Emma Prince

While searching for a holiday story to enjoy during the winter solstice, I was immediately drawn to the cover art, which beautifully reflected the title and sparked my curiosity about whether the young woman's wish would come true. With its subtitle, "A Highland Holiday Novella," I anticipated an armchair journey to Scotland to discover the answer.

In early December of 1338, Keita and Nathair have traveled on to a legendary well. Legend holds that a wish made in a unique way at this well, show more near the winter solstice, and in the presence of true love, will be granted to the couple. To undertake this journey is dangerous—the well lies on Mackintosh land, and Keita is a Cameron. Though the last clan battle has ended, old grudges linger, and if caught, the crime of trespass is severe. Yet, on this daring night, it may not be only the weather that threatens them.

This historical romance was a wonderful choice to enjoy during the holiday season, especially as the winter solstice approached and arrived. For all who love Grumpy to Sunshine to Happily Ever After, this one is beautifully written. The Author's Note shares more fascinating details of the author's research, which sparkle like winter's snowflakes as they are creatively woven into the narrative.

Reviewer's Note: The cover on LibraryThing is accurate. The cover on BookBub and Goodreads does not reflect the cover of the KU edition I enjoyed. The copyright page indicates "Updated 10/24/24." show less

This was the best book of the series so far. It might be because I have a thing for stoic men with tortured pasts and Finn represents the best of my fantasies.

Finn hates the English, all English. He can barely stomach his friend who married an English woman so when Finn is ordered to go protect an English noblewoman, he is not happy.

He expects a spoiled, haughty English girl but is surprised to discover an easygoing and polite woman who is hardworking and loyal to her family. Rosamond and show more her family could change his prejudices.

I enjoyed the romance part of the book but the ongoing mystery about the secret group of bounty hunters and assassins is also interesting. The plot and the recurring characters make me want more. show less

Sabine was a fun character. Instead of being the perfect little medieval maiden, she was a skilled thief of information and in order to do that she had to be a skilled actress and liar. She has a dangerous job in a dangerous time of war between Scotland and England.

Colin was the typical Scottish warrior who was honorable and loyal to Robert the Bruce. His attraction to an English spy weighed heavily on him.

The first book lacked humor but this book had a little in the beginning with the show more character of Osborn. I am a sucker for humor.

I am enjoying this series so far. show less

Kirk MacLeod is a double agent sent on the orders of Robert the Bruce to infiltrate a bounty hunting group, the Order of the Shadow. His first assignment as a bounty hunter is to abduct a widow who is is being protected by Robert the Bruce's Bodyguard Corps which puts him at odds with them.

Lillian Fitzhugh's husband was the master mason for the Berwick Wall when someone abducted him and tortured him to find out if there was a weakness in the wall. When they didn't get the answers they wanted show more from him, they came after Lillian because they thought she would know something.

She was saved by Bruce's Bodyguard Corps and taken to the Highlands to be protected but Kirk MacLeod abducted her to take her to the Order of the Shadow who plan on selling her to their clients who want the information she does not have out of her.

Kirk has to maintain his cover so he can show Lillian little compassion. This is where I had a hard time with the story. The little compassion that Kirk showed her like keeping her warm, made Lillian think he might really be a good man. My mind kept screaming, "Stockholm Syndrome!".
Kirk kept reasoning with himself that he had to turn her over because she was just one woman in a war and his mission to take down the order could save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. It became more difficult to do as his attraction to her grew. This bugged me too. if she had been an ugly old crone, would he have cared?

It was still a good read despite my misgivings. I have already started the next book in the series. show less