Monday, March 27, 2017

Review - - When a Highlander Loses His Heart


When a Highlander Loses His Heart
By Julie Johnstone
Highlander Vows:Entangled Hearts - Book 4
Release Date: March 27, 2017
Reviewed by PJ
  


Growing up in a convent wasn't easy for Isobel Campbell but she took solace in the knowledge that her beloved father had delivered her there shortly after her birth to keep her safe from his enemies. She lived for the annual visits from him and her brothers and dreamed of the day when she would leave with them instead of being left behind. That day finally arrived when Isobel turned 18 and her brother arrived to escort her home but what awaited her at her family's castle was not what she had anticipated and challenged everything she had grown up believing to be true. Who was her betrayer, who was trying to protect her, and is it possible that her ultimate happiness and safety could be with those whom she had been taught were her enemy? 

Graham MacLeod is determined to avenge his family for the atrocities committed against his sister and sister-in-law by the Campbells. What better way than to abduct Isobel Campbell, the heiress due to inherit from her grandmother a castle that holds enormous power in the struggle between Scotland's king and those who would steal his throne, and deliver her to the king. Driven by guilt for his part in past events, hatred for his enemies, and love of his family, Graham is not prepared for the reality of Isobel, a woman vastly different from what he expects, nor the feelings she generates in him. Is she as innocent as she appears or as clever and deceitful as the rest of her family? And, when it comes time to hand her over, will Graham fulfill his duty to his king or to his heart?

Julie Johnstone has quickly become one of my favorite authors writing Medieval romance and the MacLeods, one of my favorite families. I wasn't too sure about Graham in the previous books but in When a Highlander Loses His Heart, Johnstone does an outstanding job of slowing peeling away the layers of this proud warrior to reveal the vulnerable and wary heart of a man who believes himself unworthy of love, allowing the reader a better understanding of his actions, past and present. Why and how he reached this conclusion lives at the center of his inability to trust Isobel with his heart and stands between him and true happiness. Isobel is a wonderfully developed character and the perfect match for Graham, if only he realizes it in time. Though she is innocent in some ways, she's also brave, independent, strong-willed, and possesses a heart filled with compassion and understanding. She'll need all of those qualities if she's to bring both the king and Graham around to her way of thinking. 

Once again, Johnstone surrounds our main couple with a rich secondary cast that contributes to the story without detracting from the primary romance. MacLeod heroes and heroines from previous books have key roles, intriguing new characters are introduced, and the villains remain as diabolical as ever. Filled with political intrigue, fast-paced action, life or death battles, a proud, loyal, and loving family, and a heartfelt romance, all set within the vibrantly drawn highlands of 14th century Scotland, this is one more Julie Johnstone book that kept me eagerly turning the pages well past my bedtime. It's earned a place on my keeper shelf where I'm sure it will be revisited again.

For a richer reading experience and a more complete understanding of the MacLeod clan, and Graham in particular, I strongly recommend reading the following three books in order: When a Laird Loves a Lady, Wicked Highland Wishes, and When a Highlander Loses His Heart. I loved them all!

Do you enjoy enemies to lovers stories?

Are you a fan of romances set in Medieval times? Why or why not?


Have you read Julie Johnstone's books?


I'm giving away three Kindle copies of the first book in the series, When a Laird Loves a Lady. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Giveaway ends at 11:00 PM (EST), March 28, 2016.



11 comments:

  1. This story appears to have everything that I love in a book, intrigue, adventure, love and romance. I haven't read anything by Julie Johnstone, so will have to keep an eye out for her books.

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    1. Hope you enjoy them, Diane! If you read e-books, When a Laird Loves a Lady is currently on sale for $0.99 while Wicked Highland Wishes and When a Highlander Loses His Heart are $3.99 each.

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    2. Aww, that's a shame. I do have a Kindle but prefer a book. However, I will be taking my Kindle with me when I go home for a visit in a few weeks.

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  2. Thank you so very much PJ for your beautiful review! I am so very honored and humbled!

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  3. You know how much I absolutely love Medievals. They are my first loves of Romance. I may just have to give this author a try. ~ Buffie

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  4. I haven't read one of her books yet! What is wrong with me I love enemies and historical. And I need a new series! Thanks for spreading the love PJ!

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  5. I haven't read any of her books,but I do enjoy medieval romances. I need to give her books a try. Enemies to lovers are a favorite of mine because the dialog can be a lot of fun to read.

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  6. I haven't read this author. The Regency and the Victorian Eras are my preferred settings, but I have enjoyed some Medieval romances.

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  7. It has been a little while since I read one of her books. Medieval Highland books were the first romances I read. They are still a favorite. Enemies to lovers give the story so many good possibilities.

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