Ein Highlander für Alle Fälle

Highland Brides #9

by Lynsay Sands, Susanne Gerold (Translator)

Der größte Schatz ist die Liebe.

Als Heiler ist Rory Buchanan viel zu beschäftigt, um auf Braut­schau zu gehen. Doch als er den Auftrag erhält, einen "Schatz" in die Highlands zu geleiten, stellt er überrascht fest, dass es sich dabei um eine junge Frau handelt. Lady Elysande ist übel mit­genommen aus englischer Gefangenschaft entkommen und noch immer in Gefahr. Und auch wenn Rory sich einredet, dass es lediglich seine Aufgabe als Heiler ist, sie zu beschützen und ihre Verletzungen zu versorgen, merkt er doch schon bald, dass es sein eigenes Herz ist, das am meisten der Heilung bedarf - und Elysande die Einzige, die dies zu erreichen vermag.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Adult

380 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2021

About the author

LYNSAY SANDS is the nationally bestselling author who is known for her hysterical historicals as well as the popular Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series. With her witty and charming personality, Sands describes books as, “Waking dreams or stories, tales to amuse, entertain and distract us from everyday life.” She’s been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there are occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus. Visit her official website at www.lynsaysands.net.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

**** 4.5 Stars!!!!*****

This Scottish historical romance series is fabulous! Lyndsay Sands is such a talented author and I have always loved how she adds humour into all of her stories! Her words never fail to get me laughing, and on top of that being able to throw love, loyalty, and a great adventure into the mix!

Highland Treasure is Rory Buchanan’s book! Out of all his brothers, Rory was the one who concentrated on his job as a healer rather than seducing the ladies! That is up until he meets Elysande... Her Mother has requested that Rory help get Elysande to safety!
The story is their journey from England into Scotland!
I was highly entertained by their travels and attractions to each other!

I did dock a half a star for this instalment because I felt a bit cheated that we didn’t get to have scenes with Rory around his family. In past books, I have loved the Buchanan brothers banter, and add all their new wives into the mix made it even more better. That was missing in Rory’s book because he was traveling. It would have been nice for the couple to have arrived at their destination sooner!
Other than that I still loved this addition to an amazing series!!!

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Mara talking very highly about this series and this entry in particular so like a true chaos monster, I jumped into Book #9. It's fine. It's romance.

I really enjoyed this! It's such a good example of a romance with an excellent balance of internal and external conflicts, and I was equally invested in both. I also loved Rory and Elysande. I mean, I love me a soft on the inside mountain man and Rory is a healer to boot. Yes please. Elysande is wonderful. She's brave when she needs to be and capable within her limits and as much as Rory wanted to protect her, I was also yelling at him to protect her at all costs.

This truly is a shining example of a Highland romance and now I guess I should go all the way back to book 1...

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read historical romance anymore, but this book was a reminder as to why I used to only read them. There is nothing better than a good highlander historical romance novel. What I wouldn't give to go back in time for a day and meet a few of these highlanders.

I've not read any of the other books in the series so I can say without a doubt that you can read this as a standalone. I was never once lost, character wise. They do mention some of the other Buchanan's and I gotta say, I am going to have to go back and start this series from the start. I think I will enjoy reading about Rory's siblings. Great book!

[... Lost Bookland... · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her imaginative, quirky, and witty style, Lyndsay Sands delivers the next installment in her ‘Highland brides’ series with a tale of true love and belonging. Rory’s older brothers have all fallen prey to the charms of love and marriage, urging him and Alick to take brides, settle and experience the bliss and happiness of the marriage union. But between his studying, traveling, and healing, Rory hasn’t had the opportunity to meet ‘the one’ The lass who will manage to stir his emotion and separate the healer from the man.
Eager to return home after spending some time in the hostile territory, he receives a message, a cry for help that his noble heart cannot ignore. Escorting a treasure to Scotland, to the Sinclaire lands seems like a straightforward task, but is it? What will happen when he realizes that the so-called treasure is a mysterious girl, who manages to confuse him like no other? A girl whose strength and determination equals the bravest warriors? A girl who went through hell survived real torture inflicted by human hands and yet stayed kind-hearted and generous towards everyone… The only girl who captured the attention of Rory- the man, not Rory-the famous healer…
This suspenseful and charming story which will take you to medieval Scotland, conveying the courage, perseverance, and chivalry of the handsome warriors will delight all fans of this genre. Complete standalone, yet part of a series, this book is full of richly developed characters, detailed descriptions, complex and clever plot. The transition from the calm and logical Rory into this jealous and possessive man is a real boon to read. His new way of reasoning will make you laugh, while you will sigh from his emotionality and possessiveness. And her perseverance and sacrifice will delight you. A woman who manages to show mercy after so much pain and suffering, who manages to smile when hope slowly disappears is the perfect choice for our hero. And the chemistry between them is simply electrified and simply can not be ignored Moreover it contains the perfect blend of mystery and romance to keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
The author firmly adheres to all those details that run through all the books in this series, at the same time adding enough novelty and freshness for each work to be similar and yet so different from the previous ones. And each story fits perfectly into the overall series.
The balance between the internal and external conflict as well as the dynamic of the romance was almost perfect. Nothing felt rushed or dragged for the better part of the book, which couldn’t be said for the end. It seems like everything felt in place too quickly and somehow felt a bit out of the concept and overall pace of the book. It would be fantastic if the end of this whole adventure was captured in more detail, where we would have a brief insight into the lives of the other family members we read about in the previous books.
However, this book is really interesting and contains enough elements to keep your attention until the very end. If you are interested in an unforgettable trip with a sexy Highlander and a brave heroine, you must not miss this book.

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @76%

Not sure what was up with me or this book. I just couldn't get into it.
I was bored with all their traveling and traipsing through the Highlands and disappointed by the little romance or worse even, the lack of chemistry between the hero and heroine on page.
Nothing to entice and make me turn the pages. Their forced proximity even failed to inspire any sense of yearning between them, the repeated wolfsbane liniment applications and need for the heroine to disrobe for the hero didn't help one bit either. Nothing to see here.

More reviews and book talk at :

You can find me here too ☞

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Highland Treasure is the latest release of the Highlander series by Lynsay Sands or the series also known as the "Highland Brides" and I always seem to get a kick out of these books, there is a humor in these books that you don't always find in historical romances and most especially highlander romances. I read this one its a ARC from the publisher so I give thanks to Avon but also I put it in as a book to read as part of the #historicalromancereadathon and I have to say that I have read more historical's in a row than I normally do and I am thrilled to be immersing myself in these historical periods once again. I really had no mood for them last year so I am hoping I can fully get into them again.



Highland Treasure starts off with a kick, with our heroine who is being abused by her tormentor. Her family, trusted by the King, are attacked by a friend and traitor who plots against the king. When he suspects that her parents have information he murders her father, and brutally damages her mother and abuses Elysande to the point where she can barely move. But her mother who is barely alive, manages with the trust of her guards and servants to smuggle Elysande out of the keep and on the road to safety towards a clan that she knows will protect her no matter what. Elysande with her body bruised to the point where her skin is black and blue, is determined to survive despite seeing her life crumble around her. But then she meets her rescuer and healer of his clan...Rory. Rory is shocked when he learns of what Elysande has gone through and is determined to get her to safety to his family's land but along their journey a beautiful love and passion beckons between them...



