Category: Scottish/Highlander

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 Beast by Heather McCollum

On By TracyIn Elizabethan Era (1558-1603), Medieval (1066-1540), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Tudor Era (1485-1603)Leave a comment

Highland Beast (Sons of Sinclair, #4)Highland Beast by Heather McCollum

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Sinclair, #4

Release Date: April 25, 2023

Bàs Sinclair is the youngest of the George Sinclair, Chief of the Sinclair’s children, his birth resulted in the death of the chief’s beloved wife and killed whatever compassion his father once had. Filled with rage at her death, George seems to forget he has a daughter and focuses on his four sons, claiming them to be the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and at the tender age of five, naming Bàs, whose name literally means Death, as the Horseman of Death – the executioner of the clan, tell him that his mother was his first execution. Bàs fulfills his role, but it eats at him and robs him of peace and companionship, as no one aside from his family wants anything to do with him. But that changes when he rescues a woman and a baby in the forest near his home.

Shana Drummond is on the run, trying to save her sister and newborn nephew from certain death. Shana is a widow who became a midwife after the loss of her own son, when her sister Ivy requests her presence for the birth of her child, Shana learns the truth about Ivy’s marriage and her pregnancy. Convinced her husband, Erskine Oliphant, the chief of the Oliphant clan means to kill her and her son Edward, she begs Shana to save Edward by taking him from the castle and letting Erskine think he died. Shana agrees but plans to return as soon as she finds someone to protect Edward. What she didn’t plan for is wolves or a handsome Highlander with his own pet wolf. She stays with him, and even shares a kiss with him, but doesn’t tell him she plans to leave, and she hopes he can forgive her, as she wants to return to him, intrigued by this gentle and tender-hearted warrior. But she doesn’t know who he is and won’t find out until they meet again at her execution and she learns that he is the “Horseman of Death”. That knowledge changes everything she hoped for, because how can a midwife who is a bringer of life share her life with an executioner and a bringer of death? And with threats of witchcraft and treason being thrown around, is Bàs willing to plunge his family into a war for her?

I’m not sure I can adequately convey my feelings about this book, to say that I loved it would be putting it mildly, I never wanted it to end. Bàs and Shana are now one of my favorite romance couples; I loved their connection, their passion, their support of each other, and their willingness to defend each other. This story had me experiencing a complete gamut of emotions; fear, anger, passion, betrayal, remorse, guilt, forgiveness, joy, and finally love. The book is filled with emotion, wonderful characters, intrigue, banter, lots of babies, glimpses of the previous characters’ HEAs, a squirrel named Betty, interesting (and somewhat horrifying) historical facts, steamyish love scenes, and finally a hard-won HEA. This is the fourth book in the series and can be read as a standalone title without a problem, but do yourself a favor and read the series in order. I highly recommend this title and was overjoyed to learn that the author is going to finish the series by giving readers the “Horsemen’s” sister, Hannah’s story!

*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.*

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