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brieella's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jordiibeth's review
3.0
This book was an average read for me. I enjoyed the characters and thought the pacing was good. I was hoping for more attachment to the story though. I haven’t read the others in the series and read this one as a stand-alone, so maybe that contributed to the detachment I felt.
booksnbiceps's review
4.0
I received this books in a Goodreads Giveaway!
Ya know, people turn their noses up at the bodice rippers, but I find them so much fun!! This book had it all : suspense, action, romance, comedy. I loved it. A short, enjoyable read for fans of Outlander.
Ya know, people turn their noses up at the bodice rippers, but I find them so much fun!! This book had it all : suspense, action, romance, comedy. I loved it. A short, enjoyable read for fans of Outlander.
catherineofaragon's review
3.0
these books are so formulaic and predictable, but they're easy reads and pretty sweet. nothing big to complain about except this one was a little boring
adean1493's review
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
thaliajimenez's review
3.0
With romance being one of my favorite genres, historical romance is a specific area I haven’t delved into yet. So, it’s hard to judge since I haven’t read much of it. I will say I was somewhat entertained throughout the book—had some chuckles because of how cringy certain scenes were, but, respectfully, it wasn’t that bad.
allieveryday's review
5.0
This was my first Lynsay Sands and I wasn't sure what to expect: I loved it!
The prologue had spoilers for the previous book I think so I'd recommend reading that first, and it had a lot of clan politics that was a tad hard to keep up with, I'm guessing it would again help to read previous books. Anyway.
This book had fake amnesia, forced proximity, sick bed scenes, and a grunty highland laird. I swoon.
While there is a kidnapping and take-over-the-land plot, the book was driven by the developing relationship between Allisaid and Calan. Allisaid escapes a kidnapping and is rescued by Calan who tends her wounds while trying to figure out who she is and how she got there. I love that while Calan is a grunty laird he isn't quick to accuse her of anything and rationally thinks through every scenario to best deal with this situation, and Allisaid also (mostly) thinks things through and doesn't act stupidly to show us how braaave she is. We really get to see them bond and build intimacy so the romance (though not high heat affair) really pays off and heightens the intimate scenes. Yet through all this, Sands lets the evil plot/threat linger in the background.
I was tense reading some of this because other authors would have Calan immediately accuse and mistrust Allisaid to ratchet up the drama and have Allisaid act rashly to show how how braaave she is. But Sands let them trust each other and surrounded them with caring and loyal characters that added warmth to the book. And while not overtly funny, there were humorous moments that made me smile and added levity.
The prologue had spoilers for the previous book I think so I'd recommend reading that first, and it had a lot of clan politics that was a tad hard to keep up with, I'm guessing it would again help to read previous books. Anyway.
This book had fake amnesia, forced proximity, sick bed scenes, and a grunty highland laird. I swoon.
While there is a kidnapping and take-over-the-land plot, the book was driven by the developing relationship between Allisaid and Calan. Allisaid escapes a kidnapping and is rescued by Calan who tends her wounds while trying to figure out who she is and how she got there. I love that while Calan is a grunty laird he isn't quick to accuse her of anything and rationally thinks through every scenario to best deal with this situation, and Allisaid also (mostly) thinks things through and doesn't act stupidly to show us how braaave she is. We really get to see them bond and build intimacy so the romance (though not high heat affair) really pays off and heightens the intimate scenes. Yet through all this, Sands lets the evil plot/threat linger in the background.
I was tense reading some of this because other authors would have Calan immediately accuse and mistrust Allisaid to ratchet up the drama and have Allisaid act rashly to show how how braaave she is. But Sands let them trust each other and surrounded them with caring and loyal characters that added warmth to the book. And while not overtly funny, there were humorous moments that made me smile and added levity.
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
5.0
Terrific book with a great balance of romance and suspense. This book picks up where the previous book ([b:Highland Wolf|57865738|Highland Wolf (Highland Brides, #10)|Lynsay Sands|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628557626l/57865738._SX50_.jpg|88514840]) ends. Allissaid MacFarlane is the sister of the heroine in that book, and when the villain in that book is foiled, he immediately kidnaps Allissaid to continue his efforts to steal her family's lands. Allissaid is no meek-hearted miss and risks her life to escape, even though she's badly injured. When she attempts to steal, umm.. borrow a plaid left on the shore of the loch, its owner catches her, and in the struggle, she loses consciousness.
Calan is taking a quick dip in the loch when he sees a lad running off with his plaid. However, once he tackles the lad, he discovers the lad is a lass and a lady. Because she's unconscious and to protect her reputation, he sneaks her into his room at the castle. He'll straighten things out once she's awake and he knows who she is. When she awakens, Allissaid has no idea if she's in the home of a friend or foe, so she pretends she doesn't remember anything, including who she is. Calan's instincts to protect are aroused, and he's determined to keep her safe.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Allissaid and Calan. Since his father's death eight years earlier, Calan has been busy learning to be a laird and taking care of his lands and people, with neither time nor inclination to look for a wife. But Allissaid drew his interest from the start, and I loved seeing this tough Highland warrior show his softer side as she wormed her way into his heart. It doesn't take long for Allissaid to realize that Calan is an honorable man and that she can trust him.
