A daring lass. An angry Scot.And the happenings of a fateful day.EMMA MACDRUMMOND has been in love all her life. Unfortunately, the man of her heart has no clue that she even exists. And so one fateful morning she agrees to a dare to steal a kiss.His kiss.One wintry morning, FINNEGAN MACDRUMMOND finds himself surprised by a lass he’s never noticed before. Quick as fox, her lips capture his before … Quick as fox, her lips capture his before she darts off into the forest. Taken with her courage, Finn pursues her only to learn that her kiss was nothing but a dare.
Will fear and disappointment keep them apart? Or does love truly conquer all?
This book is a prequel to the Highland tales of the Love’s Second Chance Series (book 13 – 16).
NOTE: This prequel was previously published as part of the USA Today bestselling multi-author anthology, WINTER WISHES.
Love’s Second Chance Series
#1 Forgotten & Remembered – The Dukes Late Wife (Rosabel & Graham)
#2 Cursed & Cherished – The Duke’s Wilful Wife (Anna & Edmond)
#3 Despised & Desired – The Marquess’ Passionate Wife (Ellie & Frederick)
#4 Abandoned & Protected – The Marquis’ Tenacious Wife (Henrietta & Connor)
#5 Ruined & Redeemed – The Earl’s Fallen Wife (Charlotte & Sebastian)
#6 Betrayed & Blessed – The Viscount’s Shrewd Wife (Beth & Tristan)
#7 Deceived & Honoured – The Baron’s Vexing Wife (Madeline & Derek)
#8 Sacrificed & Reclaimed – The Solider’s Daring Widow (Meagan & Edward)
#9 Condemned & Admired – The Earl’s Cunning Wife (Violet & Oliver)
#10 Trapped & Liberated The Privateer’s Bold Beloved (Alexandra & Antoine)
#11 Oppressed & Empowered – The Viscount’s Capable Wife (Evelyn & Richard)
#12 Destroyed & Restored – The Baron’s Courageous Wife (Adelaide & Matthew)
#13 Tamed & Unleashed – The Highlander’s Vivacious Wife (Claudia & Garrett)
#14 Banished & Welcomed – The Laird’s Reckless Wife (Moira & Cormag)
#15 Haunted & Revered – The Scotsman’s Destined Love (Deidre & Alastair)
#16 Fooled & Enlightened – The Englishman’s Scottish Wife (Maggie & Nathan)
Each love story in this series can be read as a stand-alone. However, most readers prefer to read them in order.
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A Pleasure to Read!
I originally read this story as part of the Winter Wishes Anthology and have just reread it as an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) standalone book.
It is a short and sweet romance that builds up nicely and ends with a perfect happily-ever-after and I loved everything about it from the two main characters, Emma and Finn (Finnegan) to the anguishing angst that they put themselves through for 7 years.
What I found very amusing was that everyone around them knew they were in love with each other, except them!
I have to recommend this story as it was such a delight and pleasure to read.
My voluntary review above is unbiased.
On a dare from her friends, Emma will kiss Finn, but her friends don’t know how much she loves him so jumps at the chance to kiss him.. Finn was shocked at the kiss but something moved in his heart and he recalled his father saying how he had fallen in love with his mother st first glance could this be love at first kiss. Rushing to speak with Emma he overhears Emma saying the kiss meant nothing it was only a bet, after this, he becomes very cold to Emma but she doesn’t know why. Many years pass and his dislike for Emma never changes but neither does the love he felt at that first kiss. He wonders if they will ever share a second kiss,
Timeless Love
Emma has loved Finn since forever and when her friends dared her at 16 to kiss him she accepted the dare. Finn was stunned and speechless and caught off guard to see this young girl walking up to him during training practice and kiss him right there in front of his friends. After he came to his senses and some friendly teasing from his friends, he went after her only to discover her saying to her friends that it was a dare and meant nothing. He was angry and hurt and for 7 years held an animosity toward her that she couldn’t understand.
I loved the short story. Frustration, misunderstanding, unrequited love, unhappiness all rolled into a novella with a surprising ending which is worth reading if you want to know what happens between these two delightful characters.
‘A daring lass. An angry Scot.
And the happenings of a fateful day.
EMMA STEWART has been in love all her life. Unfortunately, the man of her heart has no clue that she even exists. And so, one fateful day, she agrees to a dare to steal a kiss.
