Another enjoyable read and I do love this author's historical romances they just have such a feel-good factor to them all. This one is s[image] [image]
Another enjoyable read and I do love this author's historical romances they just have such a feel-good factor to them all. This one is set in 1066 and tells the story of Nicholaa a young Saxon girl and Royce a baron in the new Norman king's ranks.
Whilst defending her home from the Norman invaders our girl makes herself somewhat of a legend. After sending three former knights running with their tails between their legs Royce is dispatched to complete the job at hand apprehending Nicholaa before escorting her to London where she will offered as the king's prize awarded as wife to a worthy knight of his choosing.
Royce is instantly captivated by the beautiful Saxon maiden Nicholaa. She constantly keeps him on his toes disrupting his predictable life all whilst leading the honourable knight on a fine chase using her cunning spirit and gentle disposition to totally disarm him he didn’t stand a chance really. So when the choice of husband is unexpectedly placed in Nicholas’s own court she of course makes the obvious choice of Royce setting in motion a battle of wills that can only result in their future happiness.
I adored these two they made such a great pair. Royce was so protective and patient he was also stubborn as a mule. Thinking to mould his wife into what he considers he wants only to then unexpectedly discover he loves and wants her exactly how she is.
Nicholaa was a breathe of fresh air and she had such a contagious personality. She wasn’t judgmental or proud and was very accepting of others. She also wasn’t a pushover which I did appreciate managing to achieve her objectives without being a shrew about it.
These two had so much chemistry together and I loved the quiet way they dealt with each other finding it incredibly charming. I also love that these stories aren’t high angst and the couples discuss any issues without flying off the handle.
This had a bit of everything humour passion danger and I was never once bored I’m definitely on a roll now and looking forward to diving head-first into another historical romance. I definitely recommend this if this genre is your particular jam.
I love a good Scottish historical romance and this one ticked all of my boxes. Low on angst but intense on the emotion this was such a b[image] [image]
I love a good Scottish historical romance and this one ticked all of my boxes. Low on angst but intense on the emotion this was such a breath of fresh air. It’s an older one but has definitely aged well and I raced through this in record time. This brought all of the feel-good vibes and left me with a warm glow.
Frances Catherine and Judith meet as children at an annual festival on the border. Too young to realise the constraints on their potential friendship. One English the other Scottish the two form a lifelong bond. Frances Catherine now living as a Maitland upon her marriage and fearing the birth ahead calls upon a promise made long ago by her childhood confidant to attend her in her confinement.
The Maitland clan are set in their ways and doesn’t welcome outsiders into their midst often but an exception is made for Judith though the clan's council and current Laird don’t believe she’ll honour her promise and that it will be a wasted journey. It’s with this in mind and being Francis Catherine’s brother-in-law that Iain the current Laird undertakes the talk of collecting the English woman.
Judith's life isn’t a bed of roses she is forced to spend six months of the year with a cruel disinterested mother and an abusive uncle. The remaining six she spends with her other aunt and uncle who were warm and loving. When she discovers on her eleventh birthday that she’s been lied to her whole life the only person she confides in is her dear friend Frances Catherine and she’s spent the last few years uncovering all she can on the subject of childbirth to assist her friend.
I liked Judith she had an uncomplicated and warm manner. She’s a good person and wears her heart on her sleeve. Like a lot of these older historical’s she was rather easily hurt and quite naive but I found that actually adorable. Iain by contrast was your typical alpha male. Infallible in all things. He could be quite chauvinistic and arrogant but he was thankfully tempered with the ability to adapt and change when needed. He’s definitely a man’s man and was all smouldering intense looks and the need to protect what he considers his.
This definitely had the gender roles firmly defined but considering it was set in the year 1200 it seemed authentic to the times. I also loved how Iain was patience personified and incredibly gentle with Judith both physically and emotionally he could be a real poppet and was prepared to do what he needed to and protect his wife. He also wasn’t one for flying off the handle either which I did appreciate.
This isn’t a story of high angst which was another plus point. There’s no OW drama and this relies on its simplicity and feel-good vibe which worked. There is a secret here that Judith does keep close to her chest that could potentially affect her future within the clan but considering Iain discovers this information quite early on but doesn’t inform her it wasn’t really a real roadblock to their future happiness and if anything it only made Iain want to protect Judith more vehemently. The chemistry between Judith and Iain was scorching and felt believable. As a couple, I did like these two a great deal.
This also had some lovely female solidarity which was nice and I did love the friendship forged by Judith and Frances Catherine and then later other women in the clan. This was dual POV and had an easy writing style all in all if you like yourselves a Scottish historical romance with plenty of heart this one definitely delivers the goods.
