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The Heather Wife: The Laird’s Redemption
Sorcha MacAlasdair, daughter of a proud Highland laird, with her quiet beauty and untameable nature, is like the wild heather that grows across the hills of her home—steadfast, resilient, and impossible to uproot. Betrothed since childhood, her marriage was forged in blood and duty, meant to end a generations-old feud. She asked for nothing and expected even less from the unwanted union—though in the quiet corners of her heart, she dared hope love might grow.
Calum MacRae resented the duty forced upon him. He saw Sorcha as a burden—a symbol of obligation, not choice. His heart belonged to Elspeth, the childhood friend whose charm and ambition promised the future he believed he deserved. Against his father’s warning, Calum chose betrayal, turning his back on the wife who bore his name in silence.
But war changes everything.
Calum returns to a home scarred by conflict, to a clan whose loyalties have subtly shifted, and to a future far different from the one he abandoned her for.
The woman he ignored—his inconvenient bride—has become the heart of the keep.
Now Sorcha, the heather he once overlooked—wild, rooted, and unyielding—is the only thing standing between him and ruin.
Calum MacRae resented the duty forced upon him. He saw Sorcha as a burden—a symbol of obligation, not choice. His heart belonged to Elspeth, the childhood friend whose charm and ambition promised the future he believed he deserved. Against his father’s warning, Calum chose betrayal, turning his back on the wife who bore his name in silence.
But war changes everything.
Calum returns to a home scarred by conflict, to a clan whose loyalties have subtly shifted, and to a future far different from the one he abandoned her for.
The woman he ignored—his inconvenient bride—has become the heart of the keep.
Now Sorcha, the heather he once overlooked—wild, rooted, and unyielding—is the only thing standing between him and ruin.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2025
213 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
November 13, 2025
Read: 11/10/25
Setting: Scotland, medieval-tudor?
Trope: MOC
Just notes:
What a hot mess!
liked:
1. Sorcha was fantastic! She was dutiful but wise and mature. She had a warrior's heart. To bad she's wasted on such a bad story!.
"He had thought Sorcha cold and unyielding-but it wasn't coldness. It was endurance."
2. The 2nd half of the book was definitely an improvement, which is why I gave the book an extra star.
disliked:
1. Calum was a horrible character! I was prepared for a H who was going to treat the h cruelly. In fact, I was looking forward to it. I'm sick, I know. Unfortunately, what I got was a sniveling, whining, spoiled brat for a leading man. Callum encouraged the clan to be cruel to her. He thought it was funny when they would trip her or his "wife of his heart" took credit for Sorcha's work. Calum knew she had no choice on who she married (same as him), but that doesn't stop him from punishing her in such petty, immature ways. I couldn't believe this man was 25 years old! I was glad when the clan makes his wife regent. Smart move because Callum was unfit to be laird. He does finally wakes up halfway through the book, but by then it was too late for me.
2. Multiple POV. We get a repeat of the same scene from different POV. Talk about redundant and pointless!
3. Interrupted timeline. The author would do unnecessary flash backs. It interrupted the flow of the story and was pointless.
4. Romance? Not with that sneering 8 year as the leading man! It took him forever to finally understand how special Sorcha really was.
Conclusion: If you left out the H, this would have been a much better story.
Setting: Scotland, medieval-tudor?
Trope: MOC
Just notes:
What a hot mess!
liked:
1. Sorcha was fantastic! She was dutiful but wise and mature. She had a warrior's heart. To bad she's wasted on such a bad story!.
"He had thought Sorcha cold and unyielding-but it wasn't coldness. It was endurance."
2. The 2nd half of the book was definitely an improvement, which is why I gave the book an extra star.
disliked:
1. Calum was a horrible character! I was prepared for a H who was going to treat the h cruelly. In fact, I was looking forward to it. I'm sick, I know. Unfortunately, what I got was a sniveling, whining, spoiled brat for a leading man. Callum encouraged the clan to be cruel to her. He thought it was funny when they would trip her or his "wife of his heart" took credit for Sorcha's work. Calum knew she had no choice on who she married (same as him), but that doesn't stop him from punishing her in such petty, immature ways. I couldn't believe this man was 25 years old! I was glad when the clan makes his wife regent. Smart move because Callum was unfit to be laird. He does finally wakes up halfway through the book, but by then it was too late for me.
2. Multiple POV. We get a repeat of the same scene from different POV. Talk about redundant and pointless!
3. Interrupted timeline. The author would do unnecessary flash backs. It interrupted the flow of the story and was pointless.
4. Romance? Not with that sneering 8 year as the leading man! It took him forever to finally understand how special Sorcha really was.
Conclusion: If you left out the H, this would have been a much better story.
November 4, 2025
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would! Going to seek out more from this author. Longer review to come.
November 3, 2025
One of my issues with this book is it's multiple POV which can be good but we repeat the same scene at times from a different POV so i found it a bit repetitive.
POV of Hero and heroine, odd chapters from the other woman and the Hero's father.
This is a mixed bag for me.
It never ceases to amaze me that such clever warrior types can be so oblivious to the true nature of a woman.
Spoilers below.
The Good.
The Hero tells the heroine he never lay with the other woman.
He does see the error of his ways but not until around 50%. It is a slow burn road to him making changes and working his way back to the heroine.
The bad.
He is pretty brutal.
His mother died in childbirth and his father was Laird so he learns lots and is close to the blacksmith's family. The blacksmith taught him stuff and he is close to their son, like a brother and he is childhood sweethearts with their daughter.
When the heroine arrives, by the way she has had a rough time of it in her childhood, he tells her that the marriage is an alliance and means nothing to him, he has a wife of his heart, the other woman.
When the marriage takes place he sits at the reception with his other woman and their friends not his wife.
What I found very difficult to swallow and then forgive is he tells the other woman that if she wants to take revenge on his wife he will not stop her.
