Love a great Highlander tory and this one did not disappoint. Part of a series, yet can stand alone. Bhaltair is Chief of the Laird’s guards, Eilidh is the Laird’s daughter. Eilidh is a healer and travels to another clan to assist, Bhaltair is assigned to protect her. Eilidh is attacked on their journey and Bhaltair gets injured protecting her. Join them as they journey to their HEA, a journey that is ot easy filled with many obstacles and risks.

My first book by Willa Blair, but not the last. I am now looking for more books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Willa Blair and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the 5th book in the Highland Talents Heritage Series by Willa Blair and it does not disappoint! This is Eilidh and Bhaltair's love story! Eilidh is a healer who was trained by her mother. She is strong and caring but afraid to tell Bhaltair how she really feels. Bhaltair is the Chief guard for the clan that believes that his size and purpose in life is only to be strong for the clan. These two stand against many obstacles on the way to treat her Uncle Jamie's granddaughter who was born very small and sick.

You have to read this most intriguing story. The plot was engaging as well as entertaining. Bhaltair and Elijhah are wonderful. Their love story was a slow process, but all that happens in the story, makes their story all the exciting to read, The books plot is logical and with some realism to it. I read a lot of information of the Highlands and what the people of the Scottish land faced during this time period. The characters are all intriguing and adds that suspense and thrill to the story. For me the book is easy to read and follow along. I appreciate that the writer kept the book simple with the dialogue and narrative. I give this book two snaps and a twist… until next time my fellow readers… read on! I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book was addicting in the best way possible. I love how the MH and MM end up together. The book isn’t rushed at all and has a great plot. It definitely keep you interested the whole time.

Book: Highland Echo
Author: Willa Blair
Series: Highland Talents #5
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Book Length: 250 pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags

Scotland, 1539


Eilidh Lathan is linked through the Aerie by the echo she has through her mother's blood where she inherited her healing talent. Bhaltair is the formidable Captain of her father’s guard, her father is also the chieftain of the Lathan clan. Both Eilidh and Bhaltair both think they have unrequited feelings for each other. For shy and fearful Eilidh, she only has room in her heart for only one man who will never look at her more than a job by her family. As they have a new mission where Bhaltair is hired to protect their precious daughter and clan’s healer.


Bhaltair feels his chieftain’s shy daughter and healer fears him and only sees him as a warrior who defends and kills. Furthermore she will never look at him as the lover he wants to be for Eilidh. He also fears his chieftain will arrange a strong marriage alliance with someone with a high noble status. This will definitely destroy Bhaltair, so he keeps his feeling for this shy healer to himself being she is his chieftain’s daughter. It is another reason his feelings as well as Eilidh's feelings are kept secretive, plus he remembers her being afraid of him. As he kills to protect the clan and she heals to save and protect their clan. Like his opposite, but was the clan’s chief guard, a man to be frightened of? What Eilidh doesn't realize is that Bhaltair has similar feelings for her but thinks she is too high above his status being a Laird’s daughter.


Now with her mother ill she must be the Lathan clan's sole healer and go help a toddler of a nearby clan who happens to be their Laird’s granddaughter. On top of that there are a group of lowlanders who are witch hunters hunting innocent women calling them witches. Often female healers are often mistaken as witches, beaten and brutally murdered by these crazy fanatics by burning, hanging or drowning these innocent women.


Soon Eilidh is in a dangerous situation and the only man strong enough to save her will be the man she loves. Will he be able to save her in time from these and admit his true feelings in his heart? Can the shy magical healer and the formidable braw warrior ever open their hearts and take a chance on love, read and find out.


Willa Blair pens another phenomenal masterpiece in the finale of her infamous Highland Talents Series. I have been swept away by each book of this magnificent spellbinding series. Highland Echo centers around unrequited love on both sides but is filled with magic, family, friendship, secrets, healing, love, plus attempted murder and so much more. It also weaves true history with a fictional story that will blow readers away! I will definitely miss this series but look forward to Willa Blair’s next Scottish highland adventure!


Highland Talents Series
1.Highland Prodigy
2.Highland Memories
3.Highland Reckoning
4.Highland Dreamer
5.Highland Echo


Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s copy from Oliver-Heber publishing. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair review and blog through Netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

BUY LINK

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFBQ67QR?_bbid=131936209&tag=individualbookpagesite-20

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3 stars
CLever use of certain historic issues to use in the story like the lowlands and the highlanders clashing over a difference of beliefs etc.
Loved the magical aspect.
Certainly want to read more.
Really enjoyed the dual POV and how the author was not afraid to touch on their strengths and weaknesses as people in their areas of expertise; the warrior with a soft heart and the healer on her first real mission.
Bodyguard trope
A look at how the witch hunts first touched the Highlands and its scary possibilities.
A steamy book but thre was something missing. A lack of real stuffing, it was like a hollow turkey at Christmas.

I love a good Medieval Scottish romance every so often and this one hit all the right spots. Well crafted, wonderful characters and the bond between Eilidh and Bhaltair is strong. Eilidh and her warrior find a deep and forever love.

The book blurb for this book intrigued me. Of course any book with a Highland hero gets my attention. Once I began reading I wasn't sure about Eilidh's healing powers, but the book was so good. I liked the characters immediately. I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of Highland Echo and it is great as a stand alone, but with the mention of other characters having had their own adventures, I feel like it may be part of a series. I will definitely be looking into that because I will read the series. As the characters already knew each other, their was that underlying attraction neither of them were acting on yet. The slow build up was a wonderous torture. Then it began to really heat up. Bhaltair may be a strong warrior but he was patient and loving with Eilidh who took a while to really come out of her shell. The whole book flowed at a smooth pace. It did speed up at times, but never slow and dull in my opinion.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

A Fantastic Highland Healers Romance:
This amazing series continues with Bhaltair and Eilidh who each have had dreamy hidden desirous feeling for each other for many years but neither had the courage to admit it. He thought her shy and afraid of him, and she thought that such a handsome warrior would not be interested in her. Read on as they travel far to help a desperate child with an unknown illness and discover an amazing story that has every emotion you want to read in a story along with Highland secrets of special powers, finding the love they always desired while conquering their fears, a kidnapping, witch hunters. A firestorm of sweet kisses, sizzling confessions.
This story will take us through many horrendous situations that can bring them closer or tear them apart. Both characters are strong and dependable in their own right and what they both go through in this story is incredibly tense, scary, gut wrenching, heart pounding, before they reach a very happy ending.
Excellent epilogue.
This story can be read as a standalone. It does have a large cast of reoccurring characters from the previous books in the series, but this story is mainly about Bhalair and Eiliana. I truly enjoyed reading this thrilling story.
Mature Advisory:

By now, whenever I see "highland" in the title and it's a romance it's a no brainer for me. I immediately add it and read it. In this case, I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book through NetGalley. Historical romance set in medieval Scotland it's the recipe for an enjoyable read. This one though went from enjoyable to can't-put-this-down with its touch of forbidden love between the Laird's daughter and his chief of guards and all the longing and scorching desire that lead to quite a few spicy scenes.
I didn't expect this to be as sweet and hot as it was. Bhaltair's devotion to Eilidh left me wishing for a Highlander of my own. One who says "no one touches you and lives to tell the tale", you know what I mean?
Personally, I'm partial to the Scottish language and culture so the fact that I learned new words and there was a historical subplot was just the cherry on top.
I've come to realize that the Highland myths and stories were embedded with magic and magical creatures and this is something that you see in this story too.
I honestly recommend this if you like the genre. It's part of a series but can be read as a standalone too.