A Tartan Love

by Nichole Van

Two ancient rivers, twin brothers, and a Scottish king who divided them. Welcome to life in the shadow of Cairnfell.

Lady Isla Kinsey knows that the animosity between her family, the Dukedom of Grayburn, and their distant kinsmen, the Earldom of Northcairn, is the stuff of legends—six generations of duels fought, ladies ruined, and gentlemen betrayed. Therefore, falling in love with a son of the enemy house would be, in a word, apocalyptic. So when Captain Tavish Balfour, second son of the Earl of Northcairn, returns home after Waterloo—distressingly handsome with eyes that see straight into her soul—Lady Isla is determined to resist his allure. She will not fall in love with the rogue . . . uh-hum, again.

Granted, the not-falling-in-love part would be a tad bit easier if Isla and Tavish weren’t already married.

Captain Tavish Balfour has cashed out of his military commission and is ready to start a new life far away from the Scottish Highlands of his birth. But before he sets sail into his future, there is the pesky matter of his marriage to Lady Isla Kinsey to resolve. As teenagers, in the sun-drenched warmth of a Highland summer, they tied the knot of their handfasting—an ill-advised decision he has regretted ever since. Thankfully, unlike their English neighbors, Scottish law allows for divorce in situations such as theirs.

Unfortunately for Tavish, Isla is every whit as captivating and lovely as his memories recall. As for Isla, she fears Tavish will reawaken the unconventional woman she was becoming all those years ago.

Yet even if they were to fall in love again, what could come of it? The history of acrimony between their families still casts a long shadow, and the forces that shredded their love in the past have not miraculously changed since. Can Isla and Tavish find a way to claim one another without betraying everyone and everything they love?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Scotland, Regency, Forbidden Love

379 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2025

Reviews

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van Fans rejoice! If you’ll never be over the Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir—as it should be—you might as well welcome this new Scottish Regency obsession. Oh, Ms. Van lays the foundation for a saga of epic family-drama proportions. And, of course at the center are our galaxy-crossed lovers. A second chance romance with almost a decade of pent-up yearning and latent teenaged hormones—you better fireproof your eyelashes—this one’s a tension fire hazard.

Is there a quote highlight maximum? This book will for sure push against it. The writing, of course, blazes with line after brilliant line. I love it when we get both the Scottish wilds and the proper English house parties—because I refuse to choose. I did want to climb up a cairn myself and wail out my Tavish-is-too-good-for-this-world frustrations a time or two. But hey, Lady Isla, I’d be the first to admit we all carry some of our adolescent angst decades after. That Ms. Van weaves a tangled web is an understatement—her resolutions, as always, just as glorious.

Once you hit about halfway in this book, make sure all responsibilities and dependants can fend for themselves because you will not want to blink. As mentioned, the tension is a-scorching. Fun fact, singed-off eyelashes take six to eight weeks to regrow. Plan accordingly.

I’m so sat and buckled-in for the whole Cairnfell chronicles. I need Callum’s redemption. I need Grayburn’s comeuppance. I need Matt’s emergence. I need Mariah’s vindication. Throw in some HEAs in there for Ross and Fletch too. Like yesterday.

Thank you to the author for sending this most humble servant an ARC.

Content notes: married fade to black, passionate descriptive kisses, hands roaming. On page toxic family relationships, on page parent-loss grief, mentions of pre-marital affairs, promiscuity, infidelity, illegitimacy. Vague mentions of war violence. Some biblical swears.

[Melanie (lemonyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Nichole writes a book that puts me in a CHOKEHOLD, absolute turmoil and then delivers the most sexy and steamy closed door romance I've EVER READ.
there was a character who drove me crazy at parts, but it was all worth it and the ending was everything! Do NOT read the synopsis and go in blind. There's one sentence that gives away a huge moment. You can thank me later.

[Paris (parismaereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Quick Takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 mild
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 closed-door
- Content 🤔 toxic family relationships

Nichole Van delivers a tension and yearning filled first book of her new series. This regency-era romance set in Scotland has a nod to Romeo and Juliet, and is filled to the brim with the aftermath of a forbidden, whirlwind kind of love.

For new or returned fans of Nichole Van, this is the perfect book for you. New readers will be swept away in her longing, electric-filled writing. Returning readers will fall in love with Isla and Tavish, a couple to rival the fan favorite of Tristan and Isolde.

Very excited for what’s to come in this series!

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy to read and review!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars.

