Thursday, December 27, 2018

The Highlanders Welsh Bride by Cathy & DD MacRae. The Hardy Heroines Series, book #5. 5 Kilts. Celtic Barb says it’s a magnificent masterpiece!



Book: The Highlander’s Welsh Bride
By Cathy MacRae

Series: The Hardy Heroines , Book #5
Release Date: 12/27/2018

Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook (of)
1)Tartan Book Reviews
2)Celtic World of Historical Book Reviews
3)Purple Tulip Book Reviews
4)Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book Review Blog

Book Rating: 5/5 Stars/Kilts

MacLean Castle
Morvern, Lochaline, Scotland
1279

A very emotional read: It starts off why Laird Birk MacLean has no trust in women. As his first wife took a lover, but as Birk required the proof of his wife’s unfaithful ways and finally had it! He truly wanted to make her suffer! Yet she and her lover were both dead in the bottom of the sea from a shipwreck! Some say God was paying them back for their infidelity and cheating ways. This was an arranged marriage that was supposed to help resolve clan animosity. It had been a complete falsehood, though he did have two daughters, but still no son and no heir. This meant he must marry again-to secure a future Laird for the Clan! This was the last thing Baron/Laird Birk MacLean wanted!

Princess Cary Wen is sitting in the Dungeon of The MacLeans for poaching deer. The punishment for this offense is death by hanging! Yet for Baron and Laird Birk MacLean he is weary of the parade of lassies being presented to him. Either they were of frail nature or just wanted to use him for his title and wealth. He had no use for this bunch of  self-centered, weak minded, useless women that only care for themselves! Laird Birk would love a strong wife who could aid him with one of the most powerful, brawny, indestructible clans in western Scotland!

As it had been the aftermath of war, Prince Llewelyn of Wales was dead, after making his last attempt against the English! His warriors escaping King Edward I (Longshanks) capture, imprisonment but mostly death by execution! After all it was a time when Vikings, pirates, bandits and rogues control the Sea! Yet all who fought alongside the Prince of Wales was known as a traitor. This is when Birk MacLean was hearing tales of Llewelyn’s wife. One lass who fought at her husband's side as a warrior in Wales fight for independence only a year earlier.

Cary had known she must escape further north to keep out of Longshanks clutches, or she would be joining her husband in the afterlife.  Now she and her brother grab a boat, yet it is shipwrecked. Now everyone she ever loved is gone. The Princess of Wales who escaped on a boat thinking she would be safe away from Longshanks not realizing their were other dangers like pirates, Vikings and disagreeable Scots! Who knew, certainly not her, especially not expecting a death sentence! Now she gets an offer she wasn’t expecting to become this a Lairds wife or death? Would entering this marriage make her wish for death? Plus with so many lies and secrets surrounding them, how can a marriage work? A man who was cuckolded and a woman betrayed!  How can this arranged marriage turn into a thing called love?

This is the fifth book in the Hardy Heroines series. A fun exceptional read I love highly recommend. As with any book in this series can be read as a stand alone book too.  I personally enjoying reading in book order to see how the characters dots connects. It’s definitely personal choice. Any readers who love true history weaved with a fictional romance will absolutely love this book! It has some well known names in history as well as fictional characters. Yet all the ingredients of characters all mix well and it’s a story well done indeed! I loved this book and any historical romance reader will love this book from start to finish.

This fast paced page turner is a riveting adventure I did not want end! From heartbreak, war, death, betrayal, imprisonment, arranged marriage, hatred, love, holding onto life by a thread and so much more. Incredible settings, characters you can’t help but love and dialogues that are brilliant! The plotting is amazing! As I found plots within plots and finding yourself holding your breath with anticipation, not knowing what could possibly happen next!

I can’t recommend this book enough as I absolutely and unequivocally loved The Highlander’s Welsh Bride by Cathy & DD MacRae.

Disclaimer: I received a gift copy from the author for a fair and honest review. I voluntarily agreed to read, review and blog All words, ideas and thoughts are my own.


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Tuesday, December 4, 2018

A PROTECTOR IN THE HIGHLANDS BY HEATHER MCCOLLUM. Highland Roses School series, book #2, TBR 11/ 24/2018 Five Kilts Celtic Barb absolutely loved this emotional action packed highland romance!


