Review My Brave Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

Title:My Brave Highlander  

Author: Vonda Sinclair

Source: Author request

Genre: Historical romance

Length: Novel

Reviewed by Laurie 

Battle-hardened warrior Dirk MacLerie isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's Dirk MacKay, heir apparent to the MacKay chiefdom and Dunnakeil Castle on the far north coast of Scotland. When he returns home after a long absence, will his clan know him and will the duplicitous enemy who tried to murder him twelve years ago kill him in truth this time?

Lady Isobel MacKenzie is a beautiful young widow betrothed to yet another Highland chief by her brother's order. But when her future brother-in-law accosts her and threatens to kill her, she is forced to flee into a Highland snowstorm. When she runs into a rugged and imposing man she thought dead, she wonders if he will turn her over to her enemy or take her to safety.

Dirk remembers the enchanting, dark-eyed Isobel from when he was a lad, but now she is bound to another man by legal contract—an important detail she would prefer to forget. She wishes to choose her own husband and has her sights set on Dirk. But he would never steal another man's bride… would he? The tantalizing lady fires up his passions, testing his willpower and honor at every turn, even as some of his own treacherous clansmen plot his downfall.

Review My Wild Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

Title: My Wild Highlander

Author: Vonda Sinclair

Source: Author request

Genre: Historical romance

Length: Novel

Lady Angelique Drummagan, a half-Scottish, half-French countess, has suffered much pain and betrayal in her past. She wants nothing to do with the sensual Scottish warrior that the king has ordered her to marry because the rogue could never be a faithful husband, but she has little choice in the matter. Dangerous, greedy enemies threaten her from all sides and she’s in dire need of his protection.

Sir Lachlan MacGrath, known as Seducer of the Highlands, possesses a charming wickedness and canny wit which has earned him much popularity. After the king decrees that he wed the fiery hellion, Lachlan discovers there is one woman who can resist him—Angelique. Can he break through her icy façade and melt her heart, or will the dark secrets lurking in her past not only cost them their future together, but their very lives?

Vonda does it again with an excellent fast pace story. I was really hesitant in reading this one because as most of you know I don’t get along with historical heroes that are in every woman’s skirt, but… this story was nothing like I though it would be and it wasn’t long before I fell for Lachlan and all of his charm, he is a true highlander hero. This is a story with twist and turns and a great romance between two that are nothing alike.

People can change from their ways, right? Well, you have to read this one and find out how one lady name Angelique changed a rakes ways. The catch is who really changed who. Yep, there is somewhat of a twist to this story if you read the fine lines.

The romance between Lachlan and Angelique is stressful at times and at times it’s so hot your fanning yourself. I loved seeing them grow together as the story grew.

I recommend this story for any historical highlander romance reader to try.

Special Interview with historical romance author Vonda Sinclair + Giveaway

I know your asking. What's an historical author doing on a paranormal romance blog?? Well, if you read her books you'll know I just couldn't resist her hotties from the highlands. LOL. 

Hello Vonda! I want to thank you for doing this interview and welcome you to BbPNR. I hope you don’t mind being seen on a paranormal romance blog since you’re a historical romance author.

Vonda- Hi, Laurie! Thanks so much for allowing me (along with my Highlanders) to crash the awesome paranormal party you have going on here!

Laurie-Oh! That’s right, you write about the hot highlanders. Sorry, your highlanderness! LOL.

Vonda- LOL! No problem. I love reading paranormal romance! It's one of my favorites. Sometimes I want to read something really unusual and different. This can give me a fresh new perspective on history. Besides, Scotland has many legends of supernatural happenings and paranormal creatures.

Laurie- Girl, I know you said that right and that’s another reason I do love to stick in a highlander book every once a while, even though I love reading about my hot vamps and shape-shifters, I have to have me some hot highlanders in there too LOL. So, speaking of highlanders, why did you choose to write highlanders?