The vibes:
- Second chance
- Scottish historical
- Forbidden romance
- Closed door

My thoughts:
First, I really enjoyed the overall writing style. The storytelling and the settings were great. Unfortunately Isla pulled this read down for me.

I would give Tavish alone 5 stars, but Isla had little redeeming qualities for me. I found her to be incredibly selfish, foolish, and at many times cruel. The way she played Tavish and also Fletch was so unfair. I’d give the book 2 stars if I was just basing my rating on my feelings of her. 🙈

I ultimately feel like I struggle in a romance if I want the couple to not work out, want them to move on, or want them to find someone else better for them. That’s when I start questioning things, and I definitely felt all of those feelings through most of this book. Unfortunately Isla’s switch at 80% came a bit too late for me.

I would definitely read more from this author because I loved the style of writing and think I’d love other stories and characters from her.

Note- closed door / fade to black

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

ALTERED MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

PERMANENTLY. I am not the same woman before reading this book. AND HOW DOES NICHOLE VAN KEEP DOING IT? A very incoherent review may be incoming of me just shouting TO READ THIS ONE ALREADY. IT’S A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR HER BOOKS. DO IT OKAY. CLOSED DOOR BOOKS CAN STILL BE SEXY AND HEATED.

The first chapter will take you out (IYKYK – DO NOT READ THE SUMMARY OKAY JUST TRUST ME). And then you’ll proceed to binge read this entire book because taking it slow? NOT AN OPTION. The most perfectly placed flashback chapters only added to the angst and tension between these two.

I need a new kindle too because it caught on FIIIIIIIIRE. HOT DANG THOSE KISSES. EVERY MOMENT SERVES THE ROMANCE. Seeing Tavish and Isla reconnect all over again??? Learning all of the new little things about who they’ve become??? STOP IT NOW. WHAT GEMS. I have melted. I will be thinking about this book for forever now.

I DON’T KNOW IF ANY OF THIS MADE SENESE JUST READ IT.

Overall audience notes:
- Historical Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: mild
- Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), toxic family dynamics, brief war themes (recounted), physical altercations

[mikaela (spinebreaker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

slightly conflicted because I did devour this, Tavish is a squishy softie delight, and i LOVE Ross, but I think ...I didn't like Isla that much? idk let me sleep on it


pre-read

i gasped aloud just reading the summary

this is going to be 10 stars

unless they're cousins (please don't make them cousins Nichole)

[Holly (IG Hollys_Book_Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I love ye, Isla." The words were torn from him, ripped from the foundation of his being."I loved ye as a lass. I love the woman ye have grown to be. I'm certain I will love every iteration of ye between now and the end of my days.Ye are woven into the very fabric of my soul."

A Tartan Love by Nichole Van

Ummmm...This book has woven itself into the very fabric of my soul. It won't let go, and quite frankly I don't want it to. It's like a handfasting ribbon tightly secure around my hands. Literally not sure how I will be able to move on from this beautifully-written, angsty, emotional prose Nichole has once again released into the world. I adored every moment of Lady Isla and Captain Tavish's love story--the bitter and the sweet.

Lady Isla Kinsey is torn between the man she loves and the people she loves. She is caring, thoughtful, beautiful, and loves deeply. My heart ached for her many times, especially during her conversations with her brother. I loved seeing the transformation she goes through into a strong, courageous woman, able to stand up for what she wants in life.

Captain Tavish Balfour is brave, strong--physically and mentally, loyal, and handsome. His love for Isla knows no bounds. He would go to the ends of the earth for her. I loved his strong and caring nature. His loyalty to Isla endeared me to him, as well as his loyalty to his friends. I also loved getting glimpses of his siblings and the way they care for him and help him through a difficult time. I hope we get to see more of them in coming books.

If you haven't read a Nichole Van book yet, now is the time to dive in. Her writing is emotionally felt in the deep crevices of the heart and soul, and you will have a difficult time putting any of her books down, including this one. I was sucked in from the first page and wanted to just sit and read. It's immersive, heart-breaking, and so beautiful! Every time I read a NV book, I want to pack my bags and head to Scotland. I highly recommend this achingly stunning novel, and am eager for the next book in the series.

Favorite Parts/Reactions:
Clootie Dumpling
Second Chance
Flashbacks
Learning to Swim
Friends to more
House party
Forbidden romance
Piano playing
Jealous Tavish
Rifles conversation
Shooting targets
Chapter 22
Rescue
The glove
Uh-oh!!
Cairnfell Keep
Birthday
Waltz
Gasp!!  
You Go Girl!!
That ending and epilogue!!

