Category: Scottish/Highlander

Her Highland Beast by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Novella, Paranormal / Fantasy, Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Her Highland Beast: A Scottish Medieval Romance with a Fairytale TwistHer Highland Beast: A Scottish Medieval Romance with a Fairytale Twist by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Orignally Published in the anthology Romantically Enchanted in 2018

Release Date: October 10, 2020

Duncan Maclean saved a young girl fifteen years ago and ends up cursed. While he was off saving the girl, his mother and her companion were set upon by outlaws and mortally wounded. Duncan arrives back just before they die, his mother’s companion is a witch and she curses Duncan – but softens the curse when his mother begs for mercy. He will live for 15 years, his time marked by the leaves of a rowan tree, if he does not win the heart of a daughter of Morrigan, his life will end when the last leaf falls from the tree. She gives him a rusty spearhead from the spear of Assal and tells him he must put the spearhead under 12 mattresses to test any woman he thinks is a daughter of Morrigan. Duncan becomes obsessed with the tree and never leaves the castle, his time is running out and all hope seems lost. But fate seems to smile upon him when a young woman wanders into his garden.

Evina MacGregor is a mercenary, she has no family and no memory of her time before waking in a monastery – she has an uncanny ability with weapons and is never injured. She stumbles into Duncan’s garden during a storm and is amazed to find the garden an oasis, she touches the rowan tree and is attacked by a huge man. He takes her in the castle and his manservant Gillespie begs him to “test” her, he will take care of everything, including staffing the castle, Duncan is wary, but agrees. They feed her and offer her a bed for the night. Evina is amazed, the room is gorgeous and the bed has 12 mattresses, she is not accustomed to such luxury and even if the servants are a little strange, she looks forward to staying. But when she tries to sleep, she feels incredible pain and in the morning finds she has been cut! She has survived countless battles without so much as a scratch! She decides to leave, but after wandering in the storm, she ends up back at the castle.

She demands answers and Duncan tells her of his curse (without mentioning about the Daughter of Morrigan part) it is then that he learns that Evina is the girl he saved all those years ago. Later back in her room, Evina breaks down, all her hopes and dreams seem to have been lost – in a fit of rage, she pulls all the mattresses from the bed before falling down exhausted. Within moments of falling asleep she is woken by excruciating pain. Duncan finds her, apparently dead, but Gillespie uses magic to save her. She wakes and needs answers – they tell her she is a daughter of Morrigan and show her the spearhead – they will help her learn about her mother. Duncan and Evina spend time together researching Morrigan and something starts to blossom between them. When Duncan learns how she can meet her mother, he is willing to sacrifice himself to make her greatest wish come true. Evina doesn’t know the full truth of Duncan’s curse, so she wants to go to her mother’s realm. She knows that Duncan needs her help to break his curse and promises to return. She enters her mother’s kingdom, but before she can meet her, she realizes that Duncan is dying and she needs to go to him. But if she leaves, she can never return, so she must choose: Duncan or fulfilling her greatest wish!

This was a great story, I am a huge fan of twisted fairytales and this was the perfect blending of Beauty and the Beast and the Princess and the Pea. This story was well written, flows nicely, has steamy love scenes, amusing moments, magic, heartache, a lot of emotion and a lovely ending. I orignally read this novella in the Romantically Enchanted anothogy and loved it! If you are a fairytale fan, a paranormal fan, a mystical/supernatural fan or just a historical romance fan – this wonderful novella shouldn’t be missed!  My fabulous blog partner Barbara also reviewed this novella as part of the anthogoly – check out her review here!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.*

Any Rogue Will do By Bethany Bennett

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

Any Rogue Will Do (Misfits of Mayfair, #1)Any Rogue Will Do by Bethany Bennett

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Misfits of Mayfair, #1

Release Date: October 13, 2020

An accident brings Lady Charlotte “Lottie” Wentworth and the man who humiliated her during her first (and only) London season seven years ago. As much as she despises Ethan Ridley, Viscount Amesbury, she has no choice but to accept his help. They form a fragile truce and she admits that he does seem like he has changed, but not enough to completely forgive him. They part ways and he wishes her well and hopes to see her in town – not likely!

Lottie is only going to town to find a husband – on her own terms. Her father proposed a match and she declined, so she has until the start of the season to find an acceptable husband or she will have to marry the man her father has chosen. Lottie wants no part of love, she just wants to retire to an estate of her own and live her own life – without a husband getting in the way. At one time she had dreams of happily ever after, which included Ethan, but he showed his true colors and she was dubbed the Paper Doll Princess and became the laughingstock of the ton. Her mother whisked her home and they planned to return in a year, but tragedy struck, first her brother died and then her mother. After that her father locked himself away and Lottie took over the estate management. But recently her dad has taken an interest again, thus her need to find a husband. She finally makes it to London and can’t believe that Ethan is staying next door to her aunt!

Ethan has grown up since the last time he saw Lottie, at that time he was new to his title – a title he never expected. He inherited a debt ridden estate and needed a heiress, he thought Lottie fit the bill, but when her dad sent him packing, he got drunk and said the words that sent her running back to the country in tears and sadly that was not his only mistake – he also cost his clansman Connor his leg in a racing accident. As a result, Ethan has striven to become a better man and for the most part has succeeded. But he is still hobbled by guilt and feels the needs to make amends. He has come to town for two reasons, one to find a brewmaster for his brewery business and to visit his friend Cal, Earl of Carlyle. Cal tells him that his presence was requested at a dinner party – for years Ethan has tried to fit in and has never been accepted, so he is surprised at the invitation. But the reason becomes clear when he arrives and sees Lottie – they have been set up. But Lottie is gracious and plays that they are reconciled – he plays along and becomes intrigued.

They spend time together and form a friendship of sorts. When the man her dad wants her to marry tries to force his hand, she turns to Ethan, she proposes they have a faux engagement to get rid of her annoying suitor and he agrees – but he plans to win her this time! Little by little, he chips away at the wall she has around her heart and finally she agrees to marry him – but old doubts, conniving fathers and spurned suitors will not make their path to HEA easy.

I thought this was a well written story and for a debut it was very good. Overall, the story flowed at a good clip, there were some title/formal address errors, some modern verbiage and at times, I found Lottie hard to like and thought Ethan was a bit of a glutton for punishment. But for the most part, I thought it was well researched and entertaining. There is a lot of emotion, some witty dialogue, great secondary characters, drama, misunderstandings, determined and possibly insane suitors, steamyish love scenes, a bit of angst and heartache and finally, HEA. This is the first book in a new series and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this new author.

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