Book Review Genre: Historical romance

Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring new worlds, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.

The Analysis:

I’m not sure who recommended this book to me, but I wish I could remember because I enjoyed it. This pick was a part of my book challenge 2022. #39: By an author who shares your name. This book was read as a standalone, but its probably best not to do that just to get the most understanding out of the supporting chracters.. I’m going to be doing lots of readathons and TBR prompts to help myself get through my backlog of ebooks on my kindle and google play. So, let’s book review it. But first, follow me on Goodreads.

Here’s The Blurb:

As the battle at Flodden Field rages, Lachlan Maclean rides with King James IV of Scotland, sworn to vanquish their English enemies and find redemption for the past that haunts him. But as the battlefield runs red with blood, Lachlan realizes they’re fighting a losing battle. Thrown from his horse, he awakens to find a lovely angel of mercy tending him . . . and no memory of who he is.
 
Once, Kimbra Charlton rode alongside her husband on daring border raids that targeted English and Scottish alike. Now the desperate widow combs battlefields for anything of value to make sure she and her young daughter survive. When she stumbles on a wounded soldier, she recognizes the armor and helmet of her people’s sworn enemy. A Scotsman killed her husband, yet she can’t let this man die—nor can the world know his true heritage. It is a secret on which both their lives depend. But as passion ignites between them, they must face the consequences of their impossible love.

Cover Critique:

I am not a fan. It could definitely use an update. I would love to see this book with the indie designer trend of a beautiful woman in a gown on the front. Although, even that wouldn’t tell the full story of who the heroine is as a person.

Now The Story:

Book Info:
Pages: 342
Author: Patricia Potter
Available: Google Play

It’s a familiar story, but an entertaining read just the same. The pov is primarily from our two main couples, but occasionally you get a pov from another character as the plot dictates. This definitely is not as confusing as I’m making it sound. Weird coincidence, this is my second amnesia story of the year. This story also takes place against the backdrop of the war between Scotland and England.

Our heroine is a single parent to a sweet little girl thanks to her widowhood. The father died in the war, years prior. Enter the irksome man trying to take her hubby’s place. A tad cliche for people who read heavily in this genre. But again, I enjoyed it. Enjoyed it in the sense that I rolled my eyes every time he showed up because I knew something foul was coming.

But my heart first went pitter-patter when the hero saves her from the guy by feigning to be real sick with fever. Afterward, he ventures outside his room for the first time, and his thoughts of her were just genuinely lovely and sweet. I felt the contented beauty of the moment.

We get several moments like this, but it all comes crashing down by the hand of some well-meaning neighbor. It makes me so angry. She comes in all smiles talking about gossip and forces the man out. I would have preferred if he left on his own, but I guess that lacks drama.

I got about 50% and got impatient with the story. Our couple was officially separated and the heroine was no closer to discovering the hero’s identity. And he wasn’t getting flickers of memory of anything. I’d definitely say some meaningless parts could have been cut out. 1 point off.

It also reached a point in the story where I got frustrated with it all lol. Like how many times does the hero have to tell this fool to save his own life? I guess that just means I’m invested in the story. It was just the hero’s decision to stay after things were getting dangerous from him just didn’t make sense. He refused to just go to Scotland where he would be safe. His feelings for the heroine aside, leaving was the most practical, regardless. He can kiss her through the gate on the other side of the border lol.

I felt like I could breathe once he was gone and not arrested or killed. But then all hope was dashed when he came back with dinner. He still planned to leave, but I saw the writing on the wall. Once the girl went missing, I knew he would be caught. I was kinda angry at the heroine that she had not told him to just go. The last thing I wanted was for him to be captured by the English, but it could not be helped.

It just made me a bit ambivalent about their entire romance. I don’t begrudge her for keeping the brooch. She made her reasonings clear enough, and the fact that it was the thing that triggered his memory was more of a coincidence than anything. But she did enter a crossroads and she chose wrong. Because she didn’t give him the only chance he had to run and when it was time to lie to save both their butts, she didn’t. She gave the pious answer that lying was wrong, but running wasn’t and you had him looking for the kid. Which fine let’s say you needed it, once Timothy showed up to help, why not whisper get out of here. He probably would have stayed, but I’d be blaming him then.

But the true slap in the face came after the hero’s memories had returned. He finally got a chance to talk to the heroine and she still turns his marriage proposal down. Frankly, It feels like she traded one excuse for another. Like, girl, you’re officially going to be married to a stranger, you think you’d at least think about his proposal first.

But no dice. The author’s excuse to get our heroine back to the house after everything had gone belly up was weak at best. She needed to go back to meet with the hero’s brother who would be at the house lol. Their meeting was as expected. She told him the story, but for some reason, it was coming across as disjointed to me. Like she was telling him everything that didn’t matter and none of the stuff that did. But I’m not referring to her feelings of love. Hard to pinpoint what exactly. And then plot twist, the brother is a jerk, lol.

But the biggest grin is on my face when the brothers unite and the hero says, she’s going to be my wife. He was ready to do whatever to save her life from her wannabe boyfriend. The fight scene was epic. His takedown of the traitors was everything I wanted it to be. Their final reuniting at the end gave me a collective sigh of relief. This was a good read.

Story At A Glance:

Recommendation:  4 out of 5

Read Series Continuation:  Yes

 Book Review The Ratings:

Book Cover Appeal:

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

Story & Narration:

🍓🍓🍓🍓

Romance:

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

Character/(s) Personality:

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

Read one of my books and leave your own book review.