Category: Scottish/Highlander

Worth of a Lady by Tarah Scott & Sue-Ellen Welfonder

On By TracyIn Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Worth of a Lady (The Marriage Maker Book 1)Worth of a Lady by Tarah Scott
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Marriage Maker, #1)

Release Date: April 30, 2017

The Duke of Roxburgh has had enough, he has no male heir and his daughter Chastity will inherit, but he wants her to marry and have an heir before he dies, to date, she has managed to evade marriage for herself and her three sisters. So the duke threatens to marry her off to an old man if she doesn’t marry within two months. Chastity is angry, but knows her father is not bluffing, so she makes a deal, if her father can find a man who can find matches for her three sisters within a month, she will marry him.

Enter Sir James Stirling, he will find husbands for the sisters and then marry Lady Chastity, the reader is not privy to how the duke and Stirling meet, but Stirling is serious about marrying Chastity. He visits his friend and surrogate brother Quinn Ramsey, Baron Denly aka the Devil of Denly and reminds him of his promise to his dying father to marry. Quinn is a rake and happy to remain so, he tells Stirling he will marry when Stirling does. Stirling then announces that he will be marrying in five weeks and tells Quinn to prepare to meet his bride.

Lucy is the youngest daughter of the duke and the prettiest, she wants to marry, but is not sure that her father’s plan will work. She meets Quinn and is not overly impressed, but he is attractive and seems nice, until she learns he didn’t know about the plan with the duke and Stirling, she tells him and he laughs, he doesn’t plan to marry any time soon. But when he sees Lucy dancing with other men, he admits to being jealous and when another man claims her for a waltz, he announces to all that they are betrothed.

They marry days later and seem to be a perfect match. Chastity isn’t willing to concede defeat to Stirling and tells him that Lucy was the easiest to marry off, he baits her and she calls him a rogue, he says that just makes him interesting and that she will have the rest of her life to find out how interesting.

This was a very short story, but is was surprisingly good and fleshed out. I am now eager to find out who Stirling will pair the other sisters with and how he will win over Chastity.

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

Highland Conquest by Alyson McLayne

On By TracyIn Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Highland Conquest (The Sons of Gregor MacLeod)Highland Conquest by Alyson McLayne
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Sons of Gregor MacLeod

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Amber MacPhearson is desperate, years ago Machar Murray took over her clan and has been pursuing her ever since. It was not so bad when her father and grandmother were alive, but since their deaths, Murray has escalated his attacks, going as far as to break into her cottage, she has kept him at bay by pretending to be a witch, but now even that is not working. So with the help of a clansman, she cuts her hair, dresses as a boy and escapes. Only to be captured by Laird Lachlan MacKay.

Lachlan has spent the last five years hunting the man who killed his brother and tried to kill him and he has finally found him, Machar Murray is finally in his sights and he will finally have his justice. He is scouting the castle, when he sees a boy go over the wall and head straight for them, he grabs the boy and takes him back to his camp. Once there he learns his young cousin Adaira has stowed away in one of the supply wagons, so he ties up the “boy” and deals with Adaira. He and his foster brother Callum then leave to take the castle and kill Murray.

Amber is glad that Lachlan is going to kill Murray, but she is worried for her clan and as a healer, she wants to be there to take care of the injured. She tricks Adaira into releasing her and then overpowers her guard and returns to the castle.

Murray bolts, but not before he takes aim at Amber, she runs from him, right into Lachlan. Lachlan is floored to realize the “boy” is actually a woman, the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Desire flares between them, but before they can act on it, Earc (the guard) shows up with Adaira, she was stabbed by Murray and left for dead. Amber uses the situation to her advantage, she promises to heal her, if Lachlan will take over the clan. He agrees and Amber immediately takes over, she tends Adaira and all the injured. Lachlan is both impressed and annoyed by her and worries for her health and does little things to ensure she is taken care of, including diverting the castle priest, who hates her and calls her a witch.

Once all the injured are tended, Amber rests and then goes up to a chamber to bathe. Lachlan walks in and they realize that Niall, the castle steward is trying to compromise them, there is an amusing scene with Lachlan trying to hide from him, so he doesn’t end up wed to Amber.

Lachlan is frustrated that Murray escaped and they find several tunnels and bolt-holes, they have had no sightings of him. Callum speculates that he will not have gone far, he is obsessed with Amber and won’t leave until he has her. Callum suggests setting a trap, with Amber as bait.

When Amber is injured during an ambush by Murray, the clan decides that she must marry, Amber agrees, but has rules, she chooses Lachlan, thinking he will refuse and is shocked when he agrees to marry her.

Lachlan cares for Amber and despite his best efforts, he has not been able to run Murray to ground or keep her safe. Murray is an incredibly intelligent villain, so Lachlan hopes with the aid of Gregor and his foster brothers, they will be able to outwit him and finally be free of his reign of terror.

This is a very well written book and is filled with non-stop action from the first page until the last, there are steamy love scenes, wonderful secondary characters, amusing moments that keep the book from being too dark, an amazingly brilliant and supremely evil villain and finally a very touching and sweet HEA.

I really enjoyed this book and while it is not necessary, I am glad I read the first book in the series before reading this one. This book can be read as a stand alone, but if you want to learn more about Gregor and how he ended up with his foster sons, I would recommend reading Highland Promise.

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