A review by beckyyreadss
Beyond the Thistles by Samantha Young

emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

I wanted to read this book because I adore Samantha Young, I love her work, but I’ve only read her standalone, so I wanted to try one of her series. This book was on kindle unlimited, and I felt like it was a sign. I enjoyed this book and feel like going to Scotland.  

This book has two points of view. The first is Walker Ironside and it’s been a long time since he left behind Scotland and the memories that haunt him. Yet after years of traveling the world as a bodyguard, Walker misses his homeland enough to return. To a village in the Scottish Highlands that plays host to an exclusive members-only club, Ardnoch Estate. If not happy, Walker is content working with the elite security at the club and maintaining his bachelor lifestyle. What he doesn’t need is a distraction in the form of the enticing but too-young newcomer, single mother Sloane Harrow. The second point of view is Sloane Harrow, and she never imagined that she’d get pregnant at sixteen. Or that a decade later she’d escape from California with her daughter, Callie, to start over in the Scottish Highlands. Hidden and safe from Callie’s dangerous father, Sloane is satisfied with their new lives. Her daughter is happy. Sloane has a stable job, a quaint cottage, a passion for baking that might just be turning into a business, and a huge crush on brooding security guard Walker Ironside. Unfortunately, the grumpy Scot seems immune to Sloane’s charm, but she can’t help but try to seduce him with cupcakes and baked treats whenever the opportunity arises. However, when someone arrives in Ardnoch intent on destroying Sloane’s life, Walker is the first to step forward to protect her and Callie. Even if it means giving into temptation and awakening his own demons. Because in doing so, Walker faces failing not only to shield Sloane from her past, but to safeguard her against her own.  

I enjoyed that this book was based in Scotland, I realized that besides the fantasy books I read, a lot of places I read romance books are like small towns in the countryside or New York or Los Angeles. So mainly American based. So, when I read a book and then say Mum instead of Mom and talking about that it was £10 instead of 10 dollars, I get all giddy. I loved Walker, I wanted to hug him throughout the whole book, that man went through a lot of shit and has big feelings but still wanted to get help and I can appreciate that. He knew he wanted Sloane but that he had to fix himself first and I loved him for that. I loved Sloane as well and how she was determined to stay in Scotland and not run away again and that she was tough as nails to stand up for herself, Callie and Walker even though she had several people coming after her.  

I just couldn’t imagine the gangsters coming to Scotland and being all violence like if it was like London or Liverpool, but Scotland always seems like a quiet, peaceful place to me. Also, I didn’t think the third act breakup was needed and it just seemed like a way to make the book longer and to drag out the mystery.  

I liked that the next couple has been introduced of North and Aria and from the small chapters that we’ve seen I'm excited to start this. I’ve also heard this series was a spinoff of the Adair Family series who we met throughout this book, and I've read them in the wrong order which I always do, but it just gives me more reason to read the Adair Family series after this.  
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