Review & Giveaway - - Christmas Wishes of Love

Christmas Wishes of Love

by Julie Johnstone

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing, LLC

Release Date: December 1, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Her first mistake was not killing the brute when she met him. Her second was falling in love with him.

Highlander Rory Matheson knows what he wants—a biddable wife. So when an edict from the king demands Rory choose a bride by Winter Solstice from the twin daughters of his clan’s greatest enemies—The MacLeods, he knows the moment he meets the sharp-tongued, headstrong Lillith that he’ll definitely not be picking her. Not only is she far from the docile wife he craves for peace, she’s unpredictable and dangerous—she put an arrow in his shoulder! Yet, he cannot keep away from the oddly enticing lass who stirs his desire. She’s brave and cunning, and she challenges him at every turn. And as the king’s deadline draws near, Rory comes to realize that he no longer wishes to win his battle of wills with Lillith—he’s determined to claim her heart.

Lillith MacLeod wants to be a warrior, not a wife. She’s seen the havoc love creates, and she’ll pass—thank you very much. She’s determined to defy both king and clan rather than become the bride of Rory bloody Matheson, so she hatches a scheme to drive Rory away and leave her clan blame-free. But she soon finds herself entangled in fiery exchanges with the irritatingly handsome Scot that spark her interest, kisses that ignite her desire, and a competition that reveals an honorable, caring side of the Hammer of the Highlands that she never expected. As tensions rise between the women and men of her clan over the edict and the king’s deadline looms, her family’s future—and her own—hangs in the balance, and she must decide: is love her greatest enemy or is it herself?

PJ's Thoughts:

Whether  you're already a fan of Julie Johnstone's Highlander Vows - Entangled Hearts series or new to these books, Christmas Wishes of Love is a story that should be on your holiday reading list.

This new novella highlights all the reasons why Johnstone is one of my favorite authors writing romance in the Medieval era. The setting, language, and characters all feel authentic to place and time. The family dynamics are an absolute delight. The characters are well developed, eliciting a range of emotions that made me smile, laugh, shed a tear or two, and cheer well-deserved happy endings. 

The banter between Rory and Lillith is terrific, as are the chemistry and deepening feelings. I love a romance where both parties are against the match then slowly, over time, come to realize there really couldn't be anyone else for them but the one they were against. I adored Rory's wooing of Lillith, the care he used as well as his emotional support.  especially appreciated his respect and support of her wishes for her life. I also enjoyed Lillith's evolution from fear of opening her heart to acceptance and celebration of a deep, abiding love. She touched my heart and was easy to cheer for. Also, the advice from older generations to both Lillith and Rory was a delight. So much fun to see Iain and Marion (When a Laird Loves a Lady - Book 1) as grandparents! 

While I love and recommend all of the books in this series, Christmas Wishes of Love can easily be enjoyed as a standalone story. Don't hesitate to make this heart-tugging novella your first visit to Julie Johnstone's unforgettable Highlanders. 

Have you read Julie Johnstone yet?

Do you enjoy Medieval romances?

What do you think about next generation stories?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 6 will receive a signed print copy of Highland Hope (the story of Royce and Eve, Lillith's widowed father and stepmother) by Julie Johnstone.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review - - The Laird's Magical Lass

The Laird's Magical Lass

by Julie Johnstone

Spellbound Hearts - Book 1

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing LLC

Release Date: May 30, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Freya

Aye, I stole a goblet. A magical one. From a witch.
In my defense, I returned it.
I just… took too long.
I was trying to save myself from a loveless marriage, not doom my future.
But witches don’t take kindly to thievery that cost them dearly.
She granted my wish—then twisted it into a curse.
Now I’m thrice wed, never for love.
Men want me for my sight, not my heart.
And when they don’t heed my visions, they die.
I've been taken again, this time by Colin bloody MacDonald.
A brute. A Highland warlord. My father’s greatest enemy.
He says he’s not like the others. I say he’s worse.
He married me to ruin my clan.
He thinks he can use me.
But I’ve had my fill of being used.
And yet… he’s careful with me. Fiercely so.
Worse still, he’s handsome when he’s not scowling,
and kind when he thinks I’m not looking.
I won’t give him my heart.
But I fear it may no longer be mine to keep.