This is a mediaeval romance set in the early 1100’s it involves an arranged marriage between an English Barons youngest daughter and a S[image] [image]
This is a mediaeval romance set in the early 1100’s it involves an arranged marriage between an English Barons youngest daughter and a Scottish Laird. Alec Kincaid has been ordered by his king to marry one of the Baron’s daughters, While Jamie’s English king has commanded the same. This is how Jamie finds herself along with her sister (who also shares the same fate of a new husband) newly-wed and travelling into the Scottish highlands.
Alec is a widower and has firm ideas on where he thinks a wife fits into his life. He’s set in his ways but also fascinated by his new English bride he also enjoys pricking at her temper and riling her whenever he gets the chance she’s not at all like he was expecting but he’s determined to compartmentalise off his life and he’s sure that she will eventually settle. Jamie is headstrong used to speaking her mind and inside not at all subservient. She leads her new husband on a merry dance and whilst her husband tries to win her heart she is equally determined to burrow into his no matter his intentions to keep her out of it. On top of this, there’s murder also and intrigue. Alec’s late wife apparently committed suicide but Jamie’s not at all sure that’s actually the case and now someone also wants her gone from the picture too.
I have read this before and equally, enjoyed myself this time around it’s an easy charming read that also has a vein of humour running through it as well. Both Jamie and Alec are extremely likeable there some good supporting characters and it’s well written. There’s nothing incredibly complicated about the story but it’s all very enjoyable. Definitely recommend this one if you're partial to Scottish medieval romance it’s such a good one.
Another reread I think I’m having a historical romance marathon I used to read them by the bucket load years ago and lately I seem to be[image] [image]
Another reread I think I’m having a historical romance marathon I used to read them by the bucket load years ago and lately I seem to be having a revival and I’m really enjoying myself. This one is set in 1760 Mrs Anna Wren is an impoverished widow living with her mother in law in a small village. Needing a job she goes to work as a secretary for the bad-tempered Earl of Swartingham Edward De Raaf and as the two spend time together an unlikely attraction starts to develop.
Edward knows he can’t act on his inclinations Anna is a respectable lady and he needs to marry to secure an heir something that Anna may not be able to provide. There’s also the fact that she’s from a lower class than him and he already has a bride secured. Anna is sick of following the rules which seem to be a whole lot easier for men she decides to act very unconventionally and do exactly what she pleases this results in some surprises and unexpected consequences for all.
I loved that Edward and Anna weren’t your typical romance characters, especially for a historical. Anna is thirty-two so past the first spring of youth she’s also not a great looker just ordinary. Edward is described as ugly as he suffers from scaring from a bout of smallpox that decimated his whole family. I found it refreshing that they were ordinary imperfect individuals.
This was an easy read and I liked both Edward and Anna very much. I also thought they had a lot of chemistry together. This was an interesting read with unique and interesting main characters and it is one I would recommend if you like historical romances.
This is the second book in the series and concentrates on characters we have been previously introduced to. Mac Mackenzie and his estran[image] [image]
This is the second book in the series and concentrates on characters we have been previously introduced to. Mac Mackenzie and his estranged wife Isabella. So this picks up in the now with Mac determined to win back his wife’s affections. We get flashbacks throughout of just why their marriage failed and imploded the way it did and despite not being there with them from the very beginning this still gave a very good background and insight into Isabella and Mac's whole dynamic.
There is a lot to overcome and forgive and Isabella though she loves Mac is determined to not end up back in the cycle of toxicity she escaped from. There is also no lack of love between these two and no cheating both have stayed faithful to the marriage vows whilst separated.
This again had a mystery at its centre with a man impersonating Mac and what at first seems harmless swiftly morphs into much more. I loved the fact that Isabella wasn’t a pushover and wanted Mac to prove he’d changed. I also loved how tenuous Mac was in regaining his wife’s love.
We also get to catch up with others from the family I especially appreciated seeing what Ian and Beth were up to there were also slight breadcrumbs dropped for future books. Overall this was a good read that easily kept my attention and I will be continuing with the series.
This has got to be one of my all-time favourite reads I’ve lost count now of how many times I’ve reread it and it never gets old. I also[image] [image]
This has got to be one of my all-time favourite reads I’ve lost count now of how many times I’ve reread it and it never gets old. I also own the paperback as well as the kindle edition and I only do that for limited books. It’s the start of a series focusing on the Mackenzie’s a high society Scottish family from the late 1800s. Our Hero here is the youngest brother Lord Ian Mackenzie a man that has spent his childhood and early years in an asylum.There he was subjected to terrible cures and treatments for his so-called afflictions.