Content Guide:
Language: Moderate- d*mn/d*mmit/d*mnation-26x, h*ll/bloody h*ll-16x, b*stard-13x, whore-4x, arse (a**)-3x, blast-2x, piss-2x
Sexual Content: Closed-door: Side characters are mentioned to have trysts with various women or be “involved” with women (isn’t detailed), man and woman go swimming a few times ( once when he is bare from his torso up and she is just wearing her shift and the other, they bathe naked in separate parts), FMC has brief mild (not described) sexual thoughts about MMC, scandal (past), illegitimate child (past), passionate to sensual kissing, FMC and her brother have a discussion about her actions, sexual discussions between husband and wife (not detailed), implied sexual intimacy between committed husband and wife
Violence/gore: mild peril, character gets punched
Substance Use: Moderate- Drinking of wine, whiskey; MMC and his friends are drunk during a memory flashback
Prejudices: Tribes against each other, person with birth deformities
Religious Themes: none
Other: Moderate-Grief and depression (on page), emotional abuse, children with birth deformities, abandonment of said children by one parent, Mild- loss of loved ones (past), gambling (past), impoverished due to gambling (past)

Book Info:
Series: The Earls of Cairnfell bk 1
Genre: Historical Romance; Regency Scotland
Romance Level: Closed-door
Release Date: July 29, 2025
Publisher: Fiorenza Publishing
POV: Dual

Thank you to the author for the review copy. All thoughts are my own. 

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always with Nichole Van, this book was packed full of the swooniest romance and Scottish charm. I was really looking forward to finally reading this story because I’ve been missing the lovely tales that Nichole Van writes, but, alas, this book did not quite transfix me as I’d hoped. While overall I did enjoy the story, I also got a bit bored with it at times 😬

I love the poetic way Nichole Van can write an epic Scottish romance. I felt this book was maybe a bit lacking in that department, as I’ve read better by her, but overall, it was very beautifully written. I never regret reading anything written by the queen of Scottish romances!

The romance trope itself may have been where I ran into the most issues. I loved the fact that the MCs were already married, BUT…I did not love the fact that the FMC was forming connections with other men while she was still married. Though they were both wanting a divorce, it still doesn’t justify the issue in my mind 🤷🏻‍♀️ I felt a good deal of frustration waiting for the MCs to finally fall in love again—I may have a wee bit of a patience issue lol. But…once they finally acknowledged their feelings for one another, I was hard pressed to put the book down!

Anyway, that pretty much sums up my thoughts concerning this book. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I know there are many other readers who absolutely adored this book, so I’d say go read it for yourself to see if you’re one of those adoring readers 😉

Quotes:

𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎.

𝚃𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚞𝚗, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍, 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝.

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚢𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚍𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝.

"𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜. 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎. 𝙸'𝚖 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜. 𝚈𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚌 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕."

[Jeanine Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh! Where do I even start…

In A Tartan Love, Nichole returns us to our favorite destination, the beautiful and idyllic Scotland, with new characters to love and hate and pine after. With the added conflict of a centuries long family feud and multiple intriguing and flawed heirs, this series will no doubt bring us many fiery and unexpected moments.

From the opening scene, (which totally gave me William Wallace and Murron vibes 🫠) I knew this would be an epic love story. Tavish and Isla descend from the same family line that has been embroiled in a great feud, lending this story its Romeo and Juliet aspect. And with each passing year the vitriol only grows between the two families. But a chance encounter, a little empathy, and a proverbial olive branch bring two aching hearts together in friendship. These sworn enemies soon discover that enemies they are not, and friends they will always be. Until friends fall in love, hopelessly and helplessly. What a tangled web we weave, indeed. But that web pales in comparison to the disastrous debacle that grows from their commitment to and subsequent departure from one another creates.

This love story will bring you to the brink! The sweet, tender, and naive beginnings, the crushing and devastating choices, the anger and sorrow. The wanting and restraint. The selflessness and chivalry. Prepared yourself!

Tavish is epitome of all our favorite Van heroes’ greatest attributes. He is passionate and protective like Tristan, quiet, contemplative, and noble like Malcolm, affable and admired like Ethan, and a disciplined, distinguished solider like Fox. Not to mention completely irresistible and braw! A new favorite MMC!

We also get new villain to detest (at least until Nichole writes his book, then we can love him) to the highest degree. He gives Tristan a run for his money on that score.

I will say going into this story completely blind is the way to go. I had read the blurb several months ago and when I read through this was completely surprised by twists because of my short term memory and I feel like that gave me the greatest experience.

As a Van Superfan, I can attest that this book is phenomenal and you are in for a treat. Thank you, thank you, thank you Nichole Van for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

[Alix | IG: ThisBookishMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE STARS!

Where do I even start?? This was an absolute masterpiece and I expected no less from Nichole Van. Truly, I have never read another book like hers in my life.

A Tartan Love managed to bring the heat without any explicit material and it was deeply emotional and romantic with fantastic kissing scenes. 🔥 I loved every word and I am just a puddle on the floor. This was beautifully executed and I adored Tavish and Isla’s journey in both timelines.

Don’t read the blurb, just go in blind and enjoy this wonderful love story!

Content: closed door

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot- I loved this angsty second chance Scottish historical romance. Stayed up way too late because I couldn’t put it down!

Since it’s the first in an interconnected series that hasn’t been written yet, I need to add more details to this review to remind my future self. I def plan to read the rest of the series.

Featuring:
-A bit of Romeo & Juliet in regards to feuding families and forbidden love
-secretly married at 17 but immediately separated for 7 years, resulting in resentment, betrayal and grief that their second chance has to overcome
-Second chance had a bit of enemies to lovers; slow burn; conflicted feelings
-He falls first and declares first; gives room to the heroine to make her own decision


Characters- I loved both MCs. They had a lot to overcome. The author wrote deep, round characters. I loved how torn they felt inside- their conflicted feelings were written so well! I felt everything they felt.
I also loved how Tavish had such integrity. I respected him for honoring his marital vows during the separation and believing that intimacy was sacred and special.

Characters:
Isla Kinsey & Tavish Balfour- main couple

Gray (Duke of Grayburn)- - spiteful, cold older brother of Isla who was cankered by hate and resentment. His rages frightened me, not because he was physically abusive but because he was terrifying in his emotional cruelty, and unpredictable in his actions. The constant fear and uncertainty that Isla felt- what would he do? It was so well written. He was the villain, but still had good character development, and was realistically portrayed as human, in other words isn’t pure evil.

Matthias- second older brother of Isla who was a weak character that sequestered himself indoors due to a birth deformity of a missing arm. In my opinion, he selfishly withdrew from life and shirked his familial duties, failing to protect Isla from Gray’s controlling, abusive behavior. He inconvenienced himself only twice in his life for her benefit, at her all-time low points of crisis. I don’t respect him, even though the author tried to redeem him at the end. I’m afraid he will be a hero in a future book and I’m NOT looking forward to it. He is a weak man.

Fletch (Colonel Archer)- was my favorite side character! Holy cow, what a hero. He was kind, earnest, capable, humble, forgiving, loyal, and good in every way. He suffered a terrible injustice and betrayal at the hand of his BEST FRIEND and still had the ability to forgive him. That’s character. This man must have a HEA. I can’t wait to read it. Mariah please.

Mariah- Tavish Balfour’s gorgeous older sister who was socially ruined in an epic way and now fully expects a life of spinsterhood. She has come to terms with it, but hasn’t let it destroy her. She still spreads goodness. She is kind and forgiving and wonderful in very way. A sure candidate for a future romance!


Romance- Sky high chemistry! Palpable tension between them.
Slow burn as the MCs fall back in love and remember why they loved each other so much at 17. But there’s a lot of hurt to overcome, and I felt all the emotions- the heroine’s grief and trepidation she felt at the prospect of opening herself up to him again; the hero’s pining* but his self restraint bc he doesn’t want part of her, he wants ALL of her and he wants her to choose him and everything that entails.
(*Tavish’s pining was at the end and didn’t feel desperate or overdone. I loved it.)
Holy cow, his difficultly with his self restraint in the last 25% was swoony. He wanted his wife, but he had to deny himself in order to give her time to make a decision, but in the meantime he was clawing to keep himself from falling into her. It was almost painful! Very well written.


Writing - Excellent writing. Thorough research was evident. I felt deeply.



