Scottish/Highlander

To Love a Highland Rogue by Collette Cameron

To Love a Highland Rogue (Heart of a Scot Book 1)To Love a Highland Rogue by Collette Cameron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Heart of a Scot, #1 (also part of the anthology The Forbidden Highlands)

Release Date: August 28, 2017

Another charming novella by Ms. Cameron! My understanding is this novella is part of the anthology titled : The Forbidden Highlands and inspired Ms. Cameron to begin a new series, Heart of a Scot.

I really loved this novella, Logan and Mayra have been betrothed since they were children, yet they have only seen each other a few times since the contracts were signed.

Logan had no desire to marry Mayra, but when he learned his father spent her dowry and they had no means to repay it, he left his home hoping to make his fortune and escape the arranged marriage. Unfortunately his hopes were not realized and he returned home shortly before his father died. He also learned that his intended had been writing to him and requesting the contract be voided – but that cannot be, he must marry her because he cannot repay the dowry.

Remembering a promise he made to her father to woo her, Logan sets out to meet his betrothed. He is stunned to find the gangly girl he remembered has blossomed into a stunning beauty. He decides that he will get to know her, but does so incognito – he pretends to be his cousin, Coburn. Logan is a bit jaded and distrustful of beautiful women. He wants to get to know Mayra to determine if she is like his spoiled stepmother.

As he gets to know her, he realizes that she is a truly wonderful person and he wants to marry her, but he has yet to reveal his true identity and fears her reaction.

Mayra has been raised knowing she will have to marry Logan, but after her father dies and the clan starts to decline, she begs Logan to release her, so she can use the dowry to help her clan. She is immediately attracted to Logan/Coburn, but knows she is not free to indulge her desires with him.

Logan declares his love to Mayra and attempts to tell her the truth, but they are interrupted and his secret is revealed before he can explain himself.

Mayra is heartbroken, she fell in love with Logan, but feels betrayed and more than a little bit angry. She listens to Logan’s explanations and even understands his position, but something has broken in her that she is not sure she can regain. She tells Logan that she needs time and will talk to him when she returns from Edinburgh.

This was a very sweet story, I really liked both Logan and Mayra and felt their connection and hoped that they would be able to overcome the secrets and lies that drove them apart. The writing was excellent and the story flowed nicely, there are not really any love scenes, but the story does not suffer the lack, there are very few secondary characters in the book, but Logan’s cousin Coburn is priceless (in the notes at the end of the book, Ms. Cameron promises the next book will be about Coburn – he was such a scamp in this book that I can’t wait to meet the woman that brings him to his knees!!).

All in all, this was a great little novella and I am happy to recommend it.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an arc provided to me by the author*

Never Kiss a Highlander by Michele Sinclair

Never Kiss a HighlanderNever Kiss a Highlander by Michele Sinclair
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Release Date: July 25, 2017

Series: The McTiernay’s, #6

Twelve years ago Hamish left his home, his love and his birthright because it was clear the woman he loved was in love with his brother Robert. Hamish left and joined the McTiernay’s elite guard and has refused to return home ever since.

Over the years his brother Robert has tried to get Hamish to return home and each time Hamish has refused. In an effort to finally cut ties with his brother, Hamish agrees to temporarily return and help his brother. Since the marriage of yet another McTiernay brother to yet another woman Hamish thought he could love, he is ready for a change of scenery. Helping his brother rid himself of his backstabbing commander Ulrick is just what he needs.

Maired is the younger sister of Selah, Robert’s wife and Hamish’s former betrothed. She is eager for Hamish’s return and is shocked by the man who arrives….alone. Maired was expecting an army of McTiernay warriors and is dismayed that Hamish has arrived alone and has made it clear that he has no intention of involving the McTiernay’s in this matter.

If Maired is shocked by Hamish, it is nothing compared to his reaction to her, she is no longer the little girl he remembered, but a fully grown beautiful, spirited woman and for the first time in months Hamish is interested, very interested. But since he has no desire to stay, he will just ignore his lust, at least that was the plan 🙂

As Maired and Hamish grow closer, the more the passion simmers between them and after a mind melting kiss – which of course they both agree will never be repeated, they begin to fall in love. It is apparent to the reader that these two are meant to be, but it takes them considerably longer to figure that out.

