Will he honor his promises and hold his family together?Callum McDougall’s fate has never been in question. He will follow in his father’s footsteps and become chieftain of his clan. A clan that is struggling in a Scotland where their very way of life is threatened by the industrial revolutions that are leaving them behind. All of that, however, will have to wait. For when Callum’s cousin, … Callum’s cousin, Gregor, goes missing, there is no one else Callum trusts to find him, leading him to embark on a journey that might just change his life forever.
Will she have her freedom, no matter the cost?
Victoria should have listened to her aunt’s warnings. But the time for regrets is not necessarily while hanging off the trellis outside of a duke’s second-story window. After nearly being manipulated by her stepfather into a marriage orchestrated for his own financial gain, Victoria Brighton escapes just in time. Now she must create a new future for herself, one which she is determined will never again include reliance on a man who might yet again use her as a pawn.
They must find the answers they seek…
One accidental starlit encounter leaves Victoria and Callum at odds, with one another, and with themselves over the intensity of attraction they feel for one another. But the more they try to fight it, the harder it will be to leave one another behind. Knowing a future between the two of them can never be, how will the unlikely new allies ever be able to say goodbye?
For readers over 18 due to some steamy content.
Note: Callum’s Vow was previously published as Hearts of Starlight and The Scot’s Vow by Audrey Adair.
more
I’m Canadian and reading an historical romance that has Canada as the backdrop was a real treat:) I thoroughly enjoyed Callum and Victoria’s story, I found it very well written and had everything I love in an historical romance. Like I always do when I find out the story takes place in real places, I went on Google Earth and found Fort Qu’Appelle, even Broadway Street:) It just brings the story more to life for me when I can actually see where it takes place!
Callum and Victoria have quite the adventure, travelling from Scotland/England to Canada by ship and train. Loved the attraction between them even though they didn’t like each other when they first meet! lol I adored both their characters as well as the secondary characters….well except for the bad guys! Adventure, danger, love….it’s all in this story.
I now look forward to reading the rest of this series!
Good story but toooooo much sex.
Great story.
This was a sexy, funny, suspenseful romance. Victoria is escaping her step-father and betrothed nasty plans to gain her inheritance and Callum is search for his missing cousin Gregor. There are sparks and angry words from their first meeting on the deck of the ship sailing to Canada. They can’t help the attraction, but she’s first class and he’s steerage even though he is fated to one day be laird of his family’s clan in Scotland. I loved their sense of adventure and working together to solve the mystery of what happened to Gregor while keeping Victoria safe. I enjoyed the Canadian historical romance as I haven’t come across many books in that genre.
I really loved Victoria and Callum’s story. After an unfortunate first meeting, the attraction between Victoria and Callum grows steadily. Although they are from different worlds, the feelings are strong, but their secrets are stronger. The intrigue, danger, suspense and romance in this book make it a page-turner. I couldn’t put it down.
This book made me want more of the McDougall family, Callum and Victoria’s story was warm, funny, and full of adventure with a wonderful ending. Ms. Ridley has outdone herself with this story it may be out of her normal Regency era but with her talent it just becomes alive.
This is a great book that embraces so much of life during new settlement in Canada. The characters and scenes are presented to us in such a real fashion that we can picture them as the story unfolds. Callum and Victoria’s tale is very entertaining and original capturing adventure and romance with it. I really enjoyed this book and know that so many others will as well!
Callum and Victoria meet aboard ship. He is traveling from Scotland to America to find his missing cousin, then return to Scotland to eventually become clan laird. She is fleeing from a betrothal forced upon her by her step father. She plans to make a new home in Canada, and never return to England. Plans change… I received an ARC of this enjoyable book.
What an exciting, adventurous, transatlantic romance. From England the h fled an unwanted marriage to reside with her beloved father’s sister in the great American Northwest. From Scotland the H was headed to America to find his cousin he loved like a brother. He disappeared a year ago and he was determined to find out what happened to him. On the ship to America the H and h kept bumping into each other. But misread ques and misunderstandings created friction between them. Although there was a healthy dose of attraction. It was quite entertaining when they exchanged words and the h would get frustrated and walk away. Both of them had more in common than they realized. They were both beautiful and attractive inside and out. But it took a while to gain some trust between them. By accident the h overheard a couple of conversations that gave the H some leads to look into. Then the h’s stepfather and her unwanted intended found out where she was and followed her. The H comes to her rescue in an unorthodox way. After the Mounty Police escorted the Englishmen back to the train to leave town, the H followed leads and fell into serious danger. When the h found out that the H was in danger, she had no time to get help and followed the trail. An exciting tale full of feeling and emotion; of discovering a new land and making new friends; of danger and mystery. I rate this at 4.5 because I would have dearly loved to have found out what the fate of the stepfather and of the unwanted intended. Also, there was very little time spent on the cousin the H was so desperate to find. Other than that, I loved the story and highly recommend it. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a lovely story that gives life to the immigrants that came to America at the end of the 19th century. Callum had his life planned for him as he was in line to be Chieftain of his clan. All his plans start to come off the rail when he meets the vivacious Victoria who is running away from home and the prospect of an unwanted marriage. They embark on an adventure and a courtship dance that eventually leads to marriage. It is fun filled story with wonderful characters and great conversations.
I enjoyed reading this interesting and unusual story of Victoria and Callum. An exciting start with Victoria escaping the night before her wedding and travelling from London to Liverpool, boarding a ship and then taking a train to her aunt in a far Canadian settlement. Callum, travelling from Scotland, is searching for his cousin, Gregor in this distant location. Gregor stopped his regular writing and has now seemingly, disappeared. Meeting Callum on the ship and ending up at the same location, their lives seemingly intertwining. Both having their own stories but drawn to each other, they eventually help resolve each other’s issues. Surprises throughout with multiple story lines included for other characters ensures that it is fast paced and draws you in. Thoroughly enjoyable! Hoping there is more to come!
I received an ARC copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Callum always knew he’d follow in his father’s footsteps and become the chieftan of his clan. When Callum’s cousin Gregor goes missing, Callum must go himself, he won’t trust any other to search. But just how far will he have to go to find him? Victoria has to escape the marriage her stepfather is arranging. She flees to America where there she meets up with Callum. At first they clash but then she helps him look for his cousin. As things progress they find themselves with feelings for the other, but she is determined not to rely on a man ever again. Will they be able to make this work? To make matters worse, she’s English and he’s a Scot. Loved the characters in this story. A good one for your TBR.
Finding their way.
Both Callum and Victoria are on a cross roads, a collision course with each other and new directions in their lives.
Neither one is on the road that their families had planned for them. And they are finding their ways but are they going to find their way together?
A BEAUTIFULLY EXECUTED JOURNEY!!!
Sublime! Ellie raised the bar, unleashing one sensational, tantalizing, mind-blowing, chart topping, block busting, page flipping masterpiece, blasting this gem to life brilliantly. A raging tempest of unanticipated circumstances and inadvertent events, run rampant with intense drama, mystifying intrigue, chilling danger and electrifying suspense, blasting this little fella to life spectacularly. Add distress, turmoil, intrigue, escapism and thrilling situations along with a boatload trouble, dodging dastardly intents, makes for one mind-blowing adventure. She knocked the brakes off this little number, riding high and letting loose, kicking this gem into the eye of the storm, blowing it into a tailspin with shocking results. Illustrating incredible, well rounded scenario’s that punch dead center, ramping up the exuberance and gusto with such intensity and precision, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The undeniable attraction and intense chemistry sizzles from the pages, alluring and mesmerizing, until you feel the electrifying hum running through your veins. The characters are authentic and original with qualities and traits that transforms into amazing personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions, as to give you a full understanding and realism that flows smoothly. Remarkable job Ellie, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
An adventure that takes a long journey from England to Canada in the Americas and with it two strong characters that will find what each of them needs even though they never expected it.
Victoria Brighton was a runaway bride. Indeed she would not marry the man her step father was in collusion with so they both could split her inheritance! Having secretly corresponded with her aunt, she planned everything to escape and made the ship to cross the Atlantic.