Highland Treasure is a story that I was completely on board with and I fell so hard for it. Now is it my favorite of the series? No I wouldn't say that...the earlier books still are gold in my eyes, but don't disregard this book because I had so much fun with it and quite frankly I was in the mood for a road trip adventure and this gave me everything that I wanted in that concept of a trope. This book definitely starts off strong so this author doesn't ease you into it LOL nope she goes full steam ahead and that is what will pull you into the story. I did feel like the flow of the story wasn't quite as smooth as I wanted but I was drawn to this couple and their troop always being in danger from these traitors.



My heart broke for this heroine, her story was so sad in the beginning, because she has lost everything and is on the run for her life now. Knowing her parents are dead and everything she had has been taken brutally from her. I admired her strength and resilience to what has happened to her. She doesn't let it break her, but keeps moving forward to what she needs to do. She has a open trust with others that I liked, some may view it as her being naive, and in some aspects she can be perceived in that fashion, but I felt her character was so relatable. Now the hero...Rory. is a lead in the story I had so much fun with. He is a character we have seen in so many books so I was so happy to see him finally get his book. And we even see his vulnerabilities at times and I like seeing him have some flaws and seeing the way he vows to protect Elysande but also support her in any way he can.

“You are a man worthy of love.” Tilting her head, she added, “People may need a healer, but they do not love them. They love the man."

The plot of the story is the style of "on the edge of your seat" and I adored that feel in every way. I didn't know what to expect from this book and heck this is such a auto read author for me that I didn't even look for the blurb at all, I just knew I wanted to be part of this fun filled family and it was a wonderful adventure that Lynsay Sands takes us on. I really found the traitor plot against the king to be so intriguing and the ending had me laughing (and those who have read this know exactly what I am talking about) But definitely this one kept me entertained.

Elysande's mother might have called her a treasure in the letter she'd sent to Rory, but the truth was her brave handsome Highlander husband was the treasure, and he was all hers.

Overall I found Highland Treasure to be a stunning addition to this lovely series that has captured my heart over the years. Its a story of adventure, intrigue, danger and fighting for the one you love.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series: Highland Brides #9
Publication: 1/26/21
Number of Pages: 384

The inimitable Lynsay Sands has just delivered another exciting Highland tale filled with wit, cross country chases, love, honor, and betrayal. It is unusual for me to love both of the main characters equally, but, this time, I loved both of them. I normally love one of the leads and will, at best, like the other. Of course, I’ve loved Rory throughout the series and have really looked forward to him finding his special lady – and I am so happy that she really was special. While this is the ninth book in the series, you can totally read this as a standalone without being the least bit lost. That said, it is a wonderful series and I highly recommend all of the books.

Brutally beaten, shaken, kicked, and locked in a dungeon, Lady Elysande de Valance has just barely managed to escape the castle in which her parents and all of their soldiers were murdered by de Buci, someone thought to be a friend. Just before her mother died, she gave Elysande a letter to take to Rory Buchanan who just happens to be in England. The letter asks Rory to deliver a treasure to her Sinclair relatives in the Highlands of Scotland.

As a gifted healer, Rory is being paid a small fortune to travel to England to heal Baron Monmouth. Normally, Rory wouldn’t charge for healing, but the Baron asked him to travel all the way to England – and he offered the payment – and he is English … Just as Rory is taking his leave of the Baron, Rory’s brother, Alick, delivers a note to him. The note asks Rory to deliver a treasure to the Sinclair’s in the Highlands.

When Rory and his men reach the clearing to which the note directed them, all they saw was an abandoned cart. No horse attached to the cart, nobody around at all – just some bags piled on the cart. What? Then, three riders appeared at the edge of the woods. When the riders tell their tale, Rory immediately agrees to help.

As they all head out for the Highlands, de Buci and his soldiers are in hot pursuit. Rory and his men have to keep the badly injured Elysande safe, figure out how to save the English King along with his son, and manage to make it back to the Highlands in one piece. Of course, along the way, love happens as well.

I loved Elysande because she was smart, savvy, brave, honorable, witty, and stubborn as the devil himself. Sometimes she was a bit too stubborn, but she was also faithful and loyal to her people and her king. What she endured, without complaint, lets you know how resilient she was.

This was a lovely, exciting, couldn’t-put-it-down read and I can hardly wait for Alick’s story. I hope you’ll give the story a try and that you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. BTW – the epilogue is absolutely priceless – you should read the book just for that if nothing else.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars -- Insofar as such things can be "objectively" measured, I have to say that I think this is one of the highest quality books from this author I have read (and I am a lover of all things Lynsay Sands, as you know :)). The balance of romance and adventure/suspense, as well as the internal vs. external conflict, were very well balanced, which made for a perfectly paced read. Added in a fantastic heroine with a lot of courage and the hero we've been waiting for for SO long... yeah. This hit all my favorite parts of Sands' writing, and it's probably my second favorite entry in the series. We've only got one brother left... I will be so sad to leave the Buchanans behind!

CW: Frank depictions of physical abuse/violence, murder, & suicide

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Highland Treasure
Series: Highland Brides #9
Author: Lynsay Sands
Release date: January 26, 2021
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: historical romance

Even though this is my first read out of the nine installments in the Highland Brides series, I had no issues with confusion over characters or events. To anyone wondering if this book stands on its own or if there's any piece of storyline that carries over from previous books, you're free to one-click now. I give the author credit for not overwhelming the reader with the large amounts of past characters and solely focusing on the two main characters: Lady Elysande de Valance and Rory Buchanan.

Rory Buchanan is the "healer" of the Highland brothers and is one of the last single men standing. His family has been shamelessly trying to put an end to his bachelorhood by finding eligible women for him, but he has no plans to pursue anyone. He's perfectly happy focusing on his patients and his goal to build his own castle in the near future. After his latest job in caring for Baron Monmouth in England, he's financially set to start making preparations to build. First, he needs to make a quick stop on his way home to Scotland and collect a "treasure" and deliver it to a family friend. He had no idea at the time that this treasure would be a woman who is running for her life and racing against the clock to save the King of England.

Lady Elysande has just survived a family massacre, a brutal beating, and the loss of everything she's ever known. Aided by loyal servants and two knights who survived, she manages to make a narrow escape with information of a treasonous plot to assassinate the King. Elysande shows strength of will and steel determination every step of the way. In my opinion, perhaps a little too unrealistically. We never really see her grieve or suffer much trauma from the harrowing experience that would break even the strongest of individuals-man or woman. She stoically sits on the saddle for days on end while rarely even letting a wince show on her face. There is no breakdown-physical or mental. I'm all for strong female leads, but this is stretching believability a tad thin if I'm being honest. In the beginning, she shows superhuman strength by hiding her pain from her escorts. After her secret is outed, we are given scene after scene where she must replenish the dreaded liniment on her back.

The time devoted to talking about the liniment that she makes and plasters on her back multiple times throughout the day started to bother me. I looked it up. There were 80 mentions of it in the book. After proving how strong she is, we switch to how very badly she needs the numbing cream to get through the day and night. The repetitiveness was a problem. It wasn't just in this one area, but the book as a whole that I felt was leaning towards repetitive. The entire journey that they were on consisted of a laundry list of tasks like: wake up, eat, apply liniment, travel, make camp and sleep, repeat. There was one scene where some conflict and suspense finally happened, but there really wasn't a strong sense of danger.

The romance between Elysande and Rory was based more on physical attraction and his respect for her strength. I liked that they were both healers and when they married would be equals in the medical trade, however I never really saw them develop a natural emotional attachment. Not to say that they didn't make a nice couple, but their story was lacking depth and development. The ending was somewhat anticlimactic in that there wasn't a big showdown with the perpetrator of the assassination plot. I was hoping for some real action to round out the story, but everything wrapped up smoothly without much tension. Having said all that, this wasn't a bad read if you're looking for a light and easy historical romance similar to the writing style of classic Julie Garwood. While it didn't wow me, it was a sweet story with a writing style that I could engage with.

“You are a man worthy of love.” Tilting her head, she added, “People may need a healer, but they do not love them. They love the man.”

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐💫

2 ½ stars.



An OK but somewhat repetitive read .

Minor issues with anachronism.

The hero was an interesting character … but could/would have been even more interesting if he was more fleshed out as a character.

The heroine was foolish and stubborn.

Somewhat lacking chemistry between the main characters.

Verbose.

[Alexa Leske · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book as a joke because the man it wearing a kilt and it was 5 dollars. I have hereby learned my lesson and promise not to do it again.

[Stacee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been enjoying this series and throughout all of them, Rory has been the one who intrigued me the most. I couldn't wait to get to his story.

I really liked Elysande. She's clever and so much stronger than she thinks she is. Rory has been steadfast through the series, so it was delightful to see him falter and be shaken up a bit. Together these two have loads of tenderness and caring and a great basis for a relationship. There are a few secondary characters on the page (looking at you, townspeople of Carlisle) who were scene stealers and I would have liked more from them at the end.

Plot wise, it was a bit dull. The journey to Scotland wasn't as tension filled as I was expecting. And while the bad guy was sort of a surprise, the quick so-called resolution was over in a page or so. My main complaint is that I just didn't see the chemistry. To me, it felt like they were close because of her need to feel safe and his need to heal. I will say that I did find the epilogue especially amusing and it was a good finish to the story.

Overall, this family and series has been a lot of fun and if there are more books, I'll definitely be reading them.

FYI: off the page threats of rape, scenes of beating women, talks of other violence against women

**Huge thanks to Avon for providing the arc free of charge**

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this was a pretty poor addition to the series. The two main characters were likeable enough in terms of personality, but they were both unforgivably stupid the whole book in order to allow the plot to happen. And the ending is very abrupt and unsatisfying. It feels like we’re missing the entire third act of this story.


The story opens with Elysande in the dungeon of her own home, beaten to a pulp. We find out in short order that a man named de Buci had just ridden up one day and slaughtered everyone. Elysande’s father was the first to die and then de Buci set to work trying to beat some information out of her mother. When that didn’t work, he beat Elysande in front of her mother, hoping that would convince one of the women to give “it” up. The whole time neither of them knew what de Buci was looking for and he refused to tell them.

One of the few remaining maids in the keep manages to help Elysande escape using a secret passage. She then takes the badly injured Elysande to her mother who dictates a letter to her and then sends her off to deliver this all-important letter at all costs.

The next chapter opens with Rory anxiously packing to leave a keep in England where he’d been healing a nobleman for the last two weeks. We’re soon told that Rory received an important letter that day. It was from Elysande’s mother, who happens to be the Cam Sinclaire’s aunt. And since the Buchannans and the Sinclaires are fast friends, when Rory reads this message and finds that he’s being asked to escort the aunt’s “treasure” to the Sinclaire estate, he feels obligated to oblige. Only when he gets to the agreed upon spot, he finds Elysande with the only two guards who survived her family’s massacre. Rory agrees to escort her to Sinclaire without knowing why she needs to get there and they set off. Almost immediately, though, the get word of a big band of English soldiers on the main road, so they decide to take a less traveled path.

The rest of the book is spent with this group of people traveling more or less constantly. We hear a lot about how Elysande is in constant pain, but Rory, despite being the best healer in the country, apparently can’t do anything to help her, which I found hard to believe. He also waits a strangely long time to ask her what this is all about, but he finally does and she tells him everything without hesitation, which begs the question of why she didn't just tell him at the start but, whatever.

Apparently de Buci is part of a cohort of six English nobles who aren’t too happy with their current king. So they’ve conspired a way to kill him and his son in the hopes that the next guy in line will be more to their liking. But de Buci’s own wife was loyal to the king and when she happened to come into possession of a very incriminating letter that outlined exactly what her husband and his friends were up to, she decided to send it to Elysande’s family in the hopes that they could get it to the king. But the letter hadn’t arrived by the time de Buci got there and so none of Elysande’s family had any idea what he was after.

But soon after his arrival, the letter miraculously appeared and the two guards mentioned above, Tom and Simon, brought it to Elysande’s mother. She read it and has entrusted Elysande with the mission of getting it to the king. Except that the mother thought de Buci would assume she was headed right for the English court. So instead she decided to tell Elysande to go in the opposite direction, to their relatives in Sinclaire, where she’d find safety and then Cam could worry about getting the letter to the king. Oh, and there’s a time limit on this because the assassination is scheduled for December, which is only a few weeks away.

Rory tells Elysande that Sinclaire is over 2 weeks’ journey away and that there isn’t really much they can do to speed things up, but they still carry on. At this point in the story, I was feeling pretty confused about their strategy. I mean, why waste 2 weeks riding in the opposite direction from where they need to go, only to then have to entrust the letter to someone else who will turn around and ride right back? Why not send someone who is NOT Elysande to the king with the letter right now? I mean, de Buci is looking for HER, so literally anyone else could ride right past his men and not get even a second glance.

Usually when you’ve got a story where the driving force behind the danger is because someone is on a secret high-stakes mission, it’s 1) a secret for almost the entire book, and 2) something only the main character can do. And neither one of those is true in this book. Not only can literally anyone else do the job Elysande is trying to do, but nearly any one else would be BETTER at doing it than her, because she’s got 6 full armies of men looking for her. And it’s not even like she plans to complete this mission herself anyway. She fully intends to hand this burden off to Cam as soon as she gets to Sinclaire. So the whole plot is just really flimsy.

Moving on, we read about the group riding for a while, then making camp, Elysande being in pain and Rory admiring her courage and spirit etc. Finally they arrive at a town and the alehouse owner’s wife is especially nasty to the Scots. But then the next day, off-page, Elysande has a conversation with the woman and she’s suddenly their best friend. What was in that miraculous conversation you ask? Well apparently Elysande told this complete stranger all about de Buci and the plot to kill the king. Are you kidding me right now? How can anyone be that stupid?

