Tag: Julie Johnstone

Highland Prize by Julie Johnstone

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

Highland Prize (Of Mist and Mountains, #3)Highland Prize by Julie Johnstone

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Of Mist and Mountains, #3

Release Date: August 30, 2022

Isolde Fitzalan’s life has been anything but easy, her mother died when Isolde was young and she was never taught how to use the magical powers she inherited from her, then her uncle was beheaded as a traitor leaving her shamed and shunned, and if that was not enough, her father gave her and her sister Mackenna to Lord Carrick as payment for his back taxes. Lord Carrick wasted no time in dishonoring and discarding her sister before turning his attention to Isolde. When Lord Carrick is called away, she is desperate to escape and find Mackenna, but Lord Carrick’s jealous wife has other plans for her and tricks Thor MacLeod into marrying Isolde. But when Lord Carrick returns unexpectedly and demands the wedding be dissolved, Lady Carrick claims that Isolde is a traitor and has her locked in the dungeons. But when Thor goes down to interrogate her, for the first time in her life able to weld her powers and conjures a dagger and stabs him, then she casts what she thinks is a protection spell, to keep him from her and escapes.

It is months before Thor finds Isolde again and this time there will be no escape. With the help of his disgraced friend Rolland, he captures her and her friend Mari. Vowing that he will return her to Carrick and dissolve their marriage, he makes it clear that he doesn’t trust her or any witch and that he has no more desire to be married to her than she has to be married to him. But the more time they spend together, the more he realizes he was wrong about her and wonders why she is lying and who she is protecting. When her life is in peril, Thor realizes his feeling run deeper than he wants to admit and he regrets promising to return her to Carrick, but if he doesn’t Carrick will bring war to his family’s door, and that he cannot allow. But neither can he let her go to be used by Carrick. By the time he comes to terms with his feelings and finally accepts he loves her and cannot turn her over to Carrick, it may be too late.

What a great story, it is well-written, fast-paced, and very hard to put down. I loved the slow-burning romance between Thor and Isolde, they had such chemistry between them, but they had both been hurt before and had a hard time trusting in love. As a bonus, many readers will recognize Thor’s parents from their love story – When a Laird Loves A Lady. This book is filled with emotion, betrayal, lies, magic, great secondary characters (some who are begging for their own stories!), steamyish love scenes, a bit of heartbreak, familiar faces, and finally a very hard-earned HEA complete with an epilogue. This is the third book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title. I enjoyed this story and happily recommend it!

*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.*

Highland Hope by Julie Johnstone

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

Highland Hope (Of Mist and Mountains, #1)Highland Hope by Julie Johnstone

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Of Mist and Mountains, #1

Release Date: September 28, 2021

Desperate to escape her abusive husband, Eve Sotherby steals proof of her husband’s treachery against the crown and convinces her guard to let her visit the village to speak to the seer who has arrived with the “Summer Walkers”. Once in town, she comes across a posting for a governess at Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye and when her husband’s men come looking for her, the seer helps her get away by calling her Abigail and directing her to Father Murdoch, the priest who posted the job. She embraces her new identity of Abigail and flees England, praying she never sets eyes on her husband Frederick again and that she will find peace on Skye.

Widower, Laird Royce MacLeod has his hands full with clan matters, cleaning up the mess from his sister’s many broken betrothals and twin daughters that are out of control. He took over the lairdship from his father years ago when his parents left Dunvegan to go to Court and advise the King, and it is a job that he takes very seriously, so seriously he fears that he neglected his late wife and is sure that is the reason she cheated on him and ultimately died. His pain from her betrayal and death was enough to have him swear off remarrying, a vow he has had no problem keeping until he meets Abigail. An attraction she shares, but they each have their reasons for trying to ignore it.

Abigail tries to settle into life at Dunvegan, but it is soon clear that Royce’s 11-year-old daughters Lenora and Lillith, do not want her there and start a campaign to make her leave, which causes Royce to have to intervene and bringing them into repeated contact with each other. Making them want more than either can give, but fate has a plan for these two and while the road to their HEA is filled with bumps and potholes, the final destination promises a love like no other.

This was a well-written novel with a lot going on and ties to the book: When a Laird Loves A Lady, which features Royce’s parents, Iain and Marion! As I mentioned, this book has a lot going and is filled with secrets, lies, action, mischievous (bordering on bratty) twin girls, a jealous ex-lover, spurned grooms, matchmaking siblings who are both suffering from their own broken hearts, a truly evil villain, wolf attacks, a bit of magic, very subdued love scenes (that thankfully avoiding any adultery) and more than one life or death moment before ending in a very lovely HEA. This is the first book in the series, which appears to be a spinoff of the “Highlander Vows- Entangled Hearts” series. I did enjoy the book, but I did feel like it dragged in the middle and was a bit over the top in some parts. Overall, it was an entertaining read, and would happily recommend this 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.*