#BookReview #NewBookRelease #EntangledPublishing #Scotland #HistoricalRomance

Book: The Highlander’s Secret Avenger
By Heather McCollum
Series: Brothers of Wolf Isle , Book #4
Publisher: Entangled
Book Length: 237
Release Date: August 21, 2023
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags
ASIN: B0CBH9JVFC

Isle of Mull, Scotland
1543

As a young lad Drostan Macquarie had been forewarned by his father that there was an old curse on their clan. If anyone in their clan should ever sire a bairn out of wedlock their clan will be cursed and will die out!

Drostan swore he would never put his loved ones in danger and would die alone. That was until he met this bonnie lass who catches him in her web of desire with the most passionate heated kiss! This highland goddess lit a fire in both his heart and soul! She threatens everything he loves and holds dear and had previously promised he would never ever do!

Drostan is unaware that Amelia Grant has escaped her abusive family and her previous life! The one way she can do this is to destroy her brother’s biggest enemy the Macquarie’s and bring this curse into action. The problem is she is filled with guilt, she was expecting Drostan to be this horrible, cruel, hideous, monster. Instead he has the face of an angel and seems to be a Prince among men! He has saved her on more than one occasion and even saved a very unappreciative kitten! He is kind to everyone except to his enemies.

Again my go to author Heather McCollum spins another extraordinary highland masterpiece that this historical fiction reader absolutely loved! An excellent take of an incredible, highland, adventure where McCollum has written a choice story. It is filled with a special understanding of human motivation, forgiveness and love.

You can read this as a stand alone book or in series order. For me I always read in series order. It is an easy decision for me to make. As McCollum has a rare gift in her storytelling ability that readers definitely do not want to miss!

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Highlanders-Secret-Avenger-Brothers-Wolf-ebook/dp/B0CBH9JVFC/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-highlanders-secret-avenger-heather-mccollum/1143762
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https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-highlander-s-secret-avenger?utm_source=google_action
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-highlander-s-secret-avenger
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?pcampaignid=books_read_action&id=yGXKEAAAQBAJ
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-highlanders-secret-avenger/id6451114689

I was fortunate to receive an arc copy of The Highlander’s Secret Avenger by Heather McCollum. Historical Fiction mixed with romance is always a like from me. The writing in this book was beautiful and dramatic and action packed.
#netgalley #thehighlandersavenger

The Highlander's Secret Avenger by Heather McCollum is the 4th book of the Brothers of Wolf Isle Series and my second book of this wonderful author.

Drostan Macquarie is one of the five Macquarie brothers. There's this special curse the whole clan has to deal with since Drostan was a little lad. Should any of their clan sire a bastard, they'll all be cursed and die out. So Drostab decided to stay alone forever to save his clan... but then... on Beltane eve there's this mysterious lass with a huge secret of her own...

Well I started this series with this book and I'm now so intrigued to read the other books because it's obvious that I need to meet Drostan's brothers! Ha!
When I fell in love with Heather McCollum's writing style I also fell in love with the characters she creates!
OMG, I know this period wasn't the most romantic one... but it felt like i travelled back in time while I read this book.
I fell in love with Drostan right from the beginning. C'mon! A big, handsome Highlander with a heart of gold?!
WHO COULDN'T LOVE A GUY LIKE THIS?! ❤️😌
And Lia?! The sassy lass! Ha! I loved her as well! I don't wanna tell you too much about her so I don't ruin her secrets for you. 😉
But let me tell you.
I absolutely loved the chemistry of Drostan and Lia! I could feel their emotions through my Kindle and enjoyed every moment of it!
OH MY GOODNESS!
There's soooo much suspense and chemistry and heartwarming companionship. I loved how the whole clan supported each other.

Can't wait for more! Well... I know that Heather McCollum has a lot more books I can read. Hehehe. Perfect!

Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing and Heather McCollum for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

Slipping into my highland romance era over here.

Albeit this novel is the fourth installation of the Brothers of wolf Isle series as a brand new reader to this author, it was easy for me to follow. This novel, as well as the others, are meant to be read in order OR as standalones. I’ve most certainly been in my general fantasy romance era lately and this was a great complementary read alongside the the others.