While at this town, Elysande makes herself a liniment that will numb the pain from her injuries. Rory’s a bit put out when he realizes that Elysande is ALSO a skilled healer since that’s like his one thing and he was really looking forward to getting to ride to her rescue by producing a liniment just like it. Except, oops! Rory overslept and now she’s beaten him to the punch. Better luck next time.

Then we find out that de Buci’s men are in the town looking for them. But then in a series of events that I can only guess was supposed to be funny, the townspeople escort Elysande and Rory out of a little-known side entrance to the town. Only Rory and all his men have to wear blindfolds, because they’re Scottish and this English town doesn’t feel good about revealing one of their secrets. So Rory just blithely allows Elysande to talk him into this blindfold business, even though he’s literally supposed to be protecting her and he can’t do that blindfolded. By the time they get to the secret exit, nearly the whole town is trailing behind them, all just pleased as punch to be helping this fine lady on her (not-so) secret mission, but we're expected to believe that none of de Buci's men caught on to this display. Sure.

So we’re back on the road again and when they stop for the night we finally get some action on the romance front. Rory and Elysande go out into the woods so he can smear the liniment on her back for her and they start making out while they do it. Then they hear a twig snap and that reminds them that it’s really not a great time for this. Also Rory has neglected to bring his sword with him on this little trip, which again makes him seem like the world’s worst bodyguard. They get back to camp without incident, though.

After some more riding they end up in another town, this time on the Scottish side of the border. There are only 4 rooms available to house 8 men plus Elysande and Rory explains that he and one of her English guards will be sleeping in the room with her. She assumes this means they’re going to put pallets on the floor, then she just climbs into bed and falls asleep. A scene change later, Rory oversleeps AGAIN and finds that nearly everyone else has gone shopping in town. We’re also told that Rory slept through a huge kerfuffle earlier that morning when a maid came in and saw that Rory and the English guard were both sleeping IN the bed with Elysande. Elysande woke up and started screaming about how that was improper and now her reputation was ruined...and he slept through all of this. Worst. Bodyguard. Ever.

Soon everyone comes back to the inn and they’re all in a tizzy because somebody shoved Elysande in front of a carriage and she was nearly killed. She of course insists that it was just an accident and that one of those drunk guys they’d been walking past must have “bumped” her without realizing it. Which I find hard to swallow when you can generally tell the difference between someone drunkenly swaying into you and someone giving you a violent shove from behind but, whatever. She’s got a sprained ankle now.

Rory leaves his brother, Allick, and one of the English guards, Simon, to watch her and then goes off to do other things. Almost immediately Elysande convinces Allick to leave his post and then she sends Simon to get a bucket of water, thereby leaving her alone. Seconds later Rory hears her scream and they all run back to her room to find her stabbed. There’s also wolfsbane all over the floor because she was mixing up a new batch of the liniment when she was attacked.

Rory finally gets to play doctor and makes a huge deal about sweeping up the wolfsbane because it’s poisonous. So there's a ton of talking about sweeping and rinsing off shoes, etc. that really kind of took away from the whole “is she going to be alright?” part of the scene. We soon learn that she’s pretty much fine. She’d had a bag of coins around her neck and that’s what the knife actually hit. She’s got a small cut on her chest and a bump on the head from when she fell but she’s otherwise fine. But Rory still pretends that she’s on death’s door when anyone asks him about it. And that’s because he’s grown suspicious. Something’s not adding up. He needs to think on it to figure out what’s bothering him. He also decides that he needs to put some plans into motion while Elysande is unconscious.

Elysande wakes up three days later feeling much better. Rory is asleep on the bed next to her as is another guard. She manages to wriggle out of the bed, put on some clothes and use the chamber pot, all without Rory or the other guy waking up. WORST. BODYGUARD. EVER.

Then she just waltzes out the door as if everything is fine. Of course, all the men camped outside her door are shocked to see her because Rory has been telling them she was dying. She’s confused and Rory finally wakes up and pulls her back inside. He asks her to tell him what happened and she says that she was mixing up her herbs and then felt a presence, she swung around and “a man” was in the room. She screamed, he stabbed her and then she hit her head and that’s all she remembers.

Rory then proceeds to NOT ask her the most obvious question – what did the man look like? And instead tells her that he’s decided that he doesn’t trust Simon. He says that he saw wolfsbane on Simon in places that could only have happened if he’d been in the room when she dropped it, and that the water Simon was supposed to be fetching was only spilled by the entrance in the room, not all along the hall as it would be if he’d heard her scream and ran to help.

Elysande then says that Rory must be mistaken because Simon has been a loyal friend and subject for years. He’d never hurt her. And I was just so confused. Why the h*ll are we even discussing this? Elysande SAW THE MAN WHO STABBED HER, wouldn’t she know whether or not it was Simon?? Why doesn’t anyone even ask her to describe the guy? Why isn’t Simon just making a run for it, now that he knows she’s not dying after all? Shouldn’t he expect her to rat him out any second? But no, apparently we’re not supposed to think of this VERY OBVIOUS line of questioning. It’s gotta be all about Rory’s cool forensic skills at reading water-splatter patterns and spotting trace wolfsbane on him.

They stay at the inn another night and Elysande confesses her love for Rory and tells him she wants to have sex. He puts up a token protest but they get down to it in pretty short order. Next morning, Rory hustles everyone, including Simon, onto a ship. While Elysande was knocked out, he’d made arrangements for a boat to sail them to Sinclaire, which will be much faster. He’d also sent 2 of his men plus the other English guard, Tom, to “bring back more coin” to cover their extended stay at the inn, but then leaves before they’ve returned, which Elysande doesn’t even question.

On the boat, Rory proposes to Elysande. Then he promptly tosses up his cookies because, apparently, our hero gets seasick. Elysande then has to make him a tincture that soothes his stomach, something he – the great healer himself - didn’t even know was possible.

Next morning, Elysande manages to slip off while Rory’s sleeping, yet again. Seriously, WORST. BODYGUARD. EVER. She heads to the poop deck where Simon corners her. It soon comes out that, while Simon had originally been loyal to her, when they stopped in that first town, he’d been approached by one of de Buci’s men, who said that Simon’s own father was one of the conspirators. That by protecting Elysande, he was just condemning his own family to ruin. And he just blithely agreed to murder the innocent Elysande based on that conversation alone. So he was the one who pushed her in front of the carriage and also the one who stabbed her, and now he’s here to finish the job. But don’t worry, he feels kinda bad about it, since she’s been like family to him all these years. Still, his actual family is at risk so, too bad, so sad for her.

Elysande says that Simon’s father is NOT one of the conspirators named in the letter. The man who told Simon that lied. Elysande then points out that her mother would hardly have let her leave with Simon if he was one of the bad guys. Simon falters over this but then decides that Elysande is probably just lying to try to save herself, so he’s going to kill her anyway. Rory finally turns up, having been woken up by the captain who saw Simon heading after Elysande and got a bad feeling about it. Rory then explains that he’d actually already sent the letter to the king. That Tom and the other 2 members of their party hadn’t gone to fetch more coin; they’d hopped aboard a different ship that was bound for London with the letter. It’s only at this point that Elysande remembers that she hasn’t actually checked on the letters since she was stabbed. Some messenger she is.

