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Pict by Time #1
Where the Thistle Grows
Falling through time was unavoidable. Falling for him was disastrous.
2023
Scotland is a land of lore and legend, but archeologist Caitriona Murray prefers physical evidence to ancient tales. Joining a major excavation off the northern Scotland coast, Caitriona cannot wait to discover a cave’s buried secrets. Because of reoccurring dreams of an ancient man’s death, she is convinced that a Pictish king is buried within those cave walls. But soon, Cait discovers more secrets in that cave than just bones.
Finding herself face to face with the man who haunts her dreams, Cait is thrown into the lost world she’d spent her entire life studying and is faced with an undeniable reality: she has traveled back in time, this king believes she is his bride, and Cait isn’t sure she will ever make it back home.
Danger threatens from every direction, but falling in love with a man destined to die brutally in battle may be her greatest downfall.
685 AD
King Brodyn Mac Cuill is determined to keep his people safe, even if it means marrying a strange woman from a rival tribe. An alliance is his only chance at gathering an army large enough to defeat their southern enemies, the Angles, who challenge him daily.
When his bride arrives, she is confused and resistant to marriage. She isn’t the bride he’d hoped for, but lives are at stake. His new bride confuses him with her strange behavior, yet he finds her fascinating and irresistible. When danger follows in her wake, Brodyn must question her loyalties and everything he ever knew.
Their connection is undeniable, but can he trust his bride, who claims to be from the future, or is she a trap sent by his enemy?
2023
Scotland is a land of lore and legend, but archeologist Caitriona Murray prefers physical evidence to ancient tales. Joining a major excavation off the northern Scotland coast, Caitriona cannot wait to discover a cave’s buried secrets. Because of reoccurring dreams of an ancient man’s death, she is convinced that a Pictish king is buried within those cave walls. But soon, Cait discovers more secrets in that cave than just bones.
Finding herself face to face with the man who haunts her dreams, Cait is thrown into the lost world she’d spent her entire life studying and is faced with an undeniable reality: she has traveled back in time, this king believes she is his bride, and Cait isn’t sure she will ever make it back home.
Danger threatens from every direction, but falling in love with a man destined to die brutally in battle may be her greatest downfall.
685 AD
King Brodyn Mac Cuill is determined to keep his people safe, even if it means marrying a strange woman from a rival tribe. An alliance is his only chance at gathering an army large enough to defeat their southern enemies, the Angles, who challenge him daily.
When his bride arrives, she is confused and resistant to marriage. She isn’t the bride he’d hoped for, but lives are at stake. His new bride confuses him with her strange behavior, yet he finds her fascinating and irresistible. When danger follows in her wake, Brodyn must question her loyalties and everything he ever knew.
Their connection is undeniable, but can he trust his bride, who claims to be from the future, or is she a trap sent by his enemy?
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2023
108 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Mia Pride
31 books639 followersMia is an award-winning author and mother of two human boys and many furry creatures residing in the SF Bay Area. How she manages to get anything done is a wonder to all, including herself.
As a child, she often wrote fantasy stories, preferring to live in a world where the line between reality and fantasy didn’t exist. In High school, she entered writing contests and had some stories published in small newspapers or school magazines. As life continued, so did her love of writing.
Mia received her Bachelors in Health Science from CSUEB and recently completed her editing certificate with UC Berkeley. Currently, Mia is both self-published and small-press-published with Dragonblade Publishing.
When Mia isn’t writing books or hanging with her family and pets at home, she loves to get lost in a good book, buy anything with pugs on it, and drink massive margaritas with her friends. Her happy place is the Renaissance Faire, where you can find her at the joust, rooting for the shirtless highlander in a kilt.
As a child, she often wrote fantasy stories, preferring to live in a world where the line between reality and fantasy didn’t exist. In High school, she entered writing contests and had some stories published in small newspapers or school magazines. As life continued, so did her love of writing.
Mia received her Bachelors in Health Science from CSUEB and recently completed her editing certificate with UC Berkeley. Currently, Mia is both self-published and small-press-published with Dragonblade Publishing.
When Mia isn’t writing books or hanging with her family and pets at home, she loves to get lost in a good book, buy anything with pugs on it, and drink massive margaritas with her friends. Her happy place is the Renaissance Faire, where you can find her at the joust, rooting for the shirtless highlander in a kilt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 23, 2023
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
It’s so nice to have a new series from Mia, I’ve always enjoyed her books and her writing.
This book is just the start of what is a very promising series.
I enjoyed the characters and the setting immensely, it’s an age that is not written about very often, which is a shame.
This is a wonderful adventure that had me totally hooked.
