William MacGregor will lie, spy, and happily die to protect his clan from their greatest enemy. But when he kidnaps the wrong woman, he triggers the very events he’d been working so hard to prevent. And puts everyone in danger. Rose Thatcher will do anything to protect her lady and return them both safely to English soil. But the damn Highlander who snatched her off the docks has done nothing … nothing but get in her way. She’d love to ditch the bastard, but if they want to save their respective loved ones, they are going to have to stay together.
Somewhere along the grueling journey to Scotland, their constant bickering turns into something more. Something worth fighting for. But how can an English lady’s maid, who longs for the safe, comfortable life she had in London, find love with a Highlander who can’t wait to wipe England’s dust off his feet? If they can’t defeat the enemy they accidentally led home, they might not live long enough to find out.
Each book in the MacGregor Lairds series is STANDALONE:
* How to Lose a Highlander
* How to Ensnare a Highlander
* How to Blackmail a Highlander
* How to Forgive a Highlander
more
2.5 stars – rounded up
The bulk of this story runs in parallel with Alice & Philip’s story and centers on Alice’s maid Rose and Philip’s cousin William.
William is working as a spy for his laird, he has joined Ramsay’s men and keeps his family up to date on Ramsay’s plans, so when he sees Rose watching the ship his cousin Philip is sailing on and believes she is a spy and takes her captive. He realizes his mistake too late and must keep Rose with him to keep her safe, he tells Ramsay that Rose is his “woman”. Rose is not happy, but agrees to play along because she might be able to help Lady Alice.
This book has a lot of action and intrigue, it moves at a good pace, but for me, it felt like the romance was an afterthought – I didn’t feel the “love” and even at the end, it felt forced. Will is a great character but is very hard on himself and carries a lot of guilt. Rose is very opinionated and feisty, but I didn’t really understand why she felt she “had” to stay with Alice – it was almost like she didn’t have a choice and was not able to leave, even if she wanted to, which was just odd. This is the fourth book in the series and If you have been following the series, parts of this story may seem a bit repetitive, but this book definitely gives enough backstory to keep a new reader from feeling lost.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
I have not read a Highlander book in a while and was very excited about this book and the summary of the story. Unfortunately, the romance fell a little flat for me. The details from a historical perspective were great. The romance was very slow but did pick up about ¾ of the way through the book. I loved the idea of the two bickering main characters (yes, I do love the back and forth) but that was not enough to make this a wow book. Overall, it was a nice story.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Rose Thatcher is a ladies maid who is worried over and furious with her lady. Her Lady Alice has run away from home on board a ship to chase after a man. Rose’s job is to try an cover for her to give her time to get away.
William MacGregor has just seen his Kinsman off on his way to Scotland. He is staying in the enemy camp to find out all he can about the expected attack. Someone on the dock is behaving suspiciously, time to go to work.
This is a very amusing story even though it’s full of danger. Our heroine is incredibly brave, our hero is strong and brave as well but also a little too impulsive. A fabulous adventure with great characters.
I loved it.
An English Lady’s maid is kidnapped by a Scotsman suspicious of her actions. Will eventually reveals to Rose that he infiltrated the group of rogues who want to take over two Scottish holdings and capture his Laird’s wife. Rose is angry that he kidnapped her, but Will’s actions earn her trust. Working as a spy he hopes for redemption for his mistakes and prove his worth to his Laird and forgiveness from Rose. A short book, but reads really fast.
I enjoyed this medieval romance. Rose Thatcher, an English lady’s maid, agrees to help her lady, but then she is kidnapped by William MacGregor, who mistakes her for someone else. He agrees to take her to her lady, who is now with his relatives. During the long journey their bickering turns to something more. This was an entertaining book and I would recommend it to others.
Michelle McLean is a new-author to me, it is the blurb which attracted me first.
As I’m a self taught reader in English language, stories with Scottish brogue are not always my favorite as I struggle sometime at reading it (don’t talk to me to listen to an audio version, it would be sexy but like listening to Chinese!), but here I had no difficulties.
But first I loved it was about commoners, for once no laird nor lady but a simple highlander loyal to his kin and a maid ready to fight with teeth and claws for her charge.
Sure William seems to be wreaking havoc in his wake, having not read the three previous installments, I can only trust his words. But it is certain than despite his good intentions, he make a muddle of things. So I quite understand why he felt so defeated and so not deserving but he does not see he does good even in his mistakes, he was ready to die to save his laird’s wife, and her friend.
Rose is a her-head-screwed-straight kind of girl, she gives a thought before taking any action, she is not easily confused, only when around William, she looses her temper.
