I love May McGoldrick's books! This is no exception, loved the characters and the second chance story line.

I really liked this historical second chance and romance. Sixteen years ago, Wynne broke his engagement with Jo, now he may have a clue about her parentage. Will they find a way to work together and what happens when sparks fly? This is a fast-paced read with plenty of drama and intrigue. I liked the story and enjoyed the characters. I admit I wasn’t always happy with Wynne’s choices, however the story held my interest throughout. A good read.

May McGoldrick has done it again!!!! This wonderful second chance at love book is packed full of heartbreak, suspense, redemption and for history lovers, historical facts. You could not ask for a better book! It is an amazingly written tale with strong, resilient characters and you will not be able to put it down!! I am breathlessly awaiting the next book in this series!!! I received this ARC via NetGalley and I voluntarily write the review for this book. All opinions are honest and only my own. Regards: Anna

It Happened in the Highlands was a wonderful second chance at love romance between a heroine looking to learn about her past and a hero who discovers that life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it to.

Lady Josephine Pennington has had to deal with the talk surrounding her birth since the moment she made her debut in society. Born to a woman found on the side of the road who died after giving birth to Josephine, Jo was raised by the Pennington family who always treated her as if she were their own. Despite her family’s love, Jo has always wondered about the woman who gave birth to her and when the opportunity presents itself to find out more about her, Jo can’t help but take it. When that opportunity puts her back in contact with Captain Wynne Melfort, the man who broke her heart sixteen years ago, Jo must learn to trust him again if she wants the answers she seeks.

Josephine is an incredibly kind and caring person despite the way she is treated by those outside of her family. Her dedication to being polite to those who talk about her was admirable and I don’t know that I would have been able to put up with it if I was in her situation. By the end of the book, Jo learns though that she doesn’t have to tolerate the way people speak about her and begins to stand up for herself more. There is one scene near the end of the book where someone who wronged Jo finally got their comeuppance and I was absolutely giddy.

Wynne was where I struggled a bit with this book as I didn’t like his character too much at first. The reasons Wynne gives for breaking off his engagement with Jo felt selfish and it took some time for me to forgive him. While I didn’t love his character by the end of the book, I did like him a lot more than when we started. Wynne’s relationship with his son Cuffe definitely improved his character and was the cause of much of Wynne’s growth as a person throughout the book.

Josephine and Wynne’s relationship moves somewhat quickly but due to their prior relationship it ultimately makes sense. Even after the two realize they are still attracted to one another, it takes some time for them to work through the issue of their broken engagement. I particularly liked that while Jo knows she still has feelings for Wynne, she doesn’t simply forgive him and instead he has to show her how much he cares for her. When their relationship progresses physically it’s well done even if there were less scenes than I personally prefer. One surprise for me was the age of both Jo and Wynne as I’m used to reading romances with younger characters while here the characters are in their late thirties.

There are a few characters from Romancing the Scot who make an appearance in this book and while it was nice to see them again, you won’t be lost if you haven’t read that book. The mystery surrounding Jo’s lineage was well done and kept my interest throughout the book. To me it was obvious early on who her father was, but I liked the way the author chose to reveal the information. I was intrigued by who was attempting to stop Jo from finding out the truth and I liked that she was determined to press on in spite of them.

Overall, I enjoyed It Happened in the Highlands even more than the first book in the series, Romancing the Scot, and I can’t wait for the third book, Sleepless in Scotland, to be released. I would definitely recommend this series if you’re looking for quick, easy reads set in the Scottish Highlands.

Reading the prologue to this story I was wondering if the hero and heroine would ever be able to reconcile and find their way to a Happily Ever After. It took 16 years and some drawings by a patient in an institution to bring them together again. Once they met again the sparks were still there if they could forgive themselves and each other.
I've never read a book by the team of May McGoldrick but I look forward to reading more of their books in the future.
I received a free advanced copy of this book.

I usually love this author's books. This one didn't seem to flow too well. The idea of second chances is great but neither character was too interesting in my opinion.

This is the second book in The Penningtons series, I haven't read Book 1 but this book can hold its own just fine.

