Saturday, May 31, 2025

Best Scottish Historical Romances!

 

Geddes MacGregor once wrote, “No one in Scotland can escape from the past. It is everywhere, haunting like a ghost.” Scotland’s past is the subject of this Best List, romance novels set in Scotland, most in that magical part of Scotland called the Highlands. Some have a Scot as hero or heroine. The best are set deep in Scotland’s history. All are rated 4 or 5 stars. Enjoy!

 

·               A Dangerous Love, The Border Lord’s Bride, The Captive Heart, The Border Lord And The Lady, The Border Vixen and Bond Of Passion (from The Border Chronicles) by Bertrice Small

·               A Gentle Feuding by Johanna Lindsey

·               A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

·               A Year and a Day by Virginia Henley

·               Abducted Heiress by Amanda Scott

·               Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught

·               Beloved Rogue by Penelope Williamson

·               Blood Feud by Jayne Castel

·               Border Lord by Arnette Lamb

·               Bound to the Highlander by Kate Robbins

·               Bride of the MacHugh by Jan Cox Speas

·               Charming the Shrew and Daring the Highlander (MacLeod duology) by Laurin Wittig

·               Children of the Mist by Aleen Malcolm

·               Claimed by Tarah Scott

·               Clandara by Evelyn Anthony

·               Come The Morning, Conquer the Night, Seize the Dawn, Knight Triumphant, The Lion in Glory, When We Touch and The Queen’s Lady (the Graham series) by Heather Graham Pozzessere

·               Davy’s Last Ride by Brit Darby

·               Desiring the Highlander by Michele Sinclair

·               Devil of Kilmartin by Laurin Wittig

·               Devil’s Mistress by Heather Graham

·               Emerald Embrace by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham)

·               Forever My Love by Rebecca Brandewyne

·               Gather the Stars by Kimberly Cates

·               by Elizabeth Stuart

·               Heather House: Witch of the Moors by Carmen Caine

·               Highland Deception by Meggan Connors

·               Highland Moon by Judith E. French

·               Highland Rebel by Judith James

·               Highland Warrior, Highland Outlaw and Highland Scoundrel (the Campbell trilogy) by Monica McCarty

·               Highlander’s Hope by Collette Cameron

·               If You Dare, If You Desire and If You Deceive (the MacCarrick Brothers trilogy) by Kresley Cole

·               In From the Cold by Nora Roberts

·               His Stolen Bride by Shelly Thacker

·               Kilgannon and The Wild Rose of Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens

·               King Hereafter by Dorothy Dunnett

·               Knight of Fire by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham)

·               Lady of the Glen by Jennifer Roberson

·               Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn (and the MacGregor/Children of the Mist Series)

·               Lord of a Thousand Nights by Madeline Hunter

·               Lord of Fire by Emma Merritt

·               Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain

·               My Lord Monleigh by Jan Cox Speas

·               My Wicked Enchantress by Meagan McKinney

·               On a Highland Shore and Rivals for the Crown by Kathleen Givens

·               Oriana by Valerie Vayle

·               Rebellion by Nora Roberts

·               Rosamund by Bertrice Small

·               Silk and Steel by Cordia Byers

·               Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham

·               Snow Raven by Patricia McAllister

·               Tempest Heart by Paula Quinn

·               Tempted and The Border Hostage, duology by Virginia Henley

·               The Bedeviled Heart, The Daring Heart and The Bold Heart by Carmen Caine

·               The Border Bride by Elizabeth English

·               The Border Lord by Jan Westcott

·               The Captive by Parris Afton Bonds

·               The Chieftain’s Curse by Francis Housden

·               The Daughters of Cameron by Aleen Malcolm

·               The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett (from the Lymond Chronicles series)

·               The Guardian by Genevieve Graham

·               The Highlander’s Reluctant Bride by Cathy MacRae

·               The Lady and the Laird by Nicola Cornick

·               The Lady’s Protector by Emma Prince

·               The Legend and the sequel The Destiny by Kathleen Givens

·               The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen

·               The Passionate One, The Reckless One and The Ravishing One (the McClairen’s Isle trilogy) by Connie Brockway

