The Highlanders: A Smitten Historical Romance Collection 

Paperback – ebook

November 13, 2019

by J’nell Ciesielski (Author), Naomi Musch (Author), Janet Grunst (Author), Jennifer Lamont Leo (Author)

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Smitten Historical Romance
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• ISBN-13: 978-1645260639

Never underestimate the heart of a Highlander.

Night Fox

After the failed Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, war-weary Deven McLendon returns home to discover a thief creating chaos on his lands. But this thief isn't like any other. When Rooney Corsen sets out to steal jewels to repay her family’s debts and keep a roof over her little sisters’ heads, never does she imagine snagging the laird's heart instead.

A Tender Siege

Pontiac’s War, August 1763: “I beg Ye to take me.” Wounded in battle in the American wilderness, Lachlan McRea of His Majesty’s 42nd Highlanders pleads with God, yearning to be reunited with his lost wife and child. As death hovers near, he is discovered by Wenonah, a native widow doing all she can to survive alone while avoiding the attentions of a dangerous Shawnee warrior. In aiding one another, their perils increase. If Lachlan can let go of the woman he once loved, he might find healing for both body and soul.

The Year without Summer

Shoved off his family’s land in Scotland in 1816, Grant Cummings looks for work in Ulster, Ireland. He needs money and a home to raise his young brother. Molly MacGregor loses her father and his income, but she has no time to grieve as she sews and spins to earn enough to keep her and her young brother alive. Renting out the hut on their land might be the answer, but only if she can overcome her prejudice against the handsome Highlander who moves in. Her heart might soften toward him, but not when he plans to set sail for America.

The Violinist

In 1915 Idaho, homesick lumberjack Callan MacTavish despairs of ever seeing his Scottish homeland again. With kindness and patience, music teacher Rose Marchmont reaches a part of Callan’s heart he’d long ago locked away. She sees beyond his rough exterior to the artistic heart beneath. He longs for more than he can offer her, but she doesn’t know about the secret trauma that keeps him from crossing the sea.

Marilyn's thoughts:   This collection of Scottish Highlanders is compelling with each tale set in a different location and with various characters struggling with a realistic situation. The collection span almost 200 years of history. 

Night Fox was centered a round the mysterious happenings with valuables being stolen. Laird Devon McLendon was determined to resolve the issue when he returned home. The twists and turns brought some unexpected surprises in more ways than one. 

Naomi Musch tale A Tender Siege was a favorite with Highlander Lachlan McRea. His rescue instead of his plea being answered by God brought compassionate Wenonah to care for him, although, she had suffered greatly from the Pontiac’s War. When Highlander Nab found McRea and then Wenonah persistent native entered the scene there were heart pounding moments. 

The Year Without Summer explored the lives of Highlander Grant Cummings and Molly MacGregor. This was another favorite as characters learned to open their hearts to God’s will. Cummings’ and MacGregor’s lives hadn’t been easy plus Molly held a strong opinion of Highlanders couldn’t be trusted. 

The Violinist set in Idaho is a unique situation where Highlander Callan MacTavish was a lumberjack but his lifestyle was different than lumberjacks. Hearing beautiful violin music from Rose Marchmont gave way to him taking lessons only to hear her play, until he found enjoyment once again with his hidden secret. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from one of the authors as a winner on a Facebook party and was under no obligation to write a review. All thoughts are my own.