It's a tangled web woven with lies, deception and secrets between Lindsay and Shane, Laird of the MacPherson clan in His Secret Highland Bride. Allison B. Hanson has written a story that kept me interested right to the end, the characters came to life as you find yourself drawn into their story, angst and with scenes that are strikingly detailed it paints an incredible backdrop that makes you feel like you are one with the story.

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

Lindsay and Shane’s characters were a good pairing. The intertwining storyline, secrets and intrigue kept the pages turning and the story had some interesting challenges with a good outcome.

BOOK REVIEW

Book: His Secret Highland Bride
Author: Allison B. Hanson
Series: Clan MacPherson, Book #1
Publisher: Entangled
Release Date: May 13, 2024
Book Length: 284 pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Review: 5/5 Saltire Flags

Scotland, 1695
After five years fighting in France, Shane MacPherson returns to MacPherson lands in Scotland. He is now a broken man filled with shame and regret. This is because his beautiful, Spanish wife Maria that he loved dearly was murdered while he was away fighting on the battlefield He is absolutely heartbroken and guilt-ridden, filled with remorse and self-condemnation feeling her death was his fault. He also has not returned to his castle after discovering his father has died which makes him the laird being the eldest son and heir. He also discovers his father has made a match for him without even writing to him to at least give his heir some type of consideration or warning about his future.

Shane hears a woman screaming and goes to protect her and is shocked that two MacPhersons guards were about to attack this beautiful defenseless lass! This is how Shane MacPherson met Lindsay Wallace, his betrothed, even though neither of them knew the truth. As Shane is now living in his step-brother Ronan's humble cabin on the secluded edge of town while he was visiting with his grandfather. They were best friends and had each other back in the war in France and as close as any biological brothers where he even stood up for him when he wed Maria. Luckily he did not take after his vain selfish mother who only cares for showing herself with the clan's money for food, plants, livestock. He told Lindsay he was a soldier that just returned from France. He also dressed in humble clothing so neither of them shared their true background, identities or wealth.

Lindsay didn't look like a Laird's daughter with paper thin worn clothing and wild hair but they became friends quickly and start having feelings for each other although Shane tries to deny it, However she is the first person who has started to make him open his heart again and make him smile, something he hadn't done in a very long time. Shane starts to feel things including guilt for this valkyrie woman even though he is promised to another. Lindsay does not care if she does have a betrothed man she has no interest in marrying just because her clan is forcing her. She is attracted to this poor MacPherson handsome soldier who is her savior and always kind and caring. However she gives him a false name of Cameron not realizing this clan is an enemy of Clan MacPherson. She had sent her father letters to break another betrothal and to allow her to come home, however they have all been unanswered.

Is it even possible for Shane to love another living with so much guilt and grief from his first wife’s death? Lindsay imagines that this MacPherson Laird to be an uncaring monster and only wants to escape. She can’t help but desire this poor soldier and his sweet wee dog. With all these secrets and lies will Shane and Lindsay ever reveal the truth? What is in the future for this Laird and his secret bride? However, what will they do when they both realize they have both deceived each other with secrets and lies? Will they feel furious and betrayed? Read and discover their fate!

Disclaimer: I received a free advance readers copy from Entangled publishing. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog through netgalley. All words, thoughts, ideas are my own.

A Highland romance with hidden identities, the story follows Shane as he returns home to take his role as the leader of the clan and Lindsey, who is betrothed to Shane but wants nothing to do with him or his clan. When Shane and Lindsey first meet, they do not know each other’s true identity, and they instantly connect. However, what will change when all secrets are revealed?

I liked Shane and Lindsey’s story, though it was much more emotional and steeped in grief than I expected it to be. I think a lot of Shane’s emotional journey revolves around survivor’s guilt and the trauma he experienced when in battle. Lindsey and Shane both change and grow over the course of the story, and I like how the author shows Shane slowly healing while Lindsey proves her capabilities as his future wife. Though she doesn’t know of his true role in the clan, she is the perfect match for him.

The couple has great chemistry even though so much stands in their way. They find friendship in each other as well as a sense of safety that they haven’t experienced before. It’s lovely to see their relationship grow and change as they slowly fall for each other.
Shane has a lot of guilt over the loss of his wife, and he struggles with moving on with Lindsey. On top of that, he isn’t eager to take his position as head of the clan. With that position comes much responsibility, as well as a marriage of convenience, an awful stepmother, and more. In his fragile emotional state, it’s so hard for him to deal with everything, and you can feel his sorrow and conflicting feelings.

There’s also a bit of intrigue as the pair works to bring the clan to rights and follows the person who stole from them. Overall, it’s an emotional, entertaining, and romantic read, and I’m grateful to Entangled and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

It would appear that there are a lot of secrets waiting to tumble out into the open here. A wife who isn’t as she appears. A husband who isn’t quite who he says he is. A certainty that it’s not love, but it is. That’s it’s temporary, but it isn’t. And when the truths start to come out, hearts are bruised and one is broken. Can it be fixed?

Lindsay and Shane both hid their true identity from each other, but the betrayal from one cuts more and I honestly felt that pain with the wounded party. I mean, who wants to hear that an annulment is okay to pursue? Of course, Lindsay didn’t hear the rest of the conversation, but what she did hear was enough to shatter her. Except…she loves Shane. So she stays and does her best to be who everyone needs her to be (and does it wonderfully), until it seems that he is tossing her aside again. Miscommunications abound and honestly, some of that is manipulation by someone who cares but doesn’t get just how Lindsay feels.

