Tag: #HighlandBrides

Highland Wolf by Lynsay Sands

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Highland WolfHighland Wolf by Lynsay Sands

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Brides, #10

Release Date: January 25, 2022

The book opens with Claray MacFarlane being dragged to the chapel to marry. She was visiting her cousin when her uncle proceeded to force her to marry her father’s neighbor Laird MacNaughton, in a plan to obtain her father’s estate. But thankfully she is saved from that fate when she is rescued by the warrior known as the Wolf – Conall MacDonald. He tells her he has been sent by her father to bring her home. And they set out immediately to avoid a confrontation with the MacNaughton. What Claray doesn’t know is Conall is actually Bryson MacDonald – her betrothed, whom she has been led to believe died 22 years ago. Something that is a bit a tender subject, since her father has refused to consider any other suitors for her.

When his entire family and most of his clan were murdered, he escaped and made his way to his uncle Ross MacKay who changed his name and sent him to be raised by the Sinclairs. For years he has been working as a mercenary, intending to return to his family home Deagh Fhortan. Only a handful of people know he didn’t die with his family, Claray’s father among them. For years he has been asking Conall to marry Claray, and for years Conall has put him off. But now that she is in danger, he knows the time has come. During their travels back to her father’s house, he has come to know her and is very attracted to her, which is evidenced by the heated kisses they share. But he also admires her and is amused by her and her proclivity to find wounded/abandoned animals.

They reach her father’s home and they are met by the MacKay and two of her Buchanan cousins. They marry and set off to reclaim Deagh Fhortan. They arrive and have their work cut out for them, but things are going well between them and it seems like they will have their HEA. But it is soon clear that someone is still trying to kill them – but is it the MacNaughton or the person who killed Conall’s family?

This was a fun addition to the series and the book was classic Lynsay Sands. The book is chock full of humor, steamy love scenes, wonderful characters, more than one deranged lunatic, a great supporting cast, several rescued animals, a couple of surprising twists, and finally a well-deserved HEA. I will admit that book did have a bit of a “Disney Princess” feel to it, but with steamy love scenes instead of bursts of spontaneous song. But it was fun and I enjoyed it. It is the tenth book in the series, but this book is very loosely connected and can easily be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Hunting for a Highlander (Highland Brides, #8)Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Brides, #8

Release Date; January 28, 2020

Dwyn Innes was invited to Buchanan Castle to meet the remaining unwed Buchanan brothers and possibly make a match. She meets Geordie Buchanan by accident when she climbs a tree to escape the taunts of the other “Brides”. Dwyn is no beauty, but she knows she is not ugly and her bosom certainly entices men, however, she knows she can’t compare to the other lovely ladies at the castle, so she is surprised when the handsome man joins her in the tree and even more surprised when he steals a kiss.

Geordie was not aware of Jetta’s plan to find brides for himself, Alick & Rory and he tells his eldest brother Aulay that he is not ready to marry. But the more time he spends with Dwyn, the more he likes her and begins to think that marriage to the buxom beauty might be exactly what he needs.
As they spend more time together and grow closer, a series of “accidents” befall Dwyn, first her feet are cut, which results in Geordie carrying her around, he decides that he must marry her, but while he is meeting with her father she is poisoned, thankfully the poison was not meant to kill her, but she is violently ill, but that doesn’t keep Geordie from her side and makes him more determined than ever to wed her. They handfast and share an amazing night together, they both know they have deeper feelings and it seems like HEA is a given, but when a trip to Geordie’s favorite spot turns deadly, “until death do us part” seems a lot closer than it did just a day ago!!

This was a well written, fast paced, fun story with a lot of steamy love scenes, laugh out loud moments, quite a bit of tongue in cheek humor and a lot of focus on the heroine’s ample bosom  – it was just an amusing, easy read that didn’t devolve into outright silliness, but at the same time was not weighted down by too much drama. I loved Geordie and Dwyn as a couple, they are so well suited for each other, Dwyn is no wilting flower, she is smart, brave and adventurous – exactly the type of woman Geordie never knew he always wanted! I felt that their relationship progressed at a believable pace and they are complemented by a wonderful cast of secondary characters. Additionally, the story features a very well-executed “who dunnit” as well as a pretty nasty villain whose punishment certainly fits the crime. On the downside, there is a lot of modern verbiage as well as a ton of title/address errors, but it for the sake of the story, I was willing to ignore these things and just enjoy the story for what it was: a fun, steamy, entertaining read. This is the eighth (yes, the 8th) book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone title and I am very happy to recommend this title.

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