When close, each arises the worst and best in the other, they can’t stop to argue or bicker but also feel stronger when together and are drawn to another.
They tried to fight their attraction, because worst than their constant nagging at another, there is their origins, she longs for London when he only wants to go back to Scotland among his kind or serve them.
« “But you’re as human as the rest of us. No one is infallible, Will. And you’ve since saved my life—more than once.” »
It was a slow burn story as the author took time to give them moments to get to know the other, to learn about their past and their hopes. It was in spite of them they fell in love, but still they struggled because of who they were.
In all a lovely tale of two very opposite persons finding home in each other.
I just would have liked an epilogue, but it is just me.
4.5 stars
How to Forgive a Highlander by Michelle McLean- those Highlanders are at it again: a spying, kidnapping handsome rogue. And boy is he handsome, and kind. Sweet romance in a picturesque setting at a fascinating time. Great read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
While this is the fourth book in this series, it is the first for me. I could tell though that prior characters from the first three books were either discussed here or made appearances. It was not necessary for me to read the prior books as the author did a wonderful job in lightly relaying pertinent facts to me, the reader, so I would not be lost and to understand the story-line.
I loved William. He is a wonderful male protagonist. He followed through with his actions but when he knew he was wrong, he did apologize and he truly felt the ramifications deeply. Rose was a strong lady’s maid and the perfect foil for William. Both felt deeply for their individual cause but she was able to also see the “big picture” and adapted easily to the different situations that she found herself in.
This book was also written in a dual POV format. I could easily identify with both characters and relate to their actions.
I recommend this book.
Highly entertaining, emotionally thrilling, sexy and engaging adventure filled with witty banter, danger, mystery and intriguing charters with undeniable chemistry… exciting from beginning to end. This is a thrilling journey with heart pounding twists and turns. Excellent reading!
How to Forgive a Highlander by Michelle McLean is book 4 in The MacGregor Lairds. This is the story of Rose Thatcher and William MacGregor. I have read the previous books, but feel you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
William is trying to protect his lair and clan by being a spy. William ends up kidnapping Rose when he thinks she is spying on his clan. Rose is a lady’s maid in England and she is trying to protect Lady Alice when she runs off. When William learns he made a mistake taking Rose he goes into protective mode and both know they need to work together now to protect others along with themselves.
How to Forgive a Highlander is the fourth book in Michelle McLean’s The MacGregor Lairds series. If you missed any of the previous books, this one stands alone perfectly well You’ll meet some wonderful characters that were introduced in prior books. This one actually takes place during the same time period as book three, How to Blackmail a Highlander. I really liked that book, but I loved this one!
Will MacGregor is a spy for his laird, living embedded among the men serving the evil Ramsay, who is an enemy of the MacGregors. When he spies Rose on a dock watching a departing ship carrying one of his clansman, he believes she might be a spy herself. He abducts her, only to learn that she is in fact ladies maid to Lady Alice, who was also on the ship that just left. Oops. To protect their identities, Will pronounces that Rose is his woman. When they discover that Ramsay and his men are going to attack Will’s clan, they must quickly depart and warn them.
Will and Rose are marvelous characters. Will, loyal and charming, always tries to do right, but he has been known to make the wrong decisions – as in, well, kidnapping Rose! Rose may be a ladies maid, but she is one feisty woman. They seem to mix like oil and water, constantly bickering. That can sometimes be annoying in a story, but it works great here. Rose vows she will never forgive Will for abducting her. The more time they spend together, however, the closer they become. Their romance is a slow burn one, simmering beneath the surface until it ignites. There is non-stop action here, which made for one exciting story. If you’re like me, you won’t be able to put this one down until it reaches its sweet conclusion.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
I’d read the third book in the series, (How to blackmail a Highlander) and enjoyed it. So I started the kindle up and jumped in ….
William loves his clan, there is nothing he wouldn’t do to keep them all safe. So with that in mind, he plans to kidnap a lady, but grabs the wrong one, and so the plot goes from bad to worse, she is nothing but a pain in her arse, but he is drawn to her, and when they aren’t fighting, he is rather intrigued with her (even though she drives him mad!)
Rose is a lady’s maid (someone who dresses and accompany’s a lady, like a companion but at the Ladies beck and call) and truly loves her charge, there isn’t much she wouldn’t do to protect her, and after she’s kidnapped, Rose is worried about her lady even more. And this “man” has a lot to account for. How dare he do this, her temper gets her into trouble a few times, but when they aren’t taking shots at each other, she recognises Will’s love for his clan and his good intentions.
But what does this mean for our couple? William longs for Scotland, and Rose wants to return to London. Is this just a “Highland Fling” ? Or will they be able to compromise?
