Tag Archives: Scottish

What a Scot Wants by Amalie Howard & Angie Morgan – a Review

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What a Scot Wants by Amalie Howard & Angie Morgan – a Review

 

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Description:
Highlander Ronan Maclaren must marry, but he’s in no particular hurry. He’s perfectly happy as the laird of his clan, running the Maclaren Whisky Distillery, and besides, he just hasn’t found the right woman.

Lady Imogen Kinley has cleverly avoided wedlock for years. Men, she has learned from painful experience, are not to be trusted. Determined to remain independent, she takes an indecent amount of pleasure in making herself as unattractive to potential suitors as possible.

When desperate measures are taken by their parents and a betrothal contract is signed, it’s loathing at first sight. They each vow to make the other cry off—by any means necessary. But what starts out as a battle of wits…quickly dissolves into a battle of wills.

 

 

Review:

What a Scot Wants begins with Ronan Maclaren discovering that his parents had entered into a betrothal contract for him a while back.  He knows he has to marry, but having had his heart broken years before, that’s the last thing on his mind.  He is perfectly happy with his life…for now.

Imogen Kinley, too, has avoided marriage for years and is also happy with the life she leads.  She is a champion for women who find themselves tossed aside (both by others and society) and in need of help.  She vows to never have a man dictate to her what she can and cannot do, which leaves her astounded when she learns that her family had also entered into a betrothal contract, for which she is adamant will never happen.

When Ronan and Imogen discover what they will lose if either breaks the betrothal contract, each devises their own plan to try and force the other to break it.   However, when secrets are revealed and they find themselves truly attracted to each other, Ronan and Imogen try to do everything in their power to keep the other safe as danger comes knocking.

What a Scot Wants is a nicely written story.  Imogen is stubborn and self-sufficient, as is Ronan.  They will both leave you laughing with their schemes trying to run the other off with their wild outfits and other antics.  When you discover why Imogen is such a staunch supporter of the women discarded by society, your heart breaks for her.  Ronan has a bit of a back story as well, but nothing as traumatic as Imogen.  The magic happens when they finally admit their building feelings for each other and lines are drawn in the sand to keep the other safe.  Their chemistry is palpable, but it’s their loyalty to each other draws you in.  If I had one negative thing to say, it would be that their antics drug on for a bit too long.  With that said, What a Scot Wants is ultimately a story of redemption that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.  If you like your historical romances with a little humor, a little intrigue and a lot of chemistry, you’ll not go wrong with this one.  Well done, Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by publisher

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How To Forgive a Highlander by Michelle McLean – a Review

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How To Forgive a Highlander by Michelle McLean – a Review

 

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Description:
William MacGregor will lie, spy, and happily die to protect his clan from their greatest enemy. But when he kidnaps the wrong woman, he triggers the very events he’d been working so hard to prevent. And puts everyone in danger. Rose Thatcher will do anything to protect her lady and return them both safely to English soil. But the damn Highlander who snatched her off the docks has done nothing but get in her way. She’d love to ditch the bastard, but if they want to save their respective loved ones, they are going to have to stay together. Somewhere along the grueling journey to Scotland, their constant bickering turns into something more. Something worth fighting for. But how can an English lady’s maid, who longs for the safe, comfortable life she had in London, find love with a Highlander who can’t wait to wipe England’s dust off his feet? If they can’t defeat the enemy they accidentally led home, they might not live long enough to find out.

Each book in the MacGregor Lairds series is STANDALONE:
* How to Lose a Highlander
* How to Ensnare a Highlander
* How to Blackmail a Highlander
* How to Forgive a Highlander

 

 

Review:

I’d read the third book in The MacGregor Lairds Series by Michelle McLean (How to Blackmail a Highlander), and enjoyed it. So I started the kindle up and jumped in to read How to Forgive a Highlander…. 

William loves his clan, there is nothing he wouldn’t do to keep them all safe. So with that in mind, he plans to kidnap a lady, but grabs the wrong one, and so the plot goes from bad to worse, she is nothing but a pain in her arse, but he is drawn to her, and when they aren’t fighting, he is rather intrigued with her (even though she drives him mad!)