Simon realizes that the jig is up and there’s no point in killing Elysande now. So he drops his sword and jumps overboard, trying his luck with swimming to shore in the icy water. And that’s the end of the story. Seriously. That was the “big showdown” at the end of this book. I was expecting Rory and Elysande to have to face de Buci at the end. He’s the big bad villain that’s been built up the whole book as the root of all evil, not Simon. It was so anticlimactic. Elysande didn’t complete her mission, and neither did Rory, for that matter. They sent a bunch of secondary characters to do it. Which just begs the question, WHY DIDN’T THEY DO THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Overall it wasn’t a very strong showing for this series. I kind of liked that Elysande didn’t need/want Rory for his healing skills, since that’s all anyone else in this series has viewed him as being good for up to this point. So it was nice to have his designated match be someone who saw him as a man, not just a healer. But unfortunately, when you take the healing away from Rory, he’s kind of a lame hero. He never actually got into any kind of fight or protected Elysande in any real way. He literally slept through her screaming and wandering off at like 5 different places in the book, when he’s supposed to be her bodyguard. And while he did, eventually, figure out that they should send the message to the king with someone else, the fact that it took him the whole dang book to reach that conclusion doesn’t really say much for his mental capacity.

And Elysande was just as bad. Not only did she never think of that obvious solution, but she’s also about as dumb as a box of rocks. Seriously, who blabs about their secret mission to an entire town full of complete strangers??? And I lost track of how many times she deliberately slipped away from her protectors and it immediately resulted in her getting attacked. It just doesn’t make sense. With everything she’s seen and been through at de Buci’s hands, she should be terrified of falling back into his clutches. But she’s not. It’s more important for her to go shopping or have a bath. Sigh.


So, on the whole, I think this was my least-favorite of the series. It wasn’t awful, but you have to work really hard to overlook all the glaring plot holes, character inconsistencies, and just outright idiocy of everyone involved.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a big fan of the Highland Brides series, I couldn’t wait to read Rory’s story! A gifted healer and one of the younger of the Buchanon brothers, Rory appears in many of the previous books in the series. In The Wrong Highlander, for example, it was Evina’s intention to kidnap him. Of course, she took and fell in love with Rory’s brother Conran instead. (Love that story!)

In Highland Treasure, (Don’t worry! You can totally read it as a standalone!) Rory’s story begins as Lady Elysande flees her home where her parents, soldiers, and others have been slaughtered. Elysande, beaten horribly, barely manages to escape, and with the assistance of two trusted knights, implores Rory’s help in getting her to safety and delivering a message to the King.

Rory is well-known for his healing abilities, but when Elysande’s mother asks Rory to escort her “treasure” to the Highlands, Rory agrees. However, as Elysande is threatened along their journey, it is clear that her life is at risk, and it has something to do with the message for the King. Can Rory figure out who is behind the attempts on Elysande’s life, and will Rory and Elysande succumb to the growing feelings between them?

This is a great addition to the Highland Brides series. It’s a well-paced and exciting story with dynamic characters and an interesting mystery. Plus, there’s the lovely romance! Rory and Elysande have a great romance built on respect and admiration. Their love story is slow-building and not based solely on attraction. In fact, Rory doesn’t even see Elysande’s face for the first part of their journey, as she is veiled to hide the bruises she received when her castle was overrun. Rory is attracted to her intellect and courage, as well as her fierce determination before he notices her beauty.

Elysande, in turn, admires Rory’s take-charge and protective demeanor as well as his steadfastness. That’s not to say Rory and Elysande aren’t attracted to each other. They definitely are! Their chemistry is fantastic, and their sexy scenes are amazing. Their attraction to each other is powerful, but their relationship is also built on a strong foundation, which makes it even more lovely.

Another interesting aspect of the story that I really enjoyed was the development of Rory’s character. Much like the reader, many people in Rory’s life see him in a one-dimensional kind of way. Rory, who is revered for his healing skills, struggles to define himself as anything but a healer and a Buchanon, and, as much as he loves Elysande’s independence and self-sufficiency, it makes him wonder what he can offer her. The fact that Elysande sees him as so much more than a healer is new and empowering for Rory. He is a healer, a fierce protector, a warrior, a good friend, and an honorable man, and throughout the story, he begins to see himself as such.

The minor characters in the story are also quite interesting. The citizens of Carlisle are fantastic! Staunch supporters of the King, they work together so seamlessly to help Elysande on her journey. The other men traveling with Rory and Elysande are also well-developed, and I loved the witty banter they share throughout their journey.

The story exposes some of the more complicated realities of the time as well. The animosity between the English and Scottish is evident as Rory and his Highland companions travel with Elysande and her English knights. Judgment, fear, and a lack of trust abound and pose problems for Elysande and her fellow travelers while enhancing the setting and suspense and progressing the plot.

Lynsay Sands never fails to entertain and captivate readers with wonderful stories and swoon-worthy romances, and Highland Treasure is no exception. I loved it, as I loved all of the book is this series!

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elysande is on the run from a wicked Baron, trying to escape to the Highlands to extended family. After a plea for help from her mother, Elysande is paired up with Rory Buchanan and what a crazy adventure awaits!

Highland Treasure was a gripping and -eventually-humorous read! You have to get through some heavy, but the pockets of humor will have you laughing in no time.

There’s the fast and furious chase and hey, reputation concerns...she’s a single female traveling with 8 guys...the people of Carlisle didn’t know what hit them! I adored Rory and his guys—tough, marshmallowy, and an absolute lovable Scottish crew! Then there’s the heartfelt supporting cast of characters-talk about hilarity-and romance-wise, sigh...Rory and Elysande had the whole swoony, sloooow burn down pat!

Overall, this was a wonderful read and a delightful way to close out my vacation!!

I received an advance reader copy from Avonbooks/HarperVoyagerUS and this is my honest review.

[Vanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read: Dec 2025

4 Stars!! ❤️ Another Buchanan brother falls in love💞 Rory and Elysande's story had everything that I love about a Lynsay Sands historical; a strong and sexy Scot ✅ ; a damsel in distress ✅ , humorous situations and banter ✅; steam and sizzle ✅ ; a little mystery and adventure ✅ and a happy ending ✅✅✅. 😍
The only reason I didn't give this book a full 5 stars is due to two reasons; firstly, I wanted more romantic scenes between Rory and Elysande (this was a real slow burn romance compared to other books in the series), secondly, I wanted some Buchanan family time.. all the brothers, wives, sister, friends and expanding families. It is always a delight reading those interactions and I had been looking forward to a Buchanan reunion 💓. Nevertheless, it is still a wonderfully light and fun historical romance. I guess, I'll just have to wait another year to read Alick's story and hope to have a Buchanan family reunion then. ❤️

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a historical romance vlog! https://youtu.be/Ja14Oap9rlU

Highland Treasure is perfect if you want something light, kind of silly, but also steamy romance with a bit of a mystery plot. The heroine is not too bright but I found her to be entertaining. She's on the run after a man her family trusted killed her father and sacked the castle. The hero is a distant Scottish relation trying to escort her safely away from danger. A fun book that made me laugh!

