Last Duke Standing by Julia London

New York Times bestselling author Julia London opens her sparkling, witty, sexy new series, A Royal Match, with a young future queen in the market for a husband, and the charming—and opinionated—Scottish lord tasked to introduce her to the ton’s most eligible bachelors.

Charming. Cheeky. Cunning.

When Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria is sent to England to learn the ropes of royalty, she falls under the tutelage of none other than Queen Victoria herself. Justine’s also in the market for a proper husband—one fit to marry the future queen of Wesloria.

Because he knows simply everyone, William, Lord Douglas (the notoriously rakish heir to the Duke of Hamilton seat in Scotland, and decidedly not husband material), is on hand as an escort of sorts. William has been recruited to keep an eye on the royal matchmaker for the Weslorian prime minister, tasked to ensure the princess is matched with a man of quality… and one who will be sympathetic to the prime minister’s views.

As William and Justine are forced to scrutinize an endless parade of England’s best bachelors, they become friends. But when the crowd of potential grooms is steadily culled, what if William is the last bachelor standing?

 

 

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shelby – ☆☆☆☆☆
Due to her father’s illness, Princess Justine is soon to be crowned Queen of Wesloria. [I must say, I appreciate that she is able to become a ruling queen – not just a woman in need of a man to be king, not that she is just a commodity to tie a man to the ruling of this nation.] Of course, she is saddened by the expected passing of her father, but she's also nervous about filling his shoes. She's not good with public speaking, and truly dislikes being the center of attention. Justine has been embroiled in a bit of a scandal, and in an attempt to quash these rumors and to gain favor with her subjects, it has been decided by her mother (the Queen) and her advisor, that Justine needs to find a husband.

To prepare Justine to take the throne, it's been agreed that an apprenticeship with Queen Victoria in London would be advantageous. This will also give Lila Aleksander, aka the matchmaker to the stars (royalty), time to work!

This story was cute and sweet. It was light-hearted, yet meaningful. I really liked Justine and her quirkiness, I found myself sympathizing with her often. How does a person live their life constantly in the spotlight? How can she trust anybody when she's just a means to an end?

William Douglas was refreshing, carefree, and likeable. He is "normal" and down to earth and lacking the airs so many people put on. I liked him immediately!

I enjoyed this story; it was the perfect mix of serious and humorous. The slow burn was believable and fitting. I truly enjoyed this and I'm not a traditional historical romance reader, but it didn't feel stuffy or pretentious and I found myself falling into it quickly.

 

 

JULIA LONDON is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels of historical and contemporary romance. She is the author of the popular Highland Grooms series as well as A Royal Wedding, her most recent series. Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. She lives in Austin, Texas.

Connect with Julia

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Last Duke Standing (A Royal Match #1) by Julia London to read and review.

Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas

New York Times bestseller Lisa Kleypas returns with an enthralling and steaming romance between a widowed lady and a Scot on the run.

“The devil never tries to make people do the wrong thing by scaring them. He does it by tempting them.”

Lady Merritt Sterling, a strong-willed young widow who’s running her late husband’s shipping company, knows London society is dying to catch her in a scandal. So far, she’s been too smart to provide them with one. But then she meets Keir MacRae, a rough-and-rugged Scottish whisky distiller, and all her sensible plans vanish like smoke. They couldn’t be more different, but their attraction is powerful, raw and irresistible.

From the moment Keir MacRae arrives in London, he has two goals. One: don’t fall in love with the dazzling Lady Merritt Sterling. Two: avoid being killed.

So far, neither of those is going well.

Keir doesn’t know why someone wants him dead until fate reveals the secret of his mysterious past. His world is thrown into upheaval, and the only one he trusts is Merritt.

Their passion blazes with an intensity Merritt has never known before, making her long for the one thing she can’t have from Keir MacRae: forever. As danger draws closer, she’ll do whatever it takes to save the man she loves... even knowing he might be the devil in disguise.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in The Ravenels series!
For book four, Hello Stranger, click HERE.
For book five, Devil’s Daughter, click HERE.
For book six, Chasing Cassandra, click HERE.

