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!

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I received an ARC of this book on NetGalley from Avon and Harper Voyager! I’ve been reading books in this ongoing series here and there for years and was excited to see she had a new one coming out. It’s just a good, solid Highlander romance with a strong female main character and broody highlander who falls hard and fast. All in all a good addition to the series!

Sometimes you need a lighthearted historical romance. Lynsay Sands will always fill that need.

Anelle's husband left right after the beating ceremony. Now six years later, he's dead, and his brother is taking over. The only problem is Anelle has done everything for the past six years despite her terrible mother-in-law. Gaerma knows he needs a wife and his brother's widow will be great.

Thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

Lynsay Sands scores another win with yet another absolutely bonkers Highlander romance. I want to know which soap opera she grew up with because this entire series is some high level All My Children stuff and it is my cat nip. These are fun and saucy and the women are great and Graeme is wonderful as a hero, a bit daf, but wildly in love and knows the way to his woman's heart is by letting her know she's way smarter than he is. A total romp, I'm all in on Sand's series.

Fun romance for those who like period reads. Please note, it does go into details in the sex side of things.

Graeme Gunn is a second son and has lived his life as a mercenary for the past several years. He hasn’t been home since his brother William married Annelle Mackay, but now he has come home to bring her the news that her husband is dead. Dreading her response to the news he is shocked to find that Annelle has grown up to be a no nonsense woman who has actually been running the Keep in place of her husband and doing double duty for everything.
Instantly attracted to Annelle he has no clue that she is still a virgin, even after years of marriage and that rumor says her husband ran off with the castle light skirt even before they consummated the marriage. Add in a horrible mother in law, an accident causing her father in law to need full time care and life has been anything but sweet for Annelle. Instead of dreading the news of her husband’s death she is elated and finally feels she can leave his horrible life and go back home. However Graeme has other ideas. He wants to marry Annelle and take over as Lord of the castle. Annelle however is not in the least interested in this solution and wants nothing more to go home.
Watching their battle of wits and the growing passion between them is a joy and you can’t help but root for both of them. Her to finally have a happy ending and Graeme for making her dreams come true. Buy there is a deeper and more sinister side to the story too. Who was causing all the disruptions and accidents and why? I experienced so many emotions reading this book, from smiles to tears and worry.
Grab your copy of The Highlanders Return! I know you will enjoy it just as much as I did!

Graeme has returned to the keep after his brother died and now he's Laird. He's attracted to Annella, his brother's fiesty, competent widow, who's basically been running the show for the past 6 years.

Annella and Graeme have great chemistry, although a bit insta-lusty. The epilogue was excellent.

She's also the healer and reader beware, there's a pretty horrifying treatment at that time (or any time) for the pox. Ahhhhhhh

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Loved reading the amazing and awesome romance story. After the death Graeme's brother, William, Graeme meets William's widow, Annella, again and wants her as his wife. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting love story by the fabulous and fantastic author, Lynsay Sands.

Graeme Gunn is a warrior through and through. Content for his brother William to hold the title of clan chief, he left home years ago, battling his way through Scotland as a mercenary. When news arrives of William’s death, Graeme is forced to return to everything he left behind, including his brother’s shy young widow, Annella Mackay. But the beautiful, determined woman he finds at the keep is nothing like the quiet virgin he remembers. Annella Mackay once had hopes for a loving marriage, a dream that shattered when her husband abandoned her. Hiding her pain, she took on the responsibilities of both laird and lady for the Gunn clan with spirit. But when she learns her husband is dead, she realizes she finally has a chance at a new dream, and she won’t let anything deter her plans. Not even Graeme, no matter how strong her attraction to the gruff and stubborn warrior. It's a clash of will and passion unlike anything they’ve known, especially when Graeme decides to stay and claim his title. But as the clan faces the threat of a hidden enemy, Graeme and Annella must fight for their home together…and they realize they are also fighting for their love.

I really enjoyed this story! I always enjoy this author's Highlander books and this one was no different! Annella is this super strong woman who has been through something that no woman should have to go through. It leaves a scar, even when it is someone that she never had a chance to care about. I loved that she took it upon herself to make sure the people were taken care of, even though she didn't know them yet. She never shirked what she considered her duty. I loved that Graeme felt this instant connection with her. And his goal was not only to make her want to stay, but to make sure she was happy as well. They had to learn how to communicate, and it was actually pretty funny to read at times because of this! All in all, another great read in this series for me!

As a major Lynsay Sands fan, I was eager to start reading The Highlander's Return, the second novel in her Highland Brides series. While I enjoyed the chemistry between Graeme and Annella, I thought the tale was a little conventional. Graeme returns home to find Annella, his brother's widow, changed from the quiet woman he once knew to a tough and powerful leader. Their banter and chemistry are evident, and I enjoyed the hilarious moments throughout.

However, I felt that the plot was based on predictable turns, and the villains lacked character, making the story a little too typical for my tastes. Annella's character shines as she adjusts to her new role, but some of the characters' decisions made me roll my eyes. Overall, it’s a fun Highlander romance with steamy moments, but it didn’t quite capture me like some of Sands’ other works. Still, I can’t wait to see where the series goes next!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Annella Mackay's life veered completely away from the direction she expected and she became the woman she needed to be. However, surviving is not the same as thriving. When her life changes again, she does not expect, Graeme, a brother-in-law she doesn't recall to show her the difference between the two. Annella, is a strong woman who I enjoyed reading and there are several moments of mirth when she's around. She's also a passionate woman and this is not a slow-burn romance. Graeme outward appearance is everything you'd want to find in a Highland warrior. I appreciated his character more at the end of the book than the start. There's plenty of action of all types that keep the story moving forward.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Highlander’s Return. Lynsay always does a great job with creating a Scottish male character that you fall in love with. Annella and Graeme’s relationship was so well written and loved the way he pursued her. Can’t wait to read her next book!

Desired Fate


Annella’s marriage to the Laird of the Gunn clan was never as she had hoped or expected. Her dream of a loving marriage went out the window when her husband decided to abandon her and his duties, leaving her responsible for the clan. Upon his death, Annella feels as though she will now be free to pursue her dreams without anyone standing in her way.

When Graeme Gunn learns of his brother’s passing, he returns home to care for his family and clan. It may not be what he wants to do, but it is his duty. What he didn’t expect was to come face to face with his brother’s spitfire of a widow.

Attraction and strong personalities clash due to the underlying draw these two characters have to one another. This was an entertaining read with a clash of wills, steamy romance and a Scottish historical backdrop that transports you to another time. Very well done and highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Highlander's Return is campy, sexy, fun erotic period romance at its finest. Murderous, ripped Scottish warrior MMC? Check. Willful, passionate FMC who's determined not to give in to the gruff, handsome MMC - who happens to be her dead husband's brother? Check. Forced proximity? Double check. This was a fantastic time and I highly recommend it.


Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lynsay Sands for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book had it all; chemistry, humor, mystery, and a hot romance! When Graeme Gunn returns with his elder brother's body he finds out that his brother's wife, Annella, has been acting as the laird and healer.

From Graeme trying to entrap himself into a marriage with Annella with the help of his mercenary brother-in-arms and Annella trying to seduce him (but not for marriage), there are some hilarious moments. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a sexy Highlander story.

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.