ARC REVIEW Highlander Ever After by Paula Quinn

The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #8, I jumped into this series at the halfway point but it was okay because each book pretty much reads as a standalone. I love Paula Quinn's writing style it's part of the reason I keep coming back to her books, whatever trope she's using she has the MacGregors make it their own. Another reason I keep coming back is that I love this family. The MacGregors' are warm and welcoming to friends and are just as fierce warriors as they are fiercely loyal to those who prove they are worthy. The family also has very close, very secret ties to Queen Anne so when she orders Adam MacGregor, the reluctant heir of the clan, to marry one of her ladies in waiting they have no choice but to follow her orders. Melusina de Arenburg was raised for court life she was a trusted Lady in Waiting and the bastard daughter of the heir to the throne; part of keeping her safe was keeping her unclaimed. Sina looked upon Queen Anne as a best friend and an almost mother like figure so she couldn't understand it when Anne orders her to the Highlands to marry someone from a very infamous clan rather than the man she wants to marry.

Sina is pretty much a spoiled brat when she gets there, acting like she's the only one who had her life disrupted, once she realizes they aren't the barbarians she thought they were and that her new family isn't all that bad she starts to open her heart to Adam, who she finds attractive as much as she hates that she does. Adam is nothing but patient with her, he gets aggravated and pissed off but he sympathizes with her and he likes her. Eventually they start to warm up to each other and fall in love unfortunately Queen Anne dies not to long after the wedding and soon enough Sina's father sends for her and she has to go back to London where the marriage will be annulled.

The second half of this book takes place in London where Adam tries to prove he's worthy of staying married to Sina, but under the disguise of someone else. Sina also along the way learns some very disturbing news that makes her long for Adam all the more. Normally I don't care for the books that take place in the King/Queen's Court with all those people and their power hungry machinations and backstabbing not knowing who to trust but there are a few exceptions and this is one of them.

Overall, this was such a good book. I hate to see the MacGregors go I really hope this isn't the last of them and that maybe the next generation will be up to a few adventures. 

ARC REVIEW Laird of the Black Isle by Paula Quinn

The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #7, I am Loving this series. Lachlan MacKenzie is such an anti-hero and the whole feel of the book is very Beauty and the Beast. Mailie MacGregor is very head strong and fierce but also kind hearted and very loyal. Lachlan doesn't think much of himself anymore, not since his wife and daughter were murdered. In seeking their justice and murdering the blackguards in the same manner they killed his wife and daughter Lachlan became severely burned. Afterward he stayed hidden on Black Isle secretly helping his tenants only really having contact with his old nanny.  Mailie is ready to fall in love and get married but being constantly surrounded by her intimidating brothers and cousins it's hard to meet a guy who's worthy enough to stand up to her notorious family. Lach is told that his daughter is still alive but that only way to find out where she is is to kidnap Mailie MacGregor. Lach knows it's stupid but to have his little girl back he'd do anything; just to know she was alive gives him reason enough to risk his life. 

Mailie makes it as difficult for him as possible and she's determined she'll get away until she finds out his story. She sees him through the eyes of the villagers who look up to him and a little boy who idolizes him. She sees him take in an orphaned brother and sister even though it hurts him. She sees that way her father's fiercely loyal dog easily follows him. She knows he is a man who can stand up to her brothers a man who is worthy of her love and affection. After losing his wife and seeking revenge in the manner that he did Lach never thought he would be worthy enough for another woman's love but for some reason Mailie does. Mailie makes him want things he hasn't wanted in a long time but there is still the fact that he still has to choose, give her up for his daughter or keep Mailie and never know if his daughter is still alive.

Overall, out of the ones I've read this is probably my new favorite. I loved the character, I loved the romance, I loved the storyline. Even the bad guy was appropriately evil. The dog and the kids added a bit of humor to a tense situation and Mailie once you've earned her loyalty you will never lose it, she is brave and beautiful and willing to go out on a limb for those she loves. The romance and the suspense it's all well written, it pulled me in and wouldn't let me go.