Hamish realizes that he loves Maired and he also realizes that contrary to what he thought, he has never actually been in love before. But he still refuses to act on his feelings because he doesn’t plan on staying and he “knows” that Maired will not leave her family.

At times I wondered if these two would ever stop making assumptions about each other and finally talk, but the slow build up in their relationship really worked in this story. And when they finally marry, I was ecstatic! Even better, the story doesn’t end there! The threat of Ulrick still has to be dealt with and Ms. Sinclair throws the reader a curve ball. I will admit, after the build up to the return of Ulrick, I thought it was kind of anticlimactic and I thought to myself – that’s it, seriously? Well it wasn’t! Ms. Sinclair still had a few surprises for her readers which include a visit from Conor and Laurel!

This book was well written, flowed at a really nice pace, had lots of twists and turns, sibling spats, multiple weddings, steamy love scenes, surprises galore, a soulmate type of love and a wonderful HEA.

This is the sixth book in the McTiernay’s series, but I think it could be read as a stand alone title with no problem, although you would probably have a better understanding of Hamish if you at least read the prior book “Seducing the Highlander”. I loved this book and would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great Highlander story!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*

His Highland Heart by Willa Blair

His Highland HeartHis Highland Heart by Willa Blair

Release Date: February 01, 2017

Series: His Highland Heart, #1

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story opens with Euan Brodie being shipwrecked on Ross lands, he is in hostile territory and has been separated from his crew. He is injured and wracked with guilt over the loss of his ship and crew. His first encounter with Muireall Munro is when he saves her from being swept out to sea.

Muireall was taken captive almost a month prior when the Ross clan raided her lands and stole her and two other girls as brides. Muireall has yet to be matched with a Ross clansman, but that will change in a matter of days if she cannot escape. She has tried more than once and has the marks to prove it. When she is cut off from the cove by the rising tide, she is sure that she will die. But Euan risks his own safety to save her and she feels a glimmer of hope that she might be able to get home.

Muireall and Euan don’t exactly trust each other, but they work together to reach caves above the tide line and hatch a plan to escape the Ross’. As much as she doesn’t want to, Muireall agrees to return the village and will try to persuade Ella, one of the other Munro girls to leave with her and to aid Euan escape.

After Muireall returns to the beach, she is immediately caught by the Ross laird, who promptly gives her to his second in command as a bride. Euan lets her go, but has promised to return her to her family. When she leave the cave and he doesn’t hear her, he follows her. Once he knows she is back in the village and decides to search for food and water and ends up finding Calum, one of his lost crewmen.

When Muireall is cornered by the Ross laird, she runs in the woods trying to find Euan. When she stubbles upon him, the Ross laird and his guard ambush them. In a fight for his life, Euan ends up killing the Ross laird and escaping with Muireall and Calum. When they make it to the cove to steal a boat, they find another crewman, unfortunately, he did not survive. Euan has promised to take Muireall home, but he must first return James’ body to his family. He asks her to try and be patient just a little longer.

When they arrive back at Brodie, Euan immediately wants to go back and find his other missing crew members, but Iain Brodie, Laird Brodie refuses to let him go, he also refuses to return Muireall to Munro until he knows what is happening with the Ross clan.

Over the next few days, Muireall is cared for by the Brodie clan and grows closer to Euan, but she just wants to go home, even when the Brodie clansmen return with news and Ella, she is impatient to leave.

When a Ross warrior shows up and tells Iain that they have one of his clansmen and will kill him if the man who murdered their laird and the girls are not returned to them, Muireall is frantic – she will not return to the Ross clan and she doesn’t want Euan to go either. Iain refuses to admit that they had anything to do with death of the Ross laird and sends the warrior back empty handed. Again Muireall asks to be sent home and is again denied.

When Euan is able to redeem himself and with the help of Muireall come up with a plan to make a peace offering to the new Ross laird, Iain gives Muireall permission to return home.

