After the evil villain, Claude Jandeau escaped the gallows and vowed revenge against the Macquaries, Lark begs for the brothers to bring her half-sisters to Wolf Island. Callum, the middle brother, learns that two of Lark’s sisters, Anna and Dora, have left Scotland and are currently in England at Sudeley Castle working for the former Queen of England, Katherine Parr, now Katherine Seymour. Concerned for their safety, he sets out to find them and bring them home. He is sure once the girls learn of Jandeau’s vow of revenge, they will be eager to leave. Poor delusional man…

Anna Montgomerie fled Scotland with her little sister Dora after the death of her father and swore to never return. She was able to secure a position in Sudeley Castle and soon she and Dora befriended Princess Elizabeth and were elevated to her companions. She is content in her position and hopes to make a new life for herself in England and forget the horrors of her past. So when the oh-so-handsome, Callum comes to drag her back to Scotland, she is attracted to him, but flatly refuses and things then take a strange turn when Elias, Baron Grigg, a friend of Thomas Seymour, proposes to her out of the blue. Despite meaning she would be elevated in status and have a home of her own in England, she doesn’t immediately accept.

Callum doesn’t give up and insists on staying with her, going as far as to follow her to Grigg’s estate when she once again refuses to return to Scotland with him. That is when things get interesting and Callum will have to use all his wits to keep them all alive.

While I did like this story, it didn’t hold my attention the way the first two books did, the story starts very slow and repetitive, and sadly, nothing really interesting happens until about two-thirds through the book. However, the last third of the book is outstanding and somewhat makes up for the snoozefest beginning, and if you have been following this series, you will definitely want to read this installment. This is the third book in the series and I would recommend reading the books in order to truly understand certain aspects of the story, including Jandeau and the Macquaries curse.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Brothers of Wolf Isle #3
Publication Date: 8/22/22
Period: Tudor England - 1547

I have been looking forward to the release of this book for a while now. I’ve read the first two books in the series and they were non-stop action and excitement with a romance just as exciting as the action parts. Not this one. It is a nice read but is missing the action and excitement of the other books. In the first two books, the pirate Claude Jandeau was a fierce, mighty, nasty pirate who stole away innocent women and children and sold them into slavery to men who wanted them. He is bound and determined to get the Montgomerie sisters into his nasty hands. So far, the only thing that has stood in his way is the Macquarie brothers. One of the brothers married the older Montgomerie sister and now, since their father’s death, she wants to bring her sisters to Wolf Isle to live with her. Callum and Drostan (twins) Macquarie were dispatched to Hawick to accompany the four sisters back to the isle. When they arrived, two of the sisters had left for England. Drostan accompanied the two sisters (Kat and Agnes) who were at Hawick back to Wolf Isle and Callum continued to Sudeley Castle in England to retrieve Anna and Dorothia (Dora) and then accompany them north to Wolf Isle.

Since the pirate Jandeau escaped before he could be hanged, the Montgomerie ladies cannot be left unprotected. Anna and Doro are in the employ of the Dowager Queen Katherine Parr Seymour as Ladies to Princess Elizabeth. When Anna refuses to leave, Callum knew he had to stay until he could convince her to leave.

We spent several months or about 70% of the book at Sudeley Castle with Callum trying to convince Anna and dealing with the English who looked down upon him. This part went on much, much too long. When they were deceived and ended up in the hands of Jandeau, it was a tad more exciting, but not by much. Jandeau was a mere shadow of himself and really didn’t pose much of a threat at all.

I enjoyed the book; it just wasn’t the exciting, page-turning, swashbuckling read I had expected. I wanted some exciting cross-country chases, or sword fights onboard a pirate ship or … something. It did get livelier; it just wasn’t that bone-tingling excitement from the previous books.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Romance, Danger, Family
A thoroughly enjoyable tale linked into some true historical fact. Whilst the villain of this story was easy to surmise, I was on tenterhooks waiting for his true colours to show. I enjoyed the gradually deepening relationship between Callum and Anna, and the clever way that Callum dealt with the pirates. Recommended read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

This is the third book in the "The Brothers of Wolf Isle" series featuring the third Macquarie brother, Callum.

I took a while trying to figure out how to review this book. A warm-hearted highlander, a strong and independent heroine, and a gripping plot filled with tension. All in all, the perfect ingredients for a 5-star read. But, as an avid fan of this series, it isn't my favorite. What made the series unique was the charming side characters and the fun interactions between the brothers. Not to mention the Macquarie curse.

The story takes place away from the Macquarie clan in England. The story's first half focuses on characters from history and the MC's interaction with them, which takes away a lot of the focus from the budding romance. Anna was also a complicated character to sympathize with. Her reasons for staying in England seemed vague, and we got no hint of a secret. So I spent the first half getting immensely frustrated with her when it was later revealed that she had an excellent reason to stay in England. With so many other elements being the focus, the romance sometimes seemed rushed and forced. But that was my thoughts on the first half.

The second half is absolutely riveting. Our villain, Jandeau, is back for revenge and proceeds to be as vile as ever. The climax where our hero, with his unlikely ally and our warrior heroine, was so well done. The whole time I was hooked to the edge of my seat.

While not the best book in the series, it is a lovely highlander romance you shouldn't miss out on.

I thought Callum and Anna’s story was a little funny and very entertaining. I liked that the book moved quickly. The story background was whimsical, but bought exciting drama to the story. I loved that the writer portrayed Callum as a well muscular, large Scottish man, as well as a man who has charm, class and style. Anna was a bit to spoiled or naive for me. Don’t ever turn your back on your country lass.

Callum Maquarie just needs to escort two girls from England to their sister at home on Wolf Isle. His problem is one of them doesn't want to come, even though she knows about the dangerous pirate hunting her family.

A young royal princess is a key character in this story.

Anna Montgomerie managed to escape from a terrible situation and found work and a home for herself and her sister. Now that is being threatened again. She might need more than rocks to save them this time.

A very exciting and amusing historical romance. Our hero is well outside his comfort zone and without his brothers.

Although this book is part of an ongoing series, you can read it on it's own. It will however tempt you to read the rest.

Great fun.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
The Highlander’s Tudor Lass was thrilling and romantic. The characters were colorful, and there was plenty of intrigue and action. Both Callum and Anna were solid and vibrant characters. However, there were times when Anna’s stubbornness went too far. The fighting scenes toward the novel's end allowed Callum’s personality to shine; Callum was the very definition of a brawny, sexy highlander!

The plot moved well. However, I sometimes found the storyline predictable. Placed primarily in Tudor England, famous secondary characters include a young Queen Elizabeth. These glimpses of actual people and historical circumstances helped ground the book. The attraction between Callum and Anna was strong. I got frustrated with Anna, who was stubborn and rude towards a man who was only trying to help her. I enjoyed Callum’s adherence to his vow to save Anna and her sister from a dangerous pirate; he would not take no for an answer.

The Highlander’s Tudor Lass is the third book in The Brothers Of Wolfe Isle series. I enjoy these easy, light reads. Sometimes I wish for a more complicated plot, one where a character does something unpredictable. I did enjoy reading how Callum and Anna grew to trust each other. The couple had a good connection. This series, as a whole, is well worth your effort. I’d recommend these books to those who want to read something breezy, romantic, and fun.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Curses, Pirates. Highlanders:
The Macquarie Brother series continues with a rip-roaring adventure when Callum
is on a mission to bring Anna and Dora to Wolf Island to live with their sister Lark.
What happens when Anna has a very good reason not to go back to Scotland?
There is a deep underlying disturbing part to this story that I give a shout of Bravo to
the author for her courage to bring this subject into this gripping heartfelt romance story.
The characters are wonderfully described, and the story is filled with lots of excitement,
some humor, the evil nemesis Jandeau, many heart pounding moments and several gut
wrenching scenes that had me glued to the story.
I truly enjoyed reading this very exciting story of two people overcoming their emotional
issues and finding the love they so deserve.
The important letter at the end brought closure to one of the betrayals.
Adult Advisory:
Each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone.

I'm normally a big fan of Heather McCollum novels, but I'll freely admit that having not read the previous Brothers of Wolf Isle books, I did feel that there was some vital information that I was missing. You're able to piece most of it together with context clues and some hints of backstory but I think that my emotional investment would have been higher had I read the previous novels in the series (completely my own fault, but it's not the best book to pick up if you want a standalone).

My main problem with the book is that I didn't really love Anna as the heroine. From the get go, she is just sort of there. Everything that Callum likes about her is sort of tacked on, but her primary role in the beginning of the book is just to be stubborn and a bit rude considering that Callum is there to help, first and foremost. As the book went on I did warm to her, but I wasn't a fan of how many times she seems to resort to punching or stomping on Callum, even though he doesn't have much of a reaction. I also didn't totally buy Callum as the fun-loving and jovial brother that he is described as because he's not having much fun in this book at all.

Once the novel leaves all of the Tudor madness, it picks up, but before that, there's just so much of Thomas Seymour, Katherine Parr, and Elizabeth Tudor in characterizations that don't flatter any of them. Seymour was a terrible person, that much is widely known, but no one else especially comes across well either. This wouldn't matter as much if the plot moved faster or wasn't as repetitive but unfortunately, that's what makes the issues stand out as much as they do.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic and very engaging story, ending up devouring the story in a matter of hours over the weekend. This is the first book I am reading by this author and I enjoyed her writing style and how beautifully the story flows .

I always find it a pure joy to read this author's books and this one was no exception. Heather McCollum writes from the heart and it shows in her stories. I also love all the historical research that goes into them. As usual, the characters are fully developed and you can't help but feel a kinship to them.

I adored Callum, such a braw and loyal Highlander, determined to accomplish the mission he was sent to do. There was such a lightness to him and yet he also showed a very strong side. I also loved Anna and when you find out why she doesn't want to return to Scotland, you can't help but want to be by her side and fight all the injustices in her world. I also need to learn how to throw rocks! lol

Loved, loved, loved this story and can't wait to read the next one in the Brothers of Wolf Isle series. So very well written and leaves you wanting more from this author!!

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

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this eARC.

I have not read the previous books in this series, so went in blind, however I did not feel that I was missing anything having not read the prior instalments.

I must be honest and say I enjoyed the frankness in the style of writing. I felt the book was very story driven without the fluffy filler that you often find in this genre. It was rather refreshing.

Although the story was rather predictable, it was enjoyable to see the evolution of the relationship between Callum and Anna; they are both stubborn, yet entertaining and enjoyable. There was some good banter throughout this enjoyable read.

Solid 3.5/5 ⭐️

Callum Macquarie comes to England tasked with returning to Wolf Isle with Anna and Dora Montgomery, he’s not prepared for Anna’s complete disinterest in going with him. However, Anna’s stubborn refusal leads to many complications and potentially dangerous situations. Can Callan convince Anna to return with him and Dora to Wolf Island before the nefarious pirate Jundeau finds them?

I always become so engrossed in Heather McCollum’s historical romances. I think it’s a combination of the layered and dynamic characters, the lush settings, and the wonderful love stories that always pull me in.

A light-hearted man who hides behind his humor, Callum is often underestimated, and he feels like he is the weak link in his family. Callum sees this task as a way to prove his capabilities to his family, so imagine his frustration when Anna refuses to go with him. I really like his character. He has a lot of respect for women, and he never diminishes their voices. He is a warrior with a tender heart and a relentless drive to protect others and prove himself worthy to his family. He’s also pretty strategic, clever, and brave as he fights against those that wish to harm Anna, Dora, and himself.

Anna is a strong and brave woman who has had a difficult life. She loves her sisters fiercely, and there’s nothing she won’t do to support and protect them. But Anna has secrets that could destroy any future she has, and she’s desperate to remain safely in England. She works so hard to keep others safe, but by doing so, she actually puts herself at risk. Luckily, Callum is as loyal and determined as her, and he swore an oath to protect her. Callum and Anna are both such dynamic characters, and I enjoyed their individual stories as much as their romance.

Callum and Anna have such a swoon-worthy romance. They are both stubborn and loyal to those they love. I love that he trusts in her skill and capabilities. He sees her for the strong, protective, and determined woman she is, and he believes in her. They have such amazing chemistry, and their banter is wonderful. They’re like kindred spirits, and their love story is entertaining, romantic, and full of chemistry!

The plot is suspenseful and exciting, as Anna tries to protect her charge, struggles to find her place, and becomes a prisoner of a nefarious pirate and his accomplices. Callum is the consummate protector and will not stop until he brings the women to safety even though he faces insurmountable odds. Their journey is entertaining and dangerous and really engrossing.

I enjoyed this book. It’s exciting and unique, and I loved the characters and the romance. I would definitely recommend it to historical romance readers! Thanks so much to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

All the Macqueries are so swoon-worthy!

When Callum arrives in England to find and bring Anna and Dora Montgomery back to Wolf Isle he is expecting a nice, sweet lass that will absolutely want to come with him. However, Anna stubbornly refuses to go, even when Callum regales her with all the wonderful things she could have, not to mention reuniting with her other sisters and meeting her nephew. But every time he asks Anna steadfastly refuses (she does have valid reasons), and this causes a chain of events that leads Anna and her sister to almost get kidnapped... Where the ladies and Callum do some rescuing of each other. Some pretty funny moments had me smiling and laughing out loud.

I loved watching them fall in love, it unfolded beautifully. There were some really great scenes that gave me all the feels.

While this is ongoing series they can all be read as a standalone. Heather McCollum does a great job of summarizing what happened in previous books without drawing it out too much. But, I think after reading any one of them, you'll absolutely want to go back and read the others.

I can't wait to see who will be the match for Droston!

Anna was stubborn to a fault…and far beyond. She allowed her stubbornness and desperate need to be safe overrule any logic or clues laid out before her, but she also held great love and loyalty for those she cared about. She kept her sister safe, tried to keep Elizabeth safe, and was willing to fall on a liar’s sword to keep her sister free in life. She just didn’t count on Callum and his stubbornness matching hers. But Callum was also smart and able to see around his stubborn self to find a way out of their problems. Anna eventually was, as well, but it almost took too long for her to see the truth before her. And the ease with which three women and Callum bested their foes was amusing as heck, especially since Anna and Callum finally aligned their hearts and happiness in the end.

I haven’t read the prior books in this series, but I’ve found that when this author says you won’t be lost, she means it. All that came before was explained without wasting too much time and without possibly beating someone over the head with rehashing if they’ve read the rest of the series. I look forward to whatever comes next from her.

Callum Macquarie is tasked with escorting his two sisters-in-law from England to Scotland. The problem is that the older sister, Anna, has sworn never to return to her homeland. If Callum fails his mission, then he fears his brothers will judge him poorly. Now how to convince a stubborn Scottish lass?

While the plot was predictable, this installment of the Macquarie brothers' series was highly enjoyable. Callum and Anna are great characters and watching their story unfold was entertaining and humorous. This book will definiately go on my read again shelf! I can't wait for Callum's twin's story, which is up next.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.