I can’t wait for more.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
It’s so nice to have a new series from Mia, I’ve always enjoyed her books and her writing.
This book is just the start of what is a very promising series.
I enjoyed the characters and the setting immensely, it’s an age that is not written about very often, which is a shame.
This is a wonderful adventure that had me totally hooked.
I can’t wait for more.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
September 23, 2023
The story started off nice. After the MCs were introduced, it just started going bad. Jumping POVs for starters. I mean POVs suddenly changed in the middle of the paragraph. Argh. I hate that. No relationship development and one dimensional characters. No research to create Pictish world and culture. Everything is rushed and a lot of stuff going on off page. Insta love and misunderstanding to keep the story going. Predictable plot twist. The idea was great but the execution was not. I will still read the rest of the series out of curiosity.
July 17, 2023
Sur le concept c'était vendeur, mais l'exécution est bien trop rapide, le contexte historique pas assez creusé (et vraiment très fantasmé), le voyage dans le temps bancal, et l'exploration des sentiments est en manque.
February 18, 2023
Brilliant....simply brilliant! I've read a lot of time travel romance books but this one had a twist to it that put it above all the others. I also became so enamoured with the Picts, after I finished the book, I spent quite a bit of time doing my own research and how I'd love to visit the areas where so many of the Pictish stones are peppered throughout Scotland. There's still a lot of mystery surrounding the Pict people but Mia Pride writes a fascinating story that blends history with imagination.
Caitriona and Brodyn's story is complicated and sometimes confusing but the love and passion they share comes through the pages and you can't help but feel every emotion they go through before they reach their HEA.
Truthfully, this is one of the best time travel books I've ever read. I now look forward to the rest of the series and if they are as good as this one, book #1, I'm in for a treat:)
Caitriona and Brodyn's story is complicated and sometimes confusing but the love and passion they share comes through the pages and you can't help but feel every emotion they go through before they reach their HEA.
Truthfully, this is one of the best time travel books I've ever read. I now look forward to the rest of the series and if they are as good as this one, book #1, I'm in for a treat:)
March 19, 2023
Where the Thistle Grows
Pict by Time #1
Mia Pride
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Caitriona Murray prefers physical evidence to ancient tales, and she joins a major excavation off the northern Scottish coast. She can't wait to discover the caves secrets. She's had a reoccurring dream of an ancient man's death for a very long time, and this has convinced her that a Pictish King is buried within those cave walls. But soon, Cait will discover a lot more than she bargained for in that cave.
Danger will threaten from every direction, but falling in love with a man who's destined to die brutally in battle may be her greatest downfall.
685 AD
King Brodyn Mac Cuill is determined to keep his people safe, even if it means marrying a strange woman from a rival tribe. This alliance is his only chance at gathering a large enough army to defeat their enemies, the Angles, who challenge him daily.
When his bride arrives, she is very confused and seems to be against the marriage. She isn't exactly the bride he expected, and her strange behavior confuses him, yet he finds her fascinating and irresistible. But as danger follows, he will have to question everything he has ever known and believed in.
Wow, just wow. Mia Pride was meant to write time travel. What a book. I was utterly enthralled and fascinated while I read this book. To put it bluntly, it blew my mind. There were so many twists and turns and unexpected things happening that this story keeps you on your toes. From the second I started reading until the moment I was finished I didn't come up for air. It was like watching a film play out in my head. I can't wait for the second book if the first was this good.
Ms. Pride, I bow and tip my hat to you because this was one fantastic book.
Pict by Time #1
Mia Pride
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Caitriona Murray prefers physical evidence to ancient tales, and she joins a major excavation off the northern Scottish coast. She can't wait to discover the caves secrets. She's had a reoccurring dream of an ancient man's death for a very long time, and this has convinced her that a Pictish King is buried within those cave walls. But soon, Cait will discover a lot more than she bargained for in that cave.
Danger will threaten from every direction, but falling in love with a man who's destined to die brutally in battle may be her greatest downfall.
685 AD
King Brodyn Mac Cuill is determined to keep his people safe, even if it means marrying a strange woman from a rival tribe. This alliance is his only chance at gathering a large enough army to defeat their enemies, the Angles, who challenge him daily.
When his bride arrives, she is very confused and seems to be against the marriage. She isn't exactly the bride he expected, and her strange behavior confuses him, yet he finds her fascinating and irresistible. But as danger follows, he will have to question everything he has ever known and believed in.