Rose is a lady’s maid (someone who dresses and accompanies a lady, like a companion but at the Ladies beck and call) and truly loves her charge, there isn’t much she wouldn’t do to protect her, and after she’s kidnapped, Rose is worried about her lady even more.

And this “man” has a lot to account for. How dare he do this, her temper gets her into trouble a few times, but when they aren’t taking shots at each other, she recognizes Will’s love for his clan and his good intentions. 

But what does this mean for our couple? William longs for Scotland, and Rose wants to return to London. Is this just a “Highland Fling” ? Or will they be able to compromise? 

How To Forgive a Highlander runs alongside book 3, it has almost the same timeline. It’s well written by McLean and very detailed. 

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher

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A Protector in the Highlands by Heather McCollum – a Review

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A Protector in the Highlands by Heather McCollum – a Review

 

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Description:
With few other options, Scarlet Worthington flees from her home in England to the wild Highlands of Scotland to help her sister run a school for ladies. There, Scarlet begins to rebuild her own shattered confidence by recruiting a fierce Campbell warrior to teach her and the students how to protect themselves from villains and scoundrels. The intimidating Aiden Campbell both infuriates Scarlet and ignites a fire inside her as she works closely with him to hone her new skills.

Burned in a fierce fire, set by English soldiers, Highland warrior, Aiden Campbell, has finally healed enough to take temporary command of his clan. That’s where his focus should be instead of dealing with the feisty, beautiful Sassenach who asks him to teach her students.

When Scarlet’s past stalks her up into Scotland, her nightmares come alive, and Aiden’s lessons are put to the test. With his own ghosts from the past making him despise English women, Aiden fights the inferno of passion that’s grown between them, a different kind of wild fire that could prove just as deadly.

Each book in the Highland Roses School series is STANDALONE:

* A Rose in the Highlands
* A Protector in the Highlands

 

Review:

A Protector in the Highlands by Heather McCollum is the 2nd book in her Highland Roses School series.  This book starts where the last book ends.  You don’t need to read the first one, but a little background info on the characters always helps (you find out why scarlet is running, and his Aidan gets his scars) 

Aidan hates the English with a passion. He holds them responsible for everything, and there is no way he is going to help a fiery English woman teach women to fight and defend themselves, but there is something that keeps draining Aidan back. 

Scarlet is running from her past, her saviour comes in the form of her sister (A rose in the highlands) she travels to Scotland to help her run a school for young ladies. But running from your past is sometimes easier said than done, and when it comes back to haunt her, she ya too sure of her options. 

The banter between Aidan and Scarlett is at first more enemy than friends, then realising the attraction between them, it turns, but both of them are fighting it, Aidan wants nothing more to do with the English, if she were a lass from Scotland, then there would be no issue, but trust is hard for Aidan. 

It’s another nice read, I find the enemy to friend a little boring and predictable, but I love the characters that the author has created. The highlands of Scotland come to life whilst reading it. 

It’s a fun afternoon read, and if you like your hero’s with trust issues and heroines with a shady past, then I’d recommend this one to you ?

Reviewed by Julie B.

 

 

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A Rose in the Highlands by Heather McCollum – a Review

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A Rose in the Highlands by Heather McCollum – a Review

 

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Description:
1684, Scottish Highlands Englishwoman Evelyn Worthington is resolved to build a school for ladies in her brother’s newly purchased Scottish castle. But when she arrives, not only does she find the castle scorched by fire, but a brawny Highlander bars her entry.

 Clan chief Grey Campbell would rather die than see his family home, Finlarig Castle, fall into English hands, so Grey must win the battle of wills with the beautiful Sassenach who flashes a bill of sale before him.

 When the war between Evelyn and Grey escalates, passions flare. But outsiders have their own plans for Finlarig. After secrets are revealed, and muskets are lit, the fates of the Campbell Clan, the school, and a possible future for Grey and Evelyn are in as much jeopardy as their lives.