His kiss.
One wintry morning, FINNEGAN MACDRUMMOND finds himself surprised by a lass he’s never noticed before. Quick as a fox, her lips capture his before she darts off into the forest. Taken with her courage, Finn pursues her only to learn that her kiss was nothing but a dare.
Will fear and disappointment keep them apart? Or does love truly conquer all?’
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Dared & Kissed is a novella by Bree Wolf that was previously published as part of the multi-author anthology Winter Wishes. It has now been republished as a single novella and is part of Wolf’s Love Second Chance series, set chronologically before books 13-16 in the series, which tell the stories of various members of Clan MacDrummond.
Dared & Kissed is a short novella about two characters that have been in love for seven years, but they’re blind to their feelings for one another and so instead treat the other with animosity. It’s a sweet story of two people coming together after years of keeping distance over a long ago misunderstanding. They needed a lot of help along the way to come to their senses as they struggle through heavy doses of both stubbornness and fear of rejection.
With it being a novella, you don’t feel the same level of connection with the main characters that you do in Bree Wolf’s full length books. But, if like me, you have read the books about Clan MacDrummond then you will already be familiar with and feel more of a connection with Finn and Emma.
I recommend the Love’s Second Chance series, including the novella of Dared & Kissed to those that enjoy historical romances with a guaranteed HEA. All books in the series can serve as stand-alones, but are interconnected, therefore you could just as easily start with the novella.
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I would like to thank the author, Bree Wolf, for sharing a copy of Dared & Kissed with me for reviewing purposes. This is my honest review.
Although a fairly short novel, one that can be read in an evening, this story nevertheless touches the heart as two people try to avoid one another in the fish-bowl environment of a Scottish keep in the dead of winter, where secrets are hard to keep and nothing escapes the watchful eyes of the clan members. Taking a dare as a young teenage girl, Emma steals a kiss from Finn MacDrumond. Put on the spot, she denies the intensity of the event, not realising that Finn has overheard the conversation and that he is furious that he has been made a fool of. It takes much water under the bridge and intervention of friends to bring Finn and Emma face to face once again and to acknowledge to one another what everyone else already knows. I received a copy of this sweet romance as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Sixteen year old Emma Stewart has been in love all her life but he’s no idea she even exists & so she decides to steal a kiss. Finnegan MacDrummond is surprised to be kissed by an unknown woman. Seven years later & Emma & Finn are pussy footing around each other. Everyone else knows how they feel about each other but it takes some straight talking from their friends to make them see what’s in front of their noses. A well written lovely short story of misunderstandings. Characters with depth & a well paced story made for a lovely read before I slept. This novella features characters from other books so slots nicely into Breeworld
Lack of Communication 4.5*
A dare gives Emma enough courage to steal a kiss from Finn but ever since that day he has has gone out of his way to glare and glower at her. Can they finally find their HEA seven years later?
I originally read this as part of the Winter Wishes Boxset and freely give this review.
How a misunderstanding and stubbornness can cause so much hurt.
For seven years, Finn and Emma have done everything to avoid the other, certain each one dislike another.
Hopefully both were surrounded by great friends who cared for them and willing to help them clear their path to another.
In some way it was a truly sad tale as it was two persons unhappily married who taught the main couple how to recognize the signs of love.
A lovely tale demonstrating the pain pigheadedness and misinterpretation can cause to two persons in love because they are unable to cross the bridge another held back by their fear and pride
14. Book 12.5: Dared & Kissed The Scotsman’s Yuletide Bride also Highland Tales book 2:5 stars
I received a free copy of the short novella Dared & Kissed The Scotsman’s Yuletide Bride (# 12.5 Love’s Second Chance Series: Highland Tales book 2) by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
Complex, easy flowing, complete, and satisfying with suggestions at sequels. Emma and Finnegan are nudged by well-meaning friends who try and bring them together and thus end the seven-year misunderstanding that continues to separate them. Wonderful characters, glimpses at four vastly different romances, and of course a happy ending make this complex holiday clean romance one well worth reading.
