Category: Scottish/Highlander

Highland Hope by Julie Johnstone

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Highland Hope (Of Mist and Mountains, #1)Highland Hope by Julie Johnstone

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Of Mist and Mountains, #1

Release Date: September 28, 2021

Desperate to escape her abusive husband, Eve Sotherby steals proof of her husband’s treachery against the crown and convinces her guard to let her visit the village to speak to the seer who has arrived with the “Summer Walkers”. Once in town, she comes across a posting for a governess at Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye and when her husband’s men come looking for her, the seer helps her get away by calling her Abigail and directing her to Father Murdoch, the priest who posted the job. She embraces her new identity of Abigail and flees England, praying she never sets eyes on her husband Frederick again and that she will find peace on Skye.

Widower, Laird Royce MacLeod has his hands full with clan matters, cleaning up the mess from his sister’s many broken betrothals and twin daughters that are out of control. He took over the lairdship from his father years ago when his parents left Dunvegan to go to Court and advise the King, and it is a job that he takes very seriously, so seriously he fears that he neglected his late wife and is sure that is the reason she cheated on him and ultimately died. His pain from her betrayal and death was enough to have him swear off remarrying, a vow he has had no problem keeping until he meets Abigail. An attraction she shares, but they each have their reasons for trying to ignore it.

Abigail tries to settle into life at Dunvegan, but it is soon clear that Royce’s 11-year-old daughters Lenora and Lillith, do not want her there and start a campaign to make her leave, which causes Royce to have to intervene and bringing them into repeated contact with each other. Making them want more than either can give, but fate has a plan for these two and while the road to their HEA is filled with bumps and potholes, the final destination promises a love like no other.

This was a well-written novel with a lot going on and ties to the book: When a Laird Loves A Lady, which features Royce’s parents, Iain and Marion! As I mentioned, this book has a lot going and is filled with secrets, lies, action, mischievous (bordering on bratty) twin girls, a jealous ex-lover, spurned grooms, matchmaking siblings who are both suffering from their own broken hearts, a truly evil villain, wolf attacks, a bit of magic, very subdued love scenes (that thankfully avoiding any adultery) and more than one life or death moment before ending in a very lovely HEA. This is the first book in the series, which appears to be a spinoff of the “Highlander Vows- Entangled Hearts” series. I did enjoy the book, but I did feel like it dragged in the middle and was a bit over the top in some parts. Overall, it was an entertaining read, and would happily recommend this title.

*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 Thief by Alyson McLayne

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Highland Thief (The Sons of Gregor MacLeod, #5)Highland Thief by Alyson McLayne

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Gregor MacLeod

Release Date: August 24, 2021

If you have been following the series, you know that Kerr MacAlister has planned to marry Isobel MacKinnon, but plots against his foster brothers, war, and even Isobel herself have kept him from claiming her. But now that her brother Gavin has found his son and has married, Kerr feels it is time and sets out to win Isobel.

Years ago Isobel was infatuated with Kerr, but when he spurned her request for a kiss, she tried to quash those feelings and instead turned her attention to making him pay for his callousness. Isobel is known far and wide as the Beauty of the Highlands, but what she should be known for is her pranks, tricks, and traps that she springs on those who have wronged someone and she believes require punishment. To date, she has not been able to catch Kerr in one of her traps and that only fuels her ire towards him. So when he makes it clear that he wants to marry her, she comes up with a plan to catch him in one of her tricks, and this time she is sure he won’t figure out and she will finally have her revenge. She will trick him into thinking that she is eloping with another man and make a fool of him when he comes after her. What could go wrong?

This is a well-written, action-packed story, that picks up shortly after the end of the last book. Kerr has finally decided it is time to claim his bride, but Isobel is not going to make it easy for him. The story doesn’t really take off until after Isobel puts her plan to fool Kerr into play, but once he follows her, the story picks up speed and it is a non-stop adventure until the very end. The book has a little of everything, graphic fight scenes, great secondary characters, cameos from the other “brothers”, a villain who is finally revealed and who is dealt with accordingly, steamy love scenes, surprising revelations, and finally the long awaited HEA of Kerr and Isobel. I liked the book but there were some things that kept me from loving it, for instance, I had a really hard time liking Isobel, she was incredibly immature and I thought her “tricks” were petty, spiteful, and stupid, I don’t understand why Kerr was so crazy for her and seemed to be proud of her ridiculous plots and plans, but to each their own, I suppose. I also felt that while this story did answer the question of who has been attacking the clans, it didn’t feel like it really made sense – why attack all the other clans and fail each time before going after who you ultimately wanted all along – I don’t just don’t get it. I also wonder what happened to Eirik and Siv, they just seemed to disappear. In the end, it was an exciting, action-filled adventure that gives readers some closure and answers long-standing questions and if you have been following the series, I would highly recommend reading this book.

*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.*