Wow, just wow. Mia Pride was meant to write time travel. What a book. I was utterly enthralled and fascinated while I read this book. To put it bluntly, it blew my mind. There were so many twists and turns and unexpected things happening that this story keeps you on your toes. From the second I started reading until the moment I was finished I didn't come up for air. It was like watching a film play out in my head. I can't wait for the second book if the first was this good.
Ms. Pride, I bow and tip my hat to you because this was one fantastic book.
October 31, 2024
The main character was insufferable and literally changed her mind between paragraphs. I didn’t mind the love interest but everyone just lacked the depth to make them feel like real characters. I wanted an outlander alternative but this is going for all the same vibes with none of the execution.
One good time travel romance series I found was A Beautiful Wreck by Larissa Brown and the sequel So Wild a Dream, set in Viking Iceland. They have little to no spice though, but I would hardly call this book particularly spicy either. At least the writing and world building is a bit better.
One good time travel romance series I found was A Beautiful Wreck by Larissa Brown and the sequel So Wild a Dream, set in Viking Iceland. They have little to no spice though, but I would hardly call this book particularly spicy either. At least the writing and world building is a bit better.
September 22, 2024
1 star, DNF at 15%.
I've been looking for some time travel books and this one sounded interesting, but I've actually never DNFed so soon into a book. Not what I was expecting, but let's talk about it!
Caitriona is a 25 year old archeology prodigy who is basically the worlds' foremost expert on the Picts, a group of early medieval peoples living in Scotland. She's also a rich girl who grew up in the "LA hills", amongst celebrities, being groomed by her parents to become an actress herself. Mary Sue alert activated but nevertheless we persist.
Cait is in Scotland starting a new dig in hopes of finding the remains of a Pictish King. She's been dreaming of a rugged Blonde man from another time her whole life and those dreams have really ratcheted up since she got to the site, so we all know where this is going. I got as far as Cait finding the remains of the King, being transported, and meeting that King (Brodyn) who carts her away, thinking she's his new bride sent by his cousin.
Honestly, the story itself isn't bad, but what really got me was the dialogue. The characters speak to each other in a weirdly formal, clunky way that constantly took me out of the book. Part of this is due to something which is a huge pet peeve of mine: modern characters not using contractions when they speak. Contractions are such a ubiquitous part of modern language that when characters aren't using them a lot of the time, it just immediately feels inauthentic. Also, there are sections of dialogue which feel more like random info dumps than actual conversation between friends. At one point, Cait is in the cave and starts speaking Pictish. Her friend Emilie is there and hears her, and they have the following conversation:
....who speaks like this? It's like a wikipedia page being transcribed. Plus, why is Emilie even giving all of that information? As a Pictish expert, surely Cait is already aware of this! There's just a lack of natural-ness to all of the dialogue that kept me from getting into the story.
Next up, Cait finds the bones, touches them, and immediately feels a reaction. Not just the terrible headaches she's had since getting to the site, but also intense heat, so she...starts removing her clothes? She's left in just her button up shirt and socks (because that makes sense..?) and that's how she meets the Pictish King, half naked for no reason. Eye roll.
Brodyn doesn't leave any kind of impression on the reader beyond "typical highlander-esque dude", but off we go to the castle and he tells her they're getting married that night. The point where I knew I was done was when Caitriona, who has been made ready for the marriage ceremony by an older female servant, tells us:
This is supposed to be because Anya mysteriously 'knows' Cait isn't who the King thinks she is, (I suspect she has some knowledge of time travelling somehow) but....was there no other way to illustrate this? Again- it's all just so clunky!
DNF at 15% but if those things don't bother you, the story is passable enough!
I've been looking for some time travel books and this one sounded interesting, but I've actually never DNFed so soon into a book. Not what I was expecting, but let's talk about it!
Caitriona is a 25 year old archeology prodigy who is basically the worlds' foremost expert on the Picts, a group of early medieval peoples living in Scotland. She's also a rich girl who grew up in the "LA hills", amongst celebrities, being groomed by her parents to become an actress herself. Mary Sue alert activated but nevertheless we persist.
Cait is in Scotland starting a new dig in hopes of finding the remains of a Pictish King. She's been dreaming of a rugged Blonde man from another time her whole life and those dreams have really ratcheted up since she got to the site, so we all know where this is going. I got as far as Cait finding the remains of the King, being transported, and meeting that King (Brodyn) who carts her away, thinking she's his new bride sent by his cousin.
Honestly, the story itself isn't bad, but what really got me was the dialogue. The characters speak to each other in a weirdly formal, clunky way that constantly took me out of the book. Part of this is due to something which is a huge pet peeve of mine: modern characters not using contractions when they speak. Contractions are such a ubiquitous part of modern language that when characters aren't using them a lot of the time, it just immediately feels inauthentic. Also, there are sections of dialogue which feel more like random info dumps than actual conversation between friends. At one point, Cait is in the cave and starts speaking Pictish. Her friend Emilie is there and hears her, and they have the following conversation:
"You were speaking Pictish!"
