Alasdair, not sure he should believe his brother, has just been informed by Ian that he has seen her: Isobel. Of course, knowing that the said sighting was in a brothel makes him doubt that Ian was sober at the time. Isobel is in shock. She never thought to see Alasdair again.
They have a very tentative first meeting which doesn’t end well. Isobel is angry. Alasdair lied to her and betrayed her. As they work together to protect her son, Isobel’s anger and hurt decreases. Alasdair vows to protect them-will she trust him enough? Well written third book in this series!

The Judge by Maeve Greyson was a wonderful example of what Greyson can do with a novel. The main characters are Alasdair Cameron, a judge in Edinburgh, and Isobel, the Duchess of Temsworth, his long-lost love. They had been childhood sweethearts and then her heartless father had married her off to a demon: Duke of Temsworth. He had promised to rescue her, but then his entire clan had been all but wiped out by the morbid sore throat that had raced through the clan. When he recovered he had followed her to London, vowing to rescue her, have her marriage annulled, and marry her himself. What he saw there stunned him: by all appearances a woman in love with her husband. So he returned home with a broken heart. Now his brother finds her in a brothel, right net door to his own estate, not working as one of the ladies, thank God, but refusing to see him. She has run from her husband, she, her aunt, and her small son.

This was a thrilling ride, sadly full of past cruelties and disappointments, plenty of rescues, both successful and not. Temsworth would not let his son go, he didn't care about Isobel. Isobel wouldn't let her son go: the tenacity of a mother in fear for her young. She was raw, courageous, and loving, in equal measure. Alasdair was a man thwarted and no longer. He was stubborn, prideful, and determined. He wanted nothing more than a life with Isobel and he would not be thwarted. He is the ideal Highlander. The plot was quite good, it kept us racing around Scotland but that's not a bad thing. The Judge is quintessential Highlander novel. A reader could not hope for more. I highly recommend it.

I received a free ARC of The Judge from Dragonblade, through Netgalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #dragonblade #thejudge

Manipulation and misinformation dashed Isobel's dreams, forcing her to submit to the heinous deeds of her abusive husband. When her sweet son's life is under threat, Isobel manages to escape and takes refuge in the most unlikely place. Fortunately, there are people with generous hearts in this world, and Alasdair is made aware of Isobel's plight. Thus starts a fast-paced, dramatic, and suspenseful plot that keeps the reader totally enthralled. Alasdair is a wonderful hero, recognising all that Isobel has gone through and he maintains his distance until Isobel reaches the point that she can once more trust him. Although broken in spirit when she escapes her marriage, Isobel quickly regains some of her fight and her youthful exploits give her skills that become her saving grace. However, faced with her husband's power and determination as he draws on all his resources to track her down, it would appear that the noose is tightening and Isobel has nowhere to go. The romance between Alasdair and Isobel is gentle and heartwarming and Connor brings moments of levity to the plot, bringing light relief. The story is well written and kept my attention from beginning to end and comes to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Alasdair Cameron is a well respected solicitor working in Edinburgh. The only thing missing in his life is the only woman he ever loved. She was married off by her father years before. Our hero appears to be a civilised gentleman but is a Highland warrior at heart.
Duchess Isobel Cuthbarton has managed to escape at last from her brutal husband. With her aging auntie and five year old son she's now trying to get as far into Scotland as she can in the hope that he will never find them. That means having to earn money occasionally. Our heroine might be a Duchess now but she's also a feisty Highland lass.
This book is full of twists and turns. There is a lot of danger for everyone involved and a powerful villain. It will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through.
This is part of a series so you will meet characters from the previous books but can easily read this or any of them on it's own.
Very exciting.

This author's books are very well written with lots of adventure and romance. I loved the characters who had thoughts and feelings to make it special.
Isobel is a strong woman who takes her life in her own hands .
She had to leave her husband who is violent and sadistic.
She found refuge at a brothel where she plays hostess to the men who visit. She accidentally finds out her first love is alive,
She thought he died of the plague and she was heartbroken because Alasdair promised to keep her safe.
Now Alasdair also finds Isobel working in a brothel and is livid.
But it will take more than a promise for Isobel to trust Alasdair again.
He will do anything to gain Isobel 's love because he didn't ever forget his promise
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I have an honest review.

