Category: Scottish Romance - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

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!).

Falling for a New Author

3/7/2022

Eloping with the Laird (Falling for a Stewart #1)
by Jeanine Englert

Moira must choose her husband before her father chooses one for her - and the first man he chose for her was an awful match that she has no intention of repeating. So the choice seems obvious once she discovers Rory, Laird Death, who only has months to live. Rory needs an heir before he dies and Moira's proposal is the only one he is likely to get. But he'll have to convince her father - or elope.

I loved this book so much I'm now in the process of debating whether or not I can fit another physical book on my already cramped shelves (I bought and read the Kindle version, so this is A Big Deal). The premise is so intriguing and so well executed. I've read longer books that failed to deliver as well as this one has. Jeanine Englert may be my new favourite author of Scottish romance.

A Fun, Flirty Fling

19/6/2022

The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn

Bonnie is feeling directionless and unsuccessful in life, so obviously the solution is to agree to her friend Dakota's mad plan - respond to an ad requesting people to look after a cafe in the Scottish Highlands for six months. Leaving LA was the easy. Surviving the Scottish roads AND surviving Rowan MacGregor's grumpiness and disdain for her? Not so much.

I had an absolute blast reading this, even if it did have its flaws. The first half was fun and fast paced, though I found Bonnie to be somewhat irritating (and the "American in Scotland" thing was played a bit OTT for my liking), and then I was pleasantly surprised by just how many FEELINGS Quinn managed to evoke in me during the second half. This is a good book, but a good book with a rather dislikable heroine.

A Match Made in Island Isolation

14/6/2022

A Laird for the Governess (Lairds of the Isles #1)
by Catherine Tinley

Lydia has lost decent governess positions due to the lewd behaviour of men in the households that hired her and now the only posting she can take is on a remote island in Scotland. Alasdair needs a governess for his sickly daughter and will suffer no fools, even if they are exceedingly beautiful. But though she is an outsider, Lydia may be exactly what Alasdair and his people need.

This was a very sweet story, punctuated by heartbreaking tragedy and a surprising amount of historical detail, given the length. I would have liked Lydia and Alasdair to have a bit more time together, but I do understand that this romance hinged heavily on Lydia connecting to Alasdair through his daughter. All in all, quite a solid story.

A Scottish Firecracker in London

31/3/2022

Lady Scot (Always a Scot #2)
by Jade Lee

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

Mairi MacAdaidh had her future all mapped out, but now the man she intended to marry is wed to someone else - and she is cast adrift, without a household to run. Connall Aberbeag would have her, if she let him. But Mairi would rather run to London and have a Season to find someone who doesn't ignite such fear and passion inside her. Connall, however, isn't going to let her out of his sight.

Mairi and Connall were fun characters to meet, as were their companions - although, I could have done with less of the side plot and more scenes focusing on the actual couple. They didn't really seem to get much time together! That aside, this was a very pleasant read that won't eat up too much of your time. And who doesn't like to see a firecracker meet her match?

A Sapphic Highland Hogmanay

18/2/2022

A Highland Hogmanay (Christmas Masquerade #2)
by Meg Mardell

Sharda has had enough of her relations and their plans for her, so she needs little convincing to run off to the Highlands with a lovely lass. Finella manages Balintore Castle as much as she can, but it's becoming harder and harder when its owner does so little. A new owner is exactly what the castle needs. But Sharda has something - ahem, someone - else on her mind.

Gosh, this was cute. I had so much fun reading it, especially during the "there was only one bed!" scene. Sharda and Finella are so delightfully perfect for each other. I'd definitely opt to spend a Hogmanay at Balintore Castle, if they were in attendance. I do wish that some scenes were longer - it would have really ramped up my enjoyment of the tale - but ah, that's what you get with novellas.

(Almost) Smooth Sailing

23/1/2022

Highland Lion (The Clan Sinclair Legacy #1)
by Celeste Barclay

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

Orkney is passing from Nordic to Scottish hands and Liam is there to accept it on behalf of his grandfather. He should be focused on reminding the Orcadians that he is one of them and not the plight of Elene, who faces a terrible future in Norway. Liam wants to save her, take her back to his home. But there's a lot of water between Orkney and Scotland. And Elene's pursuer is not giving up.

What I really liked about this was how natural the romance was - it didn't feel rushed or contrived. It flowed and felt real. And of course I loved the setting, because Orkney is fascinating on and off the page. I did find the POV shifts a bit startling (they occurred in between breaks and without warning) and there wasn't as much tension as I'd have liked. That said, this was a nice way to escape for a while.

No Standing Stones Required

20/8/2021

Highland Fling (The Highland Books #1)
by Emma Baird

Gaby has just said goodbye to a ten-year relationship and needs a new place to stay - fast. She accepts a cat-sitting position in a remote town in the Scottish Highlands, immediately getting on the wrong foot with local Jack McAllan (who looks uncannily like a certain Outlander actor). Staying in the house of a dating guru might be a mistake...especially when Gaby can't keep away from said guru's ex.

This was a delightful, breezy romcom that transported me right to the place where I currently wish I was right now. And it was the kind of popcorn entertainment that I desperately needed. I am such a sucker for romances with misunderstandings, cats and Scotsmen. Okay, mostly Scotsmen...ahem. Gaby was fun. The town was instantly familiar and its people were a scream! I'm definitely going to check out the rest of the series on my Kobo (it's easier to read on that than on Wattpad, frankly).

Aftershocks and After Scot

25/7/2021

Seduced by the Scot (The Perks of Being an Heiress #3)
by Jillian Eaton

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

Lady Brynne Weston fell in love with Lord Lachlan Campbell beneath the stars when she was fourteen. More than a decade later, he returns to throw her life into chaos. He's not just the man she unwisely gave her heart to - he's also her husband! Brynne wants her secret dealt with. Legally. But Lachlan means to be with his wife again. Can Brynne forgive him, even after all that happened between them?

It can be tricky to juggle two timelines, but Eaton did it superbly here. This was certainly one of the things that made it very easy to enjoy Seduced by the Scot - the other was that it's unusual for the heroine and hero to already be married. I quite liked the change! I have always wondered what happened next after all those romantic dashes up to Gretna Green. Is love enough to see a hasty marriage through? So I was pleased to see a book dealing with that. However, I was unimpressed with the random (mercifully brief) POV switches to two different characters, who really had no bearing on the plot.