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 - Se state seguendo questa lunga serie (siamo al volume nono) come me, ricorderete che ormai restano solo pochi fratelli Buchanan da accasare e sono tutti molto, molto ricercati.

Ormai siamo rimasti a due e, infatti, questo è il penultimo fratellone.
Rory è il guaritore del gruppo, il che vuol dire che è sempre stato il figlio studioso, diligente, più serio e protettivo della nidiata. Tutti gli altri sono muscolosi e prodi guerrieri, lui ha il bonus dell’intelligenza e del talento di saper prendersi cura degli altri. Se però deve curare gli inglesi, anche Rory si fa pagare profumatamente.

Mentre si trova in Inghilterra gli giunge una richiesta d’aiuto differente: salvare la figlia di un nobile inglese che è stata selvaggiamente picchiata dai nemici e che deve essere portata in salvo. Il nostro non si tira indietro, anche se questo significa fuggire verso la Scozia, viaggiando di notte e a perdifiato, con una giovane lady ferita da medicare.
In effetti, lui e Elysande sono due anime affini, entrambe dedite allo studio delle piante medicinali, entrambe affezionate alle famiglie e molto coraggiose. Dallo stare insieme per la fuga all'amarsi per riconoscersi come fatti l'uno per l'altra il passo è breve.

L’ho trovato un capitolo emozionante, un altro tassello avvincente per una saga corale che riesce sempre a rinnovarsi e a conciliare le storie di tutti i parenti.
E ora, finalmente, ci aspetta davvero l’ultimo fratello dei Buchanan.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Elysande de Valance has barely escaped with her life after being beaten and imprisoned when her family’s home was attacked by a man her father called a friend. She’s thankful to have met up with her mother’s Scottish connections who have agreed to escort her to safety in the Highlands but is afraid they’ll consider her to be too much trouble and leave her behind. Though her attacker pursues them in their flight, Elysande is surprised to find herself feeling safe and comforted by their leader, Rory Buchanan.

Rory has been too occupied with learning all he can about remedies and healing to be bothered with finding a wife. But when he is asked to see a “treasure” belonging to a family friend safely delivered to the Highlands, he’s shocked to learn the parcel is in fact a lovely woman on the run from desperate enemies and hiding bruises beneath a heavy veil. Rory is determined to view her as a healer only, to treat her injuries and keep her safe, but he increasingly finds himself losing his heart to her.

I loved this book. It was a classic Sands Highlander romance and exactly what I needed right now. This is actually the first book I’ve really savored in quite some time. I’ve long looked forward to Rory’s story as he has always been solidly in the background helping his brothers to their HEA’s and I just knew he’d make a great strong yet sensitive hero. He did not disappoint. Elysande’s stubbornness was a bit frustrating at times, but only served to highlight Rory’s patience and how truly well-suited he was to her, plus her hesitance was very justified given what she had just been through. I love seeing Rory and Elysande get to know each other and develop the trust between them through the challenges they encountered and sheer forced proximity. There is some on the road routine in which some scenes are similar in terms of action, but for me this was where the MC’s got to know each other and discuss things they had in common, as well as where the romance took root, so I never felt bogged down.

The villain may have been handled fairly easily here, more so than in previous books in the series, but that smoothness and light was just what I needed. This was sweet and steam and two people who wanted to be together and didn’t bother playing games about it, which really worked for me. This had some of Sands’ characteristic banter and cuteness, but also some elements of suspense along with a sweet romance. It was also delightful to see some of the other Buchanan brothers again. This is one of my favorite fictional families and I look forward to Alick’s story now even as I’m sad that we only have one sibling left to get his HEA.

I thoroughly enjoy these types of Highlander romances and wish we got more of them as new releases. Also, I have to say this is one of my favorite covers ever. If you’re stressed and need to escape and wind down, this is your book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

[bibliophilie]

Why I liked this:
1. He called her love (that word is my weakness)
2. They cuddled in their sleep
3. Everyone knew he was falling for her (except for her of course)
4. She was his main focus
5. She became his wife without even knowing it was happening … which is problematic, but I kinda love it when it comes to books like this?

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.

When renowned healer Rory Buchanan receives a message begging him to take Mairghread de Valance’s “treasure” to her sister at the Sinclair holdings in Scotland, he cannot refuse, but he is not prepared when he learns that the treasure is actually her daughter.

After being betrayed and nearly beaten to death by a family friend, Elysande de Valance of Kynardersley is drowning in pain and grief and not sure who to trust, but something about Rory touches something deep in her and gives her the courage to tell him all – including the plot by her attacker, Baron de Buci, to kill King Edward III.

As they travel, a bond forms between them, and soon it becomes clear that de Buci isn’t done hunting Elysande and Rory will have to play a deep game of intrigue to keep the woman he has come to love safe!

I really liked this book, it was a bit more intense than the typical Lynsay Sands book, but it was a very riveting read! Rory and Elysande are so perfect for each other and I just loved the fact that she is also a healer and how put-out he was about it – that small detail and his reaction added some much-needed lightness to the book and save the story from being too grim. The heat level of this book was not quite at warm as the previous books, but it was just right for the story. This book has a bit of everything: intrigue, betrayal, murder, warm love scenes, a bit of lightness, another shocking betrayal, and finally a HEA complete with a fantastic epilogue. The book did have title errors and I did feel like the fate of one of the villains was left unanswered, but overall neither of these things impeded my enjoyment and I would happily recommend this book. This is the ninth book in the series, but can easily be read as a standalone title with no problems!

[Ann Lorz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: http://www.romancingthereaders.com/20...

Finally! That's how I feel. We've finally have gotten Rory's book. Any of you who have read this series will understand this feeling. All the brothers and their sister are great characters but for some reason for me Rory has always stood out.

Because Sands is such a wonderful author you won't be able to not like her characters but sometimes some just stick out to you more and Rory is one of those.

Right away I knew that Elysande was perfect for Rory. I think it was the way she held herself, how strong she was. But also how sweet she is. You can't help liking her she's under the knife to help her king and doesn't let her pain stop her. She's one determined lady.

Together they go on a wild ride and fall in love. It's cute how poor Rory keeps trying to convince himself that he's not in love, that he can't be. Oh Rory, give it up. He does finally come to terms with it and the story just gets better.

I think you'll also enjoy the other characters in the book. So many really good ones. I found myself laughing more than once while reading their story. At times you worry that Rory is going to have a breakdown with some of the crazy things that Elysande does. He's so worried that something will happen to her and doesn't want anyone to know what's going on till she is safe. Of course, she has a different idea.

I know we only have one brother left but it's going to kill me to see the end of them.

Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader

ARC received for an honest review

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was good but I do have a couple thoughts on it. I feel like Rory’s character really changed from previous books and he kinda became the stereotypical gruff, manly MMC. I was looking forward to this one cause I enjoyed how his character was more book smart and intellectual. Reading his POV felt the same as reading any of his brothers POVs basically.

