The Devil's Laird

by Brenda Jernigan

The White Witch



As Lady Siena stands on a platform waiting to die, she realizes that she has been doomed from the day she was born. She doesn’t believe she is worth anything, much less love. Her own people believe she is cursed. Siena’s only true blessing is the gift of sight.



The Devil’s Laird



Roderick, Warlord of Kirkurd, is driven by revenge and guilt. When his holding was attacked, his wife ravished and slain, and his son missing, the goodness within Roderick died. He is now known as the Devil’s Laird.



The Meeting . . .



Roderick saves Siena from the hangman’s noose and takes her back to his castle. Siena sees a lonely, haunted man who needs her. But no matter how hard she tries, she cannot completely break down the barrier Roderick has constructed around his heart, nor shake the curse of bad luck that his people believe she carries. Only the Holy Grail can prove if she is good or evil.

When Siena sacrifices herself to free Roderick’s son, Roderick realizes that he has lost his chance to love again. Now he will move heaven and earth to find her before it is too late.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Medieval Romance, Paranormal

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Brenda Jernigan is a bestselling author. Her books have been nominated for
many awards - Book Seller’s Best Award, The Maggie Award, and The Holt
Medallion Award. Publisher’s Weekly said, “Brenda Jernigan writes Romance,
Adventure and Magic”

She grew up living the life of a tomboy – climbing trees, playing ball, and excluding starry-eyed romance from her daily repertoire. Brenda discovered the love of books while taking her son to Story Hour at the local library -- she was hooked. She set an ambitious goal and began work on her first novel. She continued to write six more novels in rapid succession. She figured having the same birthday as Ernest Hemingway couldn’t hurt.

Her books have been printed in several languages and her last book “Southern Seduction” written under the name of Alexandria Scott was printed in Russian.
Web Page - www.brendajbooks.com

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, shorter read with an endearing heroine and appealingly gruff hero. I liked the magical elements. I wish it was a bit longer because I wanted more depth to the story. But I enjoyed it a lot, and I actually had time to read a book (not Audiobook)! This was a nice way to spend some time reading.

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.

[Paula Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't get enough of Roderick and Siena's story. A page-turner from beginning to end! Fleshed out, wonderful characters that had me rooting for them from page one!

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

Rating: 4.5/5.0

This is just a wonderful Scottish historical tale told splendidly! The novel has lots of action, wicked humor and brilliant dialogue, making for a very enjoyable read!

Read full review in the 2021 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Barbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: The Devil’s Laird
By Brenda Jernigan

Release Date: January 1, 2021

1)Celtic Barb’s Saltire Book Review Blog
2)Administrator of Celtic World of Historical Book Reviews
3)Administrator of Tartan Book Reviews
4)Administrator of Purple Tulip Book Reviews

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Sizzling Hot!

Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿


🇬🇧 Medieval England and Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Lady Siena Bertram of Bertram castle has been brutally abused both mentally by her father Cinge Bertram, of Balan castle who blames her for both her mother and her twin brother’s death.They both died in childbirth, on the day Siena was born-as she was the only one who survived. Her cold, heartless, father, sent Siena away to live with her cruel, evil, sadistic, older brother due to the fact she looked so much like her mother. Her brother beat and tormented her and making his people believe she was possessed and a white witch! She lived a loveless life, the only one to show her any kindness and affection was her maid Agatha and a tutor that educated her.

Siena is a healer and gifted with seeing the future but keeps her magic hidden. However, she does not know how to control her magic. Beyond that, her brother was so depraved he convinced his clan she was a witch due to the unusual birthmark on her arm that was shaped like a pitchfork. He also abused her maid Agatha for coming to her defense. Well enough was enough, she knew this time he was going to kill her. She knew it was him or her and by luck she stabbed him in his villainous black heart! The problem is his people did not defend her as they should honor and protect her and instead decided to hang her. Just as she was being hung she felt the blue face devil himself was coming to claim her. She wasn’t too off the mark as this human man was known as the Devils Laird to many!