The book runs alongside book 3, it has almost the same timeline. It’s well written and very detailed.
How to Forgive a Highlander
by Michelle McLean
William MacGregor is a spy, and he’ll do anything for his king and country even resort to kidnap. Rose Thatcher a maid will do almost anything to protect her mistress, when she’s kidnapped by the very annoying Scotsman things get heated quickly and theres more at stake than they ever bargained for. A quick read that’s full of intrigue, villains and a sexy highlander that heat up the pages!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
An exciting adventure that will take you on a journey of mistaken identity, spies, betrayal, danger and of course a sigh worthy highlander hero and the woman who will challenge him and steal his heart!
Michelle McLean immerses us in a world that only her imagination can create. Once you turn the first page you will be lost in this fast paced tale of William MacGregor, a highlander who had implanted himself in the enemy’s camp of Fergus Ramsey, to gather information to help his clan. Seeing his clansman off on a ship to Scotland, he spots a woman, a little too interested in watching the ship depart and immediately wonders if she is not a spy for the Ramsey camp.
Rose Thatcher is a ladies maid who is watching her lady depart on the ship to Scotland and is very uneasy. Fleeing an unwanted bethrothal, Lady Alice is escaping to Scotland and Rose is to cover for her until it is too late for anyone to track her down.
Of course, William kidnaps Rose to see what she know’s and all heck breaks loose! Talk about opposites attracting (that is between all the banter back and forth that will make you smile!). Can a “savage” highlander and a proper English lady’s maid ever find happiness?
Prepare to be taken on a journey that will keep you entertained for hours and leave you longing for the next book by this fabulous author!
Rating: 3.5 stars
You pretty much get what the synopsis spells out here, folks. If it intrigues you, chances are you’ll enjoy this story line.
Rose gets plucked right off the docks by a worried William who reasons he has no other choice. Of course, things aren’t what they seem, and these two get tangled in over their hand in fending off an OTT crazy bad guy obsessively bent on destroying people they not only work for but love. This dedication to duty takes precedence over their own wants or needs.
Keep in mind these two always bickering, one day lovebirds are very minor sub-characters from previous sequels, who are now the center of this romantic tale. Of course, cameos from other past main characters play an important part, as well.
Between “rising to the occasion but thinks she knows it all” Rose and “alpha protective but can’t win for losing/always blaming himself” Will, I found myself rooting for this couple but not overly wowed by their romantic connection. It was there but usually took a back seat to their perilous situations and doubts. Overall, I enjoyed it enough to keep reading but found it to be more of just an average read. Since I read a lot of books in this genre, perhaps I’can just be verra hard to please sometimes, folks.
Title: How to Forgive a Highlander, Series: The MacGregor Lairds (Book 4), Author: Michelle McLean, Pages: 214, stand-alone but part of a series, dedicated alpha protective hero working as a spy, lady maid heroine, violent fight scenes, romance safe, no love triangle, no OM/OW drama, duty before love, perilous situations.
Book 1 – How to Lose a Highlander
Book 2 – How to Ensnare a Highlander
Book 3 – How to Blackmail a Highlander
Book 4 – How to Forgive a Highlander
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)
William MacGregor will lie, spy, and happily die to protect his clan from their greatest enemy. But when he kidnaps the wrong woman, he triggers the very events he’d been working so hard to prevent. Rose Thatcher is lady’s maid to Lady Alice & will do anything to protect her lady and return them both safely to English soil. Somewhere along the gruelling journey to Scotland, their constant bickering turns into something more. Something worth fighting for. This book whilst could be read on its own does overlap the previous book & also sees the conclusion of previous ongoing events. I’d been waiting to find out what happened to Will, he was so desperate to prove himself, whether he does or not you’ll have to read to find out!
A well written engrossing read that held my attention all the way through. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but I was invested in the series & had eagerly awaited this book. The characters were well portrayed & I loved how the relationship between Will & Rose developed. There were a couple of things I did wonder about, for instance how did Will find trustworthy messengers on the journey north?
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
William MacGregor has been working as a spy within the ranks of his clan’s enemy, Ramsey for some time. But when William kidnaps a woman he believes to be an enemy spy, he inadvertently catalyzes the very attack he’d been trying to avoid, jeopardizing the safety of the clan he’s been protecting.
Lady’s maid Rose Thatcher will do anything to protect her mistress, Lady Alice, and ensure her safe flight to the Highlands with William’s cousin, Phillip, and away from an unwanted marriage. But when Rose is taken from the docks by a highlander who does nothing but impede her plans, she finds herself stuck with him and in enemy camp where they must work together if they have any hope of saving their loved ones.
