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.

A Knight’s Pledge by Heather Grothaus

On By TracyIn Historical Mystery, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Mystery, Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

TheKnightsPledgeThe Knight’s Pledge by Heather Grothaus

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Scotland, #4

Release Date: March 3, 2022

**To be clear – I am giving this 4 stars for the MYSTERY – the ROMANCE is a 0 star for me and be warned, this review is slightly spoilerish**

Picking up shortly after the end of the previous book and still suffering from the injury he sustained from the outlaw Effie, Sir Lucan Montague finds himself once again in her presence. This time she wants him to take her to London to see the King and doesn’t intend on taking “No” for an answer.

Effie Annesley was raised as Euphemia Hargrave, a distant relative to Vaugh and Caris Hargrave, but when she learns the truth of her birth and the evil of the Hargraves, she bolts and tries to get Lucan to go with her to the King. But lost in his own grief, Lucan is cruel to Effie and turns her away. With nowhere to go, Effie forges her own path and falls in with a group of outlaws. Now 15 years later, Effie has denounced her noble upbringing and lived a new life, one where she falls in love has a son, and diligently works to right the wrongs the Hargraves have wrought. But when the enemy she thought she conquered rises from the dead and takes her son, Effie will do whatever is necessary to get him back – even work with Lucan. But once they meet with the King, they learn getting her son back won’t be as easy as they hoped – If Effie wants her son back and if Lucan has any hope of regaining his title and lands from the crown, then they will have to do as King Henry ordered and work together to bring in her father and wanted man, Thomas Annesley.

This is the final installment of the Sons of Scotland Series, which follows Thomas, Lord Annesley, and his flight after the death of his betrothed, Cordelia Hargrave, the night before their wedding. Each book in the series has furthered the mystery of what happened that fateful night and has introduced the reader to the children he fathered during his life as a fugitive. In this story, we learn that Cordelia was actually with child when she died – Effie – who is delivered by Caris via cesarean. This book will finally give readers the truth of what happened the night Cordelia died and will also deliver a mind-blowing twist. And while the mystery was well-done and wraps up with a very satisfying ending, the romance was a complete wall-banger for me. I cannot believe that Effie and Lucan are in love, especially when she is professing her love to the father of her child at the 90% mark of this book – a man she professed to love earlier in the book, right before she slept with him – yeah – nothing says romance like a heroine who sleeps with a man who is not the hero. So, two things to know; one – you should not read this book as a standalone title, you will be confused and frustrated and two – do not read this as a romance, read it as a mystery, it will make your reading experience much better if you do.

*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.*

The Highlander’s Tactical Marriage by Jenni Fletcher

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

The Highlander's Tactical Marriage (Highland Alliances #2)The Highlander’s Tactical Marriage by Jenni Fletcher

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Alliances, #2

Release Date: February 22, 2022

Six years ago Coira Roy and Fergus MacMillan were supposed to marry to forge a clan alliance, but Coira ran away the night before their wedding and married Nevin Barron, nephew to the MacWhinnie laird. Now six years later, Nevin is dead and the banished Campbell clan is attacking, so once again, Fergus and Coira are ordered to marry for an alliance and for Fergus to be guardian to Coira’s young son, the new laird of Castle Barron.

Coira is terrified to marry Fergus, but with no options, she agrees. Her marriage to Nevin was not the love match people believe, she married him on orders from her brother and soon came to regret the decision, she hated breaking her word to Fergus, but since he didn’t seem happy to marry her, she figured at least she wasn’t hurting him. But little did she know that beneath his stern looks and taciturn demeanor, Fergus was smitten by Coira and heartbroken when she fled. He swears he will do his duty and then be done with her. But there are things that neither of them knows and betrayals that run deeper than either could imagine. Will they figure out the truth and rekindle what could have been the love of a lifetime, or will old hurts and bitterness make them unwitting pawns for their enemies?

This was a was well-written, nicely paced, great second chance love story. The book has wonderful characters, misunderstandings, secrets, betrayal, murder, great secondary characters, steamyish love scenes, villains getting their due, and a very lovely ending. There was one villain who seemed to slip through the cracks and I felt the storyline about her brother seemed a bit underdeveloped, but overall, this was a very enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it. It is the second book in a series, but it could easily be a standalone title with no problems at all.

*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.*