I did like the premise of this book and the FMC, though I almost wish they weren’t traveling/ on the run for the majority of the book.

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highland Treasure
Highland Brides Series #9
Lynsay Sands
https://www.facebook.com/Lynsay-Sands...
Release Date 01/26/2021
Publisher Avon

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

A Buchanan brother finds a love to treasure in this scintillating historical romance from New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands…
After escaping from the English soldiers who attacked her home and imprisoned her in a dungeon, Lady Elysande de Valance is grateful for the rugged Scots who are escorting her to safety in the Highlands. Even with danger dogging their every step, she hadn’t expected to welcome the strong comforting embrace of their leader, Rory Buchanan. They say he’s a healer, but she finds the heat of his touch does so much more…
Let his brothers get married—Rory is too busy tending to the sick to be bothered with wooing a bride. But when he is tasked with accompanying a family friend’s “treasure” to the Highlands, he is surprised to learn the treasure is a beautiful woman on the run—and even more surprised to discover bruises hidden by her veil. Rory makes it his mission to tend to her injuries and protect her, but the thought of losing her makes him realize that perhaps it is his heart that is most in need of healing…

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Will this journey lead them to the right destination...

I was quite astonished when I was granted this copy by the publisher, let say it bluntly I am a drop in an ocean of reviewers, so seen as uninteresting by many major edition companies.
Even if it was probably a mistake which will not be renewed, I will enjoy this one wholeheartedly.

I discovered the author with the previous book in this series, an awesome tale. So when I learned the next one would be about a healer, I was much eager to read it, I love any historical with healer/nurse/doctor.
I found the pacing of the storyline slower than my previous read, which was to be expected as they were hiding, following side roads to avoid notice with a badly hurt woman.
Rory is such a sweetheart, once he takes responsibility of Elysande’s security, he only views to protect her, he and his men take charge an manage their way back to Scotland while trying to avoid the bad guys. She is quickly in his every thoughts, he breaths and lives for her.
For a man who avoided marriage, his fall is even swifter than expected. A glimpse of his new charge and he was lost. He fell for her strength and resilience even before seing her face. The healer in him admires the courage and will power Elysande demonstrates at every turn even if her stubbornness might cost her.
Elysande’s world as she had always known it was shattered in a matter of a few minutes. Now she must grieve the loss of it, of her parents and run for her life all the while achieving a mission. And while she struggles to accept her new circumstances, she instantly notice Rory among his men, she recognizes his kind and caring soul, and while her pigheadedness hold her back a bit. She can’t deny their attraction.

And while it is the ninth book in the series, any one can read it without feeling left behind, the other protagonists background is supplemented and this road movie offers few characters outside the initial group.
4 stars.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen detailed foreplays and lovemaking scenes.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Avon, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 3 out of 5]

TITLE: HIGHLAND TREASURE
AUTHOR: Lynsay Sands
SERIES: Highland Brides #9
RELEASE DATE: January 26, 2020
GENRE: Historical Romance
RATING: 3 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No

READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG

I've read a couple of books by Lynsay Sands in the past and enjoyed them. This one was more on the OK side than on the "like" - a couple of things bothered me that brought my rating down.

- Repetitive writing. To me that always feels like the author tries to fill the pages to make her word count. Also, I can't remember that this author did this in her previous books.
- The relationship lacked chemistry. I can't say they were bad together, I just had a hard time seeing them as a couple.
- The storyline was a little...unexciting although I have to say that there was a twist I didn't see coming.
- The ending was...dissatisfying and a little dull.

With all that being said this isn't a horrible book, not at all. I enjoyed parts of it, I liked the tenderness and care these two characters showed one another. Rory's  protective nature was especially sweet.

This book can be read as a standalone and the author does a great job introducing the reader without making them feel overwhelmed.

I'm not giving up on this author, she can write some fabulous Historical Romance, this one just didn't hit the mark.

“You are a man worthy of love.” Tilting her head, she added, “People may need a healer, but they do not love them. They love the man."

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed escaping to the Highlands. I read this novel during a 24-hour reading binge. In it Rory Buchanan is requested to escort Lady Elysande de Valance to the Sinclair Clan in the northern highlands. She has urgent letters she must deliver to King Edward III. Will she be able to get them to the King in time to avoid a major disaster?

At times, I felt like I was being lead by the nose by the author. In the characterizations, sometimes, I felt the revelations of one character made the receiving character seem less intelligent. The plot was simple, but entertaining. The descriptions were realistic and, at time, humorous. The ending felt a little rushed, but it was a HEA, where love whispers like a gentle breeze through the characters' lives. The inner and outer conflicts were masterfully written. I look foward to Alick Buchanan's story next.

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁]

Dnf at 20% (Ch 4).

I can see a stupid slump coming. Might be better to try this next time. It was... boring so far.

[Lady Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.9 / 5

In simplest terms, I think that the buildup and my expectations for this book were...not met.

That's not to say that they were too high or anything, except that I just expected what these books have led me to expect over and over again:

+ lots of romance
+ tender-loving bedroom scenes
+ a compelling murder mystery plot
+ comedic moments

And...yeah, these were kind of present but then...kind of not.

There is a romantic development between Rory and Elysande, but I found it rather subtle...

..and we get just one bedroom scene very near the end and...it's quick and that's it...

...the murder mystery plot is kind of absent, as instead we very clearly know who's after Elysande and why (and yes, the stakes are high, but it lacks that "mystery" element, y'know?)...

...and because the whole thing was a lot of travelling and Rory planning stuff out and Elysande bearing with her pain and all...there weren't really any funny moments.

It just didn't read as charmingly as the other books in this series, in other words, so I found myself disappointed in it and even skimming a bit at the end--which has a WAYYY extended epilogue in which a lot of loose ends are wrapped up that shouldn't have to be wrapped up so quickly if only the author had balanced out her story a bit better and focused on the plot more than the descriptions of Rory planning something or Elysande giving a backstory to everything that's happened.

So, all in all, I'm still giving this a fair four stars for the overall reading experience, but just also to keep in mind that this was NOT as good as the usual romances of this series, so maybe it's a book that I won't be re-reading as much as, say, The Highlander's Promise. Once I rank all the books of this series, this one is definitely going at the bottom, I'm sorry to say.

[Севдалина · Rating 5 out of 5]

Лейди Елисан де Валанс и Рори Бюканън

📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣

Тъй като не знам как да напиша ревю без да преразкажа почти цялата книга, моля НЕ четете спойлерите, ако смятате да четете книгата.