During their weeks of constant bickering together, real feelings begin to develop between Rose and William. The maid who longs to return to the civilization of England finds herself setting out to save the savage highlander she has come to care for. With their enemy at their doorstep, Rose finds herself determined to help Will, but despite her growing feelings, she still doesn’t want to remain in Scotland, longing instead for her home in London, and may well wind up breaking both their hearts.
I have to say I waffled on this book, but I think I settled on not caring much for Rose, though I did like her more than Alice, the previous book’s heroine. Still, her insistence on how she and Will could never have a future and she couldn’t leave her lady and neither she nor her lady would ever stay in barbaric Scotland got on my nerves. Will was a rather adorably pathetic screw up with a heart of gold who bore entirely too much guilt when his good intentions went awry. Luckily, Rose finally cast aside her fears and excuses and these two truly chose one another for a satisfying ending. I enjoyed this book overall and definitely more than its predecessor.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sarah makes a fantastic heroine. She is fierce, loyal and determined. Will has finally come into his own and made a place for himself in the clan. This is another great highland story that highlights the fierce loyalty of clan and kin. It intertwines nicely with the others in the series that have come before and makes for a great tale.
This was quite the interesting book to read, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a couple fight so much! lol Both William MacGregor and Rose Thatcher are stubborn and willful and every time they’re together, sparks and words fly!
Having kidnapped Rose, thinking she’s a spy, William soon realizes his mistake but by then it’s too late and they must pretend to be together while in the enemy’s lair. Blaming himself for every bad decision he’s ever made and with Rose not letting him forget it, he will still do anything to protect her. As things turn out, though, Rose is the one who ends up very brave and courageous! Love sneaks in between their fighting but their future looks bleak because she wants to return to England and he wants to stay in Scotland. This is a story with lots of action and never a dull moment!!
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
** 3.5 Stars Rounded Up **
This was a fast-paced, action-filled read and I enjoyed it. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series and felt perfectly comfortable with this one. There was a bit of ‘repeat’ of things from previous books, but only to add to the context in this book. I don’t feel as if I missed anything by not having read the earlier books. One thing I have noticed from discussions of the series – the couples are all into bickering. This book takes place at the same time as book #3 – How To Blackmail A Highlander – and features the heroine’s lady’s maid and the cousin to the hero.
Rose Thatcher, lady’s maid to Lady Alice Chivers, loves her lady, England and her life in London. Her family is all there and she loves living in the Chivers household. Yet, she is standing on the dock in Dover watching a ship, with her lady on it, sail away. Her lady has a plan and now Rose has to carry out her part of it. She must return to the family’s lodgings and pretend that Lady Alice is in her room – indisposed. She has to do anything she can to prolong the discovery that Lady Alice is missing.
William MacGregor is also on the docks seeing off his cousin Philip. He has to be very careful not to let anyone see his face and recognize him because he has been deeply embedded in the camp of the MacGregor’s mortal enemy, Ramsey. He’s acting as a spy and feeding information back to the MacGregor’s. Ramsey also has spies everywhere and if one of them spotted him, his life would be forfeit and they would know that Philip had left the area.
As William is surveilling the dock area, he notices a woman – just standing – watching the ship on which Philip just sailed away. Can she be a spy for Ramsey? He can’t afford for anyone to report that Philip has left the area, so, the only option that William can see is to take the woman someplace where he can then question her. That gives Philip time to get further out to sea if she is a spy, and if she isn’t – well – no harm is done. Yes, we all know how that is going to end. In a set of blunders, one after the other, the woman ends up back at Ramsey’s camp with him. Now, he has to keep her protected from the lascivious hoodlums working for Ramsey.
As Ramsey gets word that Lady Alice has flown the coop, he announces that they’ll all be leaving the next day. William must now manage to glean information on Ramsey’s route, manpower and plans as well as keeping Rose protected. They have quite a journey – both on the trail to Scotland and to their HEA.
There were a couple of things that left me wondering. For instance, Will kept dispatching messengers – many of them. Where did he get messengers? He was in the middle of an enemy camp with no friends around anywhere. Also – why would they send for a ‘Reverend’ to perform a marriage ceremony when all of Scotland and England were Catholic at that time?
I think I had a love/hate relationship with the main characters. I loved that each could be protective and caring toward the other. But then… He had to have the lowest of low self-esteem. He blamed himself for everything that went wrong in the world whether he could have prevented or changed it or not. I really got tired of that. For Rose, the constant ‘I must be with my lady’ just drove me insane.
It is a nice read whether you’ve read the previous books or not.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.