Tag: Anna Campbell

The Highlander’s Christmas Quest by Anna Campbell

On By TracyIn Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Highlander’s Christmas Quest (The Lairds Most Likely, #5)The Highlander’s Christmas Quest by Anna Campbell
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lairds Most Likely, #5

Release Date: November 26, 2019

Dougal Drummond of Bruard has always wanted to be a knight in shining armor on a quest, like the knights of King Arthur’s court, but with peace reigning in his father’s lands, there are no dragons to slay or damsels in distress, so when he hears the tale of Fair Ellen of the Isles, who is being held captive in a tower by her evil father – he knows he has found his quest.

Kirsty Macbain of Askaval is out surveying the damage caused by the fierce storm that swept over the island the previous night when she sees a damaged boat in the harbor, she rides down to greet the stranger, thinking he is crazy to have ventured out alone this time of year, less than a week before Christmas! But when she lays eyes on him, she falls headfirst into love! When he asks where he is, she tells him the Island of Askaval, which is nowhere near the Isle of Innish he was traveling to. She invites him to the house to get cleaned up and fed and he goes willingly, but is clear, he won’t be staying any longer than it takes to repair his boat.

Kirsty offers to help with the repairs and Dougal accepts, he has noticed how attractive she is and he enjoys her company, but he will not be distracted, he has a damsel to rescue! When he tells Kirsty and her father of his quest, they are surprised, they thought the tale of Fair Ellen was a fairy tale and her father is sure she is not on Innish but on Pabbay, while others are sure she is on Scalpay or Canna! Her dad invites him to stay for Christmas, but he is dead-set on leaving as soon as his boat is seaworthy and hopefully set out on the next morning’s tide. He works with Kirsty and they get the boat repaired and he helps gather greenery for the Christmas ceilidh they are having in a few days. Again they ask him to stay and again he refuses.

The next morning Dougal breaks his fast with Kirsty and her father, thanks them for their hospitality and sets off. But when he reaches the quay, he is dismayed to see his boat has taken on water! This will delay him at least a couple of days and he needs to leave – his attraction to Kirsty feels like a betrayal to Ellen and his quest. But with no other options, he stays and lets Kirsty help him with the boat.

And so it goes, he repairs the boat, deepens him admiration for Kirsty and plan to leave, but when an unplanned kiss changes everything and the truth about the damage to his boat st uncovered, tempers flare, words are spoken and hearts are broken. Can their story have a happy ending or will Fair Ellen win the heart of the highlander?

I really enjoyed this story, it was a very sweet love at first sight tale with a bit of steam, wonderful characters, a hero that blushes, a heroine who will do whatever is necessary to win the love of a man set on another and finally a very satisfying ending complete with a fantastic epilogue. I am happy to recommend this story and while this novella is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone title.

The Highlander’s Lost Lady by Anna Campbell

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

The Highlander’s Lost Lady (The Lairds Most Likely, #3)The Highlander’s Lost Lady by Anna Campbell

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lairds Most Likely, #3

Release Date: May 6, 2019

The last thing Diarmid Mactavish, Laird of Invertavey, ever expected to find washed up on his beach is the love of his life – but that is exactly what he finds while out riding the night after a wicked storm.

Fiona Grant is on a mission to reclaim her daughter. Orphaned at 15, her father’s clansmen took custody of her and married her to the Laird’s brother – a man 30 years her senior. After 10 years of abuse at the hands of the Grants, Fiona is a shell of the woman she once was, now widowed, she thinks she might finally be free but when she learns of their plans for her daughter Christina, she will move heaven and earth to save her. Fiona escapes and with the help of Colin, a fisherman, she sets out to find Christina. When Fiona wakes, she learns that Colin is dead and she is on the lands of her clans most hated enemy – the Mactavishs – she is weak and in no condition to continue on with her search, she needs time to heal and form a new plan. Convinced the hated Mactavishs will send her back to her clan, Fiona pretends to have amnesia – a ploy that Diarmid clearly doesn’t beleive.

Fiona begins to heal and plans to run, but when her brother in law comes to Invertavey and says the mystery girl is his brother’s wife, Diarmid has no right to keep her and hands her over to them, even though she is clearly terrified. Later his friend convinces him to go after her and when he finds her tied to a bed, he knows that he can’t leave her, even if he has no legal right to her. He rescues her, but he wants answers.

After learning her story, Diarmid vows to help her find her daughter and will do whatever is necessary to reunite her with her child, even endure a loveless, chaste marriage. So with the help of Fergus, Marina and Hamish, Diarmid forms a plan – but will Fiona agree? After 9 years as a wife, she has no desire to marry again and submit herself to a man, even one as kind and handsome as Diarmid.

This was not your typical, boy saves girl and they fall in love story, it is much deeper than that, both Diarmid and Fiona have valid reasons to avoid love and Fiona has endured years of abuse. She is not broken, but she is deeply bruised and may never be able to be the wife Diarmid deserves, but to save her daughter the same fate she had, she will marry him and try to be the best wife she can. These two will have a very long journey to their HEA and it kept this reader reading long into the night, unable to put the book down until I knew how it would end. The book is well written, but it was a little repetitive in the beginning as we learn why Diarmid doesn’t trust love and why Fiona doesn’t beleive in it, but once her identity is revealed, the story takes off and doesn’t stop until the final page. There are cameos with Fergus, Marina and Hamish, steamy-ish love scenes, a lot of emotion, some chilling, nail-biting moments, evil villains and an unexpected ending. This is the third book in the Lairds Most Likely series, but it could be read as a stand alone title with no problem – but, I will give you fair warning, once you meet Fergus and Marina in this book, you are going to want to read their story!!! I am happy to recommend this book and can’t wait for the next one!!