Droston Macquarie, the fourth brother, turns out to be this adorable cinnamon roll level character, saving our lovely FMC Amelia on multiple occasions and even saving that sweet kitten just as many times.

With the curse which will destroy the clan should a bastard child be born, Droston has basically avoided relationships at all cost. After all — his brothers all have children or have them on the way. Amelia, however, throws a wrench in his plans as she snuck through disguised as a man in order avenge her brother.

Though over time truths come forth and not everything is as it seems. This novel is full of secrets, a ton of intrigue, AND a swoon-worthy highlander with a nice butt. This enemies-to-lovers romance is sure to thrill, captivate and keep you on you toes as our two main characters navigate a path full of trials and danger.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: August 22, 2023

Back to back Highland romances! I usually mix them up a bit but two were publishing the same day so here we are!

The Highlander’s Secret Avenger is the fourth instalment of the Brother’s of Wolfe Isle series by Heather McCollum. This series can be read stand alone, this is my first book of the series and I didn’t feel lost with any background details.

The Macquarie brothers are cursed, or so the legend says. After their ancestor got a local girl pregnant and then refused to wed her, she hanged herself and her mother saved the child from her womb. The mother, a witch cursed both Wolf Island and any male descendants of the Macquarie clan.

Drostan Macquarie decided long ago that the best way to avoid the curse would be to avoid relationships at all. While he’d definitely had his fair share of fun, he would never settle down. His clan depended on it.

Lia Macleod is on the run and has many secrets. Arriving on Wolf Island dressed as a man, she finds herself in immediate danger when local men discover it’s not a lad under those breeches.

After rescuing Lia (on several occasions) Drostan can’t help but be drawn to her. He knows she’s keeping things from him but he can’t seem to let her be. There is an attraction and connection with her he never thought he would experience.

When Lia’s evil brother shows up to take her back home, secrets and lies are revealed and to Drostan’s disbelief Lia agrees to wed the older man her brother had arranged for her before she ran away.

What happens when secrets and lies aren’t all they seem? Will Drostan find Lia and discover the truth of her love? This was a good typical highland romance I’ve come to expect from this author. Intertwined family stories and histories while incorporating spicy romance. This is a 4 star read for me! I’ll likely go back and read the full series now that o have read this one!

#NetGalley #thehighlanderssecretavenger #heathermccollum

Apparently I’m in my Highlander romance era now. I loved this book. I don’t usually go for the cinnamon roll make character trope but Drostan was dreamy, sweet, and even rescued a kitten who was stuck. It doesn’t get much cuter than that. I haven’t read the other books in this series but I definitely will be now.

3.5 stars rounded off to 4

Brothers of Wolf Isle series is one of my favorite Highlander romance books, not just because of the captivating stories and recurring crazy villains but because the characters from Book 1 have become more of a family to me. So as a reader who loves the series, I enjoyed returning to the world of Wolf Isle with the Macquarie Brothers, their wives, and friends. The series is incomplete without the infamous Macquarie curse, which plays a critical role in this book.

The Highlander’s Secret Avenger is about Droston, the fourth Macquarie brother, finding his happily ever after. But not before a lot of misunderstanding and a dramatic, heroic fight to save his lady love, Amelia, from their enemy, Captain Jandeau.

Amelia, a.k.a Lia, comes to Wolf Isle to avenge her brother with the misconception that the Macquaries’ are evil and need to pay for their crimes. With the Isle famous for its curse, she decides to seduce a Macquarie and exact her revenge, dooming everyone associated with the clan. Thankfully, Lia has more sense, and once she sees that everything she heard is a lie, she is left feeling guilty and much closer to falling in love with Droston. But can he and his entire family forgive her for her initial plans for them?

This was a fun light read for me cause it was reading about characters I like. A lot more secondary characters from Heather McCollum's previous series make appearances. We also get to know more about the curse, but more questions are raised about it than answered in this book.

The only thing lacking for me was the romance between Droston and Amelia. As individuals, their stories and concerns were interesting to read, but the romance between them was rushed and hence lacking chemistry. All in all, a great addition to the series, though not the best.