Colin

I didn’t want a wife.
I needed leverage. A weapon. A way to end this war.
Freya MacLeod is all of that—and more trouble than I bargained for.
I forced her hand, aye. But I swore not to touch her until she’s willing.
And now, every day she refuses me feels like its own kind of curse.
She’s fire and prophecy, steel wrapped in silk.
And I’m starting to forget I married her for vengeance.
Starting to wonder what it would mean to earn her trust.
There’s no room for softness in war.
No space for hearts in bargains.
But when it comes to Freya, I’ve already lost more than I meant to give.

PJ's Thoughts:

Julie Johnstone takes us back to the Medieval Scottish Highlands with another compelling, action-packed, sensual romance that reeled me right in and refused to let go. 

One of the things I most enjoy about Johnstone's books is the sense of place. I never feel like I'm reading a modern story set in the past. She writes with an authenticity that convinces me I'm actually watching a story unfold in Medieval times. Things aren't easy. In fact, they are often harsh and unforgiving, especially for women. But, fear not, there is always a happy ending, even if it comes only after a hard-fought journey. 

Another facet I enjoy about Johnstone's books is her characters. Always complex, with multi-layered emotional histories, they come to life on the pages of the book, engaging my interest and my emotions. Freya and Colin are both beautifully developed and their journey is one that had me pulling for them every step of the way. 

While The Laird's Magical Lass is filled with the adventure, betrayal, danger, and romance I've come to expect from this author, it also has the added bonus of a magical twist. I fully bought into the curse placed upon Freya and am already eager to discover what will happen to her friends (who were also cursed) when it's time for their books. And, although Freya's sister is too young for her own story now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she will get her own book when the time is right. 

Review - - The Highlander Burns for Vengeance

The Highlander Burns for Vengeance

by Julie Johnstone

Return of the Highlanders - Book 3

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing, LLC

Release Date: December 30, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

  

Divided by treachery, bound by an edict, they must decide their fate: to love or to hate.

After years of captivity, Graeme Stewart has returned home with a burning desire for vengeance, and it’s all directed at the Campbell clan. They attacked his home, killed his parents, and imprisoned him for eighteen long years. So when the king demands Graeme handfast with his enemy’s sister to end the warring of their clans, he intends to use her to get the revenge he yearns for. But Maisie’s courage and character surprise him at every turn, conjuring admiration and stirring desire. Now, with revenge within his grasp, he must make a choice before it’s too late: either cling to the malice that kept him alive or release it for the chance at love.

The vengeful and unreasonable Highlander intends to destroy her family, and Maisie Campbell is bound to him for a year and a day. She hates everything about Graeme, except the way he kisses, which is a force that nearly brings her to her knees. But lust does not a marriage make, and the man is hell-bent on proving her brother a traitor and herself treacherous, so she sets out to prove otherwise. Yet, as questions of her brother’s character arise in her own mind and Graeme displays an honorable, fiercely protective nature, Maisie faces a decision: seek a truth that will doom the brother she adores or remain blindly loyal to those she’s always held dear and lose the man she has come to love with all her heart.

PJ's Thoughts:

This book exemplifies all the reasons that when I want a fast-paced, emotional, Medieval romance that I can't put down, the author I first turn to is Julie Johnstone. Her characters are complex and fully developed. Her grasp of time and place is vividly and authentically depicted. Her books never leave me feeling as though I've read a modern book set hundreds of years ago. From the first page to the last, I was fully immersed in 15th Century Scotland, these characters, their triumphs, travails, passion, and the danger that stalks them.

While this is book three in Johnstone's Return of the Highlanders trilogy and the couples from books one and two are featured, The Highlander Burns for Vengeance stands well on its own. You can easily jump in with any book. I recommend all three. 

Review & Giveaway - - Tangled Up With The Highlander

Tangled Up With The Highlander

by Julie Johnstone

Return of the Highlanders - Book 2

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing

Release Date: August 30, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

He thought he would never love again… Then he fell for the lass he must give up to save his clan.

