Tag: Scottish Historical

Guest Review: Highland Conquest by Alyson McLayne

Posted August 28, 2018 by Jen in Reviews | 2 Comments

Guest Review: Highland Conquest by Alyson McLayneReviewer: Jen
Highland Conquest (The Sons of Gregor MacLeod, #2) by Alyson McLayne
Series: The Sons of Gregor MacLeod, #2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Format: eARC
Point-of-View: Third Person
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 355
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three-stars

HE WAS LOOKING FOR VENGEANCE

Laird Lachlan MacKay never planned on leading his clan, but when his older brother was murdered, he was left with no choice. His vow to avenge his brother has led him to the MacPherson clan—and their bewitching healer, Amber.

INSTEAD HE FOUND HER

Amber MacPherson is desperate. Dressed as a boy to escape her clan's treacherous leader, she runs right into Lachlan—who orders her detained. At first she causes him nothing but frustration, especially when she blackmails him into helping her clan. But when she's threatened by the same man who murdered his brother, Lachlan will do whatever it takes to keep her safe—and by his side.

The most I can say about Highland Conquest is it was…a Scottish romance. There were a few nice moments, but overall it didn’t leave much of an impression on me.

Amber MacPherson is an interesting character. She was abused (TW: for threats of rape) and held captive, but she managed to escape by sneaking out of the MacPherson keep dressed as a boy. She happens to be escaping just as Lachlan MacKay is doing a sneak attack on the castle, and not knowing quite who or what she is, he captures her. When the truth comes out and the villain escapes, Lachlan takes over the MacPherson clan temporarily, and they both try to figure out how to stop the bad guy.

I liked Amber, at least in theory. She’s a healer and she’s very good at it. I like that she quickly and competently helps Lachlan’s clan, even at first when he’s not sure he can trust her. She knows her herbs and medical treatments, at least what passes for medical treatments at this point in history, and she’s calm under pressure. She’s a bit wishy washy and naive, but largely that was due to the trauma she experienced for most of her life. Lachlan is ok too, I suppose. He’s brawny and tough and Scottish, you know the drill. He has some decent chemistry with Amber, but they move somewhat slowly, partly due to her inexperience and partly due to her past. Things don’t really heat up significantly until fairly late in the book, although it was sweet and sexy.

This isn’t my first book in the series (though you don’t need to read the first one to enjoy this one), and one of the best parts of the series is the interactions between the adopted brothers who were all raised by Gregor MacLeod. We get to see Gregor and the other brothers in this book, and their interactions are excellent. There is some great family banter, but I especially enjoy that the men discuss their feelings and relationships. It’s fun to read.

Otherwise, though, this book didn’t stand out that much for me. The villain is over-the-top and wily past the point of believability. There’s also a bit I didn’t like where Amber and Lachlan are essentially railroaded into marrying. Sure, deep down they DO want to get married, but I wanted them to come to the conclusion themselves rather than getting pushed into it.

Honestly, writing this review I had a hard time coming up with anything I particularly liked or didn’t like about this book. This book scratched my itch for a Scottish romance, but that’s about all I can say.

Grade: 3 out of 5

The Sons of Gregor MacLeod

three-stars

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Guest Review: The Scot’s Bride by Paula Quinn

Posted February 9, 2018 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: The Scot’s Bride by Paula QuinnReviewer: Tracy
The Scot's Bride by Paula Quinn
Series: The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #6
Also in this series: The Taming of Malcolm Grant, A Highlander's Christmas Kiss, Laird of the Black Isle (The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #7)
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: October 31st 2017
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
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three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

AN IRRESISTIBLE SCOUNDREL

Highlander Patrick MacGregor likes his life just the way it is. Fighting for his coin, enjoying a woman's charms, and bearing no responsibility at all. Aye, that's the life for him. That is, until Patrick sees her-a raven-haired beauty with eyes as dark as midnight. Patrick swore never to fall in love. Not even with a lass as wild as he...especially when she's from a rival clan.

AN UNDENIABLE DESIRE

Charlotte Cunningham knows Patrick is trouble the moment she sets eyes on him. Her only goal is to escape the possibility of marriage. Any marriage. But as the summer days turn into sultry nights, enticing her beyond reason, Charlie is forced to choose between the freedom she craves and the reckless rogue she can't forget.

