I liked the joyous humor among the MacKeef’s. Old Callum certainly put them in a pickle, but if it wasn’t for the catastrophic events in the pub, Davita and Gavin wouldn’t have crossed paths. The writer did an excellent job of telling a romantic story geeked humor, romance, strong voices and determination to do and accomplish task thrown their way. I would have liked for Davita’s age to be older than, eighteen. Perhaps twenty four or older. There are some scenes that I felt that a woman of maturity fits better. The writer could have not necessarily addres Davita’s age or give the readers a guesstimate age range for the readers. I consider the book to be an enjoyable page turner that’s one heck of a fun read.

Sadly, I got approved for this book the same day it was removed so I was unable to read. The story seemed like it would have been a nice read.

This was a story about a man who has become a drunk and doesn’t have a need to change his ways until he meets a woman. This was a very different story than I am used to. I couldn’t make a connection to the story or it’s characters.

Entertaining, Medieval, Scottish Romance

Gavin and Davita’s first encounter does not go well. He is an outcast, and to get back in the good graces of his clan, he must help her to make shoes. He knows nothing about the craft, and it will take him years to learn. However, he knows how to cook, and the lass’s cooking is atrocious. Can they make a trade? As Gavin gets to know Davita, he gets involved in her family woes, and though he has intention of falling in love or marrying, she steals his heart. However, Gavin is a Highlander intent on going back to his clan, and Davita wants to stay in the village to help her father’s business thrive. Can they find a way? Is their love strong enough to keep them together? I enjoyed this entertaining story and would recommend it to those who like Scottish medieval romance with humor.

This book was given to me by netgalley. My review is 100% honest and all my own opinions.

Spicy book
Historical highlander romance

I loved how the author took a highland warrior out of his usual environment and lands him in a small village of a cordwainers house. To help make shoes as punishment. I also loved that davita isn't your typical historical damsal in destress character. She is head strong working woman trying to keep her family together and her families business alive.

I really enjoyed the evolution of Gavin and davitas relationship and the struggles both of them have when their hearts knew what they wanted and they fight it. I like how the challenge of trying to solve several problems can bring a highlander out of the Highlands but will never change him from being the warrior that will fight for what he wants.
Definitely recommend and will be reading the continuation of the series

This is the first book in this new series. This is a romance and does have some steamy scenes. Lots of drama, humor, and emotion. I did enjoy this book

I have not had the opportunity to read anything by Ms. Rose before and I was excited to try this book out. I was not disappointed! Ms. Rose did a nice job of creating the scenes with her detailed descriptions and really bringing the story and characters to life. What starts out as a punishment ultimately ends with a sweet love story. Gavin's drunken mischief gets him in trouble and leads him to Davita's home where his sentence will be served. Davita was a strong and nurturing woman, having the responsibility of taking care of her father and his business and also being a mother to her siblings. Gavin came to Davita as an immature and irresponsible man without having much of a care, but realized the help that she needed and did quite a bit of growing and became her protector. An entertaining and well-developed story that captured my attention from the start and kept my interest till the end, and great characters that had me rooting for them the whole time.

I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I liked Gavin and Davita's story it was an enjoyable read. Gavin is from the MacKeefe clan and he along with some of his friends get into some drunken revelry that may have gone a bit overboard. They end up having to pay the consequences of their actions, and in Gavin's case his punishment is that he has to help the cordwainer's daughter. Gavin is tasked with making a new pair of boots and helping repair any shoes coming from Hermitage Castle. Having no experience in the shoemaking business he has no idea where to start. That where Davita comes in. Davita is trying to keep her father's business afloat with helping raise her two siblings. I really enjoyed Gavin and Davita's banter, as well as all the secondary characters, especially Gavin's friends. The only thing I didn't enjoy was Gavin's ability to change his mind about wanting to be with Davita or not. I understand the man was conflicted but it seemed that entire second half of the book he was so indecisive. The ending was sweet though. I was given a free arc by Netgalley in order for an honest review.

