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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This book gave me SO. MANY. FEELINGS! I think I've given this one the most notes and highlights than any other book I've read - besides the Bible, of course.
The writing, the scenery, the romance! Heidi Kimball's descriptive writing is all I've ever wanted in a romance. If you like Scotland, beautiful descriptions of scenery and a clean historical romance, this book is for you.
The writing, the scenery, the romance! Heidi Kimball's descriptive writing is all I've ever wanted in a romance. If you like Scotland, beautiful descriptions of scenery and a clean historical romance, this book is for you.
emotional
hopeful
A really sweet second chance romance set in Scotland.
Clean romance, kisses only.
Trigger warnings include spousal abandonment, death of a loved one (off page), and stillborn birth
Clean romance, kisses only.
Trigger warnings include spousal abandonment, death of a loved one (off page), and stillborn birth
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
An arranged marriage ends the next day after an altercation between the duke and his son, leaving the new bride alone and rejected.
4 years later, when his father has a stroke, he finally returns to Scotland to take his place, but first has to track down his wife. She knew the day would likely come she'd face him again, but resolves to keep him out of her life, that is, until her 4 year old bundle of joy runs in and the inescapable reality of what he's done sets in.
A story of broken trust and the time, pain and perseverance required to mend wrongs done, and the hope of family and restored relationship.
4 years later, when his father has a stroke, he finally returns to Scotland to take his place, but first has to track down his wife. She knew the day would likely come she'd face him again, but resolves to keep him out of her life, that is, until her 4 year old bundle of joy runs in and the inescapable reality of what he's done sets in.
A story of broken trust and the time, pain and perseverance required to mend wrongs done, and the hope of family and restored relationship.
4 stars
Once in a while, you simply need an agonizing read to wreck your soul in tatters and then replace you back together with heartwarming characters, seeking for forgiveness by eroding the barrier between their past and present mistakes..
The story was set in the early nineteenth century, the locations were an interesting contrast between the rainy Scotland, stormy England and the tropical, sunny Caribbean.
Callum and Kate, the protagonists, were mingled into an arranged marriage —pulled without their consent— by their families. The story engaged soft and lovely, with them liking and enjoying the company of each other. Up until Callum decided that his loathe toward his father should cost him his life and happiness and by that erasing anything that symbolized his dad’s evil hold on him, including Katie. The very next day they got married he abandoned his Highland’s life for the warmth of the Caribbeans and only returned four and half years later.
Kate’s forgiveness wasn’t so easily earned by Callum and the only exceptions she made at the beginning were for their daughter, Charlotte. The devoting mother-image suited Katie perfectly and added so much appeal to their love story. She always putted her first in any decision she made about including Callum again in her/their life after his trahison and so did he. Their chemistry throughout the storyline was well done filled with hatred and moments of weakness, stolen glances and touches, eye watering declarations. Charlotte personage was so well portrayed with spelling mistakes and a vivid personality, a lovely bond with her oh-so-hated-grandfather. Every side character had his/her importance in the storyline.
Somethings that didn’t set right about the storyline. First, what Callum did was unforgettable and Katie had her own part, too. She didn’t inform him in the first place that she was pregnant, he was sending her letters for all those four and half years but she kept throwing them without reading any. She was hurt and humiliated, this was completely understandable but it still didn’t change the fact the whole thing wasn’t right.
In the synopsis, a terrible secret is mentioned but Katie didn’t feel bad or evoke any thoughts about it until near the end of the story. It felt like it was just added to drag a little bit the ending. Finally, Callum and his dad relationship hadn’t a final and satisfying ending, maybe it was intentional to give a more realistic aspect to the story but if even Kate and Charlotte were apt to forgive him, why couldn’t he do the same with his father?
"
The writing was flawless and addicting with well caricatured scenes and detailed feelings. The story was mostly enjoyable with a charming and emotional love story about forgiveness and belongings. I didn’t see myself giving it less than 4 stars.❤️
———————————————————————
Enjoying my highlanders era..
"Love is brave. And bold. It provides no guarantees. True love gives, without expecting anything in return. When you learn to love someone in all their imperfections, only then will your heart truly be full."
Once in a while, you simply need an agonizing read to wreck your soul in tatters and then replace you back together with heartwarming characters, seeking for forgiveness by eroding the barrier between their past and present mistakes..
"Callum loved this land and its people. No matter how hard life was, they fought for it with everything they had."
The story was set in the early nineteenth century, the locations were an interesting contrast between the rainy Scotland, stormy England and the tropical, sunny Caribbean.
