When a Laird Loves a Lady

 

Audiobook on Audible

This was purchased during a summer $5 sale. 

Marion has a father that is just plain evil. There is no love in this relationship. Her dad is brutal and no issues hitting her. Her dad wants to her marry a man just as wicked as him. They are conspiring to overthrow the king. Marion decides it's better to fake her death than to have to marry him. 

The king is aware that something is amiss. He send Iain an order to marry Marion. Iain has already suffered the loss of a wife and is quite shocked when he arrives to find out Marion has died from drowning. Just as he goes to head back home he finds that not only is Marion alive but that she's in danger. 

Even though she's married to Iain she wants his love and he keeps telling her this cannot be. The struggle is real and they try and balance, marriage, feuds, and love. 

The narrator did a fabulous job with the accents and characters. If you love romance and a good highlander then you'll love this! 

 

The Beast's Heart

 Audiobook on Audible 

Purchased during a summer $5 sale. 

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I love a good Beauty and the Beast story. This is a version I have never read before and unique on it's own. The title of the book very much matches what the this version is about. 

This is told from the perspective of the Beast. I love this as we always wonder how he was feeling about becoming a Beast, Belle, and the end. This is an in depth look at everything the Beast went through. It explains life before he was cursed, the hundreds of years after he was cursed long before Beauty ever arrived on the scene. It's rather stunning to see how he has to find himself again and then how Beauty ends up in his life. 

Think it can't get any better? Oh, yes it can! Ever wondered what life was like after he changed back to a human and they got married? This gives us an ending we can believe and relate. Honestly, by the end I can say this book touched my heart. 

For those that listen to the audiobook version, the male narrator is a fantastic Beast. Some may argue that he sounds older than he should but let's keep this in perspective. The Beast is like a thousand years old so the voice really does fit, even though out typical version we know time has past but never get to experience it, until now. 

Highland Surrender

Audiobook on Audible

Purchase during a $5 summer sale

I cannot get enough of highlanders. I'm sure many of you could agree. 

Two feuding clans make a deal to marry their children to one another. Like any good book there is miscommunication  that causes so many issues. Both of Fiona's parents have passed and her brother is now the leader of the clan. They make her marry Myles against her will. 

While she is newly married and causing all sorts of anguish for her husband she is not aware that her brother has another plan. Soon she will have to make a decision that will determine not only her family's fate but of her own fate. 

The narrator did good job. I will say that the difference between difference female voices sounded the same. Same thing when multiple males were talking it was hard to tell who was who. It would have been even better had their been and male and female narrator. 

 

An English Bride in Scotland

Audiobook on Audible

Purchase during a summer $5 sale. 

Let's be real. If you like highlanders then you'll love this book. It even gives off a bit of Cinderella vibes, in my opinion. Two sister born. The eldest is staying home to learn to run the household while the youngest isn't needed and is sent to a convent to train to become a nun. A long family contract states his eldest daughter is to marry the highlander son. 

Like any good book things never seems to go as planned. The eldest sister runs off with the stable boy so the parents run to collect the youngest daughter and present her in place. Deceit on the part of her parents right away. 

As she travels with her new husband and tries to get used to this new life a mysterious man is constantly trying to get her. The girl has had so many hits to the head I'm not sure how she manages to walk around. 

There is romance and an evil plot at play. It amazes me the twists and turns held within the pages. Definitely worth the read or listen! The narrator did a fantastic job with the parts and accents. I would listen to her read again. 

 

The Full Blood Series- Book 1: Protector

 Audiobook on Audible. 

Recently Audible had a $5 sale so I am always looking for new books to read when they offer such deals. I really enjoy these sales and I tend to buy books from authors I have never heard of and find new favorites, without feeling like I broke the bank. 

First off, this is a reverse harem book. So if that is not something you like, then you may not want to read any further. Personally, I do not mind it one bit. Don't get me wrong there are some that are so raunchy that I cringe but I am glad to say that did not happen with book 1. 

Another appealing aspect of this listen was that there was a female and male narrator. Sometimes having both makes the book that much better and I do tend to buy those that offer this feature. Both narrators did a wonderful job. 

The beginning of the book was kind of boring. I was at first like, what did I just buy. However, a few more chapters in I realize it was background of her past as a little girl living with her grandma. You will hear several times how this information plays into the storyline so even if it doesn't sound too interesting be sure to pay attention. 

The plot was intriguing. She goes to school to become a protector of witches. She is extremely devoted to those whom she considers friends. She is a true badass ready to save the day. At school it seemed that she was always holding back for fear of getting in trouble. When she leaves the school to visit the four kings she does not hold back anymore. With her friend in danger she will do whatever she must to protect her with no fear of getting hurt herself. 

Add in the four sexy kings, the ghost child and a kidnapping and you've got yourself a kick ass book. I do plan to read the rest of the series. 

Not your typical Jewel

 

Audiobook from Audible

Purchase during a $5 sale

This is book one in a series. I can say that I am interested in reading the next book to see what happens. 

The Jewel is not a diamond but rather a place for the royal and wealthy. At some point in history royal women had issues with conception. It was found that girls from lower areas could serve as surrogates to bring the child into the world and then those surrogates can live a peaceful life elsewhere. 

These surrogates are chosen based on a blood test. Violet was taken when she was twelve. The only good thing is that her family gets support for her sacrifice. Her name is that of her eye color. These surrogates are trained for years and then taken to auction where the wealthy bid on them. They are sold as slaves but not in the sense of working as much as giving birth. 

When Violet meets the Duchess she's slapped right away. She's letting her know that she is in charge and if Violet gets out of line she will be punished. The interesting thing about these surrogates is that they seem to have powers. Part of the doctor's tests are to have her grow plants with a touch. The Duchess wants her to birth a girl and for it to be the fastest birth in history. She wants Violet to grow the baby at an accelerated rate at one month per trimester. This way a baby girl will be ready in three months time and she can promise her daughter to the kings son. 

In this world of royalty they are only allowed to have one son and one daughter. The Duchess already has a grown son who is rather unruly that even she has a hard time finding a family willing to let their daughter marry him. 

Violet wants out of this world. More so when she sees her friends changing and becoming pregnant but losing who they are. Violet finds that she has help in unexpected places. 

The narrator's voice was clear for both female and male characters. I am defiantly now drawn in to move to the next book in the series.   

This is not Better Homes and Garden....Just Saying

 Audiobook on Audible

Purchased during $5 sale

Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Let me start by saying the title caught my eye. I automatically thought of Better Homes and Gardens. I love the play on words for this book. Second, I love a good paranormal book so it being about a haunting made it even more desirable in my view. 

I was not sure what to expect, except a haunting, when I began reading (or listening) to this book. It actually went a little historical romance on me which was fine. I enjoyed the plot of the old family mansion. The idea of secret passageways, forbidden love, and a murder mystery all wrapped into one. 

For anyone who has every seen Stephen King's Rose Red, you will feel the connection. The author was able to build up the haunted house scenes and secret rooms nicely. Don't get me wrong, it is no where near as scary as Rose Red but certainly a different take on it. At least that is what it reminded me of. For a clean quick read this is a nice book and was very enjoyable. 

Now the narrator did do good but no fabulous. Her voice is pleasant and isn't raspy or airy. Lord knows I cannot stand a narrator that you can hear suck in a breath every two seconds while reading. My only conflict was with the other characters voices. I think this would have been even better had they used a female and male narrator for the characters. At times, I found it difficult to know who was speaking as the voices were not clearly different.