Tamed & Unleashed: The Highlander's Vivacious Wife

Love's Second Chance: Highland Tales #1

by Bree Wolf

A forgotten night. A stolen child. And a stranger who feels all too familiar.

Waking up alone after a drunken night with a stranger in Gretna Green, CLAUDIA DAVENPORT, sister to Viscount Ashwood, finds herself still unmarried…and with child. In order to preserve her reputation, her brother sends her to a remote estate so she can give birth in secret and then return to society, unscathed…but heartbroken.
However, when her child is kidnapped, Claudia can no longer deny the bond that connects her to her son. Alone, she sets out to discover his whereabouts…and her path crosses that of a stranger, who feels all too familiar.

After marrying an English lass in Gretna Green, GARRETT MACDRUMMOND returns to their room at the inn the next morning only to find her gone. Duty-bound to return to his clan in the Scottish Highlands, he counts the days until he can travel to England to find her. However, when he finally does discover her, he is shocked to realise that she does not remember him.

Determined to remind her of the fateful night they shared, Garrett refuses to leave her side, following her across England without knowing why.

Will Claudia ever remember him? Will Garrett ever learn that he has a child? Will they recover their son or lose him without ever having had the chance to know him?



"Their adventure into 'love' is filled with the love of two people as they rediscover each other and chase after a kidnapper, meet up with a 'Privateer' and find their happily ever after." - Zena, BookBub review

"There are lots of twists and turns but this bring together several characters from previous books. That only enhances this story." - Monica, BookBub review



Love's Second Chance Series

#1 Forgotten & Remembered - The Dukes Late Wife (Rosabel & Graham)
#2 Cursed & Cherished - The Duke's Wilful Wife (Anna & Edmond)
#3 Despised & Desired - The Marquess' Passionate Wife (Ellie & Frederick)
#4 Abandoned & Protected - The Marquis' Tenacious Wife (Henrietta & Connor)
#5 Ruined & Redeemed - The Earl's Fallen Wife (Charlotte & Sebastian)
#6 Betrayed & Blessed - The Viscount's Shrewd Wife (Beth & Tristan)
#7 Deceived & Honoured - The Baron's Vexing Wife (Madeline & Derek)
#8 Sacrificed & Reclaimed - The Solider's Daring Widow (Meagan & Edward)
#9 Condemned & Admired - The Earl's Cunning Wife (Violet & Oliver)
#10 Trapped & Liberated The Privateer's Bold Beloved (Alexandra & Antoine)
#11 Oppressed & Empowered - The Viscount's Capable Wife (Evelyn & Richard)
#12 Destroyed & Restored - The Baron's Courageous Wife (Adelaide & Matthew)
#13 Tamed & Unleashed - The Highlander's Vivacious Wife (Claudia & Garrett)(coming soon)
More to follow!

Each love story in this series can be read as a stand alone. However, most readers prefer to read them in order.

Also check out Bree's A Forbidden Love Novella Series which is FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Regency, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Fiction

273 pages, ebook

Published June 4, 2019

About the author

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Excited for my new series? The Flames of Winter Series:

An epic love story that spans across an entire series. Ensure that you have a good cup of tea, something to nibble on and perhaps a box of tissues at hand before you dive into this slow-burn Regency romance full of enchanting moments between Sarah and Keir, the little wisp and the highlander.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished the book, so that says something. But this book was boring and quite implausible.
1) I find it hard to believe an unmarried woman who got pregnant would be embraced by her family at this time. Having a baby out of wedlock would have been the worst thing she could have done. She was protected and pampered and that just doesn’t seem realistic.
2) Not once does the book describe how the baby was cared for, specifically, how the baby was fed! Before we know that there is a female nurse traveling with the baby, I was so distracted by wondering who was feeding this kid. Was the nurse a wet nurse? Probably not, given who she was (I won’t spoil it). And once Claudia is reunited with the baby, how is she feeding him? She is on a ship with him, traversing the Atlantic! I don’t know how a woman unable to breastfeed would have fed her child then other than a wet nurse. Where are his diapers? His clothes?
3) Claudia leaves her family in the dead of night. It’s not until the very end that she even mentions they might be worried about her. Really? She’s run away, gets put on a ship headed to the colonies, then is put on what is basically a pirate ship, and she doesn’t stop to lament she may never see her family again? Wonder if they are beating the streets looking for her?
4) I don’t have an issue with love at first sight. It can happen. But it goes from 0 to 60 for Garrett and Claudia’s feelings for each other. There’s a lot of blather about how they ache for each other, but very little description of physical chemistry. Boring.

Overall, the story held promise. Addition of historical details, more sizzle, and more realistic insight into the characters’ thoughts would have made it better. Meh.

[Stephanie Thurwachter · Rating 5 out of 5]

As all of Bree's books, I just loved Claudia's story. After having finished book 11 with Evelyn and Richard I couldn't wait for this story to come.
I even think it is my absolute favorite!! Even though it is hard to choose just one!
I love the way Claudia fights for her son, the fact that she cannot remember Garrett - ahhh Garrett.. what a man!
And.. (attention - stop reading if you don't want to know that before reading it for yourself) Henri!! I wouldn't have expected to re-meet him again! I am soooo looking forward to his own story with Juliette!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waking up alone after a drunken night with a stranger in Gretna Green, Claudia Davenport, sister to Viscount Ashwood, finds herself still unmarried and with child. In order to preserve her reputation, her brother sends her to a remote estate so she can give birth in secret and then return to society, unscathed but heartbroken after giving Aiden up for adoption. However, when he is kidnapped, Claudia can no longer deny the bond that connects her to her son. Alone, she sets out to discover his whereabouts and her path crosses that of a stranger, who feels all too familiar.
After marrying an English lass in Gretna Green, Garrett Macdrummond returns to their room at the inn the next morning only to find her gone. Duty-bound to return to his clan in the Scottish Highlands, he counts the days until he can travel to England to find her. However, when he finally does discover her, he is shocked to realise that she does not remember him.
Determined to remind her of the fateful night they shared, Garrett refuses to leave her side, following her across England without knowing why.
We met Claudia in Oppressed & Empowered her brother Richard's story & I was intrigued about her story. Another well written page turning read with plenty of twists and turns as Claudia aided & abetted by Garrett search for their son. I particularly liked the way their relationship developed especially as Claudia slowly realised who Garrett was. I also love that characters from previous books tend to appear usually with teasers for their stories to come. I read into the night to finish this enthralling read.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Charron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dumb hero

The Hero was dumb, it was obvious she hadn’t remembered him but his pride and insecurity got in the way and he didn’t tell her the truth until about halfway through the book, letting her believe she was in love with a married man and she was the mistress. He could have saved a lot of trouble and angst, not to mention he wasn’t even there when she woke up the next day after they got married which also could have saved a lot of confusion. This was just filled with too many misunderstandings between the two to the point where I was too frustrated to enjoy the romance. By the time he revealed everything I still couldn’t enjoy it because they were so sappy. I pretty much did a lot of skimming because there were too many tangents when you just wanted to get to the action and find out what happened to the baby and to see her reunited with her family. I could care less about them as a couple by that point. I’ve really enjoyed other books in this series but this was just too sappy and coupled with the dumb, always teasing, nosey, and jealous H I just could not enjoy it.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Off The Believability Chart📈
The premise of this ADULT Historical Recency Romance💕 novel is so ridiculous that it is an unbelievable fantasy! 🏰🐎🌈🐉
I liked this book a lot in the beginning, except for The author's overuse of the dash or minus sign throughout the story. Reading with the Amazon text to speech autoreader, this was very apparent and annoying!

As the novel went on, I became so annoyed with the crazy trope of this story that I just couldn't finish it. I quit reading at about 40%. Both of the main characters needed to be slapped silly👋👋👋 for being so juvenile.

I've read several of Author Devlin's books📚 and found them Very enjoyable but this one went off the deep end of incredibility.

[Deanna Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love it!!!!

Omg! Such an excellent book I ever read! Soooooo good! I’m hooked from the start to the end...

Can’t wait to read more book series soon..

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anything you can imagine happening in a book happened in this book. It was so unbelievable.

Spoilers galore.

Claudia has a baby out of wedlock. But not really. She doesn’t recall marrying her son’s father because she was too drunk the night she exchanged vows with a Scot named Garrett, and forgot all about it. She’d actually run away to Gretna Green with another man, but ended up marrying Garrett instead. Her brother finds her and takes her home, where she discovers she is with child and is hidden away. She gives birth and gives the baby up, since she is unwed and her family wants to avoid a scandal.

Highwaymen attack the carriage that is transporting the baby elsewhere, and abscond with him. Claudia hears news of her missing child. She is determined to find her baby and sets off, alone, in the dark of night. Unbeknownst to her, she is being followed by none else than the Scottish husband she has forgotten. But he hasn’t forgotten her, and has spent the past YEAR searching for her. We find out that the baby was taken by Claudia’s cousin, who then kidnaps Claudia and forces her and the baby on a ship to the colonies, where the three of them can live happily ever after, together. (I spent so much time wondering how in the world this baby was being kept alive with no wet nurse to give him nourishment!) The ship is then attacked by pirates. Of course. (I do have to admit that I really enjoyed the pirate captain, Henri Duret. I wonder if he has a book…)

Garrett’s clan just happens to have a seer, who knew that he would need a ship to follow his wife and rescue her from the clutches of her cousin. A ship is ready and waiting for him to follow Claudia. How convenient. They reunite, proclaim their love, yada yada yada.

And then of course her family welcomes her (and Garrett and the baby) back with open arms as though she hadn’t run off to who-knows-where for who-knows-how-long, chuckling over her story of meeting and marrying Garrett. Because why not? Totally plausible that they’d just laugh everything off. They did shed a few tears, but I would have done a lot more than that!

I’ve had this book on my Kindle forever. And quite a few more by the same author. I decided to give it a chance because I’d read great things about the author and her books. I didn’t want to DNF, so, even though I was pretty bored and rolled my eyes quite a bit, stuck with it to the very end.

[Tiffany (Bluestocking) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been partial to highlander books and this was no exception. This story was so captivating. Not only was the plot incredible but the characters and their development was exquisite. I was a little doubtful about the plot initially, however, I thought the author did a great job of making it work.

Claudia was outspoken and very spirited which made her the perfect match for the rugged highlander, Garrett. After one reckless night in Gretna Green, basically the equivalent of a night in Vagas, Claudia can’t quite recall what exactly took place. I enjoyed going along for the ride as she tried to recover her precious cargo as well as her memory. The H & h’s chemistry was off the charts, so it was so sweet watching Claudia fall in love with Garrett all over again.

I must admit that the last 1/4 of the book dragged a bit however, I still really enjoyed reading this story. Will definitely be checking out this author again.


Favorite Quotes:

Having a child is like walking around for the rest of your life with your heart outside of your body.

“I came because every day that ye were gone, I felt as though half my soul was missing.”



Content: Clean with swoon worthy kisses 😘

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly emotional story, "Tamed & Unleashed: The Highlander's Vivacious Wife" by Bree Wolf offers a tale of failed impetuous elopement, alcohol memory loss, unwed motherhood, search for a vanished wife, hunt for a stolen baby, and a pirate rescue.

The amount of travel in the story keeps the action moving along. I think the emotional turmoil of the hero and heroine help to alleviate objection to some illogical decisions and actions for each of them. While some readers might consider a couple of events too contrived for reality, I easily accept the idea of creative license for such, and I believe clan alliances and family ties could be a significant presence and support in such adverse circumstances.

Although I wept more than I chuckled, I enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it to historical romance fans who gravitate to emotional, separated lovers stories with adventure and a bit of mystery.

[Madenna U · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did not read any of the other second chance novels, I liked this story. An marriage under unique circumstances where the principals don't know all the details. They meet up again months later, not quite realizing who they (on one side) or why they are desperately traveling north (on the other side). The couple learns to work together and trust, to find that maybe the marriage will work after all.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting!
Oh! To be fortunate enough to have a second chance at love with someone whose presence and existence really penetrated into one's heart sometime in the past!
This is the luck of Claudia and Garrett and what they do with this second chance is quite entertaining and makes this a very readable book.
Their adventure into 'love' is filled with the love of two people as they rediscover each other and chase after a kidnapper, meet up with a 'Privateer' and find their happily ever after.
I loved ever second of this story and am very sure you will too. Enjoy!
I read an Advance Reader's Copy of this story and my voluntary review above is unbiased.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5

[WyoGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotionally insightful; annoyingly full of myriad characters

This novel relies heavily on two lovers kept apart by a lack of communication for the first half of the story. They almost share the truth with each other, then don’t, then almost share, then don’t, etc. This builds tension to keep the pages turning, and the characters’ angst is described rather well and believably by the author.

What is not believably done is the plot, which relies on a vast cast of characters, who I’m guessing populate a slew of books in this fictional world, who miraculously show up in the nick-of-time. The protagonists’ friends and family members all seem to have romance-pairing backstories that the author summarizes briefly (with no spoiler alerts) in this novel. It’s ridiculous. Even the antagonist seems like a summed up character from another? story. This is annoying for readers who are new to this fictional world or who read so many other books that recalling the lives of the characters in this book isn’t likely, even with intrusive, brief info dumps. It’s like watching an online video with interrupting ads to clink on links related to products or people in the scene you’re viewing.

The book ends at the 93% point and then shifts to another book’s teaser prologue. If I loved the author’s work, maybe I wouldn’t be annoyed by this. However, much of this story glosses over huge chunks of time, skips over key scenes with brief narrative summaries, and then overlaps scenes when the POV shifts, which sometimes bogs down the momentum of the plot. This story relies on the protagonist being too drunk to remember her first encounter with the hero, which is not commendable for either of them. The setting details are frequently inadequate to be immersive. A huge plot hole is the lack of detail regarding how Aiden is fed during his misadventure. Also, the author puts a weapon in the hands of the protagonist, and it is never used, so why bother?

Although the writing is free of convention/grammar errors, I’m not compelled to read related books by this author.

The story is PG with some kissing, off-page drinking, brief threats of violence, mentions of bastards, kidnapping, a theme of surrendering a baby for adoption, and some mystic elements.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A forgotten night. A stolen child. And a stranger who feels all too familiar.
Waking up alone after a drunken night with a stranger in Gretna Green, CLAUDIA DAVENPORT, sister to Viscount Ashwood, finds herself still unmarried…and with child. In order to preserve her reputation, her brother sends her to a remote estate so she can give birth in secret and then return to society, unscathed…but heartbroken.
However, when her child is kidnapped, Claudia can no longer deny the bond that connects her to her son. Alone, she sets out to discover his whereabouts…and her path crosses that of a stranger, who feels all too familiar.
After marrying an English lass in Gretna Green, GARRETT MACDRUMMOND returns to their room at the inn the next morning only to find her gone. Duty-bound to return to his clan in the Scottish Highlands, he counts the days until he can travel to England to find her. However, when he finally does discover her, he is shocked to realise that she does not remember him.
Determined to remind him of the fateful night they shared, Garrett refuses to leave her side, following her across England without knowing why.
Will Claudia ever remember him? Will Garrett ever learn that he has a child? Will they recover their son or lose him without ever having had the chance to know him?

This is another absolutely excellent read by this wonderful author.
The story is so emotional and so well written.
I found myself moved to tears reading this one as I could just see it all happening in front of me.
I just love Claudia and her strength.
Amazing characters that you just fall in love with.
So much love you can feel coming off the pages.
Highly recommend reading.

[Martha B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actions can have consequences, and sometimes a happy ending.

What if you awoke in a strange Scottish inn, but you could only remember part of the night before. Such is what faced Claudia Davenport just before her brother Richard, Viscount Ashwood, found her and took her home. What happens next in Claudia's life is the engrossing plot of Tamed and Unleashed by Bree Wolf.

When I read Oppressed and Empowered (book #11) it became one of my all-time favorites. It also featured Claudia's brother Robert, and it contained the early portion of Claudia's bizarre experience. This dramatic book tells the rest of the story.

Bree Wolf is among my top five favorite authors. Her books are well written with a tight plot. Her characters are diverse in personalities and believable. Her books are also clean and free of sex and swearing. Lastly, her books stand alone and always have a happy ending.

That said, I must admit that this book was more difficult for me to love because of the reason for Claudia's sadness and extreme difficulties. I had a hard time getting through the first 40-50%. The heartbreaking circumstances and frustrations had me admonishing the characters and telling them what they should be doing, and what they should be saying to each other. Thankfully, they muddled through on their own, and all of the heartaches turned into a joyful ending.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, angst-filled and suspenseful, Tamed and Unleashed drew me in from the opening chapter and kept me up way beyond bedtime. Wild child Claudia goes one step too far in pushing against the boundaries of her class and ends up pregnant and alone. Whilst her family is protective of her, the pain and inner turmoil that Claudia experiences go far deeper than remorse and self-disgust for her actions. When her newborn son is kidnapped, Claudia discovers that she will do anything to get him back and never let him go again, even if it means being censured by her family and society. Going after him in the dead of night, Claudia finds she is not alone and the stranger she met on the dance floor is dogging her as she pursues her quest. Following the trail of breadcrumbs, Claudia and Garret (the man who haunts her dreams) make surprising discoveries, realising that they each only had half the puzzle. When they catch up with their quarry, they are devastated when they are once again thwarted, but rescue and justice come from a very surprising source. Both main characters enchanted me and I especially loved Garrett's total acceptance of Claudia and willingness to follow her to the ends of the earth, if that is what it took to get her back again. The story isn't wildly romantic but tender, bringing healing and restoration to Claudia's batter soul. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my most favorite of Bree's novels. I absolutely loved it. I was hoping to see how things worked out for Claudia after reading about her in Bree's last novel, Oppressed and Empowered.

Claudia Davenport elopes to Gretna Green only to have her bridegroom whisked away by his brother before the marriage can be performed. Heartbroken and alone, Claudia drowns her sorrows in ale and the company of a stranger. Waking up the next day alone again and not sure what happened, Claudia is confused. Then her brother Richard finds her and takes her back home.

This book finds Claudia on a mission to find her kidnapped son with the help of yet another stranger simply because he will not let her traipes about London alone at night. Who is this strange gentleman, for he acts the gentleman with Claudia? Will Claudia find her son? Who is the nefarious person who took him?