ARC REVIEW The Scot's Bride by Paula Quinn

The Scot's Bride is book 6 of The MacGregors: Highland Heirs series. This book in particular can be read as a standalone. Patrick MacGregor likes his life as is and unlike his many family members falling in love is the last thing he wants, he enjoys traveling from town to town fighting for money seducing a pretty woman when the need strikes. Charlotte "Charlie" Cunningham doesn't want to fall in love either, she fell in love once already only to have him taken from her at the hands of her father. Since she now knows the depths of her father's cruelty and hatred for their sworn enemy she does everything possible to disobey him and right the wrongs her Father and her brother do to their tenants.

On his way to visit his mother's family Patrick comes across a beautiful raven haired woman, and because he didn't heed her warning ended up getting hit by a rock from her sling, tied up in the barn, and randomly getting punched by her brother's. He does listen when she tells him not to admit to being a Fergusson, if he is one. When another local clan comes and tries to take Charlie and force her into a marriage with their Laird Patrick comes to the rescue and wins over Cunningham, not necessarily Charlie or her brothers, Hendry and Duff, but at least he's not tied up any more. Patrick is enthralled with Charlie, she is like no other woman he's ever met before. Charlie is hesitant to like this stranger but everything he does shows her there a lot more to him than what she initially thought. Especially since he helped find something to ease her younger sister's breathing, and stood up to Hendry on behalf of the tenants and pretended to be a monster slayer for a little girl. The longer Patrick is there the more he doesn't want to leave but the secret he been keeping from Charlie may ruin any chance he's has with her.

Overall this was a really nice read. I loved the characters and the whole progression of the story line.

FOREVER HOLIDAY BLOG TOUR REVIEWS

Full disclosure, I've never read Debbie Mason before. I'm glad I was able to find this series at the first book because it does look like it's going to be a great series, it has a great introduction to all the characters and the town but especially the Widow's Club. Romance, Christmas, a wedding, a mischievous ghost, and a equally mischievous cat; top all that off with a deep secret that has everyone looking for a lost diary.

The romance was perfect because Sophie and Liam have always loved each other but never thought the other was interested. Sophie after graduation suddenly left Harmony Harbor she stayed way for years until disaster struck and she had no other option except to go back home and move in with her Grandmother. She didn't come back alone she has a young daughter with her, a young daughter that does not speak. Sophie is working hard to find her place back in the small town and avoid Liam.

Liam moved from Harmony Harbor and went to work as a Firefighter in Boston but when he lost his best friend in a fire and injured himself he went back home to recuperate and deal with his PTSD. His father the chief of HHFD asks him to help out in town and Liam's chief back in BFD agrees that it might be better to get back in a small town setting rather than back in Boston. Liam hesitant at first soon accepts it especially because Sophie is back in town and the attraction is stronger than ever not to mention he has found a kindred spirit with her daughter.

Sophie doesn't want to get involved with Liam, she knows he plans on going back to Boston, and the fact that she's hiding something from everyone that just might make her an outcast in the towns eyes and Liam might not like it. But the friendly ghost that recently started haunting the house is set to make everything as it should be.

Overall, a really enjoyable and Debbie Mason has a wonderful active setting, the entire town and their inhabitants are very likeable, and relatable. I look forward to the series.

    

 This is a new one for me, I haven't read Olivia Miles before and with this being book 5 of the Briar Creek series I thought I would get lost in the characters and the setting but nope it can be read as a standalone. The main focus was on the two main characters and what was happening with them with a few side notes from another character which is setting up for her own book. This was an absolutely adorable book. I love books like this because it plays out in my head like a Hallmark Christmas movie. You have the typical grinch type character Nate and a Christmas angel Kara, opposites attract I love it.

Kara is doing something she has dreamed of doing, she has set up a cookie bakery in town and is now trying to prove to the whole town, especially her own mother, that she is not a fickle and that she will stick with it. Her biggest fear is failing, not only because will she lose something near and dear to her but it will prove the town right. In Kara desire to prove herself she has over working herself for the Christmas holiday, between the everyday workings she has special order gingerbread houses, cookies order for her mother's ballet recital,  and a massive order of cookies for the food drive for the needy families in the area.