Synopsis
Gavin MacKeefe, a Highland Warrior, is banished from his clan along with several friends because they broke the rules in Cullim MacKeefe’s tavern. In order to be redeemed and allowed back into the clan, Gavin must go to town and assist the cordwainers daughter since her father is injured and unable to work. Gavin helps Davita when she desperately need it; work is far behind, her sister is too flirty and her brother is a thief. Gavin and his friends are sometimes are more work than worth, but they help Davita in their own way. Little does Gavin know that he will fall in love with Davita and her family.

Tropes
Virgin heroine, Class Difference, Medieval Era, Stuck together, Scotland, Highland Warrior

The Plot
Gavin and his friends make a mess of the clans tavern and Gavin’s punishment is to help the cordwainer’s daughter at her fathers shop. He knows nothing about shoemaking, but he does find other ways to help her around the house so Davita can focus on work. Poor Davita is dealing with taking care of her injured father, her rebellious sister, her brother thieving, the new cobbler harassing her, and the guilds upcoming inspection. They both helped each other grow: Gavin to mature and quit drinking and overindulging and Davita to rely on others to help her at home and at work.

The Heroine
Davita is strong and selfless, spending all her time and energy into helping keep her fathers business going while he injured. She struggles to be a mother to her rebellious siblings and also run the household. When Gavin arrives, he can tell she desperately needs someone to look after her! Although very mature when it comes to her responsibilities, Davita was very immature when it came to relationships and naive about men especially Gavin.

The Hero
Gavin was very immature until he arrived at Davitas home. Spending all his time fighting, drinking, or eating. But almost instantly upon seeing Davita, he turns into a relatively mature, protective man. Almost as if he just needed a reason to ‘grow up’ to be a responsible man. He definitely struggled with the changes, but he was very sweet and patient with Davita and her family.

The Steam
There was a scene or two but it wasn’t very steamy to me, more awkward.

Stand Out Moment
When Davitas brother runs away and Gavin searches to find him and we learn a lot more about Gavin’s story.

Who Would Like This
If you’re looking for a good factual history lesson with a little romance thrown in the mix.

Final Thoughts
It was a cute story, but I didn’t feel a huge connection between Davita and Gavin other than the need to take of each other, not a lot of passion.

Book: Highland Soul
Author: Elizabeth Rose
Series: Highland Outcasts, Book #1
Publisher: Dragonblade
Cover Designer: Dar Albert
Page Amount: 292 Book
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5 Saltire Flags

True facts: A cordwainer is a shoemaker who makes new shoes from new leather. The cordwainer’s trade can be contrasted with the cobbler's trade, according to a tradition in Britain that restricted cobblers to repairing shoes.

Women could not be cordwainers in any capacity until about the nineteenth century unless they possibility inherited through marriage. Though even that is rare as it usually would go to a male relative rather than a female wife. It was definitely a man’s world

Glasgow, Scotland 1363

As those MacKeefe rascals were stirring up trouble once again with their mischievous shenanigans! Gavin MacKeefe and his friends Cam, and fraternal twins Nash and North were celebrating after winning the battle with clan MacGregor and creating a new alliance. As any red hot highlander they wanted to party with food, whisky, and if they were lucky a bonnie lass in their lap too. So they went to old Callum MacKeefe’s Horn and Hoof tavern to celebrate their heroic success! Unfortunately they went from heroes to outcasts in what seemed like moments! It resulted with these four friends being temporarily kicked out of their own clan and for ridiculous reasons in their humble opinions! Each one of these four friends committed horrible offenses according to old Callum. One kissed a lass without permission, which was a nobleman’s sister-in-law and earned him a smack across the face from the lass which he so richly deserved! All four friends drank whisky and ate food without paying, one touched a rare gift from the King without permission, starting fights, setting a small tavern fire and vomiting on Old Callum’s favorite pair of boots! They basically trashed the entire tavern and broke every single rule in old Callum’s list and more! However they expected to get away scot free as they always did, but not this time!