Животът на лейди Елисан се променя из основи, когато приемат в дома си дългогодишният приятел на семейството барон де Бучи. По време на вечерята за ужас на всички, де Бучи убива баща й, а хората му избиват войниците в акт на насилие, какъвто младата жена никога не е виждала. Мъжа търси нещо... без да споменава какво е то... и е готов на всичко за да го получи. След кървавата баня, той се нахвърля върху майката на Елисан, чупейки пръстите й, пребивайки я жестоко и чупейки гръбнака й, оставяйки я парализирана. Когато и тогава не научава това, което иска, прехвърля агресията си върху Елисан карайки доверен свой човек да я пребие. След жесток побой Елисан е хвърлена в тъмницата на замъка, от където след няколко дни е спасена от камериерката на майка й. Бащата на Елисан е мъртъв, замъка им в ръцете на ужасен човек, самата Елисан едва може да се движи, в толкова лошо състо��ние е, а майка й е обездвижена и на легло. Скоро обаче майка й научава какво търси де Бучи де Бучи планира преврат срещу краля и сина му, за който съпругата му е научила и изпраща писмо до родителите на Елисан, но то пристига ден след като де Бучи напада дома й. тя знае, че трябва да изпрати Елисан далеч, където ще е в безопасност и от където ще може да изпрати вест до краля, за да го спаси. Наскоро майката на Елисан е разбрала, че в съседният на тях замък, за да лекува лорда е Рори Бюканън, който е близък приятел с леърда на клана Камерън, който пък е племенник на майката на Елисан, затова майка й я праща при него с двама воина, които да я пазят. Майакта на Елисан умира, но младата жена не желае да я остави сама, затова майка й поглъща отрова.

Рори Бюканън е всеизвестен с лечителските си умения. Когато е момче и майка му умира при боледуване, за което никой лечител не може да й помогне, Рори спира да тренира за войник, като братята си и се заема да стане най-добрият лечител в Шотландия. След години постигнал това той решава да се научи и да върти меча, и вече го прави не по-зле от братята си. И все пак, лечителските му способности са това, с което е познат и за което англичаните се избиват да му плащат малко състояние, за да ги излекува. Успял да натрупа доста пари през годините, Рори е достатъчно богат, че да си построи свой замък на плодородната земя оставена му от родителите му. И той смята да направи точно това. Точно когато се кани да се върне у дома, заедно с брат си Алек и 4мата си верни мъже, Кон, Дугъл, Инън и Фъргъс, Рори получава вест от английска дама, която е роднина на клана Камерън и която го моли да вземе съкровището й, и да го отнесе в клана Камерън. Рори е очаквал всичко, но не и съкровището да е млада дама, с охрана от 2ма Английски войника, която очевидно бяга от нещо. Рори е готов да се притече на помощ на момичето, и е още по-решителен в намерението си, когато вижда колко зверски е пребита Елисан и когато осъзнава, че по петите им вероятно ще тръгне цяла армия.

През дългото пътуване от Англия до планините на Шотландия малката група ще се сблъска с неуморим враг, с непредвидимо време и проблеми на всяка крачка, които обаче ще сложат началото на една силна и чиста любов, готова да устои на всяка буря.

Обожавам тази поредица на Линзи, и тази книга не е изключение. Рори беше страхотен герой, силен, смел, решителен и непоколебим. Беше ми обаче много забавно как винаги се успиваше. По това личеше, че не е типичният шотландски воин, който спи с едно отворено око, и това беше много свежа промяна от типичните шотландци. Елисан пък беше невероятно силна и волева героиня. Начина по който се заставяше да язди и да не изостава от мъжете, въпреки, че тялото й бе толкова зверски наранено, че я болеше дори като дишаше, беше невероятен. Едновременно ми беше тъжно за нея и я аплодирах за силният характер. Беше ми много забавно как спяха навън в гората 8те воина и нежната, пребита и наранена дама. Елисан можеше да лежи само на лявата си страна, която не бе наранена за разлика от гърба, дупето, бедрата и прасците й, и цялата й дясна страна. За да й е топло и да е защитена докато лежи на лявата си страна, с гръб към нея отпред лежеше Рори, а отзад Том, един от нейните войници. Над главата й лежеше Алек, а в краката й Кон. Инън, Дугъл, Фъргъс и Саймън, другият й английски воин, лежаха около тях, и всяка сутрин Елисан се будеше легнала върху гърдите на доста възбуденият Рори... което водеше до доста подигравки по негов адрес.
В книгата ми харесаха толкова много неща. Харесах героите, харесах перипетиите през които преминаха, харесах начина по който се справяха с проблемите. Книгата беше слоу бърн и трябваше доста да почакаме, докато се случи нещо между Елисан и Рори. Хареса ми, колко лесно Рори разгада кой се опитва да убие Елисан след като влязоха в Шотландия. Първата вечер като се настаниха в Шотландската гостилница някакъв мъж приближил Саймън и му казал, че баща му е един от съконспираторите на де Бучи, и ако не се отърве от Елисан семейството му ще бъде съсипано, затова той на 2 пъти опита да убие Елисан, но Рори го разгада й я опази жива, като същевременно изпрати Том с 2ма от мъжете си да предупредят краля.

И разбира се трябва да спомена епилога. Който беше дооооста голям. Тъй като слушах книгата в аудио формат, епилога беше 45 минути. И беше великолепен. Вече женени Рори и бременната в 5тия месец с близнаци Елисан са призовани при краля на Англия, който иска да благодари на Елисан. Беше доста забавно как Елисан описа нещата и в крайна сметка се разбра, че дома й, ще остане за някое от децата й, а тя ще живее в Шотландия с Рори. Като сватбен подарък краля им изпрати 100 строители, за да построят по-бързо замъка им. През това време Том беше отишъл да вземе 2ма от верните слуги на Елисан и ако пожелаят да ги доведе в Шотландия, а в крайна сметка с него бяха тръгнали всички слуги от дома й, мъкнейки с тях всички домашни животни. Минавайки през земите на различни шотландски кланове, леърдите им осигурили ескорт, за да нямат проблеми, и сега Рори се оказа със 100 шотландски и 100 английски работника, над 50 слуги с над 200 животни, 6 отряда състоящи се от леърди и воините им... и без замък само с една хижа от 2 стаи. Беше забавно колко отчаян беше и като леърдите предложиха да построят временна крепост от дървета нещата се наредиха перфектно.

За мое съжаление не се срещнахме с предишните двойки. Факта, че за пристигането на Елисан и Рори при клана Камерън не ни бе показано, а само описано, ме кара да се чувствам леко ощетена. Но въпреки това се влюбих в книгата. Беше сладка, вълнуваща и много интересна. От братята Бюканън остана само Алек, тъй че вярвам, че следващата книга ще е за него... дано да я получим скоро.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one and a big part of it was due to Elysande. She proved again and again how strong she was. First by surviving the beating from hell, then escaping after so many in her castle were killed and finally by not letting her severe injuries stop her from riding a horse all day long, days on end. Then it seemed like with every place they stopped and were around people Elysande managed to win them over, people that wouldn't normally have helped them went out of their way to help, like at Carlise and then later at the end of the book. It was fun to see Rory always be stymied by Elysande and her actions. Soon though she even won him over. I liked when their relationship crossed the line and how Rory let Elysande know that it wasn't a passing fancy, but he was all in.

The ending was great, from the meeting with the King, to his gift and all that the gift brought, such chaos, but in a great way! It made for a great start for Rory and Elysande.