Category: Scottish/Highlander

A Healer for the Highlander by Terri Brisbin

On By TracyIn Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

A Healer for the Highlander (A Highland Feuding #5)A Healer for the Highlander by Terri Brisbin

Series: A Highland Feuding,#5

Release Date: November 1, 2018

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars rounded up

At the tender age of 16, Anna MacKenzie meets and falls in love with Malcolm Cameron, heir to the chieftain of the Cameron clan. They meet in secret and promises are made. When Anna’s mother, the healer known as the Witch of Caig Falls learns of their relationship and realizes Anna is pregnant, moves them away to her family. Anna has a son and learns that Malcolm was killed, she vows to herself that his son will one day return to Cameron lands and claim his rightful place.

Thirteen years later, Anna is back with her son Iain, her mother has passed and Anna is an accomplished healer. She returns to the cottage she once shared with her mother. She is still working out her plan to integrate into the clan when she meets Davidh Cameron. Davidh is the commander of the Cameron warriors and a widower with a young son and was Malcolm’s closest friend. His son is the reason he seeks out Anna, Colm is ill and possibly dying. He asks Anna to see if she can help him.

Anna keeps Iain a secret, she needs to gain permission from the chieftain to stay and doesn’t want to introduce him until she is sure she can implement her plans for him. She treats Colm and Davidh gets her an audience with Robert Cameron, Malcolm’s uncle and the new chieftain. The clan has had some hard times since the death of Malcolm’s father and Robert seems to be a good leader who cares for the clan. Anna feels a little guilt for deceiving everyone, but truly believes her son is the rightful heir to the clan.

She cares for Colm and he seems to improve. When Colm is almost killed and saved by Anna and Iain, Davidh learns about her son. Davidh is attracted to Anna in a way that he hasn’t been to any woman since he married his wife. He isn’t sure what he wants from her, but he knows he doesn’t want to lose her. He invites Anna and Iain to live in his house – so she can be closer to Colm and so Iain (who Davidh recognizes as a Cameron) can get to know his kin. Anna agrees and still plans to have Iain declared the rightful heir. But things begin to change between Anna and Davidh and the secrets she has kept could destroy the love that they have found.

I thought this was a good story, it was interesting and well paced. There is a little action, a lot of secrets, jealousy, betrayal and some steamy-ish love scenes. This is the fifth book in the series, but I had no problem following the story as a stand alone title. I would be happy to recommend the book and will hopefully have time to go back and read the previous books.

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

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Seduced by a Scot by Julia London

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

Seduced by a Scot (Highland Grooms, #6)Seduced by a Scot by Julia London
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Grooms, #6

Release Date: October 30, 2018

When Calum Garbett’s ward, the lovely Miss Maura Danby is embroiled in a scandal that may cost him a lucrative business deal, the Duke of Montrose recommends that he summon Nichol Bain.

If you have been following the series, you will remember Nichol as the secretary of the Duke of Montrose – the man who tried his darnedest to keep Hamlin and Catriona apart. Nichol is a “fixer”, he has an uncanny knack for finding solutions to the toughest problems and Garbett’s problem seems like a walk in the park. He will help Garbett’s daughter Sorcha and her fiancé reconcile and then he will marry Miss Danby off to a former client, collect his fee and be off to Wales.

Maura is done being the demure, complacent young lady she promised her father she would be. The Garbetts took her in as a girl and made her life hell. She has borne it for years, staying out of the way and never complaining – but when Sorcha’s would be husband kisses her and then proclaims her a temptress, she is cast out of the house and her only true possession is stolen from her. She will not blindly follow Nichol to a marriage – she will get her necklace back and then she will figure out the rest of her life – she doesn’t need a too good looking, too smart man meddling in her affairs! She escapes from Nichol and heads back to the Garbett’s, she is bound and determined to get her necklace and perhaps a pound of flesh. Nichol catches up with her and convinces her to let him fix this – he is more enamored with her than he should be, but knows that nothing can come of it – he has no home to offer her, he will marry her off to Dunnan Cockburn and try to forget her.

They reclaim her necklace and set off to meet Dunnan – Maura knows she is falling for him, but has promised to go along with his plans for her. They sidetrack to his family estate and Nichol is dealt a blow he never expected. Maura understands Nichol’s pain, she too has been betrayed by those who should have loved her. She comforts him and their relationship takes a turn. She knows she cannot marry Dunnan, but Nichol is adamant, he has NOTHING to offer her and she deserves a good life.

They arrive at Dunnan’s and things go from bad to worse. By the time Nichol comes to his senses and realizes that he needs Maura, it may be too late for a HEA.

This was a well written, well paced book with two very wounded souls, the story is in turns emotional and amusing, Maura is a force to be reckoned with and Nichol is much more approachable in this book than he was in the previous story, once you learn about his past, his action and manner make a lot more sense. The book is a bit steamier than the others I have read by Ms. London (THAT IS NOT A COMPLAINT!) and the story a bit more complex and maybe a bit overly dramatic. There is some question in my mind as to the resolution with Nichol’s family and the same title error from the last book reappears in this one, but overall it was a good read and I would be happy to recommend it.

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