Category: Tracy’s Reviews

A Knight’s Captive by Lana Williams

On By TracyIn Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Knight's Captive (Falling For A Knight Book 3)A Knight’s Captive by Lana Williams

Tracy’s rating: 4/4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Falling for a Knight, #3

Release Date: December 26, 2018

Sir Chanse de Bremont is not happy about the impeding marriage of Lady Arabela Graham to Sir Rory Buchanan. He knows Arabela’s father plans to use the marriage to further discord between England and Scotland by pushing for Rory to be named king – Chanse knows this will enrage King Edward and with Arabela’s father “guiding” Rory, war will be inevitable. But Chanse has a plan to stop the wedding, with the help of Matthew, Laird Graham’s former captain of the guard, they will break into the keep and steal the bride.

Lady Arabela will not marry Rory, he is disgusting, cruel and abusive, so she forms a plan, she will run away and hide. She knows her father wants to put Rory on the throne and she knows the strife it will cause not only with England, but with the clans in Scotland. She can’t let that happen! When Chanse enters her room to take her, she informs him that his help is not needed, but he insists. She only agrees to go at her maid’s urging and is surprised to find Matthew in Chanse’s company.

Arabela is determined to part ways with the handsome knight just as soon as possible, but when reality sets in and she realizes just how unprepared she is to travel alone, she reluctantly agrees to stay with Chanse, but is not happy that he refuses to trust her with his plan. But with her father’s men hot on their heels, she has no choice but to stay with him.

There is a good reason why Chanse refuses to tell Arabela his plan – he doesn’t have one beyond getting her out of the keep and stopping the wedding. He leaves what he hopes is a false trail and decides to head to Berwick and his brother – but with Graham’s men chasing them, he wonders if that is the best idea. When Arabela demands answers, Chanse kisses her, hoping to distract her, but instead finds himself being ensnared!

This was a really good medieval, the history surrounding the story is fascinating and the author’s notes are just as interesting as the story. While I felt like the beginning of the book was a little slow, it picks up about a third of the way in and never stops – there are chases, near death moments, witty banter, wonderful characters, secrets, heated love scenes, twists and turns, really nasty villains, help from surprising sources and finally a HEA with a very sweet epilogue. This is the third book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title. I am sincerely hoping there will be more books in this series – especially for Matthew!!

The Laird’s Christmas Kiss by Anna Campbell

On By TracyIn Christmas, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Yearly FavoritesLeave a comment

The Laird’s Christmas Kiss (The Lairds Most Likely, #2)The Laird’s Christmas Kiss by Anna Campbell
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lairds Most Likely, #2

Release Date: October 27, 2018

In this installment of the Lairds Most Likely Series, rakish Brody Girvan, Laird of Invermackie meets his match in the shy, bookish Elspeth Douglas, sister of his friend Hamish.

Elspeth Douglas is with her family at Achnasheen with Fergus and Marina for the Christmas holidays. Brody is also there, but this year will be different, Elspeth has decided that the handsome laird will never be interested in her and is determined to end her silly girlish infatuation once and for all.

Brody has grown tired of his libertine lifestyle and has come to Achnasheen to spend the holiday with his cousin and his new wife, see them so in love just reiterates his discontent. When he meets Elspeth in the breakfast room, she ignores him – WHAT? Lassies NEVER ignore him, why that intrigues him, he doesn’t know, but he wonders how he missed really seeing her in all the years they have known each other. He flirts with her and invites her to go for a ride, but they are interrupted by her cousin Diarmid before she answers. Later Elspeth has a conversation with Marina that ends with an offer to give Elspeth a makeover. The results are amazing – gone is the little brown mouse, now she is dressed to emphasize her lush figure and her gorgeous hair. Everyone notices, especially Brody.

For days Brody has been consumed with thoughts of Elspeth, he even asked her brother for permission to court her. He is not sure what he feels for her, but it is like nothing he has ever known before and he can’t imagine marrying anyone else. But his reputation will cause problems, with Elspeth and their family and friends. When they are caught in a heated kiss and he proposes, she turns him down flat – even at the risk of being disowned by her mother.

Can Brody prove to Elspeth that his proposal was more than duty? That she is the light of his dark life and without her, nothing seems to matter? Or will her insecurities blind her to his love?

I absolutely loved this novella, it was well written, paced nicely, gave glimpses of Fergus and Marina’s HEA, had witty banter, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters and a sigh worthy declaration. It is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title.