Lady Josephine Pennington and Lieutenant Wynne Melfort hold each other in great affection, a regard which stood the test of time. Separated for sixteen years, their feelings for each other hasn't dimmed.

As Fate would have it, Jo and Wynne meet again. The undeniable attraction still bounces off between them. But their painful past is hanging over their heads.

Jo has been raised by Earl and Countess Aytoun with love and devotion. But her heart longs to know her birth mother and father. As she searched for the truth about her parentage, with the assistance and unwavering support of Wynne, she uncovered secrets, lies, deceit, and betrayal by her own kin!

This is an absolute gem of a book, a family saga, paying respect to multi-cultural characters, and their cultures. It also touched the plight of mentally ill patients and the different ways of treating them. Wynne and Jo are stellar hero and heroine. I wept and rejoiced for them. The secondary characters, young and not-so-young are interesting and engaging.

This is my honest review of an eGalley copy from the publisher which I voluntarily read. All opinions are mine.

This was a pretty good read by one of my favorite authors. MS McGoldrick's latest Pennington story involves Jo Pennington and Wynne Melfort. These two were very young when they were betrothed to each other. Wynne wasn't really ready for marriage but wanted a different life at sea. His parents were nasty to him and showed their views on anything he wanted. He chose to not marry because it wouldn't be fair to Jo when he joined the Royal Navy. He just wrote a letter telling her and that was that. Jo was brokenhearted but went on with her life and let others do what they wanted to her or for her.
Sixteen years later, Wynne comes back to his homeland. He is now widowed retired Captain with a young son to raise. His son doesn't like Scotland because he is different in looks and nobody likes him. Cuff is missing his Grandmother who raised him while his father was in the Navy. He is a stubborn young man who is desperate for love and affection.
Jo finally meets the man who jilted her and trust is hard for her. She wants to get to know Wynne again but is afraid of what others will say. There is a lot of discoveries that each will have to overcome to begin the healing process. There is still a spark of love that will heal two hearts that were meant to be.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Second chance romances are a favorite of mine, and add in the Scottish highlands, and I am happy! I enjoyed the book and how Jo and Wynne reconnected sixteen years after he broke her heart.

It was great that there was also the mystery of who Jo's parents were, so the ongoing investigation after Jo sees the drawings of a man in the asylum that look like her kept me reading straight through til the end of the book.

I loved that Jo could see what Cuffe needed and guide Wynne to a relationship as a father instead of as an unwanted man in Cuffe's life. I only wish that there was a little bit more of an explanation of the relationship between Cuffe's mother and Wynne. It sounded like they only married when she became pregnant and there is no mention of any kind of feelings in their relationship.

I also think that Jo allowed Wynne to apologize and forgave him way too quickly! I know she made him wait to apologize but she still was a little too quick to apologize and kiss him for my liking!

The ending was great! Jo finally got some backbone and was able to settle an old score from her earlier life when she was hurt so badly from a nasty gossip. And the introduction of what Phoebe is hiding sounds like another interesting book! I am eagerly waiting for the next book in the series.

Of course, the reader expects a novel to have all sorts of drama until the couple finds themselves hopelessly in love and stays together.
I swear I tried to like this book, but there are so many setbacks until the couple got together that it made me lose any connection that might exist.
I did not like the attitude of the two characters (for me, both were guilty).
Wynne acted the wrong way to end their romance that way.
Jo, too, is not a character who won my sympathy.
After 16 years old, Wynne had married another, was widower and had a son (who had some problems).
His attitude in discovering details about Jo's biological parents and going to help her ... I do not know ... For me, his good attitude was delayed.
The authors' writing is good, but I did not like the story.
2 stars

This is a well written and fabulous addition to the Pennington stories, it's really a second chance story as it involves Lady Josephine and her ex fiance Captain Wynne Melfort, sketches of someone familiar, an asylum, a child and someone quite nasty.
I'm not one for giving away spoilers and so I've condensed a little.

