Category: Scottish Romance - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Whose Kilt is This Anyway

5/3/2023

In Her Highlander's Bed (Highland Brides #11)
by Lynsay Sands

Allissaid MacFarlane escaped her family's enemy with nothing, not even her clothes, and her attempt to steal a man's kilt resulted in her waking up in his bed! Calan Campbell, Laird of Kilcairn, wants to protect the lass he found in a sorry state by the loch...but it's hard to do that when she has seemingly lost her memory. His bed is the safest place he can keep her. But his heart isn't safe at all.

I always enjoy Lynsay Sands' historical Scottish romances (and not just because of their fabulous covers). This was no exception! An exciting continuation to the storyline that began in the previous book, In Her Highlander's Bed offers a sweet and sensual romance that develops naturally, characters that you immediately want to befriend - and who doesn't love reading about secret passages?

Fair to Middling

2/3/2023

One Night in Edinburgh by Nina Kaye

Steph loses her comfortable life on Hogmanay and a party is just what she needs to recover - that, and the super hot Jamie who she hooks up afterwards. The only problem? He leaves before they can exchange numbers! Steph launches a creative campaign to find him and she does. But a series of misunderstandings and omissions might be a sign that this wasn't meant to be.

"Romcom" is not the right label to use here, because it's more like chicklit engaging with a serious issue. One Night in Edinburgh perfectly captures the insecurity and messiness of the lives of twenty-somethings who are still growing - so Steph is realistic, even if that doesn't always make her a likeable character! The book itself has some pacing issues and isn't very tight. But it's an okay read.

A Very Scottish Christmas Romance

6/11/2022

The Highlander's Holiday Wife (Clan Kendrick #5)
by Vanessa Kelly

Braden Kendrick is no stranger to the roughness of Edinburgh's slums, but he's never needed rescuing before - and he certainly didn't expect his rescuer to be a woman. Lady Samantha Penwith is determined to identify her late husband's murderer, to find the missing children she feels responsible for and to keep her sister-in-law safe. Impossible? Not when a Kendrick gets involved...

There are two reasons why it might take me over a week to finish book: 1) I just wasn't into it or 2) I was so enchanted by the characters and didn't want their story to end. I'm happy to report that the latter was the case here. Despite the angst and deep issues covered within its pages, The Highlander's Holiday Wife was the literary hug that I needed. And one can't help but love Braden.

Another Reliable Sands' Romance

18/10/2022

Highland Wolf (Highland Brides #10)
by Lynsay Sands

Claray is saved from a dreadful marriage at the last minute by the Wolf, the infamous mercenary of the Highlands. But his name is Conall - or rather, that's one of his names. His survival has been kept secret so that he may one day return his lands to their former glory. The one thing that hasn't changed since he lost most of his clan? He's still Claray's betrothed! From one wedding to another...

What I really enjoyed about this book was the logistics of getting an abandoned castle back up to scratch. That was pretty interesting and I don't think I've seen it covered in another romance novel before. I didn't feel that Conall's "reveal" about his identity had much impact on the plot and the finale veered into melodrama territory, but gosh it was fun to read. I wish I hadn't been quite so sleep deprived while reading this book, because I might have enjoyed it more. Or perhaps the opposite is true!

And so the series ends

17/7/2022

Some Like It Scot (Scandalous Highlanders #4)
by Suzanne Enoch

Catriona MacColl rescued her sister from an unwanted marriage and went on the run with her, all the way to Scotland. Munro MacLawry finds a lass dressed like man hiding out on his brother's land and is immediately drawn to her. But it soon becomes difficult to sneak away and visit her without raising the suspicions of his family - and Catriona may be hiding from something else.

What is with the heroes in this series launching kisses of dubious consent on the heroines? And Munro's brothers...I can't recall them being this irritating and dense in their own books. I'm SURE I enjoyed Some Like It Scot. I'm sure I did. Perhaps I enjoyed it despite its many glaring flaws. Let's just say it was average and leave it at that.

