Category: Scottish/Highlander

The Lady’s Proposal to the Laird by Jeanine Englert ~ BLOG TOUR

On By TracyIn #Giveaway, Blog Tour, Contests/Giveaways, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Lady’s Proposal for the Laird

A betrothal bargain

With the Highlander from her past

When Susanna Cameron needs to thwart her brothers’ plan to marry her off, she turns to her childhood sweetheart, Laird Rowan Campbell, with a daring proposal—to be her pretend betrothed! In exchange, she’ll help the now-hardened Rowan get revenge on the man who killed his family. The only flaw in Susanna’s plan—their returning attraction!   

Purchase Link

Author Bio
Jeanine Englert’s love affair with mysteries and romance began with Nancy Drew, Murder She Wrote, and her Grandmother’s bookshelves full of romance novels. She is a VIVIAN® and Golden Heart® Finalist as well as a Silver Falchion, Maggie, and Daphne du Maurier Award Winner in historical romance and mystery. Her Scottish Highland historical and historical romantic suspense novels revolve around characters seeking self-acceptance and redemption. When she isn’t wrangling with her characters on the page, she can be found trying to convince her husband to watch her latest Masterpiece or BBC show obsession. She loves to talk about books, writing, her beloved rescue pups, as well as mysteries and romance with other readers.

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Giveaway

Giveaway – Escape to the Scottish Highlands with a Cuppa and a Cow (Open To UK/US/Canada)

Enjoy reading a signed print copy of The Lady’s Proposal for the Laird with a beautiful Scottish tea cup and the companionship of an adorable matching Highland Cow made by Tom of Loch Ness designs in Scotland! 

*Terms and Conditions –UK. US & Canada entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Tracy’s Review

The Lady's Proposal For The Laird (Secrets of Clan Cameron, Book 2) (Mills & Boon Historical)The Lady’s Proposal For The Laird (Secrets of Clan Cameron, Book 2) by Jeanine Englert

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Secrets of Clan Cameron, #2

Release Date: March 26, 2024

 

Susanna Cameron and Rowan Campbell once shared a youthful infatuation that ended badly when Rowan proposed, and Susanna rejected him at her father’s command. They both went on to find new loves, but once again her father refused to let her marry the man of her heart, he even went as far as to send her love, Jeremiah on a suicide mission, which lead to his death, and crushing Susanna’s heart. Always volatile, Susanna became cold, and calculated, refusing to ever wed or forgive her father. After her father’s death, her brother Royce became laird and began to look into his father’s dealings and made a discovery that changed their lives forever and gained him a wife. But secrets were discovered, secrets that Royce fear will destroy his family and to protect them, he is demanding that Susanna wed. She demands answers and when none are forthcoming, she enlists the aid of her first love, the now widowed Rowan Campbell. She wants him to pretend to court her so they can learn what Royce is hiding and in exchange, she will help him gain vengeance on the man who murdered his wife and son. It is the perfect arrangement, because she knows she will never love again and is sure Rowan feels the same, so they will both get what they want and part ways. What could go wrong?

Rowan Campbell loved Susanna with the whole of his young heart, but she rejected him and then fell in love with one of her father’s soldiers, leaving him brokenhearted. It was over a year later before he met Anna and fell in love again, this time with a passion that he had never experienced, they wed and had two children, happiness seemed to be a given. But tragedy struck when a neighboring laird attacked and killed Anna and their son Keir, leaving Rowan devastated. Their loss was more than he could bear, his grief was all consuming and he lost himself to madness. His clan stripped him of the Lairdship and his young daughter was cared for by his sister. It was two years before he finally regained his position, but even now four years after their deaths, the grief and anger are festering and he doesn’t believe he will ever find peace until the MacDonald is dead, he goes through the motions of life for the sake of his daughter, Rosa, the only light in his bleak life, but otherwise, he has no desire to move on with his life. When Susanna approaches him with her scheme, he is surprised that he still feels desire for her, which makes him wary of spending time with her, but the temptation of killing Audric MacDonald is too great and he agrees. Maybe once he has vanquished Audric, he will finally be able to move on and be content.