15. Book 13: Tamed & Unleashed The Highlander’s Vivacious Wife also Highland Tales book 1: 5 stars
I received a free copy of the full-length clean novel Tamed & Unleashed The Highlander’s Vivacious Wife (#13 Love’s Second Chance Series: Highland Tales Series Book 1) by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
Poignant and suspenseful with many twists and turns. Amnesia, a drunken encounter, a kidnapping, and the tenacity of true love fill the pages of this complex clean romance featuring Scotsman Garrett and his quest to reunite with his English wife Claudia.
A short story of admitting love.
While the two min characters are struggling with their own feelings the supporting characters are dealing with their own. ( my heart breaks for Ian and Maggie I hope they can find love together)
The author does a wonderful job of painting a picture of the place and people it is like the reader is there.
A stand alone book but richer when read with the others in the series.
Dared and Kissed
Bree Wolf
Finnegan MacDrummond was the third son of the laird and six Years older. His father was still healthy and strong. He was still a good leader.
Emma Steward of Clan MacDrummond had never spoken to Finn but had loved him most of her life. She had taken a dare to kiss him. She did but then Finn and Emma spent seven years in agony. They cared for each other.
This is a sweet story about two people who care but are so afraid to get hurt. They have wasted seven years for what? Luckily they have good friends trying to convince them to at least speak to each other so much can be resolved. A wonderful loving story.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
This was part of a bundle called WINTER KISSES.
I dislike with a passion misunderstandings/miscommunications that last for the whole book. We have that here in spades. It lasts a whole 7 years and that ruined the story for me. It is a good story, but I just don’t care for that theme.
There are two other stories within, that you are left wondering about and have no answers of their outcome. Our H/h get their HEA finally. This is a clean story with only a few kisses.
We have no cheating, no cliffhanger for our H/h but unanswered questions on two other couples and only kisses. (LJB)
A sweet novella that i first read in the Winter anthology. It tells of the misunderstanding between Emma and Finn that kept them apart until their friends stepped in. A good addition to the series.
Even though this was a short read I felt like the pages packed quite the storyline and characters that were so well rounded that Emma and Finn pulled me right into their story as it unfolded!
A seven year misunderstanding.
Emma had a dare and Finn overheard something but only some of what’s said leads to 7 years of them avoiding each other. The misunderstandings kept them apart when if they talked to each other it would have prevented all of the hard feelings that they lived with. Their family and friends could see what they refused to see. Finally will they get a happily ever after? I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Seven years.
That’s how long ago Emma kissed her longtime unrequited crush, Finn. Since that kiss, Finn has glared at Emma. Just because she kissed him on a dare. Man, these two seriously need to just talk to each other. Stil, a sweet and charming will he/ won’t she.
Recommend.
I enjoyed reading this short romantic holiday read. Bree focused on the two main characters Finn and Emma. I liked how the writer talk with their closes friends to work out the confusion of being in love. I like that the couples really didn’t have other people standing in their way as they tried to figure out their love for each other. I enjoyed the sweetness of the couple. I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy
When sixteen-year-old Emma Stewart decides to steal a kiss from Finnegan MacDrummond, her friends make a bet she will not. She does. He is surprised, but pleased, until he hears one of the girls say it was only because of a dare. That was seven years ago and they have avoided each other since. Can their friends convince them that are meant for each other?
This is a cute story about a couple who almost lose each other due to a misunderstanding. Talking things out would have helped, but they were young, and their feelings were hurt. Fortunately, they have friends, familiar characters from other books, to point out the obvious. Finn and Emma are loveable characters who just need a nudge toward happily ever after. Good story. I recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Love’s Enemy: Fear & Stubbornness
In typical teen fashion, Emma took a dare and did the deed.
In typical male fashion, Finn misunderstood and sulked for seven years.
Being human includes making silly choices with youthful exuberance and questioning and regretting said choices later in life. Sadly, when fear and stubbornness get in the way, regrets and misunderstandings can fester for years. Only with honest discussion can a relationship be saved and/or restored.
Such is the case with Emma and Finn. I loved them both and felt their pain and frustration. However, I was glad they each had a friend who could see what they needed to do and urged them onto the right path towards reconciliation and a sweet happy ending.
Content 411: This stand-alone holiday novella is sweet and clean. It is suitable for any age reader.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
I have always wondered about Emma and Finn’s story. I am so glad I got to read it, not only for their story but some of the insights into the other stories as well. I am so glad Emma and Finn had good people pushing them to take a second chance. Their story is special and I really enjoyed it.