Patrick MacGregor is a man who’s a bit bored with life.  He sees beautiful, available women and can’t seem to find interest in them.  He thinks there might be something wrong with him. Lol  He sees Charlotte, however, and his interest is piqued.  He follows her and ends up being captured by her father and brothers while on their land.  Charlotte secretly warns Patrick to say that he’s not a Ferguson as her family has a feud with them.  Patrick isn’t a Ferguson but he’s related to them through his mother.  He decides to make himself a Campbell as the MacGregor name is proscribed and being a Campbell, the Cunningham’s welcome him in.  Especially as Charlotte’s father sees a marriage between Charlotte and a Campbell a very good thing.

Patrick is more and more enamored with Charlotte aka Charlie every day.  The more he gets to know her the more besotted he becomes.  Unfortunately when he finds out that her brothers killed his cousin he wants nothing more than revenge.  He has to play his cards right, however, and find out exactly what happened to his cousin Kendrick.

Charlie is a woman on a mission.  She wants out of her father’s house, away from his rule and her brother’s high-handedness.  She‘s trying to find a cure/relief  for her sister’s asthma and as soon as she does she’ll leave town.  She had been in love with her neighbor, Kendrick Ferguson, but her father had ordered her brothers to kill him when he was 15-years-old  just to keep him away from Charlie – she had never forgiven any of them.  She still loves Kendrick and had never looked at another man until Patrick showed up.

Charlie knows that Patrick can change her whole life and she’s not sure she wants that.  As much as Charlie tries to stay away from Patrick his love for her soon has her thinking of a very different future for herself.

This was a good Scottish romance.  I liked Patrick and Charlie a great deal and the story was definitely one that kept my interest throughout.

Patrick fell hard and fast for Charlie which was nice (even though he kept denying it to himself).  Charlie took a bit longer to admit her feelings for Patrick since she’d loved no one but Kendrick for so long.  Of course when true decisions needed to be made I was a bit surprised that Charlie chose Patrick.  Quinn almost did too good of a job telling us of Charlie’s love for Kendrick and it made me doubt her fast-growing feelings for Patrick.

The story had a few plot holes in it but overall it was a decent read.  It wasn’t overly exciting but sometimes that’s a good thing.

The MacGregor’s: Highland Heirs


Rating: 3.5 out of 5

three-half-stars

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Guest Review: Campbell’s Redemption by Sharon Cullen

Posted January 23, 2017 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Campbell’s Redemption by Sharon CullenReviewer: Tracy
Campbell's Redemption by Sharon Cullen
Series: Highland Pride series #3
Also in this series: Sutherland's Secret, MacLean's Passion
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date: November 22nd 2016
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four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Like his ancestors, Iain Campbell, the Marquess of Kerr, swears loyalty to whichever government happens to be in power. Privately, however, he despises the British for the slaughter following the Battle of Culloden and finds himself playing a dangerous game of deception. When he defends a fellow Scot under cloak of darkness, Iain is wounded and must put his life in the hands of a mysterious healer. The prickly, bewitching woman saves him with her touch, though she denies Iain the pleasure of a smile from her sensuous lips—which only makes him want her all the more.

Cait Campbell has no fondness for the marquess and his political machinations. Now he makes a treacherous patient, since Cait is harboring Jacobite fugitives in her cellar. But with Iain confined to bed rest, Cait sees another side of the fierce warrior. How can she hate a man whose eyes sparkle in candlelight, a man whose voice stirs her soul? She soon discovers that he loves the Scottish people deeply—and, despite her painful intuitions, Cait is tempted to let Iain love her, too.

Cait is happy with her life.  She’s a healer living on the outskirts of Campbell land.  It’s been four years since her husband died and she’s doing well.  She heals both the Scottish people as well as the redcoats that come to her.  She doesn’t like helping them but she’s a healer so that’s what she does.  She also believes this will create goodwill between her and the soldiers and they’ll leave her alone.  When Iain Campbell brings the commander of his warriors to be healed she’s happy to help but she wants nothing to do with Iain.  Her husband, John, was Iain’s commander when he was alive and died by a bullet intended for Iain.  Cait can’t help but find Iain responsible for John’s death even though logically she knows he’s not.  Part of her solitude is harboring Scottish fugitives from the English.  She’s not willing to give that up for anyone.

Iain has felt guilty for John’s death and though he told John as he was dying that he would take care of Cait he hasn’t.  The guilt was too much for him to be around Cait but once he was back in her house he couldn’t keep himself away.  He has feelings for Cait but she’s not willing to make an affair with him public.  Unfortunately the redcoats Cait thought she was keeping away didn’t stay away and when she’s threatened Iain will stop at nothing to protect her.