 

 

Book 7
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Avon (HarperCollins)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Devil in Disguise is the seventh installment in The Ravenels series. While I do believe it could be read as a standalone with little to no confusion, the reader would miss out on the emotional connection to the elder characters in the series. Not only within this series but Kleypas' earlier series as well, as the books are all interconnected. Both Merritt and Keir are descendants from the various characters over several series arcs.

Merritt (I always get excited when I see this surname used, albeit as a first name this go-around, as it is one of my maternal bloodlines. Makes me feel connected to the character and the story even more.)…

Merritt was easy to relate to, so many facets many women could grasp onto to feel seen and heard, her voice speaking for us. Mature, stable, level-headed, strong, and capable, but in great need of someone to bring the playful wildness out of her... and Keir is perfect for the role.

Widowed, barren, an elder sibling, Merritt is thriving professionally as she takes the reins of her late husband's shipping company, employing her baby brother to be her right-hand man. She has it all in a man's world – respect, the love of family, but the fact that she believes she cannot have children keeps her from finding romantic love after what happened with her late husband, added with the fact that a tryst may tarnish her reputation. For reference, Merritt is either plagued with Endo or PCOS by the description, another facet that so many women face, readers easily empathizing.

Then there is Keir MacRae... the cursing, whisky-making Scot who is far too handsome for his own wellbeing, having to wear a scruffy beard as armor against men and women alike. He had a way about him, not only his looks and affect effecting Merritt, but the way he twisted his words and phrases to catch hold of the reader. Keir got beneath my skin, the pages eagerly flying by as I waited for a chuckle here and there, the inventive way he saw the world. Little banterific zings Keir dished out, Merritt rendered speechless.

Merritt and Keir meet in a professional setting, mishaps befalling Keir every step of the way, as the pair are drawn infinitely closer together, the knot tightening until they both feel as if it would be foreign to be apart. Wrought with tension, witty banter, Scottish slang and curses, familial secrets revealed, the pages flew by, leaving me wishing I had more. Not wishing to leave this wonderful setting, the longing to start all these books at the beginning once more.

Highly recommend to fans of Kleypas and Historical Romance. Forever at the top of my favorites list. I truly hope we'll see more from these families, perhaps from Merritt's baby brother.

 

 

New York Times bestselling author LISA KLEYPAS graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree. She is a RITA award winning author of both historical romance and contemporary women’s fiction. Her novels are published in fourteen different languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband Gregory and their two children.

Connect with Lisa

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Devil in Disguise (The Ravenels #7) by Lisa Kleypas to read and review.

You've Got Plaid by Eliza Knight

A fierce and loyal Highlander.
A proud and determined rebel.
A mission that could cost them not only the Crown,
But their hearts as well...

Brogan Grant, Jacobite soldier and bastard son of the Chief, fought savagely on the battlefield and barely escaped capture. On the run for his life, Brogan comes across the daughter of his clan's enemy... who just might also be a spy...

Lady Fiona MacBean is determined to ensure there is a Scottish king. Disguised as a healer, she delivers coded messages to rebels throughout the Highlands. There's only one thing in her way now—a striking Highlander who's determined to send her home.

Fiona will not be deterred, no matter what the sexy Scot says. Left with little choice, Brogan joins her mission to save the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie himself...

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Prince Charlie's Angels series!
For book one, The Rebel Wears Plaid, click HERE.

 

 

Book 3
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Casablanca Books (Sourcebooks)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is the Phantom’s book. Lady by day, Prince Charlie’s most trusted spy by night, Fiona is brave, loyal, and beautiful. Whether Brogan, a bastard Jacobite soldier, deserves her is another matter. As always, the history in this series is fascinating. Where Jenny’s story was all about new hope, Fiona’s book takes place later when the Jacobites are losing, and Prince Charlie is more fallible man than legendary saviour.