A year ago Fidach Bertram had slaughtered Roderick’s White Dawn castle and all the people, mostly women while he and his warriors were away. His own wife had been raped and killed. His son Michael had been missing this entire time. So this man is filled with guilt for not leaving enough men to guard and protect his family and his people while he was away. Now his heart is ice cold and closed as he only feels hatred and wants vengeance and retaliation for the one who did this to his people. He wants to destroy the one who is responsible for this! He rebuilt his destroyed holding painting it black to never forget the dead. He knows Fidach Bertram, is responsible and wants to question him about Michael before he kills him, he doesn’t even know if his son is dead or alive!

Except when he surrounds Bertram castle he is shocked to see they are about to hang a woman! He is shocked when he discovers they were about to execute the Lady of Bertram! A lady they should be protecting-not killing! He saves Siena Bertram and over takes the castle. Now owing his allegiance to her since she killed his enemy. Plus he sees how battered she is with her swollen face and deep gash in her arm. He does not trust her people and felt like gagging when they were saying she was cursed and a witch. It just made Roderick protective of Siena as she is the first woman who has made him feel anything in a very long time.

Siena feels horrible by what her brother did to this clan, especially Roderick’s wife and son. She is hoping with her seer magic, the help of a green lady, and a fairy named Barra, she will find out what happened to Michael. The attraction between Roderick and Siena grows stronger. Yet Siena feels worthless and is hoping a holy grail might help end her existence. So now Roderick not only needs to find his son but he needs to find the lady that owns his heart! Time is of the essence will he be able to prove that the world will be a cold dark place without this wonderful woman who is nothing but a bright warm light and full of love? Find out the conclusion of this beautiful heart wrenching story.

Yet both Roderick and Siena are a bit broken and need to be mended. Will these star crossed lovers be able to seek what they need? As this English rose has never had a family’s love and this Scottish thistle had his family savagely ripped away. Will these two discover the answers to their prayers? Read and find out!


Jernigan sweeps you away into breathtaking settings, magical plots, multi-dimensional characters, brilliant dialogue with swoon worthy saviors, and a heroine with a magical heart! This includes sizzling hot passionate love scenes that absolutely makes your pulse race and temperature rise! An enchanting novel that I absolutely loved!

A book I definitely could not put down! It is a riveting, page turning, spellbinding, magical, romantic adventure that will captivate readers right from the start! It is filled with all the element historical readers love, wonderful hero’s and black hearted bad guys.Reading this phenomenal book readers will get swept away and understand why! I can’t recommend The Devil’s Laird enough!

Disclaimer: I received an advance readers copy through the author. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

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[Vanessa Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read with plenty of adventure. I really enjoyed seeing how they came together and how she wanted to help him even if, as she thought, he didn't really want her.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Sight 👀, Second Love💘
ADULT Ancient Medieval Highlander🏰🔪Romance💕 and Adventure.

I reviewed this book from the ARC copy, not from the published book. The book is interesting in that it has some paranormal elements to it.

Fidach👺🔪, the Laird of Berwick Castle🏰, raided and killed Laird Roderick's wife👰 in an attack on his keep, Light Dawn🏰 while Roderick🐺🍆⛲🔪 was away. Roderick's young son👨 is still missing.

Roderick🐺🍆⛲🔪 finally mounts a retaliatory attack on Berwick🏰, to kill Fidach👺🔪, only to find a hanging of a woman about to take place. The woman, Siena💃💋, is Fidach's sister! She killed Fidach👺🔪 after suffering his physical abuse👊💪 for the last time. Siena💃💋 is also considered to be a witch because she has the second sight.

Roderick🐺🍆⛲🔪 rescues Siena💃💋, takes over Berwick Castle🏰, and takes her back to his own castle now called Black Dawn🏰, after it was burned and his wife killed.

ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
This book was $4.50 on Amazon at the time of this review.
Opinions Expressed here are entirely my own.

I know this author worked hard on this book but I just didn't feel the hatred and pent up frustration from Roderick🐺🍆⛲🔪 that he should have been feeling. He fell all too easily for Siena💃💋. World 🌎building was fair but could have been much better. I also felt like the second sight 👀 aspect to Siena's character made it easier for the author to skip over some plot holes.

