captured by the MacNaughton and learns that he murdered her betrothed, he then tries to force her to participate in a marriage ceremony, but Allissaid refuses to speak, he then tries to force himself on her, brutally beating her when she fights back, but when the MacNaughton leaves her alone, she escapes by jumping out of a window into the Loch. She is on the run when she sees a man swimming and tries to steal his plaid and is tackled by him.

Calan Campbell is Laird of the Kilcairn Campbells and his lands border those of the MacNaughton. Calan and his cousin are out investigating a recent raid on their lands – by the MacNaugtons – and on the way back to the keep, Still recuperating from a recent injury, Calan decides to take a dip in the loch and sends his cousin Gillie back to the holding. he is in the loch when he sees a young lad trying to steal his plaid and takes off after them, knocking the boy to the ground, only to find out that it is not a lad, it is a badly beaten lady. Thankfully, Gillie comes looking for him and between them, they sneak Allissaid into his keep. He hides her in his chamber and has his sister Inghinn come and examine her. When she wakes, Allissaid isn’t sure she can trust them and pretends to have amnesia, but when his mother Lady Fiona gets involved and recognizes Allissaid, she tells them the whole story of her abduction, attempted wedding, and the beating. The Campbells vow to help her and decide it is best if she remains hidden until the MacNaughton is defeated. Lady Fiona insists that Allissaid stay in Calan’s room and that he must stay and protect her, a task Calan is happy to perform, as he has come to admire Allissaid. They are getting to know each other and attraction blooms but is brought to a halt by the arrival of her cousin Alick, who takes his job to protect her very seriously – much to the annoyance of Calan, who has already decided that Allissiad will make the perfect wife for him. He just has to convince her and defeat MacNaughton…

This story picks up exactly where Highland Wolf ends, but there is more than enough backstory given to read this book without having read that one first. Allissaid and Calan are very likable leads and the passion between them burns brightly, making it easy to root for their HEA. The story has a lot going on, some of it quite dark, but Ms. Sands manages to keep the story from turning too dark by the use of her signature humor and witty banter between characters. In addition to that you will be treated to action, great secondary characters, lots of Buchanans, murder, a matchmaking mother, steamy love scenes, betrayal, and finally a HEA that sees the villain getting his due. I enjoyed this book, it did drag a little in the middle, but the ending more than makes up for that in my opinion and I am happy to recommend this title. This is the eleventh book in the series, but it is a loosely connected series and as I mentioned before, it can 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.*

BLOG TOUR – One Night with her Viking Warrior by Sarah Rodi

On January 12, 2023January 6, 2023 By TracyIn Blog Tour, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, VikingLeave a comment

One Night With Her Viking Warrior

Her forbidden love is back to claim her!

Once Lady Rebekah shared a life-changing night with stable hand Raeden but he disappeared the morning after. Now she’s consort to a cruel Saxon Lord, and when Northmen lay siege to Ryestone Keep, Rebekah’s shocked to see Raeden leading the charge! This Viking warrior is not the man she remembers, yet she finds herself drawn to him again. Taken as his hostage, Rebekah must decide: can she trust him with her life…and her dangerous secret?

Purchase Links:

UK ~ US

Author Bio:

– Sarah Rodi has always been a hopeless romantic. She grew up watching old, romantic movies recommended by her grandad, or devouring love stories from the local library. Sarah lives in the village of Cookham in Berkshire, where she enjoys walking along the River Thames with her husband, her two daughters and their dog. She has been a magazine journalist for over 20 years, but it has been her lifelong dream to write romance for Mills & Boon. Sarah believes everyone deserves to find their happily ever after.

Contact Sarah:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Email

Tracy’s Review:

One Night with Her Viking Warrior by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: December 2022

Lady Rebekah’s life has been far from easy, orphaned at ten when Danes attacked her home, an attack she survived but was burned and sent to live with her uncle at Ryestone Keep. Then years later when she falls in love with a stable boy named Raedan, she hopes for a future with him and willingly gives him her virginity, but the next day he is gone, and later she is told he is dead. With no chance of happiness, she agrees to marry her cousin Atol, but soon after her uncle dies and Atol abuses her and when she learns she is pregnant, he refuses to marry her unless (or until) she gives him a son. So when a daughter is born, Rebekah is left to act as Lady of the Keep but is really little more than Atol’s unwilling mistress. But all that changes when the Danes raid again and Rebekah is taken captive by a man named Halfdan who reminds her of her lost love.

Halfdan (aka Raedan) can’t believe that Rebekah married Atol so soon after he was beaten and sold to a slave master, he thought she loved him, but he won’t make that mistake again. After spending years as a slave, he was bought and freed by a Dane, Jarl Knud, and his sister Brita, that was the day that Raedan died and Halfdan was born. And thanks to Jarl Knud, Raedan learned to be a warrior and rose in the ranks, until he was Knud’s best warrior. He eagerly leads the raid against his old home and takes Rebekah hostage. He thinks he is over her, but once they are alone, he realizes he is still attracted to her, much to his disgust. But after they talk, he learns that she had no part in his banishment and had no idea he was sold into slavery – a secret shame that he isn’t willing to share with anyone. He learns of the abuse she has endured and makes the decision to take her back to his home in Nedergaard, it is then he learns of her daughter and the shame Rebekah has lived with as little more than Atol’s leman. He then boldly rescues her daughter Gytha from under Atol’s nose and takes them both with him – but not before Atol realizes and gives chase. They escape, but Atol vows revenge and Raedan makes more than one enemy. Once they are back in Nedergaard, they marry to protect Rebekah and their old feelings begin to rekindle, but with so many secrets between them and their enemies bent on revenge, finding their HEA won’t be easy.

This was a very well-written, fast-paced story featuring wonderful characters and a second-chance romance. This book has a little bit of everything: secrets, lies, revelations, action, revenge, steamyish love scenes, a marriage of convenience, more than one villain who won’t give up, new beginnings, forgiveness, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. The only qualm I had was that I felt that at least one villain got off too easily, but that was a very minor thing and I readily admit that I am a blood-thirsty wench. So overall, this was a fantastic read and I enthusiastically recommend this title! I am sincerely hoping that the author decides to write stories for Knud and his sister Brita.