The wife gets bullied, physically, verbally and emotionally by the other woman and in turn the clan, who take their lead from the so called Hero.
This even goes so far as an attempted murder of the heroine while the Hero is away.
The Hero is like a child, his father says he should have disciplined him more.
His explanation is that the blacksmith's daughter was not real love but his rebellion against duty, like the heroine had a choice!!!
He does reach rock bottom at 50% and then starts to see things differently.
The heroine does tell him a few home truths and is very straight with him.
It's really difficult to do a redemption grovel arc and the author does a good job I just found his permissiveness towards the actions against the heroine a bit unforgivable. That said what power did women really have in those days but to put up with it.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
POV of Hero and heroine, odd chapters from the other woman and the Hero's father.
This is a mixed bag for me.
It never ceases to amaze me that such clever warrior types can be so oblivious to the true nature of a woman.
Spoilers below.
The Good.
The Hero tells the heroine he never lay with the other woman.
He does see the error of his ways but not until around 50%. It is a slow burn road to him making changes and working his way back to the heroine.
The bad.
He is pretty brutal.
His mother died in childbirth and his father was Laird so he learns lots and is close to the blacksmith's family. The blacksmith taught him stuff and he is close to their son, like a brother and he is childhood sweethearts with their daughter.
When the heroine arrives, by the way she has had a rough time of it in her childhood, he tells her that the marriage is an alliance and means nothing to him, he has a wife of his heart, the other woman.
When the marriage takes place he sits at the reception with his other woman and their friends not his wife.
What I found very difficult to swallow and then forgive is he tells the other woman that if she wants to take revenge on his wife he will not stop her.
The wife gets bullied, physically, verbally and emotionally by the other woman and in turn the clan, who take their lead from the so called Hero.
This even goes so far as an attempted murder of the heroine while the Hero is away.
The Hero is like a child, his father says he should have disciplined him more.
His explanation is that the blacksmith's daughter was not real love but his rebellion against duty, like the heroine had a choice!!!
He does reach rock bottom at 50% and then starts to see things differently.
The heroine does tell him a few home truths and is very straight with him.
It's really difficult to do a redemption grovel arc and the author does a good job I just found his permissiveness towards the actions against the heroine a bit unforgivable. That said what power did women really have in those days but to put up with it.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2025
✨I adore the writing style.
The way the author uses her words.
The old language.
The focus on emotion, the evocative tone.
I can’t wait to read her other books.
✨I love the world she built.
Scotland is beautiful through her eyes.
The historical setting.
The slice of life theme.
Immersed, not just a spectator, in that dark and raw period she gives us.
✨I love her heroine.
The way she loves and endures. Overcomes.
She’s a queen. A leader. A warrior.
No drama.
No plotting and scheming.
Just goes about her business. Zero fanfare.
Gracious and forgiving. Hardworking.
Undervalued, betrayed, bullied.
BUT her spirit is indomitable and her growth is phenomenal.
She’s wasted on this hero.
So, she overshadows him by her resilience alone.
✨He’s a sullen bully.
VERY well written.
Judgemental.
Immature in his thoughts, deeds, decisions, NON decisions.
The “she stole my candy” hero.
A kid in adult shoes. Unworthy and spoilt.
They don’t really know each other on a personal level.
She yearns for love and a family with him - they are married, afterall.
He won’t give her that, so her focus is on duty, the clan, the land, the future.
He eventually sees the true her.
Tries to be worthy of her and their clan.
His redemption is quiet, his growth, eventual.
She’s graciously forgiving and they look forward to a good life together.
✨The ow is OTT to the max.
Predictable.
✨The ow comeuppance:
A thing of beauty, says my petty little heart.
She suffers long and painfully for her sins.
Ironically, at his own hands, because of his weak, indecisive and ineffective nature.
Then she
I wouldn’t have minded the hanged, drawn and quartered option, but I was very satisfied with the execution by hanging karma.
✨The cheating:
Not a spoiler because it’s tagged on Wattpad where this story originates
In the arranged marriage trope I don’t consider it cheating if BOTH parties DONT expect a real union
In this case the h is initially unaware that he doesn’t want a real marriage.
He cheats from the get go.
Emotionally at least.
He doesn’t have sex with the ow.
✨The title
Again, kudos to the author.
"Calum, ye sought the bonniest bloom, yet ignored the sturdy heather that stood before ye all this time. The heather endures every storm, lad—it bends, but it doesna break. See her now, and know her worth before ye lose her entirely."
✨I have so many favourite quotes:
The bow at her shoulder and the sword at her hip were hers by vow and by skill, hard-won through blood and loss. For all the whispers and scorn, in this moment she was no mere Lady. She was Strathloch’s true shield.
▪️The transition from Wattpad to mainstream. Author is @HopingForTheBest44.
The rhythm is there but the flow doesn’t match.
Excessive repetition slows down the pace, (something not overly noticeable in the way of Wattpad’s episodic updates) but makes all the difference in a one-sitting read.
✨A story I’ll read again and will continue to recommend to other likeminded readers.
NTS:
Edit review, esp tenses, BEEG
The way the author uses her words.
The old language.
The focus on emotion, the evocative tone.
I can’t wait to read her other books.
✨I love the world she built.
Scotland is beautiful through her eyes.
The historical setting.
The slice of life theme.
Immersed, not just a spectator, in that dark and raw period she gives us.
✨I love her heroine.
The way she loves and endures. Overcomes.
She’s a queen. A leader. A warrior.
No drama.
No plotting and scheming.
Just goes about her business. Zero fanfare.
Gracious and forgiving. Hardworking.
Undervalued, betrayed, bullied.
BUT her spirit is indomitable and her growth is phenomenal.
She’s wasted on this hero.
So, she overshadows him by her resilience alone.
✨He’s a sullen bully.
VERY well written.