This did not work for me at all - the two MCs were a little too into each other too quickly, and I didn't really get why. The FMC had a vendetta against the MMC but it took quite a while to figure out why, and then when that mystery was solved, it didn't seem like a big enough deal to want to destroy an entire family. She just seemed juvenile to me.

I DNF'd about a third of the way through, once I caught myself rolling my eyes one too many times.

This was such a fun and entertaining historical romance and a great addition to The Brothers of Wolf Isle series. I’ve really enjoyed this series and was excited to revisit Wolf Isle and its inhabitants. The Macquerie brothers are all such hunky highlanders, and Drostan, the MMC in this book is no exception.

Because of the curse put on his family, Drostan has decided never to marry or have children. Of course, as soon as he meets Lia, his feelings toward marriage and his future change. Lia has run away from her abusive brother, who has always said the Macquarie brothers were terrible men. Intent on vengeance, Lia travels to Wolf Isle to kill one of the brothers, but Lia quickly realizes what she’s been told might not be the truth. The Macquarie brothers are the opposite of what she expected. Kind, welcoming, and helpful, they welcome Lia and treat her well, much to her surprise, and she begins to change her perception of the brothers, especially Drostan.

Lia and Drostan have a great enemies-to-lovers romance, and I like how they come together. Both are strong characters intent on taking charge of their lives. Lia refuses to be a political pawn and be married off to an older man for her brother’s gain. Drostan will do whatever he must to protect his family and those he loves. I think both learn a lot about themselves and life as they grow closer together. However, coming from enemy clans, the pair has to decide if their love is worth fighting and changing for.

With secrets, intrigue, danger, pirates, a swoon-worthy Highlander, and a woman bent on revenge, The Highlander’s Secret Avenger is an engaging and romantic story, and though it’s part of a series, it can be read on its own. Special thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Amelia may anger you. Then make you sad. But you can’t deny that she’s smart, resourceful, naive, and…falling in love with the enemy? She’s been told so many tall tales about Drostan and his family that she’s thrown for a loop when she encounters the brothers in person, but she’s thrown for a whole lot more at the thought of never seeing Drostan again. Can he forgive the lies? Or is she doomed to loneliness and misery?

Drostan never wanted marriage. He just wants to break the curse. And yet, he can’t shake his growing feelings for Lia. The Lia who has secrets and is afraid of so much. The Lia who gave a fake name, then came clean about much of her deception. And the same Lia who apparently had much more disastrous plans in mind. But he believes that she has to feel more than what a revelation shares. Right?

I enjoyed this story and especially liked how Amelia saves herself and assists in the saving of others. She’s another woman who isn’t afraid of conflict or danger if it means a lifetime with the man she loves. And Drostan is all about that lifetime, too.

So now one brother remains. Will he find love? I’m pretty sure he’ll have an adventure of it.

This was over too soon! I enjoyed every moment Dorstand and Amelia spent together getting to know one another better. And of course every time he managed to rescue her.
I was so annoyed with Meg and Cecelia when they exposed her list after they'd grown so close and I never imagined it would come back to haunt her.

I'm looking forward to Eagan's book!

Having learned of the Macquarie curse at an early age Dorstan has vowed to live his life alone. While attending Beltane festivities at Aros Castle he meets a mysterious young woman who threatens that very vow.

Amelia MacLeod is running from her abusive family. She plans to make her way to Wolf Isle and bring down the Macquarie clan. Only the enemy isn't at all as brutish as she was led to believe.

What she wasn't counting on was falling for the kindhearted Highlander.

Thank you so much to the author and Entangled Publishing for this ARC to review.