Callum McDougall was traveling on that same ship as well to go search for his cousin Gregor, who had taken a job in Canada. Although his loyalty was to his clan, who was struggling due to all the innovations that where taking over.
As the two meet on the ship, sparks fly, at first not in the best of ways but they are very attracted to each other. Each have their secrets they keep close, but will they ever be honest with each other?
What will become of them once they reach their destination?
I really enjoyed this story and it kept my interest. How could it not? A braw Scot and a feisty heroine bound for a world that is new and growing. An excellent start to a new series that I cannot wait for more!!
This story starts in England but most of it is in Canada, and an adventure it is-involving an evil stepfather, a scheme to get her dowry, A Highlander looking for his cousin, both of them going to Canada, bumping into each other along the way, a mystery to be solved, and so much more in this entertaining book.
4.5 Stars
Callum McDougall’s fate has never been in question. He will follow in his father’s footsteps and become chieftain of his clan. A clan that is struggling in a Scotland where their very way of life is threatened by the industrial revolutions that are leaving them behind. All of that, however, will have to wait. For when Callum’s cousin, Gregor, goes missing, there is no one else Callum trusts to find him, leading him to embark on a journey that might just change his life forever.
Victoria Brighton should have listened to her Aunt Sarah’s warnings. But the time for regrets is not necessarily while hanging off the trellis outside of a second-story window. After nearly being manipulated by her stepfather into a marriage orchestrated for his own financial gain, Victoria escapes just in time. Now she must create a new future for herself, one which she is determined will never again include reliance on a man who might yet again use her as a pawn.
Victoria and Callum find themselves thrown together on their journey from Liverpool to the North Western frontier of Canada they are often at odds with one another, and with themselves over the intensity of attraction they feel for one another.
A different genre for myself & the author but I loved it. Strong characters & a well paced story had me engrossed from start to finish & I’m so glad the author decided to update this series & publish it under her own name. I loved Callum, the strong Highlander determined to find his cousin Gregor, I also loved Victoria who wanted to forge a new life for herself without being under any man’s thumb. The chemistry between them sizzled, although they each fought it. There was also the secondary romance with Sarah which was an added bonus. I’m now looking forward to the other McDougall siblings having their stories.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I love to read Ellie St. Clair’s Regency romances. This book takes us out of the Regency Period and into the Victorian Era. Victoria lives with her stepfather who has arranged a marriage for her with a duke. This is not a marriage of love but an arrangement so that the stepfather and the duke can share her fortune. Victoria escapes and travels to the Northwest Territory via trains and a transatlantic ship, Onboard, she meets Callum, son of a Scottish Clan Chief. Callum is expected to take over for his father back in Scotland in the future. Victoria and Callum both end up in the same frontier town. Victoria lives with her aunt and helps in the local doctor’s office. Callum is searching for his missing cousin. Victoria plans on staying there but Callum plans to leave once his mission is completed. Do they have a future together or will the stepfather separate them forever?
This was an entertaining book that took me from my usual Regency reading to Victorian times but taking place in the Northwest Territories with English misses & Scottish Highlanders.
Callum McDougall was the eldest son & would one day take over as Laird of their clan after his father either couldn’t or had died but for now, his one goal is to find his cousin (who was more like a twin brother) who had travelled to the Northwest Territories for work. Gregor had written often but then suddenly they had not heard anything from him for months, so Callum was travelling to find him in a small town there called, Qu’Appelle.
Victoria Brighton is escaping her step-father who has arranged a marriage between her & the bankrupt Duke of Lansing. She was to inherit money from her father in a few months when she turned twenty-one years & the two men had a plan to get her married and they would split the inheritance. Her Aunt Sarah had arranged for travel from London, across the Atlantic and then by train to her destination – she even arranged for an older couple to travel as Victoria’s companions and the would meet her on the ship.
As it turns out, Callum & Victoria meet on the ship and have some unpleasant encounters but start to share some things but there were always their secrets as to where and why they were travelling. The story was very entertaining & I loved the main & secondary characters. I am looking forward to Book 2 with Finley & Kyla’s story.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.