I honestly could not put this down, I was hooked from the start and felt quite sorry for Jo at first, but she came into her own and Wynne grew on me.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley an I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

Though I tend to always love this author’s writing style and enjoyed Romancing the Scot, book 1 of this series, I’m sorry to report this book happened to start off with elements that just do not sit well with me in my romantic reads. I’m just not a fan of a spineless, cowardly hero. I just didn’t buy into or feel it acceptable how he ended things. Finding out the circumstances six years later made him even less appealing. It was just too little, too late, folks. Knowing their broken engagement would create a humiliating scandal on top of the cruel way Jo, the heroine, was already been treated/gossiped day in and day out by London’s elite made me what to see Wynne walk the plank in shark infested waters. Yeah, thanks for nothing, buddy.

Oh, there is more. Jo was in love with him and considered him her knight in shining armor, since she would finally be considered respectable/free of the hurtful wagging tongues. She was also ecstatic to have someone 100% unconditionally by her side who would fight for her happiness forever more.

Were we really supposed to be impressed he finally found his backbone, but put it to use finding happiness somewhere else. Well, I wasn’t. Instead, I wanted Jo to fall for Wynne’s best friend/business partner, who was obviously smitten with her. Frankly, anyone but Wynne would have worked.

Josephine, the heroine, deserved better from the get go, folks. You know it isn’t a good sign when about 40% into the main couple share a kiss, and you wish it had never happened. She was truly such a good, caring person that I’m especially sad she missed out on having much of a life these past 16 years. Wynne even admits there were other women before and after his love for Jo had long dissipated. Yeah, she was but a distant memory, basically a regret because he felt guilty she was likely hurt the way he left. Now he thinks he can just snap his fingers and everything will be right as rain. Unfortunately, she still has always been in love with him and never moved on. An all too familiar theme in some romance books.

No matter how you try to sugarcoat their attraction and feelings for each other, after being reunited almost two decades later, I have too much of a bitter taste in my mouth to listen to Wynne whine about now wanting her.

At 60%, I still had the sinking feeling this love boat of a hero self-inflicted previously doomed and left for dead relationship was still destined for a voyage I did not want to be on. The Titantic like iceberg was Josephine unjustly taking blame for something that was not her fault! Even after him admitting he was the one at fault, he still did not regret turning his back on her, then six years later finding happiness without her. All despite the fact,he was supposedly in love with Jo all those years ago. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.

All in all, I’m starting to feel punked. This book must have just been a test to see if we would call the author, who I normally love, out on such absurdity in a romantic read. Rest assured, if this happens again, I will definitely not read anymore of this series.

Title: It Happened in the Highlands, Series: The Pennington Family (Book 2), Author: May McGoldrick, Pages: 239, stand-alone but part of a series, 16 year separation, hero not celibate during separation, OW history with a child, heroine deserved better, didn’t fight for love.

Book 1 - Romancing the Scot
thttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2098309465?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Book 2 - It Happened in the Highlands

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

I absolutely loved Jo and Wynne's story!! IT was a reunion story, which is one of my favorites!

After being dumped right before the wedding, Jo has made a life for herself knowing that she will never marry. She never imagined that she would run into her former betrothed again. Wynne didn't want to end his engagement all those years ago, but getting his orders, he knew that he could not protect Jo from all the rumors surrounding her birth when he was on the other side of the world. He did what he thought would be best for her.

I really enjoyed watching Jo and Wynne find their way back to each other and solve the mystery of Jo's birth. I also really enjoyed Wynne's son and hope the McGoldrick explores his HEA!

I believe that there are still two brothers that need their story told, so I'm excited to see what McGoldrick has in store for them!

It Happened in the Highlands by May McGoldrick is book Two in "The Pennington Family" series. This is the story of Lady Josephine 'Jo" Pennington and Captain Wynne Melfort. We did meet Jo in the first book 'Romancing the Scot' but feel this can easily be a standalone book.
Jo and Wynne had been engaged about about to get married when Wynne broke things off. After Wynne left to go to the Royal Navy Jo retried from society to do charitable work. Wynne reasons for breaking things off that help somewhat to understand he thoughts behind hurting Jo. Jo who has always had feeling of upset from being adopted because she never her new her blood family but having Wynne break off their engagement just added to that sorrow.
Years later Wynne is retired from the Royal Navy along with his friend and they go forward to open up a place for people with brain injuries or mental issues to be treated. There Wynne learns something related to Jo that brings them forward in meeting again.
But can past hurts be forgiving and can what Jo is learning about herself help in moving forward?
Great Story!