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the synopsis of the plot on Netgalley and thought it sounded worth reading so I requested an ARC. I’ll need to remember to avoid this author in the future because I really don’t like her writing.This is the second time I’ve read one of her books and my complaints this time are similar. Basically, it’s innocuous drivel. I did enjoy the plot, but that was about it and I had to force myself to read the second half of the book.

The writing is clumsy and unimaginative, rife with cliches (“I wouldna want it any other way.”) and unexceptional comparisons (“Her throat was so parched it felt like it was on fire.”). I won’t call them metaphors because they do not rise to that level. Editing was sub-par. For example, defiantly was used at least two times when the intended word was definitely. There was way too much telling instead of showing. This was probably my biggest complaint, to be honest. In addition, there were plot inconsistencies and actions that just didn’t make sense. There were even a few instances of verb tenses changing from past-tense to present-tense, then back. It was primarily told in third-person past-tense. The final part of the book was the most difficult to read. Whether this was because of my impatience with the story-telling or it got worse over time, I’m not sure.

When Siena met Roderick’s brothers, at their wedding, she made a comment about people needing to be judged by their actions rather than their origins (because she was English and they were Scottish). Based on that simple comment, the brother told Roderick, “I see the lass has a mind of her own.” Roderick agreed and laughed. Really? So based on one sentence, he could judge that she had a mind of her own?

I considered listing all of the plot inconsistencies, but I’m not getting paid to do that, and I don’t see the point. There is one, however, that I feel needs to be pointed out. Siena’s childhood bedroom at her father’s castle had a secret passageway hidden behind a chest. “Agatha (her maid) had told her that Siena’s mother had had the passageway made without telling her father in case she needed to escape. Evidently, her mother had had doubts about her father, too.” There are a few issues I have with this. First of all, Siena’s mother died during childbirth, while giving birth to Siena’s twin. She had no way of anticipating that the father might treat Siena poorly. Okay, so maybe the “she” in the sentence referred to Siena’s mother and the expectation that she might need to escape. If that were the case, the passageway would have been connected to her room, not the daughters, and it’s unlikely it would have been the same room. Finally, how did Siena’s mother have a secret passageway constructed without the father noticing? The whole concept was ridiculous. Also, when Siena first entered the passageway, the torches were there but the flint was missing. This was mentioned as if it were important, but it was never explained.

There was the obligatory, heavy-handed wise old character telling Roderick and Siena, “True love is always worth working for because in the end ‘tis the only thing that counts.” Blah, blah, blah. Close to the end, there was this passage: “A flash of lightning illuminated the glistening bodies of the two lovers as they came to know each other. Caressing, touching, sharing themselves as they never had with anyone else. Siena and Roderick were caught in their own whirlwind, seeing a release that only they could provide.” Gag me. I literally grimaced as I read this and almost stopped entirely, but I was so close to finishing. I dragged myself over the finish line and commenced writing this review. Maybe it will save someone else from reading it.

[Andra Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Laird is a phenomenally suspenseful historical romance. Roderick and Siena are an unlikely match, given that Roderick wants to kill Siena's brother for murdering his wife and son. However, someone beats him to it. Full of twists and action, this very romantic tale is a true page-turner that I could not put down. A long-time mystery is solved, and vengeance is served up as only a warrior can. The story draws you in from page one. The characters are believable, and you can imagine them living in that time period. Siena is a sassy and brave protagonist. Roderick is a kind and passionate warrior. His men are the best warriors and are very loyal to their Laird. Roderick's brothers are not only gorgeous but warriors in their own right. Siena's handmaid, Agatha, is also brave and loyal. These characters engage you from page to page.

The Scottish accent of Roderick and his men comes through and does not take away from the story. It made them more believable. There is even a bit of magic and a paranormal touch, just enough to make the story feel real. In medieval times they did believe that magic, witches, and fairies were real. Oh yes, the quest for the Holy Grail has its place in the story as well. This is a happily ever after that the characters worked for and deserved. I hope to see more from these characters, such as Donavan and Agatha, and maybe we can find Fergus a lass of his very own.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[NhaughtyV says Damn the Zon Save the Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Yer blood is mine and my blood is yours until the end of time.”