·               The Pride of Lions, The Blood of Roses and Midnight Honor by Marsha Canham

·               The Renegade (first released as The Renegade and The Rose) by Christine Dorsey

·               The Queen’s Lady by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham)

·               The Taming, Ride Out the Storm and The Daughters of Cameron by Aleen

            Malcolm

·               The Scotsman by Juliana Garnett (aka Virginia Brown)

·               The Scottish Bride by Catherine Coulter

·               The Spider and the Stone by Glen Craney

·               The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

·               Threads of Destiny by Arnette Lamb

·               To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt (one of the Four Soldiers series)

·               To Conquer a Highlander, Highland Hellcat and Highland Heat by Mary Wine

·               To Lie with Lions by Dorothy Dunnett (from the House of Niccolo series)

·               White Knight by Jaclyn Reding

·               Without Honor by Elizabeth Stuart

 

I hope you will consider my own novels set in Scotland’s past:

 

·      Rebel Warrior, part of the award-winning Medieval Warriors series

·      The Refuge, an Inspirational Novel of Scotland, winner of the Illumination Awards’ Gold Medal

·      A Secret Scottish Christmas, book 5 in the Agents of the Crown Regency series

·      The Holly & The Thistle, a Regency novella

·      Summer Warrior, Bound by Honor, The Strongest Heart and Born to Trouble from the award-winning Clan Donald Saga of historical fiction



Friday, May 30, 2025

Evelyn Anthony’s CLANDARA – Enthralling Story of Star-crossed Love Amidst the Jacobite Uprising of 1745

Set in 1745, in the time of feuds between the clans and the Scottish support for Bonnie Prince Charlie, this is the story of Katherine Fraser who falls in love with the eldest son of her family’s enemy—the Macdonalds. James MacDonald had a horrible reputation of cattle stealing, killing and debauchery when he met the lovely, flame-haired Katherine Fraser. For love of her, he changed. Neither family wanted the marriage but agreed to a betrothal when they could see the two were determined.

 

Then came Charles Stuart and the call to arms all over Scotland. Having lost all in the earlier rising in 1715, Katherine’s family declined to go. Their enemies, the Macdonalds, were in the forefront of the clans supporting the prince. In one horrible act, James tears asunder the love that bound him to Katherine and sealed forever the enmity between his clan and hers.

 

This is a poignant love story very well told. Anthony vividly portrays the emotions of the Scots at the time of the Jacobite Uprising of 1745, and her description of the English slaughter of the Scots on Culloden Moor was brilliant and detailed. She shows you why King George’s son the Duke of Cumberland deserved his title “the Butcher.” By the time you get to the battle, you are so invested in the characters and the clans, your heart is racing.

 

The romance is an unusual one as James and Katherine are separated for much of the story, yet ever in each other’s thoughts. I loved them both but Katherine really shined as a woman trying to do the right thing under dismal circumstances. The ending is a bit like jumping off a cliff and I found I wanted more of the two of them.

 

If you like well-researched, detailed history in your historical romance, and you can’t get enough of Scotland’s past, then you will love this one. Highly recommended.

 

 


 

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Virginia Henley’s A YEAR AND A DAY – Superbly Told Tale of an English Nobleman Knight and an Innocent Scottish Lass—Wonderful!

May if Scottish month on Historical Romance Review. I’m a little behind but making up for it by bringing you a meticulous, fast-paced story set in Scotland in the 13th century. And it’s by one of my very favorite authors!

 

This is the story of Lynx de Warenne, English knight, heir to the Earl of Surrey and Edward Plantagenet's most prized warrior--and, Jane Leslie, a Scottish lass with a kind heart and special healing powers. When Lynx became Edward's Governor of Dumfries castle, he decided it was a perfect time to sire an heir. He asked his castle steward, Jock Leslie, to allow him to handfast his youngest daughter. While Jane wanted no man, when her father told her he had agreed to the handfast, she had no choice but to accept it.