And it was going so well...

15/7/2022

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous in Plaid (Scandalous Highlanders #3)
by Suzanne Enoch

Rowena MacLawry ran away to have her London season and now she's returned to the Highlands at the age of eighteen, ready to put aside her childhood obsession with the man who ignored her. Lachlan MacTier should be relieved that the lass who loved him for years has moved on. But it's strangely difficult to watch her pretending she fancies Englishmen who can talk about theatre...

I loathed Lachlan so much I nearly DNFed this many times. I wish I wasn't so stubborn about finishing what I start. Lachlan is a petulant and forceful arsehole - and oh yeah, he only suddenly develops a tendre for the heroine WHEN SHE GETS OVER HIM. I didn't buy that Rowena was still into him and I didn't want them to end up together. But as usual, I liked the clan drama. Pity about the "romance".

Drama, romance - action!

14/7/2022

Rogue with a Brogue (Scandalous Highlanders #2)
by Suzanne Enoch

Arran MacLawry dances with an enchanting lass at a masquerade, but instead of being his intended - she's from a rival clan! Mary Campbell knows she should avoid Arran and marry the man her parents have chosen, but the Highlander in her is drawn to the Highlander in him. Will they manage to resist each other - or will they imperil an important, fragile truce?

Gosh, I loved this one. Maybe because I'm such a sucker for enemies to lovers - and a sucker for dramatic races to Gretna Green. I'm amazed that Enoch managed to see the romance, given that they spent a lot of the book on the run. The minor characters assisting Arran and Mary were brilliant and I find myself missing them. I really enjoyed the clan drama too. Definitely my favourite of the series so far, but it is only book 2... ;)

Final Act to the Rescue Again

11/7/2022

The Devil Wears Kilts (Scandalous Highlanders #1)
by Suzanne Enoch

Ranulf MacLawry, the Marquis of Glengask, has come to London to bring his wayward sister home, but instead finds himself agreeing to allow her a two-week stay. He's no fan of the English and Lady Charlotte Hanover has a way of getting under his skin better than most of them. Charlotte has no patience for men who use violence to get their way. Can she convince him to change...or accept him as he is?

This was a typical historical romance novel and didn't really stand apart from the others until the climax, which was unexpected but not unwelcome. Truthfully, I found the clan dynamics a lot more interesting than the actual romance. Mind you, the intimacy scenes were excellent - but even those won't help me remember the particulars of this book when I come across it again.

Lightning Strikes...Three Times?

3/7/2022

The Highlander's Secret Son by Jeanine Englert

Brandon is now the Campbell laird and has just discovered that he is also a father. The mother of his child? The woman who betrayed him and his clan. Fiona MacDonald was trying to flee a bad situation with her son, but now she might have landed in another situation that is no better. Brandon's clan wants her dead. As for the laird himself, he might want her alive - but his plans can still hurt her.

I'm rather pleased that I discovered jeanine Englert's Scottish romance books this weekend. They've been an excellent diversion whilst I've been sick (oh hello, I lost Ronageddon today) and The Highlander's Secret Son is no exception. I'm astonished at how much plot (and drama!) Englert managed to cram into this book, along with a lovely second chance romance. Loved it.

Lightning Strikes Twice

3/7/2022

The Lost Laird from her Past (Falling for a Stewart #2)
by Jeanine Englert

Garrick has been lost to all who knew him for over a year, haunted by a mistake. He hoped that Brenna, the woman he loved, would think him dead. This falsity would have continued to succeed - if he hadn't come across her left for dead in a carriage surrounded by dead men. Brenna gave up on Garrick and is due to wed another man. But she may need Garrick around to save her life once more.

Another excellent entry in the Falling for a Stewart series from Jeanine Englert. You expect some changes between books, but I was almost as shaken as Garrick but how much had occurred - it's bold to do something like that and it really paid off. I also really enjoyed seeing Garrick and Brenna together again and I'm looking forward to Ewan's book (which I hope is on the horizon!).