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The Survivors #8
The Highlander's Excellent Adventure
Just because they've run away...
Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had traveled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Or perhaps a big, strapping Highlander makes matters better? Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she's run away. But things haven't gone well. She's been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old family friend shows up to save her, she doesn't exactly welcome his help.
Doesn't mean they don't want to be found.
Duncan Murray doesn't know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue and Stratford's opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash's estate, and that's when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn't deserve her. This excellent adventure might bring the couples together, but only if they manage to elude gun shots, a murderous brother-in-law, a vicious dog, and outlaws.
Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had traveled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Or perhaps a big, strapping Highlander makes matters better? Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she's run away. But things haven't gone well. She's been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old family friend shows up to save her, she doesn't exactly welcome his help.
Doesn't mean they don't want to be found.
Duncan Murray doesn't know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue and Stratford's opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash's estate, and that's when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn't deserve her. This excellent adventure might bring the couples together, but only if they manage to elude gun shots, a murderous brother-in-law, a vicious dog, and outlaws.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2020
About the author
Shana Galen
111 books1,588 followersShana Galen is three-time Rita award nominee and the bestselling author of fast-paced, witty, and adventurous Regency romances. Kirkus says of her books, "The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun," and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching." She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.
Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews
Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 13, 2021
OKAYYYY Y'ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE SHANA GALEN. SHE'S A BOOK POPPING FACTORY I SWEAR SHE WRITES SO FAST LOLLL. I LOVED THIS BOOK! IT WAS FUN, THE CHARACTERS WERE FUN! I FUCKING LOVE THAT WE GOT A TWO IN ONNEEEE. THIS IS THE SUPPORT QUEEN SHANA GALEN CLUB
Oh my GOAAADDDKSJDHFKSJDFKJSHDKJF
THIS BLURB SOUNDS SO SO FUN!!! WE GET TWO ROMANCES IN ONE?? THESE ARE LITERALLY MY FAVORITE TYPE OF BOOKS BECAUSE MY THIRST IS QUENCHED... TWICE
IM SO EXCITEDFWKJDFKSJHD SHANA GALEN IS MY FAVORITE AUTHOR SHIT
Oh my GOAAADDDKSJDHFKSJDFKJSHDKJF
THIS BLURB SOUNDS SO SO FUN!!! WE GET TWO ROMANCES IN ONE?? THESE ARE LITERALLY MY FAVORITE TYPE OF BOOKS BECAUSE MY THIRST IS QUENCHED... TWICE
IM SO EXCITEDFWKJDFKSJHD SHANA GALEN IS MY FAVORITE AUTHOR SHIT
September 1, 2020
The Highlander's Excellent Adventure
Survivors Series #8
Shana Galen
https://www.facebook.com/ShanaGalen/
Release date 09/08/2020
Blurb
Just because they’ve run away…
Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had traveled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Or perhaps a big, strapping Highlander makes matters better? Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she’s run away. But things haven’t gone well. She’s been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old family friend shows up to save her, she doesn’t exactly welcome his help.
Doesn’t mean they don’t want to be found.
Duncan Murray doesn’t know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue, and Stratford’s opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash’s estate, and that’s when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn’t deserve her. This excellent adventure might bring the couples together, but only if they manage to elude gun shots, a murderous brother-in-law, a vicious dog, and outlaws.
My review
When embarking in a trip with two runaway misses, will it break havoc in the two men’s life following them ...
Just a few days ago I read an other tale with two romances going in, and one had more spotlights than the other.
But here, what a quarter we have, each party has its particulars, I loved each of them from thoughtful Stratford, outspoken Emmeline, bold Ines and impulsive Duncan.
Their journey together is one of revealings as they come to term with some of their past issues then to accept their growing feelings for one another.
With this four voices tale Mrs Galen keeps us on edge as she has fun playing a divine devil by switching points of view at the worst possible moments.
I loved all of them.
Ines is so full of fire, longing for adventures and ready to accept a broken heart if it is what await her at the end of the road, she would be grieving her first love but she would have lived for once.
Duncan runs into danger as if his life has no value, because sadly he believes so. He is so persuaded to be a disappointment to his family he can’t go against his mother’s last edict. Even when he has found in Ines everything he never thought he would in a woman, she is not whom his mother requested. So will he fight for her or let her go.
Emmeline has never been able to be the obedient miss her mother demanded, she wants to be seen for herself and accepted as such. She is no demure sylph girl, she is all curves and insights. So enough is enough, she won’t endure one more season to find a husband that does not exist. Thus her running away, ill prepared but still her own decision.
Stratford is probably the more damaged of this foursome. He tried his whole life to win his parents’ acceptance if not respect but nothing is good enough for them to truly acknowledge him. Thus him feeling unworthy of everyone’s affection and keeping secret his infatuation for Emmeline.
Mrs Galen once more demonstrates her talent at bringing together unusual and broken characters. What an escapade this trip is, filled with discovery of themselves and their inner strength. While the men demonstrate their bravery, the women are no misses in distress, showing a core of steel.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Survivors Series #8
Shana Galen
https://www.facebook.com/ShanaGalen/
Release date 09/08/2020
Blurb
Just because they’ve run away…
Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had traveled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Or perhaps a big, strapping Highlander makes matters better? Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she’s run away. But things haven’t gone well. She’s been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old family friend shows up to save her, she doesn’t exactly welcome his help.
Doesn’t mean they don’t want to be found.
Duncan Murray doesn’t know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue, and Stratford’s opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash’s estate, and that’s when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn’t deserve her. This excellent adventure might bring the couples together, but only if they manage to elude gun shots, a murderous brother-in-law, a vicious dog, and outlaws.
My review
When embarking in a trip with two runaway misses, will it break havoc in the two men’s life following them ...
Just a few days ago I read an other tale with two romances going in, and one had more spotlights than the other.
But here, what a quarter we have, each party has its particulars, I loved each of them from thoughtful Stratford, outspoken Emmeline, bold Ines and impulsive Duncan.
Their journey together is one of revealings as they come to term with some of their past issues then to accept their growing feelings for one another.
With this four voices tale Mrs Galen keeps us on edge as she has fun playing a divine devil by switching points of view at the worst possible moments.
I loved all of them.
Ines is so full of fire, longing for adventures and ready to accept a broken heart if it is what await her at the end of the road, she would be grieving her first love but she would have lived for once.
Duncan runs into danger as if his life has no value, because sadly he believes so. He is so persuaded to be a disappointment to his family he can’t go against his mother’s last edict. Even when he has found in Ines everything he never thought he would in a woman, she is not whom his mother requested. So will he fight for her or let her go.
Emmeline has never been able to be the obedient miss her mother demanded, she wants to be seen for herself and accepted as such. She is no demure sylph girl, she is all curves and insights. So enough is enough, she won’t endure one more season to find a husband that does not exist. Thus her running away, ill prepared but still her own decision.
Stratford is probably the more damaged of this foursome. He tried his whole life to win his parents’ acceptance if not respect but nothing is good enough for them to truly acknowledge him. Thus him feeling unworthy of everyone’s affection and keeping secret his infatuation for Emmeline.
Mrs Galen once more demonstrates her talent at bringing together unusual and broken characters. What an escapade this trip is, filled with discovery of themselves and their inner strength. While the men demonstrate their bravery, the women are no misses in distress, showing a core of steel.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
August 29, 2020
Series: The Survivors #8
Publication Date: 9/8/20
Number of Pages: 325
OMGoodness – what a fun romp this was! I loved the characters. I loved the storyline. I LOVED that we got two great romances and two great HEA’s in one book. What isn’t to love? It is fast-paced, well-written, and well-plotted. I think it is one of my favorites of the Survivors series. One of my favorite parts is that the story is told by all four of the main characters. You get each person’s individual perspective. Nice way to do that.
We met Ines Neves in The Claiming of the Shrew when her sister Catarina found her HEA with Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven. Catarina is now trying to pair Ines up with men that Ines finds totally unacceptable. I have to say this part surprises me because I thought Catarina, given her history, would be very understanding about that sort of thing and would let Ines set her own pace and make her own choices. But then, I guess we wouldn’t have a story if she did that.
Catarina is encouraging a match between Ines and Mr. Podmore. Ines finds the man an utter bore and takes every opportunity to avoid him. When she discovers that Mr. Podmore is due for a visit, she decides to do all she can to avoid him. Sneaking outside, she intends to hide until he gives up and leaves – and what better place to hide than in his coach. She’ll just sneak out of the coach once he gives up waiting for her – no harm, no foul – right? Except, it isn’t his coach – and she falls asleep – and she is well out of town before she realizes she’s run away without meaning to do so. OH! My! Goodness!