Content-

Language- low level swearing (hell, bastard, bloody)
Spice- I would consider this steamy clean (my fave). Completely appropriate but a lot of talk of his desire to consummate their marriage, and be with his wife in that way. Some hot but “clean” makeouts. Both MC’s were celibate during their separation and were virgins before they slept together as husband/wife near the end (closed door).
Violence- no. Fletch punches Tavish, which he completely deserved.
Substance abuse- none.
Cover- i like it a lot, actually!
POV- dual POV
Cliffhanger- no
Format- KU

[Shayla Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

a TARTAN love
(The Earls of Cairnfell Book 1)
by: Nichole Van
@nicholevan

••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~Two ancient rivers, twin brothers, and a Scottish king who divided them. Therefore, falling in love with a son of the enemy house would be, in a word, apocalyptic...

“Life is meant to be lived. Not constantly harrowed up by our fathers’ shoulds or shouldn’ts.”

-a TARTAN love, is a heartbreakingly beautiful tale weaved together with such precise and beautiful strands of history, tension, heart, soul, angst, vivid details, selflessness, humor, emotions, patience, forgiveness, devotion, chivalry, and unconditional love to create truly a beautiful masterpiece of and for the heart. Within the beautiful writing, breathes beauty and depth into the soul, leaving its dear unforgettable mark. Set in the year, 1817, against beautiful and idyllic Scotland, this dear love story will take you along to the brink with every single emotion, with such endearing and beautifully layered main characters. Stay the course! This is a bitter-sweet tale with many twists and turns that will lead to such a satisfying, beautiful, and complete ending, while also beckoning more to come, ahead. I loved how a tender chance encounter, a little empathy, and a great peace offering bring two beautifully aching hearts together in friendship. Where once seen as sworn enemies,” soon discover that enemies they are not, and friends they will always be. Until such friends fall in love, hopelessly and helplessly… It is so worth the dear read, my friends! Well-done @nicholevan on another masterpiece of the heart! I adore it in and out!📚👌💯❤️

“You. I would choose you. In a thousand lifetimes, I will always choose you.”

•Content: On page toxic family relationships, on page parent-loss grief, mentions of pre-marital affairs, promiscuity, infidelity, illegitimacy. Vague mentions of war violence. Some biblical swears, married fade to black, passionate descriptive kisses, hands roaming.

-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

“Ye are woven into the very fabric of my soul.”

#atartanlove
#allaboutthebestreads
#nicholevan

[Tayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I truly enjoy this story, the characters, and how everything unfolded?.....no (*I say in tiny*). But will I absolutely be seated for every entry to come in this series? Yes. So 3 stars it is. This is by far not my favourite read by Van, but it definitely doesn't detract from me being a fan who almost always enjoys her writing.

That being said (with spoilers).

This is clearly a second chance romance, and I naively didn't give this its due consideration before diving in just because it was Van, and the formula in my head is Van = automatic 5 stars. But apparently that's not enough to overcome my enormously high bar and stringent criteria for what makes a second chance romance work for me. In no particular order:

1. the reason for the initial breakup has to be legitimately sound, but not to the point that reconciliation is actually impossible.
2. through reconciliation, it has to be clear that growth has happened on both sides of the aisle, and that the reason for the initial break up isn't likely to reoccur (otherwise it's all a big waste of time, no?)
3. I need to buy into the actual romance of the characters, to feel like they actually should be together (which really applies to any book in the romance genre full stop).

In writing this list, A Tartan Love did mostly satisfy my criteria for what should objectively make a good second chance romance book. 1. These two kids (literally) get together true sheer determination and optimism and that wasn't nearly enough to face unforeseen destitution and the full weight of their family's disapproval and meddling. 2. In coming back into contact it's clear that both Isla and Tavish had been changed by the passage of time (whether you would actually call it growth depends on your subjective opinion but it's clear that they had at the very least grown past their teenage-hood into full fledged adults). No. 3 is the rub. Ultimately my lack of enjoyment of this story boils down to not really buying into their romance. I can truly say that by the end of this read I was not invested in Isla and Tavish as a couple (and maybe not even as individuals) which I'm reluctant to say.

I think this lack of investment on my part (because this is clearly subjective) comes down to two things (since I'm obsessed with itemising in this review). One - I think the use of flashbacks for the first half of the book greatly affected how I connected with Isla especially. Two - The characterisation of Isla felt inconsistent to me. So my real issue with the book is I didn't like Isla, and not in a compelling interesting way, rather in an annoyed and disinterested way. But for the sake of my future memory I'll explain just a little bit more.