This series is fabulous. Fiona’s book brings the Scottish struggle into a new time. As many characters are familiar as are new in this third book. Fiona possibly feels a little too similar to Jenny and Annie, but she is a strong, likeable heroine. Tension builds in this book as none of the characters’ loyalties are ever very clear. Trust is elusive and even Prince Charlie doesn’t quite live up to his reputation.

I enjoyed the tension between Brogan and Fiona but the way they are thrown together doesn’t feel entirely plausible. Their banter is fun – until it becomes a little bit repetitive. Overall, the connection between Fiona and Brogan is fun – and there are some great steamy moments. Jenny’s book remains my favourite but this is another satisfying adventure from Eliza Knight.

 

 

ELIZA KNIGHT is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical romances. Under the name E. Knight, she’s known for riveting tales that cross landscapes around the world. When not reading, writing, or researching, she chases after her three children. In her spare time she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, and visiting with family and friends. She lives in Maryland.

Connect with Eliza

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Facebook Group: Eliza Knight's VIP Book Club

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of You've Got Plaid (Prince Charlie's Angels #3) by Eliza Knight to read and review.

The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight Blog Tour

A sweeping, action-packed Scottish historical romance filled with adventure, history, and longing from USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight. When Highlander Toran Fraser encounters a mysterious rebel for the prince, he can't resist being recruited to her cause...

Toran Fraser is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites. On a late-night mission, he's intercepted by a woman known only as "Mistress J," who's determined to put Prince Charlie back on the throne of Scotland. Toran can't resist her appeal—especially with her pistol pointed at his heart—and suddenly finds himself joining the rebellion...

By day, highborn Jenny Mackintosh runs her estate in the Highlands. By night, she's one of Prince Charlie's Angels—a band of Jacobite rebels. Scoffing at mortal danger, she raises coin, delivers weapons, and recruits soldiers for the rebellion. When she encounters a handsome Highlander who is clearly on the run, she is more than a little intrigued. She isn't expecting to be his enemy...

Jenny's story has a flavor of the lives of Lady Anne (Farquharson) Mackintosh, Jenny Cameron, and Lady Margaret Ogilvy, who raised troops, collected funds and weapons for the rebels, fought in battles, and aided men in escaping the wrath of their enemies.

Book 1
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Toran jerked around. Suddenly, figures melted out from the shadows. Scots, but in the dark and dressed as they were, he couldn’t make out what clan they hailed from. At the center of the five men stood a lass. Aye, she wore trews and had her hair up under a cap, wisps of golden strands peeking through, but there was no hiding the curves beneath her shirt and waistcoat. In the moonlight filtering through the trees, she looked bonnie—high, arching cheekbones, a mouth that puckered into a frown. But what struck him most was the spark of fire in her gaze. Her eyes reflected the light of the moon, almost making her look like she was glowing.

And the muzzle of her pistol was pointed right at him. Outlaws… Of all the bloody luck. He reached for his own pistol tucked into his belt.

“Dinna move,” the lass said. Her voice was throaty, sensual. “Else I put a bullet through your heart.”

A slow grin formed on Toran’s face. “What’s to say I won’t put a bullet in yours first?”

The lass looked down at Archie and then flicked her gaze back to his. “Ye’re outnumbered. Let’s say ye were willing to pull your weapon before I took my shot, and then ye were to waste your bullet, there’d be five more cutting through ye before ye were able to see the result.” Again, she looked at Archie. “And your friend doesna seem like he will be much help.”

“We’re verra close to the English garrison, lass. Any shot ye make will be a beacon to the dragoons lurking about. And trust me, there are hundreds of them headed this way as we speak.”

“Is that so?” She glanced at Archie once more. “A prison break? So ye two are rebels, aye?”

Toran didn’t answer. Let her come to her own conclusions.

“We have horses.” She kept her gaze on his, and he had the intense urge to draw closer. “Ye and your friend can have one when we return to my camp—for a price. Why not donate your coin to the cause and join us? We’ve a need for more rebels.”

Toran did not want to join her. Now, if she’d asked him to join her for some mutual warmth under a plaid, that would be another story. Then again, she had a point about the bullets. And he truly did not want to die.

“I’m guessing from your current circumstances ye are in need of a helping hand, sir.” Her voice was smooth, even melodic, but still filled with authority. And considering that she was the one speaking, she certainly gave the impression that she was the one in charge. Fascinating.

A group of men led by a woman? Not a common thing, and intensely intriguing. Whoever she was, she had ballocks as full of steel as his own. And if he weren’t trapped in the woods with her, a hundred redcoats on his tail, he might have asked her to join him for a dram.

“Who are ye?” Toran asked.

A soft laugh escaped her, and her hand waved dismissively. “Not yet, sir. Ye’ll have to prove yourself first.”

Prove himself? He gritted his teeth. “All right, we’ll join ye.” There really was no other choice. He and Archie needed a quick escape, and her horse would provide that. Just because he was taking her up on the offer now didn’t mean he had to stick it out. In fact, as soon as he could, he’d steal the horse and somehow get Archie back to Fraser lands where he could make certain the rest of his family was safe from Boyd.

“Good.” She nodded to Dirk. “Search them for weapons, and then help the wounded man onto your horse.”

Toran stood still for the inspection, gritting his teeth as his weapons were removed. “I’ve said we’d join ye. Why then are ye treating me like a prisoner?”

The lass cocked her head to the side, a slight grin curling her upper lip. “We must first see that ye are trustworthy.” With an added challenge echoing in her words, she said, “Ye can ride with me. And dinna try any tricks, else ye find yourself verra dead.”

The lass didn’t beat around the bush, and there was no hint of humor in her tone at all. She meant what she said.

Toran climbed onto the back of her horse, his cold, wet body flush to her warmer, dry back. Beneath the icy exterior was a lass full of lush curves. Mo chreach… Good heavens, but she felt good. Hesitantly, he placed an arm around her waist.

She shuddered. “Blast, but ye’re soaked,” she hissed. “Ye should have warned me. And ye smell like the devil’s own chamber pot.”

Toran chuckled. “A hazard of escape, lass.”

Her back straightened, and she leaned forward, away from him. “Ye can call me Mistress J.”

Mistress J? Why did that sound familiar?

“And ye are?” she urged.

“I’m called Toran,” he said slowly as realization struck him. The night had taken a very interesting turn. For he was holding onto the woman he suspected might be responsible for his mother’s death.

***

Excerpted from The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight. © 2020 by Eliza Knight. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Exciting and steamy, I loved this story of the brave Mistress J and her loyal band of heroic Highlanders. A lady by day and a fierce warrior by night, Jenny Mackintosh is a wonderfully deserving heroine. Toran Fraser, on the other hand, has mixed loyalties and even after Jenny rescues him, he is unable to trust her.

I imagine that a few liberties have been taken with the history behind this book but the story is fantastic. The political background to the story is almost as complicated as the connection between Jenny and Toran. The chemistry between these two is explosive – but neither trusts the other. The result is an exciting and complicated story.

I love the slightly reversed gender roles in this book, and I love the suggestion that women like Jenny were at the forefront of the struggle for Scottish independence. It’s Jenny who rescues Toran, Jenny who saves her people, and Jenny who outsmarts the English at every turn. Toran has his own skill set – but he is the one forced to choose whether he can swear allegiance to Jenny and her cause.

This book is everything I want from a historic romance. Solid history, well-crafted characters, and an exciting story make for a rather thrilling romp.


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆
I must say that I'm not usually a Historical Romance reader, and I'm not sure why. It may be that I don't really know the true events or timelines, it may be due to not truly grasping the historical concepts, or it may be due to my own ignorance.

The Rebel Wears Plaid was a pleasant surprise.