Judgemental.
Immature in his thoughts, deeds, decisions, NON decisions.
The “she stole my candy” hero.
A kid in adult shoes. Unworthy and spoilt.
They don’t really know each other on a personal level.
She yearns for love and a family with him - they are married, afterall.
He won’t give her that, so her focus is on duty, the clan, the land, the future.
He eventually sees the true her.
Tries to be worthy of her and their clan.
His redemption is quiet, his growth, eventual.
She’s graciously forgiving and they look forward to a good life together.
✨The ow is OTT to the max.
Predictable.
✨The ow comeuppance:
A thing of beauty, says my petty little heart.
She suffers long and painfully for her sins.
Ironically, at his own hands, because of his weak, indecisive and ineffective nature.
Then she
I wouldn’t have minded the hanged, drawn and quartered option, but I was very satisfied with the execution by hanging karma.
✨The cheating:
Not a spoiler because it’s tagged on Wattpad where this story originates
In the arranged marriage trope I don’t consider it cheating if BOTH parties DONT expect a real union
In this case the h is initially unaware that he doesn’t want a real marriage.
He cheats from the get go.
Emotionally at least.
He doesn’t have sex with the ow.
✨The title
Again, kudos to the author.
"Calum, ye sought the bonniest bloom, yet ignored the sturdy heather that stood before ye all this time. The heather endures every storm, lad—it bends, but it doesna break. See her now, and know her worth before ye lose her entirely."
✨I have so many favourite quotes:
The bow at her shoulder and the sword at her hip were hers by vow and by skill, hard-won through blood and loss. For all the whispers and scorn, in this moment she was no mere Lady. She was Strathloch’s true shield.
▪️The transition from Wattpad to mainstream. Author is @HopingForTheBest44.
The rhythm is there but the flow doesn’t match.
Excessive repetition slows down the pace, (something not overly noticeable in the way of Wattpad’s episodic updates) but makes all the difference in a one-sitting read.
✨A story I’ll read again and will continue to recommend to other likeminded readers.
NTS:
Edit review, esp tenses, BEEG
November 12, 2025
That was really good
I really liked this. The heroine was the hero really. He was so wishy washy. She defended the clan. She earned their respect and what a warrior she is. The woman he is in love with is a liar and evil. They never slept together but he let her belittle and sabotage the heroine. He went to war and their was an attack on the keep and Sorcha saved many lives with her bow and sword. I admired her strength. At one point I was hoping the hero would die and she could find someone better. he slowly earned her love though and it was a great journey.
I really liked this. The heroine was the hero really. He was so wishy washy. She defended the clan. She earned their respect and what a warrior she is. The woman he is in love with is a liar and evil. They never slept together but he let her belittle and sabotage the heroine. He went to war and their was an attack on the keep and Sorcha saved many lives with her bow and sword. I admired her strength. At one point I was hoping the hero would die and she could find someone better. he slowly earned her love though and it was a great journey.
November 7, 2025
3.5 stars. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, and the author handled the ow very well and I was satisfied with her, and her family's ending. Sorcha was a strong female lead and didn't take any shit though her circumstances were shitty with her arranged marriage to someone who didn't want her. Callum grew on me and I thought his turnaround and redemption was enough even though he at first acted like a sniveling little coward. Overall ok for a Wattpad author.
November 26, 2025
Trigger Warnings:
I originally found this book on Wattpad and it got published. While I found this book entertaining, I was disappointed by the grovel. I really loved the FMC, Sorcha, but I felt that she forgave too easily. I wanted the MMC, Calum, to suffer a lot more, cuz I’m petty like that. The setting is in Scotland which I loved, there were a coupla sentences I didn’t understand, but you can just Google it. Like the word “ken” means know. Anyway, while this was entertaining, the story dragged. Since this is an old historical book, some things that were fucked. Like Sorcha was betrothed at the age of 16 to Calum, who was 23. That typa shit is grooming, regardless of them marrying when she is 18. I moved on since it’s a historical, but it’s fucked. Moving past that, the story was interesting even if it was repetitive.
Sorcha is forced into an arranged marriage at a young age to Calum. But Calum‘s heart belongs to someone else. They are marrying to have a strong allegiance between both families. Sorcha accepted that Calum will never love her, so she closes her heart.
“You’ve a rare gem in your hand, Calum. Tend it, and it may yet shine. Neglect it, and it’ll dull and wither. Either way, the choice—and the consequence—is yours.”
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks!
I originally found this book on Wattpad and it got published. While I found this book entertaining, I was disappointed by the grovel. I really loved the FMC, Sorcha, but I felt that she forgave too easily. I wanted the MMC, Calum, to suffer a lot more, cuz I’m petty like that. The setting is in Scotland which I loved, there were a coupla sentences I didn’t understand, but you can just Google it. Like the word “ken” means know. Anyway, while this was entertaining, the story dragged. Since this is an old historical book, some things that were fucked. Like Sorcha was betrothed at the age of 16 to Calum, who was 23. That typa shit is grooming, regardless of them marrying when she is 18. I moved on since it’s a historical, but it’s fucked. Moving past that, the story was interesting even if it was repetitive.
Sorcha is forced into an arranged marriage at a young age to Calum. But Calum‘s heart belongs to someone else. They are marrying to have a strong allegiance between both families. Sorcha accepted that Calum will never love her, so she closes her heart.
“You’ve a rare gem in your hand, Calum. Tend it, and it may yet shine. Neglect it, and it’ll dull and wither. Either way, the choice—and the consequence—is yours.”
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks!
December 18, 2025
3 stars
It was OK. I think the writing was well done and the premise was decent but the story itself was a bit lacking. The story centers on Sorcha, who is being married to Calum, the laird's son from a different clan, as a prearranged marriage. Calum is marrying her out of duty but his heart belongs to another, a fact he keeps sharing with her. He treats her terribly in the beginning and lets others treat her terribly. Over time, she finds her place in the clan and Calum comes around.