Nate is only visiting Briar Creek because he felt guilty for sending his parents on a cruise when they had originally to visit his aunt. His Aunt Maggie runs the inn and is getting on in the years Nate agreed to visit and help out around the inn. Coming from a poor background he worked hard to make a lot of money, he's also very good at what he does. Christmas was never a good memory for him and he grew up resentful because it was never a special time for him with his family. But the little town of Briar Creek and a certain cookie maker has him rethinking everything about his life.

Overall, this is probably one of my top favorite Christmas novels for the year. It made me cry and fill my heart with joy. It's a great story for getting in the Christmas spirit and for a lovely romance.

 

 This was probably my least favorite for this year, I still enjoyed the premise of the story but I really didn't like the romance or half the characters. The majority of the book David is still in love with his dead wife and is being very obtuse about Willow, he's down right hateful to her because she is making him feel something he should only be feeling for his wife. The majority of the Lyndon family were pompous, stuck-up, and hateful. Willow I liked, she did what she knew was right and is being punished for it, but she's not going to back down. She goes back home to fulfil the dream of her best friend who died unexpectedly the year before. She only has to convince her bestfriend's husband to let her and give her the chance to buy it from him. David hates the Inn he inherited from his wife, he blames her death on the Inn and he can't wait to sell the thing. When Willow comes back into town and makes him feel things he hasn't felt for anyone but his wife and asks that he open the Inn again for his cousin's high profile wedding and give her the chance to buy it he's doubtful, but Willow also has a special connection with his daughter, and seeing her work with his daughter and the society that is shunning her he starts to have doubts about everything he thought he wanted.

 

I have previously reviewed this book look here for the review

http://hannahdabink.blogspot.com/2016/10/arc-review-highlanders-christmas-kiss.html

I have previously reviewed this book look here for the review

http://hannahdabink.blogspot.com/2016/10/arc-review-merry-cowboy-christmas-by.html

ARC REVIEW A Highlander's Christmas Kiss by Paula Quinn

Book Five in the MacGregors: Highland Heirs series is not the cheery happy Christmas book you think a book with a title like A Highlander's Christmas Kiss would be. There was quite a bit of the two main characters falling in love and dealing with their angst. It felt like filler because they fell quickly in love and it was just Temperance dealing with her grief and need for vengeance and Cailean dealing with his grief and guilt. Once your get to the good part the book is half over and then it goes quickly. I liked the characters and the best ones were the secondary character, Patrick and Grams. It's fine as a standalone but to really understand the the pain and grief Cailean has suffered you have to know what he's gone through, first he lost his beloved dog Sadie and then he finally started to fall in love when he lost her to shot in the back by a bullet that was meant for him. Alison's death pushed him over the edge and now with no reason left to live he joins a group of bloodthirsty mercenaries, The Black Riders. His cousin Patrick doesn't know the details of why Cailean is so unhappy but he doesn't want to leave him alone, he's trying to convince him to return home but what happens sents Cailean on a much more painful path but one with such a sweet reward.

On their way back from market Patrick is struck by an arrow, in Cailean's grief and need for vengeance he allows the heinous Duncan Murdoch to convince him to acting upon his vengeance against the neighbouring family Menzie. It leads to the murder of the head of the family in front of his family. Temperance is devastated by the murder of her father. She knows he was innocent of the crime they accused him of, she wants Duncan Murdoch dead and she's going to be the one to kill him. Cailean regrets what happens and as an act of penance he returns to Linavar but while there he is betrayed by Duncan and stabbed in the back and left for dead. Temperance finds him and Grams and her nurse him back to health. Temperance is technically engaged to her best friend but she doesn't love him and doesn't want to marry him, he's not even in love with her either but with another woman who went missing weeks ago. The longer Cailean stays there the more guilt he feels and the more he falls in love with Temperance. Cailean is determined to set things right but is he to late? What will Temperance think of him after she finds out the truth about him?

Overall, it was an entertaining read, it's more of an angsty historical romance that happens to take place at the same time as Christmas.