Book: A Protector in the Highlands
By Heather McCollum

Series: Highland Roses School, Book #2

Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook (of)
1)Tartan Book Reviews
2)Purple Tulip Book Reviews
3) Celtic World of Historical Book Reviews 4)Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book Review Blog

Heat Rating: 🔥

Book Rating: 5/5 Stars/Kilts



Finlarig Castle
Killin, Scotland
November, 1684

Scarlet Worthington was on the run when she ran away from England to be with her sister Evelyn in Scotland. This was perfect timing to help her run the Highland Roses School. Evelyn and Grey are off to England to prove his parents innocence. However To prove this: they must bring the two traitors heads - to show who the real villains are! Let us just hope this quote does not apply: “Confidence is like a dragon where, for every head cut off, two more heads grow back.” Except in this story this quote seems very true.

Aiden Campbell is finally out of confinement! Finally healed from after being badly burned from the castle fires, which nearly cost him his life. In his brother Grey’s absence, he his now to take charge as Chief, while his brother is in England proving their parents innocence. Now Aiden hates all Sassenach especially English women, which is a mystery as well. You would think he would hate the English soldiers the most, for nearly killing himself and his clan by setting fire to Finlarig castle. He does hate everything English but his hatred for English women is more intense and possibly personal?

He does not believe Scarlet Worthington will remain in cold Scotland forever, yet the more he gets to know her the more he finds her charm, wit, bravery and courage to  match her exquisite beauty. He, like Scarlet also continues to be tortured by night terrors as some call nightmares. Scarlet’s nightmares continue and her reason for running to Scotland is soon discovered. Scarlet does not trust any man except for maybe her brother Nathaniel, the Viscount of Hollings Estate, in  Lincolnshire. Yet as Scarlet soon discovers that she and Aiden have more in common than she thinks. She is now the sole teacher while Evelyn is away at her Highland Rose school and wants to teach the ladies to become warriors. So they will never fear men or anyone else who might prey on their feminine weakness. For this she asks Aiden for his knowledge and tutoring to teach ladies to become warriors. To do this they must wear breeches for agility, have hair picks, which are sharpened daggers, to kill or at least maim their would be attacker.

Aiden knows Scarlet is also keeping secrets, especially her conviction that she will never return to England again! Of course Aiden doesn’t believe her. As all English woman always leave cold Scotland. Unfortunately soon the past catches up to Scarlet. Yes she escapes England, but soon her worst night terror becomes a reality! Showing up at the Castle gates in Scotland uninvited. All Scarlets fears and horrific nightmares comes to life. The only man besides her brother she trusts and turns for protection is a man who hates but desires her. He is none other than Aiden Campbell! The one man she is most attracted to, yet hates her just because of the country of her birth!

Aiden has a lot on his shoulders stepping up as Chieftain, for it isn’t only his heart he needs to protect but the safety of the clan. He doesn’t know how Grey handles this responsibility everyday.  In addition the relationship between and Scarlet is a bit of a tug of war. Yet soon this thing between them grows even bigger, but will it last? Aiden knows she won’t stay in Scotland. The English women never do, another reason he doesn’t want to involve his heart. The problem is his heart is already involved and soon the two star crossed lovers find outside dangers and possible clan wars and even death.Yet to catch a rose you must be weary of its thorns…

Heather McCollum pens another brilliant novel with that golden pen of hers! A book that readers definitely don’t want to miss. I always love whatever this author is currently writing. I loved every book in The Highland Isles series and I have loved each book in her new Highland Roses School series. This is the second book in the series which is absolutely mind blowing in my opinion!

I think every woman should have a hair pick on them for protection! Plus you can’t help but fall in love with the swoon worthy,English hater with burn scars, Aiden Campbell! Any fans of Heather McCollum definitely do not want to miss this masterpiece.

This book is probably my favorite at the moment. A definite shelf keeper that readers will want to revisit and read again. A fast moving riveting, romantic, action filled, suspenseful, adventure,  that I absolutely loved. It has so many twists, turns, including ups and downs, that readers will be holding to the edge of their seats! I was holding my breath with bated breath, not knowing what could possibly happen next!
There is more that one villain and more than one plot. I love the idea of independent women in seventeenth century Scotland. It was absolutely brilliant and awe-inspiring that will make you laugh and cry and cheer this special heroine on!

I can’t recommend it enough! I absolutely and unequivocally loved A Protector in The Highlands by Heather McCollum.

Highland Roses School Series
By Heather McCollum

1# A Rose in the Highlands-Grey and Evelyn

2# A Protector in the Highlands-Aiden and Scarlet

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s copy from Entangled Publishing. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair  review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
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