Giveaway: The Great Scots and Highland Heat Blog Tour

Title: The Sinner

Series: Return of the Highlanders #2

Author: Margaret Mallory | Website

Available: Now

Genre: Historical Romance

Reading Level: Adult

Alex MacDonald is known for his skill as a warrior, his prowess with women, and his vow to never take a wife. But now his chieftain has asked him to make the ultimate sacrifice: wed Glynis MacNeil, a lass famed throughout the Highlands for her exquisite beauty—and defiant ways. Familiar with heartbreak, Glynis refuses to fall for another handsome scoundrel. Yet when Alex’s past sins force an unlikely union, Glynis gives in to temptation and becomes his wife. Will their newfound passion be strong enough to fight the enemy that threatens their home, their clan, and their very lives?

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Title: Highland Hero

Series: Scottish Knights Trilogy #2

Author: Amanda Scott | Website

Available: Now

Genre: Historical Romance

Reading Level: Adult

When Scotland’s Queen Annabella dies, her devastated niece, Lady Marsaili Cargill, takes charge of the seven-year-old prince James, who is second in line to the throne. But rumors abound that the King’s brother—the Duke of Albany—will stop at nothing to fulfill his ambition to govern Scotland. But before Marsi can help the young prince escape to the safety of St. Andrews Academy, she will need to confront the men seeking to use her—and accept the help of the King’s devoted master archer, Sir Ivor Mackintosh. With traitors and assassins all around, Marsi and Ivor must risk all for the little prince James, while hoping for a future that will allow their love to flourish.

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I have 3 sets of The Sinner & Highland Hero up for grabs courtesy of Hachette Book Group.

Please use the RaffleCopter form below to enter.

Blog Tour, Review x 2, & A Giveaway: From Scotland, With Love

Title: Seduced by Destiny

Author: Kira Morgan

Available: Now

Genre: Historical Romance

Reading Level: Adult

Description via Goodreads:

SWORN TO REVENGE

All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.


SHROUDED BY SECRECY

On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...


My thoughts:


Drew is an Englishman golfing his way around Scotland under the guise of a Highlander. Josselin is one tough cookie who is determined to avenge the brutal slaying of her mother. When Josselin and Drew meet they have no clue how their pasts intertwine.


Josselin and Drew just might be one of my favorite couples. The banter that took place between these two had me grinning even when I shouldn’t have. Saucy characters, undeniable chemistry, a beautiful setting, and a dash of intrigue. Seduced by Destiny encompassed everything I look for in a historical romance novel.

Kira Morgan on the web:

Website | Facebook

Title: Highland Master

Author: Amanda Scott

Available: Now

Genre: Historical Romance

Reading Level: Adult

Description via Goodreads:


When eighteen-year-old Lady Catriona Mackintosh discovers a wounded man in the forest near her Highland home, little does she know that he has sworn a sacred oath to kill her father and other members of the powerful Highland confederation known as Clan Chattan. Nor does she realize that she has met her soul mate. Independent, competent, intelligent, fiercely proud of her heritage, determined always to live near her own family, and known to her family as the "wee wildcat" because of her quick temper, Catriona is the daughter of a Highland chieftain and granddaughter of the even more powerful Chief (or Captain) of Clan Chattan. But her life changes forever when she persuades Sir Finlagh Cameron to return with her to her home to recover from his wounds.

Sir Finlagh "Fin" Cameron is on a mission for the heir to Scotland's throne, who has sent him to the Highlands to persuade the Chief of Clan Chattan to arrange a secret meeting for him with two other great lords (the Lord of the Isles and the Lord of the North). Until Fin meets Catriona, however, he has no idea that her father was the Clan Chattan war leader who led them in the battle that wiped out many of Clan Cameron's best warriors, including Fin's own father. The sole survivor of that battle, Fin accepted a bequest of vengeance from his dying father, providing him with a dilemma to face as he begins to fall in love with Catriona. He is not the only one enticed by her charms, either. There are two other contenders, one of whom is his own master, the heir to Scotland's throne. With royal mischief afoot, if Catriona and Fin are ever to find happiness, they must first avoid disaster that could change Scotland's history, and find ways to be open and honest with each other.

My thoughts:

Sir Finlagh Cameron finds himself swearing an oath of revenge after a bloody battle that left him the sole survivor of his clan’s side. When he unexpectedly comes in contact with the daughter of the man he promised to kill, he finds that carrying out that oath might be difficult considering he is falling in love with the daughter of his enemy.

I was absolutely taken with the setting and characters in Highland Master. Catriona aptly nicknamed “wildcat” was a pleasure to get to know. I loved her sass, curious nature, and independence. Not an easy task in a predominantly male household. Love interest Fin is delicious. I’m crushing hard on the Highland hottie. I love a man that can maintain a strong and powerful front, but with a kind heart inside. The love match between him and Catriona was perfection. I’ll admit the political aspects of the plot were confusing. It took me a good 150 pages to really grasp all the players and their goals. Even with my confusion I found this novel completely engaging and difficult to put down. I hope I’ll get the chance to know some of the secondary characters better in future novels.

Amanda Scott on the web:

Website | Author Bio

Check out the We Love Scotland bonus content!

I have 3 sets of both Highland Master & Seduced by Destiny up for grabs thanks to Hachette Book Group!

Open to residents of the U.S & Canada

No P.O Boxes please
Winners are subject to the one copy per household rule
Please fill out the form to enter
Comments are always appreciated, but will not count as an entry

Ends 3/20

Review & Giveaway: Tempted By A Warrior by Amanda Scott

Title: Tempted By A Warrior

Author: Amanda Scott

Release Date: 7/1/2010

Publisher: Forever

Number of pages: 432

Reading Level: Adult (Historical Romance)

3 out of 5 Stars

Description from publisher’s website:

Lady Fiona, wed in haste, has never known marital peace. When last she'd seen her cruel husband Will, he'd struck her - and she has no memory of what she did next - only that she woke later alone in her bedchamber. Will has gone missing, and Fiona fears that in her rage and terror she might somehow have killed him. When her husband's cousin Sir Richard comes to search for Will, Fiona is touched by his warm nature. A knight and warrior, Richard is drawn to Fiona's brave manner, quickly seeing in her an equal measure of inner courage.

My thoughts:


Lady Fiona is basically a prisoner in her own home. She is treated similar to the servants that work in the home she shares with her husband, Will, and good-father (aka father-in-law). When her husband goes missing, rumors circulate that blame the very pregnant Fiona for his disappearance. With her good-father on his death bed he sends for his nephew, Sir Richard, to take over the estate at the time of his passing. Lady Fiona is not quick to instill faith in any man after the abuse she has incurred at the hand of her husband. Sir Richard sets out to gain Fiona’s trust and just happens to fall for her along the way.


Tempted By A Warrior is the final book in Amanda Scott’s Dunwythie Trilogy. I had no confusion while reading even though I haven’t read the first two books.  I was intrigued by Will’s mysterious disappearance. Wondering who was responsible kept me reading, but the pace of the novel was on the slow side.  I prefer my romance novels to have the relationship progression take center stage, and it seemed the war between Scotland and England overshadowed the developing relationship between Fiona and Richard. 


I’m sure some will enjoy this book. I just went in expecting a light, romantic read and wasn’t prepared for some of the scenes that took place. I admit I was a little put off by the amount of violence this book contained. The first scene involved Will beating Fiona who happens to be well into her pregnancy at the time. I’m fully aware that the mindset of most of the male characters in Tempted By A Warrior was the norm during the time period in which it takes place. Even the hero, Richard, had his less than virtuous moments. Considering his anger when he learned Will had beat Fiona, you would think he wouldn’t be so quick to dole out spankings to grown women. I guess I prefer my heroines to be less damaged, and my heroes less prone to physical violence towards women. It did feature an excellent writing style and a well thought out plot. Unfortunately the tempestuous tone didn’t sit well with me.

Amanda Scott on the web:

Author Bio | 5 Fun Facts

This Giveaway is now CLOSED!

I also have 5 copies of Tempted By A Warrior up for grabs thanks to Anna with Hachette.

Rules:

Open to U.S or Canadian residents

No P.O Boxes

Book will ship directly from the publisher

Ends @ 11:59 CST on August 1st

Please fill out this form to enter

Comments will not count as an entry but are always appreciated :)

*Received from publisher in exchange for my review and participation in the Tempted  By A Warrior Blog Tour.