Sexy Scots in kilts? This book had me there. I find this ongoing series to be a fun bodice ripper. I do wish there was a little more plot diversity.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

I’m generally not a fan of historical romance but Lynsay Sands is always the exception. You can never go wrong with whatever romance genre she writes. She never fails to make you laugh & always has such wonderful, entertaining characters. This book is no exception for this extraordinary author & I do recommend it!!

The Highlander's Return is the twelfth book in the Highland Brides series. This can be a stand-alone read.

Graeme Gunn is a second son and a warrior. He returns home with the news that his brother and missing Laird of the clan has been found dead. Forced to return to deliver the news and his brother to the young widow, Annella Mackay, he left behind.

Annella Mackay is not the young bride left behind on her wedding night all those years ago. She has been running the keep in her husband's absence. Faced with the sad news she is happy to be free so she can return home to her family.

Graeme has other plans. After observing her, he wants to marry Annella. He comes up with a plan for her to stay and help him as the new Laird but does not tell her he wants her to stay permanently.

Nothing goes according to plan as they are drawn to one another. There is a someone else who wants to claim Annella and the keep as their own.

This was an entertaining story. The story was well written making you care about the characters.

Lyndsay Sands is an auto buy for me. I love her writing style and the ability to just suck the reader in from the start. It’s a lovely escape.

THE HIGHLANDER'S RETURN by Lynsay Sands. Well, Ms. Sands has once again written a tale that I truly enjoyed. I really liked the main characters - Graeme and Annella. Graeme was, of course, a strong highlander that had a kind and tender side to him too. Annella, although a bit shy around Graeme, truly had a heart of gold and was as strong as any Highlander. The family dynamics certainly added to the story, which had romance, love, danger and suspense too. (received ARC from NetGalley for honest review)

I loved this one. Great story. Wonderful characters. Overall just a great book with a storyline you'll love!

This was an excellent book!! I enjoyed the character development as well as how the plot was developed throughout the story. The author was able to to do a good job with all aspects of the story. I would recommend to others.

Lyndsay Sands has done it again! I absolutely love reading anything by this author. Sands' writing style and storytelling is always done so well. I highly recommend this book to the other romance readers out there... believe me you won't be disappointed! I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Avon and Harper Voyager

I love Lynsay Sand's Highlander series! This latest installment doesn't disappoint—a strong heroine and a hero that's a good man.

I really enjoyed Graeme and Annella's story! I just loved Annella and how she was not someone to let others walk all over her.

Lynsay Sands never disappoints me when it comes to historical romance.
The spice is there as is the plot. Though it was surprising but also unsurprising who the main villains are when you read it.
Would I read this again, yes most likely. The ML and FL are both passionate people and stubborn as heck but I love that they realize what they love about each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC. This is an easy 4 star rating, Lynsay Sands always hit for me.

Sands is another prolific author whose books will be requested by a niche group of readers. In this case medieval Scotland, curiously devoid of the horrors historians assure us are present in everyday life (lack of hygiene included.) But real history isn’t sexy, so we turn to authors like Sands to take a bar of dial soap to a filthy time and leave only the muscles and tartans intact. For what it is, it’ll do just fine for my regulars. I, however, will never understand its appeal.

Lynsay Sands can do no wrong! Her latest is spicy, sweet, and sweeping. Her ability to transport you to another world is next to none.

Members of the Sands Clan need not worry, The Highlander’s Return contains all the required hallmarks of this series: Head bonks, nefarious poisoners, sketchy relatives, catty clan members, and a little dose of bananas to keep the story rolling.

In this addition to the Highland Brides series, Graeme Gunn is a wandering warrior, the second son, who has no intention of becoming laird. But fate has other plans for Graeme when a body that is assumed to be his brother is found. Years earlier Graeme attended his brother’s William’s wedding, but it was believed that his brother then abandoned his wife on their wedding night and ran off with a lady from the village.

When Graeme returns to Gunn land, he finds his brother’s widow, Annella Mackay. has been running the show for six long hard years. For fans of this series, Annella is the daughter of the couple in Book 1, and this story also shows the beautiful bond her parents continue to have. That makes her abandonment by her husband all the sadder, as Annella had hoped for an equal love match and instead was left with no husband, a mother-in-law who hated her and blamed her for her son’s departure, a dopey younger brother-in-law Dauvid to manage, and a clan in dire financial straits.

Graeme and Annella both come to see that they are very physically attracted to each other, but trust for her is hard to come by. Also, she has to contend with the reality that choosing to be with Graeme means closing her path out of Gunn just when she has been given the chance at freedom again. Graeme takes time to both realize Annella has been not only running Gunn these six years, but also has been the only reason he has a home to return to that isn’t in shambles. He must learn to trust someone else besides himself and his fellow warriors, as he did not trust his family before - for good reason.

The Highlander’s Return gives all the moments of high adventure, conflict, banter, and passionate love scenes I look for when I pick up a Lynsay Sands book. New ground isn’t being plowed here, but that makes these a comfort read too.

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Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected publication date Sept 24, 2024

I have been provided with a review copy of The Highlander's Return from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

This was my first Lynsay Sands and I was not disappointed! It was sweet and fun, I wish we had more.

Another wonderful highland romance from Lynsay Sands! I'm finding these are the perfect books to shake you out of a book slump or a seasonal depression funk—whatever may have you feeling down, grab a Highland Brides book and bad feelings be banished.
The Highlander's Return has all the markers of the series—there's arrows to chests! Attempted murders! Extremely giving in the bedroom Medieval men! All and all, a delightful romp.

I've been reading Lyndsay Sands' books for years and was so excited to read this! It did not disappoint! I usually don't do historical book but this one was really good. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this book!