Category: Tracy’s Reviews

The Heart of the Highlander by Julie Johnstone

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

The Heart of a HighlanderThe Heart of a Highlander by Julie Johnstone
Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Entangled Hearts #10

Release Date: November 22, 2019

When Ada MacQuerrie’s mother was killed saving a fae from being harmed, the fae sisters, Hortense and Portense give the infant Ada a “gift”, the ability to make a man a king. Her father is upset, such a gift will put her in danger, so the fae add the condition that it won’t work until she is wed and she must wed willingly, this is still not right, but they are out of fairy dust and promise to return to fix it.

Years later, Ada’s father is dead and her step-brother, Brothwell wants Ada to wed a man who will help him put his father, Robert Stewart, the High Steward of Scotland, on the throne and displacing King David. He plans a tournament and tells Ada that she will choose between the two men left standing at the end. And after an escape plan fail, he tells her he will kill her companion Esther and a foundling named Maximilian who she cares deeply for. He locks them up and won’t let them go until she is wed.

William MacLean is summoned to his home by King David, William’s father and brother were both traitors to the king and William has fought for King David to make up for their betrayal. He meets with the king and learns the truth – his father and brother are not traitors, they were both working for the king, his father was killed in battle and his brother was sent on a mission to spy on Brothwell and the king hasn’t heard from him and isn’t sure if he is even alive. The king has learned of Brothwell’s tournament and wants William to win and wed Ada. William doesn’t really believe in the gift, but the king does, when he tells the king he had never planned to marry, the king says once he is wed and Ada has helped him secure his throne, he will give William lands that he can leave her at while he continues to work for the king. William refuses to open his heart to anyone, he has been hurt by his mother and father and won’t willingly open himself up for more hurt. He accepts the mission and knows he is in trouble when he meets Ada and is immediately attracted, it is unlike anything he has ever felt before, but he is sure he can control it.

Ada is also attracted to William, but he confuses her, he seems loyal to Brothwell, but he is also kind and seems to be interested in her for herself, not her gift. That is Ada’s secret desire, to be wanted and loved for herself and not for her gift. She thinks that William can be that man and when the opportunity arises, she chooses him. She is sure she has made the right choice and believes that he supports the king rather than the Steward, and when they make love, she is positive that William cares for her and not just her gift. But afterwards, he is cold and shuts himself off from her. She is hurt and before she can tell him her gift seems to be working, Brothwell comes making demands, she knows that William will be killed if they stay, so she tells Brothwell that William is loyal to the king and tricked them. William is locked up and Ada makes a show of being loyal to Brothwell. But it is all a ruse and she manages to free not only William, but his friend Thomas and her friends Esther and Maximilian. But she has another vision and takes off on her own to save them, Esther then tells William the “conditions” of her gift – that sacrifices have to be made and love has to be true.

William will not give his heart to her, nor will he accept hers, but he does care for her and sets out to rescue her from other suitor who has taken her for his own gain. But without opening his heart, can he save her, his brother and the king?

I thought this was an interesting and unique storyline with likeable characters, a little bit of steam, a dash of adventure and a sweet epilogue, but William’s refusal to open his heart or admit his deeper feelings for Ada did become repetitious and dragged on a bit too long for my liking. Overall this was a good read and I would recommend it, it is the 10th book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

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

The Earl of Scarborough: The Honorable Rogues by Collette Cameron

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

Earl of Scarborough: The Honorable Rogues™ (Wicked Earls' Club Book 21)Earl of Scarborough: The Honorable Rogues™ by Collette Cameron
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Wicked Earls, #21

Release Date: November 26, 2019

Ansley Twistleton, the Earl of Scarborough, is at the Wicked Earls Club pondering his dilemma, his mother wants him to host a Christmastide House Party and he finds the idea completely appalling. Ansley suffers from OCD and the thought of strangers in his home violating his rigid schedule is beyond upsetting, especially since his housekeeper wants to retire. As he is leaving he accepts an invitation to join a few of the men on a trip to Tattersall’s – because besides a housekeeper, he needs a horse! He leaves the club and decides to walk home, but he is held up – he fights his attackers and is saved from being blindsided by a woman yelling out a warning and trying to help him. Together they send the attackers fleeing and Ansley offers to walk the woman home.

Willow Harwood is an American living in London, she desperately wants to return to Connecticut and teach. She moved to England eight years ago when her father died and lived with her grandfather, but when he passed, she didn’t have enough money to return and moved to London hoping to find work. She was on her way to the lodging house when she happens upon Ansley being attacked. She helps him without thought and when she finally gets a look at him, she finds he is gorgeous! He walks her to the boardinghouse and where she is treated rudely by the owner after he leaves because she thinks Willow is Ansley’s lover. The next day she goes to an employment registry and is rejected for a position as a governess because of her American accent. She is leaving when Ansley intervenes and offers her the position of housekeeper. She declines, but he convinces her to take tea with him so they can discuss it, while at the tea shop, her land lady sees them together and tells Willow she is not to come back to the house. With nowhere to go and no income, Willow accepts Ansley’s offer and the outrageous salary.

As she settles into her new role, she comes to admire Ansley more and more, she doesn’t find him odd and accepts his need to adhere to a routine, but as time passes, he begins to relax a little. They are both attracted to the other, so much so that when he tells her his mother is coming to host a house party, she considers leaving early so she doesn’t have to see him choosing a bride. She will stay for the house party, but decides to leave right after it ends. She is finishing last minute details for the party when she hears music and finds Ansley playing – they share a kiss and he asks her to be his, she assumes that means mistress and she is going to leave when his mother finds them and Willow runs out of the room. She tries to leave immediately, but Ansley isn’t the only one who is not willing to let her go…

This was a very sweet story with delightful characters and a rather unique storyline. I loved the slow build in Ansley and Willow’s relationship and her complete acceptance of his nature. The love scenes are warm and appropriate to the story, the secondary characters are charming and the HEA is wonderful. The story is short, but it is well written, paced perfectly and very easy to read. This is part of the Wicked Earl’s Club series, but it can easily be read out of order or as a standalone title.

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