Set in Scotland in the historical time of clans and clan warfare this is a story about a healer who left an area several years before and returns to try to give her son, born outside of wedlock a chance to know more about his father's clan and while there she finds that Davidh (which looked wrong throughout and I now realise the why of that, there's a V in the middle, and if you spend a few minutes searching you will find that v isn't in Scots. Scots Gallic versions of the name are Dàibheid or Dàibhidh. David is quite common and to be honest the book isn't written in Scots Gallic so the English version could be used; the surnames are used in their common English versions. It's a minor pet peeve) Cameron who is attracted to her. She's dogged by rumours of witchcraft and her healing skills are used to help his son (he's a widower).

It's fun but it felt unhooked in time and the end felt like a bit of an anticlimax.

Title: The Forbidden Highlands
Authors: Kathryn Le Veque, Eliza Knight, Terri Brisbin, Amy Jarecki, Collette Cameron, Emma Prince, Victoria Vane & Violetta Rand
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"The Forbidden Highlands" by: Kathryn Le Veque, Eliza Knight, Terri Brisbin, Amy Jarecki, Collette Cameron, Emma Prince, Victoria Vane & Violetta Rand

Featuring: The Forbidden Highlands..'The Maiden of Moray' .by Author Victoria Vane

My Thoughts...

This is a beautiful medieval Scotland story that is portrait in 'The Maiden Of Moray.' The beautiful
details that are presented in the story is so well done giving you the feeling this you are there in the midst of it all. The story features Alexander has been chosen as a tutor for the Domnall. Since Alexander is now getting to see the world before taking his vows what will happen when see sees Lady Sybilla? What does she have in mind for him since she has never been kissed? Will Alexander began to question whether taking his vows would be the best for him especially when 'secrets that have been long hidden from him' began to come out. Will all of this alter what is out there for him? Be ready for some very complex characters with some backstories that will keep the reader interested in what will come next. Well, to find out how this story will come out I guess the reader will have to pick up the next series to see what will happen between Sybilla and Alexander.

Along with "The Maiden of Moray" the reader will get quite a collection of a total eight short entertaining romantic novellas all dealing with 'Forbidden Love.' Each of the stories are well written with 'their unique style to capture the reader's heart' and will definitely hold ones attention to the very end and will have you wanting to get the next story.

 

 

2 helms

 

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A bit of a dud this one :( I haven't read the previous books in the series and there were some strong references to them but it was easy enough to follow the previous character's stories. I was very bored and distracted throughout the book and Fia and Niall really didn't hold my attention.

 

Fia dreams of a passionate and everlasting true love, just like Laird Brodie & Lady Arabella, her employers. She is kidnapped by outlaw Niall Corbett and taken deep into the highland hills with his band of men. There is more to Niall/Ian than meets the eye, as he is on his own secret mission from the King and kidnapping Fia complicates matters, but he had to do it to save her from the nefarious intentions of the other outlaws. Fia can't help but be drawn to Niall as he is nothing like what he portrays and she sees through his rough facade to the nobleman beneath. Even though her mind says run, her heart whispers something else entirely and she longs to discover the real Niall.

 

Fia comes across as quite bland and boring and there wasn't anything memorable about her except for her dreams of love. I can relate to Fia's sweet dreams of wanting true love. Who doesn't want that? But that's about all I can relate to. She wants her story to happen exactly the same way as it happened for Brodie and Arabella (Brodie kidnapped Arabella and they both fell in love- first book in the series) and her mind just seems to be fixated onto this scenario, so I didn't feel like this was original enough for Fia's story. I do love a "kidnapped and falling in love with your captor, without major Stockholm Syndrome scenarios", but I just didn't believe the passion and the love between Fia and Niall. Niall also comes across as boring and nothing really stood out about him except that he was leading a double life. There wasn't an explanation on why the King had such a stranglehold on him, his family and his titles. Explanations and reasonings were all over the place which really made for distracting and uninteresting reading.

 

Fia and Niall were nothing special in my eyes, I wasn't lost in their love and there were some interesting references to Niall's male parts which felt out of place!

 

*Thank-you Terri Brisbin, Netgalley & Harlequin Historical for the ARC.

Tolan of Durlington is a farmer whose ancestors have tended the same lands for centuries with astonishing success. His hope for the future is that his son—and his sons yet to come—will carry on the traditions. But, his carefully laid plans are shaken by the village healer he’s come to love. 
 
Unable to bear children, Elethea can offer Tolan only companionship and physical comfort. When hidden powers in their blood—powers to command the fertile earth, to draw from the healing sun—explode into being, their world and lives are changed forever.
 
Soon, the fate of humankind is in their hands as the wrathful goddess grows closer to escaping her prison and destroying the world as they know it. Battling the goddess’ followers and their own fears, can these two lovers protect mankind and still survive to find their own future?

 

 

 

My Review:

 

 

Blazing Earth was on an entirely different level than the previous installments of the Stone Circles series. Its more intense its more somber its more everything. Blazing Earth takes everything we've established in the previous books and turns it on its head. Honestly I really enjoyed Brisbins bravery to take such dramatic risks but it pays off in really big ways. Granted a lot of it is emotional but its all fantastic. I am glad that Brisbin wasn't afraid to go places that often landed in the shady spots and questionable areas. I really enjoyed reading Blazing Earth from beginning to end, and by itself tied me to the series in a personal way. I felt that Blazing Earth was Brisbin's best work yet, and I look forward to reading Brisbin's following installments.

 

 

 

 

My Rating:

 

 

 

 

 

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Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

Source:
Received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley Publishing.

Note:
If any of Krissys Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! Thank you!

Raging Sea (Stone Circles #2) by Terri Brisbin


Eons ago, seven ancient deities trapped the goddess of chaos under a ring of stones. But now, in the darkest days of the 13th century, Chaela threatens to escape, leaving the fate of all humanity in the hands of two young lovers...
Ran believed herself to be a normal fisherman’s daughter, until a turbulent storm unleashed within her powers she never knew she had. Those powers have drawn her into the battle of two warring factions: the Warriors of Destiny, whom she knows in her heart to be noble, and a menacing army holding her father captive. Her hope for survival is in the hands of Soren, the man she once loved, the man who betrayed her, and the only man she can trust in a raging battle against evil.



My Review:
So happy to have this installation! Brisbin really added everything to the cake mix in this epic edition in the Stone Circles series. Brisbin has created history, angst, emotional depth, passion of life, determination, courage, love, beauty... Raging Sea has everything.
Our wounded heroes both of them give readers someone to connect to on a personal level because there is a journey that takes place both physically, mentally and emotionally. Readers go through it with the cast. You find redemption that breathes fresh courage into its cast and its readers. Raging Sea is a beautiful story from beginning to end that I enjoyed all the way through.


Rating:
5 Stars


Reviewed By: Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews
http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/


Note: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley