The Mists of Glen Strae

Highland Ballad #2

by Kristin Gleeson

Scotland, Summer 1556
Are loyalty and honour more important than love?
After escaping the clutches of wily Laird Glenorchy, Abby Gordon arrives at the MacGregor stronghold of Glen Strae hoping that her friend and ally Iain MacGregor will help her find out what happened to her father. But all is not well with the clan and Iain's sudden appearance initiates a chain of events that plunges the clan into certain disaster and threatens to make Iain an outlaw. As Abby feelings for Iain strengthen while she strives to help reclaim Iain’s honour and the clan’s, the truth of her father’s disappearance begins to unfold. Ultimately, both Iain and Abby find they must choose between honour and love.
Filled with breathtaking emotional drama, intrigue and romance, the novel takes the reader on an adventure that readers of Diana Gabaldon will adore.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Scotland, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2016

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author, Kristin Gleeson is originally from Philadelphia but has lived in West Cork in Ireland for a number of years where she plays the harp and sings, in addition to painting the beautiful landscape around her. She holds a Masters in Library Science and a Ph.D. in history, and for a time was an administrator of a large archives, library and museum in America and also worked as a public librarian in America and Ireland. She has won numerous awards for her writing

Myths and other folk tales have always fascinated her and she combined her love of these tales with her harp playing and performed as a professional harper/storyteller at events in Britain, America and Ireland.


She has also written history freelance and published articles and essays in reference works and academic books.

Reviews

[B.A. Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first in this Highland Ballad Series and this second book, The Mists of Glen Strae, certainly doesn’t disappoint as Abby escapes one perilous situation only to find herself plunged into another at the hands of Iain’s suspicious family and the dastardly Comte de Damville. Undaunted, she is more than a match for them all as she uses her quick wit to influence their opinion of her. But when Iain’s freedom and his clan’s survival is threatened the couple must set off to plead his case at the royal court where Abby’s enemies are ever present.
The author is adept at creating an authentic historical setting within a robust multi-layered storyline, and main characters Abby Gordon and Iain MacGregor lead the story with great aplomb, adventurous spirit and super chemistry between them.
This thrilling romantic adventure will delight those who appreciate attention to historical detail, believable characters, colourful settings and skilful storytelling.
A wonderful tale. I can’t wait for the next in the series.

[Jean Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful series! Romance, 16thC Scotland, intrigue…

I was caught up straight away in this sequel. I’m as much in love with the depiction of 16th century Scotland, its lairds and feuds, as with the enigmatic hero, Iain, whose true colours are revealed in this novel. The romantic tension between Iain and Abby kept me turning the pages, hoping they’d be together, and the old practice of handfasting allows for complications that both satisfy and tease the reader.
The author has a light touch with historical background but there is sound research behind French/Scottish politics, the clan warfare and the everyday detail, which is always one of Kristin Gleeson’s strengths.
Herself an artist and musician, she writes of Abby and Iain’s performances with expert insights, as she does of painting in her Imp/Venice series. The dancing in ‘The Mists of Glen Strae’ was so vivid that I was taken back to my childhood and lessons in Scottish country dancing. The author distinguishes between the French and Scottish styles of dancing (which French-educated Abby would not know) in scenes that really are history brought to life.
When I was a little girl, my parents held Scottish country dancing parties that I could hear from my bedroom. Thanks to Kristin Gleeson I’ve learned that the base step I was taught as the ‘paddy bar’ is actually the ‘pas de basque’ so I leave this book wiser about my own history. Isn’t that exactly what good historical fiction does?
The book delivered some sense of resolution, some surprises, and plenty of motivation to find out what happens next. I can’t wait for the next in this series and while I’m waiting, I’ve seen that there’s a new book in this author’s Imp series, the most adventurous yet, set in Venice and Africa. So I shall leave the mists of Glen Strae for an excursion to foreign lands!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happily there will be another novel in the Highland Ballad Series in 2017. It was so very enjoyable, although it is about a very complicated time in Scotland's history,and the sequel may pull the pieces together for me.

Kristin Gleeson's fine Historical Note indicates that Queen Mary was only 14 at this time. I always need a refresher about her years in France and why the Scots were not united behind her when she returns.