Desperate to keep his children and clan from starving, Laird Alasdair MacLachlan joins the ranks of mercenaries searching for the missing lass of a powerful clan. The mission seems simple—find the lass, return her to her family, and claim the hefty reward. But when fate throws bow and arrow wielding Sorcha MacGregor in his path, he’s about to discover how complicated one mule-headed, beguiling beauty can make things. For a man who has lost and loved and has no interest in doing either ever again, he’s confounded by the desire the opinionated woman awakens in him, and he’s shocked to discover his heart might not be permanently frozen after all. But his duty to his family and clan must come before all else, and that means sticking to the plan. Or is that just an excuse to avoid burying his painful past and taking a risk on a new future? One thing is certain—if he doesn’t figure it out soon, Sorcha will be lost to him forever.


Life has taught Sorcha MacGregor that only a harebrained fool would wish to wed and become a man’s chattel to control. So when she’s kidnapped by a Highlander who intends to deliver her like a trussed pig to a family she’s never known, she instantly decides he’s a selfish barbarian like all other men. Her opinion becomes harder to maintain, though, when the devilishly handsome warrior risks his life for hers. Still, she has no intention of lowering her well-placed guard and making herself vulnerable. But with each act of kindness Alasdair shows her, every moving interaction between him and his children, and the simmering way he looks at her, not to mention the toe-curling kisses, she comes to see the gentle, brokenhearted man behind the hardened exterior, and she does the one thing she swore she’d never do: falls in love. When the time comes for Alasdair to make the ultimate sacrifice for her, for love, will he prove he’s really the man of her dreams or just a fantasy that is too good to be true?

PJ's Thoughts:

Julie Johnstone is my favorite author writing Medieval romance today. Her stories are exciting, adventurous, heart-tugging, and immersive. It's always a bit of a jolt when I look up from my Kindle while reading one of her books and realize that I'm in present time and not the Medieval Scottish Highlands. The web she weaves is that realistic.

Alasdair and Sorcha both claimed my affection in this book while Alasdair's young children outright captured my heart. As they did Sorcha's. It was so endearing to watch their relationship grow but, mostly, I enjoyed watching Sorcha help Alasdair bridge the emotional gap between him and his children that had been erected since the death of his beloved wife as well as find new, unexpected love with Sorcha. But not without some monumental challenges to overcome along the way. I love strong warriors, hardened by loss, who gradually rediscover the joy of both familial and romantic love.

Tangled Up With The Highlander is book two of Johnstone's Return of the Highlanders trilogy but can be read as a standalone, however if you're like me you'll want to read all three. Book one, Secrets of a Highlander's Heart, was released earlier this year. I haven't read it yet though I plan to rectify that soon. Both books are available to purchase in print, digital, or audiobook as well as through Kindle Unlimited. 

Readers, do you enjoy Medieval romance?

Have you read Julie Johnstone yet?

What's your favorite romance time period? Do you read books set in multiple periods? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, September 1 will receive an e-book copy of Tangled Up With The Highlander.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Highlanders Never Forget

Highlanders Never Forget

by Julie Johnstone

Wicked Willful Highlanders - Book 3

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing

Release Date: November 30, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

In the game of love, the only way to win is to risk it all.

Fiercely focused Highland warrior Alexander Gordon has one goal—secure a coveted spot on the King’s Night Guard. Being born illegitimate and raised with the constant scorn of his father’s wife, he wants nothing more than a home of his own where he feels like he belongs, and the king’s elite warrior group is the only chance to achieve his dream. He doesn’t intend to let anything or anyone derail him, but then the brave beautiful Adeline Brodie strolls into his life, and the harder he tries to push her away to preserve his honor and dreams, the more it makes him want her.

Sweet smart Adeline Brodie is used to being overlooked by men, but she’s never cared much until the day her world collides with Alexander Gordon’s. Not only is the Scot sinfully handsome, but his intense allegiance to his undeserving brother and his noble heart intrigues her in a way no man ever has. When he appears to return her admiration, things seem perfect for the promise of a wonderful future, until betrayal strikes from the most unexpected places.
Desperate to save her chance at love, Adeline creates a plan to save it, but the qualities she admires most in Alex—loyalty and determination—may be the very things to tear them apart forever.

To secure a future together, Adeline and Alex must face painful truths and make dangerous choices to champion themselves, each other, and the forbidden love that’s grown between them that’s worth any price—even that of old dreams.

PJ's Thoughts:

She's done it again. When I want to immerse myself in the adventure, danger, and atmospheric authenticity of Medieval romance, Julie Johnstone is the first author writing today to whom I turn. She has a knack for bringing it all to life, making me feel like I'm right there, in the midst of the action, from start to finish.

In Highlanders Never Forget, Johnstone has created a star-crossed couple for whom I felt an immediate affinity. Alex and Adeline are good, honest, loyal, likeable characters you just can't help but cheer for. They have an immediate connection but, of course, there are complications. Complications, betrayals, complex family dynamics, and obstacles aplenty. Alex's honor is tested to its limit. Adeline's eyes are opened to unpleasant truths. Danger comes from an unexpected corner and salvation from yet another. It's a roller coaster ride of emotions, with a well-developed cast of characters, that had me turning pages well into the night, eager to discover what would happen next.  

Highlanders Never Forget is a standalone story that you can jump right into and enjoy without having read any of Johnstone's other books. Fair warning though, this author's writing has a tendency to be addictive. Don't be surprised if once you finish this book, you immediately start exploring her backlist. Lucky you, there are so many wonderful books to find there! 

Have you read any of Julie Johnstone's books yet?

Do you read Medieval Romance? What do you enjoy about it?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment by 11:00 PM, December 1 will receive an e-book copy of Highlanders Never Forget. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Highlanders Never Surrender

Highlanders Never Surrender

by Julie Johnstone

Wicked Willful Highlanders - Book 2

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing LLC

Release Date: August 3, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

On the path of vengeance, he unwillingly collided with love.

No one desires retribution against their enemy more than Highlander Cormac MacLean. Yet his foe has the favor of the king and Cormac lacks irrefutable proof of the man’s nefarious deeds, so revenge must be planned with calculated care. But when Cormac’s hot-headed brother impulsively attempts to kidnap their enemy’s stepsister, Cormac finds himself fleeing with the wounded beauty after she sustains an injury trying to protect him. He has every intention of returning the troublesome lass to her home, until it quickly becomes apparent that she may be the one person who can free his sister from the dark place in which she dwells. At every turn, the strong-willed woman shows bravery and loyalty, and instead of wanting to keep her at a distance as vows given and family allegiance demands he must, he aches to touch her, protect her, and possess her forever.


Desperate to escape her impending wedding to a suspected murderer, Brigid Campbell is not exactly dismayed when she’s snatched from her stepbrother’s clutches by a Scottish barbarian who she incidentally ends up saving from an arrow aimed at his heart. Still, when she awakens from her injury at Cormac’s home, she is quite upset that her dearest companion was left behind to face the wrath of her stepbrother. So, when her overbearing captor announces he’ll be keeping her to assist his sister, she makes a demand of her own—he must help her rescue her companion. When the officious man refuses, she takes matters into her own hands bringing her the startling discovery that behind the Highlander’s mask of dislike for her lies a compellingly complex man who willingly charges into peril to save her. At each brush with danger that ensues, he’s there to aid her, filling her with hope that despite the feud that brought them together, she may have finally found a family to belong to and a man to trust and to give her heart.

Brigid fuels Cormac’s desire and makes him question his oaths, but it takes his enemy making a master move for him to face the truth that since the day he met Brigid, there could only ever be one choice for him—banish his ghosts, silence his guilt, and show the woman he loves unquestionably that she is his and he is hers—if only it’s not too late.

PJ's Thoughts:

Johnstone plunges her characters straight into danger on the first page of this newest book in her Wicked Willful Highlanders series and never lets up on the intensity. Set in 1262 in the Highlands of Scotland, she once again immerses readers into the time and place with her vivid descriptions, language, and events. Her stories ring with authenticity and are among my favorite Medieval romances.

