This is the first book I've read in this series but will be looking up the back list. This tale gives the reader the story of second chances and love that runs strong even against adversity with Jules MacDonald and Hugh MacDonald.

Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

Good story and kept me reading late. Wonderful characters and solidly written

Highland Valentine by C.A. Szarek is a short enjoyable novel. The main characters are Hugh and Jules, and the story is full of misunderstandings due to the lack of communication that Hugh gives Jules. This book can be read as a stand-alone book. I love stories from the Highlands with the scenery and language and found that this story flows nicely. The fact that the story starts out with the couple already married is an interesting twist. They work through their problems in the end of course and get their happily ever after family. The story is short but provides an entertaining read. I received an advanced copy of this story from NetGalley for my honest review.

Jules MacDonald thought her happily-ever-after was secure with her barbarian laird. She journeyed through time, to seventeenth century Scotland in search of her sister, and fell in love with Hugh MacDonald.

Her forever started over a year ago when she decided to stay. Now she’s expecting her first child, and can’t be happier. The problem is her husband doesn’t share her joy.

After losing his first wife and wee son in childbirth, every day his sweet Juliette’s stomach grows is proof of her probable demise. Memories haunt Hugh and he closes himself off from her, rather than deal with the pain.

Jules is devastated by losing the man she loves, when he’s right beside her. She seeks refuge with her sister’s clan, the MacLeods, in an effort to bear her child where they’ll both be loved and wanted.

Hugh must face his worst fears to win back his wife and child before she flees to the future. Or will he be too late?

Jules is heartbroken. She loves her husband dearly, but he has been cold and distant since she told him she was pregnant - in fact he hasn’t touched her at all since then. She’s tried to talk to him, but he won’t talk to her about what’s bothering him. Jules knows that she can’t live like this any longer so she makes arrangements to head to her sister’s home. She hopes that Hugh will stop her when she tells him she’s leaving, but he just lets her go.

I saw this novella on NetGalley and it sounded cute. No, I hadn’t read any of the books in the Highland Secrets series so I hadn’t met Hugh and Jules before. I might have had different feelings about the book had I done so. To a point I understood what Jules was feeling. I got the impression that she’d tried to talk to Hugh about his attitude but had she sat him down and said, “Hey buddy, I’m outta here if you don’t shape up!” would things have been different? Would he have broken out of his fear of losing her in childbirth like he did his first wife and child? IDK. I didn’t really care for Hugh in this story – maybe because I’d never seen the wonderful, loving side of him that I’m sure was shown to readers in the couple’s full-length love story.

Despite not really knowing the characters it was a sweet story that I enjoyed reading.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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Not having read the first book about Jules and Hugh did not matter. The story has them married with Jules pregnant and Hugh afraid his past will repeat. Sweet story with familiar relationship issues but with a bit of that sexy brogue. A quick read and enjoyable as a standalone. I received my copy through Netgalley.

It's okay.
It's a nice change to have a couple already married.
I love Highland stories but I am not keen when I am not sure what they are saying, there is some translation but a few things I wasn't sure of.
There are scenes with characters from the previous books in the series.
No cheating no ex drama HEA and an epilogue.