I love to pick up historical romances that are full of action and adventure. This book had me turning pages to find out what would happen next. Everything that could go wrong did, but I liked how the characters pressed on and were strong in scary and impossible situations. Connor was a hilarious and well written 5 year old. The romance between Alasdair and Isobel was sweet, and Isobel was awesome in how she protected her son.

Alasdair and Isobel fell in love as children, but Isobel was married off to a duke and Alasdair was too late to save her.

For ten years Isobel was tortured by her husband, but she finally escaped with her five year old son Connor. She’s found work as a hostess in a brothel when Alasdair finds her again and does everything he can to help her.

Alasdair thought Isobel was happy in her marriage, but he still loves her and knows he’ll do anything to regain her trust and marry her.

The duke has put out that Isobel and Connor have been kidnapped and a reward is offered for their return. Isobel and Alasdair must get past English soldiers, bandits and bounty hunters to be together.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. Excellent story. Characters with spirit and determination and a love that should have been years before. This love triumphs adversity, greed and terrible hardship. Tale will keep you reading from the start until the end. There is also a teaser that might lead to a follow on story.

trigger warnings: abuse, death, mention of abortions, implied and threatened rape, torture

This was my first book by Maeve Greyson and since I love historical romances a lot I hoped to enjoy it much more. But, well. Here we are. I'd give 2.5 but the ending was just long and boring and I guess maybe it's because I didn't read the previous two books? So I didn't care at all for other characters mentioned in the ~happy ending~.

It's quite angsty and to be honest it kinda dragged on and on for a while - running around the country trying to find one another and all that; the solution in the end was so very simple they could've done it long before, really. The Duke felt evil for the sake of evil - I don't think there's any information about his life or how he was like before marrying Isobel (not that it would've changed anything considering he was a piece of shit), but it would've been nice to get some more depth to him anyway.

Isobel and Alasdair were quite lovely, but on their own. Isobel is a strong woman and a caring mother, surviving an abusive husband for so many years and rescuing herself and her son, along with an old aunt that I couldn't really care about either?, and Alasdair drinks respect women juice daily. I just couldn't really feel them together?? They were supposedly in love since they were young, even a decade apart, but during the book they're mostly apart and besides fucking twice I didn't really see a relationship there................ which is sad considering they're the main couple lol.

At first I enjoyed the portrayal of Isobel's trauma and stuff, but after so many chapters it felt like it was forgotten about. And that's not very realistic considering, well, she lived a whole decade married to an abusive duke???? Love heals all I guess???

Anyway, in the end I barely read through the happy ending because once the whole Duke and Being Followed By Soldiers Because They're Considered Criminals situation was over I did not care at all, for the plot, the romance, or the characters. :s

Duchess Isobel Cuthbarten has taken her son and run away from her brutal abusive husband. She is now working at Château Delatate, Edinburgh’s elite and secretive gentleman’s club. Her husband delighted in telling her the love of her life Alasdair Cameron was dead from the throat plague that wiped out entire clans. Her whole family was gone she had nowhere to turn to for help. After Alasdair find out her father married her to the Duke Alasdair went to save her when he discovered she seemed happy with her new husband the Duke. His heart broken Alasdair, she didn’t really love him, she was beyond his reach he went on to be a successful solicitor of two powerful Highland clans. When he discovers she’s so close and has hidden her son he offers to help her. Can she ever forgive him for not keeping his promise to always protect her and love her? A captivating story of love and forgiveness between two people whose love never died. I love this second chance at love story with its twist and turns, a mother trying to save herself and her son while defying her husband and finding the love of her life. Both are strong and independent and for Isobel it’s hard to believe Alasdair and forgive him for not keeping his promises. I voluntarily reviewed it and the comments are my own.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
💋💋

I adore Maeve Grayson’s books , they have so much information and energy packed between the pages.

I’m always in awe of how the plots twist and turn , sometimes taking you far from your own thought out ending and throwing you through hoops before she leads you to her conclusion.
Absolutely brilliant!