While there is plenty of adventure and compelling danger in this book, it's equally balanced by an emotional, slow-burn romance. I loved Cormac and Brigid together. Her selflessness, kindness, and honest emotion is exactly what he needs to heal from his losses and move forward. Of course, he needs more than a few nudges before he begins to realize that but there are plenty of secondary characters to help him along the way, some of whom have emotional journeys of their own. On the flip side, Cormac plays a huge role in helping Brigid overcome her own fears that in turn are critical in her battle with her stepbrother. I was cheering them on the entire way to their HEA, in the face of fear, danger, betrayal, and stubborn Highlanders. 

Highlanders Never Surrender is the second book in Julie Johnstone's Wicked Willful Highlanders series but is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order. I highly recommend it.

Have you read Julie Johnstone's books yet?

Do you enjoy Medieval romance?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comments before 11:00 PM, August 4 will receive an e-book copy of Highlanders Never Surrender. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Highlanders Hold Grudges

Highlanders Hold Grudges

by Julie Johnstone

Wicked Willful Highlanders - Book 1

Publisher: Julie Johnstone

Release Date: May 11, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

He kidnapped her to save his clan, not to lose his heart.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and no one is more desperate than Highlander Alasdair MacRae. His clan is on the verge of disaster, thanks to continuous raids from the lying, thieving, murdering MacKenzies. Their latest strike has left Alasdair’s family on the precipice of starvation and his brother badly wounded. The time has come to hit back, and what better blow to deliver than to kidnap his enemy’s daughter and use her to negotiate much-needed peace. His plan is simple: wed the lass. It’s well-known that she’s beloved by her father, and the doting Highlander certainly won’t go to war with Alasdair’s clan if he’s married to the man’s daughter. Once the vows are spoken, he plans to send her to a nice little cottage on his land, where she can live her life as she wishes, and he can live his as if he’s not wed. But his plan meets an obstacle he didn’t foresee, and suddenly, Alasdair finds himself fighting to protect a woman he thought was his enemy and questioning whether he’s wooing the lass to see out his scheme or to truly capture her heart?

When Maeve MacKenzie discovers her adoring father has denied his own heart’s desire so that she may find hers, she resigns herself to stop delaying and finally honor the betrothal to her childhood friend. Their union will strengthen her clan and give her father a second chance at love. But when tragedy strikes, she’s snatched from her home by Alasdair MacRae: the barbaric Highland beast who long ago awakened cravings in her that are impossible to forget. As the heiress of a strategic fortress coveted throughout the Highlands, she’s well-aware the Highland fiend wishes to gain her castle. She has no intention of falling prey to his transparent ploy to woo her, though, and every intention of escaping him. Except the blasted Highlander still possesses an extraordinary ability to kiss, and beyond that, he has the nerve to display seemingly honorable qualities at every turn. How’s a lass to know if it’s all simply a ruse by a cunning, too-handsome foe or if the man she believed to be her enemy is really her greatest hope?

Winning Maeve’s love isn’t something Alasdair ever expected to want, but the sharp-tongued, iron-willed lass ignites a yearning in him that can’t be denied. And when enemies threaten to take her from him forever, Alasdair will do whatever it takes to make her his, even if he has to fight a war to win his bride and lay claim to her heart.

PJ's Thoughts:

Scottish Medieval Romance is one of my favorite sub-genres to read and, in my opinion, Julie Johnstone is one of the best authors currently writing it. Highlanders Hold Grudges launches a new series for Johnstone, showcasing all the storytelling facets I most enjoy about her books.

I love all the layers within Maeve and Alasdair. These two are far from one-note characters. They have honor, loyalty, and a fierce determination to do right by their clans. Enemies to lovers is a favorite trope of mine and one Johnstone uses to delicious effect with feisty banter, sweet emotion, and sizzling desire. I love how Maeve and Alasdair slowly come together with hard-won admiration, respect, and affection, though not without some substantial mountains to climb on the way. Some of those mountains come in the form of well-developed secondary characters who enrich the story while also providing either conflict or support. 

