PLAID TIDINGS (Spirits of the Highlands #1) by Mia Marlowe

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1, 2013

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Christmas in the Highlands…

Not any dashing English lord’s idea of a good time. But now that Lord Alexander Mallory has won a Scottish estate in a hand of cards, he is the unlikely laird of the wild, snowy Bonniebroch. Worse yet, the ancient pile of stones comes with a betrothal. To a fiery red-headed virgin. And a curse.

Alex will have his hands full honoring the first, seducing the second and breaking the third…all by Twelfth Night.

REVIEW: PLAID TIDINGS is the second instalment in Mia Marlowe’s new historical paranormal romance Spirit of the Highlands series. There is a prequel novella storyline- Plaid to the Bone (released August 2013)- that introduces the premise behind the series. There is a curse that has been placed on the Scottish castle of Bonniebroch and all of its’ inhabitants and the story continues in Plaid Tidings. This is Lucinda and Alexander Mallory’s (the new Laird of Bonniebroch) story and one that will find Alexander caught between his duties to England and his new Scottish wife.

The story follows Alexander Mallory who ‘won’ Bonniebroch Estate in a game of chance. Along with his new found title of Lord, Alexander will discover that the title comes with a promise of a Christmas marriage to Lucinda MacOwen and a heavily guarded secret that surrounds the history and lore of his new land.

The reader is pulled into a relationship brought about under dubious circumstances. Alexander wants nothing to do with an arranged marriage and Lucinda must place her trust in a man who wishes he were anywhere but with her. Alexander is on a mission-on the hunt for the mysterious Radicals-who aim to take down the British Monarch-and a marriage of inconvenience will place him in the direct path of a three hundred year old curse that will affect everyone including his family and friends.

The relationship between Alexander and Lucinda is sensual and loving. Lucinda knows that Alexander was never her intended husband, but she is willing to accept her fate for her family. Alexander is immediately attracted to Lucinda but knows his life on the road is dangerous and distracting.

Mia Marlowe combines the regency era of the Scottish Highlands with a little bit of the paranormal. There are ghostly apparitions and hauntingly sorrowful spirits whose only sin is to be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. But our hero will discover that perhaps his luck at winning the games of chance, was not luck at all but part of a bigger plan for Bonniebroch Estates.

Plaid Tidings captures the spirit of the Christmas Holidays-tied up with a tartan bow -that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Mia Marlowe weaves a romantic and engaging story about the struggle to escape a centuries old curse brought about by misplaced magic and revenge.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Sandy

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PLAID TO THE BONE (Spirit of the Highlands .5) by Mia Marlowe

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 27, 2013

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Adam Cameron, laird of Bonniebroch, didn’t expect his bride to turn up at his castle so soon after their arranged marriage was settled. But the daughter of his former enemy is comely beyond the common, so he’s counting his blessings. Unfortunately, Adam doesn’t know the lovely Cait Grant has sworn to kill her new husband with a blood oath that will set a terrible curse in motion if she fails.

But Cait never counted on falling in love with the man her father had taught her to hate

REVIEW: PLAID TO THE BONE is the introductory prequel novella in Mia Marlowe’s paranormal Highlander historical series. As with many introductory storylines Mia reveals the source of a three hundred year old curse that will follow each laird of Bonniebroch until one is capable of breaking the spell.

Plaid to the Bone follows Cait Grant as she is betrothed and promised in marriage to the current laird of Bonniebroch Adam Cameron but with it comes a price. Adam is her father’s sworn enemy and Cait has been commanded to take Adam’s life within the first few weeks of her marriage. But Cait never expected to fall in love with the laird and when the truth is finally revealed about the her father’s hatred, no one in the castle will be free from the aftermath except Adam and Cait.

The reader is pulled into the background story that sets up the series and about what happens when magic goes awry. We are introduced to several colorful secondary characters who will all have a role in the upcoming sequel.

If you like your Highlander romance stories with a little bit of supernatural magic, Plaid to the Bone and the Spirit of the Highlands series by Mia Marlowe is the perfect read-a little humor, a little romance, a little sex and a little mystery all rolled into a tale of the Scottish Highlands.

Reviewed by Sandy