Removed from his captivity by his eldest brother when their father the previous Duke died Ian is an eccentric man he’s also a bloody genius with a photographic memory and an aptitude for numbers. It’s very obvious that Ian is autistic but at this time in history, this wouldn’t be recognised so he was just labelled as mad. The way this was all portrayed here, in my opinion, did feel authentic and I’m speaking from personal experience as my teenage son has a diagnosis of Asperger’s and even though it’s not a one cap fits all I did recognise a lot of Ian’s traits in my son.
Beth Ackerley wasn’t raised in high society she married her first husband a vicar only to lose him so soon into their marriage. Now years later her prospects have changed her wealthy employee who Beth was a companion too died and left her everything making her a target now for fortune hunters. When Ian warns her off regarding her new fiancé and his secret liaisons she’s shocked especially when Ian offers to marry her himself.
What springs from this though is the start of a beautiful friendship and budding romance as Ian makes it plain in his usual upfront and brusque manner just how much he wants Beth for his own. From London to Paris and then Scotland Beth and Ian’s connection is played out as they both begin to fall deeply for each other.
I love the totally unique and unconventional dynamic between Ian and Beth as they both learn what makes the other tick. I love the way Beth accepts everything about Ian refusing to treat him differently embracing every one of his eccentricities and only caring more. She is literally Ian’s cheer team and he finds in her the acceptance he’s been craving all his life it is obvious to anyone how much he adores her. There’s also a mystery playing out in the background one steeped deeply in the past and an obsessed detective with a personal agenda determined to persecute and nail the Mackenzies to the wall.
I loved all the extended members of the family and each individual Portrayed here felt fully developed. There’s so much scope here for future stories and I’m excited to read the rest of the series as I’ve only read the first two books so far. I definitely recommend reading this one it really is brilliant reading.
I haven't picked up this novel in years and it's one of my all-time favourites. I enjoyed it equally as much as I remembered and you jus[image] [image]
I haven't picked up this novel in years and it's one of my all-time favourites. I enjoyed it equally as much as I remembered and you just can't beat the older historical romances and this one gave me the warm feelings of nostalgia I was looking for. It's set in 1497 and we first join these two at their very tense wedding feast, before then backtracking to the beginning. This is set during a time of turmoil and our heroine is young Jennifer Merrick the daughter of a Laird who has spent the last two years residing at a convent. This is mostly due to her unruly nature and inability to be the biddable daughter her father expects.
When she and her sister Brenna are kidnapped by the black Wolf, a renowned warrior and nobleman rumoured to be the very devil himself and under the banner of King Henry she finds herself in quite the predicament. Determined to escape her captor Jenny pulls out all of the stops using her cunning and sheer resilience to outwit him and his men.
Royce Westmoreland the Earl of Claymore fights for and is favoured by his king. When the daughters of his hated enemies fall unexpectedly into his path he's determined to use them to cease hostilities and cause her father to surrender. But he failed to account for the sheer stubborn will and grit of his new Scottish guest. Brenna is timid and biddable but Jenny is a total spitfire who sets his temper and passions equally alight and it's not long before he determined to have her in his bed by whatever means and bargaining necessary.
When two kings decide that Royce and Jenny are to unite together in matrimony, there joining the peaceful resolution to end current hostilities neither is happy. Royce because he believes she has humiliated him before the whole country and Jenny as he's her family's sworn enemy and the man who stole her virtue and destroyed Her reputation. Can these two now meet halfway and traverse the divide to find their happiness in each other.
This is an oldie but a goodie, it's dual POV which is my favourite and is full of such historical ambience that it managed to transport me right back in time. It felt extremely authentic and this period of time in romantic historical fiction is a firm favourite of mine especially when it includes Scotland.
It's well written and such an easy page-turner, I liked both Royce and Jenny neither were perfect but did feel authentic to the time period. Royce was a product of his times and his choices and actions reflect this. Jenny was headstrong and opinionated but also extremely loyal sometimes to her own detriment as you can see with her father as it clouded her judgement making her act unreasonably and extremely vulnerable to manipulation. Even the character's respective ages reflect the times as Jenny is seventeen and is referred to abstractly as a spinster whilst Royce is older at twenty-nine.
It's packed full of passion love and danger and some truly swoon-worthy romance. I felt it has stood the test of time leaving it one of my top-ever historical romance reads and if you love this particular genre I'd recommend reading.
Bex (Beckie Bookworm)
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