Most of the book's action occurs in Calan's bedroom, where Allissaid is hidden to keep her presence secret until MacNaughton can be dealt with. Calan won my heart with his sensitivity, from the late-night snack scene to his understanding of her fears for her family. He falls for her more every day and is soon determined to have her for his own. Allissaid falls equally hard for him and starts hoping he feels the same. There are some blatant matchmaking vibes from Calan's mother and sister, so it's no surprise their growing attraction puts them into a compromising situation with predictable consequences. There is a hilarious scene with Calan and his mother regarding the wedding night, and Calan's reactions had me laughing out loud. The ending was fantastic, and I look forward to seeing more of them in future books.
The story's suspense was good, keeping Allissaid's danger present without overwhelming the romance. The more we hear about MacNaughton's actions and intentions, the more Allissaid's peril is evident. Calan and his family have had issues with MacNaughton and are determined to keep her safe. I liked seeing the steps taken to mitigate the threat and how clan relationships and alliances make that possible. There is suspicion that MacNaughton has spies planted in the various households, intensifying the need for secrecy. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as an unexpected (by them) player entered the game and put Allissaid in danger. The ending was well done, with Calan to the rescue.
The secondary characters were terrific, too. I liked Calan's sister Inghinn. Like Allissaid, she is intelligent and strong. I liked her quick understanding of the danger Allissaid was in and her efforts to keep her safe. I laughed at her mother's blatant matchmaking attempts with Alick and am interested in seeing if anything comes of it. Calan's mother was great. I liked her obvious caring for Allissaid and wasn't surprised at her attempts to bring her and Calan together. It was fun to see Calan's confusion when she didn't react as he expected her to. Calan's cousin and best friend, Gille, had an intriguing backstory, and I'd love to see him get his own story. I loved seeing more Buchanans and hearing about other clans and characters from earlier books.
#netgalley
Calan is taking a quick dip in the loch when he sees a lad running off with his plaid. However, once he tackles the lad, he discovers the lad is a lass and a lady. Because she's unconscious and to protect her reputation, he sneaks her into his room at the castle. He'll straighten things out once she's awake and he knows who she is. When she awakens, Allissaid has no idea if she's in the home of a friend or foe, so she pretends she doesn't remember anything, including who she is. Calan's instincts to protect are aroused, and he's determined to keep her safe.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Allissaid and Calan. Since his father's death eight years earlier, Calan has been busy learning to be a laird and taking care of his lands and people, with neither time nor inclination to look for a wife. But Allissaid drew his interest from the start, and I loved seeing this tough Highland warrior show his softer side as she wormed her way into his heart. It doesn't take long for Allissaid to realize that Calan is an honorable man and that she can trust him.
Most of the book's action occurs in Calan's bedroom, where Allissaid is hidden to keep her presence secret until MacNaughton can be dealt with. Calan won my heart with his sensitivity, from the late-night snack scene to his understanding of her fears for her family. He falls for her more every day and is soon determined to have her for his own. Allissaid falls equally hard for him and starts hoping he feels the same. There are some blatant matchmaking vibes from Calan's mother and sister, so it's no surprise their growing attraction puts them into a compromising situation with predictable consequences. There is a hilarious scene with Calan and his mother regarding the wedding night, and Calan's reactions had me laughing out loud. The ending was fantastic, and I look forward to seeing more of them in future books.
The story's suspense was good, keeping Allissaid's danger present without overwhelming the romance. The more we hear about MacNaughton's actions and intentions, the more Allissaid's peril is evident. Calan and his family have had issues with MacNaughton and are determined to keep her safe. I liked seeing the steps taken to mitigate the threat and how clan relationships and alliances make that possible. There is suspicion that MacNaughton has spies planted in the various households, intensifying the need for secrecy. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as an unexpected (by them) player entered the game and put Allissaid in danger. The ending was well done, with Calan to the rescue.
The secondary characters were terrific, too. I liked Calan's sister Inghinn. Like Allissaid, she is intelligent and strong. I liked her quick understanding of the danger Allissaid was in and her efforts to keep her safe. I laughed at her mother's blatant matchmaking attempts with Alick and am interested in seeing if anything comes of it. Calan's mother was great. I liked her obvious caring for Allissaid and wasn't surprised at her attempts to bring her and Calan together. It was fun to see Calan's confusion when she didn't react as he expected her to. Calan's cousin and best friend, Gille, had an intriguing backstory, and I'd love to see him get his own story. I loved seeing more Buchanans and hearing about other clans and characters from earlier books.
#netgalley
deighz's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read a historical highland romance in such a long time but this was on sale for $1.99 on Kindle and thought I'd give it a try. This one did not disappoint and now I need to read all the previous books in this series. The characters were endearing and I loved that Allisaid and Calan developed a friendship before getting together. The mother had me laughing multiple times, she was a sneaky one hehe. I enjoyed this so much, I immediately purchased the book prior to this about her sister Claray and the Wolf along with the 1st book in the series (since it was on sale for $1.99).
Note that this book does contain physical abuse and attempted rape, which was difficult to read.
Note that this book does contain physical abuse and attempted rape, which was difficult to read.