Mistress J is a Jacobite rebel leader. She plays an integral role in the war to rid her lands of the evil English. Championing the Bonnie Prince Charlie, Lady Jenny Mackintosh takes her duties seriously and fully intends to see her chosen prince take the throne.

Toran Fraser has a sordid history, orphaned and raised by his uncle, The Fox, he is responsible for his younger siblings and searching for the people responsible for the death of his mother. His immediate family means everything to him, but his search fuels his soul.

This story has everything – mystery, intrigue, action, romance, and a very strong female lead. I loved reading about Mistress J knowing this was set in the 1700s. There is the ongoing war, the familial feuds, the touching moments, and the answers to questions.

I was drawn into the story from page one and it kept hold until the last. I need to know the next chapter in the story of Prince Charlie's Angels, but specifically what happens to the traitor Hamish.

ELIZA KNIGHT is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical romances. Under the name E. Knight, she’s known for riveting tales that cross landscapes around the world. When not reading, writing, or researching, she chases after her three children. In her spare time she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, and visiting with family and friends. She lives in Maryland.

Connect with Eliza

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Rebel Wears Plaid (Prince Charlie's Angels #1) by Eliza Knight to read and review for this tour.

Wicked Highland Ways by Mary Wine

A fiery woman who won't be tamed
A powerful Highland chief by her side
A passion neither can deny

Brenda Grant has no desire to marry. Ever since her first, horrible marriage she's made herself into a hellion of a woman to keep men from wanting her. But the Campbells, her previous husband's family, are determined to find her a new husband.

Highland Chief Bothan Gunn is smitten by the woman who won't be tamed. It takes all Brenda's willpower to resist the brawny Highlander who takes her to safety. But as they spend time together—and grow ever closer—Brenda finally finds the freedom she's been longing for all along.

Book 6
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Wicked Highland Ways is the sixth and final installment of the Highland Weddings series. All the books do connect via the same character set and world-building, I do believe it would be a richer experience, with a deeper connection to the characters, if the series is read in order.

A political betrothal, Brenda sacrificed herself to marry an Englishman for her family's benefit (events shown in the previous installment). With a strong connection to her cousin, Brenda is fiercely loyal with her commitments. Mature, she is no wilting flower nor a damsel in distress.

Bothan Gunn is wily, cunning, and he must flex these personality traits in his quest to refuse to let Brenda go. The delicious angst is delivered by Bothan being madly in love with Brenda, while she fights her instinctive need to protect her family and keep to her word. Brenda believes her feelings don't matter, but she didn't bargain for her betrothed's behavior, nor what fealty causes those without true autonomy to suffer.

I'm trying to do better without releasing spoilers in my reviews, so I struggle with what to release and what to keep silent to avoid this. I'll talk 'around' the plot.

Mary Wine makes Brenda and Bothan earn their happily ever after. It's a difficult journey, rife with a full gamut of emotions. Alongside our hero and heroine, the reader also earns a fulfilling happily ever after. They have to be strong, not get in their own way, challenging themselves to fight for what they deserve together.

In the beginning of the series, the novels were more romance-centric, but as the series evolved, it became more political, where autonomy was threatened due to fealty. Deeper, richer, with tightly woven plots threads that weren't necessarily easy to read.

This is the final in the series, and it did the story proud. With that being said, there were characters left without a voice who could have easily captivated readers. Threads left open, left up to the imagination, which I can respect.

I am thankful that I found Mary Wine a few books ago. While I am sad to let this series go, in which I will no doubt reread at a later date, I can't wait to see what the author gives us next. Highly recommend to historical romance fans, especially with Wine's eye for historical details and realistic characterizations.

Also Available in the Highland Weddings Series

Book 3
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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Highland Hellion post.

Book 4
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Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Highland Flame post.

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Between a Highlander and a Hard Place post.

Acclaimed author Mary Wine has written nearly 20 works of erotic fantasy, romantic suspense, and historical romance. An avid history-buff and historical costumer, she and her family enjoy participating in historical reenactments. Mary lives with her husband and two sons in Yorba Linda, California.

