Early Review of Surrender to the Highlander (Highlanders, #5) by Lynsay Sands

Title: Surrender to the Highlander
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Highlander
Format: Paperback; 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (January 30, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0062468987
ISBN-13: 978-0062468987
Author's Webstie: http://www.lynsaysands.net/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


When Saidh MacDonnell hasn't heard from her good friend Edith in weeks, she asks her husband to have someone check on her. The last she'd heard Edith had been feeling poorly and Saidh fears the worst. Given that Saidh is four months pregnant and as big as a house, and the last messenger sent was refused entry, her husband complies. He asks Saidh's four brothers to go check on Edith. What Niels,  Rory, Alick, and Geordie find is not what they expected. Illness is not the culprit as everyone assumed. Someone has poisoned the Drummond clan leaving the Laird and his two eldest sons dead.The youngest son, thinking to escape the same fate, fled with his bride and hasn't been heard from since. Edith is holding on by a thread, and Neils and Rory vow they'll do all they can to nurse her back to health and make sure she comes to no more harm.

A killer is out there. 

An attraction blooms.

Can Edith resist the affections of the handsome Highlander with twinkling blue eyes who seems bent on saving her? Only time will tell...

This is the fifth book of Lysay Sands Highlander series and can be read as standalone. You may, however, wish to read 'The Highlander Takes a Bride', the third book in the Highlanders series which is Saidh's book, first. It will give you a little insight into Neils and his family along with a glimpse of the friendship between Saidh and Edith.

I really liked the mystery and whodunnit aspect of the book. I had it narrowed down to two people when the author killed off one of my suspects. It, of course, had to be the one I was leaning towards. I couldn't puzzle out the motive of the one left, however, so I thought perhaps I had it wrong until the author let the last puzzle piece fall conveniently into place. Then it all made sense.

Niels was a loyal and caring individual. He had to be talked in to checking on Edith, but once he found foul play involved, he was all in and fiercely protective. I liked how he and his brothers watched over Edith until she could take care of herself, and then didn't abandon her. They waited until the danger had passed before letting down their guard.

Edith was a smart and strong female who only broke down once in the novel. She went through a lot and instead of becoming a blubbering idiot she stayed on her toes and did what she could to help. She kept her head and put up a good defense when confronted with danger. While I liked this aspect of her, I felt she should have been at least a little more upset about her family's demise than she was. A few "I can't believe they're gone" type of moments seemed to be called for. Her lack of emotions where they were concerned just seemed a little off.

Niels and Edith were a cute couple. I loved how Niels felt he wasn't worthy of Edith because he was a third son and didn't have a lot to offer her. He was quite noble and tried to resist his feelings for her while she did everything in her power to tempt him. The courtship of these two gave me a good chuckle.

Overall, I liked the book and gave it 4 out of 5 roses. It showcased Ms.Sand's quirky sense of humor and lovable characters. It was fairly fast paced, and had a nice mixture of gravity and levity, romance and mystery, and darkness and light. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of the Highlanders series:

Early Review of Falling for the Highlander (Highlanders, #4) by Lynsay Sands

Title: Falling for the Highlander
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Paperback; 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (January 31, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0062273612
ISBN-13: 978-0062273611
Author's Website: http://www.lynsaysands.net/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am also an Avon Addict which means I love the books that Avon publishes enough to volunteer to read as many ARCs and books as they can send my way. So you'll be seeing a lot of books reviewed by me from this publisher. Please note, however, that if I don't like a book, it will be truthfully reflected by a low rating.

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To say Murine Carmichael is not in an ideal position would be an understatement. Most of her family is gone and she is now in the care of her one surviving brother, and he has just made an indecent proposal to a horse breeder. In exchange for one of the man's prize horses, he's offering to look the other way while the man spends a few pleasurable nights with her. No marriage required. If the horse trader had not been a gentleman, she may very well have lost her virtue, but thankfully he was. Now, desperate to get away, she'll attempt to escape to her friends. Hopefully they can help her.

Dougall Buchanan comes from a long line of honorable men. After seeing what Murine's brother tried to do, and then finding her trying to make a desperate escape, he and his brothers can't help but assist her to safety. With a long journey ahead, the most ideal situation would be for her to marry. While both of his brothers acknowledge they wouldn't be opposed to being shackled to the beautiful young lass, there's something about Murine that makes that idea unsettling...

This was the fourth book of the Falling for the Highlander series and while you can read this one as standalone, be forewarned, these reads are highly addictive and you may find yourself reading them all. It's like those potato chips, you can't stop with just one. lol

Dougall is a formidable figure who's just a big teddy bear at heart. He's strong, protective, honorable, loyal, and sexy as all get-out. He's also trying his darnedest to resist the feelings he's starting to have for Murine, and that is what makes this story so fun. He doesn't feel he's ready to settle down, but there's just something about Murine that makes him think maybe...

Murine is strong, determined, and in need of all the help she can get. In the precarious position of being dependent on her no good brother, she has few resources of her own to get her safely to one of her friends. As details are slowly revealed as to what led to her being in her brother's care, something about her predicament doesn't sit right with Dougall. As time goes by, he becomes convinced there's more to the situation than meets the eye, and he'll do what he can to get to the bottom of it.

Overall, I gave this one 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. It was a delightfully fun and sexy read with a healthy dose of mystery added into the mix. Dougall was all you'd hope for in a Highland Warrior and then some. This one left me with a cat who swallowed the canary type grin and an appetite for more. Thankfully, this is not the last in the series so there's more to come. *Does a little happy dance* On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. Definitely one you'll not want to miss.

Order of the Highlanders series: