Alyce Caswell - Author
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Book Reviews

All's Well That Ends Well

6/2/2021

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Scoundrel's Redemption (Highlander's Pact #3)
by Sky Purington

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Greer suffers at the mercy of men who would use her to fulfil their goals. When Teagan MacLauchlin offers her the chance to save her friends in return for marrying him, there is no other choice - but at last, she can make a choice of her own. Greer does not expect to find companionship and respect in her second marriage. Teagan is eager to prove her wrong.

This was definitely my favourite book of the series. It provided a very satisfying conclusion to the brothers' pact and tied up the plot threads laid down in the previous story. Teagan and Greer were just so perfect for each other - both haunted by their pasts and united by understanding and patience. There were also some story developments that I didn't see coming and that was a pleasant surprise. I really loved reading this.

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A Not-So-Hidden Gem

3/2/2021

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Scoundrel's Fortune (Highlander's Pact #2)
by Sky Purington

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The last time Malcolm MacLauchlin saw Isabella De la Croix, the woman who was such a thorn in his side in France, she removed her veil and kissed him. Now she has come to Scotland, apparently seeking him so they can be married - but what she is really seeking is hidden treasure.

Sky Purington always impresses me with just how much story, emotion, and character development she can fit into a story that is shorter than standard for the genre. Flashbacks are always a risky thing to use as well. But they work so well here. I will admit to wishing that the treasure hunt itself had received more focus - it would have been nice if it had been a little more complicated.

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Austen-esque

31/1/2021

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The Earl's Lady Geologist (The Lindfield Ladies Series #1)
by Alissa Baxter

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cassy Linfield is content with her chosen path in life - a spinsterhood spent discovering fossils at Lyme Regis. The arrival of Lord Rothbury is not only the catalyst for her being sent to London for her Season, but the catalyst for her heart to begin overruling her fears. Their mutual love of geology will soon not be the only thing they share.

This was a very pleasant read - the romance was sweet and comfortable and I was very interested in the geology side of things. I suppose it's unsurprising that a novel set predominantly in Lyme Regis would lean heavily on Austen references and even Austen's style, though at times I found it to be a bit too much. Fans of Persuasion will love it, however.

Side note - I deliberately read Persuasion for the first time while I was in Lyme Regis. This book brought back many fond memories.

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Gladiator: Scots Style

3/1/2021

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Highland Defender (Scots and Swords #2)
by Kathryn Le Veque

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bane Morgan has hit rock bottom when a chance encounter with Lucia, a lady's maid, turns his life around. But with no way to pay the debt that keeps her shackled to an increasingly dangerous situation, Bane must enter the Ludus Caledonia and survive not only battles but the jealousy of Lucia's lady.

A gladiatorial arena in medieval Scotland? With our heroes pitted against other fighters as well as the obstacles between them and true love? What a fascinating premise! I love reading the same Scottish romance story over and over again, don't get me wrong, but this was such a refreshing take on the genre. I blitzed through this because I was just so keen to see how things would end. The pacing was pretty good too, allowing the relationship to develop realistically (despite the short timeframe).

Change is definitely a good thing here.

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Hol' Up

27/12/2020

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​The Bushranger's Wife by Cheryl Adnams

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​Jack the Devil is a bushranger who's in it for the thrill - he's definitely not looking for a wife or anything resembling a settled life. Prudence Stanforth is from a family of title and means, so the very thought of running off with the man who held her up and stole from her should be out of the question. But the heat building between them has nothing to do with the harsh Australian climate.

I intended to read a chapter before bed, but whoops! I ended up far deeper into this story and far more enamoured of it than I had expected. Sure, this was the night before the baby woke up ridiculously early but I have no regrets (okay, maybe I have a few). I was a little worried this would be one of those depressing colonial tales with few glimmers of light - I needn't have worried. It's a lovely, fast-paced romance that is all light and all enjoyment.

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Let It Snow

18/10/2020

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A Very Highland Christmas by Various

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There is a tavern on the way to Culloden with colourful characters and, if you're lucky, a warm place to sleep during the chilly festive season. The Highlands are still reeling from the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie, but there are still celebrations to be had. These six romantic novellas include guardian angels, ghosts, mystical swords, family feuds and enough steamy scenes to thaw any reader out.

This collection is exactly what I needed. It combines two of my greatest weaknesses: Highlander romances and stories with a slightly supernatural bent. I'll admit that I enjoyed the latter quite a bit more than the other novellas on offer, but the entire anthology is a great read. Perfect for cosying up with. My only quibble is that I would have liked to see Carrie find true love - the collection felt somewhat incomplete without her story.

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Save a Horse, Start a Romance

4/10/2020

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Her Lady's Honor by Renée Dahlia

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Lady Eleanor (who prefers to go by Nell) returns from the front with the duty of returning her captain's horse to Wales. Beatrice Hughes is the eldest daughter of Nell's superior, raised in a house ruled by fear and abuse. She has no reason to trust a woman who is conditioned to obey her father's orders. Can their building attraction overcome tragedy and the expectations of society?

Well, I'm baffled by the reviews on this one. I absolutely loved it. I have such a weakness for two broken souls who find love, especially if they keep miscommunicating and mistepping with each other - and I am always down for intersectional feminism! I found Nell and Beatrice to behave quite believably, given the PTSD and grief holding both of them back. This was a nice surprise.

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Sailors Ahoy!

9/8/2020

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Kilts Ahoy! (Clash of the Tartans #6)
by Anna Markland

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Marshall Robson has admired Teagan MacCray from afar, but her clan has been feuding with his for centuries. He has a chance to put an end to the feuding - by proposing marriage between Teagan and his brother, the laird of his clan.

I really liked the premise and things definitely started well, but I can't say this one captivated me. The hero and heroine didn't have much "screen time" together - Marshall was either brooding or tearing off to Norway - which meant that I didn't feel the love, so to speak. Marshall's brother wasn't really much of a roadblock either, so I never got the "will they/won't they" vibe. But that cover is pretty awesome.

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Twice Jilted, Twice Smitten

7/8/2020

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More of Less a Marchioness (The Somerset Sisters #1)
by Anna Bradley

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​Iris has set herself up as typical wife material - sweet, docile, completely unlike herself - and it has successfully attracted the Lord of Huntington. But then she does the unthinkable: she jilts him. <i>Twice.</i> Previously unaffected by her, Finn now finds he absolutely must have her for his marchioness.

I wasn't expecting to like this so much, given my last flirtation with Anna Bradley's work. But Iris is one of my favourite romantic heroines of the year - she's clever, discerning, and knows what she wants (once she figures it out!). I enjoyed (perhaps too much) her jilting of Finn and it was satisfying to read/witness him changing into a man more suited to Iris - and a man more worthy of her.

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Blink and Miss It

19/7/2020

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Heart of Thanks (Hearts of the Highlands #3.5)
by Paula Quinn

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Elysande MacPherson would love to wed and raise a family, but her father has chased off every suitor. When she falls for the son of his enemy, she knows she'll have a hard time convincing him.

A sweet enough short story that fully utilises the Christmas setting. I'd have liked it to be a bit longer.

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    About

    Alyce Caswell, when she isn't buried in a book or drinking her way through a giant pot of tea, is a keen writer of science fiction and romance. She has published two novels and four novellas in her space opera family saga, The Galactic Pantheon Series.

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