Category: Re-Release / Updated Edition

The Spinster and Mr. Scott by Jennifer Haymore

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Spinster and Mr. Scott: A Regency Historical Romance Novel (The Highland Knights Book 1)The Spinster and Mr. Scott: A Regency Historical Romance Novel by Jennifer Haymore

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Highland Knights, #1

Release Date: May 1, 2023 (re-release, originally published 2015)

I first read this book back in 2017 when it was titled “Highland Heat”, the first book in the Highland Knight series. I loved the book then and I still love it now, because it was so much more than I was expecting and so emotionally charged.

They meet when Lady Grace Carrington searches the Waterloo battlefield looking for any survivors, it is there that she finds Sergeant Duncan Scott, a Scottish sheep farmer from the highlands. From that moment, I felt the incredible connection between Grace and Duncan. And that connection never waned even when it seemed impossible for these two to be together.

The story basically starts at the same time prequel novella “A Highlander’s Heart” (now titled “To Love A Scot”) and continues where that one ended, in fact, we get to see more of Claire and Robert’s happily ever after (yay!). We also get to learn a little bit more about the Highland Knights and their mission to keep England safe.

This book is well written and flows nicely. The story is filled with intrigue, forbidden love, spies, danger, steamy love scenes, class differences, wonderful secondary characters, soulmate-type love, some nail-biting moments, and finally, their HEA complete with an epilogue that sets up the next book. It was just about perfect! I happily recommend this book, it is a re-release, but the author has edited and enhanced the story, and it is still not necessary to read the prequel, however, once you’ve read this book, I can almost guarantee you are definitely going to want to read that as well!

*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 Spy by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Book Publicity, Jacobean/Stuart Era (1603-1714), Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Highland Spy (The Mercenary Maidens, #1)Highland Spy by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Mercenary Maidens, #1

Release Date: March 14, 2023 – This is a revised & edited re-release

I liked this book, I was expecting a sort of “Point of No Return” type story and while there were some similar aspects between this book and that movie, this was definitely it’s own story. This is a very hard book to review without totally spoiling the story, so I am going to just give the basic premise of the story.

Ariana has been supporting herself by cheating at cards since her parents and her brother passed away, and up until she met Connor Grant she was getting away with it.

Connor is a displaced laird of a decimated clan, he runs a spy ring for King James and acts as his personal assassin. He has an agreement with the king, 10 years of service to the crown and then he will be free and his holdings returned to him. Connor uses women as his spies and believes he has found the perfect candidate when he catches Ariana cheating and blackmails her into joining his “girls”. Connor and Ariana share an instant attraction, but neither is in a position to act upon it. Connor never dallies with his “girls” and Ariana is noble born and therefore off limits as he has nothing to offer her.

Ariana reluctantly agrees to work with Connor and soon finds herself and another new recruit (Liv) sent off to the wilds of Scotland with Sylvi (one of Connor’s girls) for training. On the way to the castle, Liv becomes ill and Ariana fears for her life. Once they reach the castle, Ariana meets the other “girls”, Percy and Delilah. Percy is for lack of a better description – their “Q”. She comes up with gadgets and potions for the team and acts as the team’s healer. Percy immediately takes charge of Liv and with Ariana’s help, they slowly set her on the road to recovery.

Ariana begins her training and soon realizes that each girl has her own story and reason for being there. She takes well to the training and is soon ready to take on her first mission.

What follows is a mass of twists and turns in the plot, betrayal, secrets, more betrayal, more secrets, some steamy moments, followed by the hero acting like a jerk, followed by the heroine acting like an idiot, followed by the hero redeeming himself and the heroine learning what love really is. As always, the writing is impeccable and the story is gripping.

I would recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading the future installments featuring the rest of the “girls”.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that I received from NetGalley and the publisher*