This period, when Mary Queen of Scots was 14, was very tumultuous and complex in both countries with England of course trying to intervene. The borders between Scotland and England, called "debatable lands" were always in upheaval, although I think that this was not where we find this part of the series situated.

Religion seems to be becoming a divider and would continue to be between the clans as the years passed. My husband's parents were born and raised in Scotland, and came to the US and married, were Church of Scotland and Catholic and lowland vs. highland Scots. They never discussed either religion and his father was from Huntly the Gordon estate.

Consequently, the relationship between Ian, and Abby the heroine,was frowned upon. Abigail, a Gordon, although raised in France would not be expected to have dealings with certain clans and their followers. I suspect that the next book will have some mention of Huntly Aberdeenshire and I am greatly looking forward to it.

I was not a great fan of Diana Gabaldon but am very much a fan of Kristin Gleeson and her works.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so pleasing , for me , as book 1

Reading along happily until Edinburgh and off to Wikipedia
Why would Mary of Guise be holding court in Edinburgh Castle , cold drafty old Edinburgh Castle , when her sophisticated , then modern palace is just down the road !
A small thing but I had trusted this author to check her details.
I also enjoyed her economic use of words and ability to move her plot along with minimum distractions , then off to Paris and we bog down for pages as Abby parties .
Several questions occur to me which I will not ask as the answer is generally is that it is none of my business , as Abby is usually informed.
No wonder she seems to be threatening a melt down into one of those querulous spunky types .

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby, Iain, and Angus are interesting characters and I picked up a few new facts about the three. The group travels to France to look for Abby's father but encounter an old foe and Abby is forced to flee back to Scotland.

This is not a stand alone book and is the second in the Highland Ballad series. Like the first book it is a cliff hanger with many unanswered questions.

No graphic sex or violence

[ROBIN CONKEL-HANNAN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent story, well researched

Interesting characters.. Good historical background.. Don't be fooled about three books.. This is a cliffhanger designed to make you buy three instead of one.. Books one and two are incomplete without book three.. On the upside, the story is not filled with graphic sex that detracts from the excellent story being told.. Had this been in a single volume I would have given it five stars..

[Angie Peoples · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful!

If you love Scottish Highland Historical Romance which also has a dash of romance, action, and suspense in it, then you will love this series and particular book. I can’t wait to get to book three as cliff hangers are not my favorite way to end a book but it does make you want to continue. Iain and Abby are incredible main characters and the bond they share is one that all women would want.

[Sue Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprises

Though frustratingly not a stand alone novel, this story is full of adventure, danger, and the start of what could be a forbidden romance. There are enough twists and turns that very little is telegraphed. I appreciate it when so much is unexpected, but I do hope that book 3 in the series comes to a satisfying conclusion.

[ChristineStraut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rousing intrigue and a little romance

I like the historical aspects of this story. France, Scotland and England contend for power and our characters are right in the middle of it. Spies, daring ladies and loyal minions abound as the plot developed!

[Terrie L Winkates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Continuation

Having escaped, Abby has found herself jumping into a new fire. A fire that’s a combination of deceit,lust and an eventual visit to the French Court. Hardly having time to breathe she is off in search of her Father.

[Vicki Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book - Narrator ok.

I really liked the story. The Narrator was ok, slow, but she was trying to do different characters in her narrative. If you speed up the timing to 1.2, it is good enough.

[Anne Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Historically interspersed story of intrigues of royal courts, romance, and insight to the rugged life that was Scotland. The writing is done well.

[Harrison Reed III · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to read the third book in the series. Enjoy Ms Gleeson's writing style.

[Marie Birkbeck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was decidedly worse that the prequel and Ill not be bothering to purchase the conclusion of a bunch of drivel. Page after page, and in one case, 2 chapters of totally inconsequential blather

[Jacey Phillips bouler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, not as good as first but very enjoyable.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. This is no Claire and Jamie.

[Susanne Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 is great

Enjoyed this book very much, great history and fast moving. Kept me engaged and I really enjoyed the character development.