Lady Siena has been blessed with the gift of sight…but to those around her, she is seen as cursed and a witch. Now she is being dragged to her death at the end of a hangman’s noose. But just as the end is upon her, an unlikely savior rides in snatching her from certain death. The fierce Devil’s Larid he is called, and he’s drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Taking Lady Siena back to his fortress, Roderick swears to protect her from harm…and love her till the end of time…

Roderick, Warlord of Kirkurd, has lost everything…his wife, his son and his ability to feel anything but rage and grief. So, when he charges in to avenge their loss, he’s shocked to see a maiden about to hang. There is something about her…while beaten and bruised, Roderick sees a beautiful soul desperate in need of his protection…which he vows to all he will give…

Lady Siena and Roderick are drawn together as if they were meant to be…and each will sacrifice a piece of themselves to save the other…

The Devil’s Laird is a historical romance that has a little bit of everything…a taste of the paranormal, a quest for the holy grail, and an insta-love happily ever after. Would recommend to fans of this genre!



**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book I received via Affaire de Coeur. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A noose tightens around your neck and you assume you are to die any moment! Then a mighty Warlord, Roderick of Kirkurd is the savior of Lady Siena. Roderick, who is known as the Devil’s Laird because his wife was violated and executed was there with his fighters to avenge her death and find his son.

It seems Lady Siena beat him to having the privilege of killing the slime who killed his wife. The people of her own village have always thought her a witch or cursed because of a mark on her skin. Lord Roderick does not take stock in such things and decides that he wants Lady Siena to come to his holding.

The journey is not a easy one because there is danger that awaits them on the path to the holding. Even once they arrive twists and turns will develop that you may not see coming!

The author does a superb job in keeping the flow of the storyline fresh and interesting. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

[Michelle Dohring · Rating 4 out of 5]

****1/2stars- Laird Roderick Scott has not been able to forgive himself for his wife’s death. His son is missing and he is losing hope that he will find him. Lady Siena of Berwick has been abused by her brother Fidach for years. Roderick has come to Fidach’s castle to avenge his wife and son. He finds Lady Siena is about to be hung for killing her brother. Roderick is entranced with Siena. There is something about her that makes him want to protect her. His feelings confuse him yet it feels right. He is so sweet with Siena. She has never had anyone treat her so well. Roderick and Siena have incredible passion and they fit well together. The author weaves a story that captures your attention from the start. It is easy to read and a page turner. This story has lots of action and it keeps you wanting more. There is even some fairy magic. The story flows and is well written. I definitely look forward to reading another book by this author. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story I have read by this author and it was great. Sienna lived her life blighted by the death of her mother and twin when she survived and the birth mark on her wrist. These factors created suspicion and allowed both her father and brother to be cruel without consequence. Roderick found his wife's dead body after a raid by Sienna's brother and his son was missing with still no sign of the child or his body a year later. When Roderick attacks Sienna's brother's fort and saves her their journey really begins. Tyranny, cruelty, suspicion, magic, adventure, kindness and love all rolled in to a great story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Lots of action, Highland justice, a hunky laird, magic and a love story....what more could you want? Roderick saves Siena from certain death and finds himself drawn to her. She is a healer who is gifted in many other worldly ways. Their relationship evolves and the horrors both have endured is revealed. The characters are interesting, well developed and realistic. The villians are dispictable, the servants are loyal and some of the clansmen are a hoot. This book starts off at a run and doesn’t stop until the last page. If you like Scottish romances, you will definitely want to read this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for my honest review.

This is the highlander book, I never knew I needed but now can not live without. I fell down the historical romance genre this summer and love highlander books the best. The story between Siena and Roderick is wonderful, you feel the pull on both sides, and that there is hints of legend and lore is just the icing on the cake.

I just finished reading this and don't want to give away any spoilers, but know that this is a wonderful story come to life and I can't wait to read by Ms. Jernigan. I couldn't put it down and read it in one night.

[Amanda Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil's Laird by Brenda Jernigan starts off quickly and doesn't stop. Lady Siena is being hanged for murdering her brother. Turns out Roderick was on his way to kill Siena's brother for torching his land and killing his wife and child. Roderick saves Siena from certain death.

Roderick takes Siena home to his castle where he starts to fall for the beguiling woman who wants to work as a healer. His heart has been like ice since his family died, will Siena be the woman who can open up his heart to love again?

