This book was a surprising change from my normal contemporary reads. The pace was a little slow in the beginning but once it got going I could not put the book down!

Lindsay and Shane are trying to avoid an unwanted arranged marriage, together they come to the arrangement to get married to solve their problems. With both of them hiding bits and pieces of their true identity, everything hits the fan when the truth comes out.

Lindsay is the calm and easy going wife Shane needs after losing his previous wife and the struggles of who and what’s he’s meant to be. Shane shows Lindsay that she has someone to rely on and take care of her along with valuing her thoughts and ideas. The chemistry between the two is extremely relatable and I love seeing FMCs and MCs helping each other overcome a trauma.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to give my opinion on this ebook.

I was instantly transported to 1695 Scotland and found myself falling in love with a Scottish soldier within the first few pages!

If you’re a fan of cozy history romance with a bit of spice add this to your list.

The suspense from hidden identities, arranged marriage and clan conflicts kept me eagerly interested.
I read this in two sittings!

The MMC Shane while being kind, chivalrous, and loyal is keeping secrets that could tear everything apart.

The FMC Lindsey who is brave and resilient has secrets of her own.

This book had me feeling all the feels and I would recommend it to anyone.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled PublishingLLC for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions of this book are my own.

This is an awesome story. A case of mistaken identity sees Shane and Lindsay married to each other. The plot is great as it gives the reader many opportunities to be entertained by the events taking place. The characters are wonderful as they both try to keep their identity hidden when everything around them is falling apart. The dialogue is smart and witty and keeps the reader turning the pages. Well done!

4.5 stars

Sweet and swoony. With bonus dog.
Mostly fade to black.
My first book by this author, I will definitely be reading more.

Recommended.

After fighting abroad for five years, Shane MacPherson, now a guilt and grief-stricken widower is back in Scotland and must take over as Laird of his clan now that his father has passed away. He must also honor an agreement made by his father to marry the Laird of the Wallace clan’s daughter. He is on his way home to Cluny Castle to face the responsibilities bearing down on him, when he comes across a woman being assaulted on his lands, he is horrified to realize the men are MacPhersons and intervenes. This is when he meets Lindsay and with her, he finds peace for the first time since his beloved wife died. She seems to understand his grief and helps him heal. Yet neither is quite honest with the other, Shane believes Lindsay to be a maid and she believes him to be a simple soldier. They find a bit of happiness together and though they both think they are promised to others thanks to their fathers, they plan to defy them by marrying. But eventually Shane must return home and it is there that his short-lived happiness ends.

Lindsay Wallace was sent to the MacPherson clan by her mother to tend her ailing aunt, but when she arrived it was to learn that her aunt had already passed. She tries to help her uncle and his children, but is treated horribly by them and wants to return home. Her parents refuse and inform her of her impeding nuptials to the Laird of the MacPhersons. After the way she has been treated by them, Lindsay wants nothing to do with the MacPherson clan and certainly doesn’t want to marry their Laird. Shane is the only MacPherson she has met who seems honorable and they form a friendship of sort. She agrees to marry him to save herself, but wonders if she is doing the right thing, since he clearly still loves his first wife. When they return to Shane’s home, Cluny Castle, the truth comes out and any chance of happiness she might have had vanishes.

I am torn about this book, the writing was good and the characters likable, but the pace of the story was slow and the misunderstandings and misassumptions dragged on way too long to be truly enjoyable. The story has a lot going on and a lot of action, but relies heavily on misunderstanding, secrets and lies to keep the story moving forward – all of which become tiresome to the reader, especially when the issues could have easily been resolved with a bit of honest conversation. Personally, I didn’t feel any chemistry between Shane and Lindsay – he was still in love with his wife and blamed himself for her death, making it almost impossible for him to move on and then when he decided that it was time, he found something else to feel guilty about – UGH! And Lindsay wasn’t much better, she was a hypocrite who was quick to jump to conclusions and to judge and very slow to forgive – Double UGH! I didn’t hate this book, but I didn’t love it and wouldn’t read it again. This is the first book in the and while I didn’t care for this story, I would definitely read the next book.

*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. *

My very first📚✨ARC REVIEW✨📚

✨Star rating: 3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4

Shane is a Scottish soldier returning from war. But his return also holds a new title as laird of the MacPherson clan, with the passing of his father in his absence. And if that were not enough, he also has been given word that he betrothed to a woman he’s never met; an agreement made by his father before his death. Shane does not want either of these duties, especially the marriage.

Lindsay is the daughter of a laird, promised to the MacPherson Laird so that their clans might form an alliance. But spending some time with her aunt’s family on MacPherson land, she has no interest in making a home with this clan.

Both troubled by their unwanted duties, when they meet by chance outside of the village, Shane and Lindsay separately decide to keep their identities secret from one another, even as they form an agreement that might get them both out of their unwanted engagements.

The first third of this book I struggled with. It set the plot and basis for Shane and Lindsay’s relationship, but their constant inner dialogue about why they could never love one another, and why their duties weighed on them felt overly repetitive. This is where my review lost half of a star.

As the story progressed though, there were surprises and conflicts that kept me reading. The two main characters sticking to their secrets made for a bit of suspense, and Deirdre, Shane’s greedy stepmother and a snake of a character, had me seething. My initial impression of the book shifted and it turned into a quite enjoyable read.

I am so grateful to have been able to read an advance copy of this book! Thank you to Entangled Publishing, Allison B Hanson, and NetGalley !

They married each other to avoid marrying… each other. The trope is unusual but the romance is emotional, steamy mixed with some action packed scenes in the middle of treachery and larceny. Never a dull moment reading this novel.

I gave His Secret Highland Bride four ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Net Galley, Entangled Publishing and Allison Hanson for this ARC to read and review. These are my honest opinions.

I normally read books that are more in depth and require thought on my part. But, every now and then, I need a good palette cleanser and I loved this book for that.

This is a romance set in the Scottish Highlands. It reminded me of older romances I’ve read, where the plot is the romance - instead of the romance being a side scene to a bigger plot. So, as a romance plot, it was perfect.

It captured my attention and held it. I got immersed in the story and the characters and really felt attached to them.

Shane and Lindsay meet, lie about who they are to each other and get married anyway. Then they fall in love with the “fake” versions of each other. What could go wrong, right?

There were secrets and some twists and turns and a really good backstory. I really enjoyed this book!

Rating: 4.5/5
I received eARC for my honest opinion.

This book has a lot of secrets in it, and when you think that some might spill out or that the ones holding the secrets will talk, they don’t. You will find in this book romance, second chances, secrets, miscommunication, and of course learning to trust your instincts.

I really enjoyed this historical romance and to have it in the Scottish Highlands made it “chef’s kiss”. This book is about 2 characters whose fathers have arranged their marriage. Shane does not want to remarry again, because he feels if he does, he is letting down his dead wife when they made their vows. Lindsay is not happy to marry because when she took care of her aunt who was ill saw how Shane’s father treated his clan members and didn't think highly of them. With a chance encounter Shane and Lindsay don’t fully tell each other who they’re but over some time they become close and wed… even when knowing that they’re both promised to another, or so they think…

I thought the world building was done well, and the plot was easy to follow. I thought the pace of the book was done well and I didn’t have any problems with understanding what was going on or who was talking. The attention to details when it comes to their emotions, and how they're handling them. This was my first Allison Hanson book, and it will not be my last. I loved the characters and I found them to be easy to connect with.

I found Lindsey so easy to relate to, I want to have her as my friend. She is smart, strong, determined, she thinks outside of the box and isn’t scared to get her hands dirty. I like that she didn’t just bow down for anyone, but instead played it smart. I loved the chemistry that Lindsey and Shane had, and it was right away but the slow burn to get them to the moment was done well.

I found Shane to be a little bit gloomy about his dead wife and having feelings for someone else but at the same time I could understand. I liked how it was written and how the author handled his grief. I enjoyed that he was a good guy through and through and that he wouldn’t put up with anyone thinking that they could hurt any women in his clan. If I was in Lindsay's shoes I would have fallen head over heels for Shane too.

If you want a historical romance, with great chemistry, a little heartbreak, a second chance at love, and of course action, you should pick up this book.

I want to thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.

I loved this story so much. The connection between Shane and Lindsay was incredible. It was such a sweet story.

His Secret Highland Bride by Allison B. Hanson is an engaging read for fans of Scottish highland romance. This captivating novel takes readers on a thrilling journey through themes of grief, secrets, and betrayal, ultimately leading to a heartwarming exploration of angst, chemistry, love, and forgiveness. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions as I delved into this enchanting tale set in the beautiful Scottish highlands.

This was a gripping story from beginning to end. Heartbreaking with promises of hope, Lindsay and Shane’s story will leave you wanting more. Complete with evil step mother, this fairytale has everything you need to snuggle up and read from beginning to end.
5 stars!!

Upon picking up this book, I couldn't get a famous TV show I'm obsessed with out of my mind. As I read I just kept thinking of that actors voice. I truly enjoyed this book that was filled with love, appreciation, patience and miscommunication. I think I have found a new or renewed appreciation for Scottish history!

His Secret Highland Bride was a fun historical romance featuring an arranged marriage, a Scottish laird, war, grief, and characters trying to find happiness. 
Lindsey is a noblewoman set to marry the laird of a Scottish clan, and Shane is a grief-stricken war hero returning to claim his title as laird. Lindsey and Shane meet as two common folk when Shane saves Lindsey from some unsavory characters. They quickly become friends and fight the desire that is growing between them. Both are destined for arranged marriages and cannot allow their relationship to go beyond friendship. After Lindsey is assaulted by her uncle, Shane helps her recover and marries her to protect her. 
Once Shane's family discover he has returned home, they encourage him to claim hist title of laird. With Shane's responsibilities as the new laird growing, he's not ready to ruin the perfect marriage he has at home with Lindsey, so he doesn't tell her. Meanwhile, his stepmother has spent a lot of the clan's money and runs away with the rest of it, leading to war between clans.
This was a quick read and highly enjoyable with a strong female main character!

I love a good Scottish romance! This one was pretty good, Lindsey and Shane were likeable but I found them a little flat. I also felt like Shane was shirking his responsibilities as Laird and would've liked to see him take action sooner. They also were keeping essentially the same secret from each other and I did not enjoy how upset Lindsey got when she found out, felt very hypocritical.

"His Secret Highland Bride" weaves a captivating tale of love, loss, and second chances amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. Shane and Lindsey, the main characters, spark with undeniable chemistry from the moment they meet, drawing readers into their whirlwind romance.

Shane's overprotective nature and his lingering grief for his first wife, Maria, add depth and complexity to his character, making him all the more endearing. As the layers of his past are revealed, readers will find themselves rooting for him to find happiness once again.

Lindsey is a strong and resilient heroine, whose charm and determination complement Shane's brooding nature perfectly. Their relationship blossoms amidst the rugged beauty of the Highlands, creating a love story that is as heartwarming as it is passionate.

Readers will find themselves swept away by the vivid imagery and emotional depth of the story, unable to put the book down until the very end. "His Secret Highland Bride" is a captivating read that is well worth the time, leaving readers eagerly anticipating more from this talented author.

-Hidden Identities
-Marriage Of Convenience / Arranged Marriage
-Forced Proximity

This book will take your emotions on a rollercoaster ride from grief, secrets and betrayal to angst, chemistry, love and forgiveness.

I was pulled into "His Secret Highland Bride" really easily and enjoyed reading Lindsay and Shane's storyline. I thought both characters were really well- developed and had a really fun and interesting story arc. I was able to finish the book in one sitting and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves reading Historical Romances.

Thank you Allison B. Hanson, Net Galley and Entangled Publishing LLC for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Fantastic story filled with action and wonderful characters. This is the first time I’ve read this author and I enjoyed this immensely

I enjoyed this historical romance between Lindsay, a noblewoman facing a forced marriage to a Scottish laird, and Shane, a broken soldier returning home from war, grief-stricken with the loss of his young wife and reluctant to assume his new role as leader of his clan.

Each of the two main characters is hiding behind a secret identity, and they fall in love and marry without knowing they are betrothed to each other.

An enjoyable read for lovers of Scottish highland romance!

This is a beautiful love story with bits of self-protection that cause too much conflict. Definitely a tangled web with deception on both sides! Shane and Lindsay get to know each other as friends, lovers, and spouses but both still kept secrets that when finally exposed causes their relationship to fall apart. Up to that point, this is truly an adorable romance between Shane and Lindsay. Lindsay’s understanding of Shane’s need to remain loyal to his first wife was beautiful and insightful. Lindsay is intelligent, kind and understanding. She was raised in a laird’s home to marry a laird and seems to take to the role naturally even before she knew she had married a laird. Shane’s desire to protect her is endearing as well. He comes to realize you can have two loves in your lifetime. I love the way Ms. Hansen develops their relationship. Even the villain of the story is not horrible but is absolutely selfish. The dog – unquestionably is a keeper!