Before they leave, Euan admits his feelings to Muireall and is hurt that she doesn’t immediately agree to marry him. He returns her to her family and again makes his feelings known and is again rejected.

He leaves to return to Brodie and they are both heartbroken, until one of them finally swallows their pride and returns to their love. Even when our lovers are reunited, Ms. Blair isn’t finished with the story and throws in another twist or two.

This was a well written book, it flowed nicely, had a lot of tense moments, a lot of heartache and a little steam. I did feel like Muireall was unreasonable at times and maybe a tad selfish. And towards the end of the book, she really became annoying, rejecting Euan, yet being upset that he didn’t ask her father for her hand. If I was confused, I can only imagine what poor Euan was feeling 😊

All in all, it was a very entertaining read and I would be happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys highland historicals.

**Review was done as an editorial review for Romcon and originally posted at Romcon Reviews**

The King and His Queen by Donna Fletcher

The King & His Queen (Pict King Series Book 3)The King & His Queen by Donna Fletcher
Release Date: 2/23/17
Series: The Pict King, #3

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great end to this series!

Talon is the Pict King, he is a fair and fearsome warrior who has done the impossible by uniting the Pict tribes, but to secure his position he must marry and sire an heir. He has married twice and neither wife conceived with him, nor have any of the women he frequently beds. His former wives have been remarried and are both pregnant by their new husbands, leading his people to believe that Talon is not able to father children.

Hemera is the sister of Verity (the heroine in The King’s Warrior), she was introduced to us in the previous book and portrayed as a little slow-witted. But in reality, she is anything but slow – she is incredibility observant and sees more than she lets on. She knows people think she is slow, but she uses that to her advantage. She annoys Talon more than any woman he has ever met, she does not obey him, she challenges him constantly and is more alluring to him than she should be.

While awaiting the arrival of his new bride, Talon becomes aware of a traitor in his midst and he is shocked to find that Hemera is aware of the plot and is actively trying to find out who is involved. Slowly, Talon begins to see the real Hemera and his desire for her grows.

They begin a secret affair and the more time they spend together, the more they want. But with so many things working against them and the misconceptions people have about Hemera, it doesn’t seem possible for them to be together.

The book completely wraps up the series and ties up all the loose ends from the previous books, but it could easily be a stand alone title. The writing is wonderful and the story flows at a good pace, there are steamy love scenes, a few graphic fight scenes, some shocking secrets, some lovely surprises and enough twists and turns to keep you reading and on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Ms. Fletcher comes up with next!

Forbidden Knight by Diana Cosby

Forbidden Knight (Forbidden #2)Forbidden Knight by Diana Cosby
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Release Date 06/06/17
Series: Forbidden, #2

I really liked this book. It is an emotionally charged book that is centered more on the hero than the heroine. It is a little light in the romance department, but it is a beautiful story nonetheless.

Alesone is a woman on the run, she is trying to escape her father, Lord Comyn, who plans to use her as a pawn to over throw King Robert. Alesone is loyal to Robert and wants nothing to do with Lord Comyn.

Sir Thomas is a displaced Templar Knight, who is on his way to join King Robert, when he comes across Alesone, who shoots an arrow at him, narrowly missing his heart. She claims to be the king’s healer but Thomas doesn’t believe her. He thinks she is a spy assassin and thinks she is just bluffing about her relationship with the king.

When the plot Alesone’s father has concocted is revealed, the king charges Thomas with seeing Alesone to safety. Thomas is not pleased about this turn of events, but does as the king bids. When he is injured, Alesone saves him and finds them shelter. When Thomas wakes, he recognizes the owner of the cottage they are in and discovers he is near his childhood home.

Sir John, the owner of the cottage, has Thomas and Alesone taken to the nearby monastery for further help. Once there Thomas’ past comes rushing back and he is confronted with old friends, family and heartache that he has spent years running from.

Thomas’ father comes to claim his son and Thomas is reluctant to go home, but knowing that Alesone’s safety is paramount, he agrees. Alesone has tended Thomas and they have grown close, she doesn’t expect anything will come from their time together, but she is beginning to fall in love with him and wants to help him heal, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. Alesone has been alone most of her life and has recently lost the only person she had ever considered family. She blames herself for Grisel’s death and can understand Thomas’ grief – but she can’t understand his refusal to rejoin his family.

