You are formally invited to the Highland wedding event of the year. These four lasses are about to meet their matches in an original digital anthology featuring stories from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sabrina York, Lecia Cornwall, Anna Harrington, and May McGoldrick. HOW A LASS WED A HIGHLANDER by Lecia Cornwall In this retelling of The Princess and The Pea, Laird Alex Munro … Princess and The Pea, Laird Alex Munro of Culmore has just five weeks to find a bride and marry her…or else the clan will be cursed with ill luck. Cait MacLeod finds herself caught in a clan feud, and when she tries to stop a deadly raid, she ends up as Alex Munro’s prisoner. With timing running out, is this couple meant to be?
A MATCH MADE IN HEATHER by Anna Harrington
She was the laird’s daughter. He was nothing more than a penniless, nameless Scot with nothing to offer but his heart. Fate tore them apart, but now he’s back in her life with status, money and a title. Can they let go of past hurts and find love?
A MIDSUMMER WEDDING by May McGoldrick
Their marriage was two decades in the making. The young, educated woman and her highland, pirate husband, betrothed when they were still children. But on the day of their wedding, Elizabeth Hay and Alexander Macpherson are in for a surprise.
THE SCOT SAYS I DO by Sabrina York
Catherine Ross’s world is turned upside down when her brother gambles away every penny they own. But to make matters worse? He’s lost everything to none other than Duncan Mackay, the rugged Scot who Catherine loved for years–but he never noticed her, and now she positively loathes him. But her brother’s in danger of going to Newgate, and the despicable Duncan has a plan- she can claim back the money and save her brother. If she marries him…
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*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
4.5 stars – This was an awesome collection of novellas!
How A Lass Weds a Highlander – Lecia Cornwall – 5 stars – This novella is part of the ongoing Fairy Tales Series, this story is very loosely based on the Princess and the Pea. Cait is betrothed to Baird Sutherland, her distant cousin. When she realizes what kind of man he really is, she decides that she will not marry him – when he leaves to attack Alex’s clan, she follows. Cait has no sense of direction and gets lost – she arrives after the raid and Alex takes her prisoner. Alex’s clan believes that he must marry on midsummer eve or the clan will have bad luck. The legend is that the first laird fell in love with a fairy princess and when they wed, the fairy queen gave them a ring, which is affectionately called the pea, each new laird must put the pea on his loves finger at sunset or the clan will be cursed. Alex doesn’t believe the legend and has no use for love – but he will marry for the clan’s sake. When he arrives back from the raid with Cait, he finds that the potential brides have already arrived and the pea is missing! Cait tells Alex that she is the fearsome McLeod’s daughter and asks him to send for her father. She proceeds to charm everyone, including the brides and especially Alex. Alex doesn’t believe that she is McLeod’s daughter and can’t consider her as a bride. But the heart wants what the heart wants. When Alex decides on his bride, Baird shows up and it seems that all is lost. The novella is well written, flows well, has some surprises, betrayal and true love.
A Match Made in Heather – Anna Harrington – 4 stars- This is the story of Arabel and Garrick, ten years ago they were in love and planning to elope. Arabel tells Garrick that she cannot leave, that her family needs her, but won’t tell him why. Garrick is a stable hand and believes that Arabel has changed her mind and is angry that she would choose her family over him. As he leaves he is ambushed and told that Arabel set him up. Ten years later, they meet again, Garrick has been awarded an Earldom for his service in the war and Arabel is engaged to marry and her family is basically in ruin. They learn that they have co-inherited her family’s estate, but the terms of the will say that they have to live together in the house for 30 days, to refuse is to forfeit their claim. Nether is happy, but neither will back down and let the other win. Garrick wants revenge and Arabel – as they spend time together, they realize they were both wronged and old feelings haven’t died. But can Garrick let go of the past? This was a well written, well paced novella, it had the hottest love scenes in the entire collection and had an emotional depth that surprised me. I assumed that I would dislike Garrick, because I dislike revenge plots – but in actuality, Arabel was the one I had a hard time liking. I didn’t hate her – but I felt that she wanted everything her way and expected Garrick to just fall in line. She does redeem herself – but it was touch and go there for awhile…
A Midsummer Wedding – May McGoldrick – 5 Stars – This was my favorite in the collection. I loved Elizabeth and Alex! They have been betrothed for years and he has finally come to claim her – or has he? Elizabeth has no desire to marry the Highlander and along with the queen, concocts a plan to have him call off the wedding. When her plan goes awry, Alex must save her. They ended up stranded alone in a cottage and begin to realize how wrong they both were about the other and both regret their decision to call off the wedding. They come to a decision to wed and when they are rescued, it seems like they will get their HEA. However, team McGoldrick will not make it easy for them and Elizabeth have to make a heartbreaking decision to save her love. Excellent story, it is well written, has steamy love scenes, laugh out loud moments, tense moments and a soulmate type love. LOVED IT!!