Duncan Murray, a Scotsman, a war hero, a survivor from Draven’s expendable troop, is in London to find an English wife. He doesn’t want an English wife, but his mother, Lady Charlotte, has ordered him to find one – and he owes it to her to do as she asks. However, his trip has been unsuccessful because all of the English women run at the sight of a huge Highlander. Now, he’s headed back to the highlands to let her know he’s failed. When he is well outside London, he finds a stowaway inside his carriage – and she doesn’t speak English. What is he to do with her? OH! My! Goodness!
Emmeline Wellesley, the oldest of five siblings, has suffered through one too many seasons and she’s just tired of it. She’s brash, outspoken, intelligent, adventurous, Rubenesque, and men just don’t seem to want that in a potential bride. Well, no problem – she has a solution. She’ll take the coach from the posting house and go to her paternal grandmother who lives in the far north of England. OH! My! Goodness!
Stratford Fortesque, a war hero, a survivor from Draven’s expendable troop, is always on the outside looking in when it comes to his family. He has long admired the brash and bold Emmeline Wellesley, daughter of his mother’s best friend, but he knows a match would never meet with family approval. When he learns from Emmeline’s sister that Emmeline has run away, he doesn’t think twice, he just takes off after her. OH! My! Goodness!
You’ll laugh with them. You’ll cry with them. You’ll even sigh with them. Most of all, you’ll be thoroughly entertained by their adventures as they wend their way across England and into the Highlands of Scotland and their HEA’s. It is a delightful read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Note – there is an appearance by Nash – another survivor – and I hope we see his story soon because he really, really, really needs one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 9/8/20
Number of Pages: 325
OMGoodness – what a fun romp this was! I loved the characters. I loved the storyline. I LOVED that we got two great romances and two great HEA’s in one book. What isn’t to love? It is fast-paced, well-written, and well-plotted. I think it is one of my favorites of the Survivors series. One of my favorite parts is that the story is told by all four of the main characters. You get each person’s individual perspective. Nice way to do that.
We met Ines Neves in The Claiming of the Shrew when her sister Catarina found her HEA with Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven. Catarina is now trying to pair Ines up with men that Ines finds totally unacceptable. I have to say this part surprises me because I thought Catarina, given her history, would be very understanding about that sort of thing and would let Ines set her own pace and make her own choices. But then, I guess we wouldn’t have a story if she did that.
Catarina is encouraging a match between Ines and Mr. Podmore. Ines finds the man an utter bore and takes every opportunity to avoid him. When she discovers that Mr. Podmore is due for a visit, she decides to do all she can to avoid him. Sneaking outside, she intends to hide until he gives up and leaves – and what better place to hide than in his coach. She’ll just sneak out of the coach once he gives up waiting for her – no harm, no foul – right? Except, it isn’t his coach – and she falls asleep – and she is well out of town before she realizes she’s run away without meaning to do so. OH! My! Goodness!
Duncan Murray, a Scotsman, a war hero, a survivor from Draven’s expendable troop, is in London to find an English wife. He doesn’t want an English wife, but his mother, Lady Charlotte, has ordered him to find one – and he owes it to her to do as she asks. However, his trip has been unsuccessful because all of the English women run at the sight of a huge Highlander. Now, he’s headed back to the highlands to let her know he’s failed. When he is well outside London, he finds a stowaway inside his carriage – and she doesn’t speak English. What is he to do with her? OH! My! Goodness!
Emmeline Wellesley, the oldest of five siblings, has suffered through one too many seasons and she’s just tired of it. She’s brash, outspoken, intelligent, adventurous, Rubenesque, and men just don’t seem to want that in a potential bride. Well, no problem – she has a solution. She’ll take the coach from the posting house and go to her paternal grandmother who lives in the far north of England. OH! My! Goodness!
Stratford Fortesque, a war hero, a survivor from Draven’s expendable troop, is always on the outside looking in when it comes to his family. He has long admired the brash and bold Emmeline Wellesley, daughter of his mother’s best friend, but he knows a match would never meet with family approval. When he learns from Emmeline’s sister that Emmeline has run away, he doesn’t think twice, he just takes off after her. OH! My! Goodness!
You’ll laugh with them. You’ll cry with them. You’ll even sigh with them. Most of all, you’ll be thoroughly entertained by their adventures as they wend their way across England and into the Highlands of Scotland and their HEA’s. It is a delightful read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Note – there is an appearance by Nash – another survivor – and I hope we see his story soon because he really, really, really needs one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 11, 2022
two for one historical romance
July 29, 2020
Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have run away. Ines didn’t mean to; she was merely hiding in a carriage to avoid an unwelcome suitor, only to realize much too late that she’d traveled well north, not just around London. The carriage she chose to hide in just so happens to be that of Duncan Murray, a former soldier who served under her brother-in-law, and whom she’s desperately attracted to. Emmeline ran away on purpose. She’s sick of trying to please her mother and after four failed seasons, she’s had enough and is making her way north to her grandmother in Cumbria. From the start Emmeline has problems, finding herself locked in a closet with all her money stolen. To top it all off, undeniably attractive family friend Stratford Fortescue has come to fetch her home and she’s determined not to go.
Duncan Murray has failed at finding an English bride as his mother demanded and is returning to his native Scotland. He doesn’t know what to make of his stowaway, especially given that she seems to only speak Portuguese. He detours to the estate of his fellow former soldier, Nash Pope, in the hopes that he can translate. In route, Duncan meets up with his friend Stratford Fortescue, another former soldier, and his charge, Miss Wellesley. Things become complicated when the women refuse to be separated and the foursome winds up traveling to Scotland together. Duncan begins to return Ines’ affection even knowing he can’t marry her. Stratford has always wanted to be with Emmeline, but believes she’d never want him if she knew the truth about him. As they journey north, dealing with gunshot wounds, bandits, and an angry brother-in-law in hot pursuit, their relationships grow ever stronger, though maybe not enough to overcome the obstacles they face.
I was a bit nervous about this book when I learned it featured two couples. I was concerned I might feel like one of the couples got short-changed and it would leave me feeling unsatisfied. I’m happy to say this was not at all the case. I loved both of these couples and all four main characters were well-developed and distinctive enough that I was never confused or mixing them up. Each was charming in his or her own way and got pretty equal page-time. I’m hard-pressed to name a preference between the couples as I enjoyed the progression of both relationships. Duncan was gruff, but sweet and Ines’ boldness and decisiveness in what she wanted made them a lovely couple together. Stratford’s self-doubt and desire for love just made me want to give him a hug and I loved it once Emmeline opened her eyes to him.
This was a fun, adventurous romp and it was a joy to read. I was rooting for both couples and, despite all the shenanigans they encountered, I never grew frustrated. I didn’t want to put this down when I had to do other things and that’s been a rare occurrence for me as of late. I’ve been looking forward to this story for a while and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint. Now I can’t wait for the next book in the series and I’m hoping for a Beauty and the beast retelling for Nash.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Duncan Murray has failed at finding an English bride as his mother demanded and is returning to his native Scotland. He doesn’t know what to make of his stowaway, especially given that she seems to only speak Portuguese. He detours to the estate of his fellow former soldier, Nash Pope, in the hopes that he can translate. In route, Duncan meets up with his friend Stratford Fortescue, another former soldier, and his charge, Miss Wellesley. Things become complicated when the women refuse to be separated and the foursome winds up traveling to Scotland together. Duncan begins to return Ines’ affection even knowing he can’t marry her. Stratford has always wanted to be with Emmeline, but believes she’d never want him if she knew the truth about him. As they journey north, dealing with gunshot wounds, bandits, and an angry brother-in-law in hot pursuit, their relationships grow ever stronger, though maybe not enough to overcome the obstacles they face.
I was a bit nervous about this book when I learned it featured two couples. I was concerned I might feel like one of the couples got short-changed and it would leave me feeling unsatisfied. I’m happy to say this was not at all the case. I loved both of these couples and all four main characters were well-developed and distinctive enough that I was never confused or mixing them up. Each was charming in his or her own way and got pretty equal page-time. I’m hard-pressed to name a preference between the couples as I enjoyed the progression of both relationships. Duncan was gruff, but sweet and Ines’ boldness and decisiveness in what she wanted made them a lovely couple together. Stratford’s self-doubt and desire for love just made me want to give him a hug and I loved it once Emmeline opened her eyes to him.
This was a fun, adventurous romp and it was a joy to read. I was rooting for both couples and, despite all the shenanigans they encountered, I never grew frustrated. I didn’t want to put this down when I had to do other things and that’s been a rare occurrence for me as of late. I’ve been looking forward to this story for a while and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint. Now I can’t wait for the next book in the series and I’m hoping for a Beauty and the beast retelling for Nash.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 26, 2022
3.5* This was a 2-fer from one of my favorite authors & favorite series. I really HATE to lower the rating for this book as it should have be a 5* but I had to more than barely ding it for a mistake Duncan pulled. Well get to that in a minute because once I start on him it may be awhile...
