Category: Tracy’s Reviews

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.*

Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Mary Wine

On By TracyIn Elizabethan Era (1558-1603), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews, Tudor Era (1485-1603)3 Comments

Between a Highlander and a Hard Place (Highland Weddings, #5)Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Mary Wine
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Weddings, #5

Release Date: October 30, 2018

Symon Grant needs to marry, he and his cousin Brenda are the last of their line and both childless and widowed. Symon cared for his wife and has mourned her for four long years, but the time to move on has come – he owes his clan an heir.

Athena Trappes is the on the brink of marrying Galwell, the son of Baron Scrope. He has asked for her hand and promises to see to the contracts soon. But when Galwell betrays her, Athena has to flee or see her family destroyed. Her uncle has her dress as a boy and travel with a friend of his to Scotland, he promises to gain support against Galwell so that she might return home.

Athena travels for weeks with Myles and when they stop in a village, she abandons her disguise and joins the May Day revels. She catches the eye of Symon, she is the first woman in years to elicit a response from him and there is no way he is going to let her get away. They share a kiss and she disappears. He looks for her and is more determined than ever to find her. Athena sees him looking for her, but knows nothing can come of it, no matter how attractive he is, or tall, or handsome – no, nothing can come of it. But what she doesn’t know is her impromptu dance didn’t just catch Symon’s attention – it also revealed her true identity to a very unscrupulous man, Will Tinker, who is traveling with Myles. Will takes one look at Athena’s beauty and decides that she will make him rich.

He abducts her and plans to sell her to a brothel – but she outsmarts him and escapes – right into Symon’s waiting arms. Symon learned that Will had nefarious plans for Athena and is going to save her – he isn’t sure if she is the woman he wants to marry, but he knows he can’t leave her to the fate Will has in store for her.

When he finds her outside the brothel, he insists that she go with him – he says it is not safe for her to be alone and promises to notify her uncle. She goes, but has no plans on staying. When they arrive, the clan thinks she is his bride – they both deny it and there are quite a few amusing scenes based on the assumption he will marry Athena.

For their part, they can’t keep their hands off each other and Brenda appoints herself the guardian of Athena’s virtue. They grow closer and Athena decides that she will marry Symon, but before she can let him know, Will Tinker turns up again, with a new plan!

Athena is saved yet again by Symon, but the rescue is not without casualties and their celebration is cut short by the king’s men. They are forced to attend King James and he throws a wrench into their happiness by revealing the truth of Athena’s parentage and threatens to tear them apart.

Another abduction, escape and rescue are thrown into the mix as well as the arrival of Brenda’s annoyingly persistent suitor Bothan Gunn and a decision by the king that sends everyone reeling.

This was a fun story, a bit wordy and repetitive at times, but overall a well written, fast paced, steamy, exciting story with great leads, secondary characters and multiple villains. Ms. Wine does a great job of setting up the next story without detracting from Symon and Athena’s hard earned HEA. This is the 5th book in the Highland Weddings series, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone title.

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