Connect with Mary

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Wicked Highland Ways (Highland Weddings #6) by Mary Wine to read and review.

Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Mary Wine

A fierce Englishwoman on the run
A Highland Laird who needs a proper wife
And a desire neither can resist

Athena Trappes thinks she's in love... until she discovers the scoundrel only wanted her as his bit on the side. Enraged, she does what any spirited Englishwoman would do: set fire to his belongings, incur his dangerous wrath, and flee—immediately. With nowhere else to turn, she seeks freedom in the wilds of Scotland.

Highland Laird Symon Grant lost his wife years ago, and it's his duty to find another. Athena is not exactly what the clan has in mind for him, but Symon's heart burns with unexpected passion for the woman who would risk everything to be free.

Book 5
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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
3 Frustrating Stars

Between a Highlander and a Hard Place is the fifth installment of the Highland Weddings and can easily be read as a standalone without any confusion had by a new reader.

I'm mixed on the rating and how I feel about the novel overall. The entertainment value. The overall emotion I felt while reading was frustration. The mystery suspense angle overshadowed any and all romance, then all the sudden politics of the era came out of nowhere, with zero buildup, and stole the show. I feel as this novel didn't have a firm hold on its identity, to the point it detracted from the entertainment value. Chaotic. Paced oddly.

Athena is on the run when the man who was to be her husband decides to make her his mistress instead, thinking he didn't need permission from her guardian or her consent. Escaping England, Athena dresses as a male, catching the notice of a Laird in Scotland.

Symon was a solid historical romance hero – the perfect highlander. He was gruff and rough yet tenderhearted when it came to Athena. This lent well to the insta-lust, slow-burn, bantering between the pair. The early part of the novel was truly romance.

Symon is the last of his line, outside of his cousin, Brenda. Both widowed, both must marry to ensure the stability of their lands and their bloodline. Neither is too keen on the prospect, but Symon is instantly taken with the English beauty, and woos Athena to be his wife.

Thankfully, Athena isn't contrary. She's not too stupid to live. She's not a damsel in distress. However, the story is contrary, irrational, convoluted, chaotic, and frustrating, burying the romance entirely by forcing the characters to deal with outlandish events.

After waiting through countless interrupted lust scenes, where I am the biggest slow-burn fan. When it came to the payoff, which I'd been highly anticipating, I was disappointed beyond belief. The between-the-sheets action was ill-timed, time and time again. Brenda had just been kidnapped, one of their people killed, yet the author decided that was the time to finally reward the reader?!?

As a reader, am I to be invested in Brenda as a character, for their perilous situation, or am I to get hot and bothered by a love scene? Tell me, because it felt like an unwanted, interrupting sex-sells commercial shown as an intermission during my favorite TV show, where I want to know what happens next, where I'd undoubtedly fast-forward to get past the sexy commercials. I was looking forward to the romance and their connection in bed, but I was too worried about Brenda, or the other situations they were in, to find enjoyment in the scenes. What should have been a reward became ill-timed, frustrating, and annoying, to where I 'fast-forwarded' the last two to find out what happened next.

This happened not once, but three times. All smexy scenes took place during times of great peril. Written as an unwanted intermission, as if I enjoyed it, I obviously am heartless for not caring that a character has been kidnapped to be sold into sexual slavery (a threat used repeatedly, until I was desensitized). Whiplash. To go from someone being kidnapped, which is heart-racing suspense, where you don't know what happens next, to the scene you've been waiting forever to read, only to have it be lessened because clearly I care more about their longevity and Brenda than they do.

This rubbed me wrong, approximately at the 75% mark, and went downhill from there. The first third of the book had one identity (romance), the second third had the identity of mystery suspense, and the last third was filled with political maneuverings and the characters being held hostage without autonomy. This meant any connection I felt for the characters in the first third was gone by the time politics came into it. I would be fine with any three of these things, if they were consistent from start to finish, not fighting against one another and overshadowing each other.

