The Highland Bride’s Choice
Author: Amanda Forester
Reviewer: Sophia Rose
Rating: B
What I’m Talking About:
Scottish medieval romances are a comfy pleasure for me so when a book challenge prompt require a ‘Highland’ romance, I gleefully scrolled through my dusty Kindle shelves to pull down one by a new to me author I’ve been meaning to try.
The Highland Bride’s Choice begins a novella trilogy about the three Campbell sisters who were first introduced in their older brother’s story, Highlander’s Heart, book two of the Highlander series. The Campbell Sisters trilogy is also tied to another of the author’s series because the Campbells are ancestors of the main characters in the Regency era Marriage Mart series. Even with the connections to other, earlier series, I had no trouble jumping into The Highland Bride’s Choice.
Elyne and her two sisters are about to be presented by their brother, the Laird of Clan Campbell to men from other powerful Highlander clans for marriage. Elyne is open to the idea of an arranged marriage while her other sisters want nothing to do with it. But, she soon starts to have a change of mind and heart when she meets a cousin of her potential husband and then the no-nonsense grumpy potential husband.
Just when Elyne begins to have doubts, a little adventure takes her along with the charming cousin, Tavish Grant into forced proximity where they must survive a dangerous situation. More and more the pair are miserable that Elyne is to marry Grigor, but what can they do with the marriage articles signed?
The Highland Bride’s Choice was just what I look for in a standalone novella. The author took the abbreviated page count and showed a developed world, cast of characters, romance, and even a suspenseful situation. There is a blend of light and serious tones. The conflict for the romance pair built nicely first with early attraction and then reinforced when they are stuck in the abandoned Keep, hiding from a nearby English army, and unsure what can be done with their newfound love right after Elyse is pledged to someone else.
I enjoyed this one and want to get the other sister’s stories as well as try out the novel-length books in the connected series after sampling Amanda Forester’s writing. Definitely for Highlander romance fans who like something lighter, but paired with a good conflict.
My Rating: B
Sophia Rose
About the Book:
First in an exciting new trilogy of short stories set in medieval Scotland, bridging Amanda Forester’s medieval and Regency series. Three Campbell sisters find true love with the ancestors of the three heroes featured in the author’s hot new Regency romances.
In this first installment, the clan has gathered for May Day festivities, and Laird Campbell is trying to arrange marriages for his younger sisters. Practical Elyne Campbell is pleased to marry whomever her brother has chosen for her. Unfortunately, she is more attracted to Tavish Grant, the cousin of her intended, than the prospective groom himself. When she is caught outside the castle gates during a siege and is forced to spend time hiding with Grant, the attraction grows beyond all hope of practicality.
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Series: Campbell Sisters #1
Genre: Historical Romance, novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds