This new version of a classical fairy tale is pretty brilliant, where the well known version is in cahoots with romance novels. The classic has got modern spin but not too steep spin and the love story is not insta, but a slow burn with secrets that threaten to destroy the lovers happiness.
This time the mirror loving stepmother comes to Scotland, to marry Laird with ten daughters. This stepmother does not just want to be the fairest of the world, she also has evil plans with all the family.
Laire is the only one who does not fall under the stepmother’s spell, and she is the only one who could save them. She will flee, but a huntsman is sent after her. Laire is a strong willed and crafty young girl. Iain has been with the Lady for almost seven years and this is the first time he is not willing to follow the orders. He will follow Laire, will observe her from afar and his feelings are more and more confused, as are Laires, who knows that huntsman is after her.
Just when I thought this fair skinned, raven haired and ruby lipped girl will rescue herself and her family, the Edinburgh’s urchins join her. And after this the story becomes more romance novel-like and less suitable for kids.
It's good entertainment and a thrilling read.

Unfortunately, I didn’t engage with the characters and found the plotline too simple. I don’t post negative reviews, so have declined comment.

​I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.

Life update: a haunted house company moved in basically across the road from us, and sometimes I think I can hear people screaming from there at night.

This is the stuff that Halloween dreams are made of.

Also Lecia Cornwall’s book The Lady and the Highlander, a dark, seductive fairy tale with spooky, shivery imagery and a heroine who puts all the letters into “intrepid.”

When the book opens, Laire MacLeod’s beloved and fierce father is marrying a beautiful and mysterious woman named Bibiana. Soon after, her father, sisters, and clan-members are swept away in a bacchanal that shows no sign of ending, and the only people who seem unaffected are Laire—who doesn’t drink spirits—and Bibiana and her unsettling entourage, including her Sealgair, or hunter.

The hunter’s actually Iain Lindsay, a leader of his own clan who’s under self-imposed exile after a tragedy involving his late wife. For the last several years he’s been under obligation to serve Bibiana, a woman whose beauty helps disguise how deadly she is, and every day is a struggle between his lingering vestiges of honor and the guilt that’s poisoning him.

But when Laire starts to learn the deadly truth about Bibana and her entourage, she and Iain are forced to decide which parts of themselves they’ll listen to. Will Laire be brave and canny enough to save her family? And will Iain follow his better nature and aid Laire in her quest, or his worst?

The Lady and the Highlander’s a rich treat. It’s passionate and vivid, with provocative imagery that made me lost in the story even as I had a very visceral response to what the author describes. The Snow White vibes give the story a timeless feel to savor, but even more impressive is how much agency Laire has and how determined she is to save her family though she’s been sheltered her entire life. And though Iain’s initial lack of sympathy toward Bibiana’s victims made it hard for me to connect with him, his subsequent musings and actions make his good heart and overall integrity apparent.

That undeniable pull between Laire and Iain is delectable, especially once Bibiana pits them as enemies of the other. It’s pretty delicious seeing how much they want the other (and how much Iain respects Laire) even as he’s sent to kill her and she must defend herself against him. Ultimately, there’s a thrilling pay-off that gives me all the romance feels.

While I was all-in for most of Laire’s quest, the ending of this novel leaves me a bit disappointed. The reservations that both characters had maintained are summarily dismissed, and it lacks the more substantive emotional response that I had anticipated.

But for most of the book, from that first critical meeting of Laire and Bibiana throughout Laire’s bruised, stumbling quest from the only home she’s ever known, I was entranced, appreciating Lecia Cornwall’s distinctive voice and story.

4.25 stars

Laire MacLeod’s widowed father shocks her and her sisters when he comes in with a new bride. Unfortunately this new bride is an evil step-mother and Laire is the only one that realizes it. Iain Lindsay is cursed to do the bidding of the evil witch for seven years. His time is almost up. Now he’s been tasked with following her step-daughter and killing her. Instead, he falls in love with her, damning himself.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a retelling of Snow White (although I did see it adapted to a movie once), so I had no basis to compare this to. I absolutely loved it! Laire is strong and courageous and determined to save her family. Iain is the dark soul who finds love and changes for it. Definitely a page-turner! I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

A retelling of the classic Snow White (or more like Snow White and the Huntsman) set in the Highlands of Scotland, and during the time of medical science advancement in the country. Here, we don’t read about the Seven Dwarfs or the poisonous apple given to her by a witch; instead, we are introduced to seven thieves that live in an abandoned house in the city, and a huntsman out to murder her.

Snow White is Laire MacLeod, the prettiest of the MacLeod sisters. Her father has remarried to a widow who—she would later learn—uses potions and spells from birds’ blood to retain her youthful beauty. She realizes a sinister plot being brewed by her stepmother after her father and sisters start acting strangely, and escapes to Edinburgh to seek her uncle’s help. There she gets into trouble, until she finds herself in the company of young thieves who have become her steadfast allies later on and helped her find the relative she is looking for.

Iain Lindsay, who lost his wife because of a curse, is bound to serve the Lady MacLeod as her huntsman for seven years. He hunts birds for her magic potions, but when Laire escapes the MacLeod fortress he is hired by his Lady to pursue and kill her. He tracks her easily, but her strong will and resilience astound him, and the more he learns good things about her the more he finds it difficult to execute his task.

Having read a number of Scottish Highland historical romance stories in the past, this story doesn’t set apart from the rest really in terms of romance or anything related to historical Scotland. But this is the first time I’ve read about a fairy tale retelling in an 18th century Scottish Highlands backdrop, and I was entertained by it. The story was carefully fleshed out in the beginning, and character-building was executed well. I was off to an engaging start and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I think the promising narrative was not sustained when it progressed with sappy romance and needless—if not unrealistic—turn of events. Honestly, I would’ve enjoyed it more had Iain continued being his enigmatic self, like the Huntsman in the movie, even after falling in love with Laire. I also thought the use of plants and herbs in the medical field, which the author said she enjoyed researching in as part of the story, was not explored well—or maybe it was, but it seemed too dry for me to take in. But overall, The Lady and the Highlander is a charming little read. I might check out the other books in the series.

Lecia Cornwall takes the romance genre and adds a flourish of fairytale. I loved the politics of the Scotch hierarchy and the competent rendering of a bygone era.

What's more, the descriptions colour the highlands and scent the heather so that the reader is a part of the action.

Sensual and sweet, the Lady and the Highlander develops each character: at forefront and periphery and is another unputdownable read by a talented voice in the romance genre.

Not my favorite from this series, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. I do have some residual questions that I'm hoping are answered in the upcoming books.

In this third story of Ms. Cornwall’s A Highland Fairy Tale Series, she is retelling us a tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

I must admit that this one had a lot of surprises and it kept me on my toes. Laire and Ian, our heroine and hero, were well developed and their characters had some similarities with the fairy tale, but it’s the differences with them which kept me reading and rooting for the couple.

As for the “dwarfs”?! Let me just say that this was a genius casting! You should read the book and find out what I mean.

Fun and entertaining from start to finish.

Melanie for b2b

Absolutely loved it. Great retelling of Snow White with a Highlands twist. Lecia Cornwall is a very talented writer. Her stories about the MacLeod sisters get better with each one. It makes me very happy that there are so many of them. This one starts with papa Donal MacLeod literally marrying a witch. It takes off from there and does not stop. It is one of those books you will not want to put down. I can only marvel at Ms Cornwall's imagination and ingenuity. Looking forward to the next one.

Haughty evil stalks the land!

A highland version of Snow White and the Hunter.
Present is the wicked stepmother of Laire MacLeod. A darkly cold woman who beguiles and enchants men, using their female offspring to ensure her own continued beauty.
Laire is the young daughter of the bewitched laird who fights for her family and her love.
We have seven young people, thieves bonded together to form a clan whom Laire seeks shelter with. Then we have the Hunter, Iain Lindsay, bonded to Lady for seven years, whose gain saying of his Lady will come at a terrible price.
From a highland perspective, a take on an old age story of evil and the purity of love freely given.
A breathtaking read of a fairytale reimagined.

A NetGalley ARC

Oh, I love those Highland fairytales! These are unique and funny and full of love and mystery. Everybody who likes classical fairytales will love this book!

I absolutely love retelling stories of fairy tales, and this story did not disappoint. Such a clever and original retelling!!! I received this book from net galley for free for honest review!

I liked the characters in the story, but the storyline was a bit far out there for me. I liked the idea of a step-mother coming in and then trying to "get rid" of the beautiful sisters, but the whole drinking the bird blood was a bit much... I believe if Cornwall had taken the storyline a different way, I would have enjoyed it much more.

This was an enjoyable light read. I would recommend it to anyone already reading this author or liking a retelling of a fairy tale.

The Lady and the Highlander by Lecia Cornwall

Publisher: Swerve

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.

Scottish romances were once my ultimate guilty pleasure. It has been years since I picked one up. I spotted The Lady and the Highlander on NetGalley and snatched it up. A retelling of Snow White in the Scottish Highlands, I knew I couldn’t resist it.

Laire MacLeod’s father has married a mysterious widow who is a vain beauty that deals with potions and spells. Laire does not drink them with the rest of her family and is the only one who could see through her stepmother’s games. When Laire flees to find help from her Uncle the Lady’s huntsman follows her with orders to kill. Laire must survive in a dangerous new city and find the antidote to a poisonous potion before it is too late.

Iain Lindsay is cursed. He is bound for seven years to be the hunter of a Lady who uses him to bring back birds to use in her potions. When Laire MacLeod escapes the Lady’s nets, Iain tracks her to Edinburgh, where she’s found shelter with an unusual band of thieves, but he cannot bring himself to harm her. Instead, he finds himself falling in love with the MacLeod beauty.

But a Highlander’s oath is his bond, and the price for helping her is death, both his own, and of those he loves.*

I was sadly really disappointed by this book. There were issues with the plot and pacing as well as the characters. It felt like a first draft of a novel with potential, but needed serious work. The basic plot was decent: I liked the idea of the evil Queen/stepmother Bibana enchanting and destroying the MacLeod family. But the finer parts of the plot just didn’t appeal to me. There’s the chase from Laire’s home to Inverness, then Edinburgh, which is fine and suits the story, but then there’s this whole cast of child thieves thrown in midway through. They don’t seem to add much – they feel like a cheap way to add a bit of conflict, show the hero isn’t a terrible and broken man, and not much else. It felt like such an odd choice, almost like two plots of two different books were thrown together — and surely there was a better way of creating and resolving conflict without the children.

The beginning is very slow to start. Their first interaction in the book is on the night of her father’s wedding to Bibana. Laire does not drink alcohol, therefore she does not consume to poisoned wine that enchants her family and clansmen, and she is free to observe the scene. Her eyes fall on Iain, the witch’s sealgair, and they gaze at each other. A lot. There is a lot of gazing. I couldn’t help but think of this:

[GIF]

Follow this up with various descriptions of each other’s bodies, and you have the first 20% of the book. The pair have so little chemistry, which does the book no favors. They don’t even kiss until 68% of the way through, which I think goes against all the rules of romance.

The characterization of the couple themselves was problematic as well. I actually liked Iain, the fallen laird who is bound to the witch after he makes a terrible and tragic mistake. He’s dark and threatening when he’s playing the part of the sealgair, or huntsman, but undergoes an instantaneous transformation when he decides to help Laire instead of hunt her. He becomes a completely different man in what feels like a matter of paragraphs — like a switch in his head has been flicked on. Although there was some build up to this transformation, I felt the execution was slightly off and it just wasn’t believable.

My main problem is with Laire. She’s part of a fierce family of fighters and strong women. Sometimes she displays these traits, but more often than not she’s crying, fretting, or frozen in terror. In the beginning, she goes from gazing at Iain and being frozen in terror to kicking, screaming, cursing, and wielding a knife with some serious finesse. A strong heroine can do and feel these things, but again the execution was off. It’s almost like a major edit was done on her character, but some parts were overlooked. She was two different characters in one and I honestly couldn’t see the strong and fearsome woman that Iain saw. She doesn’t quite strike the believable balance of strength and softness.

Iain gets more of a fleshed out back story, which is tragic and helps explain his actions and motivations. Laire gets a build up to her back story, but when the reveal comes it just feels so anticlimactic. Similarly, there are a fair few throwaway lines that don’t really make much sense or act as unnecessary deux ex machina. When considered with the lack of chemistry, poor characterization, slow pacing, questionable geography, and a shaky plot, The Lady and the Highlander is a book I wouldn’t recommend. It showed potential, but needed some serious work before that potential could be achieved.

Rating: 1.5/5

Have you read this book? What did you think?



*copy courtesy of Goodreads

Wow a great fairy tale romance that is a little on the dark side with lots of love and light shining through. Author Lecia Cornwall puts together a brilliantly written plot in this book that was so involved and detailed that I was in awe.

There is so much to this book that I can't talk about because I don't want to ruin it for those who will read it. So a few things I will share is that there are truly evil people in the world such as Bibiana, Laire's new stepmother, and Babiana's servants the French manservant, Rafael, old Terza, and her dark and dangerous sealgair, Iain. The reason for their deception and what they intend to do is stuff out of fairy tales.

Another this about this book is that not all evil people are truly evil, are they? I just couldn't believe that Iain was as evil as he was coming across. and I kept wanting him to redeem himself as he hunted Laire to kill her.

How the innocent Laire goes about trying to save her family while running for her life still makes my heart skip a beat. I was on the edge of my chair praying she would get away and find help to save her family.

There is a whole cast of surprising secondary characters that will warm the readers heart when they read this book. I want to tell everyone about them but then that will really spoil the story. I am sorry but this is a book you should read to get the full flavor of it.

I give this 4 STARS for the authors ability to show the darkness and the light of people with hope, redemption, the desire to survive and love as its main theme.

This was a delightful read by one of my favorite authors. This tale is one of "Snow White" theme highland romance with bits of paranormal. If you like this type, you will adore this one.
It starts out when the father of twelve daughters, returns to his home with a new bride. He is besotted with his young wife and is in lust too!
Laire can't believe that his father would return with this woman. Her sisters begin to change when they drink spirits that is somehow making them act crazy. Of course, Laire won't drink any, and the step-mother is outraged that she can't control her.
The new mom is called Bibiana and she is very evil and I didn't like her. Her cohorts are an old crone that mixes potions and her very handsome hunter. He is totally a hunk but has issues with being there with what the evil woman is doing.
Laire is a very smart, funny and a highlander to the bone. She will do anything to make her family like they once were, and deal with forces that want to destroy them.
The characters are very engaging and the story line kept my interest.
I appreciate Net Galley for this title in which I gave an honest reveiw.

I'm a huge lover of fairy tales. This was a fantastic retelling of Snow White (with somewhat less death). I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author spun this in the highlands and Edinburgh. The thieves were especially entertaining and Iain was a superb hero/villain. Laire was a fantastic Snow White. She was brave and loyal and true. Overall one of my new favorites.

* I voluntarily read a Advance Reader copy. All opinions are my own and honestly expressed

Book: The Lady and the Highlander by Lecia Cornwall

Series: A Highland Fairy Tale, Book three

Reviewed by Barb Batlan-Massabrook
Of Tartan Book Reviews, Purple Tulip Book Reviews and Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book

Heat Rating: Hot

Overall Rating: 5 Stars/Kilts




Sealgair is Hunter in gaelic, Iain Lindsay.
Laire is the Laird Fearsome Donal MacLeod’s daughter under his new wife Bibiana. She is drugging the Clan with potions and spells. All except Laire who only drinks water. Even when they try to force the drugged wine on this beautiful, brave young woman.

Glen Iolair, 1709

This book is Snow White with twist in which the hunter is called sealgair which is hunter in Gaelic. This sealgair is a servant to a bird witch who happens to be Laire MacLeod’s new step-mother Bibiana. As she is not what she seems at all and has Laird Donal MacLeod bewitched with her potions and spells.

As Laird Donal MacLeod has gone to Edinburgh to seek a wife, for a son and heir which he wants so badly. It is absolutely impossible as this wife and widow no one seems to know, is much older than she appears. He has married 8 times and the only son which was Laire’s twin brother who died some years ago. It is the reason Laire only drinks water. As he suddenly brings her beautiful but evil step-mother home who also has been married previously 13 times. The husband’s children were never to be seen again. The husbands, men she married were a shell of the men they had been.

Bibiana brings her evil servants who makes all the servants leave the MacLeod Castle. They are all poisoning and drugging the wine. Where there is dancing and singing all night and sleeping all day. Laire will drink only water for past reasons dealing with her twin brother's death. Laire notices the changes in her family and has been warned by Bibiana's sealgair it's too late and nothing she can do can save them. She knows something will happen in the Spring as the sealgair leaks it. Yet she is not sure what but she knows it's something evil and dark. Laire hates the dark too! The sealgair Laird Iain Lindsay is mesmerized by Laire MacLeod as she is a fearsome MacLeod and the most beautiful woman he ever saw! The attraction is on both sides. As she knows Iain Lindsay is a good man and can't understand why he is in service to such a horrid evil woman, her step-mother.

As the Sealgair was also bewitched years ago and enslaved, cursed and tricked by this witch! Bibiana finds Iain Lindsay a challenge as she cannot win him with lust like most men. Yet she can with the guilt and unforgiving himself from deeds in the past. His bargain is almost over all he had to do is kill Laire MacLeod and send Laire’s heart. Can he kill the women he loves? Plus he is supposed to look her in the eye as he kills her. This is something he never does to any of his victims! As her Frenchman is the assassin he just kills animals and livestock! Bibiana is sure she can trick him and she will own her sealgair forever!

As Laire will do anything to save her family so she travels alone to find help and finds nothing but danger. She is saved from a life of prostitution from a young seven year old boy. He and his young friends bring her in a house they have been staying at and call themselves “The Clan of Thieves”. All are orphans age six to eighteen, they do what they have to survive as they are living in the tunnels of Laird Iain Lindsay’s home. Of course he has not been there in years serving his agreement with Bibiana. Laire becomes like a mother to them feeding, cooking them wonderful food, caring and saving some from danger too. Most of the children start to love her especially Wee Kipper.

This book and story is so well developed paced perfectly and pulls on your heartstrings, so beware! The captivating plots and beautiful highland setting will steal your heart. It had so many oh no she didn't moments, that you can't help but anticipate what will happen next! It pulled so many emotions out of me, yet it was totally unique and brilliant! It is a riveting phenomenal adventure filled with treachery, witchcraft, mystery, suspense, sorcery, witchery, spells, supernatural, hypnotic enthrallment, enslavement, betrayal, murder, paranormal, jealousy, desire, passion, honor, and love.

Another spellbinding book that leaves the reader wanting more from this spectacular series by Lecia Cornwall. I have absolutely loved each book in “A Highland Fairy Tale Series”! I can't recommend this entire series enough, but can read as standalone books too.

A Highland Fairy Tale Series
by Lecia Cornwall

1. Beauty and the Highland Beast
2. When a Laird Finds A Lass
3.The Lady and the HIGHLANDER




I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts ideas and words are my own.

Amazon.com: The Lady and the Highlander (A Highland Fairytale ...