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

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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