Tag: Madeline Martin

The Highlander’s Stolen Bride by Madeline Martin

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

The Highlander's Stolen Bride (Highland Alliances, #3)The Highlander’s Stolen Bride by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Alliances, #3

Release Date: March 29, 2022

After the death of his father, Calum Campbell, the new head of the banished Campbell clan, just wants peace and to return to Scotland. After his father’s antics, he has little hope that Ross, the MacMillan Chieftain will listen to him, but Calum has a plan, he will abduct Ross’ sister Elspeth and hold her hostage until Ross agrees to a meeting.

Elspeth is on her way to meet her soon-to-be betrothed when the Campbells take her. The Campbell chief killed her father and uncle and were banished from Scotland by the king, their lands given to several clans, including hers. But the Campbell is back and wreaking havoc in an attempt to regain their lands. She is sure they are evil, but once they get to Ireland, she realizes that they are starving and Calum is not his father, he wants peace and a chance to save his clan. She agrees to help them and writes to Ross and sets up a meeting.

Things become complicated by the attraction between them, and each wants to be true to their clans. They hope the meeting with Ross will clear the air and peace can be achieved. But things don’t go as planned and when she learns of more Campbell attacks while she was in Ireland, her father in Calum’s innocence waivers – but when her betrothed grabs her, it is Calum who saves her and when he swears he doesn’t know anything about the attacks, she decides to appeal to her other brother for help. But when they come across another “Campbell” attack in progress, they realize the truth and know that things are going to get much worse unless they can convince Ross that Calum is innocent, which is a seemingly impossible task and makes their chances for a HEA even more unlikely.

This is the final book in the collaboration trilogy following the MacMillan siblings and in my opinion, this one is the best of the three. Calum and Elspeth have such great chemistry and of the three couples, they have the most to overcome. The book is filled with action, intrigue, betrayal, steamy love scenes, shocking revelations, big twists, a nail-biting-hanging on the edge of your seat-OMG ending, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. I loved this book and highly recommend it. This is the third book in the series, and while you could read this as a standalone title, I would strongly recommend reading the series in order for the best reader experience.

The Earl’s Hoyden by Madeline Martin

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

The Earl's Hoyden (Wedding a Wallflower, #1)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Wedding a Wallflower #1
Publication Date: 1/18/22
Period: Regency 1816, York and London, England
Number of Pages: 229

While there are myriad book series featuring wallflowers who make a pact with sister wallflowers vowing never to wed, you won’t see the stories delivered any better than this. This author delivers a well-integrated set-up for the series along with a sigh-worthy romance. The writing is outstanding, the characters are quirky, witty, and wonderful, and the romance – well … you just really need to read it.

Miss Hannah Bexley, the only child of Baron Westwich, is beautiful, vivacious, kind, thoughtful, intelligent and any other positive adjectives you’d like to apply to her. The thing is, she doesn’t see herself that way. She sees herself as a hoyden because that is what the ton tells her she is – they say her red hair is garish, her laugh is too loud and free, her exuberance is unladylike, she talks too much, etc. She’s come to honestly believe all of those things about herself because in the three years she’s been ‘out’, she hasn’t had even one suitor. She’s had hope a couple of times, but the men never followed through – and they broke her heart. Now, she is determined never to marry, and will happily move forward toward the pact she made with her friends from Lady Finch’s Finishing School. Hannah and her four very dearest friends, Lady Elizabeth, Amy Honeyfield, Lucy Beauchamp, and Lady Jillian, all signed a pact never to marry. They would live their lives as they wished and wouldn’t be anyone’s property. They’d live on their own country estate that would have a fully stocked kitchen for Amy to bake, an art room for Lady Jillian, a music room for Lucy, a huge library for Lady Elizabeth, and carriages Hannah can drive for herself.

Lucien Lambert, the Earl of Brightstone, is definitely NOT the brightest, shiniest star in the ton. He is bookish, studious, quiet, unfashionable, never knows what to say – and when he does say something, it is the wrong thing. His overbearing mother is constantly at him to marry, but he has no desire to do so. Women find him undesirable. He knows he’ll have to marry – and when he sees this beautiful young woman climbing his gate, breaking the gate, and ending up in the mud with her skirts above her knees – well, he is definitely intrigued. He decides to ask her to help him ‘improve’ himself so he can find a bride. She is the daughter of Baron Westwich, his neighbor, and definitely lacks decorum, but she intrigues him. She doesn’t want to marry though. Mmmmmm – I wonder how that is going to work out.

Misunderstandings and miscommunications abound in this wonderfully written opposites-attract novel. But, of course, love conquers all and we have a sigh-worthy HEA along with a beautifully written epilogue. You absolutely cannot go wrong by reading this novel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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