Another great story in the Highland Pride series.  Iain Campbell, in previous books helped both MacLean and Sutherland but yet everyone thought he was an English sympathizer when the truth was he was a spy. Because I wasn’t totally sure of his loyalties going into the book I was cautious.  Cullen made me a lover of Iain very quickly as his care for Cait was so honest and real.

Cait was a stubborn woman from beginning to end.  She had lost everyone who she had ever loved and she wasn’t willing to get involved with Iain and take the risk of losing him.  Luckily Iain was persuasive with Cait and was able to make her believe his love for her.  I really loved the two of them together.  Individually they were strong characters but together they were a bit invincible.

There was a bit of intrigue in the story as well and I thought that was well done.  It was woven well into Cait and Iain’s story and made it that much better. The whole of the story was well worth reading and I very much enjoyed it.

Rating: 4 out of 5

four-stars

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Guest Review: Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Posted December 30, 2016 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay SandsReviewer: Tracy
Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 31st 2017
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three-half-stars

Lady Murine Carmichael has known her share of bad luck. But when her debt-ridden half-brother tries to sell her off in exchange for a few Scottish horses, it’s the final straw. If keeping her freedom means escaping through harsh countryside alone, so be it. She has barely begun her journey when she lands an unlikely escort—the brawny Highlander who just refused to buy her virtue.

Dougall Buchanan was disgusted by Lord Danvries’ shameful offer, but Murine herself tempts him beyond measure. Even bedraggled and dusty, the lass glows with beauty and bravery. Dougall wants to do more than just help her flee. He wants to protect her—with his life and his heart—if she’ll only let him. For Murine may be pursued by a powerful foe, but nothing compares to the fiery courage of a Highlander in love.

Murine Carmichael has seen a lot of death in the past few years.  Her brothers and her betrothed were killed then her mother died not long after that.  Her father then was ill and but had died just when she thought he was getting better.  Her half-brother, Montrose, picked her up and told her that he was now her guardian.  While Murine wasn’t thrilled with the idea she dealt with it.  She even managed to deal with it when Montrose gambled away her dower.  When Dougall Buchanan and his brothers show Montrose fine horses and he can’t pay for them he tries to bargain with them.  Dougall’s not interested.  Then Montrose gets desperate and offers his sister as payment – to use until he gets tired of her.  Dougall, his brothers and Murine are all shocked and disgusted at this suggestion.  Obviously Dougall refuses and leaves.

After hearing another suggestion by Montrose about offering her up to one of his neighbors for coin, Murine decides it’s time to get the hell out of dodge.  She knows that traveling alone is extremely dangerous but figures facing death is better than what Montrose has planned for her. She heads off on her pet bull, Henry, to try to reach one of her friends.  Not far from her brother’s house she runs into the Buchanan brothers.  They are nice enough to hide her from his brothers and agree to take her to her friend, their sister, Saidh. Along the road there are many perils and accidents that beset the group and mostly directed at Murine. During the course of the travel Dougall and Murine get close and lust ensues that soon turns to more.  Unfortunately with Montrose trailing the Buchanan’s and Murine will they be able to stay together?

This was a cute story.  I really liked a lot of the book and was pulling for Dougall and Murine throughout.  The camaraderie between the Buchanan brothers was another plus to this book as they were close but still had scuffles like most brothers do.

I really liked Dougall in this book.  He was stubborn and strong-willed but protective and kind as well.  He had morals and was a decent guy whose parents had raised him right.  Murine took a bit of getting used to.  She was kind of oblivious a lot of the time which annoyed me.  She didn’t seem the type to be oblivious so when it happened it was frustrating. Examples…she was running from her brother but when she was traveling and saw people in the woods, she never said anything? She thought she heard someone in the house she was in by herself but never mentions it to Dougall when he comes in right after?  There were so many things that she questioned to herself but never once said anything to Dougall or his brothers.  What the hell?  Why not? She was trying to get away from her brother but she sees random people or hears random things and shrugs it off? Uh, no, don’t believe it for a minute. In most Sands historicals the heroine always ends up doing some crazy things but this just takes the cake. Now, that being said she was strong when she needed to be.  She saved lives when there was a fire as she had saved Saidh’s life in a previous book.  She kept getting hit in the head and kept getting up.  She got shot by an arrow but took it like a trooper.  She was a good person for the most part, really.

