Top Pick – Highly Recommended – Page 82 – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

The Making of a Highlander by Elisa Braden

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Midnight in Scotland #1

Release Date: April 14, 2020

“Mad” Annie Tulloch has lost someone precious to her and believes the only way to get them back is to marry a lord. She was raised by her highlander step-father Angus MacPherson and his four brawny sons – they love Annie, but the self-proclaimed Scottish hoyden knows she will need help if she wants to learn to be a lady.

John Huxley inherited a castle and land from his business partner and wants to sell it – but water rights are in question and his neighbor Angus MacPherson will not cooperate. Angus wants the land and John promised his friend he wouldn’t sell to Angus. Instead they make a wager – Angus will sign off on the rights if John can beat the MacPhersons at an event at the Highland Games. A feat that seems impossible until a Scottish hoyden offers to train him in exchange for “Lady Lessons”.

John is at first wary – Annie would not be the first woman of his acquaintance that wants to marry a lord and as he has been the victim of more than one scheming female he is not sure he can trust her. But since she is not aware he has a title, she assures him that she wouldn’t consider him for marriage and they strike a deal. But soon this unlikely pair develop a deep bond and John proves himself to be a hero time and again, leaving Annie to wonder if his love is worth giving up her quest.

I loved this story, it has the perfect balance of humor, emotion and drama. I loved John and Annie, they are wonderful characters, both strong and shaped by their past experiences – neither was looking for love, but it is clear that they are meant to be and they will each have to overcome something to be together. And when they do come together, it is truly magical. This book has it all, secrets, vendettas, heartache, laugh out loud moments, a heroine who can manage a houseful of highlanders, a hero who will make you wish you were Annie, steamyish love scenes, great secondary characters, cameos from the Huxley sisters (Rescued from Ruin series) and their spouses, a bit of paranormal action and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. I really enjoyed this story and happily recommend this book. It is the first in a new series, but if you read the Rescued from Ruin series, John will not be a stranger to you and you will get the added bonus of a Huxley reunion in the epilogue!

How to Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Embraced by Magic, #1 * (This is a new series with a new publisher – but it is a continuation of a previous series call The Embraced by a different publisher.)

Release Date: February 25, 2020

Fans of Kerrelyn Sparks original “Embraced” series will be delighted to learn that this new series takes us back to Aerthlan and picks up where that one left off!

Sorcha has sworn off love, she is determined to escape the fate the telling stones predicted and not fall in love, especially not with an elf! She is in Norvshka with her brother King Silas and his new bride Gwennore, when Gwen gets a letter from her mother Princess Jenetta of the Elven country of Woodwyn, requesting to meet her. Sorcha insists on going with her and soon it is clear that the letter was a ruse and they are ambushed. Gwen and Silas escape, but when the dragon shifter Aleksi is injured, he and Sorcha are captured by the Elves.

An outlaw elf known as the Woodsman witnesses the battle and helps them escape, he too is “embraced” and has the power to manipulate wood and can communicate with the trees. He is immediately attracted to Sorcha, but he has a mission to complete and has no time to pursue a romance. He tells her he will get help for Aleksi’s injuries and return her to her family. She is wary of him, but with no options, she agrees to accept his help. She is attracted to him, but as he doesn’t fit the description of the man the stone foretold, she doesn’t believe he is “the one” – but she wishes he was! She is upset when she learns he is an outlaw, but soon realizes he is actually protecting the people of Woodwyn, acting as a sort of Robin Hood. The more time she spends with him, the more she wants him, but he is not her destiny…or is he?

This was a well written, fast paced story with lots of humor, some action, a little magic, new and old villains, secrets, surprising revelations, some steamy love scenes, shifters, elves, dragons, cameos with her adopted sisters, some heartbreak and finally a well-earned HEA complete with an epilogue that sets up Maeve’s story. I really enjoyed this book – it was a fun read that pulls you into the fictional world of Aerthlan and the Embraced. I had so much fun reading this book that I didn’t want the story to end and when I got to the last page it left me anxiously awaiting the next book!

If you like historical paranormal romance (but be warned – the dialogue is decidedly modern) – you must read this series. This is the first book in the Embraced by Magic series published by Kensington Books, but it is not the first book Kerrelyn has written about the sisters – You could read this book as a stand-alone novel, but I suggest looking into this authors backlist.

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

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