This resulted in all four men being sent to the dungeon for three days and as they sobered up Gavin was definitely both embarrassed and humiliated! To be sent to your own clans dungeon because of drunken behavior well it was nothing to be proud of. They were also hungry, thirsty and cold which made they all grumpy and verbally attacking each other. Yet non of them were blameless Gavin knew this. Knowing they all were to be temporarily exiled from their own castle and were awaiting their punishments and knew Gavin’s torture was first. Now Gavin offered to pay for the damages, but Callum refused as he wants a new pair of boots. He also finds out he was expecting Gavin to make him a pair of new boots. Something Callum had no idea how to do, afterall he was a warrior not a cordwainer! This is when he finds out Gavin’s torture chamber will be at the cordwainer’s is to make Callum a new pair of boots and repair a trunk full of shoes from the clan.

Davita, the cordwainer’s daughter is in desperate need of aid from Clan MacKeefe and begs for their help while her father is bedridden and healing from his near fatal beating .Their business is in dire straits and suffering financially and will lose clients and their cordwainer shop if they don’t get help. Furthermore, it has to be a man to work as a cordwainer as women were not permitted plus the business was suffering because of her fathers recent habit of becoming a drunk since he lost his wife. Davita was hiding the bottles of spirits so he would sober up. With all these worries her younger sister Aila, seemed to just discover boys! She was an innocent and looking for a heap of trouble being so flirtatious with men and going into the tavern behind Davita’s back which she was forbidden to do! Her nine year old brother was in the habit of stealing since they could not afford much. He was going to lose a hand, have his ear cut off, possibly have his ear nailed to the pillory, or hang him if he is ever caught! It scares Davita to death and so hard to watch her entire family by herself. As the eldest sibling Davita has taken the role as mother since they didn’t have anyone else to look after them.

It was a lot as soon as she saw this group of four enormous highlanders. Davita was frightened ar first sight worried they murdered someone until she saw they were only mischief makers on a drunken binge. She knew the rules, no whisky for Gavin MacKeefe as she had been told. He soon helps her family in ways she didn’t expect which warms his way into her lonely heart too. She was immediately drawn to the handsome highlander Gavin MacKeefe and saw he felt the same. but will he leave her and break her heart once his punishment is over and he returns to the castle? Was she just some meaningless distraction? What bothers her more is her brother definitely looks up to Gavin and admires him as a role model and keep him out of trouble. Shall they all have broken hearts if Gavin never returns? Will they part forever or discover true love?

Also find out true historical facts in the art of the art of shoe making before shoemakers Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Doc Marten, Betsey Johnson, CoCo Chanel, Stella McCartney, Vera Wang, Christian Dior, Manolo Blahnik even existed! Read this fascinating book and this fascinating profession.

I really loved this book as Elizabeth Rose tells a captivating story about love, redemption and the true fascinating craft of shoemaking. This is the first book in her brand new Highland Outcasts series, where each of this group of four fabulous fours highlanders have to pay a debt to tavern owner Old Callum MacKeefe who is the oldest living man in Scotland! These men had been secondary characters in previous Elizabeth Rose books. It is always nice to see a main character from a previous book make a surprise appearance, it’s like a family reunion of book characters.

As Gavin and his three closest friend trashed the bar and broke all the rules! They were sent to spend three days in the dungeon and all because the were celebrating winning a battle with the MacGregors and forming an alliance. Now they all wait until Callum decides on each lad’s specific form of punishment. They go to each support each of them as they do the punishment they were assigned. Except could love be a possible road block for each of these lads who have a liking for naughtiness?


Get swept away in this fun loving read and I look forward to the rest of the books in this delightful series. I really enjoyed learning about cordwainers so much too. I love getting a history lesson on cordwainers too, as Carrie Bradshaw is not the only woman who loves shoes!

Highland Outcasts Series
Book #1 Highland Soul - Gavin MacKeefe
Released Available Now!

Book #2 Highland Flame - Cam MacKeefe
TBR April 19, 2022

Highland Sky - Nash MacKeefe TBR

Highland Silver - North MacKeefe TBR


Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Soul-Outcasts-Book-ebook/dp/B09NQQWSJ4/ref=nodl_

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Gavin MacKeefe and his friends have celebrated a bit too much after a victory. Now the tavern owner who is a clan elder intends to punish them all severely.
Davita is the cordwainer's daughter and since the attack on her father she has far too much to deal with. The help that arrives from the castle looks like it will hinder more than help.
Our poor heroine !! Her family is in disarray, she's up to her armpits in work and worries.
Our hero starts as a complete waste of space. He's not prepared for what he will face.
This is a historical romance set in the highlands and is a follow on series from previous ones from this author. You don't need to have read the others to enjoy this one. I imagine most women will roll their eyes at this hero. We've all met someone like him, even in modern times.
Good fun.

Gavin and his friends foiled the rievers and negotiated an alliance. Then they over celebrated and broke several of the Tavern’s rules, including starting a fire and throwing up on Callum’s boots. The result? Outcast from the clan. Now the four of them must each complete a mission of Callum’s choice to be brought back into the clan. First up is Gavin (he the one who threw up on the boots). He is to help the cordwainer’s daughter, make Callum a pair of new boots, and repair a trunk full of shoes from the castle. This ought to be good!

I always enjoy Elizabeth Rose’s books, and this one does not disappoint. The storyline in this one is interesting, including information about shoe construction and repair and the structure of trade guilds, a subject she has used before. Gavin and his friends are not happy, and are more likely to get in the way more than anything else. With an injured father, unruly siblings, and an irritable competitor, Davita is a wits end, and she will take any help she can get. Gavin may not know anything about shoes, but he is good with the siblings and can cook (something Davita is not good at). Besides Callum, there are other familiar characters from the MacKeefe stories. Entertaining, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny in places, this one holds your attention. I highly recommend the story of a wild Highland lad and the cordwainer’s daughter. Cam’s next; can’t wait.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Overview:

Title: Highland Soul
Author: Elizabeth Rose
292 Pages

Gavin MacKeefe, a highland warrior with an eating and drinking problem.
Davita, the daughter of the town's cordwainer (shoemaker), with too much responsibility.
Their love story starts when Gavin breaks the rules of old Calllum Mackeefe, the father of Gavin's clan's chief. As punishment, he is sent to town, where he must learn the craft of shoemaking. He may also not drink whiskey.
Davita desperately needs help in her father's shop after he gets injured in a robbery. As such, she approached the chief for help. They send her a Highland warrior, who doesn't even always wear shoes - how is he supposed to help?
Yet, surprising all, Gavin fits in well with the family and help Davita in ways she did not even know she needed.


I am devasted to say that I really did not enjoy this book. You can catch me in a whip with a Highlander story and yet this book fell flat for me.

From the first page, it felt like the author was over-explaining and also continuously repeating the same information. As a reader, it's quite frustrating because it holds up the progression of the story. and it is annoying when the same description of a character or event keeps being repeated - like when your grandmother keeps telling the same story over and over again or keeps hammering on the same point.
I was hoping the over-explaining and repetition would improve as the story continues but unfortunately it didn't, leaving me frustrated after I put the book down. I truly don't want to feel frustrated when I finish a book.
As such the story moved too slow, leaving me bored and uninterested.

The characters also fell flat for me. Divita was irritating and immature. Gavin was a caricature of the normal highland warrior, with no real interesting traits. There was zero chemistry between the characters and the romance felt forced.

The conflict was embarrassingly easy to resolve and as such the book lacks a real climax. While none of the actual problems in the story was addressed.


The tragic backstory which is supposed to explain Gavin's current actions and decisions was not well written and left me feeling nothing - for a story that was supposed to make me very sad.

The side characters were also not well written and I have no motivation to pick up another book in this series - which tells the stories of Gavin's friends.

The overuse of the Scottish dialect also made the writing tedious and difficult to follow. I completely understand what the author went for, but unfortunately for me, it was a fail.

Lastly, it felt like the author wanted to discuss very serious issues such as binge eating and alcoholism, but it ended up being nothing more than a quirky character trait of Gavin that was overcome by willpower alone. If you are going to add these types of problems to the story either use them in the plot or leave them out. It felt unrealistic and tone-deaf.