"I...I was?"
Emilie slowly nodded. "I can only assume since, you know, literally none of the language exists today except place names that are a mix of Gaelic, Latin, and other ancient dialects of early langauge."
....who speaks like this? It's like a wikipedia page being transcribed. Plus, why is Emilie even giving all of that information? As a Pictish expert, surely Cait is already aware of this! There's just a lack of natural-ness to all of the dialogue that kept me from getting into the story.
Next up, Cait finds the bones, touches them, and immediately feels a reaction. Not just the terrible headaches she's had since getting to the site, but also intense heat, so she...starts removing her clothes? She's left in just her button up shirt and socks (because that makes sense..?) and that's how she meets the Pictish King, half naked for no reason. Eye roll.
Brodyn doesn't leave any kind of impression on the reader beyond "typical highlander-esque dude", but off we go to the castle and he tells her they're getting married that night. The point where I knew I was done was when Caitriona, who has been made ready for the marriage ceremony by an older female servant, tells us:
"Surprisingly, the older woman hadn't commented on Caitriona's undergarments, which in retrospect, she found odd. Bras and thong underwear certainly didn't exist in this time and should have taken Anya aback."
This is supposed to be because Anya mysteriously 'knows' Cait isn't who the King thinks she is, (I suspect she has some knowledge of time travelling somehow) but....was there no other way to illustrate this? Again- it's all just so clunky!
DNF at 15% but if those things don't bother you, the story is passable enough!
June 23, 2024
BOOK: Where the Thistle Grows
AUTHOR: Mia Pride
SERIES: Pict by Time, #1
LENGTH: 276 Pages
PUBLISHER: Dragonblade
OVERALL RATING: 5/5
It is a time-travel about where archeologist Caitriona Murray likes the real deal, not just historic tales or fact guessing. So she joins a team to travel to Scotland and discover some classified unknown confidence of this specific cave which is absolutely brilliant!
Furthermore, Caitriona is not sure if this deja vu or something supernatural but she keeps having the dream over and over again about a Pict King’s death. She feels the dream means he is buried under the cave or close by. Soon she realizes you must be careful with what you wish for!
She is soon shocked when she soon faces the man she has been having so many recurring dreams about, Cat soon realizes she has traveled back in an ancient time she has only studied about. She is now in 685 AD and realizes she is falling for a man that may very well die. Furthermore this Pict King thinks she is his bride! Cait wonders if she will ever be able to return to her own time.
King Brodyn Mac Cuill wants to keep his tribe protected and away from danger even if he agrees to marry someone from an enemy tribe. It is the only way to secure an alliance but he sees the new bride’s hesitation. If he only knew the bizarre images going through her head. Fearing she will never return to her own time and also not wanting to fall for this handsome King where only death is waiting for him. What shall she do?
Furthermore the King does not understand his new Bride and her unusual behavior but also finds her oddities so adorable too! Except when he discovers this woman thinks she is from another time so now he wonders if she is just insane or is this some kind of ambush his enemies are setting up for him and his tribe? Can he even believe this woman even if she already has claimed his heart!
This is such a magnificent read definitely a book reader do not want to miss. Mia Pride is extremely talented. I find myself absolutely spellbound by her exhilarating reads! A book paranormal and historical readers will absolutely love! It is one of those rare books you can’t help but love! A book I highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received an advance readers copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
AUTHOR: Mia Pride
SERIES: Pict by Time, #1
LENGTH: 276 Pages
PUBLISHER: Dragonblade
OVERALL RATING: 5/5
It is a time-travel about where archeologist Caitriona Murray likes the real deal, not just historic tales or fact guessing. So she joins a team to travel to Scotland and discover some classified unknown confidence of this specific cave which is absolutely brilliant!
Furthermore, Caitriona is not sure if this deja vu or something supernatural but she keeps having the dream over and over again about a Pict King’s death. She feels the dream means he is buried under the cave or close by. Soon she realizes you must be careful with what you wish for!
She is soon shocked when she soon faces the man she has been having so many recurring dreams about, Cat soon realizes she has traveled back in an ancient time she has only studied about. She is now in 685 AD and realizes she is falling for a man that may very well die. Furthermore this Pict King thinks she is his bride! Cait wonders if she will ever be able to return to her own time.
King Brodyn Mac Cuill wants to keep his tribe protected and away from danger even if he agrees to marry someone from an enemy tribe. It is the only way to secure an alliance but he sees the new bride’s hesitation. If he only knew the bizarre images going through her head. Fearing she will never return to her own time and also not wanting to fall for this handsome King where only death is waiting for him. What shall she do?
Furthermore the King does not understand his new Bride and her unusual behavior but also finds her oddities so adorable too! Except when he discovers this woman thinks she is from another time so now he wonders if she is just insane or is this some kind of ambush his enemies are setting up for him and his tribe? Can he even believe this woman even if she already has claimed his heart!
This is such a magnificent read definitely a book reader do not want to miss. Mia Pride is extremely talented. I find myself absolutely spellbound by her exhilarating reads! A book paranormal and historical readers will absolutely love! It is one of those rare books you can’t help but love! A book I highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received an advance readers copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
February 9, 2023
A promising timetraveller series to become submerged in!
The allure of the mystical pulled me in and compelled me to read, WHERE THE THISTLE GROWS, but Pride's writing, packed with vivid details, rich imagery and multifaceted characters, will have me eagerly coming back for more. As she Illuminated an intriguing snapshot into the lesser known tribes of Scotland, the Picts, bringing to life an absorbing timeloop traveller romance I thoroughly enjoyed.
Years of experiencing the same heartbreaking dream has given Caitriona an intellectual drive and deep bond with the Picts that deeply calls and connects her to the legend of the Pictish king, Brodyn Mac Cuill. Opening up an intriguing tale and heart pounding romance that jumps from present day 2023 to AD685, Northern Scotland. That wrapped me up and thrilled with the uncertainty and perilous backdrop of tribal warfare and powerplays of the time, as forged alliances, betrayal and secrets swirled and hung over their heads, as they tried so desperately to deny the strong visceral tug that bound them together, due to the harrowing prospect of disastrously reshaping Scotland's future. As a love sparked, unravelled and statisfyingly kept pulling Cait and Brodyn back together through the veil of time.
Combining to create a fun read that beguiles in the wonder of 'what if' and engages in the well defined, intriguing depth of the characters that become so delightfully entangled together.
A series I'm keen to follow where ever it shall lead... very much looking forward to Emilie and Goodwin's tale and will definitely be hunting out Anya's too.
The allure of the mystical pulled me in and compelled me to read, WHERE THE THISTLE GROWS, but Pride's writing, packed with vivid details, rich imagery and multifaceted characters, will have me eagerly coming back for more. As she Illuminated an intriguing snapshot into the lesser known tribes of Scotland, the Picts, bringing to life an absorbing timeloop traveller romance I thoroughly enjoyed.
Years of experiencing the same heartbreaking dream has given Caitriona an intellectual drive and deep bond with the Picts that deeply calls and connects her to the legend of the Pictish king, Brodyn Mac Cuill. Opening up an intriguing tale and heart pounding romance that jumps from present day 2023 to AD685, Northern Scotland. That wrapped me up and thrilled with the uncertainty and perilous backdrop of tribal warfare and powerplays of the time, as forged alliances, betrayal and secrets swirled and hung over their heads, as they tried so desperately to deny the strong visceral tug that bound them together, due to the harrowing prospect of disastrously reshaping Scotland's future. As a love sparked, unravelled and statisfyingly kept pulling Cait and Brodyn back together through the veil of time.
Combining to create a fun read that beguiles in the wonder of 'what if' and engages in the well defined, intriguing depth of the characters that become so delightfully entangled together.
A series I'm keen to follow where ever it shall lead... very much looking forward to Emilie and Goodwin's tale and will definitely be hunting out Anya's too.
August 18, 2023
Unique story line, many editing problems
Let me start by saying I enjoyed this book because it has a unique time travel plot. That’s a big deal because the genre has become seriously boring because of repetitive storylines only made different by changes in characters’ names. So, Kudos! to Mia Pride for her imaginative twist on time travel!
That said, Pride bit off a huge number of twists and turns in this story and quite often failed to keep track of the details along the way. Since the plot depends on time repeating itself, keeping track of major details like whether Taylor broke his fibula or his ankle is kind of a big deal, since every time this inconsistency crops up it pulls the reader’s attention from the story. Also, making sure to be consistent with whether Caitriona has red, gold hair which she has passed on to Lucas or blonde hair—written about within less than ten pages—again, pulls the reader’s attention out of the story to ask themself, “gee, didn’t I just see that five minutes ago?” Also, we only discover in the last few pages that Anya can travel to 2023–can she travel to any time period? She is an interesting character that I would have loved to see a bit more of.