There were a few things in this story that really took away from my liking of it.
First, Calum's behaviour in the beginning was unforgiveable. I had a hard time getting over it throughout the story and his thoughts about how he was going to make her life miserable showed what a small and petty man he was. THEN he fails to make a decision about a crime that was basically his job as a laird (now that his father had retired) and instead forced Sorcha to make it for him. He was extremely weak willed. I was frustrated with him for most of the book. Finally, after he realizes what an idiot he was, the story stalled for what felt like forever. I think time went backwards, it took so long to get moving. I almost DNFed. The ending was anticlimactic. I NEVER really warmed up to him. He was kind of a douche. Kind of hard to root for a MMC when you kind of wished he was someone else. I think the author did too good a job at trying to make him have something to atone for. To the point where I think she was better off alone.
So...overall, good writing. Just didn't care for the MMC or the pace of the story.
It was OK. I think the writing was well done and the premise was decent but the story itself was a bit lacking. The story centers on Sorcha, who is being married to Calum, the laird's son from a different clan, as a prearranged marriage. Calum is marrying her out of duty but his heart belongs to another, a fact he keeps sharing with her. He treats her terribly in the beginning and lets others treat her terribly. Over time, she finds her place in the clan and Calum comes around.
There were a few things in this story that really took away from my liking of it.
First, Calum's behaviour in the beginning was unforgiveable. I had a hard time getting over it throughout the story and his thoughts about how he was going to make her life miserable showed what a small and petty man he was. THEN he fails to make a decision about a crime that was basically his job as a laird (now that his father had retired) and instead forced Sorcha to make it for him. He was extremely weak willed. I was frustrated with him for most of the book. Finally, after he realizes what an idiot he was, the story stalled for what felt like forever. I think time went backwards, it took so long to get moving. I almost DNFed. The ending was anticlimactic. I NEVER really warmed up to him. He was kind of a douche. Kind of hard to root for a MMC when you kind of wished he was someone else. I think the author did too good a job at trying to make him have something to atone for. To the point where I think she was better off alone.
So...overall, good writing. Just didn't care for the MMC or the pace of the story.
November 5, 2025
3.75 but too close to 4 stars to rate it a 3.
I really enjoyed this, more so as a very accurate historical romance than an angsty read. While certainly filled with betrayal and emotional cheating (no physical cheating, but I'm more affected by emotional betrayal, so right up my alley), I found Sorcha to be a MFC that bore her hurt quietly. Stoically. Also, something that others complained about was the fact that there were other character points of view; I found that a wonderful writing tool by the author. By doing that we were shown and felt Sorcha's hurts without being told, really deepens the storytelling. Historically accurate - during that period of history, women did what needed to be done so the fact that Sorcha teaches her fellow clanswomen to fight was true, kept me in the story. It seems that women lost agency, equality and power the more "civilized" we became, lol. I didn't care for Calum, at all. He was weak, and he didn't redeem himself in my eyes. If there hadn't been such a drastic event opening his eyes I'm not convinced he would have ever seen his stupidity. Another thing put on Sorcha's back that Calum should have dealt with: the punishment of those that betrayed the clan. Nothing wrong with that, it's the authors story to tell but that's where my enjoyment fell below 4 stars. This was a well written historical romance with a strong heroine but a weak hero. I haven't enjoyed a book set during this period of history in a long time, so I'm happy I read Serial Romance Librarian's review bc I would have missed it. I, too, will be checking her back list.
I really enjoyed this, more so as a very accurate historical romance than an angsty read. While certainly filled with betrayal and emotional cheating (no physical cheating, but I'm more affected by emotional betrayal, so right up my alley), I found Sorcha to be a MFC that bore her hurt quietly. Stoically. Also, something that others complained about was the fact that there were other character points of view; I found that a wonderful writing tool by the author. By doing that we were shown and felt Sorcha's hurts without being told, really deepens the storytelling. Historically accurate - during that period of history, women did what needed to be done so the fact that Sorcha teaches her fellow clanswomen to fight was true, kept me in the story. It seems that women lost agency, equality and power the more "civilized" we became, lol. I didn't care for Calum, at all. He was weak, and he didn't redeem himself in my eyes. If there hadn't been such a drastic event opening his eyes I'm not convinced he would have ever seen his stupidity. Another thing put on Sorcha's back that Calum should have dealt with: the punishment of those that betrayed the clan. Nothing wrong with that, it's the authors story to tell but that's where my enjoyment fell below 4 stars. This was a well written historical romance with a strong heroine but a weak hero. I haven't enjoyed a book set during this period of history in a long time, so I'm happy I read Serial Romance Librarian's review bc I would have missed it. I, too, will be checking her back list.
November 5, 2025
I was here for the angst but, the H is an idiot. No redemption IMO.
December 20, 2025
Reading this book felt like watching lifeless puppets being awkwardly pulled around and forced to act. The characters lacked coherent personalities or any consistent convictions. The premise had potential, but the execution completely ruined it.
January 9, 2026
DNF @ 32%
Yikes this is bad. The writing is so generic and repetitive it reads as artificial. Nothing complimentary to say about it tbh.
The structure is weird, too. There are random flashbacks just to show us what we’ve already been told or could have easily (and more clearly) been an internal thought. Entire scenes and convos are written in BOTH POVs, so if you were bored the first time you read it, congrats? You get to read it again.
I can’t tell who’s good and who’s bad in the story because no one has clear motivations, they just do whatever the author needs them to do to keep the story going. The FMC worked tirelessly for her childhood keep and clan and was universally adored, until her (loving?) oldest brother got married and his wife… lived there? Filled the role of lady of the keep? And then suddenly the entire clan hated the FMC or maybe just didn’t ask her to serve as lady anymore? Idk, that’s sort of how the whole marriage thing worked so I’m not sure what she was expecting or if we’re meant to think her old clan was evil.
The MMC’s dad tells him over and over how he’s doing wrong by his new wife and being dishonorable but then does nothing to defend the FMC? Even tho he was laird until they got married and should have some respect. And even when the MMC leaves to fight and he steps in to act as laird he still does nothing? Cool, super standup guy.
The FMC is from the highlands. Or, no, she’s not—the highlands will chew her up and spit her out. But she is, bc she has highland strength. Seems to just depend on the sentence.
The MMC truly loves his childhood sweetheart and wants to remain true to her. But also he knows she’s calculating and evil. But he doesn’t know who to believe when he comes back from the battle and the OW is in jail and everyone suddenly loves the FMC. Except he does tell OW to quit lying and he knows he’s guilty. Except he goes upstairs and doesn’t know who to believe and tells his father he’s confused. (The OW’s brother and the guard they bribed both admitted it was OW; she’s the only one lying. VERY intelligent MMC.) (also, the MMC TOLD the OW she could bully the FMC to “get hers back,” watched OW push FMC while she was carrying a giant pot (except also she was pushed by another girl who FMC later saved from one of the raiders). Idk, just hard to respect an MMC who’s in love with someone he thinks is evil?)
But it’s ok, the MMC is an incredible warrior and so skilled. Except he can’t sneak for the life of him and he’s creeping through the woods spying on FMC and she’s like laughing at how loud he is. (Bc she’s so sneaky, bc her brothers and dad trained her to fight. While she was delivering every baby and healing all the horses and cooking and cleaning and giving gentle smiles and soft laughs. Sure.) Also, the FMC is going to teach all the other girls how to fight. Ok.
At 32% they’ve been married for like….3 months? Or maybe 4, because the MMC just got back but it’s been simultaneously two days and two weeks since his return. Zero sense of time. The OW is still in jail. He’s still “investigating.” Also, when the MMC leaves to fight at like 17%, he’s already sad the FMC isn’t there to see him off and also mad the OW *is* there and her hands linger too long??? Make it make sense.
Anyways this is trash.
Yikes this is bad. The writing is so generic and repetitive it reads as artificial. Nothing complimentary to say about it tbh.
The structure is weird, too. There are random flashbacks just to show us what we’ve already been told or could have easily (and more clearly) been an internal thought. Entire scenes and convos are written in BOTH POVs, so if you were bored the first time you read it, congrats? You get to read it again.
I can’t tell who’s good and who’s bad in the story because no one has clear motivations, they just do whatever the author needs them to do to keep the story going. The FMC worked tirelessly for her childhood keep and clan and was universally adored, until her (loving?) oldest brother got married and his wife… lived there? Filled the role of lady of the keep? And then suddenly the entire clan hated the FMC or maybe just didn’t ask her to serve as lady anymore? Idk, that’s sort of how the whole marriage thing worked so I’m not sure what she was expecting or if we’re meant to think her old clan was evil.
The MMC’s dad tells him over and over how he’s doing wrong by his new wife and being dishonorable but then does nothing to defend the FMC? Even tho he was laird until they got married and should have some respect. And even when the MMC leaves to fight and he steps in to act as laird he still does nothing? Cool, super standup guy.
The FMC is from the highlands. Or, no, she’s not—the highlands will chew her up and spit her out. But she is, bc she has highland strength. Seems to just depend on the sentence.
The MMC truly loves his childhood sweetheart and wants to remain true to her. But also he knows she’s calculating and evil. But he doesn’t know who to believe when he comes back from the battle and the OW is in jail and everyone suddenly loves the FMC. Except he does tell OW to quit lying and he knows he’s guilty. Except he goes upstairs and doesn’t know who to believe and tells his father he’s confused. (The OW’s brother and the guard they bribed both admitted it was OW; she’s the only one lying. VERY intelligent MMC.) (also, the MMC TOLD the OW she could bully the FMC to “get hers back,” watched OW push FMC while she was carrying a giant pot (except also she was pushed by another girl who FMC later saved from one of the raiders). Idk, just hard to respect an MMC who’s in love with someone he thinks is evil?)
But it’s ok, the MMC is an incredible warrior and so skilled. Except he can’t sneak for the life of him and he’s creeping through the woods spying on FMC and she’s like laughing at how loud he is. (Bc she’s so sneaky, bc her brothers and dad trained her to fight. While she was delivering every baby and healing all the horses and cooking and cleaning and giving gentle smiles and soft laughs. Sure.) Also, the FMC is going to teach all the other girls how to fight. Ok.
At 32% they’ve been married for like….3 months? Or maybe 4, because the MMC just got back but it’s been simultaneously two days and two weeks since his return. Zero sense of time. The OW is still in jail. He’s still “investigating.” Also, when the MMC leaves to fight at like 17%, he’s already sad the FMC isn’t there to see him off and also mad the OW *is* there and her hands linger too long??? Make it make sense.
Anyways this is trash.
November 2, 2025
Fairly good. Calum mostly redeems himself.
February 12, 2026
The story might have been good...if only it would have been developed, because everything that's important and I wanted to read to enhance it happened OFF PAGE or was addressed quickly and with lack of depth.
Anything is told instead of being shown.
The time jumps in the first chapters are confusing.
Then we have same scenes told through different POVs.
It's like I read the same interaction twice word by word.
Instead of moving forward the story stuck in a loop.
Hero and heroine spent most time never together in a scene or separated.
The moments spent talking and exchanging more than few words sentences are few and scarse throughout the whole story.
I don't believe in their love and in them as a couple.
The supposed Hero of the story is weak, guillable and with no backbone, petty and childish.
What a hero he is..!!!
I hoped till the end the heroine would have found love with someone else, anyone but this spineless nonentity.
However I'm giving this author another try and am about to start Tangled Fates.
I love angsty stories and this books promises to have it.
Hopefully it will make my heart ache in a good way and not be a pain to read like The Heather Wife.
Anything is told instead of being shown.
The time jumps in the first chapters are confusing.
Then we have same scenes told through different POVs.
It's like I read the same interaction twice word by word.
Instead of moving forward the story stuck in a loop.
Hero and heroine spent most time never together in a scene or separated.
The moments spent talking and exchanging more than few words sentences are few and scarse throughout the whole story.
I don't believe in their love and in them as a couple.
The supposed Hero of the story is weak, guillable and with no backbone, petty and childish.
What a hero he is..!!!
I hoped till the end the heroine would have found love with someone else, anyone but this spineless nonentity.
However I'm giving this author another try and am about to start Tangled Fates.
I love angsty stories and this books promises to have it.
Hopefully it will make my heart ache in a good way and not be a pain to read like The Heather Wife.
November 13, 2025
I read unedited version in Wattpad
December 4, 2025
DNF’d at 18% I would be shocked if this was not at the very least AI co-authored. It reads like AI slop, as someone who has messed around with using generative AI to see its capabilities or lack there of with storytelling, it reads exactly like the stories AI has created when I’ve messed around with it. It became so distracting that it was unreadable.
October 31, 2025
Sorcha and Calum are two people who have an arranged marriage and find happiness thru battles and heartbreak. Sorcha, is a strong beautiful woman who absolutely stands tall in a new home with people who treats her poorly along with her new husband Calum. She slowly becomes someone the whole clan respects and looks too. The choices and decisions she makes are not easy but her strength is and even her husband learns what true strength is thru his wife. Calum grows and starts to be present in the marriage. Calum, was blind by not wanting to have choices made for him and soon realizes that not all love is true. He has to learn how to let go and show up for his wife and clan. Together they walk thru fire and come out strong and happy. This is a story of finding what’s in front of you is with fighting for and grow and letting go are both good.
November 9, 2025
This was a really great historical betrayal book. It had everything you need and flowed really nice. Our fmc was strong and the mmc put in the time and was humbled.
My issue is personal. I just can’t get into historical very easily. I had a hard time staying present in the story and it just didn’t hold my attention. Why, well I’m not a huge fan of anything historical. It’s a personal preference but I wanted to give this a try because the author seems wonderful. I don’t regret reading it and I did enjoy it. I just felt it was too slow for my preference. Hence the 3 star rating.
I would recommend this to anyone into historical works or anyone looking for a betrayal/second chance story
My issue is personal. I just can’t get into historical very easily. I had a hard time staying present in the story and it just didn’t hold my attention. Why, well I’m not a huge fan of anything historical. It’s a personal preference but I wanted to give this a try because the author seems wonderful. I don’t regret reading it and I did enjoy it. I just felt it was too slow for my preference. Hence the 3 star rating.
I would recommend this to anyone into historical works or anyone looking for a betrayal/second chance story
November 30, 2025
This was a fine tale. There were some writing choices that were a tad redundant and I didn’t feel enough emotion from the characters- much more in the way of told their emotional states. Yet, the setting was well written and the overall story was an engaging one.
October 30, 2025
Great period time piece for romance. Sorcha is a strong FMC who just wants to be loved and have a partner. Callum is a prideful Laird who wanted to make his own decisions. The betrayal is brutal but the how they came back to each was organic and lovely. It was a great read and very well written.
dnf
November 9, 2025DNF @ 52%
It all feels a little too contrived. Apparently before KU, this was on Wattpad…and it shows. It has that typical Wattpad story-telling pattern.
It all feels a little too contrived. Apparently before KU, this was on Wattpad…and it shows. It has that typical Wattpad story-telling pattern.
October 31, 2025
This is the one..What a strong FL, Sorcha. She exemplifies what a strong character she has not only by words but with deeds. Solid plotlines based on the era it portrays.
November 9, 2025
If you love grovel then this is for you. This was not for me. Absolutely enjoyed the angst from the poor treatment of the h by the H and his clan as well as her own family's silence.
The H saw the error of his ways way too early for my liking and from 50% onwards it was the H's grovel. Slow burn so much that it didn't feel like a romance. Way too slow for me, dnf'd at 69%
The H saw the error of his ways way too early for my liking and from 50% onwards it was the H's grovel. Slow burn so much that it didn't feel like a romance. Way too slow for me, dnf'd at 69%
October 23, 2025
This book felt like being covered in your coziest blanket with a cup of hot tea on a chilly day. The attention to detail from the language spoken to the description of the setting made me feel fully immersed in this world. Sorcha was hands down the best character in this book, perhaps one of the best characters out there. She was strong yet kind, and you can’t help but to root for her to get her happy ending. Callum had the perfect grovel and became the perfect man who deserved to stand beside Sorcha. I didn’t have a lot of faith in him, but I was luckily proven wrong.
January 28, 2026
3.5
This was actually pretty good for a shorter story, but sometimes the dialogue was very repetitive. VERY. And multiple POVs of the same scene did not help the story… Callum was a douchebag, but she was phenomenal. She took a lickin but kept on ticking. Strong, silent type
This was actually pretty good for a shorter story, but sometimes the dialogue was very repetitive. VERY. And multiple POVs of the same scene did not help the story… Callum was a douchebag, but she was phenomenal. She took a lickin but kept on ticking. Strong, silent type
January 24, 2026
eh read like an outline
Nice premise but it was not well developed and was the definition of telling versus showing. They went from “I hate you” to “I love you” real fast and any promising antagonists were just eliminated immediately.
Nice premise but it was not well developed and was the definition of telling versus showing. They went from “I hate you” to “I love you” real fast and any promising antagonists were just eliminated immediately.