I am really torn about this review - the writing was great and the story was gripping, but as a romance novel, it fell flat for me.

Sixteen years ago Lady Josephine Pennington, the adopted daughter of the Earl & Countess of Aytoun fell in love with Lt Wynne Melfort and they were engaged to be married. But ten days before the wedding, Wynne broke the engagement, dueled with her brother and left her without a backwards glance.

Jo has suffered greatly, she knows almost nothing about her birth parents, but rumor and speculation run rampant throughout the ton and is often vicious. After Wynne left her, Jo basically retired from society, she devoted her time to various charities, especially those that care for ruined woman and children. But always in the back of her mind is the desire to find the truth about her birth. Now drawings of a woman who looks like her have given her hope that she had almost given up on.

Wynne Melfort is now widowed with a young son and has retired from the Navy and along with his friend Dermot McKendry, has relocated to Scotland. Dermot has started a hospital for people with traumatic brain injuries, Dermot is the doctor and Wynne is the businessman. When a patient begins communicating by drawing pictures of the same woman over and over, Dermot asks Wynne to help him find the woman. Wynne is shocked to see the face of Jo looking back at him and instructs Dermot to write to Jo, but asks him to refrain from mentioning him.

Jo comes to the highlands and is stunned to see Wynne, she is not ready to confront the past between them and asks him to pretend that it never happened. She meets with Charles Barton and his family and it is oblivious that they recognize her, but they deny it - Charles however, takes Jo's hand and speaks for the first time. Dermot is overjoyed and asks her to stay. His family is not as happy and say they will not leave him at the hospital. Dermot begs them to reconsider and reluctantly, they agree. Jo has mixed feelings about staying, she wants to help Charles and hopefully find out who her mother was, but begin close to Wynne picks at a wound that never healed, especially when she learns he married and had a son.

Wynne denies having any feelings for Jo, he needs to concentrate on building a life for his son., Cuffe. Cuffe is not fitting in and refuses to speak to Wynne. He was raised on Jamaica by his maternal grandmother after his mother died shortly after his birth. He barely knows his father and wants to return to Jamaica. Wynne worries for Cuffe, his mixed blood leads many to believe he is not Wynne's legitimate son and Wynne is very protective and defensive on his behalf, but he feels like he is fighting a losing battle and has yet to bond with his son.

This is a story of second chances, for Jo, Wynne, Charles and even Cuffe. I thought the story surrounding Jo's parentage was excellent and very well done, but I really didn't care for the romance aspect of the story. I felt that Wynne's initial rejection was lame, implausible for the era and given that he married an even more unacceptable woman a few years later even more unforgivable. I also felt like Jo was "just too good to be true", seriously the woman should be nominated for sainthood, she is too understanding, too forgiving and too meek. I felt like the love story unfolded too quickly and they reconciled much too easily. But the mystery of her family was fantastic and made this book well the time I invested to read. So for me, this was a 2 star love story with a 5 star mystery.

I would recommend the book, it is second in the series, but could easily be read as a stand alone title.

It Happened in the Highlands wraps around your heart as you read about the heartbreak both Jo and Wynne experienced in their broken betrothal. Jo is portrayed as a shy, hurting, young debutante. Wynne sees her from across the room and is drawn to her. He follows her onto the terrace and their sweet story begins. The heart rending break comes just before they wedding and he is shipped out to sea. Even though you know why he left, it still does not show well of his character.

The years have passed and they are brought back together because of a man who draws pictures that resemble Jo. Charles Barton does not speak having been in an accident. His family leaves him at the hospital/home owned partially by Wynne for his care. During the in between years, Wynne was married, widowed and has a ten year old son, Cuffe. Jo never married.

There is a lot of mystery about the woman in Barton’s pictures. Wynne does not want to pass up the opportunity to help Jo find out who her parents are with this unusual clue. The re-meeting of Jo and Wynne is really sweet. It speaks of their good nature and of the respect they each had for the other. Neither of them is cruel or rude about the past.

