The Murrays #15, Originally published in '07 this edition has a new cover, I love the new cover. I liked this one more than the last Howell book I read. This one was just fine to pick up and read even though I haven't read the first 14 books. I truly enjoyed how this one played out and the characters were well written. Three years ago James Drummond was accused of murdering his wife; cast as an outlaw he went into hiding biding his time before he can come back prove his innocence and claim his land and his daughter. Annora MacKay the poor relation who was born on the wrong side of the sheets was moved Dunncraig Keep to take care of her cousin's daughter. 

Donnell MacKay is a selfish brute of a man who worries more about fancy living than the tenants of the Keep and village, his second is no better. Annora knows something is not right with Donnell's story and even though he tries to alienate her from the rest of the people they still like her and trust her more than they like Donnell. James needed access inside the keep to search for proof that he was framed. Under the disguise of a French woodcarver he easily gains entrance. With the help of Big Berta, the cook, James starts his search but Annora is there to tempt him. Once Annora finds out the truth about James she starts to help which pays off for they soon discover the truth but they still need concrete proof for the King's man to take action against Donnell. Their timetable is forced to move up when Donnell announces that Annora has to marry his second in command. James having already fallen in love with her won't let that happen.

Overall, it was a good read. I liked the characters and the plot. The romance between James and Annora pretty much instintaneous the sparks flew and by the time they gave in the chemistry between was combustible. Meggie, James' daughter, was adorable and wise beyond her years. Big Berta is a force to be reckoned with. It had a heartwarming and funny ending.  

Highland Sinner (The Murrays) - Hannah H...

Sir Tormand Murray has been set up to be branded a murderer. To stop the murderers and clear himself, he’s sought the help of Morainn Ross, a reclusive woman with the gift of second sight. Tormand is the first man that Morainn has met that has accepted her strange gift.

This was a good story. This author does a great job of weaving a tale, usually between two specific families, and also including a bit of mysticism in it to give it that extra twist. I recommend.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Bethoc Matheson lives in an abusive home, raising her siblings. On her mother’s deathbed, she swore she would take care of her little sister, forcing her to stay with her father. Walking to the cave she hides in, she comes across a severely wounded man. She’s able to help him get to her cave, where she slowly nurses him back to health.

This was a decent book. I felt bad for Bethoc as more and of her father’s deeds become unraveled. I loved how, almost right from the beginning, Callum could sense the abuse and wanted to protect her. Good story. I recommend.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Bethoc is a strong young lady who lives a life of beatings, yet loves those around her. She is trusting and has a gift for knowing things about people. Callum also came from a brutal past, but he is loving, honest, loyal, and loved by his people. He battles through his own fears to realize that Bethoc is what he needs and loves. They journey together is full of danger, but they come through it together. I enjoyed this story and recommend it.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley.

I got this one from NetGalley and it has been more than 10 years since I have read a Hannah Howell romance.  This story progressed a bit slowly for my liking.  The plot concept was good and had potential, but I think the characters were not strong enough to move the plot along nicely and quickly. There were incongruities in the development of the relationship. If she came from such an abusive history, how could she trust him within a couple of days?  It went from them slowly getting to know each other to kissing passionately from one page to the next, and it just came off feeling hollow. When they came together there wasn't any consideration for her on his part, "I'm going to take ye now, lass" and then, wam-bam-thank-you-ma'am. And she comes across as super naive, like 15 years of age naive though she is 21, she was just not well developed.  There wasn't enough development between the two. She came across as weak at times. He was more interesting as a character but with his horrible past, I expected a harder edge to him and a harder time in trusting or opening up to her in the beginning of their relationship.  He had moments of potential but then his character would fall flat in other scenes. For example, he didn't come across as intimidating at all when he showed up at the jail in his lordly clothing. He then just turned around and left her there. He could have been so much more intimidating and interesting in that scene.

Other than the characters, the villain was a bit flat at times. There was no one central conflict or bad guy but rather smaller conflicts that sometimes didn't seem to move the story along well enough. Overall this one left me thinking about what I was going to read next and when I might be finished with this one. Coming from reading a Paula Quinn Scottish romance, A Highlander's Christmas Kiss, this one just fell flat. The story was slow and the dialogue at times weakly constructed. I was disappointed. This didn't stack up to a Paula Quinn, Monica McCarty, or Donna Grant romance.