As such I would not recommend this book to any readers or lovers of Highland romances. Unfortunately, the setting and my love for romances were not enough to save this book.

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Highland Soul by Elizabeth Rose was not the excellent quality I have come to expect. It was poorly researched, for one. It was a simple romance between a Highland warrior and a cordwainer's daughter. It might be possible, I suppose. Much of Gavin's past story explainer h is reluctance. But, really? Does an alcoholic change his ways in a week? Did no one wait until their wedding night? Did the laird who had banished him really let him wander in and out of the castle? It was a simplistic story, totally predictable and not as good as it could have been.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Highland Soul by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #elizabethrose #highlandsoul

I should have known from the description that this book was not for me, but I was taken in by the sexy highlander on the pretty cover. The h is disappointing as a hero. He's a drunk and a glutton who has a retching problem. Who wants to kiss that??? Not exactly romantic or dreamy. I appreciated that he was a good person and not a man ho, but he still fell short as a hero. I know that many readers enjoyed learning about shoemaking. I did not. It's just not a topic that interests me and distracted from the story.

Gavin and his three highland clansmen are being punished for breaking the rules. Gavin, book one, is given the task of helping Davita in the shoe shop. Interesting and fun story, and one I enjoyed. Would recommend this book and look forward to book 2.

This book is very different with an unexpected plot from clans constantly fighting between each other and against the English. More humor with four Highlanders getting into trouble breaking the rules at the Horn and Hoof Tavern. Gavin is the worst of the lot, over drinking and eating, then throwing up on the owner's boots. Three days in the dungeon and the four will do whatever penance is required. Off to the Lowlands to help the daughter of a cordwainer. A thief for a brother, a sister man crazy, hanging out with the serving lasses at the local tavern and her father beaten and left for dead, Davita needs all the help she can get. Meet a Highlander who is a good cook and three friends who hang out and avoid work until they find out their punishment. Gavin is a man who lost it all as a boy, yet feels like he may have found a home with Davita. Some very funny characters and outside/open door sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Scotland 1363

The crazy MacKeefe clan strikes again! If you have read any of this fabulous author's books, you will recognize a few names here. The book starts like a comedy of drunken warrior friends, celebrating a victory in stopping some reivers, and because of their mischief, they get thrown in the castle dungeon until their sentence comes down.

Gavin has to do his penance helping out the local Cordwainer to make shoes and try to keep the peace between the competition. He meets the owners daughter, Davita, who is trying to save their business while her father recovers from a beating. Slowly as they get to know each other, an attraction grows...

A fun, humorous journey through medieval history, leaving you wanting to find out what will happen to the rest of the Outcasts!

An enjoyable story.
Gavin MacKeefe and his friends fall foul of old man Callum MacKeefe’s tavern rules and are punished by their chieftains. Having thrown up and ruined Callum’s fine leather boots, Gavin is tasked with helping the cordwainer’s daughter whilst her father recovers his health. He has to not only make Callum a new pair of boots but repair all the shoes from Hermitage Castle. Gavin finds shoemaking difficult but he is taken with Davita and wants to help her with family problems. An interesting story in which the reader is enlightened about cordwaining and cobbling, with a HEA for all concerned.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Do not cross Old Callum MacKeefe, the oldest man alive in Scotland. He is the proud maker of Mountain Magic; the best whiskey in all of Scotland but the rules in his tavern are to be honored. He has a list of rules that must be respected. Callum and his crew were celebrating a little too much after saving a herd of livestock and a new alliance formed with the reivers. So much so, they started a fire in the tavern and ended locked up in the dungeon. What a downfall from heroes to criminals. As punishment Callum was sent into town to help the cordwainer’s daughter after her father was attacked and left for dead. Davita is doing her best to save her father’s business and now she bothered with Highlander Callum trying to help her. An interesting tale as two people from different occupations try to work together and finding that they might need each other more that they thought. Enjoy the story of how Callum and Davita try to find peace with one another and make the situation they find themselves in, work.