On the use of flashbacks, it's a similar issue that I had with One Kiss Alone and occasionally through the Brotherhood of the Black Tartan series, especially Remembering Jamie. In this particular book we get flashbacks of how Isla and Tavish initially fell in love and how it all fell apart interspersed between chapters of the present day. In present day, it clear that Isla holds more animosity towards Tavish over their breakup than he does. But it's not until literally halfway through the book that we see why Isla feels especially wronged. Up to that point it felt like Isla's brother's meddling was the complete culprit for their separation, so her having a "decent" relationship with said brother while laying all the fault at Tavish's feet was confusing from a narrative perspective. This coupled with Isla's mercenary decision to enter a courtship with another man while still married didn't paint Isla in the best light. So by the time we get a more complete picture of Isla it almost felt too late to rescue her from a likeability standpoint (to me).

This is where I gripe that if we had somehow been able to understand that Isla felt truly abandoned by Tavish at her absolute lowest point (after finding out cruelly that she's illegitimate, that her once loved brother proclaims to hate and disdain her, after literally begging Tavish to take her along), it would have raised the emotional stakes. If I was able to journey through this book with Isla and not apart from her, I would have felt more invested in her character and her choices. Instead I'm left to try and puzzle her out and be left wanting for a majority of this read. Nah.

This intersects with the her characterisation feeling inconsistent in places. And I have to exhibit all of my self control not to rant a little. We're told that Isla is kind and caring and loving. One of the examples that is put forth, is her desire to continue caring for the tenants on the property that she is set to receive as a dowry. In fact, one of her motivations for wanting to marry as her brother chooses is to hold unto this property which is intricately wrapped up in her identity. We get some snapshots of her attention towards it and its people. BUT we're told this, we don't actually see this (if that makes sense). Instead what I see, is Isla callously treating her suitor who also happens to be Tavish's best friend, blood brother, and possible business partner to rescue him from a life of destitution. Nowhere does Isla spare a singular thought for anyone outside of herself. Even her thoughts towards her property and its people felt self-serving, as a way to continue propping up her self-identify and maintain her independence. It's not unfair to want this, but it being presented as noble felt hollow in light of everything else. I took particular issue with Isla's complete lack lack of consideration towards her innocent suitor who was badly done by her, not even the impacts and consequences to Tavish. And I simple couldn't countenance it (and it was the death knell for any likeability I might have had left for her).

I may have absorbed this differently if Isla had been presented directly as an enormously complex character. As an entirely self-interest individual who was forced into that mindset by circumstance. But instead everything felt inconsistent and frustrating.

I know this is already lengthy but I just have a little bit more to say.

In amongst this, it's no wonder that I couldn't feel any investment in the romance, because it never felt like Tavish and Isla reconnected. Sure they had a few conversations after conveniently being stuck at the same house party. But that transition point of realising love was still there and wondering if something could grow from that only happened on Tavish's part. Isla didn't really choose Tavish until the very end, and that's just not how I enjoy any book. I love transitions and the pacing was not my cup of tea here.

Anyway that's all I have to say on Tavish and Isla. A spare thought for the Duke (Isla's brother whose name escapes me). It was unfortunate (for me) that I couldn't help but make comparisons between this duke and Kendall (from The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir series) since in broad strokes they fill a similar archetype. I would be interested to see if his eventual story brings out different colours to his character.

Anyway those are all of my thoughts (clearly) for why I didn't love this (and might eventually bump this down to 2 stars purely to capture my own subjective feelings on my reading experience).

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely & perfectly delightful start to a new series and my newest & latest Scottish Regency obsession. I am hopeful that this can live up to my abiding love of "The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir" series!
Lady Isla and Captain Tavish were all you could want in a romantic lead and this book was filled with so much longing, "will they won't they", and slow burn swoon-worthy romance. I also so appreciated the side characters, the relationships explored, and the deep-seeded trials between the 2 feuding families. This romance had very real reasons not to work, but Isla and Tavish fell hard and fast for each other many years ago, before their worlds fell apart, and falling back in love may just put their worlds back together again.
This is a hopelessly romantic saga full of passion and forbidden love and I was delighted from cover to cover. Van's fans (of which I am one) will rejoice over this latest installment and I look forward to Book 2 & have already started mapping out the series in my head and which characters I hope feature in future stories! :)

[Reanne - (Faith, Fiction, Fact and Fluff) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how she does it, but Nichole van keeps getting better with every book.

I fell in love with both Tavish and Isla. The pining, the struggles, the sweet innocence of early romance and the forgiveness needed to fall in love again… it was all so perfectly executed.

This truly is the most wonderful second chance romance/forbidden love story you’ll find, and I’m sure I’ll be rereading it for years to come.

