Scotland 1556 After overhearing a plot to kill Mary Queen of Scots, Abby Gordon is sent from Paris to the Laird of Glenorchy’s home at Kilchurn Castle for safety. Disguised as a boy, she becomes a lute player among the household musicians where she encounters the laird’s hostage, the attractive Iain MacGregor, a pawn in the laird’s struggle for power in Scotland’s turbulent politics. But is Iain … is Iain really a hostage to fortune or is he playing his own dangerous game? As Abby’s feelings intensify for this Glenorchy hostage she is caught in the web of intrigue that permeates the household and is drawn deeper and deeper into danger.
With spice, wit and action packed plotting, Kristin Gleeson’s Highland Ballad Series is as compelling as Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novels.
‘A highland ballad brought to life – plays sweetly on the heart-strings.’ Jean Gill, ‘The Troubadours Quartet’
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I enjoyed the story but didn’t like that the author left you hanging at the end.
This novel was enjoyable but left me unsatisfied. It is part of a trilogy and the author must have wanted you to buy the next book. The first adventure wasn’t finished and I felt cheated.
I just couldn’t get into this book
Good summer reading.
This story of a young woman’s attempt to find and reconnect with her true family connects with some very strange but loving characters devoted to returning her to her home land…unexpected turns and obsticals meet them at every turn but true love fights on
Good period piece.
I think this book is called a Romance
The Start of The Highland Ballad Series
Just when I was getting into the story, looking for a good “wrap-up” the story just stops. Even knowing that this was book one of a series, I fully expected a satisfactory conclusion to some aspect of the story. I usually avoid a trilogy or series because I don’t want to get locked into one genre for too long. I expect a book one to stand on its own … that is, present a good enough ending to leave the decision to go on up to me. This one didn’t do that, although I found the story interesting enough and the characters colorful. My apologies to the author for all that, because the story was well researched and presented a plot that involved England, France and Scotland during the time of Queen Mary, in exile in France.
A decent effort to imagine the world of rural Scotland centuries ago. The heroine’s occupation as a musician is interesting, but the plot gimmicks of her successfully disguising herself as a boy and having to flee the French court to a Scottish manor lack credibility. As is usual with such low-cost offering, the ending leaves the reader hanging in order to encourage purchase of the later volumes in the series.
A good story with a pleasant musical theme, the age-old “girl dressed as boy” theme. I enjoyed the read except for one rather important issue: did anyone proof-read? I was frequently stopped in my tracks by a word out of place, or missing, or two where one was needed. Once was bad enough but this happened far too often for me not to mention it.
Wish the author had worked on a better finish. Ended up wanting more of the story.
I was disappointed it wasn’t complete.
It isn’t as good as Outlander (as the review states) but it is a decent story and I did like the characters.
This is the second book of the trilogy. I’d recommend reading book one first. The books give an insight into Scottish history to which I had never been exposed. The author obviously did a lot of research and incorporated the facts into an interesting tale.
Slow to build plot and no logical conclusion except to get one to buy the next book to see where it goes and then to buy the third. I will stop at book 1.
I I was disappointed in this books ending . It left you hanging no real endings.
Apparently intended to introduce a series. This one had little meat and ended just when it might be interesting.
I found this to be a fun read.
Easy to read, light, characters seem real, historical info may be accurate.
No message.
A historical tale of sex life within the castles. Getting to know some of the Scotland history was a plus. It felt like repetitive and dragging on. The fact that it ended without a resolution was a disappointment. I don’t have the urge to finish the series!