Wow! What an Awesome story! Gripping and Suspenseful! The Highlander's Secret Avenger weaves a story from beginning to end with threads of intrigue, danger, a curse, secrets and pirates. It's a story filled with remarkable emotions, unforgettable characters that are well thought out and each and everyone comes across clearly as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale, a strong plot brimming with tension building twist and turns, family unity and sizzling passion. Secondary characters from other series
brings this read together perfectly and will keep you in the edge of your seat from the moment you begin the journey with Drostan and Amelia until the very end.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion

This book has so much going on in it including pirates, kidnapping and allergies. A bitt of a strange combination, but it gives the story so much depth. Lia runs away from her abusive brother, who has told her all about how awful the Macquarie brothers on Wolf Isle are. She has a plan to take vengeance on one of them, except things don't go as planned. First Drostan saves her from an attack and then his family shows her nothing but kindness. As she and Drostan spend time together, she starts to change her mind and they begin a relationship. Just when things start to go well, danger come calling. The action and surprises keep coming. A quick and fun read that ends happily.

This was such a cute short read. Thank you Entangled for the eARC, as always, y’all are the best. This is the fourth book in the series, but they’re interconnected stand-alones, meaning you don’t have to read the previous books to understand what’s going on—which is good for me lol.

Lia and Drostan were so cute together. I don’t really believe in instalove, but books get free passes because I’m not picky in what I read. I’m so glad they got their HEA.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Drostan is happy with his life until he meets Amelia. When the two meet, their chemistry is amazing. This book was an enjoyable read.

I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series, but this worked well as a stand-alone.

This was a quick little read with interesting characters, delightful family dynamics, and you can’t help but cheer on Lia.

I absolutely love when an author is able to deliver a swoon-worthy love story on top of a captivating and intriguing plotline. "The Highlander's Secret Avenger" was in my opinion an unputdownable read!

The author did a fantastic job creating characters that are well-developed and easy to connect with. It made the reading experience so much more immersive.

This was book four in the "Brothers of Wolf Isle" series but I read it as a standalone and didn't have any issues in doing so. After finishing this book I can say that I will definitely be purchasing and devouring the rest of the series asap and I will be recommending it to anyone who loves reading historical romance.

Thank you Heather McCollum , Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Every so often I love a short, engaging (modified) bodice ripper of a book.

When I was younger, I didn't get the appeal of this type of story at all, and now I really find myself enjoying them.

The fourth of five brothers, Drostan is determined to remain a bachelor and never sire a child, hopefully not worsening the curse on his clan. Lia (aka Amelia) is on the run from her cold, cruel older brother and bad memories, determined not to allow her brother to marry her off to a man of his political choosing.

Aware of the curse, but unaware of the facts behind the death of her other brother, Lia decides to seek revenge on the clan to win favor with her brother.

A meeting fraught with danger, and numerous interactions later, Lia is forced to recognize that there might not be a need for revenge, but for the pair to stay together.

While I would have liked to see more chemistry between the two, I still found this an easy and enjoyable read.

Looking forward to the final book of the series.



Thanks to Entangled: Scandalous and NetGalley for the DRC

The fourth book in the Brothers of Wolf Isle is the best by far! Each one just gets better. Heather McCollum shares Drostan’s change of heart toward love and marriage in a way that makes you want to just give the man a hug. Lia/Amelia MacLeod is out to prove herself to her own family by ruining the Macquaries. Love does not come easily to this family. And, with the trouble between their clans already, Drostan and Lia have to learn to trust and fight for their love.

There is more than enough included in The Highlander’s Secret Avenger to make it a stand-alone. Enjoy it to the fullest; then, go back and read the previous books. Each one includes the Macquarie family and the trouble that center around the curse and that crazy tree on Wolf Isle. I can only imagine Eagen, as the fifth brother, will have the hardest time following in his brothers footsteps to find the love of his life.

I am so loving this series and so far I've wanted to marry every one of the Macquarie brothers:) Only to help them with the curse, of course.....ahem!! This 4th book of the series is just as good if not better than the other 3. I absolutely adored Drostan and Lia's characters. Both have strong wills and yet soft hearts and the heat and passion between them can be felt through the pages.

My heart went out to Lia for what she's gone through at the hands of her brothers and I love how she rises above it all. As for Drostan, you can't help but feel devastated for him and what the curse has done to his life. He will do anything to save his family and clan.

I now look forward to reading Eagan's story but will be sad that it will be the conclusion of this series! Heather McCollum is an author that never disappoints and I read all her books voraciously:)

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