Category: Part of a Series

In Her Highlander’s Bed by Lynsay Sands

On 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 BedIn 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.*

Murder at the Seven Dials by Cara Devlin

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Murder at the Seven Dials (Bow Street Duchess Mystery #1)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 Stars
Series: Bow Street Duchess Mystery #1
Publication Date: 1/28/23
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 317

Excellent mystery! This new-to-me author has presented a baffling murder mystery that includes a determined duchess, a prejudiced Bow Street officer, and social stigma along with a tad of the paranormal. Way to go! I’m rarely a fan of anything paranormal in the books I read, but this was done so well I didn’t mind it at all – I even rooted for it to be used even more. For me, the story was a bit slow and dragged a tad, but as the introduction to a new series, it had to make all of the proper character introductions and set-ups, so I have to allow for that. Still, it did seem a fair amount longer than the 317 pages it was. Oh! And before I forget to mention it – you have the first (or most of the first) chapter of the next book at the end of this one.

Audrey Sinclair, Duchess of Fournier, and Philip Sinclair, Duke of Fournier are not a love match. It is, however, a match of affection, care, and respect between two long-time friends who each have deep, serious secrets to hide. Their marriage gives each of them a layer of protection from the ton who would be aghast if they learned them. They also agreed there would be total honesty within the marriage, yet to Audrey’s horror, it appears Philip hasn’t exactly been honest lately.

In the wee hours of the morning, Audrey and the household were awakened when a message from Bow Street arrived. Philip had been found, incoherent, at the scene of a grisly murder in a crumbling tenant dwelling in Seven Dials. Philip was covered in blood and the murder weapon was close to him. Audrey knew immediately that Philip hadn’t committed the murder, he couldn’t have, that was part of his secret, but she couldn’t tell his secret and she had no way to show his innocence.

Bow Street Principal Officer, Hugh Marsden, has a raging prejudice against aristocrats and it pleased him immensely when there was no doubt that a duke has committed a most heinous crime. Yes, this duke was going to be arrested, tried, and hanged if he had his way about it. Who could doubt he was guilty – he was covered in blood – his mistress’s blood – and the murder weapon was at his feet. Contrary to what that little duchess kept telling him, he knew the duke was guilty. He’d just send her back to her palatial home to embroider while he wrapped up the case.

However, that little duchess was a whole lot more than Hugh bargained for. She did not follow instructions well and proceeded to investigate the case for herself. She was tooling around asking questions of dangerous people in dangerous places. Everywhere he turned there she was. Now, it seemed he’d have to keep her safe and protect her from herself while finishing up the case. Humpf!

I enjoyed watching Hugh trying to thwart Audrey and keep her out of trouble, and I also enjoyed watching him slowly come to believe that she just might be right about the murder. Uh Oh!

I hope I have found a new favorite author and series, but I’m going to reserve judgment on that. You see, I have to have a bit of romance to go along with my mysteries and I’m just not sure how the author is going to manage to do that given the circumstances. I would NEVER be satisfied with an affair between Audrey and Hugh – even though she and the duke have already agreed that those kinds of things are acceptable to them. So, what does that leave? It leaves the duke dying to free up Audrey so she and Hugh can be together. I cannot imagine what acceptable (to me) way the author can manage to do that. You see, if she’d killed him off in this book I would have been okay with it – but once I’ve met him and mildly liked him (at least felt empathy for him), then killing him off just won’t work for me. It would be sort of like watching a movie where the dog dies. So, I’m reserving judgment on the new favorite author and series until I see where the romance is heading.

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

View all my reviews