The Scot Says I Do – Sabrina York – 5 stars – This was a close second for my favorite novella in this collection. Duncan and Catherine have known each other for years – he saved her life and she was besotted with him. Duncan was a stable hand on her father’s estate and did all he could to discourage Cat’s affection. When he disappears without a word, Cat is heartbroken and tries to convince herself that she hates him. Years later Duncan is back, he shows up at their London house and Cat is informed that her brother has lost the estate and Duncan has bought his debt. To save her brother from debtors prison, Duncan offers her an alternative, she can marry him. Cat is shocked to see Duncan again and can’t believe the man who spurned her and was so mean to her, wants to marry her. She agrees to save her brother (that’s her story and she is sticking to it). Cat has no idea what really happened all those years ago and has no idea that Duncan loves her and always has. This story is well written, has some of the funniest dialogue in the entire book, has steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, an twisted villain and a wonderful ending. This is loosely connected to the Untamed Highlander series and I sincerely hope Ms. York is planning on writing books for the St. Claire sisters!!
All in all, this was an excellent book, which I highly recommend!
I love Scottish romances and this collection features some excellent authors. I was especially excited to see another story from Lecia Cornell featuring another MacLeod daughter. This retelling of the Princess and the Pea was a delight to read. The hero, Alex Munro, was working hard to keep his clan safe, but he was losing the battle. When he comes across Cait after a raid by a rival clan, he believes her to be a spy and takes her prisoner. It was a delight to see how Alex’s opinion of Cait changed throughout the story. Ms. Cornell has written another delightful story.
I look forward to reading the rest of the stories in this collection. I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Four of my favorite authors provided works for this anthology – so, it is only natural that I LOVE it.
HOW A LASS WED A HIGHLANDER by Lecia Cornwall
This tale is loosely (very loosely) based on the Princess and the Pea fairytale. Laird Alex Munro of Culmore has to find a wife in five weeks or break a generations long pact. However, the ‘Pea’ is missing and they must have the ‘Pea’ which is the official engagement ring. Not only is the Pea missing, but the neighboring Laird has been attacking and burning the crofters on Munroe lands. After one such raid, Alex finds Cait MacLeod in the woods near the burned out cottage. Alex doesn’t believe Cait’s story and believes she is part of the raiding parties. Cait quickly wins the love of his Clan and even the potential brides who are visiting the keep – but – Alex is still wary of her. They have a long road to find their HEA, but it is a good read to get them there.
A MATCH MADE IN HEATHER by Anna Harrington
This is a story of second chances. Ten long years ago Arabel and Garrick were going to elope. Then, on the night of the elopement, Arabel tells Garrick that she cannot go because of a family situation that has just developed. Garrick is heartbroken and just doesn’t understand why she always chooses her family over him. Then, when she thinks he has left her, she can’t forgive him. There are huge misunderstandings in this story and you wonder how they can get past them. Given what happened to him, I would have thought Garrick would be the one unable to forgive, but it was Arabel who kept clinging to her hurt and anger. Frankly, she got on my last nerve, but finally came around so they got their HEA.