Full of action and romance, Tamed and Unleashed is absolutely one of Bree's best, hands down. The writing is superb and the characters have depth and are likable. Well most of the characters. This is a wonderful, clean, historical romance you are sure to love, too. Pick up a copy and Enjoy!

I received a review copy of this book from the author, Bree Wolf; all opinions in my review are my own.

[Ruby Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and exciting.

I could not put this book down. I was so intrigued with the characters and how they interacted with each other. The mystery of why Claudia couldn't remember who Garrett was and that she had indeed married him the night before her brother came to Gretna Green to take her home to England was interesting. That it took so long for her to remember that she was a wife and that her son was not illegitimate. To realize that you could have your son by your side and no one could ostracized him from society must have been a great relief to Claudia. Then for Garrett to find out that he was a father after almost a year of searching for his wife must have been mind blowing.

Again Bree Wolf has given us a marvelous story to get lost in with our hearts and minds focused on someone and some place that takes us away from our everyday lives and to be able to lose ourselves in a world that does not revolve around our problems but around someone else's problems and their solutions.

Thank you so much Bree Wolf.

Thanks,
Ruby Hanson

[Cheryl Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claudi wakes up in Gretna Green her head a little fuzzy she recalls eloping with William only to have his older brother show up stopping the wedding and leaving Claudia behind on her own. She knows somebody slept in her bed last night, the proof was on her sheets. Her brother brings her home then discovers a baby is on the way, all while she still doesn't know who the father is, she has memories but she is not certain if they are real when her time comes she is sent to the country. Her babe arrives but is kidnapped. We then find Claudia trying to find her son while a man tries to puzzle why his wife doesn't seem to know him, Garret didn't know about his son but he knew Claudia was his, she had disappeared the morning after they had married. Bree Wolf has done it again another love story that is so much more,
her style is deeper than most so the story is always great.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow. Just when you think this series can’t get any better along comes one that blows them all out of the water. All these stories are unique, you never feel you are reading the same story with different people.

This one was truly brilliant. A love so strong that absolutely nothing could stand in their way to be together. This will have you aching for Claudia and the decision she had to make because of the time period they lived in. How she slipped into a deep depression that saw no light until the day things got worse. The son she had given up has been stolen without a trace but she will not rest until he is found. Along the way she finds an ally in a Scotsman.

That’s all I’m prepared to say because I do not want to give anything away. You just need to prepared to put a few hours aside to read it because once you start you will not want to put it down. Amazing!

I received this as an arc and I am giving my honest review voluntarily

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adventure wrapped in the regency romance setting, “Tamed and Unleashed” stands out among most historical romance, because the heroine and hero are married at the start of the book but must find love and face down a kidnapper as they journey across England.