Anyhoo... in this book you got two girls running away from the life their families have planned out for them.
The 1st romance was Ines & Duncan. I really liked this couple. it's funny in places because she makes him think she doesn't speak English so he won't take her back to London after she hides out in his carriage.
The 2nd romance is Stratford & Wellesley. This is a Friends to Lovers, Secret Love type of Romance.
Both H's were friends. Stratford & Duncan were in the War Group Survivors together. Ines & Wellesley are strangers who become friends after the meet up at an inn & continue on in a road trip to Scotland together.
DUNCAN... What an ASSHOLE!!!
Don't get me wrong, I usually LOVE the assholes. But he pulled something that had me turning my back on him. Ines forgave him ALOT sooner than I would have. I'd have made him Grovel. & on top of that I would have let
Boy, was he....
What he did to Ones & how he hurt her...
She doesn't get a pass either.
BTW, the rant is only over because I don't wanna waste my time on the waste of words because the mistakes these characters made were Uncalled For!
If not for these 2 highly offensive mistakes, this would have been a 5* read.
So all Hail to the Douches!
Anyhoo... in this book you got two girls running away from the life their families have planned out for them.
The 1st romance was Ines & Duncan. I really liked this couple. it's funny in places because she makes him think she doesn't speak English so he won't take her back to London after she hides out in his carriage.
The 2nd romance is Stratford & Wellesley. This is a Friends to Lovers, Secret Love type of Romance.
Both H's were friends. Stratford & Duncan were in the War Group Survivors together. Ines & Wellesley are strangers who become friends after the meet up at an inn & continue on in a road trip to Scotland together.
DUNCAN... What an ASSHOLE!!!
Don't get me wrong, I usually LOVE the assholes. But he pulled something that had me turning my back on him. Ines forgave him ALOT sooner than I would have. I'd have made him Grovel. & on top of that I would have let
Boy, was he....
What he did to Ones & how he hurt her...
She doesn't get a pass either.
BTW, the rant is only over because I don't wanna waste my time on the waste of words because the mistakes these characters made were Uncalled For!
If not for these 2 highly offensive mistakes, this would have been a 5* read.
So all Hail to the Douches!
September 8, 2020
Maybe 3.5 stars
When Ines Neves overhears her sister Catarina and brother in law Benedict Draven talking about her future and her boring suitor, Mr. Podmore, she decides she has had enough. She hides in the last place she thinks anyone will look for her – Podmore’s carriage, she settles in and is not overly concerned when the carriage begins to move, thinking the driver is just walking the horses and drifts off. Ines longs for “PED” - Passion, Excitement and Danger – so when she wakes to discover the carriage is no longer in London and she is no longer alone – she decides she is not ready to go back.
Duncan Murray was part of Draven’s band of men and has stopped by his home to pay his respects before returning to Scotland. In the war Duncan was known as the Lunatic, as he seemed to not care if he lived or died. He survived the war and returned home, but was sent to London by his formidable mother, Lady Charlotte, to find a bride. Now his is returning home without the bride he was sent to find, he hates that he will once again disappoint his mother, but he wasn’t able find anyone who his mother would approve of. When he decides to ride in the carriage, he discovers Ines, but they have never been introduced and she pretends that she doesn’t speak English and is adamant that she doesn’t want to return to London. Unable to turn his back on someone in need, he decides to take her to his friend Nash, who speaks Portuguese.
Emmeline Wellesley has also had enough, after several unsuccessful season in which she didn’t “take” probably because she is smart, outspoken and a little bit bossy and has no patience for fools. She has decided doesn’t want to endure another season and runs away, intending on making her way to her Grandmother in Cumbria. Emmeline has a plan, but when she is duped and ends up locked in a closet with no money and only the clothes on her back, she wonders if she made the right decision.
Stratford Fortescue was also one of Draven’s men, a born planned, he was Draven’s best strategist. But now that the war is over, Stratford is at loose ends. He is at his family’s country estate, but doesn’t feel like he belongs, he is only there because Emmeline is there. He as liked Emmeline forever, but when she had her come-out, Stratford realized his feelings for her ran much deeper. But Stratford has a secret and he is sure that she wouldn’t want anything to do with him if she knew, so he plays escort for her and her sisters and never acts on his feelings. When he learns she has run away, he immediately goes after her. He finds her locked in a closet and refusing to return home. He also finds his friend Duncan and his mystery woman at the inn. They decide to team up and go visit Nash, but for a man that is used to making plans and considering every possible pitfall – Stratford is going to learn that love doesn’t always go as planned.
I really liked Ines, Duncan, Emmeline and Stratford, but I didn’t care for the format of the book. The book is written with two heroes and two heroines as main characters, each with their own POV. The story has everything I usually like, action, adventure, abduction, reivers, secrets, steamy love scenes, interesting secondary characters and a happy ending, but the way it is presented was off-putting to me. I didn’t like the constant switching between couples and character POV’s, it made the book feel choppy and hard to “get into”. Ms. Galen is an exceptional author who writes wonderful books with strong, complex characters and I have read almost every book she has written and for the most part, I have loved them all and raved about them, this is the first time I have encountered this particular writing format in her work, and sadly, I really didn’t care for it. That doesn’t mean you won’t or that the book is poorly written, it isn’t – it just didn’t work for me. I will definitely be continuing with this series and would absolutely recommend this author’s work to Historical Romance fans.
When Ines Neves overhears her sister Catarina and brother in law Benedict Draven talking about her future and her boring suitor, Mr. Podmore, she decides she has had enough. She hides in the last place she thinks anyone will look for her – Podmore’s carriage, she settles in and is not overly concerned when the carriage begins to move, thinking the driver is just walking the horses and drifts off. Ines longs for “PED” - Passion, Excitement and Danger – so when she wakes to discover the carriage is no longer in London and she is no longer alone – she decides she is not ready to go back.
Duncan Murray was part of Draven’s band of men and has stopped by his home to pay his respects before returning to Scotland. In the war Duncan was known as the Lunatic, as he seemed to not care if he lived or died. He survived the war and returned home, but was sent to London by his formidable mother, Lady Charlotte, to find a bride. Now his is returning home without the bride he was sent to find, he hates that he will once again disappoint his mother, but he wasn’t able find anyone who his mother would approve of. When he decides to ride in the carriage, he discovers Ines, but they have never been introduced and she pretends that she doesn’t speak English and is adamant that she doesn’t want to return to London. Unable to turn his back on someone in need, he decides to take her to his friend Nash, who speaks Portuguese.
Emmeline Wellesley has also had enough, after several unsuccessful season in which she didn’t “take” probably because she is smart, outspoken and a little bit bossy and has no patience for fools. She has decided doesn’t want to endure another season and runs away, intending on making her way to her Grandmother in Cumbria. Emmeline has a plan, but when she is duped and ends up locked in a closet with no money and only the clothes on her back, she wonders if she made the right decision.
Stratford Fortescue was also one of Draven’s men, a born planned, he was Draven’s best strategist. But now that the war is over, Stratford is at loose ends. He is at his family’s country estate, but doesn’t feel like he belongs, he is only there because Emmeline is there. He as liked Emmeline forever, but when she had her come-out, Stratford realized his feelings for her ran much deeper. But Stratford has a secret and he is sure that she wouldn’t want anything to do with him if she knew, so he plays escort for her and her sisters and never acts on his feelings. When he learns she has run away, he immediately goes after her. He finds her locked in a closet and refusing to return home. He also finds his friend Duncan and his mystery woman at the inn. They decide to team up and go visit Nash, but for a man that is used to making plans and considering every possible pitfall – Stratford is going to learn that love doesn’t always go as planned.
I really liked Ines, Duncan, Emmeline and Stratford, but I didn’t care for the format of the book. The book is written with two heroes and two heroines as main characters, each with their own POV. The story has everything I usually like, action, adventure, abduction, reivers, secrets, steamy love scenes, interesting secondary characters and a happy ending, but the way it is presented was off-putting to me. I didn’t like the constant switching between couples and character POV’s, it made the book feel choppy and hard to “get into”. Ms. Galen is an exceptional author who writes wonderful books with strong, complex characters and I have read almost every book she has written and for the most part, I have loved them all and raved about them, this is the first time I have encountered this particular writing format in her work, and sadly, I really didn’t care for it. That doesn’t mean you won’t or that the book is poorly written, it isn’t – it just didn’t work for me. I will definitely be continuing with this series and would absolutely recommend this author’s work to Historical Romance fans.
January 30, 2021
Trigger warnings: gun violence, war (in the past), mental health, death of a parent (in the past), fat shaming by a parent (in the page), violence, blood.
It took me a little while to get into this installment of the series because there are FOUR narrators and that initially seemed like way too many in the early stages when I was still trying to work out who the bloody hell they all were. I then had a few chapters of "Ohgod, is this going to turn into a partner swap type deal where they realise that the person they thought they had feelings for isn't actually a good match or them???" and I was legitimately scared because NO THANK YOU PLEASE. Thankfully, it didn't.
I definitely preferred the dynamic between Emmeline and Stratford than the dynamic between Ines and Duncan, but I think that's partly because Ines is only 19 and so there was a sliiiiiight element of ickiness involved for me purely because of the fact that she's so young. And yes, it's like 1820-whatever and it was totally normal for teenage girls to marry much older dudes. But, like, 😬, you know?
Anyway, I ended up liking both the relationships (provided I put Ines' age out of my mind), but the real star here for me was the dog because of who I am as a person lol.
It took me a little while to get into this installment of the series because there are FOUR narrators and that initially seemed like way too many in the early stages when I was still trying to work out who the bloody hell they all were. I then had a few chapters of "Ohgod, is this going to turn into a partner swap type deal where they realise that the person they thought they had feelings for isn't actually a good match or them???" and I was legitimately scared because NO THANK YOU PLEASE. Thankfully, it didn't.
I definitely preferred the dynamic between Emmeline and Stratford than the dynamic between Ines and Duncan, but I think that's partly because Ines is only 19 and so there was a sliiiiiight element of ickiness involved for me purely because of the fact that she's so young. And yes, it's like 1820-whatever and it was totally normal for teenage girls to marry much older dudes. But, like, 😬, you know?
Anyway, I ended up liking both the relationships (provided I put Ines' age out of my mind), but the real star here for me was the dog because of who I am as a person lol.
February 28, 2021
A two in one! Ines wants an adventure, but for now she wants to escape a suitor and hides in a carriage. Then she wakes up far from London. Oops. So she pretends not to speak English as the owner is Duncan Murray, the sexy Scot she has seen around.
Meanwhile Emmeline runs away from yet another failed season, luckily she runs across the son of her mother's friend. A certain Stratford Fortesque, who has been in love with her for years.
These two couples run into each other and decides to travel together.
Ines really wants Murray, while he needs to marry an English Lady. I wanted to smack him over the head so much.
Emmeline thinks no one will ever want her. Statford is stupid, who cares about your parentage!
There is some danger, there is romance, there is back and forth. I enjoyed it, even if Duncan should have given in earlier, but I get it, they had issues.
Aston is a great narrator when it comes to romance. Distinct voices, nice accents and she gets the feel of it all
Meanwhile Emmeline runs away from yet another failed season, luckily she runs across the son of her mother's friend. A certain Stratford Fortesque, who has been in love with her for years.
These two couples run into each other and decides to travel together.
Ines really wants Murray, while he needs to marry an English Lady. I wanted to smack him over the head so much.
Emmeline thinks no one will ever want her. Statford is stupid, who cares about your parentage!
There is some danger, there is romance, there is back and forth. I enjoyed it, even if Duncan should have given in earlier, but I get it, they had issues.
Aston is a great narrator when it comes to romance. Distinct voices, nice accents and she gets the feel of it all
September 13, 2020
Passion! Excitement! Danger!
These three words describe the feel of Shana Galen’s The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure.
I loved Ines, Duncan, Emmeline and Stratford and enjoyed that the novel was told from each character’s point of view. This was an excellent storyline choice because it enabled to reader to understand each character’s perspective and emotions.
Ines Neves desires passion, excitement and danger—and she knows she will not find it with the men her sister and brother- in -law have selected for her. Ines wants to choose her husband and make her own decisions. She has a secret crush on Duncan Murray who exudes passion, excitement and danger! Ines hides in a carriage to avoid a suitor and imagine her surprise when she wakes up in Duncan’s coach!
Emmeline is tired of London and dreads another season. She decides to run away to a relative’s house and Stratford is determined to find her. Their adventure begins Stratford finds her locked in a closet! Loved that Emmeline and Stratford harbored feelings for each other for years. Both were insecure—in different ways-and I loved their journey it really tugged at my heartstrings.
Shana Galen’s fast paced writing style and captivating characters drew me into the story immediately. This adventure is filled with humor, romance and the chemistry between each of the couple sizzles. Loved there were so many twists and turns – I was immersed in the story and had the sense that danger was lurking around each corner.
I recommend The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure – it’s an enjoyable novel filled with romance, danger and emotion
These three words describe the feel of Shana Galen’s The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure.
I loved Ines, Duncan, Emmeline and Stratford and enjoyed that the novel was told from each character’s point of view. This was an excellent storyline choice because it enabled to reader to understand each character’s perspective and emotions.
Ines Neves desires passion, excitement and danger—and she knows she will not find it with the men her sister and brother- in -law have selected for her. Ines wants to choose her husband and make her own decisions. She has a secret crush on Duncan Murray who exudes passion, excitement and danger! Ines hides in a carriage to avoid a suitor and imagine her surprise when she wakes up in Duncan’s coach!
Emmeline is tired of London and dreads another season. She decides to run away to a relative’s house and Stratford is determined to find her. Their adventure begins Stratford finds her locked in a closet! Loved that Emmeline and Stratford harbored feelings for each other for years. Both were insecure—in different ways-and I loved their journey it really tugged at my heartstrings.
Shana Galen’s fast paced writing style and captivating characters drew me into the story immediately. This adventure is filled with humor, romance and the chemistry between each of the couple sizzles. Loved there were so many twists and turns – I was immersed in the story and had the sense that danger was lurking around each corner.
I recommend The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure – it’s an enjoyable novel filled with romance, danger and emotion
August 17, 2020
3.5/5⭐️
Number 8 in her Survivors series and while not my favorite so far, it was a good read.
I think my issue with it was that she had two heroes and two heroines getting to their HEAs. It was told in alternating chapters, and it was just a bit harder to focus on each character while also being distracted by three other mains. I felt that there was enough interest on my part and solid character development to actually warrant two books.
Still a solid addition to this series.
Number 8 in her Survivors series and while not my favorite so far, it was a good read.
I think my issue with it was that she had two heroes and two heroines getting to their HEAs. It was told in alternating chapters, and it was just a bit harder to focus on each character while also being distracted by three other mains. I felt that there was enough interest on my part and solid character development to actually warrant two books.
Still a solid addition to this series.
September 3, 2020
This is the most wonderful crazy adventures of two runaway maidens, well kinda of, only one was running away. We jump from one ridiculous situation to the next and enjoy the romp at every step. We also get two HEAs in the process. I so love seeing these war heroes find happiness that most were not even looking for. What a wonderful series and this is a great addition. This is the story of the strong and mighty Scot Duncan Murray, The Lunatic, and Stratford Fortescue, The Strategizer, of Draven's suicide squad. Each of these men were in the troup because they didn't have anything to live for. Little did they know what their future held in store for them.
Ines Neves is the Portuguese sister-in-law to Draven. She and Draven's wife Catarina are talented lace makers. Ines is in search of PED, passion-excitement-danger and is tired of having boring English men thrown at her to marry. She ducks out of meeting with the latest one by hiding in the empty carriage waiting outside the house. Little does she realize it Duncan's carriage who is off to go home to Scotland. When she wakes up after accidentally falling to sleep, she so startled by Duncan she pretends she can't speak english. Duncan is too far on his trip to return to London so he seeks out his troup mate Nash Pope to interpret for him so he can send her home where she belongs.
Meanwhile Emmeline Wellesley has had enough of her mother trying to make her into someone she's not. After four failed seasons, and too many clothes squishing her rubenesque body into society's expectations, she's done. She's decided to run away from home and live with her grandmother for a while. When Stratford finds out he takes off after her to keep her safe as she left alone. He's always crushed on his kind-of cousin and he's not going to let her get hurt. He catches up with her when he rescues her after been locked in a closet at a coaching station with a dog she thought was a baby and her pocket picked.
This starts the incredible and delightful adventure of two woman who refuse to go home and two men desperate to keep these adventurous women safe. This was such a fun romp, from the half blind sharp shooter, to being rescued from reivers, it never slows down. In the end we have two men who are so thick headed that they have to grovel to get their lady loves back in their arms. I loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ines Neves is the Portuguese sister-in-law to Draven. She and Draven's wife Catarina are talented lace makers. Ines is in search of PED, passion-excitement-danger and is tired of having boring English men thrown at her to marry. She ducks out of meeting with the latest one by hiding in the empty carriage waiting outside the house. Little does she realize it Duncan's carriage who is off to go home to Scotland. When she wakes up after accidentally falling to sleep, she so startled by Duncan she pretends she can't speak english. Duncan is too far on his trip to return to London so he seeks out his troup mate Nash Pope to interpret for him so he can send her home where she belongs.
Meanwhile Emmeline Wellesley has had enough of her mother trying to make her into someone she's not. After four failed seasons, and too many clothes squishing her rubenesque body into society's expectations, she's done. She's decided to run away from home and live with her grandmother for a while. When Stratford finds out he takes off after her to keep her safe as she left alone. He's always crushed on his kind-of cousin and he's not going to let her get hurt. He catches up with her when he rescues her after been locked in a closet at a coaching station with a dog she thought was a baby and her pocket picked.
This starts the incredible and delightful adventure of two woman who refuse to go home and two men desperate to keep these adventurous women safe. This was such a fun romp, from the half blind sharp shooter, to being rescued from reivers, it never slows down. In the end we have two men who are so thick headed that they have to grovel to get their lady loves back in their arms. I loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 28, 2021
I have pretty much loved every book in the Survivor’s series... until this one, unfortunately. I didn’t hate it, but it just didn’t carry me away like the others.
As described, it is the story of two separate couples traveling together. While I’ve often read romances with a set of main characters and an additional secondary couple that gets a brief story within the context of the main plot, I can’t think of another HR like this one, in which the four primary characters get equal treatment. That, IMO, was its downfall. Based on the title and backstory from previous books, this seems like it was just supposed to be Duncan and Ines’ story. I think when Ms. Galen got down to the business of actually writing the novel, she realized there really wasn’t enough there for that couple to carry a full length book on their own. Enter Stratford and Emmeline. Personally, I was much more interested in their story anyway. I just found them more compelling and well-developed as characters. While I often found Ines and Duncan fun and entertaining, they were also both kind of one-dimensional. Duncan was the crazy highlander and Ines was young, immature and seeking adventure with absolutely no thought to any consequences. Maybe if her personality had been explored more deeply, I would have found her more sympathetic, but as she was written, I was often just annoyed.
There was a choppiness to the actual format of the book, too. We jumped from character to character to character to character’s POV throughout the novel. While interesting, it definitely disrupted the flow. Also, having the two main couples have parallel romantic arcs highlighted the formulaic format of the genre, and not in a good way. It was like:
“Couple #1 has their first kiss.” Switch POV “Couple #2 has their first kiss.” “Heroine A has her first orgasm.” Switch POV “Heroine B gets her first orgasm.”
“Couple #1 has a fight and won’t talk to each other.” Switch POV “Couple #2 are now not talking to each other.”
And so on and so forth with each major milestone.
There was a lot to like in this book (Loftus! Scotland! Meeting Nash!) I just think the author took a gamble with the format that did not pay off for me. I wish each couple had gotten separate treatments.
As described, it is the story of two separate couples traveling together. While I’ve often read romances with a set of main characters and an additional secondary couple that gets a brief story within the context of the main plot, I can’t think of another HR like this one, in which the four primary characters get equal treatment. That, IMO, was its downfall. Based on the title and backstory from previous books, this seems like it was just supposed to be Duncan and Ines’ story. I think when Ms. Galen got down to the business of actually writing the novel, she realized there really wasn’t enough there for that couple to carry a full length book on their own. Enter Stratford and Emmeline. Personally, I was much more interested in their story anyway. I just found them more compelling and well-developed as characters. While I often found Ines and Duncan fun and entertaining, they were also both kind of one-dimensional. Duncan was the crazy highlander and Ines was young, immature and seeking adventure with absolutely no thought to any consequences. Maybe if her personality had been explored more deeply, I would have found her more sympathetic, but as she was written, I was often just annoyed.
There was a choppiness to the actual format of the book, too. We jumped from character to character to character to character’s POV throughout the novel. While interesting, it definitely disrupted the flow. Also, having the two main couples have parallel romantic arcs highlighted the formulaic format of the genre, and not in a good way. It was like:
“Couple #1 has their first kiss.” Switch POV “Couple #2 has their first kiss.” “Heroine A has her first orgasm.” Switch POV “Heroine B gets her first orgasm.”
“Couple #1 has a fight and won’t talk to each other.” Switch POV “Couple #2 are now not talking to each other.”
And so on and so forth with each major milestone.
There was a lot to like in this book (Loftus! Scotland! Meeting Nash!) I just think the author took a gamble with the format that did not pay off for me. I wish each couple had gotten separate treatments.
August 30, 2020
In this latest Survivors series story, we get not one but two romances, what fun! Ines Neves meant to hide from an unwanted suitor in a carriage and wakes up with the carriage on its way out of London and in the company of Duncan Murray. When Ines realizes it’s the handsome Highlander that she’s been admiring, she pretends to speak only Portuguese, at least until she can figure out how to keep him from taking her home. Emmeline Wellesley has had it after four Seasons in London and decides she’s going to travel to her grandmother’s until her mother listens to her. Then she gets robbed and locked in a closet, only to be rescued by a family friend, Stratford Fortescue, who wants to return her home, of course. Both young ladies decide they’re going to continue the journey to Scotland with Duncan and the men agree to take them after a few incidents occur, including Emmeline’s insistence on rescuing a dog and a crazy encounter with a fellow survivor, Nash Pope. There is plenty of adventure along the way, as the couples get to know each other much better, but what Duncan’s mother and Ines’ brother-in-law Colonel Draven will make of it all is the big question. Duncan doesn’t want to disappoint his mother by not marrying an English woman, and Stratford thinks he’s not good enough to marry Emmeline, so it is up to the two young ladies to find a way to change their minds. I loved this excellent adventure and look forward to the next in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
September 10, 2020
This book is so much fun. I pretty much smiled through the entire thing. I'll even go so far as to say it's probably my favorite of the entire series. Galen gives us a fast-paced, road romance with not one but two couples on unexpected journeys to happily ever after.
The main characters are so darn likable and I found myself rooting for all of them. Telling the story from all four alternating points of view adds extra depth to both the journey as well as the characters themselves and their relationships. I love a good road romance and this book had all the highs and lows to keep me engaged throughout. I cheered Ines and Emmeline on during their bid for the freedom to make their own choices, laughed at how they ran circles around two battle-tested former soldiers (actually three, counting Nash, a drunken, half-blind former sharpshooter I hope we'll be seeing again), and sighed with delight as hearts entwined.
There's conflict, and a bit of angst, but mostly this is a fun romp from London into the Scottish Highlands, filled with humor, danger, passion, excitement, and swoon-worthy happy endings...following some well-deserved hero groveling. I highly recommend it.
While this is the 8th book in the Survivors series, it stands well on its own. However, if you would like a bit more background on Ines I recommend also reading her sister's journey to love with Benedict Draven in book 5, The Claiming of the Shrew.
The main characters are so darn likable and I found myself rooting for all of them. Telling the story from all four alternating points of view adds extra depth to both the journey as well as the characters themselves and their relationships. I love a good road romance and this book had all the highs and lows to keep me engaged throughout. I cheered Ines and Emmeline on during their bid for the freedom to make their own choices, laughed at how they ran circles around two battle-tested former soldiers (actually three, counting Nash, a drunken, half-blind former sharpshooter I hope we'll be seeing again), and sighed with delight as hearts entwined.
There's conflict, and a bit of angst, but mostly this is a fun romp from London into the Scottish Highlands, filled with humor, danger, passion, excitement, and swoon-worthy happy endings...following some well-deserved hero groveling. I highly recommend it.
While this is the 8th book in the Survivors series, it stands well on its own. However, if you would like a bit more background on Ines I recommend also reading her sister's journey to love with Benedict Draven in book 5, The Claiming of the Shrew.
September 8, 2020
This book was so much fun! Tons of crazy escapades and adventures, some making me laugh out loud! Four interesting characters heading in the same direction with four different goals, but ultimately the same destination. Stratford’s history is a little heartbreaking, but the way he rises above it all makes him so desirable and the perfect match for Emmeline. Ines is a firebrand who grasps life and adventure wholeheartedly, Duncan has no chance to escape her optimism. The author does a great job intertwining these two romances into one great story!
January 24, 2023
I found myself kind of bored with this book and so I skipped ahead only to find that Duncan had rescued Ines from reivers (raiders of the Scottish borders who were not active in 1815, they had faded out in the 1700s) and possibly slept with her and then ignores her.
Hmmm... okay. Not cool, Duncan.
I was looking forward to Fortescue's story and I loved Loftus, the dog, but he and Emmaline's story was almost exactly parallel to Ines and Duncan's. First kisses, etc. Except they have sex for the first time in a cold cave (that does not sound at all comfy or romantic, especially in the Highlands of Scotland).
Duncan's mother treats Ines coldly and THEN she founds them together after Duncan has just had sex with Ines for the first time... and she shames Ines in front of Duncan AND Fortescue and Emma and Duncan does NOTHING! He just lets his mom say the meanest things and poor Ines is taken away from the scene (naked and wrapped in a sheet!), crying.
Nope, you lost me there Duncan. And you never adequately groveled!
Luckily Draven (Ines' BIL) shows up and beats the crap out of Duncan, but it still wasn't enough.
Also, they treat a trip from London to the Highlands (and I'm not sure it's high Highlands, like up by Inverness or is it low Highlands in Perthshire?) as a few days trip. From what I understand, even a trip from the Highlands to Edinburgh wasn't a quick jaunt. And Ines is going to set up a shop in Edinburgh for lace? And her sister can just travel up from London really quickly?
I am not happy. Shame on you, Duncan.
Hmmm... okay. Not cool, Duncan.
I was looking forward to Fortescue's story and I loved Loftus, the dog, but he and Emmaline's story was almost exactly parallel to Ines and Duncan's. First kisses, etc. Except they have sex for the first time in a cold cave (that does not sound at all comfy or romantic, especially in the Highlands of Scotland).
Duncan's mother treats Ines coldly and THEN she founds them together after Duncan has just had sex with Ines for the first time... and she shames Ines in front of Duncan AND Fortescue and Emma and Duncan does NOTHING! He just lets his mom say the meanest things and poor Ines is taken away from the scene (naked and wrapped in a sheet!), crying.
Nope, you lost me there Duncan. And you never adequately groveled!
Luckily Draven (Ines' BIL) shows up and beats the crap out of Duncan, but it still wasn't enough.
Also, they treat a trip from London to the Highlands (and I'm not sure it's high Highlands, like up by Inverness or is it low Highlands in Perthshire?) as a few days trip. From what I understand, even a trip from the Highlands to Edinburgh wasn't a quick jaunt. And Ines is going to set up a shop in Edinburgh for lace? And her sister can just travel up from London really quickly?
I am not happy. Shame on you, Duncan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2020
For a book that had two full romances in it, the stories were very balanced- there was no feeling of 1st and secondary stories- both equal. Very fun and humorous!!! Not a fan of the Scottish accent cause most of the time I don’t know what the guy is trying say, but it’s kept to a lower level here. Enjoyed this book and would recommend this series too. Now hopefully Nash is next !!!
July 21, 2020
I love all of the Survivors series. I am a huge Shana Galen fan. This Book has two stories and I love them both so much. The characters and the plots were amazing. I love both all of the twist and turns of both stories. I don't want to give spoilers since I like them so much.
September 8, 2020
There is a lot of story in this book. I am a slow reader.
But I kept finding I had to read faster and faster to
keep up with all the action. The bold women. The
crazy, brave men. A surprise dog. A friendly gunshot.
A runaway carriage. The story is proof that love
simply cannot be halted.
But I kept finding I had to read faster and faster to
keep up with all the action. The bold women. The
crazy, brave men. A surprise dog. A friendly gunshot.
A runaway carriage. The story is proof that love
simply cannot be halted.
September 9, 2020
Very cute but such a pity about the few mistakes, as they are really annoying.
September 16, 2020
4.5 stars, as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1kJ
A road trip adventure, and two romances for the price of one -- I’m all in!
Ines Neves is tired of her well intentioned sister and brother-in-law trying to match her up with dull, staid gentlemen. She longs for passion and adventure, someone like the tall, handsome highlander she’s been longing for from afar.
Duncan Murray, former soldier, has been unsuccessful in trying to find an English bride to take home with him to Scotland. All the proper young ladies seem to fear him, or feel that he’s beneath them, so he’s heading home alone.
Emmeline Wellesley is tired, and unwilling to face another season. Her younger sisters harp on her for not getting married and giving them a chance, while her mother constantly tries to change her into a quiet, thin, proper society lady.
Stratford Fortescue, also a former soldier and friend of Duncan’s, has never been able to please his distant and disapproving father, or gain the true affection of his family.
When Ines overhears that another unwanted suitor is about to call on her, she decides to hide out in his own carriage, then later sneak away. Unfortunately, the carriage she slips into is not her suitor’s, but Duncan’s. He has come to bid his friends farewell before returning home. Coming back to his carriage, he decides to ride outside with his coachman, never realizing he has an unwanted passenger. Before Ines is discovered, they are well on their way to the north. When Duncan finally decides to ride inside, they are shocked to see each other, and Ines is initially speechless. Discovering that her traveling partner is the man she has secretly been observing, she boldly decides to let this adventure take her wherever it may. She pretends not to speak English, thus leaving Duncan at loose ends as to how to handle the situation. When they stop at an inn for the night, they encounter unexpected fellow travelers.
Emmeline has finally had enough, and decides to run away, at least for the remainder of the season, perhaps to stay with a distant relative. Her impulsive flight isn’t very well planned, and she hops on the first coach available. Her naiveté leads to her being fleeced, leaving her moneyless. Stratford’s family and Emmeline’s are close, and when he learns of her flight, he takes off in pursuit. Stratford has known Emmeline since they were children, and has loved her since they have become adults, though she’s totally unaware of it. Emmeline is outspoken and somewhat testy, but she could always count on Stratford to be her escort or dancing partner. Stratford knows that his love isn’t returned, but even if it were, he is hiding a shameful secret that renders him unsuitable as a match. Emmeline is not pleased to see Stratford now, and refuses to return home with him. They decide to stop at the same inn where Duncan and Ines are, and agree to continue together the next morning.
The rollicking road trip that ensues is full of adventure, gunshots, robbers, injury, humor, and, most importantly, romance. Oh, and along the way, they acquire a dog with a big personality. As they keep traveling on, all the while being pursued by their former commander, who just happens to be Ines’ brother-in-law, the couples begin to fall in love, but, seemingly hopelessly. Duncan owes his mother a huge debt, and is obligated to marry according to her wishes. And she wishes him to marry an English lady of noble birth, not a Portuguese lacemaker. While it appears that Emmeline is finally seeing Stratford through new eyes, he backs away from her because of that annoying secret.
THE HIGHLANDER’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE is such a fun and enjoyable read, though it has serious and poignant moments. I loved all four of the main characters, and the story is told from their alternating points of view, and it works beautifully. Before there is a pair of happy ever afters, Duncan has to come to terms with an incident in his past, as well as having a long overdue heart-to-heart conversation with his mother, who is not quite as villainous as I first thought. Emmeline and Stratford both have issues with their own self worth that have to be addressed before the (sort of) friends become lovers. THE HIGHLANDER’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE is steamy and delightful, and is Shana Galen at her entertaining best.
A road trip adventure, and two romances for the price of one -- I’m all in!
Ines Neves is tired of her well intentioned sister and brother-in-law trying to match her up with dull, staid gentlemen. She longs for passion and adventure, someone like the tall, handsome highlander she’s been longing for from afar.
Duncan Murray, former soldier, has been unsuccessful in trying to find an English bride to take home with him to Scotland. All the proper young ladies seem to fear him, or feel that he’s beneath them, so he’s heading home alone.
Emmeline Wellesley is tired, and unwilling to face another season. Her younger sisters harp on her for not getting married and giving them a chance, while her mother constantly tries to change her into a quiet, thin, proper society lady.
Stratford Fortescue, also a former soldier and friend of Duncan’s, has never been able to please his distant and disapproving father, or gain the true affection of his family.
When Ines overhears that another unwanted suitor is about to call on her, she decides to hide out in his own carriage, then later sneak away. Unfortunately, the carriage she slips into is not her suitor’s, but Duncan’s. He has come to bid his friends farewell before returning home. Coming back to his carriage, he decides to ride outside with his coachman, never realizing he has an unwanted passenger. Before Ines is discovered, they are well on their way to the north. When Duncan finally decides to ride inside, they are shocked to see each other, and Ines is initially speechless. Discovering that her traveling partner is the man she has secretly been observing, she boldly decides to let this adventure take her wherever it may. She pretends not to speak English, thus leaving Duncan at loose ends as to how to handle the situation. When they stop at an inn for the night, they encounter unexpected fellow travelers.
Emmeline has finally had enough, and decides to run away, at least for the remainder of the season, perhaps to stay with a distant relative. Her impulsive flight isn’t very well planned, and she hops on the first coach available. Her naiveté leads to her being fleeced, leaving her moneyless. Stratford’s family and Emmeline’s are close, and when he learns of her flight, he takes off in pursuit. Stratford has known Emmeline since they were children, and has loved her since they have become adults, though she’s totally unaware of it. Emmeline is outspoken and somewhat testy, but she could always count on Stratford to be her escort or dancing partner. Stratford knows that his love isn’t returned, but even if it were, he is hiding a shameful secret that renders him unsuitable as a match. Emmeline is not pleased to see Stratford now, and refuses to return home with him. They decide to stop at the same inn where Duncan and Ines are, and agree to continue together the next morning.
The rollicking road trip that ensues is full of adventure, gunshots, robbers, injury, humor, and, most importantly, romance. Oh, and along the way, they acquire a dog with a big personality. As they keep traveling on, all the while being pursued by their former commander, who just happens to be Ines’ brother-in-law, the couples begin to fall in love, but, seemingly hopelessly. Duncan owes his mother a huge debt, and is obligated to marry according to her wishes. And she wishes him to marry an English lady of noble birth, not a Portuguese lacemaker. While it appears that Emmeline is finally seeing Stratford through new eyes, he backs away from her because of that annoying secret.
THE HIGHLANDER’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE is such a fun and enjoyable read, though it has serious and poignant moments. I loved all four of the main characters, and the story is told from their alternating points of view, and it works beautifully. Before there is a pair of happy ever afters, Duncan has to come to terms with an incident in his past, as well as having a long overdue heart-to-heart conversation with his mother, who is not quite as villainous as I first thought. Emmeline and Stratford both have issues with their own self worth that have to be addressed before the (sort of) friends become lovers. THE HIGHLANDER’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE is steamy and delightful, and is Shana Galen at her entertaining best.
August 6, 2020
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure and the views expressed are my honest opinions. This is the 8th book in the Survivors’ series. However, unlike the previous books, THEA features 2 Survivors and their love interests, Survivors whom we have been introduced to in the previous books – Duncan Murray, the Scot and Stratford Fortescue.
Duncan was sent to England by his mother in order to find an acceptable wife. However, oftentimes he found himself in the card room rather than courting potential spouses. Hence, he decides to return home. Little did he expect to find a stowaway in his carriage late in the first day of travels. The lady, Ines Neves, who she was hiding from a boring suitor, had thought to hide in the carriage while her suitor was inside her house. So, it she was surprised to awaken from a nap and find the moving carriage far from London. On recognizing Duncan, Ines pretended to speak only Portuguese to avoid being returned to Duncan’s superior and her brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Draven and thus get a taste of adventure.
Due to the language barrier, Duncan opts to visit his fellow Survivor Nash Pope, a sharpshooter, who would be able to talk to Ines in her native language. On the road, the couple meet Stratford, having just caught up with his headstrong distant cousin, Miss Emmeline Wellesly. The latter had run away from home after getting fed up of feeling inadequate among her family members. Stratford believed he always felt himself dutybound to escort his distant cousins however in the deepest corners of his heart, he found himself yearning for Emmeline, despite believing her out of his reach. By joining forces to give each other respectability, the couples travel on to Pope’s estate. However, the journey is far from smooth and plans change once again.
As expected, Shana Galen introduced 2 lovely dogs, one of which is prominent to the storyline, to ensure havoc to the adventure. In addition, several secondary characters whom readers already met in previous books also appear in the book, including a very furious Lieutenant Colonel Draven. The book is well written, with each character’s point-of-view titled to avoid confusion. It is impossible not to become entrenched in the story when shootings and outlaws are prominent while the foursome travel across England and try to acknowledge a growing attraction between couples. I also like the fact that Shana introduces new Survivors in each book and Nash Pope is portrayed as a potential hero with a lot of baggage and trauma leftover from war.
Thank you so much for this lovely adventure!
Duncan was sent to England by his mother in order to find an acceptable wife. However, oftentimes he found himself in the card room rather than courting potential spouses. Hence, he decides to return home. Little did he expect to find a stowaway in his carriage late in the first day of travels. The lady, Ines Neves, who she was hiding from a boring suitor, had thought to hide in the carriage while her suitor was inside her house. So, it she was surprised to awaken from a nap and find the moving carriage far from London. On recognizing Duncan, Ines pretended to speak only Portuguese to avoid being returned to Duncan’s superior and her brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Draven and thus get a taste of adventure.
Due to the language barrier, Duncan opts to visit his fellow Survivor Nash Pope, a sharpshooter, who would be able to talk to Ines in her native language. On the road, the couple meet Stratford, having just caught up with his headstrong distant cousin, Miss Emmeline Wellesly. The latter had run away from home after getting fed up of feeling inadequate among her family members. Stratford believed he always felt himself dutybound to escort his distant cousins however in the deepest corners of his heart, he found himself yearning for Emmeline, despite believing her out of his reach. By joining forces to give each other respectability, the couples travel on to Pope’s estate. However, the journey is far from smooth and plans change once again.
As expected, Shana Galen introduced 2 lovely dogs, one of which is prominent to the storyline, to ensure havoc to the adventure. In addition, several secondary characters whom readers already met in previous books also appear in the book, including a very furious Lieutenant Colonel Draven. The book is well written, with each character’s point-of-view titled to avoid confusion. It is impossible not to become entrenched in the story when shootings and outlaws are prominent while the foursome travel across England and try to acknowledge a growing attraction between couples. I also like the fact that Shana introduces new Survivors in each book and Nash Pope is portrayed as a potential hero with a lot of baggage and trauma leftover from war.
Thank you so much for this lovely adventure!
September 11, 2020
Two romances in one book are hard to pull off without one getting more attention than the other or you lose track of who’s POV you are reading. But Shana gives both an equal amount of attention and the story flows perfectly! When the POV changes it’s labeled at the start so you don’t lose track. Each couple was perfect for each other and together they all have some adventures that bring them together.
Ines and Duncan are absolutely perfect for each other. Both are incredibly stubborn and have what each other needs to grow and learn about themselves. They are a very very passionate couple and there’s no denying the heat between them. I loved all the ups and downs that lead to the final push of them getting together because I never knew how either one would react to something. His mother will make your jaw drop with how she talks and she’ll shock you in the end.
Ines wants passion, adventure, and danger, but the man her sister wants her to consider is nothing like that. She unknowingly hides away in the carriage of the wild Scot that she’s admired from afar and goes to great lengths to hide who she is. I loved her right away because she saw the chance for an adventure and took it. She didn’t back down from anyone and was willing to risk her heart instead of running from Duncan.
Duncan was shocked to find her in his carriage and wanted her that moment, but his mother’s wishes of an English bride keep him from acting on it. But a man can only hold out so long when the woman is tempting him at every turn and has made it clear how much she wants him too. He needed her to help him rediscover his heart and know somethings aren’t his fault. I’ve loved him from the first time we met him in this series.
Emmaline is tired of being told, what to eat, how to dress and to keep her mouth shut. She has no intention to marry and wants to hide away until she’s firmly on the shelf, but she never expected Stratford to come after her for the reason he did. I loved how determined and outspoken she was because she surprised me at every turn. She would help anyone and anything she could.
Stratford has always been drawn to Emmaline, but a secret has kept him from acting on it until he’s alone with her and she’s how passionate and caring she is. He learns that what he’s been seeking is something he already has in his friends and Emmaline. I loved that he never tried to change her or put her down for speaking her mind.
The ending was perfect and I didn’t want to put it down because both couples were wonderful.
Copy provided for an honest and voluntary review
Ines and Duncan are absolutely perfect for each other. Both are incredibly stubborn and have what each other needs to grow and learn about themselves. They are a very very passionate couple and there’s no denying the heat between them. I loved all the ups and downs that lead to the final push of them getting together because I never knew how either one would react to something. His mother will make your jaw drop with how she talks and she’ll shock you in the end.
Ines wants passion, adventure, and danger, but the man her sister wants her to consider is nothing like that. She unknowingly hides away in the carriage of the wild Scot that she’s admired from afar and goes to great lengths to hide who she is. I loved her right away because she saw the chance for an adventure and took it. She didn’t back down from anyone and was willing to risk her heart instead of running from Duncan.
Duncan was shocked to find her in his carriage and wanted her that moment, but his mother’s wishes of an English bride keep him from acting on it. But a man can only hold out so long when the woman is tempting him at every turn and has made it clear how much she wants him too. He needed her to help him rediscover his heart and know somethings aren’t his fault. I’ve loved him from the first time we met him in this series.
Emmaline is tired of being told, what to eat, how to dress and to keep her mouth shut. She has no intention to marry and wants to hide away until she’s firmly on the shelf, but she never expected Stratford to come after her for the reason he did. I loved how determined and outspoken she was because she surprised me at every turn. She would help anyone and anything she could.
Stratford has always been drawn to Emmaline, but a secret has kept him from acting on it until he’s alone with her and she’s how passionate and caring she is. He learns that what he’s been seeking is something he already has in his friends and Emmaline. I loved that he never tried to change her or put her down for speaking her mind.
The ending was perfect and I didn’t want to put it down because both couples were wonderful.
Copy provided for an honest and voluntary review
September 3, 2020
Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had travelled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Or perhaps a big, strapping Highlander makes matters better? Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she’s run away. But things haven’t gone well. She’s been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old family friend shows up to save her, she doesn’t exactly welcome his help.
Duncan Murray doesn’t know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue, and Stratford’s opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash’s estate, and that’s when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn’t deserve her.
This is the eighth book in this awesome series, this is a very well written engrossing read. The characters have lots of depth but then again the author doesn’t do two dimensional. I was drawn in from the start & totally engrossed until the final page. I adored how there were two romances & they were both given equal staging, one of them would have made for a five star read but two, I was just blown away. I loved Duncan & Stratford who strong fearless men but also honourable & loving. Ines & Emmeline were both strong women in different ways together all four made a wonderful team & their adventures on the way to Scotland were varied & many & was indeed an excellent adventure I must mention Nash who absolutely deserves & needs his HEA
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Duncan Murray doesn’t know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue, and Stratford’s opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash’s estate, and that’s when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn’t deserve her.
This is the eighth book in this awesome series, this is a very well written engrossing read. The characters have lots of depth but then again the author doesn’t do two dimensional. I was drawn in from the start & totally engrossed until the final page. I adored how there were two romances & they were both given equal staging, one of them would have made for a five star read but two, I was just blown away. I loved Duncan & Stratford who strong fearless men but also honourable & loving. Ines & Emmeline were both strong women in different ways together all four made a wonderful team & their adventures on the way to Scotland were varied & many & was indeed an excellent adventure I must mention Nash who absolutely deserves & needs his HEA
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 31, 2020
The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure is the eighth book in the Survivors series, and we get two survivor’s stories in this book! Survivors Duncan Murray and Stratford Fortescue are led on a merry chase by two women who have run away.
Ines Neves (Draven’s sister-in-law) escapes her boring suitor by slipping into an unknown carriage only to wake up outside of London and realize the carriage belongs to Duncan, the man she has admired from afar. She was tired of living a boring life and craved passion-excitement-danger (PED). She didn’t want to return to London without having an adventure so when she is discovered by Duncan, she pretends to not speak English. Duncan was on his way home to Scotland, but his plans become complicated traveling with Ines.
Emmeline Wellesley was tired of trying to be made into the perfect debutante and didn’t want to have another Season. To escape her fifth Season, she decides to run away to stay with her grandmother, but she was taken advantage of and left with no money at a stagecoach stop. Stratford had always cared for Emmeline but felt he was not worthy of her. Realizing she has run away; Stratford takes off behind her. Once he catches her though she refuses to return home. She insists she will travel with Ines to Scotland, so Stratford went along to keep her safe. Will they acknowledge their feelings before it is too late?
This book catches your attention right away and is almost impossible to put down! It is well written and fast-paced. I loved the feistiness of Ines and Emmeline. They were strong-minded females and sure of themselves. We didn’t see a lot of the other survivor characters like I wish we would have, but we had two of them in this book. I’m curious about which survivor will we see in the next book and can’t wait to see.
I received an ARC and am willingly leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ines Neves (Draven’s sister-in-law) escapes her boring suitor by slipping into an unknown carriage only to wake up outside of London and realize the carriage belongs to Duncan, the man she has admired from afar. She was tired of living a boring life and craved passion-excitement-danger (PED). She didn’t want to return to London without having an adventure so when she is discovered by Duncan, she pretends to not speak English. Duncan was on his way home to Scotland, but his plans become complicated traveling with Ines.
Emmeline Wellesley was tired of trying to be made into the perfect debutante and didn’t want to have another Season. To escape her fifth Season, she decides to run away to stay with her grandmother, but she was taken advantage of and left with no money at a stagecoach stop. Stratford had always cared for Emmeline but felt he was not worthy of her. Realizing she has run away; Stratford takes off behind her. Once he catches her though she refuses to return home. She insists she will travel with Ines to Scotland, so Stratford went along to keep her safe. Will they acknowledge their feelings before it is too late?
This book catches your attention right away and is almost impossible to put down! It is well written and fast-paced. I loved the feistiness of Ines and Emmeline. They were strong-minded females and sure of themselves. We didn’t see a lot of the other survivor characters like I wish we would have, but we had two of them in this book. I’m curious about which survivor will we see in the next book and can’t wait to see.
I received an ARC and am willingly leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 21, 2020
I'm a huge fan of Shana Galen and The Survivors series, and I was really looking forward to this book. Two Survivors for the price of one?? Yes, please!
I admit the thought of essentially four main characters seemed like it might get confusing, but the way Shana broke each chapter down into the different points of view kept it clear, and easy to follow. Plus it kept the story moving along, rather than getting bogged down in recaps or other miscellaneous details. I found it a surprisingly fast read - even though I made myself slow down so it wouldn't end too quickly.
What I really liked was how each couple's story felt unique to them, even though they were all part of the overall plot. Duncan & Ines' scenes had a very different feel than Stratford & Emmeline's, but it all managed to be cohesive - even when their stories overlapped.
I particularly loved that neither Ines nor Emmeline were the 'typical' heroine - they were strong women who knew what they wanted, and were not about to let any man tell them what they could and could not do. I especially love how confident Emmeline is in her self and her body, despite her mother's constant criticism. She is most definitely a role model character.
What I love most about The Survivors series is that you don't need to have read them all to enjoy the story. Yes, some of the characters from past books pop up, but you don't feel like you've missed anything by not knowing their back-story. That, I think, is true talent indeed.
I admit the thought of essentially four main characters seemed like it might get confusing, but the way Shana broke each chapter down into the different points of view kept it clear, and easy to follow. Plus it kept the story moving along, rather than getting bogged down in recaps or other miscellaneous details. I found it a surprisingly fast read - even though I made myself slow down so it wouldn't end too quickly.
What I really liked was how each couple's story felt unique to them, even though they were all part of the overall plot. Duncan & Ines' scenes had a very different feel than Stratford & Emmeline's, but it all managed to be cohesive - even when their stories overlapped.
I particularly loved that neither Ines nor Emmeline were the 'typical' heroine - they were strong women who knew what they wanted, and were not about to let any man tell them what they could and could not do. I especially love how confident Emmeline is in her self and her body, despite her mother's constant criticism. She is most definitely a role model character.
What I love most about The Survivors series is that you don't need to have read them all to enjoy the story. Yes, some of the characters from past books pop up, but you don't feel like you've missed anything by not knowing their back-story. That, I think, is true talent indeed.
September 7, 2020
The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure by Shana Galen is the 8th novel in the very intriguing series, The Survivors. To make things even better this time, we get two romances and two HEAs. What could be better?
Emmeline Wellesley is in constant conflict with her mother because she has no interest in participating in her fourth season in London society. She runs away but soon finds herself in a very precarious situation with all of her money stolen. An attractive family friend, Stratford Fortescue, sets out to bring her home.
Before she can be introduced to an unwanted suitor, Inez Neves escapes and takes refuge in a carriage. She thought she knew who it belonged to and that she’d be safe there, but she soon finds out that a stranger owns the carriage and it is headed far outside London with her trapped inside. Duncan Murray, the owner of the carriage, is surprised to not only find a stowaway in his carriage, but to find out that she only speaks Portuguese!
The two couples soon hook up and the fun begins! As always, Shana Galen’s story is well-written and fast paced. It is told with a great deal of emotion and humor. The complex characters are wonderful and you’ll laugh and cry with them.
The Survivors has been a wonderful series for Ms. Galen and the Highlander’s Excellent Adventure is another five-star entry! Keep ‘em coming, Shana!
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader’s Copy of this novel and the views expressed here are my honest opinions.
Emmeline Wellesley is in constant conflict with her mother because she has no interest in participating in her fourth season in London society. She runs away but soon finds herself in a very precarious situation with all of her money stolen. An attractive family friend, Stratford Fortescue, sets out to bring her home.
Before she can be introduced to an unwanted suitor, Inez Neves escapes and takes refuge in a carriage. She thought she knew who it belonged to and that she’d be safe there, but she soon finds out that a stranger owns the carriage and it is headed far outside London with her trapped inside. Duncan Murray, the owner of the carriage, is surprised to not only find a stowaway in his carriage, but to find out that she only speaks Portuguese!
The two couples soon hook up and the fun begins! As always, Shana Galen’s story is well-written and fast paced. It is told with a great deal of emotion and humor. The complex characters are wonderful and you’ll laugh and cry with them.
The Survivors has been a wonderful series for Ms. Galen and the Highlander’s Excellent Adventure is another five-star entry! Keep ‘em coming, Shana!
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader’s Copy of this novel and the views expressed here are my honest opinions.
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