Monday, April 29, 2019

Romancing The Laird by Gerri Russell. All The Kings Men Series, Book #2. Five Kilts! Celtic Barb was blown away yet again by Ms. Russell






Book: Romancing the Laird
By Gerri Russell

Series: All the Kings Men, #2

Release Date: April 30, 2019

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: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Overall Rating: 5 Stars and 5 Kilts

July, 1592

Lucy Livingston’s gets blackmailed on the day of her betrothal to Laird Reid Douglas. The blackmailer proves this by touching her sister Esme’s chest, forcing her in an apoplectic seizure.This stranger threatens the one person Lucy loves the most and has cared for her entire life, her epileptic sister Esme. In this time period it was called the shaking sickness. It is also a time the King James Charles Stuart VI who was very superstitious about witches and those accused who floated were burned at the stake. The stranger wants Lucy to murder the king, as it is well known of her notorious talent with a bow and arrow. This religious zealot wants this done now, due to the King’s treatment of the people in the  Catholics faith, not treating them justly or allowing them to practice their faith without persecution.

Now this religious radical threatens Esme, claiming he will make her sister go into an apoplectic seizure in public! In addition wickedly accusing her of being a witch with evil powers. This would cause Esme to be arrested, tortured and executed as a witch! This radical knows her betrothed, Reid Douglas  is close to the King and one of his chosen guardsmen. He also knows Lucy would have both opportunity and skill to get this execution of the King done.His promise is that Esme will be taken care of at a nearby Abbey if anything bad happens to Lucy. Such as imprisonment or execution for the murder of the King. Not a way Lucy would ever be wished to remembered, as a treasonous traitor and murderer of the monarchy!

Lucy Livingston now has a letter from the Abbey, stating this is true, as her sister would be under their protection, if she can’t care for her sister in the future. Lucy she really has no choice, no matter how much she hates doing this, not the way she wanted to start her marriage. Especially now seeing how kind, protective and handsome her new husband is. As they get married quickly but he is called away to protect the King since he is one of the Kings elite guardsmen. This gives Lucy the perfect opportunity to murder King James. Lucy is living with a lot of guilt but has no choice in the matter. She will do anything to protect her sister. The problem is she is falling in love with her husband, even though she was royally commanded to marry him through the spoils of war. Can she trust him? Will he even believe her or just send her to the gallows as a traitor and executor of the King. The man her husband is sworn to protect.

Her husband also has his own secrets to protect as this is the third wife he won’t let anyone take away. He will protect anyone who is his learning his lesson from a tragedy of his first wife. This is the first time he has cared about another person in seven years. He finds his new wife absolutely perfect yet he is guilty of being attracted to his midnight warrior. A woman who might possibly be an assassin of the King, Reid will protect his monarch, no matter who the would be killer is. Plus there are spies under his very own roof and an enemy clan that wants him and anything he cares about dead. So much conflict and turmoil in this relationship is doomed, before it even has a chance to begin! Will Reid and Lucy even have a chance? Partners or enemies? Reader will have to read and find out the answer to these questions and so much more.

A book readers definitely don’t want to miss. Ms. Russell does it again and pens another masterpiece that I couldn’t put down! It was a definitely both a nail biter, yet it romance gave my stomach butterflies too, with the swoon worthy hero and unconventional protective heroine! This is the second in the phenomenal series, All the King's Men. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. You can also read as a stand alone book or in book order. I highly recommend readers to read both.

Again Gerri Russell pens another masterpiece from start to finish. It has all the elements romance readers love.  This includes my absolute favorite ingredient of factual history with an exhilarating fictional romance. Plus this novel includes iconic figures in Scottish history like King James VI and Queen Anne of Denmark.  Sadly women being burned for witchcraft was very prominent during his reign and obsession as King. He even wrote a book on his reflections and how to deal with witchcraft in 1591 called Daemonologie.

So again I was blown away by this magnificent story which is absolutely brilliant. I am so thrilled Gerri Russell has returned to Scottish historical romance! As I have been reading her books for close to fifteen years, since her Stones of Destiny and Brotherhood of the Scottish Templars series. I absolutely recommend everyone to check out those books too as they are fabulous!

This book has the all the elements historical romance readers savor. As “Romancing the Laird” is another riveting, fast paced, action packed, nail-biting, romantic adventure. It is filled with true historical and fictional events which includes blackmail, murder, treachery, intrigue, clan wars, assassination plots, witch hunters, witch tortures, religious prejudice, religious fanatics, arranged marriages, betrayal, protection, trust, honor and love. The specialty for many readers will be the weaving of true history with a fictional romance. The setting was beautiful, dialogue was amazing and the plotting was absolutely brilliant. Both characters and secondary characters are both exhilarating and unforgettable. A book many readers will want to read multiple times, a definite for your keeper shelves. Now I can’t wait to read Lachlan’s story. I can’t imagine being forced to marry a woman from the clan that murdered your parents! Looking forward to reading “A Temptress in Tartan”, book #3 in this magnificent series, All the King's Men by Gerri Russell!

I absolutely and unequivocally recommend “Romancing The Laird” by Gerri Russell

All the King's Men by Gerri Russell

1.Seven Nights with a Scot - Quinn & Vivian
2.Romancing the Laird - Reid & Lucy
3.A Temptress in Tartan - Lachlan & Elizabeth (Lizzie) Release Date TBA

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy from the publisher through Netgalley. I voluntarily agreed to read, review and blog an advance copy of this book. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own.

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