Category: Scottish/Highlander

Wicked Highland Ways by Mary Wine

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

Wicked Highland Ways (Highland Weddings, #6)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Weddings #6 – series end
Publication Date: 5/28/19
Number of Pages: 384

This was an excellent read, but as the end-of-series, it left something to be desired. That is one reason I didn’t give it a full five-stars – the other reason is that I got a little tired of the unyielding Brenda. I understood the trauma she’d been through, but she had some excellent examples of good men – like her cousin – to mitigate some of her distrust of men. Also, she never appreciated the fact that Bothan traveled all the way to England to save her – there was never a ‘thank you for saving me from a life of torture and degradation’. IMHO, she could have given in a bit earlier and moved things along so that there could be a nice epilogue that would include the other couples in the series. Maybe they could have been involved in the solution at the end if the author didn’t want to do an epilogue. It just needed something more for it to be the series finale.

Chief Bothan Gunn met and was attracted to Brenda Grant a previous book. He tried to forget her and select a bride from among the many whose fathers had offered them in marriage. A sweet, docile, biddable woman that would give him children, run his home and do as he bid. Nothing like Brenda Grant who is a spitfire. He just couldn’t convince himself to choose any of them.
At the end of the last book, Between a Highlander and a Hard Place, the Scottish king had declared that Brenda had to travel to England to marry Galwell Scrope (don’t you love that name) in order to keep a coveted piece of property within the Campbell clan. Bothan promised Brenda’s cousin that he would rescue Brenda and assure that she didn’t marry the cruel Galwell.

This book opens with Brenda being escorted to England by soldiers of Queen Elizabeth Tudor of England – and Bothan following them and planning how to liberate Brenda. I absolutely loved the way the liberation occurred – and it gave a lot of insight into how shrewd and cunning Bothan is. I really liked Bothan. He is a really good and honorable man and Brenda was very lucky to have him. Too bad she didn’t acknowledge that fact until it was almost too late.

Brenda fights Bothan and her own feelings all the way back to Bothans home – where she is welcomed openly and lovingly by Bothan’s people. When Brenda is ‘stolen’ by Hamell Campbell, who intends to marry her because the Earl of Sutherland said he could, Bothan is off on another rescue mission – and this one may be even tougher than the last.

I didn’t like the Earl of Sutherland at all, but his son was good. The Earl’s decree only forced Bothan to yet again prove what a wiley and clever man he is.

I would definitely recommend this read, but as I said – I’d have appreciated something ‘more’ for a series finale. I adored Bothan and was so happy to see him finally get his HEA. I also liked Brenda, but not as much as Bothan.

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

The Highlander’s Lost Lady by Anna Campbell

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

The Highlander’s Lost Lady (The Lairds Most Likely, #3)The Highlander’s Lost Lady by Anna Campbell

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lairds Most Likely, #3

Release Date: May 6, 2019

The last thing Diarmid Mactavish, Laird of Invertavey, ever expected to find washed up on his beach is the love of his life – but that is exactly what he finds while out riding the night after a wicked storm.

Fiona Grant is on a mission to reclaim her daughter. Orphaned at 15, her father’s clansmen took custody of her and married her to the Laird’s brother – a man 30 years her senior. After 10 years of abuse at the hands of the Grants, Fiona is a shell of the woman she once was, now widowed, she thinks she might finally be free but when she learns of their plans for her daughter Christina, she will move heaven and earth to save her. Fiona escapes and with the help of Colin, a fisherman, she sets out to find Christina. When Fiona wakes, she learns that Colin is dead and she is on the lands of her clans most hated enemy – the Mactavishs – she is weak and in no condition to continue on with her search, she needs time to heal and form a new plan. Convinced the hated Mactavishs will send her back to her clan, Fiona pretends to have amnesia – a ploy that Diarmid clearly doesn’t beleive.

Fiona begins to heal and plans to run, but when her brother in law comes to Invertavey and says the mystery girl is his brother’s wife, Diarmid has no right to keep her and hands her over to them, even though she is clearly terrified. Later his friend convinces him to go after her and when he finds her tied to a bed, he knows that he can’t leave her, even if he has no legal right to her. He rescues her, but he wants answers.

After learning her story, Diarmid vows to help her find her daughter and will do whatever is necessary to reunite her with her child, even endure a loveless, chaste marriage. So with the help of Fergus, Marina and Hamish, Diarmid forms a plan – but will Fiona agree? After 9 years as a wife, she has no desire to marry again and submit herself to a man, even one as kind and handsome as Diarmid.

This was not your typical, boy saves girl and they fall in love story, it is much deeper than that, both Diarmid and Fiona have valid reasons to avoid love and Fiona has endured years of abuse. She is not broken, but she is deeply bruised and may never be able to be the wife Diarmid deserves, but to save her daughter the same fate she had, she will marry him and try to be the best wife she can. These two will have a very long journey to their HEA and it kept this reader reading long into the night, unable to put the book down until I knew how it would end. The book is well written, but it was a little repetitive in the beginning as we learn why Diarmid doesn’t trust love and why Fiona doesn’t beleive in it, but once her identity is revealed, the story takes off and doesn’t stop until the final page. There are cameos with Fergus, Marina and Hamish, steamy-ish love scenes, a lot of emotion, some chilling, nail-biting moments, evil villains and an unexpected ending. This is the third book in the Lairds Most Likely series, but it could be read as a stand alone title with no problem – but, I will give you fair warning, once you meet Fergus and Marina in this book, you are going to want to read their story!!! I am happy to recommend this book and can’t wait for the next one!!