Category: Scottish/Highlander

The Highlander’s Kilted Bride by Vanessa Kelly

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Highlander's Kilted Bride (Clan Kendrick #6)The Highlander’s Kilted Bride by Vanessa Kelly

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Clan Kendrick, #6

Release Date: August 22, 2023

Charlotte Stewart was never a typical girl, at eleven she could out-ride, out-shoot, and out-hunt most boys, she wore a kilt and was called Charlie by most people. She never really cared about being a “proper girl” or thought about boys as anything more than playmates, until she met thirteen-year-old Kade Kendrick. It was a meeting that is forever etched in her memory and the day she fell in love with Kade and the violin. Now years later they meet again and to her complete mortification, he doesn’t even remember who she is. But that is about to change and if she is willing to risk her heart and can get rid of the suitor her parents are set on, Charlie’s life will never be the same.

Kade Kendrick was a sickly child and found solace in music, as he grew stronger, he outgrew his childhood ailments and became a world-renowned musician. But eventually, the shine wore off his fame and he dabbled in spying for the crown, but that did not work out and almost cost him his life. So he is back home to recuperate and finds himself roped into attending a wedding, where apparently his sister-in-law Ainsely has promised he will perform! He is intrigued by Charlie from the start and can’t believe he didn’t remember their first meeting right away. But when a family heirloom goes missing, he will have his chance to renew his friendship with her and maybe even convince her that when a Kendrick finds his true love, it is forever.

This was a fun read with a mystery woven into the romance. Kade and Charlie are very well-matched and have a wonderful chemistry. Charlie did suffer from a bit of insecurity and Kade seemed to fall in love a bit too fast, but I did love them together and enjoyed their banter. The story has a lot of secondary characters, a decent mystery, unwanted suitors, Angus being Angus, curses, accidents, phantom fiddlers, stolen heirlooms, stolen kisses, insecurities, and finally a HEA including an epilogue. I enjoyed this story and thought it was a nice ending to the series, but I was hoping for a glimpse into everyone’s HEAs in the epilogue and didn’t really get that, but overall this was a very good read and I would happily recommend it. I think it could be read as a standalone title, but I would suggest reading the series 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.*

The Highlander’s Secret Avenger by Heather McCollum

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tudor Era (1485-1603)Leave a comment

The Highlander's Secret Avenger (Brothers of Wolf Isle #4)

Barbara’s rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Brothers of Wolf Isle #4
Publication Date: 8/21/23
Period: Tudor – 1548 Highlands of Scotland
Number of Pages: 237

Be still my heart! Those five Macquarie brothers are all large, handsome, brawny, intelligent, honorable, and determined to break the curse on their clan while reclaiming their home – Wolf Isle. The outward manifestation of the curse – an ancient willow tree – is showing more and more signs of life as each brother finds his true love. Will Drostan find his HEA or will he seal the fate of the Macquarie clan? You’ll just have to read this exciting, well-paced, excellently written story to see!

Amelia MacLeod has been sorely mistreated by her family – especially her two brothers. Since her mother died, Amelia has no protection at all and is being offered up as the prize to win an alliance with the powerful MacLean clan. Well, she’ll have none of that – she’ll prove how valuable she is to her clan by single-handedly defeating her clan’s biggest enemy, the Macquarie brothers. She knows the curse – and she knows how to use it. She just has to seduce one of the Macquarie brothers. Then – one of them rescues her and perhaps they aren’t the monsters she’d been told they were. OOPS!

Drostan Macquarie has always known he would be the one to bring his family down – the one who would allow the curse to come to fruition. Knowing this, he took measures to circumvent it, but – can the curse be circumvented by trickery? He may find out because the young woman he just rescued is definitely tempting. Sparks fly when he sees her – he cannot stop himself. Uh Oh!

What will happen when Drostan finds out about Amelia’s betrayal? Can he stand by and let her go? Then, there is the dastardly Jandeau who seems to have more lives than a cat – what will he do?

This was a lovely, fast-paced, exciting read and whets the appetite for the next, and final, book in the series. Yes, Eagan is the last man standing, and, to completely break the curse, he must find his true love. I wonder which lady will snare him.

I can definitely recommend this book; however, I would recommend reading the entire series in the order they were released to get the full enjoyment and understanding of the curse and Jandeau who is the overarching villain of the series. Happy reading!

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

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