December 12, 2025
Character development, who is she
December 22, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating System (as of 8/14/2025):
⭐: It was a struggle to read. I almost DNF
⭐⭐: This could have been so much better.
⭐⭐⭐: Good/Average
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Great book. I will probably reread it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I absolutely loved this book.
***********************************************************************
Triggers:
🚩Death of a Parent
🚩Attempted Assault
🚩Abandonment
🚩Bullying
Tropes:
💕Historical Romance
💕Arranged Marriage
💕MF Romance
💕Alpha Female
💕OW Drama
Spice Level: 🔥
Spice Level Rating System (as of 9/4/25)
🔥: Clean. Handholding. Kissing.
🔥🔥: Non-Descriptive/Implied on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥: Hot-Descriptive on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥🔥: So Hot—Do Not Read in Public
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥: Oh My-BDSM. Blood Play. Smut.
************************************************************************
Quote:
"Don't mistake my presence here for anything more than duty." he said, the words sharp enough to wound-meant to. "Whatever vows were spoken, this marriage is nothing to me. You are nothing to me."
Summary:
FMC and MMC are in an arranged marriage. The MMC is to be the next Laird and he is in love with another. The FMC comes to his lands and is bullied by this woman and everyone else. It isn't until the MMC is away at battle and the village is invaded that people begin to realize who the FMC really is. She is the one who saved them. The OW is the one who set up the village to be invaded.
Upon his return the MMC is surprised to see how the FMC is now accepted and he is not. This is a story of him coming to the truth of who the ow really is and who the FMC is. HEA
Review:
I enjoyed this book. It shows the strength of a woman in cruel circumstances. I loved that the FMC was strong and maintained her character throughout the story. The way the MMC was humbled really had nothing to do with her actions but with his very own words and actions. The grovel wasn't typical but it was adequate.
This is my first book by this author, and I will be looking forward to reading others.
*****************************************************************************
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https://www.instagram.com/bibliodarling/
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TIKTOK📢
https://www.tiktok.com/@bibliodarling...
JOIN MY VIRTUAL BOOKCLUB: BOUNDLESS WOMEN BOUNDLESS BOOKS (GOODREADS GROUP)
Rating System (as of 8/14/2025):
⭐: It was a struggle to read. I almost DNF
⭐⭐: This could have been so much better.
⭐⭐⭐: Good/Average
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Great book. I will probably reread it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I absolutely loved this book.
***********************************************************************
Triggers:
🚩Death of a Parent
🚩Attempted Assault
🚩Abandonment
🚩Bullying
Tropes:
💕Historical Romance
💕Arranged Marriage
💕MF Romance
💕Alpha Female
💕OW Drama
Spice Level: 🔥
Spice Level Rating System (as of 9/4/25)
🔥: Clean. Handholding. Kissing.
🔥🔥: Non-Descriptive/Implied on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥: Hot-Descriptive on Page Sex
🔥🔥🔥🔥: So Hot—Do Not Read in Public
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥: Oh My-BDSM. Blood Play. Smut.
************************************************************************
Quote:
"Don't mistake my presence here for anything more than duty." he said, the words sharp enough to wound-meant to. "Whatever vows were spoken, this marriage is nothing to me. You are nothing to me."
Summary:
FMC and MMC are in an arranged marriage. The MMC is to be the next Laird and he is in love with another. The FMC comes to his lands and is bullied by this woman and everyone else. It isn't until the MMC is away at battle and the village is invaded that people begin to realize who the FMC really is. She is the one who saved them. The OW is the one who set up the village to be invaded.
Upon his return the MMC is surprised to see how the FMC is now accepted and he is not. This is a story of him coming to the truth of who the ow really is and who the FMC is. HEA
Review:
I enjoyed this book. It shows the strength of a woman in cruel circumstances. I loved that the FMC was strong and maintained her character throughout the story. The way the MMC was humbled really had nothing to do with her actions but with his very own words and actions. The grovel wasn't typical but it was adequate.
This is my first book by this author, and I will be looking forward to reading others.
*****************************************************************************
FOLLOW ME ON:
INSTAGRAM📢
https://www.instagram.com/bibliodarling/
SUBSTACK📢 https://open.substack.com/pub/mterron...
TIKTOK📢
https://www.tiktok.com/@bibliodarling...
JOIN MY VIRTUAL BOOKCLUB: BOUNDLESS WOMEN BOUNDLESS BOOKS (GOODREADS GROUP)
November 9, 2025
I liked this one.
Definitely different but quite good.
We are in Scotland here, historical romance.
The heroine and the hero have a moc, but the hero tells her he won’t ever consider her as his wife because he loves another woman and was forced by his father to get married to her for an alliance with her clan.
The heroine accepts, she’s not very much impressed by him and doesn’t pine for him at all.
At first she’s scorned and treated badly by the members of his clan, included his sweetheart, and he allows it because he resents her.
But she is as though as nails.
She killed her mother’s murderer when she was just 8 and has been training as a warrior for years so she’s not definitely crying over some dumb weak man who throws some tantrum.
When his mistress betrays the clan in order to kill the heroine causing the death of several members it’s the heroine who saves the day and when the hero comes back his clan turn their back to him and accepts her as their laird.
So, he has to accept that he failed totally both his clan and his wife.
His own father despises him and now he can’t do anything else but let his wife rule and decide who lives and who dies between the traitors.
And of course it’s his mistress’s head the first to roll,
Ha!
I loved it.
Eventually the hero will have to grovel and crawl before he shows he’s worthy, both to his clan and to the heroine.
Well, it’s a historical so no divorce allowed here and he falls in love with her and of course she has to forgive him.
He never had sex with ow so the cheating is only emotional, but anyway he was not a strong and alpha male but just a dumb useless prick who couldn’t even behave like a man because he resented his father and the arranged marriage.
The heroine was ten times the man he is, yes, exactly. She has more balls than he ever did.