Was I entertained? At first. Frustration won out, but I wanted to know what happened next. How many times does Athena get kidnapped by the same villain? Four? More? Such a bumbling idiot manages to keep kidnapping the cousin and wife to a Laird. As I said earlier – the characters aren't the issue, the events and situations the author wrote for them is. Yet there is no justice by the ending, so more kidnappings can be had at a later date.

Would I reread? No.

Do I recommend? To fans of the author and the series, as well as those who do plan on reading the next in the series, as it's the lead-up.

Do I plan on reading the next? Yes, because the politics of the last third was the heavy-handed setup for the next book featuring Brenda, at the expense of Athena and Symon's journey.

Also Available in the Highland Weddings Series

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Highland Hellion post.

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Highland Flame post.

Acclaimed author Mary Wine has written nearly 20 works of erotic fantasy, romantic suspense, and historical romance. An avid history-buff and historical costumer, she and her family enjoy participating in historical reenactments. Mary lives with her husband and two sons in Yorba Linda, California.

Connect with Mary

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Between a Highlander and a Hard Place (Highland Weddings #5) by Mary Wine to read and review.

Highland Hellion by Mary Wine

KATHERINE CAREW

Illegitimate daughter of an English earl... Abducted to Scotland at age 14... No family, no reputation... No rules

ROLFE MCTAVISH

Heir to an honorable Highland laird... Can't believe how well tomboy Kate can fight... About to learn how much of a woman she really is

Scotland is seething with plots, the vengeful Gordons are spoiling for a fight, and the neighboring clans are at each other's throats. All it takes is a passionate hellion with a penchant for reckless adventure to ignite the Highlands once more.

Book 3
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
5 Kilt-clad Stars

Mary Wine is a new-to-me author, and Highland Hellion is the third installment of the Highland Weddings, which I had no issue reading as a standalone. Wine's writing style was fast-paced, easy to read, and quickly drew the reader into the story. Real emotions were felt by both the reader and the fully developed characters.

Katherine was a unique heroine, and her predicament was just as unique. Judging by the fact that this is the third book in the series, Katherine's backstory is more likely prevalent throughout previous books. She's strong, bullheaded, and determined, but flawed enough to create a realistic character who will admit when they are wrong and grow from their errors. Katherine was a good role model, a heroine that was easy to root for.

Rolfe was a gruff highlander – the son of the laird. Strong-willed, Rolfe also knew when to give in and not only listen to advice, but take it.

Katherine and Rolfe were complementary in disposition, playing off each other's strengths and weaknesses. But the real moral of the story was the lack of autonomy for everyone, especially women. Katherine’s hellion-ness was due in part that she refused to be a prop in other's lives, a possession without a voice, and to just go with the flow and submit. This was achieved through action/reaction, not endless inner monologuing while behaving in a vapid childish way – it felt real instead of manufactured.

A very thick thread of equal rights was woven into the story, in a way that made it beyond accurate of the times, for all readers to see how far we've come and how far we've yet to go further. Not just the women, but all people were born with an agenda fulfilled by those in power over them. There were scenes where it was harrowing to read, and I give mad props to Mary Wine for hitting all the notes. Our autonomy and freedom shouldn't be taken for granted – added to that, we should never press our will upon others.

Highland Hellion features a strong heroine who does what she felt was right, whether selfless or selfish at the time, and an alpha male who did know to bend a bit, creating equals who were compassionate, empathetic, and strong enough to help solidify the highland clans.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy highland romances, and I look forward to checking out the author's backlist and more so of what's to come.

Acclaimed author Mary Wine has written nearly 20 works of erotic fantasy, romantic suspense, and historical romance. An avid history-buff and historical costumer, she and her family enjoy participating in historical reenactments. Mary lives with her husband and two sons in Yorba Linda, California.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Highland Hellion (Highland Weddings #3) by Mary Wine to read and review.