Another challenge with Where the Thistle Grows is that, because of the complexity of the story, the telling occasionally becomes overwhelming wordy, confusing, and complex. This is due to the fact that the plot is more complicated than your average time travel novel. This is by no means a reason to not read the book. It just requires a little patience. This novel would greatly benefit from the attention of a good editor. It’s unique, well-researched, interesting, and fun.
Let me start by saying I enjoyed this book because it has a unique time travel plot. That’s a big deal because the genre has become seriously boring because of repetitive storylines only made different by changes in characters’ names. So, Kudos! to Mia Pride for her imaginative twist on time travel!
That said, Pride bit off a huge number of twists and turns in this story and quite often failed to keep track of the details along the way. Since the plot depends on time repeating itself, keeping track of major details like whether Taylor broke his fibula or his ankle is kind of a big deal, since every time this inconsistency crops up it pulls the reader’s attention from the story. Also, making sure to be consistent with whether Caitriona has red, gold hair which she has passed on to Lucas or blonde hair—written about within less than ten pages—again, pulls the reader’s attention out of the story to ask themself, “gee, didn’t I just see that five minutes ago?” Also, we only discover in the last few pages that Anya can travel to 2023–can she travel to any time period? She is an interesting character that I would have loved to see a bit more of.
Another challenge with Where the Thistle Grows is that, because of the complexity of the story, the telling occasionally becomes overwhelming wordy, confusing, and complex. This is due to the fact that the plot is more complicated than your average time travel novel. This is by no means a reason to not read the book. It just requires a little patience. This novel would greatly benefit from the attention of a good editor. It’s unique, well-researched, interesting, and fun.
February 9, 2023
Scotland is a land of lore and legend, but archaeologist Caitriona Murray prefers physical evidence to ancient tales. Joining a major excavation off the northern Scotland coast, Caitriona cannot wait to discover a cave’s buried secrets. Because of reoccurring dreams of an ancient man’s death, she is convinced that a Pictish king is buried within those cave walls. Finding herself face to face with the man who haunts her dreams, Cait is thrown into the lost world she’d spent her entire life studying and is faced with an undeniable reality: she has travelled back in time, this king believes she is his bride, and Cait isn’t sure she will ever make it back home. King Brodyn Mac Cuill is determined to keep his people safe, even if it means marrying a strange woman from a rival tribe. An alliance is his only chance at gathering an army large enough to defeat their southern enemies, the Angles, who challenge him daily.
The first in a new series & what a read it was – I couldn't put it down. If asked do I like time travel romances, my answer would be they’re OK but to be honest I’ve not read a bad one & in fact have read several good ones & this is a very good one. I think it’s time I revised my stance on the trope! I loved Brodyn & Cait their chemistry was electric & I thoroughly enjoyed their journey with all the trials & tribulations. The characters are wonderful & the pace never lags – I loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The first in a new series & what a read it was – I couldn't put it down. If asked do I like time travel romances, my answer would be they’re OK but to be honest I’ve not read a bad one & in fact have read several good ones & this is a very good one. I think it’s time I revised my stance on the trope! I loved Brodyn & Cait their chemistry was electric & I thoroughly enjoyed their journey with all the trials & tribulations. The characters are wonderful & the pace never lags – I loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
February 14, 2023
I read time travel stories and this one had a unique twists. Your fated soulmate is from 1400 years prior and you've dreamt about him since you were a child. It is now 2023 and the dreams are becoming more real. The h has a chance to go to Scotland and hopefully find the bones of the man she's dreamt about for years.
This isn't your normal time travel story because it's not about just going back in time. It's about souls being intertwined and causes you to be in a loop for 1400 years. Think of it as a bigger scale of Groundhogs Day movie.
There is suspense, intrigue, surprises, drama, sorrow, gladness and romance. So much stuffed into this storyline that is was fascinating to see where this author's imagination took me. I've already pre-ordered the next in the series because I loved both these secondary characters.
Lovemaking within marriage - heat level 4 out of 5.
Strong main and secondary characters kept the story from dragging. No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA (very rough road) and some steam. I did want a different ending for our H/h but hopefully as the series progresses I'll get MY HEA for them. It does end with their HEA so don't worry. Need to read it to see what I mean. (ljb)
This isn't your normal time travel story because it's not about just going back in time. It's about souls being intertwined and causes you to be in a loop for 1400 years. Think of it as a bigger scale of Groundhogs Day movie.
There is suspense, intrigue, surprises, drama, sorrow, gladness and romance. So much stuffed into this storyline that is was fascinating to see where this author's imagination took me. I've already pre-ordered the next in the series because I loved both these secondary characters.