Vonda- Who can resist a sexy, muscular, highly-trained warrior in a kilt? There's just something about them that's addictive. Am I right? The Highlands have an aura of mysticism that few other places have. Plus, the Highlands of Scotland is a harsh but beautiful environment and the people who lived there in the past, without modern conveniences, would've had to be tough and resourceful people. This makes for strong men (aka heroes) who don't back down from anything.

Laurie- Speaking of Sexy, muscular and highly-trained warrior in kilt. I remember reading one lately he was sexy and highly trained warrior and he definitely hit my highlander hottie spot. I believe his name was Laird Alasdair MacGrath. I have to beg your pardon for the next few questions because this hottie and his brother hit me so hard I’ve been a little absent minded since LOL. I am thinking Alasdair may belong to you somehow. If so, would you tell us a little about him?

Vonda- Absolutely! (The two brothers thank you for blaming your absentmindedness on them LOL! They are glad to be distractions.) Alasdair is the kind of man most any woman would want to marry. He's hot, sexy and great in bed. He's also very responsible and protective. He's a strong leader and will give the woman he loves anything she wants.

Laurie- I have to admit I don’t remember Alasdair wearing kilt * grumbling and flipping pages on kindle, I must have missed reading it somehow * But that’s no biggie for me because kilts only has one purpose and that’s to have access of one detail quicker LOL.  So, I believe this one would fall to his brother, what’s his name again? And please tell me how many women has he been with anyway? If he even knows *snorting*

Vonda- LOL! Alasdair wore a kilt a few times, when he wasn't dropping it and crawling into Gwyneth's bathtub. ;)  As for his brother… Lachlan… he has no idea how many women he's been with. He's a pleasure seeker and I think he might be addicted to it. Now he only needs to teach Angelique about the sensual pleasures. She's a stubborn student but eventually she sees what he's talking about. haha

Laurie- Oh yeah, that’s right, Sir Lachlan MacGrath. Sorry, I should have remembered that one because he has a cover with a blond hottie on it, I love blonds.  Can you tell me did he finely keep his kilt down for one special lady, yet?

Vonda- Yes, he only lets Angelique lift his kilt now. ;) What surprised him was that it wasn't all that difficult. He never thought he could commit to ONE woman. But Angelique makes him forget other women exist. And thanks about the cover! I'm so glad you like it!

Laurie-Oh my, I sure can’t wait to get to Lachlan book this next week, so I can see how Angelique got him all to herself. I love that name Angelique by the way. I don’t see it much anymore. Now, tell me where are your hot highlanders taking you next?

Vonda- I hope you enjoy My Wild Highlander! In the next story, I'm thinking Lachlan's friend Dirk will take us north, further into the Highlands, perhaps even to the wild and untamed north coast. I've been sort of obsessing about Durness recently. Although I won't say for sure it will take place there, I'm hoping, because it's a very atmospheric and beautiful place. Not for wimps either. When I was there in late spring, the weather was very harsh and temperamental--strong winds, rain, hail, even some snow on the higher mountains. But something about it calls to me… and Dirk. He will unfortunately find himself in a hornet's nest of problems and conflicts.

Laurie- I love baking and cooking and I see on your site you have an awesome sounding Scottish apple scone recipe. Would you please share that with everyone here today? I’m going apple picking this week so I know what I will be making;)

Vonda- Yes! I love Scottish foods and scones are yummy.

Apple Scones

Ingredients:

One medium cooking apple

2 cups self-rising flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ stick butter or margarine (1/4 cup)

1/3 cup fine granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

up to ½ cup milk

Ingredients for glaze:

A little milk

3 tablespoons light brown sugar

dash cinnamon

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F

Peel and core the apple and then finely chop. Sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon and baking powder. Then rub in the butter followed by the sugar and chopped apple and mix. Add milk until you have a soft but not sticky dough. Roll out on a floured surface to about ¼" thick and 8" round and mark into 8 wedges. (Or use biscuit cutter.) Place on a greased baking sheet, brush the top with milk and sprinkle with the light brown sugar and dash cinnamon. Bake in the pre-heated oven at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. Serve warm with butter.