Alesone is a beautiful person, both inside and out and my heart broke for her, she has lost so much and when she begins to open herself up to Thomas, he repeatedly shuts her out. I understood his reasons, but he was really awful to her, maybe not on purpose, but he hurts her again and again. The healing of Thomas takes time and he doesn’t make it easy – he has judged himself unworthy of forgiveness or of love and no matter what anyone says, he won’t change his mind. Alesone along with his friends and his father really have their work cut out for them convincing Thomas to accept their love.

I thought the book was well written, but it did drag a little bit in the middle and Thomas’ reasons for not acknowledging his feelings for Alesone started to get old and tired. But once he begins to forgive himself and accept that he deserves happiness, the story picks up. I enjoyed his bumbling attempts to explain himself to Alesone. The heat factor in this book is rather low, there are some love scenes and they are well done, but not steamy. There are a few battle scenes, but nothing horrifically violent or gory. There is also a twist at the end, that I never saw coming, but was delighted by on Alesone’s behalf.

In the end, I really liked this book and I would be happy to recommend it. It is the second book in the Forbidden Series, but it could be read as a stand alone title with no problems.

* I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher*

Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Falling for the Highlander (Highlanders, #4)Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay Sands
Series: Highlanders, #4
Release Date: 01/31/17

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, but I will be honest – it has been so long between books in this series, that I honestly don’t remember reading about Murine in the previous novels.

Murine has been living with her half-brother in England since her father died the previous year. She is not happy in his home and feels isolated – she has not heard from her friends since she moved and is beginning to wonder if they are getting her messages. When she learns that a group of Scotsmen are coming to see her brother, she wonders if she can convince one of them to carry her message to Saidh.

Dougall has come to England to sell horses to Murine’s brother. When her brother cannot produce the coin to pay, he offers Dougall his sister in exchange – not to marry, just to “use” until he feels the debt is repaid. Dougall is outraged and disgusted by the offer and refuses. When her brother suggests that they wait a day because he is sure his neighbor would pay to use his sister – Dougall makes it clear that even if Montrose got the money, Dougall would never sell his horses to him. He and his brothers immediately leave the castle and travel to the village.

Murine is humiliated and appalled by her brother’s offer and knows that he will sell her – she decides that she must leave and travel to Saidh’s home and hope that she can help her.

When she meets up with Dougall and his brothers on the road – they are surprised to learn that she is their sister Saidh’s friend – the very friend that saved her life! They agree to take her to Saidh and protect her from her brother. Before they can start out – men from her brother’s castle come looking for her and Dougall orders his brothers to hide her. While hiding, Murine faints, Dougall takes her up on his horse and holds her so tightly, that each time she comes to, she faints again from lack of air. When they finally stop to rest the horses – it is amusing to see Dougall and his brothers doting on Murine.

The trip to Scotland is plagued with “accidents” which Dougall believes are caused by Murine’s tendency to faint – even when she insists that she did not faint. Dougall and his brother’s agree that Murine must be saved from her brother and think that she should marry as soon as possible. Several of the brothers offer, and even though he is not in the market for a wife – Dougall doesn’t want anyone but him to marry her. There is a bit of a misunderstanding between Murine and Dougall after they kiss.

They realize that they are being followed just before they reach their home and Murine is injured – Once they arrive in the gates – Dougall announces that he is going to marry Murine. But first she must be tended. While Murine is recovering – Dougall and his brothers learn that Murine’s brother is nearby and looking for her – Dougall takes Murine into hiding and their relationship begins to blossom.

It appears that these two will get their HEA, but first they will have to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill them and why.

This was a good book, it is well written and flows nicely, the love scenes were steamy, the mystery was well done and while it was amusing, it was not nearly as funny as previous books by Ms. Sands. I especially enjoyed catching up with Saidh and Greer and Dougall’s brothers are always entertaining (seriously hope they all get a book!) I would be happy to recommend this book and am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

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