Category: Tracy’s Reviews

Highland Promise by Alyson McLayne

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

Highland Promise (The Sons of Gregor MacLeod #1)Highland Promise by Alyson McLayne

Series: Sons of Gregor MacLeod, #1

Release Date: October 3, 2017

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very enjoyable read, I hadn’t read anything by this author before, but I really liked her writing style and will definitely be reading the future books in this series!

The book opens with the set up for the series, in which Gregor MacLeod has defeated five other clans and demands that they foster their sons with him. He will raise the boys as brothers and teach them to be honorable warriors. The fathers have varying reactions, but in the end they all agree.

Darach MacKenzie first meets Caitlin MacInnes when he rescues her from his greatest enemy, Laird Fraser. Caitlin has been beaten and is barely coherent when Darach saves her – she is grateful to him, but doesn’t entirely trust him. So she only tells him part of her story – leaving out some very important details. Darach is attracted to Caitlin, but he has been burned by love and is not willing to let this woman into his heart, no matter how lovely or charming she is!

Caitlin is a delightful heroine, she is kind, naïve, innocent and funny, she also is trouble looking for a place to happen – no intentionally, but trouble seems to follow her, especially as she is a trifle impulsive. Even with all the problems she causes, everyone who meets her, likes her and she has a very giving nature and gift with both animals and people.

As Darach comes to know Caitlin better, the more he wants her, but marriage is not something he is willing to consider – or is he? Once he finally decides to marry her, all hell breaks loose and the secrets Caitlin has been hiding may tear them apart.

I really liked this book, it vaguely reminded me of Mary McCall’s book – which coincidentally is also titled “Highland Promise”. It is a moving story with characters that have suffered a lot pain and betrayal, but it is lightened up considerably by Caitlin’s misadventures and charming personality and Darach’s responses to her. The writing is good, the story moves at a good pace, it is amusing, has steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, evil villains, a soulmate type of love and a satisfying ending.

I did feel like the end of the book was rushed a little bit, but it didn’t really take anything away from my overall enjoyment of the story. I would be happy to recommend this title and look forward to reading future books about the rest of the “brothers”.

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

Mistletoe & The Major by Anna Campbell

On By TracyIn Christmas, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

Mistletoe and the MajorMistletoe and the Major by Anna Campbell
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Released: September 20, 2017 (Originally Published in the Anthology “Under the Kissing Bough”)

This was such a delightful novella, it is a reunited love story featuring a husband and wife, that were separated by war – no misunderstandings, no bad feelings between them, just two people who had barely begun a life together before they were torn apart by circumstance and duty.

Edmund, the Earl of Canforth is finally home after years of war and very anxious about reuniting with his bride.

Flick and Edmund were only married for two weeks before he was called away and they were separated from each other in 8 years – can these two find their way back to each other after so much time apart? Can they finally say the words that they kept to themselves all those years ago?

This is a sweet Christmas novella about reunited lovers. It is a well written, steamy, emotional, lovely story that flows beautifully and makes you believe in the power of love!

I really loved this novella and highly recommend it!