Laurie- I just have two more questions if you don’t mind. Why self-publishing? I myself love that author’s chose this way because it gives them a better choice on what’s in the book, covers etc. I am very glad you chose this route. The next question is. Are you going to put these books in print one day?

Vonda- Good questions! I went with self-publishing these two historical romance novels because I knew they were ready. The other option was to let them sit on my hard drive forever. A few years ago, an agent signed me because of My Fierce Highlander. She loved the book and submitted it to NY publishers for over three years. Some of those publishers made us wait 2 1/2 years before making their decision. Others said we love this and it’s publishable quality, but we're not going to offer a contract. I'm sure they have their reasons. I was thrilled when Amazon created Kindle Direct Publishing, Barnes and Nobel created Pubit, and Smashwords came into being, because now I don't have to wait for NY editors to give me a chance. I can make it happen myself. The sales so far of both books have surprised me in a good way. Needless to say, I'm thrilled I chose to self-publish. I may put them into print one day. I've just been learning more about that option, and it's becoming more appealing. Thanks so much for the awesome interview! It has been a blast!

Vonda is giving away a eBook copy of My Fierce Highlander to one lucky commenter with an email.

Giveaway rules 

Review My Fierce Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

Title: My Fierce Highlander
Author: Vonda Sinclair
Source: Author request
Genre: Historical romance
Length: Novel

Gwyneth Carswell, an English lady banished by her father to the harsh Scottish Highlands, wants nothing more than to take her young son away from the violence of two fighting clans--her own distant kin, the MacIrwins, and their enemies, the MacGraths. She risks everything to rescue the fierce MacGrath warrior from the battlefield where he’s left for dead by her clan. She only knows she is inexplicably drawn to him and he wants peace as she does. When her clan learns of her betrayal, they seek vengeance. Dare she trust the enemy more than her own family?

Laird Alasdair MacGrath is driven to end two-hundred years of feuding with the MacIrwins. But by taking in and protecting Lady Gwyneth and her son, he provokes more attacks from his mortal enemy. As the danger and conflict surrounding them escalate, Alasdair and Gwyneth discover an explosive passion neither of them expected. With the arrival of a powerful man from her past, a horrible decision confronts her--give up her son or the man she loves.

Vonda writes with so much passion, you can feel like you are right there in the mist of what’s happening and that’s what drew me to love this book even though I wanted to slap the heroine silly before it was over, but I’ll get back to that in a bit. As most of you know paranormal romance is my forte in reading, I do like historical but they have to hit me right in some areas that I am picky in, this one hits me right in all the right  ways , I was very impressed and screaming for more.

I really don’t think I have the words that express this story. It was fun, exciting and dangerous with the added right spice between the hero and heroine, it was fantastic. The only downside I found was I wanted to slap Gwyneth silly before it was all over. She was very hard headed and didn’t want to take Alasdair’s advice. He done everything for her and she seemed to want to throw it all aside. So you get some tension between them before its all over. I do feel I need to stress Gwyneth does have her reasons for being like she is with everything she has went through in her life.  I loved the fact the heroine is not a virgin and the hero loved his first wife so much so he keeps his pants up unlike his  brother in every ladies petticoat LOL. Oh yeah, he is going to be interesting to read.

Alasdair and Gwyneth are a great couple they have a lot of passion for each other. The sexual tension is there but it takes a bit for these two to get it going. I want to add the author didn’t go over board on the sex, I felt there was just the right amount without filling the pages up with it.

This is one book that when you read it you might find yourself asking, “why isn’t this in mass paper back?” Well, I have no real clue why this author chose to go this route but I will say I am proud that she did. This way she can control her destiny. I know a lot of authors are going to start choosing this option as the publishers get pickier. So don’t let this stop you from trying this book because I couldn’t put it down and  I read it in one day. I highly recommend this one to any romance reader.