The romance between Roderick and Siena is very sweet. I really enjoyed their journey to their happily ever after.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mia Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brenda Jernigan’s “ The Devil's Laird “ is a compelling story that grabs your attention from the start. This is a new author to me and I’ll definitely be reading more of her work.

I loved the characters! Laird Roderick Scott is a hero that quickens your heart. He swoops in and saves the heroine from the hangman’s noose at the very last minute. He’s so kind and caring to Siena. Confused by his feelings for her, thinking he’d lost all ability to love after the ravage and murder of his wife by Siena’s brother whom she killed and his hope of finding his missing son, Roderick finds himself falling in love with Siena. Siena was brutally abused by her brother and she killed him in self defense.

This is story is magical not only in Siena’s abilities but in the authors magical story telling. With a compelling plot, fascinating characters, beautiful dialogue and great world building she takes you on a journey to the past holding you spellbound and mystified. This is a story of unconditional, selfless love and a passion that knows no bounds.

Thank you so much Ms. Jernigan for simply exquisite tale of love and all its magic.

[Marla Azinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siena is a likable stubborn woman that wears her heart on her sleeve. Her path to self-acceptance makes her a powerful protagonist given she doesn't need a man to do it. However, even with Siena strong-willed, she made room for trust and friendship to grow with Warlord Roderick. The Devil's Laird gives the reader some steamy moments and tenderness they are looking for. Being a reader fond of adventure, a bit of magic, and supporting characters with character, I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heidi Karpen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly good. I loved the way it progressed from the issue of who/what she was to figuring out how to do it. Sienna was great way to see if she could find the boy. The story arc was interesting to listen. Rodrick is an exceptionally good example of what a strong laird should be. The whole her powers could have been just a little more developed for us to understand how she figured out really using them, but I think it was okay.

[Loreli Jessee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say enough about this fantastic book. I was sucked into the action and drama from the very first page. I loved Siena so much she had so much to learn about herself, she also would do all in her power for others. Roderick was a larger than life character and I think he was awesome. I couldn’t stop reading till the end, I wanted more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome. Siena was going to die but was saved by Roderick. Roderick has seen his share of heartache when his wife was killed and his son taken. Roderick was magnificent, Siena was wonderful. Siena trades herself in exchange for Roderick's son. When Roderick realizes that he loves Siena it may be too late. This book hooks you and the action and interaction does not let up. This is a must read. The story flowed and the characters were amazing and the plot was delightful. Great book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Siena is a powerful heroine. She saves not only herself, but Roderick, his son and his entire clan. She is selfless and pure of heart. Roderick is her perfect hero. He doesn’t believe he has it in him to love which makes all he does even better. It has some lighthearted and fun moments but is also filled with emotional ones.

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story from start to finish. Siena had a rough life and almost died when she ended her torment. Roderick came to her rescue. They were an interesting couple with different outlooks on life, though they were both caring people and ready to make huge sacrifices for each other. There were moments that I had tears in my eyes. I recommend this story and will look for more by this author.

I found this story through Book Review Buzz, and this is my unsolicited review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Laird is a well written story with a very good storyline, the story flowed smoothly across the pages. Once I started reading Lady Siena and Roderick, Warlord of Kirkurd called the Devil’s Laird's story I was not putting it down until I finished it. This is a new Author to me and I want to read more by her. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn P · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing like starting a romance book with a hanging or a potential hanging. Sienna's life has been hard with continuous beatings from her brother and it looks like it will end with her hanging. But, the devil with a painted face rescues her. The devil is Roderick, a laird who has suffered at the hands of Sienna's brother. His wife is dead and his son is missing. Sienna brings a magical touch to the story. She is considered to be a white witch. Will Roderick find his son with the help of Sienna? This was a great journey from the beginning to the end.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, 4.25