 

This is a superbly crafted tale of two people who married for the creation of a child, but discover both passion and an enduring love. Lynx was a hardened warrior who didn't trust women; Jane was an innocent young woman afraid of men. Henley weaves a wonderful story of these two coming to love and trust each other as the winds of war between Scotland and England swirl about them. Once again, Henley crafts a wonderful romance then sets it like a jewel in a perfect setting of well-researched history and accompanied by a glittering cast of characters, both real and fictional, woven in seamlessly as only a master storyteller can.

 

I highly recommend this one and it's on my Best Scottish/Highlander Historical Romances list!


 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Georgette Heyer’s CHARITY GIRL – A Rather Odd Heyer Regency

I like Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances but this was the strangest of all her books. Until the last ten pages there was no romance at all. No sparks anywhere.

 

Set in the Regency era, this is the story of Viscount Desford, who befriends a poor girl, Miss Charity Steane, who runs away from her aunt's household where she is treated like a servant. (Think Cinderella.) Charity wants to find her grandfather but, alas, he is a curmudgeon and not likely to take her in. Meanwhile, she meets Desford takes pity on her when he discovers her along the road to London. He takes her to London and to the home of his childhood friend, Henrietta.

 

While Charity (who likes to be called Cherry) is endearing herself into Henrietta’s mother’s good graces, Desford is jaunting about the countryside looking for Charity’s grandfather. 

Yes, it was true Desmond’s parents were enamored with Henrietta, but I sensed no love match between her and Desford. In fact, they even told us so. Charity was far more interesting until Henrietta started finding fault with her, describing her as not being bookish (which I took to mean she was not very intelligent). Except for Charity, they were all snobs from what I could see.

 

When Desmond declares his love for Henrietta, saying he’s always loved her, it came across as unbelievable. We never saw it.


 

Friday, May 2, 2025

Georgette Heyer’s BLACK SHEEP - A Classic Heyer Regency to enjoy!

 

This is Classics month on the blog and I’m sharing my reviews of my favorite Georgette Heyer Regencies.

 

Set in Bath in 1816, Black Sheep is the story of Abigail Wendover, 28, who, along with her sister Sabrina, has raised her young niece, Fanny, an orphan. It seems Fanny has fallen in love with a handsome fortune hunter and Abbie must enlist the aid of his uncle, Miles Caverleigh, who has returned from India where his family sent him for sins undisclosed, the black sheep. Miles is charming but often improper in his bantering speech. (Heyer did a splendid job bringing him to life on the page!) Abby is intrigued.

 

I give Heyer credit for creating a hero who has no respect for society’s rules. He’s just what Abby needs to pry her from what has become a too comfortable single life. He may not be terribly handsome but he is unique and will never bore her. And he appears to love Abby, who he calls by pet names like “pretty pea goose”.

 

Meanwhile, Miles doesn’t want to get involved in the affairs of a nephew he has never even met but as he loves Abby, he has little choice. And such a clever man he is!

 

A delightful Heyer Regency tale that will warm your heart and keep you entertained.


Sunday, April 27, 2025

Georgette Heyer’s ARABELLA – Wonderfully Intricate Tale of an Unlikely Match

Heyer brings great detail to her stories and I love that. That’s why they are classics. This is a Regency about, Arabella Tallant, the daughter of a Yorkshire vicar who goes to London at her godmother’s invitation, hopefully to find a worthy husband. On the way, her carriage breaks down outside the hunting lodge of the wealthy Mr. Robert Beaumaris. Her pride is stung when she overhears him besmirching her purpose, so she pretends to be an heiress, a pretense that deeply amuses the jaded Beaumaris who decides it would be amusing to make sure she is thought by all of London to be just what she claims to be.


When compassionate Arabella rescues an abused chimney sweep and a mixed-breed mongrel, she foists them upon Beaumaris, who finds he rather enjoys being her partner in the role of rescuer. When Arabella’s younger brother, posing as someone else, gets into deep gambling trouble, Beaumaris comes to his rescue.