A MIDSUMMER WEDDING by May McGoldrick
I think this was my favorite story in the anthology. I LOVED the characters. They were well developed and fully formed, but I’ve never seen anything by McGoldrick that wasn’t absolutely excellently done! Be prepared – there are some really giggle-worthy moments in this book! Elizabeth and Alex were betrothed as children and raised far apart, so they never met. Their lives were very different – she thought him a barbaric Highlander and he thought her a pampered, simpering, spoiled little princess. Both of them want out of the engagement, but the other doesn’t know that. So, when Elizabeth tries to trick Alex into thinking she was in love with someone else so he’d break the engagement, things go really awry. They end up in the middle of a rain-swollen river fighting for their lives. It is funny how those near-death experiences bring you to being honest – and they were finally honest with each other and agreed to cancel the engagement. So – how do they get their HEA – well – you’ll just have to read the anthology to find out.
THE SCOT SAYS I DO by Sabrina York
This was my second favorite of the stories in this anthology. I loved Catherine’s friends, especially Elizabeth and hope to see their stories in the future. Duncan and Catherine were in love, but it was just not meant to be. She was the Lairds daughter and he was the stable hand – she was twelve and he was not. You have to wonder if there is any way for them to ever have a HEA. Years later, Catherine returns home from a ball to find that her brother has lost their entire estate – homes, land, money – all of it – and now that former stable hand owns it all. He also wants to marry her. Why in the world would he want to marry her now when he walked off and left her so long ago without even saying goodbye. I hope you’ll read this delightful, funny and entertaining story to see how they finally get their HEA. There are twists and turns and even an evil dude – everything you could possibly want.
“I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
My favorite 2 books in this set were written by May McGoldrick and Sabrina York but the other 2 authors are very good too. Highly recommend.
“Ye Gods” I “Canna” Say No to Any of These!!!
This lovely magical collection has us as readers hearing a beautiful celtic flute in the background playing a plaintive melody as the words on the page evoke the smell of heather fields, wood smoke and the touch of tartan plaid wool against our cheek. Each story brought something special found in an historical romance set in Scotland. The heroes are brave and true. The lasses are smart, feisty and each beautiful in the eyes of her beloved. The passion is young, innocent, purposeful and steamy hot in the most beautiful and swoon- worthy manner.
Any lover of romance, whatever the shade, will find these satisfying and refreshing as a dip (skinny dip) in a cool clear “loch”. The reader will rediscover the joy of the classic hero, his beauty, his animal magnetism cloaked in civility…The delicious build of passion for both hero and heroine.
In Lecia Cornwall’s HOW A LASS WED A HIGHLANDER, the reader is delighted and enchanted by the fairy tale elements and the actual influence of the “Fairies” in the love match for the reluctant Laird Alexander and his direction-challenged love, Cait.
In Anna Harrington’s A MATCH MADE IN HEATHER, it is a sprig of heather carried by the stable boy, Garrick which reminds him of his lost love, Arabel that inspires him through the most difficult circumstances including war. He returns an English Lord believing he was betrayed by Arabel all those years ago. The sense of betrayal is mutual as is their renewed attraction. It is a story of new beginnings for both Garrick and Arabel surrounded by the fragrance of heather.
In May McGoldrick’s A MIDSUMMER WEDDING, we are presented with the hardships and joys of the simple life of yore. It is a delightful tale of attempted subterfuge with identities and miscommunications all told through some harrowing challenges that our lovers face. The Laird, Alexander and Elizabeth betrothed for years seem ill-suited for each other from the start but all misconceptions and apprehensions dissolve in this challenge of nature they faced together to stay alive.
Lastly, but no less a delight, in Sabrina York’s THE SCOT SAYS I DO, Duncan, a lowly stable boy and the daughter of the Laird, Catherine both shared a mutual attraction when they were younger. Duncan was most honorable when he refused to touch Catherine because she was too young at the time. Catherine’s father, the Laird, had him sent away because how besotted his daughter was over this stable boy. This story involves other suitors vying for the hand of “Cat” and some lovely steamy love scenes between the bankrupt “wee Cat” and the now monied Duncan. One line stuck with me after the read and I will leave it up to the future reader to figure out its meaning in context with the story, “ Always a lovely surprise for a lass.” – Esmerelda
This is a wonderful collection that will make you fall in love with Historical Romances set in Scotland and/ or rediscover the delight of the Scottish brogue whispered in your ear. One click and you “canna” go wrong!