 

 

Review:

Evelyn doesn’t want to marry and do needlepoint…. she doesn’t want just to provide heirs for her would-be husband. Evelyn wants a life, and although her father is still dictating her life (even from the grave) she plans with her brothers help, a way to get round this. She plans to build a school for young ladies, and with her brothers permission she is going to use the castle that her brother had recently brought, so she sets off …. only to find a large angry Scotsman barring her entry !! She wants that castle and no man, however good looking he is, isn’t going to deter her from her path.

Greyson “Grey” loved and lost his home, and now plans to retake it, so in order to restore it to its former glory, he is going to “allow” the interloper to return his beloved castle to its former glory. And he’s not going to let the pleasant looking young lady stand in his way, he’s going to use all his charm to keep her from discovering his plans !!

We also have the subplot of Evelyn’s would be suitor, and person or persons unknown who want the castle destroyed and not rebuilt.

And what will Evelyn do once she finds out that Grey has duped her into rebuilding the castle for his own purposes ? And what about the clause …. the one stating Evelyn has only so long to prove herself, or she has to marry ? Can she do that in time ?

The chemistry between the characters is sizzling, the direction the author takes Evelyn and Grey is a little predictable, but the fun is getting there ? it’s well written, the graphic descriptions of the scenery had me imagining myself in Scotland with no problem whatsoever.

And the secondary characters were very likeable and I can see books possibilities ?

So if you like your historical romances, then I’d happily recommend A Rose in the Highlands by Heather McCollum

Reviewed by Julie B.

Copy provided by Publisher

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How to Train Your Baron by Diana Lloyd – a Review

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How to Train Your Baron by Diana Lloyd – a Review

 

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Description:
When Elsinore Cosgrove escapes a ballroom in search of adventure, she has no idea it will lead to a hasty marriage. The youngest daughter of a duke, all she wants is to make her own choices. Now she’s engaged to an infuriating, handsome Scottish baron who doesn’t even know her name! Using all her feminine wiles, along with advice gleaned from a training guide for hunting hounds, Elsinore is determined to mold her baron into the husband she wants.

Quin Graham is a man with many secrets. If another scandal can be avoided with a sham marriage, so be it. Only his fiancée isn’t at all what he’s expecting, and the clumsy, curious, and clever Elsinore refuses to be set aside. For reasons he’s unwilling to explain, the last thing Quin needs is to fall for his wife.

 

 

Review:

As a woman, the world provided her with only three opportunities–spinster, wife or demirep. Her life would be defined by the men in it, be it father, husband or rake.”
 
Rankles, doesn’t it? Clever Elsinore, you’ll come to discover, doesn’t have a fondness for convention. She purposefully ruins her chance at a noble arrangement, opting for adventure and an unexpected future, with a kiss! Scotsman (and Baron) Quin, was just being helpful, but acquiesced to the norms of society when caught in the compromised position. The marriage will alleviate Elsinore’s woes, but Quin’s past might make her regret her hasty decision. How to Train your Baron, a What Happens in the Ballroom novel by Diana Lloyd, was a bit of a trial, much like its title. There was hardly a moment’s peace with Quin and Elsinore’s insecurities and assumptions disrupting a path to HEA.
 
The scandal was clever, in my honest opinion; I deduced Elsinore to be resourceful and challenging when cornered. Unfortunately, her schemes quickly became irritating antics! Elsinore, though desperate to escape the confines of the peerage (reckless behavior for the win), is making good on a book acquired through her brother’s library. Only “Oglethorpe’s Treatise on the Obedient Canine” is now being modified to bring her fiance up to scratch! I’m going to blame it on age/naivete, but wasn’t Elsinore the one who got them in this mess? To kiss Quin inappropriately (though he’d never complain, the gentleman!) only to plot yet again in hopes of delaying the wedding because of impossible notions she’s drummed up!? If things didn’t go Elsinore’s way, another plan was dispatched. What do you want, daft girl?!
 
Quin’s aforementioned demons harangued him to the point of paranoia; essentially drawing a line in the sand that was to remain in place throughout their marriage. And he’s supposed to be the experienced partner. You’ll be hard-pressed to identify the “mature” voice.
 
“Elsinore was beautiful, witty, intelligent, and adventurous–she was also willful and impulsive. They were all qualities that would make her difficult to safe-guard and hard to hold. He could not lose his heart to her. Loving him was death.”
 
This all got convoluted, and unnecessarily so. The bones were there for a great love story: push and pull, give and take, hurt and forgive. But the whiplash of emotions and feelings made it a frustrating read. Aside from self-sabotage and fruitless comparisons, threatening notes meant to blackmail Quin tack on heightened danger. Ashamed of his past mistakes, Quin chooses to spare Elsinore the corresponding stigma attached to his name and engages in poor choices. If remaining loyal to someone when times are tough isn’t the definition of love, isolation awaits.
 
Be prepared to lose your patience with both MCs, but trust that Diana Lloyd makes it come together. The writing was strong and her intent was note-worthy. She just needs to stop undermining what the heart wants by testing it at every turn. Even the most straightforward love story contains magic. I appreciated Ms. Lloyd’s finale enough, a mutual awakening, to anticipate the next installation.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Devil of Dunakin Castle by Heather McCollum – a Review

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The Devil of Dunakin Castle by Heather McCollum – a Review

 

The Devil of Dunakin CastleAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Englishwoman, Grace Ellington, has made a home in Scotland, but to escape from the meddling people around her who seem to think she needs to wed right away—because women need saving, right? —she volunteers to journey north to aid a friend in childbirth. 

Keir MacKinnon, the younger brother of the MacKinnon clan chief, has been raised to strike fear in people, on and off the battlefield. Trained to uphold MacKinnon law, he has hardened into a lethal warrior. Caught in a Highland blizzard with the feisty Grace, Keir realizes the beautiful woman who saved him can also save his nephew’s life. 

Sparks fly when he takes her against her will to his home, and Grace’s courage is put to the ultimate test. Is Keir MacKinnon the passionate, kind man she saved in the Highland blizzard, or is he truly the cruel executioner who seeks to solve all issues by the sword? 

Each book in the Highland Isles series is a STANDALONE story that can be enjoyed out of order. 
* The Beast of Aros Castle
* The Rogue of Islay Isle
* The Wolf of Kisimul Castle
* The Devil of Dunakin Castle

 

Review:

I’ve read and enjoyed the previous book “Wolf of Kisimul Castle.” So I was looking forward to reading The Devil of Dunakin Castle by Heather McCollum, and I wasn’t disappointed.  They are all standalone books, so don’t need to be read in order (but I may just have to go back and read the other two) 🙂

Grace is a feisty and independent woman (we meet her in book 1), she needs no man to complete her life (even though other people seem to want to marry her off). She goes to help her friend (Miari )to give birth. Along the way she meets “The Devil”,  Kier MacKinnon

People wear masks to hide their true selves and Kier is no exception, brought up from an early age, he was taught to be a warrior and then the sword hand of his brother, his job is to uphold the law (even if Keir doesn’t like it) he’s done things he hasn’t liked, and so it’s hardened this man into an unfeeling monster, but like beauty and the beast, the beast is tamed by beauty. 

Kier has been told he needs to bring back a great healer Miari (from book 3) to help his ill nephew, but gets caught in a storm and ends up rescuing a woman from wolves. 

The feelings that both Grace and Kier feel for each other are soon over shadowed when he realizes that he can’t take the pregnant Miari, but Grace could save his nephew, and with that, he takes her against her will to the castle. It doesn’t go down well with Grace

Once Grace helps the clan, other things start to happen and she wonders if the illness wasn’t an illness! 

As with the previous book, Heather McCollum brings the characters to life. The scenes were very well written and I could imagine myself easily in Scotland . 

Reviewed by Julie B.

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Wolf of Kisimul Castle by Heather McCollum – a Review

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The Wolf of Kisimul Castle  by Heather McCollum – a Review

 

The Wolf of Kisimul CastleAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle Mairi Maclean is kidnapped on her wedding day by the enemy of her dead husband. Taken north to the water-surrounded Kisimul Castle, she is held captive in the name of retribution. But The Wolf of Kisimul Castle soon learns Mairi is not a docile pawn in this game of war between neighboring Scots. Nor will she be frightened into walking down the aisle to wed the fierce Highland chief. Alec MacNeil is set on revenge. When he finds his enemy dead, he takes his wife to replace the one that was murdered. An eye for an eye. A bride for a bride. But Mairi is more tiger than kitten and refuses to bend to his will. Set stubbornly against one another, the passion that flares between them threatens to tear Alec’s strategy to shreds.

