Highland Legacy by B. J. Scott

Highland Legacy by B. J. Scott

The Fraser Brothers Trilogy, Book 1

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing (November 2011)

234 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

After Cailin's impetuous attempt to escape a marriage arranged for her by her father, Connor comes upon her in time to save her from being raped by English soldiers, only to return her home in much more dire need of escape, when she finds the place place crawling with English soldiers looking to arrest her for murder. Cailin escapes and catches up to Connor, who marries her to keep her safe, but regrets the decision later, his need to be with her warring with his duty to the patriot cause. I found the characters in this story to be engaging and complex, and all of them full of inspiring strength. Cailin, though a bit of a worrier, kept forging ahead despite all she had been through. Connor, in his complexity, vacillated between duty and the call of his heart endlessly and there were times I wasn't sure I liked him much, but once he saw the light, I could find no fault with him. His two brothers, Alasdair and Bryce, provided endless entertainment along the way and I loved them. I look forward to reading Bryce and Fallon's story in the next book in this series, Highland Quest!

The Highlander's Conquest by Eliza Knight

The Highlander's Conquest by Eliza Knight

The Stolen Bride Series, Book 2

Publisher: Eliza Knight (September 2012)

290 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Sent by his sister-in-law, Arbella, to bring her sister to her, Blane interrupted Aliah's secret imminent plans to join the church. Both burdened by a misguided sense of guilt from a childhood tragedy, their lengthy journey to the Highlands not only brings Blane and Aliah together, but fortuitously lightens their burdens along the way. I loved Aliah's strength and courage. She was an easy character to relate to, and I loved the inclusion of the family's wolfhound, Frosty. This book included more humor than the first in this series, and there were a couple parts that I nearly laughed until I cried. Blane, I liked, but he stubbornly drug his feet until the very end and I was beginning to get a bit frustrated with him. I look forward to the next book, The Highlander's Lady, which is soon to be released and I believe is about Magnus's and Blane's cousin, Daniel Moray/Murray. I hope this series will continue with the younger siblings stories, Ronan and Heather, as I have become fond of them. Great Series!

The Highlander's Reward by Eliza Knight

The Highlander's Reward by Eliza Knight

The Stolen Bride Series, Book 1

Publisher: Eliza Knight (July 2012)

263 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

On her way to marry a man she and her father have never met, at the request of the King, Arbella finds herself in the middle of a battle and in danger of becoming mere spoils of war until Laird Magnus Sutherland swoops in to save her from his own countrymen, leaving him with the problem of what to do with her. It soon becomes clear that he must marry her and take her back to his holding, letting the chips fall where they may. I loved Arbella and felt that she had a lot of depth as a character, always keeping Magnus on his toes, while Magnus is a man you can't help but adore once his rough exterior begins to crack. Spurned betrothals on both sides and the worries over a father who may or may not have survived, combined to keep me riveted to the end. Great read, and I look forward to reading about Magnus's brother, Blane, and Arbella's sister, Aliah, in the second book in this series, The Highlander's Conquest!

Malice Striker by Jianne Carlo

Malice Striker by Jianne Carlo

Viking Vengeance Series, Book 1

Publisher: Etopia Press (October 2012)

180 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $5.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Following his first wife’s deception and the resulting capture of his little sister, Brokk (Malice Striker) steals King Kenneth’s bastard daughter, Skatha, intending to ransom her and is surprised to find himself commanded to wed her by his own liege lord. As Brokk comes to know his new wife, he finds the plot surrounding his misfortunes is even deeper than he could have imagined. This is a wonderful story with great characters and some history and mythology deftly woven in without being overpowering. Skatha had a quiet strength, which I loved, and Brokk was wonderful with her. I look forward to reading about Brokk’s brothers: Konall (Death Blow) and Draddor (Vengeance Hammer)!