Sad but true.
The book is not very romantic because the heroine is really very sensible and no nonsense kind of woman, but she’s kind and has a big heart, a strong loyalty and a better sense of what’s her duty than the hero ever had.
Sadly she’s the man in the book.
But in the end I liked it. They lived happily afterwards and the hero found a small pair of balls somewhere in his pocket. Not much but enough I suppose.
Definitely different but quite good.
We are in Scotland here, historical romance.
The heroine and the hero have a moc, but the hero tells her he won’t ever consider her as his wife because he loves another woman and was forced by his father to get married to her for an alliance with her clan.
The heroine accepts, she’s not very much impressed by him and doesn’t pine for him at all.
At first she’s scorned and treated badly by the members of his clan, included his sweetheart, and he allows it because he resents her.
But she is as though as nails.
She killed her mother’s murderer when she was just 8 and has been training as a warrior for years so she’s not definitely crying over some dumb weak man who throws some tantrum.
When his mistress betrays the clan in order to kill the heroine causing the death of several members it’s the heroine who saves the day and when the hero comes back his clan turn their back to him and accepts her as their laird.
So, he has to accept that he failed totally both his clan and his wife.
His own father despises him and now he can’t do anything else but let his wife rule and decide who lives and who dies between the traitors.
And of course it’s his mistress’s head the first to roll,
Ha!
I loved it.
Eventually the hero will have to grovel and crawl before he shows he’s worthy, both to his clan and to the heroine.
Well, it’s a historical so no divorce allowed here and he falls in love with her and of course she has to forgive him.
He never had sex with ow so the cheating is only emotional, but anyway he was not a strong and alpha male but just a dumb useless prick who couldn’t even behave like a man because he resented his father and the arranged marriage.
The heroine was ten times the man he is, yes, exactly. She has more balls than he ever did.
Sad but true.
The book is not very romantic because the heroine is really very sensible and no nonsense kind of woman, but she’s kind and has a big heart, a strong loyalty and a better sense of what’s her duty than the hero ever had.
Sadly she’s the man in the book.
But in the end I liked it. They lived happily afterwards and the hero found a small pair of balls somewhere in his pocket. Not much but enough I suppose.
October 26, 2025
“…she’s learned not to show the wound until the blade’s been pulled free.”
I’ve read versions of this story three times. Having found this author on Wattpad, I quickly found myself sucked into the world of Sorcha and Calum. I enjoyed the first version, but apparently others didn’t, so unfortunately, it was rewritten… I started the second version, and got to the OW comeuppance… and might I say it was delicious…
And then, we come to this version. And I am very, very glad that I got the chance to read this early. I raged at Calum, my heart broke for Sorcha, and knowing what was coming, I wanted Sorcha to let them all burn….
The hero is a product of the times. A bit of a manchild who is entered into an unwanted marriage to secure an alliance. And instead of acting out against their parents who set things in motion, he punishes, and attempts (quite unsuccessfully, I might add) to humiliate, and alienate his unwanted wife, Sorcha.
Unluckily for him, Calum doesn’t realise that Sorcha has a bright, shiny titanium spine, forged under truly horrific circumstances and a neglectful family.
Sorcha, for all her strength is still fragile, and one of the best heroines I’ve read.
Do I wish she pushed back at everyone? Why, yes, yes, I do, but… we wouldn’t have the story that we received.
And no… Calum didn’t actually grovel (again, another product of the times). What he did instead was finally grow up, find his brain, grab a clue, and realise what a gift he had been given.
I knew this would be a one-sitting book, and I wanted to take my time, so it’s been sitting on my kindle for a couple of days, teasing me! My family were not allowed to speak to me. Shush’s here, shush’s there, and I just curled up on my couch, ignoring the world. It drew me in, and I'll be honest, I was surprised when I finally got to the last page. I wanted to stay in their world, but what we got... I thought their ending was so sweet, and I was so happy that Sorcha finally got the recognition and family that she wholeheartedly deserved.
So, do yourself a favour, grab a cuppa, maybe a few snacks and get comfy. Go in blind and just enjoy.
I’ve read versions of this story three times. Having found this author on Wattpad, I quickly found myself sucked into the world of Sorcha and Calum. I enjoyed the first version, but apparently others didn’t, so unfortunately, it was rewritten… I started the second version, and got to the OW comeuppance… and might I say it was delicious…
And then, we come to this version. And I am very, very glad that I got the chance to read this early. I raged at Calum, my heart broke for Sorcha, and knowing what was coming, I wanted Sorcha to let them all burn….
The hero is a product of the times. A bit of a manchild who is entered into an unwanted marriage to secure an alliance. And instead of acting out against their parents who set things in motion, he punishes, and attempts (quite unsuccessfully, I might add) to humiliate, and alienate his unwanted wife, Sorcha.
Unluckily for him, Calum doesn’t realise that Sorcha has a bright, shiny titanium spine, forged under truly horrific circumstances and a neglectful family.
Sorcha, for all her strength is still fragile, and one of the best heroines I’ve read.
Do I wish she pushed back at everyone? Why, yes, yes, I do, but… we wouldn’t have the story that we received.
And no… Calum didn’t actually grovel (again, another product of the times). What he did instead was finally grow up, find his brain, grab a clue, and realise what a gift he had been given.
I knew this would be a one-sitting book, and I wanted to take my time, so it’s been sitting on my kindle for a couple of days, teasing me! My family were not allowed to speak to me. Shush’s here, shush’s there, and I just curled up on my couch, ignoring the world. It drew me in, and I'll be honest, I was surprised when I finally got to the last page. I wanted to stay in their world, but what we got... I thought their ending was so sweet, and I was so happy that Sorcha finally got the recognition and family that she wholeheartedly deserved.
So, do yourself a favour, grab a cuppa, maybe a few snacks and get comfy. Go in blind and just enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews