A lie this bold will not stay hidden. He thought he was marrying a chieftain's daughter—but his young wife isn't who she seems. Deception and passion collide in Medieval Scotland.
When Keira Gunn agrees to swap places with her best friend and wed a man in her stead, she knows she's making a great sacrifice.
She's also risking her own future.
But Keira never wanted to be a nun and longs for a life outside the nunnery, where she's about to take her vows. Her friend is desperate—and this could be Keira's only chance to forge a new path for herself.
The MacKays of Farr have a new chieftain. Connor MacKay is a reluctant husband, yet he's been betrothed for years.
Now, he needs to honor his promise.
The woman he collects from the nunnery is a surprise. She isn't the great beauty Connor expects, yet her quick wit and passionate nature soon enthrall him.
But his wife keeps a secret that risks more than both their hearts.
Multi-award-winning author Jayne Castel writes epic Historical and Fantasy Romance. Her vibrant characters, richly researched historical settings and action-packed adventure romance transport readers to forgotten times and imaginary worlds.
Jayne is the author of a number of best-selling series. In love with all things Scottish, she writes romances set in both Dark Ages and Medieval Scotland.
When she's not writing, Jayne is reading (and re-reading) her favorite authors, cooking Italian feasts, and going on long walks with her husband. She's from New Zealand, but now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.
3 to 3.5 stars. A quick, easy read with generally likeable characters and an interesting medieval Scottish setting. I wasn't really on board with the whole basis of the plot however, which revolved around deception and lies. Not my fav trope. I might read some of the others in the series.
This was my Medieval read for November 2021 Romance Across The Ages challenge, HRBC.
I think I'm the only one who didn't enjoy this book. The beginning was light and enjoyable, but halfway way though I was bored.
My problem: is when her ruse is discovered she faced no real punishment unless you count the silent treatment by her husband for a few weeks. I felt she needed to redeem herself somehow for me to understand why the H/a Highlander chief would forgive her soo quickly.
Can Break My Bones💀, But Words Will Never Hurt Me. But they make for High anxiety. ADULT Historical Highlander🐺🍆⛲💪🔪 Romance💕 and Adventure⛵. Keira 💃💔, a young woman of the Gunn clan( an enemy of the MacKay Clan) is sent to the isle of Iona to become a nun, against her wishes.
Her parents didn't deem her worthy of a dowry and a husband and she was the youngest of six sisters. She just wants a husband and family. While at the cloister, She becomes friends with Rhianna, a young woman sent there to be kept safe until her arranged marriage with Connor MacKay🐺🍆⛲💪🔪, clan Laird.
Rhianna has a prior love, and she talks Keira💃💔 into switching places with her, since neither Connor🐺🍆⛲💪🔪 or his family have ever seen her. Rhianna runs off with her boyfriend, Callum, leaving Keira💃💔 to live a total lie. Thank Goodness Connor🐺🍆⛲💪🔪 is the hottest hunk of man meat she's ever seen!
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱 I also got this ebook with KU.
The book is rife with anxiety from Keira💃💋 about the lie she must now live, and it got OLD really fast! Will Connor 🐺🍆⛲💪🔪run Keira💃💋 off or accept her as the woman He fell in love 💘with?
There was just too much angst, regret and anxiety in this book for me, almost every few pages.
This, I believe is a first read by author Jayne Castel. I thought the story was a short and enjoyable read. The characters were likeable and contrary to the deceptive plot, it was well written. It caught my attention until the HEA. Would venture to reading the others in the series.
Highlander Deceived Stolen Highland Hearts #1 Jayne Castel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Keira Gunn never wanted to be a nun and is now about to take her vowes so when she finds her best friend very upset she really wants to help her. Her friend asks her to make a sacrifice. A sacrifice that may or may not change both of their lives. Against her better judgment Keira agrees to swap places with her best friend and wed the man that she is betrothed to so that her friend may run off with the man she loves.
Connor MacKay is the new chieftain of the MacKay's and definitely a reluctant husband, but he knows that it is now his duty to honor the engagement that his father made when he was a boy so he goes to pick up his betrothed weather he wants to or not.
The woman that he picks up at the gates of the nunnery is a surprise. She isn't exactly the beauty that expects, but her quick wit, kindness, and loving actions soon have him falling for her.
This has been the best time of both of their lives and they do seem to be instantly taken to one another so it comes as a shock to him when he finds out the truth.
Will they be able to get past the lies and make it through it in one piece? Or will both of their hearts be forever broken?
Jane Castel never disappoints. This is a fantastic book. This is the first book in a New series and it starts out with a bang. I came to love both of these characters so much that I could feel their pain emanating right off of the pages. Keira has been through so much yet she is as strong as ever and gets stronger as the story goes on. Conner is a new laird who has never been able to confide in anybody until this one lady comes into his life shining as bright as the biggest star. This story stole my heart and I was rooting for these two the whole way through. Ms. Castel I absolutely adored this story and can't wait to read the other books in the series when they come out.
Reading a Jayne Castel book is like going on a fantastical adventure in the Highlands and with her words you truly feel like you're right there, experiencing it all.
A superb first book in Jayne Castel's newest series "Stolen Highland Hearts". Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down until I finished it so needless to say, no housework was done today! lol I loved it all, the characters, the plot, the historical background, etc. One can always tell this author really does her research!
Keira Gunn finds herself in quite an awkward situation just because she wanted to help her friend. You can't help but love Keira, she's gone through so much in her life and all she's ever wanted was a good husband and bairns who would love her the way she is.
Connor MacKay has been betrothed since he was 8 years old and it's now time to marry. Little does he know the woman he marries is NOT his intended! When he finds out Keira's secret, he is completely devastated!! I loved Connor as well, such a strong, handsome and kind Laird but ferocious when he needs to be.
A story that will pull you in right from the start and your heart will be engaged the whole way through until the end. Now I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out...Maggie and Morgan's story!!
I was given an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Despite living in Scotland, the only Scottish historical romance I've read is Outlander, until I picked up 'Highlander Deceived' in a SYKD, and boy I'm so glad I did. This was such an excellent well-crafted story by author Jayne Castel and I loved every minute of it!
The first in a trilogy, Highlander Deceived is set in the the Isle of Iona in 1426 and right away we're introduced to the hook of the story: two young women in a nunnery swap places; the intended bride, Rhianna Ross, runs off with her lover while her friend, Keira Gunn, takes her place to marry chieftan Connor Mackay. Faced with a lonely life in a nunnery or married to a strapping handsome laird? It's a no brainer and actually very relatable, I imagine many young women would not have blinked twice at doing the same in her position!
Unfortunately for Keira, the Gunn and Mackay clans are deadly enemies and if anyone finds out she's a Gunn she's probably going to get stabbed with a dirk. Keira is also an honest lass and struggles with keeping her identity a secret from Connor to whom she pretty much falls for on sight. The man is very easy on the eye after all, and endearingly protective of his fiancee, especially as everyone is remarking that 'she's not the beauty she's supposed to be' as they all think she's Rhianna.
Honestly, this story has plenty of nail biting and emotionally gripping moments and kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. The descriptions of the Scottish landscape, housing, food, and clothing are all meticulously researched, so it feels like you're right there with the characters in the 15th century. But the story itself skips along and doesn't get bogged down in unnecessary detail, which makes it a fast-paced read. The writing is also hauntingly beautiful, and brings the characters and the Isle of Iona to life.
I encourage anyone who loves Scottish historical romance to read this book, you won't be disappointed!
It was an entertaining, quick read with a very unique premise. I'm glad Castle moved the plot along quickly but I wish we had gotten more sex scenes/romance between Connor and Keira to highlight their chemistry. I also wish we could have had more insight into Rihanna's character. All we got were sparse accounts of what people thought of her outside of her beauty. It would have been nice to get more info so we as readers could have a solid comparison between her and Keira. The ending was a bit rushed but all in all I enjoyed this quick read.
4.5⭐️ I usually have a hard time with big deception plots because it’s too tense for me, but I really enjoyed this. There were shaky moments, but Connor’s love for Keira is so strong. They were so sweet together. It also helped that this is a fairly short read so things get resolved quickly.
This was a really sweet romance. I love Keira and Connor. I wish Rhianna not well. I wish I had realized this series took place before the courageous highland hearts series, but this isn't the first time I've made that mistake and it's kind of like having a prequel series. I'm excited for the others in the series too since I liked the characters future appearances.
Man, I was really hoping this one would play out better but it just didn't. Though I wasn't all that surprised as I'm closing in on my tenth book by this author and I've come to know what to expect and what not to expect from them.
I've read a few similar historical's of this type of trope before and usually they're pretty solid and entertaining. This one...not so much.
I mean, it was interesting but not truly engrossing.
I felt for the heroine Keira. I did. She had been mistreated and made to felt unwanted and unworthy by her parents and elder sisters. A chance to decide her own future stolen from her and she was sent to a nunnery. She didn't want to be a nun. All she ever wanted was to find a kindhearted husband and have a family of her own. She was insecure with her looks because of the verbal assault laid on her growing up. She wasn't ugly but she was no "jewel of the highlands" as they say. She felt uncomfortable in her own skin because of how her family treated her. She was tall and curvaceous with a slightly longer face and sharp nose and a crooked mouth. She didn't hate herself or her body but she was made to believe she wasn't anything special and unworthy.
I really did feel for her. It was awful what she had endured. Especially so because the real Rhianna, her supposed "best friend" used her insecurities to manipulate her into this scheme to begin with.
True, Keira wasn't completely innocent as she went through with the lie and even married Connor. She could have spoke up at any point but for the most part I didn't entirely think her a coward. Yes, she almost confessed before the wedding but it was also easy to find that her strength to right her wrongs weakened by the comfort and kindness from Connor and his family.
For once in her life Keira felt seen and heard. She was treated as if she mattered and it was an addictive feeling. One she wasn't loathe to give up.
I think overall this was a decent read. Pretty lighthearted and easy.
Sad to say the big reveal of her identity was pretty underwhelming. The lack of real angst and drama that I expected in the fallout just never made an appearance. Sure, Connor was hurt and betrayed. Keira was hurt and afraid for her future. Connors clan-chief was livid as was his son and even Connor's bitter uncle. But the angst and hurt I wanted to see from these characters never manifested.
And even after the author skips to a month later...nothing had happened. Keira was essentially living with Connor and his clan as his wife but was a silent spectator. No one really interacted with her and she went about her day and that was that. They had little interaction while Connor brooded over everything.
Talk about a bummer! Later when Connor makes his public apology in front of the clan and let's them know they've reconciled he apologizes for his poor treatment of Keira... But here's the thing... He never actually treated her in any type of way. He basically just ignored her.
When they all first found out at his clan-chiefs home he was noticably angry and upset while they waited for his chief to decide how to punish Keira for her lies. They also suspected her of being a Gunn spy but that amounted to nothing except to scare Keira. Point is, the only time he actually did or said anything that actually hurt her or was harsh to Keira was when he announced he'd return her to her family KNOWING what he did about them and how they treated her. Knowing she was unwanted and they wouldn't be happy she left the nunnery and was consorting with Mackay's.
And in the end Connor didn't commit to his angry decision. In the face of her father's anger and real threats of beating her into submission he told them she was his wife and decided she would return home with him. For once making a decision himself instead others doing so for him.
So, to be honest the actual drama was massively disappointing. There was no real fall out. It was like oh well she lied but we'll give her the silent treatment now.😂🤦🏻♀️
I wanted more. She was from their clan enemies after all. I mean, damn. This was just too SOFT.
We never even got another Rhianna appearance so Keira could confront the selfish skank.
And of course the pacing was all weird for me. It was maybe all of a week/week and a half from Connor retrieving Keira from the nunnery, traveling and then arriving home and marrying her to then what? Two days of married life before his clan-chief invited them to his home. Then a day after arriving Rihanna's uncle and sister arrive late. And the lie was revealed.
The fact it occured at 50% was laughable. All those pages spent on such little time. And especially because in those brief 4-5 days Connor and Keira supposedly fell so in love with one another. 🙄
Spare me. Be honest, they had sex and fell into lust. Keira was ripe for the picking when it came to wanting someone to love and naturally would fall easily for a man who treated her so well and was handsome. And Connor...hell if I know. He supposedly found her face arresting and of course loved her curves (boobs) so... I mean Connor had next to no personality tbh.
This book come in perfect time for i've been craving a historical romance for a while. Raised with believe that she is unwanted for she doesnt have the beuty of her sisters, Keira become this meak, silent and in desperate need to be love. Thats why when her friend suggest to swap, for Keira to marry her bethrothed, and she to fleed with her lover, Keira embrace that idea so she can life the live she always crave. A husband, children and family of her own. Not the nunnery. He is the new chieftain after his father was killed in battlefield. And for that, Connor must bring his bethrothed and marry her at once. But she isnt what they say about her. For Connor, she is more interesting than the beuty people talk about. Until he find the truth.
The things i love about hisrom would be the athmosphere. Even the endearment are different. mo ghràdh. mo leannan. My love. Arent they just sweet n romantic to the ears?? Love that! And the languange. You can just hear them talk complete with their accents, and its sexy. The magic in hisrom is the man, our hero is more than alpha. They really would fight to the death for their woman. Like Connor did. But for Keira, something missing for me. Usually when i read hisrom, specially the highlanders, the women are amazingly very skilled. Either with medicine, house chores management, or with weapons. But Keira, bit spoiler here, she doesnt even potrayed to venture as the lady of the castle. No interaction with her husband people in the castle to insert her self as the wife chieftain. She doesnt show her skill to woo the clan. She doesnt even stand up for her self after what happened and just live like a ghosted shadow in the castle. For me, Keira doesnt show enough strenght as the chieftain wife like Connor praise her be. The steamy scenes arent steamy for me. They just bit sizzle. Light angst. My biggest regret in this book is the light angst. Unfortunetly theres not enough time for Connor and Keira to talk n get to know each other before all truth comes out. So i dont get the "i love you" part. Feel premature when at the end even they admit to them self that they dont know each other well. I wish we can see more of their get to know each other more to feel their connection, their chemistry more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
"Highlander Deceived" is an absolutely fantastic start to a new series called "Stolen Highland Hearts" by Jayne Castel, one of my favorite authors! It is the very emotional story of a young woman, Keira Gunn, abused and unwanted by her family, who is placed in a nunnery to live out the rest of her life. She befriends Rhianna Ross, a wild and willful daughter of a laird who is sent to the nunnery to keep her from her lover until her betrothed, Laird Connor Mackay, comes to claim her. Having been betrothed as children, they've never met and neither looks forward to this marriage. Rhianna comes up with the idea of trading identities with Keira. Rhianna will be free to go to her lover and Keira will marry Conner and escape becoming a nun and having a husband and children which has always been her dream. Keira, naive and trusting, agrees to impersonate Rhianna but from the start she is consumed by guilt. She finds out Clan Mackay hates Clan Gunn with a passion and is engaged in a bloody feud. She and Connor fall in love, her deceit weighing heavily on her but she keeps quiet because she doesn't want to give up the wonderful life she now has. She has had so little happiness in her life til now. However, one day her lie is unexpectedly revealed and all hell breaks loose!