"What kind of hatred went so deep that one could sever ties to all one held dear? "
Callum and Kate, the protagonists, were mingled into an arranged marriage —pulled without their consent— by their families. The story engaged soft and lovely, with them liking and enjoying the company of each other. Up until Callum decided that his loathe toward his father should cost him his life and happiness and by that erasing anything that symbolized his dad’s evil hold on him, including Katie. The very next day they got married he abandoned his Highland’s life for the warmth of the Caribbeans and only returned four and half years later.
" He’d thought by flouting everything his father had wanted, he’d find a measure of fulfillment. But the victory was hollow, and any sense of satisfaction was overshadowed by all he’d lost. The cost of that long-ago choice seemed only to mount."
Kate’s forgiveness wasn’t so easily earned by Callum and the only exceptions she made at the beginning were for their daughter, Charlotte. The devoting mother-image suited Katie perfectly and added so much appeal to their love story. She always putted her first in any decision she made about including Callum again in her/their life after his trahison and so did he. Their chemistry throughout the storyline was well done filled with hatred and moments of weakness, stolen glances and touches, eye watering declarations. Charlotte personage was so well portrayed with spelling mistakes and a vivid personality, a lovely bond with her oh-so-hated-grandfather. Every side character had his/her importance in the storyline.
"Four and a half years is a long time tae be away.” He spoke slowly, his words measured. “Long enough to mend old wounds.” He gave Callum a meaningful look. “Or perhaps create deep rifts."
Somethings that didn’t set right about the storyline. First, what Callum did was unforgettable and Katie had her own part, too. She didn’t inform him in the first place that she was pregnant, he was sending her letters for all those four and half years but she kept throwing them without reading any. She was hurt and humiliated, this was completely understandable but it still didn’t change the fact the whole thing wasn’t right.
In the synopsis, a terrible secret is mentioned but Katie didn’t feel bad or evoke any thoughts about it until near the end of the story. It felt like it was just added to drag a little bit the ending. Finally, Callum and his dad relationship hadn’t a final and satisfying ending, maybe it was intentional to give a more realistic aspect to the story but if even Kate and Charlotte were apt to forgive him, why couldn’t he do the same with his father?
"
How could such love cause such pain?
A desolate fog pressed down on her heart, her love for him an agony that threatened to crush her. "
" And my heart is yours, Katie. Broken and bent as it is, it beats only for ye. "
The writing was flawless and addicting with well caricatured scenes and detailed feelings. The story was mostly enjoyable with a charming and emotional love story about forgiveness and belongings. I didn’t see myself giving it less than 4 stars.❤️
———————————————————————
Enjoying my highlanders era..
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am all for redemption stories. I love when a character makes a terrible mistake and has to earn back trust, but man, Callum made it hard.
I hoped there was a good excuse for him leaving (especially when and how he did!) but there wasn’t. His journal pages were meant to show remorse, but there wasn’t really remorse for his decision within the pages… at least not in the way I was expecting after such an incredible mistake. I found it difficult to sympathize with him at all. I liked him and I just couldn’t reconcile the person he was to someone who would leave his new wife for FOUR AND A HALF YEARS only to return because his circumstances changed. He didn’t return because he felt bad. He didn’t return because he missed his wife. If he had had even a semi good reason for leaving or he came back sooner, I probably wouldn’t have struggled so much to forgive him.
However, I found myself slowly understanding him better and was able to forgive him alongside Kate. Ultimately, I think what threw me was how lovely and attentive he was to Kate when they were first married. Him leaving in the way he did seemed so out of character and it made his excuses for leaving difficult to understand. Had the beginning of their relationship been more fractured, it would have made more sense. This was a very messy redemption story and ultimately I enjoyed it and the author accurately showed the sinful human condition, but there were a few things that could have been different to make Callum’s story more sympathetic.
I hoped there was a good excuse for him leaving (especially when and how he did!) but there wasn’t. His journal pages were meant to show remorse, but there wasn’t really remorse for his decision within the pages… at least not in the way I was expecting after such an incredible mistake. I found it difficult to sympathize with him at all. I liked him and I just couldn’t reconcile the person he was to someone who would leave his new wife for FOUR AND A HALF YEARS only to return because his circumstances changed. He didn’t return because he felt bad. He didn’t return because he missed his wife. If he had had even a semi good reason for leaving or he came back sooner, I probably wouldn’t have struggled so much to forgive him.
However, I found myself slowly understanding him better and was able to forgive him alongside Kate. Ultimately, I think what threw me was how lovely and attentive he was to Kate when they were first married. Him leaving in the way he did seemed so out of character and it made his excuses for leaving difficult to understand. Had the beginning of their relationship been more fractured, it would have made more sense. This was a very messy redemption story and ultimately I enjoyed it and the author accurately showed the sinful human condition, but there were a few things that could have been different to make Callum’s story more sympathetic.