This is Medieval Scotland where feuding clans were the norm and consequences could be deadly. Johnstone takes full advantage of that with plenty of intrigue, adventure, and danger to keep her characters on their toes. Her descriptions are vivid, the characters authentic to the era in which she writes, and the intensity of the life or death stakes they face impossible to ignore. She takes me on an emotional roller coaster of a ride, always making me feel like I'm right there in dense forests, cool waters, and tightly-guarded castles as characters who have captured my heart fight for their lives and their love. And I love every minute of the journey.

If you enjoy high-stakes romance, intriguing characters, honorable heroes, strong heroines, and hard-won, happy endings, give this book a try. I highly recommend it. 

I'm already looking forward to Johnstone's next book and the breath-stealing adventure she's sure to have planned for her characters...and me. 

Amazon - https://amzn.to/40uYl7N

Goodreads - https://bit.ly/3LLxKiO

BookBub - https://bit.ly/3AMTrZr

~~~~~~~~~

Have you read Julie Johnstone yet?

Do you enjoy Medieval Romance?

The Scottish Highlands account for 49% of my ancestry DNA. Maybe that's why I feel such a draw to these characters. Do you feel a connection to a certain place or group of characters? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 13 will receive an e-book of Highlanders Hold Grudges.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Highland Prize

Highland Prize

by Julie Johnstone

Of Mist and Mountains - Book 3

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing LLC

Release Date: August 30, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Duty demands he wed her. A vow requires him to hunt her. Desire compels him to protect her.

For a man who has no intention of wedding anytime soon, if ever, Thor MacLeod finds himself submitting to an unwanted marriage in one moment and obliged to hunt down his new wife in the next—all in the name of protecting his family. The task seems simple enough: find the lass accused of treason who stabbed him and then fled after their vows, return her to his commander, and then have their union dissolved. But nothing is ever simple when it comes to beguiling lasses like the fiery-haired woman he wed. Though he made a vow to never again be led by desire, the woman is proving herself to be brave and true, and suddenly, Thor is forced to question if what he feels is more than yearning, and if so, what price is he willing to pay for matters of the heart.

Traded by her father to resolve the taxes he owes the king’s son, Isolde Fitzalan’s biggest concern is protecting herself and her younger sister. So when her sister is sold off to a lord by the king’s son and Isolde is offered the chance to discover her sister’s whereabouts in return for wedding a stranger, she reluctantly agrees. But just because she was obliged to take the Highlander as a husband doesn’t mean she intends to keep the warrior around. The one thing life has taught her about men is that they cannot be trusted. Yet, when the choice is life or death, and she finds herself betrayed at every turn, putting her faith in the seemingly honorable man may be the only way to survive.

PJ's Thoughts:

If Medieval romance is your jam, Julie Johnstone is an author you should definitely be reading. For my money, she's one of the best authors writing romance set in that era. 

Johnstone plunges readers straight into this story like a pack of race horses breaking from the gate. The danger is immediate, the consequences dire, and the pace never slows. I was fully engaged before the end of the first chapter and unable to put the book down until I reached the final word. I should know by now not to plan anything other than reading on the days one of her books arrives. 

One of the things I most enjoy about Johnstone's books is her ability to set the stage, immersing me in the geographic, political, and human landscape of 14th century Scotland. She then creates a cast of characters with multiple layers who draw me in, engaging my emotions, heightening the stakes of the tenuous circumstances they almost always face, and the life-altering, sometimes heartbreaking choices they must make. Her characters feel real and authentic to the place and time in which they lived. 

There's a touch of magic in this book that feels appropriate for a story set in the 1300's Scottish Highlands where witches, seers, and more were accepted as a normal part of life, feared but also valued for their skills. 

As for Thor and Isolde, these two really tugged at my heart. I enjoyed the push and pull of their relationship as they gradually evolved from adversaries to friends to more. Their emotions felt very organic and real. I loved the respect, care, and love that very slowly grew between them as layers were peeled away, vulnerabilities exposed, and trust strengthened. Theirs was a love that was unexpected, threatened, and all the more appreciated for the lengths they had to go to secure it. I was with them every step of the way.