This story is so well-written it captured me from the very start! The characters are so well-crafted I felt every emotion of both Keira and Connor as their story unfolded. Ms. Castel also has an uncanny talent for bringing medieval Scotland to life. This story is full of deceit, passion, regrets, confessions, sizzling romance, heartbreak, betrayal, redemption and ultimately forgiveness. I understood how Keira was desperate and grabbed at the chance to start a new life even if it was a lie and I felt her pain, anguish and torment over how she ends up breaking the heart of the man she loves. A highly recommended wonderful read! Readers, you won't be disappointed!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A stand-alone love story that's truly worth reading.
After finishing Jayne Castel's last series (Immortal Highland Centurions), which is probably one of my all-time favorites, I could not wait to begin her Stolen Highland Hearts series. I love Ms. Castel's writing style. Her characters are always multi-faceted and believable, and her stories are richly textured and layered with the sights, sounds and fell of real historical events.
That said, I did have a hard time getting started with Highlander Deceived. I get that everyone lies at sometime or other, but I'm just not a big fan of intentional deception. Deceiving the heart of another is no way to begin a relationship, and usually a happy future cannot be based on a lie, Which is why I kept setting down this book. I fell in love with both Connor and Keira, and I was dreading the awful moment of reckoning. But much like not being able to look away from an accident, I kept picking up the story until I became so involved, I just could not put it down.
I'm so very glad that trusted my love of this authors works and I pushed myself to step outside of my moral prejudice. If I hadn't, I would never have experienced the sweet and satisfying parts of this character driven medieval love story with it's dramatic twists and turns.
Content 411: In addition to some mild swearing, there are a few moderately described sexually intimate scenes. There is also some period appropriate, moderately described violence.
Disclosure: I received an complementary copy of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
Highlander Deceived: A Medieval Scottish Romance (Stolen Highland Hearts Book 1) by Jayne Castel Raw...Emotional...Excruciating Tension kept my knickers uncomfortable and my reader in my hand until the last page! This is a heartfelt story of a woman who had been emotionally tormented by her family because, she wasn’t pretty like her sisters. After her father married off all five of her sisters and paid their dowries, he told her there wasn’t anyone who wanted to marry her so there wouldn’t be any dowery for her. Then the wretch took and dropped her off at a convent where she would have to take her vows and become a nun. So, when her only friend at the convent received a letter saying that her betrothed was coming for her, she begged her friend to help her by taking her place and pretend to be her when her betrothed came to fetch her, she reluctantly agreed. She feared this would be her one and only chance to escape the convent and to make a new and maybe even a happy life for herself. Keira finds acceptance and hot steamy passion, and a life she couldn’t have dreamed of. Until, all hell breaks loose and I mean “ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE !!!” I really enjoyed these intense and interesting characters even the ones I wanted to witness Karma take a thrashing to! Note: The ending made the intense, nail biting, edge of your seat ride all that much sweeter! I recommend this read to everyone and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series! Happy Reading!
Content Notes: Adult. Some explicit steamy romance descriptions 3-4 out of 5 flames. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Keira Gunn has been at the nunnery for a year, sent there by her parents, considered too horse-faced to get a husband even if her father could put together a dowry for her. Her sisters and parents have either tormented her or ignored her all, her life and is used to being in the shadows. At the nunnery she made friends with Rhianna Ross, a selfish, self-centred woman who uses Keira to her own gain. Connor McKay lost his father in a recent battle with the Gunn Clan and has decided to claim his betrothed. They have been betrothed since childhood and not seen each other since. Although she is not the beauty he has heard of she is also not selfish and Connor is intrigued by his new bride. Keira agrees to swap places with Rhianna so that she can run off with her lover and also so that she has a chance at a husband and children. Rhianna makes it all sound so each and risk free but as she starts on her new path, Keira is starting to have doubts. This was such an emotional read; Keira has suffered all her life and this glimpse of belonging to a family is just too great to resist. Connor is understandably unset and angered by the betrayal but takes it too far and luckily has a brother who is not afraid to let him know. I can’t wait for the next in series and I hope it has news about Keira and Connor in there too. I love this author, the characters, scene description and Scottish politics make these books not to be missed.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jayne Castel delivers a wonderful story in “Highlander Deceived “. This story is beautifully written, wonderfully told, filled with emotions that can draw tears and a passion that will make you sigh.
I loved Conner and Keira and rooted for them from the start. Jayne’s characters are well developed, multifaceted individuals. She brings her characters to life beautifully in this wonderful story. The dialogue, her imagery, descriptions and these amazing characters come together so well. The story is written in both Conner and Keira’s point of view giving great insight and understanding into our characters.
The plot is written so well and developed nicely. There’s just so much going on in this story, abuse, deceit, betrayal, and forgiveness along with a sizzling chemistry between characters. I knew the day of reckoning was coming and I dreaded it for both Conner and Keira. This is a page turner that is sure to pull on your heartstrings. I can’t wait for the next book.
Thank you so much Jayne for such a marvelous story. I hope to see these characters in future stories.
Not for me, but I can definitely see how it would be right up someone's alley.
If you like Old School Romance with the Big Strong Domineering Man, and Heroine who must learn and adapt to be what the Hero wants, while he doesn't change, but you don't like the rapeyness of Old School Romance, then this is for you. But like, I hate that. So I just could not get behind it.
The hero was a jerk who did not deserve the heroine. Yeah, she lied about who she was to escape a life she didn't want and an abusive family who didn't want her. But like, he CHOSE not to send her back to her family. They were literally at her family's place and he was like, "Naw." Then he continued to punish her for her lie. Fuck him. His own brother points out his hypocrisy, but he's still like, "But my pride! She embarrassed me. That's not something you can just forgive. Wah wah wah."
My other problem, besides the whiny baby hero, is the audiobook narrator. This is partially on me for not noticing that the author is also the audiobook narrator, and I hate that in fiction. Get a professional.
Born the sixth daughter of a sheep farmer by the time it came to Kiera's dowry there was nothing left. Her parents sent her to a convent and washed their hands of her.
When Kiera's friend Rhianna proposes they switch places as Rhianna's betrothed is coming for her and Rhianna is in love with another, Kiera takes the chance to change her life. Little did the young girl know that guilt would eat away at her, and even more so since Rhianna's betrothed Connor is a really nice guy. He's attentive, kind and interested in Kiera right from the start.
The longer time goes on, the more they fall for each other and the more Kiera digs herself into the deception. She wants to tell Connor, but for the first time in her short life folks are being kind to her and she does not want to give that up.
Kiera's plight made me want to cry, while she makes it through okay there were things I could relate to with this character. I know that a little kindness can go a long way. A handsome face and good d doesn't hurt either.
A well crafted medieval romance by Jayne Castel. Highlander Deceived is book 1 in the Stolen Highland Hearts series that's truly worth reading. Jayne Castel does a wonderful job of bringing you into the world of Medieval Scotland.
Connor and Keira are wonderful characters and you quickly get swept up in their journey of love, passion and acceptance. Their arranged marriage is based on a lie, and you wonder how will this get resolved, but the story takes you through all the emotions of betrayal to forgiveness. The story wasn't rushed, and the betrayal scene came at just the right time, not too early or late in the story. It felt emotional and powerful.
All the characters in the story made it even more engaging. I also loved Connor's siblings Morgan and Jaime and look forward to their stories. Bring on book 2!
It's a wonderful theme of love conquering and new beginnings.
Keira wanted nothing more than to live a life with love and family. Unfortunately her family sees her as nothing more than a burden they must unload and sends her to a convent. At the convent she becomes friends with Rhianna who is in love with a man her family does not approve and plans to run away with. But Rhianna is betrothed to a laird she wants nothing to do with. To that end she convinces Keira to change places with her. Keira is not totally convinced this is at all wise but starts to live the lie which will see Callum the man she marries deceived and humiliated. But Keira and Callum have fallen in love. Their story tells of deceit, suspense, romance and forgiveness but at what cost will there be forgiveness. A story I truly loved. Jayne Castel's story of Callum and Keira is wonderfully told. I highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an enjoyable book. Keira Gunn was placed in a nunnery by her parents who did not want to be bothered with her. She has an opportunity for release from that life when she switches places with a selfish friend, Rhianna Ross, knowing she will now be married to a stranger. But Keira never wanted to be a nun and she will soon be forced to take her vows. So her friend’s desperate plea could be Keira’s one and only chance to get out of her obligation and live a new life on the outside.
The Mackay family of Farr has a new warrior chieftain who is not particularly eager to marry. But Connor Mackay knew this was his duty and he will honor that. The woman he is betrothed to from the nunnery may not be a great beauty, but he is delighted with her intelligence, wit, and passion for life. But when he learns of her secret, how will he react to the perceived betrayal? Has she lost all hope of happiness and acceptance from the man with whom she has fallen in love?
Another disappointment and this one is HUGE because I really wanted this book to blow my mind so I could stop being so negative towards finding a book worthy of my time but nope, this just made me think that I have to dig days in a raw just to find what I'm looking for. Which is not much by the way.
Is asking the authors out there to write a good story so hard for them to achieve when we pay good money for their work? It's really hard to like this story and I couldn't finish more than half this book because after 50% the story was the same. Nothing happened other than the two friends changing places and the heroine feeling sorry for deceiving everybody else. And I hated the hero because he is so NICE! Who the fuck wants a nice guy nowadays? At least in fiction give us something good ! Do we have to stand out with boring guys in books too?
Ok, after all this unnecessary talk about unnecessary things you only need to know that this book is not worth your money or time.
Desperate to avoid life in a nunnery, Keira agrees to switch places with her friend and marry a man neither of them has ever met. Connor has always been reluctant to collect his betrothed, but now time has run out. He’s just surprised to learn how much he actually likes the woman. Of course, secrets are bound to be discovered.
I enjoyed this. I would like to have learned what happened to the real Rhianna. It did seem like she was manipulative and it would have been nice to see her face some consequences. I’m also unsure how this would have played out. If you take vows using someone else’s names, are those vows really binding? Connor’s behaviour was a little annoying. Even though he had been lied to and had every right to be angry, he was a little too cruel and cold.
Another great story about the war torn Scottish clans. Rhianna and Keira have both been sent to a convent against their will. Rhianna to keep her away from the warrior she fell in love to ensure she is ready for the man she was betrothed to aged 8. Keira as he family don't want her after marrying off all her older sisters even though she longs to be married with children. By swapping places each girl may achieve their dream but only if the deception is not found. Connor is the betrothed who marries Keira believing her to be Rhianna. There is a thin line between love and hate when the betrayal is uncovered. A roller coaster emotional ride.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first book in Jayne Castel new series and it is off to an amazing start! In her books you tend to get absorbed into the story and lose total track of anything often reading the whole book in one go! In this story we meet Keira who is in a nunnery about to take her final vows which she has no interest in doing. She finds her best friend upset and asks to help her, but what she tell her I. Order to help her could bring problems for them both. Keira ends up agreeing and she Weds her besties fiancé. They both have a like which grows to a loving attraction to each other. But as time goes on the truth comes to light. Will their love be enough to make it through the lies?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Highlander Deceived was a nail biter! I finished it in one sitting- I enjoy looking words up that I’m unfamiliar with, so the writing style and vocabulary in this book was a little different. In this book we meet Keira- she’s not a perfect looking beauty and when Connor looks at her, he sees ‘her’, not just her appearance like everyone else seems to. She’s a woman who has suffered, had a loveless life- and is hopeful that her ‘lie’ will finally give her a chance at happiness- lessons will he learned along the way. It’s another wonderfully written romance. ❤️ I did receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.