Lovemaking within marriage - heat level 4 out of 5.
Strong main and secondary characters kept the story from dragging. No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA (very rough road) and some steam. I did want a different ending for our H/h but hopefully as the series progresses I'll get MY HEA for them. It does end with their HEA so don't worry. Need to read it to see what I mean. (ljb)
February 13, 2023
The past meets the present time in this absorbing romance. Although Caitriona, Cait to her friends, has dreamt of the Pictish king for most of her life, the reality of coming face to face with him was far more than she was prepared for. The plot gives interesting insights into a period hidden in the mists of time, where it is up to archeologists to sort through the remains to determine the quality of life in a given era. Discovering that she is required to marry King Brodyn, Cait does everything she can to avoid the outcome, but she quickly comes to realize that the role she has to play is far more important than she could have expected. The attraction between Cait and Brodyn is dynamic and the supporting characters bring their own part to the story, but not without danger and tension, which escalates as the novel comes to a conclusion. The ending is unexpected but nevertheless romantic and heartwarming. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
January 23, 2024
Where the Thistle Grows by Mia Pride is a refreshing take on the time travel genre. Pride weaves a captivating story that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The unique plot, centered around an excavation in Scotland, is filled with unexpected twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat. While the complexity of the story can be overwhelming at times, the well-researched and interesting narrative is worth the occasional confusion. The characters are intriguing, and the passionate romance between Caitriona and the Pict king adds an extra layer of depth to the story. Although the book would benefit from some editing to fix inconsistencies, it remains a fascinating and enjoyable read. Fans of time travel novels will not be disappointed by this thrilling adventure.
February 6, 2023
snagged a copy of this book on Netgalley.
2 reasons : 1 )I love Dragonblade books and 2) Mia is on my " love this author " list.
If you like OUTLANDER, then you'll enjoy this book immensely! I read it in one day !
The characters are notable and with the time travel( yay) souls reliving their lives over and over , this book left me satisfied and asking myself " what if" and "why not" , isn't anything possible?
Mia , you've done a spectacular job with this book and I look forward to reading the sequel! So yeah , I'm hooked!!mia-pride
2 reasons : 1 )I love Dragonblade books and 2) Mia is on my " love this author " list.
If you like OUTLANDER, then you'll enjoy this book immensely! I read it in one day !
The characters are notable and with the time travel( yay) souls reliving their lives over and over , this book left me satisfied and asking myself " what if" and "why not" , isn't anything possible?
Mia , you've done a spectacular job with this book and I look forward to reading the sequel! So yeah , I'm hooked!!mia-pride
February 28, 2023
Catriona Murray dreams of death, the death of the man she is fated to love, but not in 2023. Excavating caves in Scotland, she looks for the cave with his remains, finds them and falls back in time to 685. Distrust, pain and anxiety for Catriona and the Pict king she loves are the basis of this book. Passing back and forth through time will bring both goodness and tragedy. A passionate romance without a regular cookie cutter ending that makes me feel the book is unsettled. More books to come in the series.
Heat level 2.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Heat level 2.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
February 14, 2023
This book about time travel between the present and the days of the mysterious Picts in 685 is very romantic and full of angst and uncertainty for the main characters. I loved Caitriona and Brodyn and the story was new and refreshing. You do have to suspend disbelief and accept a lot of magic and time travel. There are steamy scenes and lots of love here and a satisfying ending. ut there were also some inconsistencies and confusion in the plot. Overall a good story and compelling romance.
February 18, 2023
This is not the typical time period for time travel, historical, Scottish romance. But I do love learning more about history. I really, really enjoyed this story. The time loop was a bit confusing and I'm not exactly sure if Samuel is exactly as he seems, but I loved the love between Cait and her Pictish King. I'm looking forward to reading more about this time period and the travelers who make it there. 4.5 stars.
October 3, 2023
Commenting on the entire series.
The idea behind these stories (Pictish Time Travel) and the stories themselves were good. Character development was a little lacking, and there some plot holes that could have been better filled. But the reason I only gave the books/series 3 stars:
Did anyone not edit these books? Or barring actual editing, at least could they have been proofread? Typos and inconsistencies were rampant. For example: MCs' last name was spelled differently throughout the series (not that it changed and then stayed the same, it went back and forth between a few variations). In just one sentence the character being referenced had his name spelled two different ways (I reread several times to make sure they were talking about the same guy). Seriously, I've read Beta Reads that were cleaner than these books.
Yes, I'm picky, but it was SO distracting. If not for that, the series would have been very good and an enjoyable read.
The idea behind these stories (Pictish Time Travel) and the stories themselves were good. Character development was a little lacking, and there some plot holes that could have been better filled. But the reason I only gave the books/series 3 stars:
Did anyone not edit these books? Or barring actual editing, at least could they have been proofread? Typos and inconsistencies were rampant. For example: MCs' last name was spelled differently throughout the series (not that it changed and then stayed the same, it went back and forth between a few variations). In just one sentence the character being referenced had his name spelled two different ways (I reread several times to make sure they were talking about the same guy). Seriously, I've read Beta Reads that were cleaner than these books.
Yes, I'm picky, but it was SO distracting. If not for that, the series would have been very good and an enjoyable read.
May 10, 2023
Traveling both directions
An interesting time travel story with people going back and forth between then and now. Time-line an intriguing concept adding a new dimension. Well written story set in actual locations during time of Picts. Story full of action and challenging romance keeping you guessing on eventual outcome. I recommend the book as one that keeps your interest.
An interesting time travel story with people going back and forth between then and now. Time-line an intriguing concept adding a new dimension. Well written story set in actual locations during time of Picts. Story full of action and challenging romance keeping you guessing on eventual outcome. I recommend the book as one that keeps your interest.
June 15, 2023
Where the Thistle Grows Pict Time Book 1
As Caitriona has dreamed most of her life of King Brodyn as an adult she is a archeologist and finds his grave. Going back on time from the 21st century to year 685ad. She meets him and marries him. True love is never known to where you belong.
As Caitriona has dreamed most of her life of King Brodyn as an adult she is a archeologist and finds his grave. Going back on time from the 21st century to year 685ad. She meets him and marries him. True love is never known to where you belong.
July 21, 2023
WOW! PERFECT!
This story hooked me from the very beginning to the end. Great characters and hero/heroine I can’t say anything bad about the book or the plot you just have to read it yourself! This time travel has the extreme mystery and twists that I wanted to see in a book. Now hopefully book 2 does not disappoint me!
This story hooked me from the very beginning to the end. Great characters and hero/heroine I can’t say anything bad about the book or the plot you just have to read it yourself! This time travel has the extreme mystery and twists that I wanted to see in a book. Now hopefully book 2 does not disappoint me!
February 11, 2023
Excellent story
This is an excellent time travel story. I really like the characters and how they interact with each other. Well written and the plot flows effortlessly right up until the end. Love beyond time. Read this story.
This is an excellent time travel story. I really like the characters and how they interact with each other. Well written and the plot flows effortlessly right up until the end. Love beyond time. Read this story.
February 13, 2023
This was an amazing book a must read. As always Mia Pride delivers. Characters interaction was well written, a well written plot. Read in two days, had to neglect duties but it was well worth the flow.
March 18, 2023
This is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an Outlander retelling in a shorter form. While enough is different to keep it interesting, the plot structure is essentially the same.
Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development - 3
Personal Bias - 3
Final Score - 3.25
Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development - 3
Personal Bias - 3
Final Score - 3.25
April 29, 2023
i love time travel books sm and its the reason why i stumbled upon this book and im so tired of sad endings within this genre so im v glad na happy ending to omg
it was cute and short and kept me entertained so yea! yun lang
it was cute and short and kept me entertained so yea! yun lang
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2023
Loved it!
I like time travel romances and found this book to be totally engaging, exciting and suspenseful. Several unexpected twists kept the storyline fresh and captivating.
Eager to read the second book in the series.
I like time travel romances and found this book to be totally engaging, exciting and suspenseful. Several unexpected twists kept the storyline fresh and captivating.
Eager to read the second book in the series.
May 12, 2023
Good Time Travel Love Story
I enjoyed this book. I never got into this type of book until I had my DNA done several years ago. I couldn’t find much on my father’s side but my mother’s side came from all over Britain . Cait and Brodyn were meant to be together.
So
I enjoyed this book. I never got into this type of book until I had my DNA done several years ago. I couldn’t find much on my father’s side but my mother’s side came from all over Britain . Cait and Brodyn were meant to be together.
So
December 8, 2024
Time travel is a great escape
I enjoyed this story although I did find it a bit short in description and a bit confusing when it came to some of the characters plots. All in all it was a good pallet cleanser read for me. In
I enjoyed this story although I did find it a bit short in description and a bit confusing when it came to some of the characters plots. All in all it was a good pallet cleanser read for me. In
January 14, 2026
This book is absolutely wonderful! Fair and Brodyn are a true delight! If you enjoy time travel, historical romance, particularly dating back to the Picts, this is for you! It is well researched as it is well written. Like Outlander? Love this!!!!
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