Highland Prize is the third book in Johnstone's Of Mist and Mountains series but stands well on its own. I haven't read the first two books yet (though I downloaded them the minute I finished this one) but I never once felt as though I was missing something by beginning with book three. I did discover (to my delight) around the 80% mark that Thor was the son of one of my favorite couples from Johnstone's Highlander Vows - Entangled Hearts series. No wonder I liked him so much! And now I'm wondering if books one and two feature second generation MacLeod's as well. I can't wait to find out!

Review - - Lady Frederica and the Scot Who Would Not

Lady Frederica and the Scot Who Would Not

by Julie Johnstone

Scottish Scoundrels: Ensnared Hearts - Book 4

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing, LLC

Release Date: May 10, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

When the guarded King of the Underworld collides with a maddeningly reckless lady, the road to ruination becomes impossible not to take.

Lady Frederica Darlington isn’t prim, obedient, or appropriately dispassionate as a proper lady of the aristocracy should be. Nor is she interested in securing a husband, whether rake, rogue, duke, or lord. Freddy wants to live as she pleases in a place she feels she belongs, and for a unconventional lady, the bohemian world of Covent Garden seems the perfect spot. She has a plan to achieve her goal, but when one of her secret missions goes awry and the King of the Underworld rescues her, danger never looked so enticing. And the future she was certain of now feels utterly confusing.

Born and bred on the cutthroat streets of London, Gabriel Beckford has known his share of struggle and loss. He even obtained a few enemies, one of whom is waiting to destroy any lady Gabe falls in love with, so Gabe lives by one simple, necessary rule: never get close. It’s a dictate that’s been easy to abide—until the day Frederica sweeps into his life like a storm. Her passionate nature and impossible impetuousness tempts him beyond reason, and when she declares to make the territory he rules her home, he’ll do everything in his power to stop her and keep her out of his life, head, and heart.

But when a threat to Frederica brings Gabe to her side once more, keeping her at a distance becomes impossible. As Gabe’s enemy closes in, Frederica and Gabe must learn how to trust themselves—and each other—and either submit to the love they thought they never wanted or risk losing the very thing that could save them both.

PJ's Thoughts:

Oh, how I loved this book. It's a fast-paced story filled with adventure, danger, sizzling chemistry and one very well-intentioned but hard-headed couple. 

I adored Freddy. We've had glimpses of her in earlier books in the series but she really shines in this book. My heart ached for the way she's always felt an outsider both within her own family and society. But I cheered her on as she refused to let the fact that she grew up privileged in Mayfair prevent her from embarking upon secret missions to help women escape from danger in less desirable sections of London. And I understood her desire to forge her own path apart from society once both of her sisters were married. I loved her boldness, her internal strength, her refusal to be put aside, even if it's done with the intention of keeping her safe. She's the perfect woman to go through life beside Gabe...if he can get out of his way long enough to realize it. 

And then there's Gabe. It was so much fun watching him struggle - and fail - to keep his distance from Freddy. He may be King of London's Underworld but he's also a man of honor, a natural protector of those within his care, and a man shaped by heart-wrenching events of his past. It shows in his relationship with his sister, in his friendship with Freddy's brother-in-law, in how he deals with men who abuse women, and how he wages a battle with himself over falling in love. Because he knows what an old friend turned enemy will do if there's even a hint that another woman has captured Gabe's heart. 

I didn't stay up until the wee hours reading this book but that's only because I started it early in the day. Once I started reading, however, I was totally hooked. There was no way these characters were going to let me put their book down until I was certain of their safe and happy ending. I ditched every single thing on my to-do list and devoured their story in one delicious gulp. It's my favorite book in the series and Gabe and Freddy have become one of my all-time favorite Julie Johnstone couples. I'll be revisiting this one again.

Though this is the fourth book of a series, it can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone. 

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Have you read any of Julie Johnstone's books?

Do you enjoy historical romance that takes characters out of London's ballrooms and into the more dangerous areas of the city?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 11 will receive an e-book copy of Lady Frederica and the Scot Who Would Not. 

*Must be 18