There are so many good situations to see in their romance and love. I loved that neither wanted to hurt the other. Wynne took the initiative believing it important to talk about the past, believing himself to be completely the cause of their broken betrothal. Good for him. I love that Wynne sees how Jo has grown into a self-confident woman. Wynne is going to help Jo find the truth about her parentage and support her all the way. He is even willing to face her family, specifically Hugh with whom he dueled over her honor. I loved that Jo’s unusal situation helped her to understand Cuffe and his needs. Which lead to the building of Wynne and Cuffe’s relationship.

The underlying story in this sweet book is the kindness of Wynne’s partner, Dr. McKendry, in his care for his patients. The discussion of the cruel asylums versus true hospitals who wanted to heal patients rather than hide them. Additionally, Jo was a benefactress for homeless women and children. These both show the true nature of our hero and heroine, loving and kind.

I highly recommend this second book in the Pennington family series and look forward to the next one.

It Happened in the Highlands by May McGoldrick
The Pennington Family #2

Engaged from the beginning I could not put this book down! It made me think and care and invest in the characters hoping they would manage to find a way to the HEA they so richly deserved.

Definitely a second chance at romance love story but with sixteen years apart both Jo and Wynne are different people than they once were and better, in many ways, for their years apart. Both have grown and developed into more interesting, complex and stronger people than they may have had they married years before.

I enjoyed reading this book not only for the romance but for the mystery of finding out what Jo’s background was. I enjoyed the growth of Wynne as he got to know his son better. I found the relationship between Wynne and Jo believable and now want to find out what will happen in the next two books of the series and can’t wait till they are released!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Swerve for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 – 5 Stars

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Readers are first introduced to Jo's character in the first book in the Pennington family series, which is centered around her brother Hugh. I was drawn to Jo's story line after reading about her in the first book, since she had to overcome such adversity in her life I immediately wanted to hear about her happy ending. And I thought the author did a great job in this book of reconnecting her with the old love of her life. This trope is one that has been used time and again, and while usually it makes me sad because of the many years of happiness the characters missed out on, in this book it felt like the hero and heroine both needed those years apart to grow emotionally and be better for the relationship they can have now. I thought it was just really well done and I ended up liking the plot a good amount. Overall it was a sweet love story and exactly what you'd want from a historical romance, I would recommend it!

Lady Josephine Pennington was jilted by her fiancé sixteen years ago & she has never married. Her adoptive parents have always provided her with the love and protection she’s needed to feel secure. When she receives a package containing sketches where the subject is eerily familiar, Jo believes she might have found a clue to the identity of her birth mother.
When Captain Wynne Melfort ended his engagement to Jo Pennington sixteen years ago, he never imagined he would see her again. But after he uncovers information that could reveal the truth about Jo’s parentage, Wynne feels bound by duty to right an old wrong and inform her of his find. He didn’t expect for feelings long thought dead to resurface, for in his mind a love departed was gone forever.
As they strive to unravel the mystery of her birth.
I’m so glad Jo has her story she won my heart as a secondary character in her brothers’ books. Another lovely read from the author I found it very hard to put down & read it in under a day. The characters are vwery well fleshed & the story flows very well. Cuffe is delightful & the way his character develops from a sullen little boy to a generous, caring youth is very well handled. I began by disliking Wynne for his treatment of Jo many years ago but as his reasons were revealed I could forgive him but felt he handled it very badly. I ran through a gamut of emotions reading the book from laughter at Wynne & Hugh’s meeting to Jo’s heartbreak after speaking to the curate. I look forward to the remaining two Pennington sisters having their stories.

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Lady Josephine was engaged 15 yrs. ago to Wynne, when he ended the engagement and went off to war. Lady Josephine was an orphan who had been adopted by the Pennington's but, vicious rumors followed her around always. Wynne knew he could not keep her protected while he was gone, which was why he ended the engagement. The only problem was, he neglected to tell her that.
When Wynne returns with his 10 year old son, he runs into Josephine again and, realizes that he never stopped loving her. Lady Josephine is determined to find her birth parents and family before she even contemplates what Wynne is proposing!
This is the perfect story for anyone who is adopted and has spent their life feeling as though they don't belong and that there is something missing from their lives.