Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

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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A Problem Princess by Anna Harrington

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly RecommendedLeave a comment

A Problem Princess (Lords of the Armory #6)

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Lords of the Armory #6
Publication Date: 4/11/23
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 355

This was an exciting, breath-holding, fingernail-biting, couldn’t-put-it-down, romantic end to an equally exciting and romantic series. While there is a complete end to Scepter and its leader, it comes at a large cost. It also brings our two wonderful protagonists together to find a very hard-earned HEA. Great writing, a great story, great characters, an exciting plot, and a sigh-worthy romance. With a story as exciting as this one, you need little pockets of heartwarming moments and a tad of wit – and you get all of that. One of my particular favorites was in the epilogue where they received word about the birth of the young princess Alexandrina Victoria to the Prince Regents’ uncle, Edward Augustus, the Duke of Kent. You’ll absolutely love our protagonists who are both exceptional people in their own right, but who each feel the need to be loved by a parent who is no longer there – a parent who, to their knowledge, was not all they should have been.

General Clayton Elliott, Home Office Undersecretary, and soon-to-be Viscount is NOT at all satisfied that the hanging of the Marquess of Hawking (A Remarkable Rogue) was actually the end of Scepter. He has no proof, he just feels it in his bones, and he is usually right about these things. He’s sure the real leader is on the continent – somewhere – but where? He’s also sure the remainder of the organization on English soil is just waiting for a signal from that leader before they rise up to overthrow the monarchy and the English way of life.

Her Serene Highness, Princess Cordelia of Monrovia, has accompanied her Uncle Ernest (Uncle Monrovia) on a state visit to England. Cordelia is quite sure that her reason for being told to accompany her uncle was so she could be paraded before England’s Royal Dukes in order to promote a royal marriage between their two countries. While Cordelia chafes at the restrictions on her, she knows it is her fate and she has no say in the matter. She obediently follows directions, shows no emotions, and offers no opinions – until she is left alone in a room and someone makes an attempt on her life. Thoroughly shaken, she profusely thanks her rescuer – and then has to rescue him! He’s a handsome and intriguing soul – and he rescued her – and . . . did we mention handsome?????

Cordelia can think of no reason why anyone would wish to murder her – but Clayton can. Could it be part of Scepter’s plan? What would it gain though? It would seem if it was Scepter’s plan, they would be attempting to take the lives of cabinet members, the Prince Regent, King George, one of the Royal Dukes – not a princess from a small, insignificant country on the continent.

Clayton does his best to keep Cordelia safe, but with more attempts on her life, he knows it is time for desperate measures – even at the risk of his own life. It may very well cost him his life because everybody from the Crown to the Home Office is blaming him – not to mention the villains are after him as well.

I highly recommend this excellently written story. The attraction between Cordelia and Clayton was intense and immediate – as was the danger – and it was a delight to watch it all play out to its final conclusion. Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end because they shed light on where some of the ideas for the scenarios came from. I love how the author took those real-life events and seamlessly wove them into this exciting work of fiction. Great job!

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