Overall it was a good story that I had some issues with.  It certainly won’t stop me from reading more of Sands’ historical novels as their more on the fun/slapstick fun side and I like that about them.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

three-half-stars

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Guest Review: The Rebel of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood

Posted December 14, 2016 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: The Rebel of Clan Kincaid by Lily BlackwoodReviewer: Tracy
The Rebel of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood
Series: Highland Warrior #2
Also in this series: The Beast of Clan Kincaid, The Warrior of Clan Kincaid (Highland Warrior #3)
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: December 6th 2016
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four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD

Since childhood, Magnus has been led to believe he is the Laird Alwyn’s bastard, and raised to hate the Clan Kincaid. But when he learns he is without a doubt the son of the murdered Laird Kincaid, his life as he has always known it is shattered. Now, hiding his knowledge and his fury, he returns to Burnbryde Castle, awaiting the chance to strike against the man whose treachery robbed him of his legacy. His first act of rebellion: to steal a kiss from the redheaded beauty who’s betrothed to the Alwyn’s eldest son and heir.

Since her arrival at Burnbryde, Tara Iverach has been confined to a tower to guard her virtue before she marries. But after a surprise embrace with a lean, bare-chested Highlander who claims to be the Alwyn’s oldest son, she can’t contain her excitement over her good fate. Unfortunately, he is the wrong eldest son, and she is set to marry his cruel and lecherous half brother, Hugh. Can Magnus conquer his rivals and claim his Kincaid destiny before the woman who’s captured his heart becomes his sworn enemy’s bride?

Since childhood, Magnus has been led to believe he is the Laird Alwyn’s bastard, and raised to hate the Clan Kincaid. But when he learns he is without a doubt the son of the murdered Laird Kincaid, his life as he has always known it is shattered. Now, hiding his knowledge and his fury, he returns to Burnbryde Castle, awaiting the chance to strike against the man whose treachery robbed him of his legacy. His first act of rebellion: to steal a kiss from the redheaded beauty who’s betrothed to the Alwyn’s eldest son and heir.

Since her arrival at Burnbryde, Tara Iverach has been confined to a tower to guard her virtue before she marries. But after a surprise embrace with a lean, bare-chested Highlander who claims to be the Alwyn’s oldest son, she can’t contain her excitement over her good fate. Unfortunately, he is the wrong eldest son, and she is set to marry his cruel and lecherous half brother, Hugh. Can Magnus conquer his rivals and claim his Kincaid destiny before the woman who’s captured his heart becomes his sworn enemy’s bride?

Magnus has always believed – because his mother told him – that he was the bastard son of Laird Alwyn.  He’s spent his life trying to be a good warrior and get his father’s attention.  Then he found out that he is actually the son of the slain Laird Kincaid.  The Alwyn was instrumental in getting his parents killed and now he’s working with his Kincaid brother to take down the Alwyn.  Of course he’s doing this all while in the Alwyn home.

Tara has been in a convent since she was 15 years old and her parents died.  Her sister was sent off to court by their guardian and she gets letters from Arabel every once in a while.  One day at the convent her guardian and his two sons show up, tell Tara that Arabel is dead and take Tara away to marry Arabel’s betrothed.  Tara knows that she needs to get away because that’s not what she wants at all.  She ends up at the Alwyn keep however, and meets Magnus.  They are drawn to each other and when she finds out that he’s willing to help her escape she’s hesitant to trust him but does it despite her misgivings.  When she finds out that Magnus may not be as trustworthy as she thought Tara will have to take it upon herself to get away from the Alwyn’s for good.

This was a great addition to the Highland Warrior series.  I really liked book one in the series and this was no different.  Magnus was a great hero and I loved reading about him.  I felt so bad about the way he’d been treated his whole life.  Yes, things started to change for him but it was too little, too late as he’d already found out what a bastard the Alywn was.  He was completely enamored by Tara from the first meeting.  He wanted to do nothing but protect her from the eldest Alwyn son, Hugh, who was a toad.  Magnus was a good person – kind and honorable.  He’s damned sexy too. 🙂

Tara was definitely high-spirited in a really good way.  She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it.  She wasn’t one to sit around and left everyone else decide her fate and I liked that about her.  I thought that it was sad that her sister had died and that she couldn’t figure out what had happened to her.  She had the determination but no one was willing to give her the info she needed.  I did think that she jumped to conclusions with Magnus during the book but I appreciated that the author realizing that herself instead of trying to justify her distrust.

In the end a very good book.  I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book as I’m sure it will give us the story of the third – and still currently missing- brother.

Rating: 4 out of 5

four-stars

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