Also, who doesn’t want a trip to historical Scotland?!

All the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Melmo2610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh mylanta, Nichole has done it again!! Nichole's Penn-Leith series is one of my most beloved series ever and her Tristan from that series is quite probably my favorite romantic hero ever. With this new series, she has created a character to rival Tristan for a character redemption arc over the course of a series, and I am here for it! I loved this start to "The Earls of Cairnfell." Isla and Tavish are a perfect start to this series and their love fairly jumped of the page. I definitely have Penn-Leith vibes with this series and I am loving it. This story was incredible and gave me all the feels. I am counting days until the next book releases. I need more!!!

[Kristalyne, love.lovely.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I love Tavish and Isla. Their story is utterly romantic, completely heartbreaking, with all the emotions in between! That ending though! It is the happiest, most satisfying happily ever after.

The Prologue melted my heart into a puddle! Their meet cute is adorable and I fell in love with this book from that moment! I love how the author wrote in present day with flashbacks sprinkled through out! That is my favorite kind of story and it had me completely hooked! I couldn’t put this book down! I definitely read into the wee hours of the morning.

There are lines in here that filled my heart bursting with swoon!!! There were also moments that utterly shattered my heart. Nichole Van’s beautiful writing made me feel every emotion deeply alongside these incredible characters. I was crying like a baby and then there were moments that I was smiling so big I couldn’t stop. The torture and joy this book put my heart through!

This is a heart wrenchingly, beautiful romance that will leave your heart feeling complete!

I loved being transported to Scotland. I love these characters! What an incredible story and couple that now have a piece of my heart!!!

Oh how I loved this book, and I can’t stop thinking about it!

Read for:
🤍Cake!
🤍Feuding families
🤍Forbidden love
🤍Gorgeous Scotland
🤍So much tension!!!
🤍Pillow lips
🤍Second chance romance
🤍Combustible kiss
🤍Beautiful writing
🤍Glorious ending!
🤍Tavish and Isla🫶
🤍Tavish, Tavish, Tavish!
🤍Impossible love that defies all the odds!
.
.
.
Thank you so much to the author for the arc copy. All opinions are my own!

Content: death of a loved one in the past, infidelity mentioned, cruel family members, mentions a woman being taken advantage of, moderate amount of Bible swears, steamy kiss, talk and thoughts of consummating a marriage, closed door, fade to black, kissing only

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Loved it!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In many ways, being around Tavish was like stepping into a forgotten room in her soul - a place of sunshine and security she had once reveled in dwelling. There, Isla was accepted precisely as she was, and perhaps, more importantly, as she wished to be."

"He wanted the girl she had been and the woman she had become. He wanted a lifetime exploring every iteration of the person she would grow to be."

So. Much. Tension. Both emotional and romantic. I swear my gut was in a knot from beginning to end of this book! Isla and Tavish are children of rival families who fall in love and marry in secret at 17 and 18, only to be separated for 7 years. When Tavish returns from war they are both changed and he finds Isla desirous of divorce in order to maintain her inheritance and appease her tyrannical brother. Both have changed and are led to wonder, did they ever truly know each other?

But through a twist of circumstances they find themselves thrown together at a house party, with Isla's brother and a prospective suiter - Tavish's brother in arms! As they seek to navigate these tenuous circumstances, old desires and new discoveries bloom, throwing everything they felt and believed into question. Could there be a future together?

I LOVED Tavish - his nobility and faithfulness, his unwillingness to compromise, and the way he gave Isla the freedom to be herself and to stand on her own two feet, even if giving her freedom and lending her strength meant letting her go. I was torn between empathy and fruatration with Isla - I wanted her to stop compromising and fight for what (or more importantly WHO) she wanted, but her journey was understandable considering the years of emotional abuse and manipulation she suffered, and her seeming powerlessness as a woman. Whatever she chose, there would be loss involved. But this just made her final decision, coming into her own and taking her power and her choices back all the sweeter!

This is the beginning of a new series that focuses on both families, and I cannot wait to read more!!

[Joee (booksandacupofjoee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Nichole delivers another fabulous story with loveable characters packed with angst and all the butterflies. I absolutely adored this book! The whole concept was a little different than her past books but none the less just delightful! (Go in blind, if possible!) I enjoyed the jumps from past and present because it added more depth to their love story.