Read full review in the 2019 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this series in the middle, so hopefully, I won't mix up occurrences in other books. If you see something puzzling, just read the rest of the books in the series, and please accept my apologies for any goofs. I'm reading this one as if it were the last of the series (It's a gift...😂).
A year ago, Moira, the seer, had asked a favor from the laird, Cormag: Send Garrett to Gretna Green. Something would happen and he would know when to send Garrett. Upon being pressed, she revealed Garrett would meet the woman with whom he would spend the rest of his life, his soulmate, his other half, but there was a narrow window for him to do so, and that in a bit less than a year, she would bear Garrett a son. Cormag decided to tell him only that he was supposed to go there to meet his soulmate, but opted to say nothing about a child.
Garrett, Finn (recently married to Emma), and Ian were dispatched to find 2 teens who'd eloped to Gretna Green, a marriage mecca on the border with England. They were from 2 feuding families, and their marriage had the potential to make things worse between the near-warring families. Garrett goes to the tavern and sure enough, meets his one true love. They marry, have their wedding night, and Garrett - not wanting to disturb Claudia, needing to see his friend - wakens and goes. believing ⅘he'll be back soon for her. But he isn't there when Claudia awakens, to a pounding headache, an aching body, the discovery that she's lost her virginity, and having no idea how all this happens. She can't recall the wedding night or the marriage. While she tries to pull herself together and dress, her brother - who heard his sister had eloped, that the man's brother had stopped them before the wedding, and that she had refused to get in their carriage and leave - arrives and takes his befuddled sister home before Garrett gets back. The innkeeper lets Garrett know what happened to Claudia, so he knows she's safe, but he has to assist in the negotiations between the feuding families and it takes a long time to get them to agree to terms to stop their feud, and to let their kids marry - even though they married in Gretna Green.
Finally, Garrett is free to look for Claudia. Maggie's father, Lord Tynam, has allowed Garrett to stay at his manor while he looks for Claudia. His host takes Garrett to countless balls before he finally sees her, and his host insists he dance with his host's wife first, then approach Claudia after a few other dances. Claudia agrees to dance with him, but there is no recognition in her face.
In the interim, between waking up befuddled and meeting Garrett and not recognizing him, Claudia discovers she is pregnant. To keep this a secret, she is locked in at home, and towards the end of her pregnancy, taken to a remote manor home in the middle of nowhere, both times with few servants and only trusted ones, and forced to give her child up for adoption. Garrett had seen her at the ball when she was a few days postpartum. Then the carriage taking her son, whom she finally named Aidan, to his new home, is beset by highwaymen who kidnap the baby. There is no ransom note nor notice in the papers, and the men investigating can't seem to turn up anything.
Garrett has been watching Claudia's house constantly. She did go out to a seedy part of town to interview the young nurse and is able to get some information from her that the investigators couldn't get. She goes home, waits until everyone's asleep, and sneaks out of the house, in her riding habit, taking along a few clothes changes and some money- and the ever vigilant Garrett sees her and follows her. He saves her from a few drunken bar patrons who interrupt a fight to try and have their way with her. He insists on traveling with her and won't stop following her. At evey inn, starting with the first one she came to, when she asks alone, the barkeep tells her a man with a baby, traveling alone, stayed overnight and left, heading north. Meanwhile, Garrett makes sure she eats and rests, and does his best to jog her memory and recognize him. He thinks she is chasing a grown man named Aidan, and she won't tell him otherwise because she still doesn't recognize him as her husband and the father 5of her baby.
Meanwhile, Moira argues passionately for Cormag to send a boat to Port Glasgow, and soon, because Garrett will need a boat in 2 days, and she asks for Finn and Ian to go along. Finn knows their allies, the MacKinnears, well, and so he approaches them.
But why will Garrett need a boat? And why those 2 men? Will Claudia remember Garrett? And who has Aidan? And why are they leaving hints only for a woman? What about the risk of French privateers if they go to sea, since England and France are once again at war? Will Garrett ever find Claudia and Aidan? What about Claudia's family in England? They're worried, more than likely. Will they ever see Claudia again?

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly a year ago, Claudia woke up hung over and alone in a Gretna Green inn with gaps in her memory and with child. Her brother, VIscount Ashwood, makes arrangements so that she can keep her pregnancy a secret so that she may later return to society and the child can be raised without the stigma of being a bastard. Claudia is devestated to have to give up her baby, but she wants to him to have the future possible. But when the carriage meant to carry her baby to his new family is ambushed by highwaymen and her son kidnapped, she can't sit by waiting for news. So she sets out on her own to track down any clue to lead her to her son.

When Garrett returned to his room in Gretna Green he found it empty. After asking the innkeeper, he discovers that his wife has been brought home by her brother. Knowing that she'll be safe with her family and duty dictating that he return to his clan in Scottish Highlands, he is delayed in following after her. When he is able to travel after her to England he does not find her, but he waits in hopes she'll return for the end of the London season. Months later their paths cross again, but Garrett is shocked to discover that she seems to have no recollection of their shared night together or of Garrett himself. Garrett is determined to do what he must tohelp her remember and so he follows after her, despite her protests and confusion.
___________________________

I loved this book. This has, hands down, been my favorite from the series. I'd been curious as to how Claudia's story would turn out and the wait was worth it.

Quite honestly I didn't care for Claudia when reading about her in book 11, Oppressed & Empowered. But I really fell in love with her character over the course of this book. She was faced with some tough situations and decisions in this book. Instead of wallowing in her misery, whining about her circumstances, and displacing blame for her misfortunes onto those around her (as we saw her do in Oppressed & Empowered), she really comes into her own. She's taking responsibility for her own actions and taking the control of her future into her own hands. She's basically a completly different character in this book, her character growth was so encompassing and I absolutely loved her for it. She grew so much and I truly respected her.

I truly adored the dynamic of Garrett and Claudia together. They balanced each other so nicely, a beautiful balance of gentle and fierce in each of their characters.

I will admit that the misunderstanding between the two of them stretched a bit long and could have benefitted from them being honest with each other a little sooner. But I also completely understand their reasonings here for not sharing sooner, both of their reasonings were sound and were taking someone other than themselves into account, which I respect far more than a character not being honest simply out of fear.

There's a mystery in this book and I am here for it. Bree Wolf pulled it off beautifully. The were some genuinely surprising twists and turns along the way and I couldn't stop reading. I definitely recommend this book.

Although this book could serve as a standalone, I would recommend reading Oppressed & Empowered first so that you can experience all of Claudia's character growth. I highly recommend this book, Claudia and Garrett are great together and this book is so beautifully written.

I recieved an electronic copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. Many thanks to Bree Wolf.

[Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a child is like walking around for the rest of your life with your heart outside of your body.

This is a clean, sweet, love at first sight novel that I absolutely loved. I usually like some spice in my stories, but this one was so good, the characters were so strong and likable, I didn't miss it.

Garrett and Claudia married on the spur of the moment at Gretna Green. She was actually there to marry another man who backed out. Garrett knew she was the one for him and snatched her up, shared a night with her, then she was gone with no explanation.

Meanwhile, Claudia discovers she is pregnant and goes into hiding until the baby is born. Thinking the child is a bastard and that she can't give him the sort of life he deserves, she gives him away. It doesn't take her long to figure out it was a huge mistake and she wants him back.

What she isn't expecting is this handsome Scots to trail her, befriend her, and help her. She thinks he's annoying sometimes and can't understand why he insists on helping her when he has no interest in her or the child, but he stays with her, even though it's disconcerting at the very least when he hears about Aiden. She doesn't know who Garrett is and isn't compelled to tell him that Aiden is a baby.

Secrets are revealed in a rush of frustration that left both of them stunned, but once they are united, nothing can stop them. There's so much at stake if things didn't go right.

I loved Garrett and Claudia. I loved the chemistry between them and the way they worked together for a common goal. The adventure in the story was great and there were some times when I wasn't sure how they were going to get this together. The odds were against them at times. I cheered for them more than once.

One thing I really liked was the way Garrett's Scottish brogue was written. It was done so well and left no question of his heritage. Sometimes these Scots don't have a brogue in books and it just adds some zing to the story when they do.

But something that plagued my mind while I read this was who was feeding the baby? Never at any time did anyone feed that child, yet one of Garrett's friends said, "He's a braw lad." Thankfully, he was, but it was by miracle. When Claudia was looking for him, she was looking for a lone man with an infant. There was no wet nurse or bottles or formula. How was he feeding the baby? How did Claudia feed him? It's probably not that important and it didn't take anything away from the story. It was just something that made me wonder.

This is an easy five-star read and I've already started the next book in the series.

[Charlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to LOVE this book, but it was so, so hard. But I couldn’t. At least half of the book is spent with Claudia determinedly refusing to divulge any information to Garrett about the mission she is on. It was the same conversation every morning, afternoon, or night, just a different inn. This story had so much potential and it fell so flat.

The plot is fairly linear: Garrett seeks out his now-year-long missing wife, Claudia, in London. For months he can’t find her, which is highly unusual. No one knows where she is, and everyone is wondering. She finally appears and doesn’t even recognize him. He follows her. Watches her. How is he going to get his wife back? One night, she sneaks out, moving across to the unsavory part of town. He winds up saving her from a bad situation and continues on the journey with her, not knowing what Claudia is even seeking: their son. All he has is a name she anguishes over in her sleep, which he presumes is another man, her love.

The plot for the kidnapping did throw me for a loop. I figured out who it was, but all the other details of how he was able to do all the things he did escaped me. I was highly skeptical of the book because how can a man care of a days-old baby while on the run? Constantly, every time Claudia would inquire somewhere, I kept thinking of the baby. If a man only was traveling with a baby, confirmed multiple times, who was keeping it alive?! … And then later, when Claudia is on the ship, it was again unclear how the baby was fed without a wet nurse.

I found it interesting that Claudia doesn’t give one thought whatsoever to her family that she absconds from in the middle of the night. Not until the end.

I also started getting anxious in the last portion of the book when Claudia is on the ship and then winds up on another ship. How will Garrett ever find her with an exchange like that? But she is convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the will come for her.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

SETTING: Gretna Green, Scotland, Summer 1808 (or a variation thereof)

Claudia Davenport, adventurous younger sister of Viscount Ashwood (Richard Davenport), finds herself with a hangover in an inn in Gretna Green, and with scant memory of what happened after her intended left Scotland with his brother. Some vague memory of a man whispering sweet words to her come to her in dreams, the voice of the man who turns out to be the father of her unborn child!
Facing life as an unwed mother in 1808 London society was a grim prospect; thus her family arranged for the child to be placed in another family to be raised, as difficult as it was to give up the child. Unbeknownst to Claudia & her family, enroute to his new home, the Babe is kidnapped! Claudia, recovering from childbirth, is taken back to London from the country estate where she had given birth. The plan is to slip back into society.
What about the father of the child? Why did he leave Claudia alone, without any indication of who he was, where he went, or if she would ever see him again? Claudia finds herself entangled in an adventure that takes many twists and turns, before she is rescued by the man off her dreams.
CRITIQUE: A well-written book that from the beginning poses a mystery that entices the reader to become invested in the story. Claudia’s situation is presented in a manner that is realistic, drawing the reader’s sympathy. I enjoyed how Ms. Wolf solved the mystery, taking us right along with Claudia. It was another page-turning all-nighter to finish the book for me!
I received an early copy of this book. My review is voluntary. I have no financial relationship with either the publisher or the author.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desperation and fate collide to reveal soul-deep longing and love!!