 

Arabella turns down her many marriage proposals knowing they only want the money they think she has and finds herself in a quandary knowing she can never marry a man unless he knows the truth, which she can never divulge.

 

A wonderful story. Arabella is a delightful heroine and Beaumaris is a great hero, a man who, in the end, does exactly the right thing for the women he has come to love.

 

It’s that time of year when I share my favorite heroes and heroines and I catch up with my reading in all genres.


 

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

How We Got to Where We Are Today: Modern Historical Romance Over the Last Several Decades, a Recommended Reading List for the Uninitiated


April is Classics month on Historical Romance Review. For those who love the genre, a review of how we got here is in order. Sometimes when I talk to fellow readers of historical romance, or even authors, and I mention a name from the past, an author who helped shape the genre, like Kathleen Woodiwiss or Rosemary Rogers, I get a blank stare in return. It occurred to me that it might be helpful to read some of the classics to see where we’ve come from and to enjoy the greats who have contributed so much to the craft.

 

Except for several novels of note in earlier decades, I’m starting in the 1970s. And while I may not have included your favorite author, by reading the romances on this list, you’ll have a good idea of our beginnings and what so many wonderful authors have done for the genre. Think of it as a Recommended Reading List for the Uninitiated in modern historical romance.

 

So, here’s the list of those I recommend, a sampling meant to give you a picture of how the genre has developed. Some may require you to shop online for a used book though many are available as ebooks. Most are novels I’ve rated 5 stars, so I promise you won’t be bored. 

 

Included because of their significance… and to show you what was out there early

 

·               The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (1950)

·               Bride of the MacHugh by Jan Cox Speas (1954)

·               Sleep in the Woods by Dorothy Eden (1960)

·               The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett (1961)

·               Bond of Blood by Roberta Gellis (1965)

 

The 1970s: The Pioneering Years

 

·               The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss (1972)

·               The Wicked Marquis by Barbara Cartland (1973)

·               Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers (1974)

·               Love’s Tender Fury by Jennifer Wilde (aka Tom Huff) (1976)

·               Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain (1977)

·               Caroline by Cynthia Wright (1977)

·               Love’s Wild Desire by Jennifer Blake (1977)

·               The Kadin by Bertrice Small (1978)

·               A Pirate’s Love by Johanna Lindsey (1978)

·               Bonds of Love by Lisa Gregory (1978)

 

The 1980s: The Explosive Years

 

·               Lady Vixen by Shirlee Busbee (1980)

·               Skye O’Malley by Bertrice Small (1981)

·               Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter (1982)

·               The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys (1984)

·               Rose of Rapture by Rebecca Brandewyne (1984)

·               Stormfire by Christine Monson (1984)

·               The Windflower by Laura London (aka Sharon & Tom Curtis) (1984)

·               Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught (1985)

·               The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham (1986)

·               Mountain Mistress by Nadine Crenshaw (1987)

·               The Hawk and the Dove by Virginia Henley (1988)

·               Capture the Sun by Shirl Henke (1988)

·               Nightwylde by Kimberleigh Caitlin (1988) Re-published as Black Falcon’s Lady

·               Sweet Savage Eden by Heather Graham (1989)

·               Heartstorm by Elizabeth Stuart (1989)

 

The 1990s: The Developing Years

 

·               Dark Fires by Brenda Joyce (1991)

·               The Wind Dancer by Iris Johansen (1991)

·               Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson (1992)

·               Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale (1992)

·               Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (1992)

·               Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell (1993)

·               Princess of Fire by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham) (1994)

·               Lady of the Glen by Jennifer Roberson (1996)

·               Night in Eden by Candice Proctor (1997)

·               Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens (1999)

 

The 2000s: The “Standing On The Shoulders of Giants” Years

 

·               By Possession by Madeline Hunter (2000)

·               The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole (2003)

·               On a Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens (2006)

·               Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn (2007)

·               Broken Wing by Judith James (2008)

·               My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne (2008)

·               The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran (2008)

·               Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell (2010)

·               The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

·               Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner (2011)