I was rooting for our main characters to get their crap together and communicate so badly! They're frustrating at times. I loved that it was a slowburn, second chance romance that didn't crush you but yet had you cheering them on. Her writing is always so easy to get into and devour. I love the way she makes you get attached to the main characters.

This had me unsure how things would end but I always have faith in Nichole's way of writing a satisfying ending! This was so wonderful! Definitely recommend checking it out! I believe it's the first in a new standalone series!

[Courtney Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of a promising new series from Nichole! I ADORED learning about the rivalry, the past connections (Hello, set-in-the-past chapters that tell the childhood / teen beginnings of the love story), and the present-day reluctant rekindling of the romance between Tavish and Isla. As Tavish's close friends and comrades attest, he is the MOST honorable of men, a quality he maintains to his benefit throughout the story. Isla is his fiery match, constantly seeking to prove her non-timidity and hold a space for herself through confidence and identity. The shadow of her ducal brother, Grayburn, and the feudal history between the branches of the Cairnfell Earls complicate her personal life, particularly when Tavish returns as a mature Captain in the British Army. The romance is full of sparks, swoons, and some heart-deep realizations about the power of another's unconditional support. In short, it's a story to revisit and reread in high anticipation of future stories in the series to come! I have a theory about the next featured couple already :)

Fun personal fact: I read this 300+ page book during a week off work, both beginning and ending it on a plane ride. The fact that I made time to read during a trip AND managed to read the whole thing is a testament to the engaging story. :)

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This romance was so swoony! I loved the characters, the heart-tugging circumstances they’re bound in, and the dialogue. I always love this author’s storytelling. She knows how to tug and yank hard on the heart strings. This is a story where the characters are married secretly while young, then separated by years. When they meet again, the girl wants nothing to do with her husband and asks him to seek for a divorce due to neglect. That’s all I’ll give away, because you need to experience the rest of the story for yourself! Highly recommend!

[Melissa | hellomelissakay · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 GLOWING STARS

I am in love with this book. Absolutely IN LOVE.

Oh you guys. YOU GUYS. Prepare for a gushing review because I can do nothing but gush about this beautiful, epic love story that Nichole has crafted. There is so much I want to say, and yet I don’t want to tell you too much because I also really think that you should go in blind if you can.

What can I tell you? It’s delicious. The romance between Tavish and Isla – who come from rival families where the hatred is thick – oh the romance is just brimming with fire and longing and tension and so much angst. I absolutely could not put this book down and cannot wait to read it again!
And because Nichole is such a beautiful writer, there are layers of tenderness and growth and heartache and hope that are woven throughout in such a captivating way. She has also set us up for what I expect to be an outstanding new series – and I cannot WAIT for what comes next.

I absolutely loved it. And I really hope that you do too! Now go get yourself a copy because the pub date is July 29th!!

Thank you to Nichole Van for an early copy of this book. My review is my own glowing opinion. :)

Read if you’re in the mood for:
-Historical romance
-Scottish highlands setting
-Romeo and Juliet vibes
-Angst and tension and so much swoon
-Forbidden love
-Fade to black

Spice: Fade to black

[Lucy Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so, so good. It boggles the mind how each of Nichole's books just get better and better.

Though I feel like dastardly dukes being the main conflict is getting a wee bit tired, I think Grayburn is going to be Tristan 2.0 in the best way possible and I. Cannot. Wait. I'll eat it up every single time.

[Lindy Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nichole has done it again! delightful romance full of emotion and history. I will always read her books!

[Literary Farmer (Anneka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like with every. single. other book I’ve read of Nichole’s I LOVED IT. The pining? The yearning?? I’m absolutely obsessed. Nichole paints a love story so vividly and I cannot get enough of it.
P.s. If anyone knows where I can find my own Tavish lemme know asap, please and thank you.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely beautiful!!!!!

[Savannah (forest_reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I hit halfway, I could not put it down! @nicholevan knows how to wrack up the romantic tension like no other romance author. The plot is unique and woven together so well. And I love the emotional depth and vulnerability we get from these characters. Their dilemmas and their love felt so heartfelt and realistic. And I think this was the steamiest closed door book I’ve ever read!! Such a beautifully written romance.

Thank you for the arc, Nichole Van!

[Jaclyn Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere in the 3.5-4 ⭐️ range. I liked the story concept. I was pretty entertained throughout. However, I felt the internal monologue of both MCs was pretty repetitive.

I am interested in seeing the stories of the other siblings as the series progresses though.

[Kelsey Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me a historical second chance romance.

YES PLEASE NICHOLE.