I have been enjoying dipping in and out of this series, especially those connected to Clan MacDrummond - having first met and become intrigued by the lovable Garrett in both Finn & Emma's story then again in Cormag & Moira's tale - I have been chomping at the bit to find out what really happen in Gretna Green after Garrett's wife, Claudia's, disappearance. And frankly my anticipation was rewarded: Tamed & Unleashed kept me absorbed and wallowing in it's charms from start to finish.
Love lost, an over protective brother, heartache, kidnap, revenge, a smooth talking French Privateer and a heart pounding race North to Scotland really held me glued in suspense as the desperation and yearning connection between the pair compelled me to read faster, fight frustration and remain steadfast as their journey unravelled and my interest rose with each passing chapter.
Claudia is an amazing force; feisty, resourceful and determined, so when delightfully combined with Garrett's stubborn drive and desperate bid to reconnect and protect her against all the odds, makes the tension and connection between the pair positively jump off the page.
A fun read, that's full of suspense, tension, touching intimacy and two hearts satisfyingly fighting against hopelessness, heartache and the torment of uncertainty to find each other again and strive to attain their happy ever after!!

Well worth the time!! The people of Clan MacDrummond and Seann Dachaigh Tower have really wheedled a place in my heart; I can't wait to see what fate has in store for bighearted yet sadly regretful Maggie. The next book is already on preorder; can hardly wait!!

[Ashley Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking up into his eyes, Claudia could have groaned at the desire and devotion she saw there. Her heart ached, and she wanted nothing more than to be in his arms. “What was it that you said to me?” She whispered. “Outside when you took the horses.” “Mo chridhe?”
Claudia nodded. “I kept hearing it in my dreams, but never knew what it meant.”
A soft smile touched his lips, and he drew her into his arms, his green eyes never leaving hers. “lt means ‘my heart’. “
•
Tamed and Unleashed by Bree Wolf is another wonderful story of love in her Love Second Chances series. I have really enjoyed following along in this series as each character follows a story into someone else’s future story or past story you have read. I love that they are all linked! I especially loved this novel because of the undying love and devotion between Claudia and Garrett. They were torn apart unintentionally and she lost all remembrance of their time together. Until he finds her and comes upon her does that flicker of some hope show. I could FEEL the depth of their emotions for each other and her scene of recognition was breathtaking. I love that she was not always the most sought after character but ended with her own happy ending.
Wolf is an incredible author of great plot, but more than anything she is so good at capturing emotion and creating such a good backdrop for the characters to grow. Another favorite by her!!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very emotionally moving story for our heroine Claudia Davenport. A failed elopement, wakes up alone in a strange room at a inn in Gretna Green, can't remember anything from the night before but there is evidence she had s€x. Her brother, Viscount Ashwood finds her that morning and takes her back home. A confused Garrett MacDrummond of Clan MacDrummond finds an empty room with no note or message left from Claudia. Mystery ensues. The story covers what happens in both their lives over the next year. When the new season starts Garrett is in London staying with an English relative. He has been trying to find Claudia for months but she disappeared and no one knows where she is. But he perseveres going to any and each event looking for her. Finally, she shows up and Garrett is overcome with emotion. She acts as though he does not exist. Like she has never seen him before. He does not know what to do. But what happens next is the beginning of the most terrifying, dangerous, frustrating days and nights that Claudia and Garrett ever experience. A challenging read. Well worth the time and I do recommend it. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danielle Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean regency. Fun story

So I won’t go on about how great this book is. If you’ve read Bree wolf’s stories you will already know she weaves a great story and packs a lot of punch in the books.

That being said I’ve read so many and patterns form.

This was a bit too long. A lot of repetitive emotions and feelings reiterates a bit too many times. I get tired of reading the same basic thoughts of the characters over and over with slight variations. I start skipping paragraphs when characters thoughts are hashed through so much to make them make stupid decisions.

In this story the Hero really needed to tell her they were married at least 1 section earlier if not more. It was just too ridiculous that he wouldn’t tell her, especially when he told her to be quiet and let him talk, then he got angry and didn’t tell her. Very annoying and stupid.

Be wild is a great writer, her writing is natural and flows smoothly. She hours emotions well and weaves in some great stories and connects them throughout the series. Loved how we see the French privateer again here.

I would just say she needs to not rehash too much. Take out a bit of the excessive filler thoughts.

😃