This book is not what I thought it was going to be, it is a very heavy, emotional read and I was not really prepared for that, so this review might seem as if I didn’t like the book, but I did, I just didn’t love it. The writing is great, and I really believed that Susanna loved Jeremiah with all her heart, just like I believed that Rowan loved Anna the same way – I would even say that Susanna and Jereimah as well as, Anna and Rowan were soulmates – that said, a I felt that a lot of the book focused on the love that the primary characters had for other people, with a depth that seemed to make both of them emotionally unavailable, which made it hard for me to really believe that they fell in love with each other. My heart broke for both of them and I was happy that they both found a way to move on from the past and their crippling grief, but I just didn’t feel the romance between them. I am sure it doesn’t help that I am more of a “soulmate” type romance lover – I know that love after love is possible, and that there are different types of romantic love, but for me, when I am reading a romance, I want that “you are the love of my life, my other half, my soulmate” type of love. So that’s on me, not the author. This is the second book in the series, but I think it could be read as a standalone title with no problem, but if you can, read the books in order.

*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 Wickedness of a Highlander by Elisa Braden

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Wickedness of a Highlander (Midnight in Scotland Book 4)The Wickedness of a Highlander by Elisa Braden

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Midnight in Scotland, #4

Release Date: March 12, 2024

After the death of her vile brother, Sabella Lockhart has done the best she can to clean up the mess he left behind and with the help of her dear friend Sergeant Munro, she was able to take care of most of it, but now the Sergeant has passed and she is once again on her own, she hires the McCabes, an elderly couple to help her transport the Sergeant to Inverness to lay him to rest with his family and then will tackle one last task before starting a new life in London. She confirms with Mr. McCabe that her belongs are loaded on the mail coach and then bids them goodbye as she makes her way to Glenscannadoo to hopefully fulfill her final and most dreaded task, speaking to the MacPhersons about the wrongs done to them by her brother Kenneth. But things go from bad to worse when upon arriving in Glenscannadoo, she gives last two coins to some boys to carry her trunks only to find out that her trunks, with all her possessions, money and jewels are not on the coach, and the boys have disappeared. She then learns that none of the MacPhersons are in Glenscannadoo at the moment, save one – Alexander. And he is the last MacPherson she would want to see, since she has had a strange fascination for him and because of the small fact that she had almost got him killed. But once she realizes that Alexander is the only person in the town who can help her, she gathers her courage and approaches him about employment – just until she makes enough to make her way to London. And really how hard can working as a maid be?

Alexander MacPherson hires Sabella to be his housemaid out of spite – or so he tells himself, but it isn’t long before he admits the truth, he wants her and knows that she is the bride that is meant for him. He knows she plans on leaving and he can’t let that happen. But his attempts at wooing are hilarious and sadly for him, unsuccessful. But when a fight turns to passion, he thinks he has her right where he wants her, wrong again! It isn’t until his father’s lover talks to her, that she agrees to marry him. And for a time it seems like everything is going to work out perfectly, but Alexander has been keeping secrets from his bride, secrets that may cost him her love, especially when her past comes looking for her.

This was a well-written, nicely paced, delightful read that was a bit lighter than the previous books in this series but was by no means a fluffy read. But after reading the previous books and being reminded of what Sabella and Alexander had endured, I was glad this book was not as dark and dire as the others, these characters have paid their dues and then some, they deserved their happy ending, even if the road to it was not smooth and easy. I adored Alexander and Sabella together, they are perfect for each other and have a connection that is undeniable and leads to some very steamy love scenes. But this book is more than giggles and steam, there is the aftermath of violence, some triggers, secrets, lies, great secondary characters, a villain getting his comeuppance, forgiveness, soulmate love and a lovely happily ever after, complete with an epilogue. I did feel like the book wrapped a bit too quickly, but overall, I loved this story and am happy to recommend it. This is the fourth book in the series, and while it could be read as a standalone title, I strongly recommend reading the books in order for the best reader experience.

*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.*