[DeAnna Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Thoroughly enjoyed this collection of characters and their intrigues as they each make their own journeys from Paris to Scotland and back again.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy the stories and the character development in these books, but the editing is often bad enough to be distracting.

[Graeme Waymark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have attached my review to last novel of this trilogy.

[Lora Shouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the first book of The Highland Ballad Series, The Hostage of Glenorchy, young Abby Gordon, daughter of the Queen’s lute player (this is Mary of Scotland, engaged at the time to the Dauphin of France and living in Paris; her own biographies indicate that at the time she was a potential heiress for several thrones, and may have actually already been Queen of Scotland although her mother was at the time serving as regent. But in this book, she is only a fairly important minor character.) – anyway, Abby was sent to Scotland by her father for her safety. Having overheard something about a plot to kill Queen Mary before she left, she took it upon herself to travel disguised as a boy so no one would know who she was. She arrived at Kilchurn Castle mostly unsuspected. There she met Iain MacGregor who was being held hostage there for the good behavior of his family and fell in love with him.

Then everything fell apart. Iain escaped. Abby was discovered to be a woman, was accused of being both a witch and a spy, and was badly beaten. She felt herself forced to escape as well.

As The Mists of Glen Strae opens, Abby is struggling to find her way to Glen Strae Castle, where Iain has told her the ring he has given her will assure her welcome. It seems Iain has omitted some information, because his father, the clan head, referred to by preference only as MacGregor, assumes right away that Abby and Iain are engaged. As soon as Iain appears at home, he arranges almost immediately to have them hand-fasted.

It seems that the protection of the MacGregors is a little shaky too. Their near neighbors (but not friends) the Campbells, including Lord Glenorchy at Kilchurn Castle, are working diligently to have the whole clan exiled so they can take over all their holdings. And Iain’s fiery sister, Morag, who also goes about dressed as a boy when it suits her, isn’t helping matters any by initiating raids on them.

After the hand-fasting, Abby travels with Iain to the Scottish court to petition the Queen-Regent, Mary (or Marie) of Guise, Queen Mary’s mother, to allow the MacGregors to keep their lands. Following this, they travel to France hoping to find out what has happened to Abby’s father. She is concerned that she hasn’t heard from him since she left France earlier.

While she is there, she learns who, or at least what, her father really is. She also learns what Iain really is. And she is most disappointed that her father will not let her marry Iain.

[Claire Stibbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mists of Glen Strae is a great addition to the Highland Ballad Series and I was looking forward to getting back into the continuing story of Abby Gordon and Iain MacGregor. Descriptions of 16th century Scotland are more than worthy of note and for Gleeson to drop her readers into the thick of this timeframe takes great skill. Smells, sights, sounds are all part of the scenes she creates with very little effort along with solid dialogue driven chapters.

We see Abby Gordon as a strong, driven individual who is prepared to ride alone through rain and bog to find the MacGregor stronghold. All she has is a lute and a ring, and when she arrives there is a mixture of compassion and distrust since Iain is not there to prove her claim. I began to question if she was in safe hands, especially with Morag’s sharp tongue and avid curiosity, and Alasdair’s less than desirable description of his brother. It’s easy to see life through Abby’s eyes as she studies the family and learns more about Iain’s wandering spirit.

Unfortunately, the Comte de Damville is never far behind and it’s only a matter of time before he tells them his side of the story. Abby must find a way to keep herself safe. But under whose law and who’s custody will she be taken?

The romance is enjoyable and at the same time sensual, although Abbey, feisty and independent, must sometimes see Iain flirting, rekindling old acquaintances and in some cases with very beautiful women. Since the characters are both owners of tender and tough hearts they find themselves drawn to each other in ways I would never have expected.

Gleeson has undoubtedly done her research in this series, resulting in a very good, detailed storyline. I’m champing at the bit for the next one.

[J.G. Harlond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristin Gleeson writes some cracking stories, and this is another. The second in her Highland Ballad series is written something along the lines of Dorothy Dunnett - set partly in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands and partly in the French court, where intrigue and danger are all about. The heroine Abby is someone to get close to, and the love of her life - if he stays - is more than attractive. Ian reminded me in parts of Gabaldon's Highlander, Jamie.