These two both own their mistakes and they both save the day. They both find love and feel pain before coming clean. And they both make me really want more time with this family, for sure.

His Secret Highland Bride is a fairly straightforward title for a book with some surprising twists and a sweet love story. This is my second read by Allison Hanson and she has continued her habit of writing likable characters with heartache in their past. Shane & Lindsay fall in love while keeping their true identities secret from one another, and while the lack of them clarifying and communicating with one another is frustrating as a reader I get the story Ms. Hanson was writing. There were some areas for improvement (I liked my other read from Ms. Hanson, Her Accidental Highlander Husband, more) but overall I had fun with this story.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (the first scene was developed and emotional to me, but the rest fizzled)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 (one developed scene then the rest are very short/alluded to)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: almost immediately, about 1%
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, not too far in the future

Should I read in order?
I think this is the first book of the Clan MacPherson series?

Basic plot:
Shane and Lindsey find solace in a friendship when they both should be worried about their upcoming arranged marriages

Give this a try if you want:
- 1695 Scotland setting
- secret identity (both mains!)
- Scottish mains
- prodigal hero returns
- widower hero
- celibate hero
- beloved pets – hero takes in a stray dog
- one horse
- arranged marriage elements
- lower steam – I count this as 1 full scene plus a variety of short, closed door and alluded to scenes

Ages:
- I didn’t see them mentioned

First line:
Breathing in the scents of blooming heather and sunshine, Shane MacPherson allowed the first moments of his return home to sink in.

My thoughts:
I am so sad I struggled with this novel! I read one prior by Hanson and enjoyed a lot about it.

Now, I know I don’t do the best with secret keeping that lasts most of the book so that might have been part of my problem here. But the other thing that threw me off was the last book I read by her was pretty steamy! And this novel did have open door scenes, but other than the first scene being really great, the rest were very short and not developed at all. So I was disappointed in that and it wasn’t what I was expecting for her.

I think I never grew to love Shane. I understand needing a break and having to deal with your grief, but the fact that he saw multiple times and examples of how badly his people needed him, how he knew his step-mother was so awful and was ruining the clan/town, and he still just hid out for weeks just bothered me. It made him less respectable to me because these people were his people, and they were suffering and he saw it and stayed in his own world for too long (to me).

I did enjoy Lindsey for the most part, but also got frustrated with her when I felt she was being hypocritical. She gets very upset with Shane for doing the same thing she did, and I just couldn’t sympathize.

I did love the slower pace and character focus of the book. I also loved that they were together, alone, for much of the book and all that close proximity in the cabin was really sweet.

I think those wanting a slower paced highlander romance with secret identity would enjoy this one!

Hidden identities when revealed break the fragile bonds between Shane and Lyndsay in this highland romance.

The storyline was good but the development and pacing were lacking. Lyndsay takes is the stronger personality, she knows what she wants and does not. She's heartbroken by Shane's emotional shutoff, but ploughs through to get him to open up and reciprocate her feelings. She does not sit her backside but rallies the clan folk together to fight barriers.

Shane does not deserve her at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

The book was not one of the worst I have read, but it was no where near one of the best.

It was just average or a bit below average. Not a book I would rave over or go out of my way to recommend.

Three stars for me.

This is a quick, engaging story of love, loss, deceit and forgiveness. When Shane, who was hiding in his brother's cottage to avoid taking over as laird, rescues Lindsey not once but twice, fate seems to step in. But when the truth of their identities comes to light, will the secrets they kept destroy the bond they formed.
This is a fast paced, historical fiction book that was enjoyable from start to finish.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw the cover, and then the title, it was a no-brainer for me. Instant gratification for my highlander romance addiction. I devoured this story, enjoying every second of the experience, sighing with satisfaction as I turned the final page.

I am very excited to be reading this book! My full review to follow.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Quick summary: Shane and Lindsey are supposed to get married; but both aren’t keen on doing so. Both keep their identities a secret but they end up married to each other anyway, without either of them knowing who the other one truly is.
Shane McPherson returned to his clan’s land after fighting in France for five years. After the death of his father he returns home and is expected to wed the daughter of the Wallace clan. But after experiencing the loss of his Spanish wife and the scars of the war, he doesn’t feel ready to take on his laird duties or get married. So he hides out in a small family cottage. Lindsey Wallace is also not looking forward to being wedded off to the McPherson laird. She meets Shane when he rescues her from her uncle. She decides to keep her surname a secret from this McPherson soldier. And Shane also keeps secret that he’s the new laird…
Generally, I liked the book. I really like reading highlander stories! The pace though was a bit slow, and thus the chemistry was a bit lacking. I had expected Shane to be more decisive, since he knew he was the new laird. It felt he was shirking his responsibilities towards his clan. It wasn’t fair towards Lindsey to marry her, considering how he felt about marriage and his deceased wife, and not fair towards his clan. And then he kept hiding - it wasn’t very manly. Lindsey made the best of the situation, I liked that about her. Overall a nice read that just could have used a bit more pace and a main character with a bit more spunk.
As for the author, it's the first book I've read of hers and I am looking forward to reading the next book hopefully about Ronan and maybe the book after that will be about Alec! I think there’s a lot of potential there and I will definitely check them out.
Thank you Netgalley, Entangled Publishing and Allison B. Hanson for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ahhh we are back to the Highlands again!!! I love these marriage of convenience trope books. And the fact that they married each other trying to get out of marrying each other bc they both lied about who they are. Super fast read, read it in a day, has enough mystery in it to keep you hooked and humor along with the love story!