 

Review:.

The Wolf of Kisimul Castle is the first book I’ve read by Heather McCollum  and I enjoyed it from start to finish.  It is part of a series, but it is not necessary to read the others, as it’s a standalone book.

Mairi Maclean is about to get married for the second time. Her first marriage had been for the good of her clan. It has never been about love; it was all been about duty, and this time it’s the same thing.. what is good for her clan. Her brother tries to tell her it is OK to marry for love, but Mairi thinks this marriage will benefit the clan, so she will “learn” to love her new husband.

Mairi is a strong, and resourceful woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. When Alec takes her captive, she doesn’t cower in fear, but makes a comfy home in the dungeon ( I did have a chuckle at that scene). Alex kidnapped Mairi because he wanted revenge; Alec will take from the MacInnes what was taken from him. A bride for a bride seems fair in his eyes.  Alec’s wife was murdered by the McInnes clan,  but what he got was Mairi, a fiery and sassy heroine, whom he falls for.

Danger, and intrigue haunt the castle. People say its cursed. Is it? Or is it the fact the laird is a lonely and unhappy man, with many duties and responsibilities. Alec and Mairi had amazing chemistry throughout. I absolutely loved the characters. They were all amazing and complemented each other really well. The secondary characters had some great one liners. There were many times the book had me chuckling at their antics or the words they would throw at each other. The Wolf of Kisimul Castle was entertaining and had plenty of twists to keep you reading.

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publsiher

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Fair Helen by Andrew Greig – a Review

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Fair Helen by Andrew Greig – a Review

 

Fair HelenAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
Elderly narrator Harry Langton looks back on the adventures and friends of his youth, transporting the reader to the Scottish Borderlands at the end of the 16th century…

The much younger Langton returns to his birthplace to aid an old friend, the brash Adam Fleming, who has fallen for legendary beauty Helen of Annandale. He has also, it seems, fallen foul of a rival for her hand, Robert Bell, a man as violent as he is influential. Fleming confesses to Langton that he fears for his life.

In a land where minor lairds vie for power and blood feuds are settled by the sword, Fleming faces a battle to win Helen’s hand. By virtue of being the lovers’ confidant, Langton is thrust into the middle of this dangerous triangle, and discovers Helen is not so chaste as she is fair. But Langton has his own secrets to keep–and other powers to serve. Someone has noticed Langton’s connections to the major players in the Border disputes, and has recruited him in their bid to control the hierarchy of the Border families–someone who would use the lovers as pawns in a game of war.

Packed with swordplay, intricate politics, and star-crossed lovers whose actions could change the course of history, Fair Helen is a sumptuous, rousing adventure novel that brings to life one of English poetry’s most intriguing heroines.


Review:

Fair Helen  by Andrew Greig is a fictional and historical romance or perhaps best labeled fable. Written as a first-hand account of Harry Langston, friend of Adam Fleming, this wonderful story gives the “true” story of the old Scottish song or legend of Fair Helen of Kirkconnel Lea.

This is the story of star-crossed lovers, of political intrigue, the plight of women who had to marry for family and wealth versus love. Told in the lilting tongue of an old Scottish scriber, I found it easy to understand the gist of the telling without the glossary (included for convenience in the back of the book). It takes you to another place and another time with its telling. Descriptions of the place, the people and the times are full and sometimes even enchanting.

Following Harry’s account of people and their part in this story is detailed and you can’t help hoping for an outcome brighter than the old song. His version of how and why all this came about, and especially the political motives behind it are brilliantly devised.

If you love historical accounts and romance, this is a wonderful story. I loved reading it and although I love a HEA, it’s so worth reading this remarkable tale of love, trysting, and heart wrenching betrayal. I highly recommend it for a cold evening or evenings…with a good glass of wine and a warm fire or blanket. Enjoy, I truly found it a good read.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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