THROUGH THE GLEN (The Highland Series 3) by Samantha Young-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 1, 2024

He’s a cynical, world-weary Londoner. She’s a shy Scot. They might seem like opposites, but a few weeks in the Highlands will bring them together in ways they can’t imagine…

Theo Cavendish is the second son of a British viscount, and he’s spent years running from the aristocratic world he grew up in. Betrayal and loss taught him lessons he’s not quick to forget. As an award-winning screenwriter and creator, Theo prefers to throw himself into the world of film and television. He moves from one project to another, never really letting anyone truly know him.

As a housekeeper at the exclusive Ardnoch Estate, shy Sarah McCulloch feels invisible most days. No one really knows her, and they definitely don’t know she’s a bestselling crime writer. She dreams of seeing her series on screen and believes only one person can develop it for television. On the day she quits the estate for good, she shares her secret with club member, Theo, and asks him to consider her books.

Sarah never expected him to say yes or to show up on her doorstep ready to write with her. Or that weeks spent locked up in her cottage would lead them to form an intense but undeniable connection. A bond that Theo is not sure he’s ready to accept, even though he can’t bear to be without her.

However, when they finally venture out of their bubble, Theo finds he’ll have to battle more than his own demons to protect Sarah from hurt. For he has another fan, one intent on bringing the darkest elements of his most famous script to life. And unless he can figure out this real-life antagonist’s next move, Theo could be in danger of losing Sarah forever.

••••••

REVIEW: THROUGH THE GLEN is the third instalment in Samantha Young’s contemporary, adult THE HIGHLAND erotic, romance series-spin off from the author’s ADAIR FAMILY series. This is screen writer Theo Cavendish, and thirty-one year old, former Adair housekeeper, and crime writer Sarah McCulloch’s story line. THROUGH THE GLEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Theo and Sarah) THROUGH THE GLEN follows the building but acrimonious relationship between our story line couple. Sarah McCulloch is a successful writer but nobody knows because she doesn’t use her name. Leaving the Adair Estates Sarah is hoping for a chance to speak with screen writer Theo Cavendish, the man with whom Sarah will fall in love but Theo doesn’t have time, and refuses to accept our heroine at face value, until he finds himself playing nursemaid and doctor when our heroine falls ill. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between our story lie couple as they work together on Sarah’s books, and the potential fall-out as family and friends try desperately tear our couple apart.

The world building focuses on the relationship between our story line couple. Both Sarah and Theo’s pasts are mired in darkness, abuse, neglect and loss, and as such well meaning but oft imposing friends threaten the love growing between Sarah and Theo. Meanwhile, there is a serial killer targeting the young women of London, and our couple are about to be pulled into a nightmare from which they may never forget.

The relationship between Sarah and Theo begins acrimoniously but when Sarah falls in Theo is both guardian and nurse as our heroine struggles in the face of recovery. Theo’s reputation as a lady’s man precedes his introduction to Sarah McCulloch but Sarah’s innocence is a product of her past, a past than she struggled to forget. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, familiar and dynamic secondary and supporting characters many of whom we met in the previous instalments as well as in the author’s ADAIR FAMILY series. We are introduced to Sarah’s brother Jared McCulloch, as well as Theo’s brother Sebastian. Jared’s story line is next.

THROUGH THE GLEN is a fantastic story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, madness and obsession, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The premise is strong, detailed, and twisted; the romance is passionate and spirited; the characters are determined, desperate, sassy yet flawed.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Beyond the Thistles
Among The Heather

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Samantha Young is the New York Times,  USA Today  and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows.  Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017. Play On is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland. Villain is a companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

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