[Lynn P · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing like starting a romance book with a hanging or a potential hanging. Sienna's life has been hard with continuous beatings from her brother and it looks like it will end with her hanging. But, the devil with a painted face rescues her. The devil is Roderick, a laird who has suffered at the hands of Sienna's brother. His wife is dead and his son is missing. Sienna brings a magical touch to the story. She is considered to be a white witch. Will Roderick find his son with the help of Sienna? This was a great journey from the beginning to the end.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. Our hero Roderick is Laird and he acts like it. He is brave, does not fear death and fights for what is right. Although he has little patience, he manages to retain the respect of those he leads. Our heroine is really an interesting woman. Siena had the gift of sight. However, she did not know how to control it. It would come and go as it pleased. Her father and older brother hated her. She had a birthmark and her family said it was the mark of the devil and spread the rumor as such. She suffered beatings by her brother till she could take no more and killed him. His soldiers called her the White Witch and decided to hang her for killing her despicable brother. I loved the story weaving of an elderly healer, fairies, magic stones all working together to help Siena gain more control of her gifts. The castle Roderick lived in was once called the White Dawn. Because of a massacre that killed his wife and many others he painted the castle black and it was now known as the Black Dawn in memory of that dark day. Roderick looked forward to the day when he would dispatch the man responsible. But when he arrived to the cur's castle something entirely different was happening. Going by his instincts he rescued Siena from hanging and found out she had already killed his enemy her brother. She was badly beaten. He took her back to Black Dawn. When Siena found out she could learn to develop her gifts she desperately wanted to find Roderick's missing son who was four or five. An exciting story of romance, revenge and search and rescue. I really enjoyed it and do recommend it.

[MammaDi3Gatti · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not like to leave bad reviews, but I found little in The Devil's Laird to recommend it. The story started out strong, with the heroine Siena wearing a hangman's noose, mere seconds from her death. Enter Roderick, our strapping Scot, riding to her rescue on a sturdy black steed.

It was downhill from there.

Witches, an angry Scotswoman (whose name changed from Helen to Ruth), fairies (no, really), malevolent fathers etc. Oh, and the Holy Grail. It was just too many things Frankensteined together for me.

I just... No. Sorry.

That said, I'm grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story Element Flaws, But Magic!

From reading the book description, I had no clue there would be a magical element to this book. It was quite surprising, but in a good way! The heroine actually does have some magical powers that she had never developed, but she started to work with them and the fairies! The heroine was immediately sympathetic; the start of the book sees her heading to the gallows after she killed her abusive brother. She's moments away from death when the hero literally takes the noose from her neck and takes her back to his castle. He had come to her brother's stronghold to kill him because of what he had done to the hero’s family and stronghold (including killing his wife and causing his 4-year-old son to go missing. In the first part of the book, we see how the laird and the heroine grow closer, even though she's the Sassenach sister of his greatest former enemy; she did kill him after all, though. While it was certainly lovely to see their romantic arc, I didn't get a sense at this stage where the true conflict of the book was. That's one of the flaws of this book. There really wasn't much foreshadowing about what would be the key scenes at the end, the climax of the story. There really wasn't much tension or conflict for most of the book beyond the near hanging at the start and his clan’s problems accepting the laird’s Sassenach bride. The climax almost seemed to almost come out of nowhere. The hero was fantastic and utterly swoon-worthy, despite his nickname of the Devil's Laird. The heroine was a bit dithering at times, and I couldn't quite believe what happened with her at the end in the cave, though all turned out well. I didn't quite understand why she didn't “magic” herself out of the situation with Malcolm and the knights at the end, using her teleportation ability to get her out of a sticky situation and take her to where she could have had the support of her husband. The explanation the author had her give didn't seem sufficient. Other than these issues, I actually enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laird Roderick Scott, Warlord of Kirkurd is known as the Devil's Larid since the attack and slaughter of his wife and people. He's painted his castle black as he grieves and still hopes his missing son will be found.

Lady Siena Bertram is gifted, but raised to believe she was ugly and cursed. Her brother abused her and others call her the White Witch and want to use her powers for their own purposes.

Roderick wants his revenge. A year after the attack on his castle he mounts an attack against Berwick Castle to kill their laird but instead finds Siena about to be hanged for doing it before he got there.

Roderick takes this woman under his protection and finds himself starting to enjoy life again. While Siena finally finds a place she feels safe even as she works to win over his people.

I enjoyed this historical setting in Scotland, Scots against the English, with a sweet romance. I thought the magic and fantasy were unnecessary elements but they did have charm."

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