Her characters have depth and passion and the chemistry is wonderful.
The Judge is a great book , the storyline leading on with characters from the MacCoinnich Clan who live in Scotland around the Ben Nevis area. Alasdair and Isobel are the stars in this story.

Stunning descriptions of the areas in the Scottish Highlands, add to the sometimes desperate description of the Dukes treatment of his Duchess and son, make this such a brilliant book.
One I would highly recommend to all who fancy loosing themselves for a few hours.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

The Judge
Highland Heroes #3
Maeve Greyson
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Isobel wasn't worried when her father betrothed her to a horrible Duke because Alasdair promised that he would save her. Then she got word that her love had perished due to the plague. So Isobel married the Duke and her life litterly became a living hell. Now she has left the Duke and she's on the run to protect her son from his sadistic father. Then she finds out that Alasdair is alive and well, and begging for the chance to keep that promise he made so many years before.

With help from his cousins Alasdair Cameron is now the successful solicitor of two powerful Highland clans. He is a respected man and has a comfortable estate in Edinburgh. He has everything he has ever wanted except her. His life is cold and empty without Isobel and he's loved her since they were children, but her father gave her to another, and he arrived too late to save her from the alter. Then his brother Ian talks him into visiting him at Chateau Delatate, Edinburgh's elite and secretive gentleman m's club and the hostess that answers the door is none other then Isobel.

Duchess Isobel Cuthbarten has never forgotten her dear Alastair's oath: I'll never let another take ye. They were such beautiful heartfelt words and she totally believed him. They were words if hope until she was told Alisdair was dead. Everytime her husband abused or forced himself on her the promise killed her from the inside. Now she's escaped and on the run with her son and she's determined to make a better life for them. By the time she reached Edinburgh she was out of money and had to secure employment as a hostess at Chateau Delatate. All of this due to the kindness and mercy of the big hearted madam. Thankfully Isobel doesn't have to recieve the men as a hostess she just has to make them feel comfortable in the smoking room until their lady becomes available.
This job is the only support she has and she's not complaining as it provides a roof, food, and a bit of money to set aside. With any luck it won't take long for her to save up so her son and herself can escape to the Highlands where he'll be safe from discovery. But then her life gets even more confusing after Alasdair walks through the door.

Maeve Greyson is a master storyteller in her own right. There is never a dull moment in this book. Isobel is one strong lady who deserves happiness. She was horribly abused by her husband and still came out fighting. Alasdair loves her so much and he doesn't want to lose her a second time. You know you have read a fabulous book when you go on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Yes there were times I may have had a tear or three, but there were also times where I wanted to punch someone in the nose. I really lost myself in this story and really enjoyed it. Ms. Greyson you have the perfect book here.

This was an excellent book. The main characters Alasdair and Isobel are well written, and like-able. Isobel is as tough as nails and a devoted mother. Alasdair is a devoted and caring man. They’ve loved each other their whole lives but a misunderstanding kept them apart. It also left Isobel in the care of her vile and violent husband for 10 years thinking the man she really loved was dead. Alasdair’s devotion to both Isobel and her young son is very heartwarming throughout the book. The adventure following their reunion is riveting and the side characters are entertaining and interesting. I would read it again. I’m also interested in the next story in the series all about Alasdair’s brother Ian.

Oh wow, where do I start with this story....brilliant does come to mind! There are so many facets to this story and I will say if one couple deserves a HEA, it's Alasdair and Isobel. I went through so many emotions while reading the pages, I smiled, I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I loved, I hated, I felt disgust, fear, anger, etc. Maeve Greyson sure knows how to write 'em!!!

Isobel is one of the strongest heroines I've "met", to think after what she went through and come out fighting, she's a woman to behold. Having endured torture and imprisonment from her cruel husband for years, she finally manages to escape his clutches with their son Connor. Now on the run, she encounters the love of her life, the man she'd thought dead for over 10 years! Alasdair now has a second chance to make right the misunderstandings of 10 years ago and so starts an adventure like no other.

I absolutely loved this story, it's one of the best I've read in a long time and it's very well researched. I definitely do recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.