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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.

Graeme Gunn is a second son who left home and became a mercenary. When his brother dies he returns home to become head of the family. His brother left behind his widow but Annella Mackay isn't the young woman he remembers from his brothers wedding. Annella didn't get the loving marriage that she dreamed for, her husband abandoned her leaving her to become the head of the household. The two buttheads immediately but the attraction can't be denied. Soon an enemy threatens what they have will they keep their home safe and let love win in the end?

I'm not one for historical romance,but if it's Lynsay Sands I'll be the first in line to read it. She brings adventure, mystery, action, romance and humor to her books, I just can't get enough of. She again hits a home run with Graeme and Annella. I love this couple I love the slow burn, the humor. I definitely recommend this book or any in the series.

For those new to the Highland Brides series, this book can absolutely be read as a standalone. I’ll warn you, you’ll want to go back and read them all after finishing this one so you may as well start at the beginning. Speaking of the beginning, this story circles us all the way back to the first book, An English Bride in Scotland, as Annella is Ross and Annabel’s daughter. So for those of you already huge fans of this series, this isn’t the Alick Buchanan story we all want but it is still a wonderfully fun and zany tale.

Graeme falls instantly under Annella’s spell, yet she doesn’t realize this since she doesn’t think of herself as much of a catch. She doesn’t trust her chemistry with Graeme as she doesn’t really understand what that kind of connection means. Her husband left on a pilgrimage on their wedding night and, six years later, she’s learning he never returned because he had died. Now his intimidating, gruff, larger-than-life brother is here to take over as laird, a position Annella has been filling these many years even if not by official title. Annella is ready to go back to her McKay family and leave her evil mother-in-law, her annoying younger brother-in-law, and her unending duties with Clan Gunn behind her.

There are so many micro tropes when it comes to Graeme that I adore, he’s the type of hero who is my kryptonite. Bringing Annella food and waiting for her while she’s working late into the night, whispering sweet words just as she’s dropping off to sleep, looking for any way possible to keep her nearby so she will give in to their chemistry and marry him. He’s sometimes addle-brained when it comes to what he thinks Annella wants, but he’s also sweet and made me swoon.

Being a huge fan of this series, I could see the groundwork being laid for the hallmark zany happenings I knew would be included in this story. It took longer than I had thought to bring about the arrows, poisoning, etc., but it’s all there and I loved it! I’ve also come to expect the main characters to come to love, trust, and respect each other to eventually become not just lovers but also great friends and confidantes. I was not disappointed.

A solid Lynsay Sands' highlander romance. If you've read any of these romances, you know what to expect: a somewhat chauvinist MMC, a psycho female side character or two, getting caught in a compromising position a family member or two, and being shot with an arrow during sex. Yes! That's an actual thing in these romances. They're fun; they're distracting. You won't grab a tissue because you're touched by the great love the characters have for each other. And the story will definitely blend with the her other romances. But it will entertain you for a couple of hours!

Warrior and second son Graeme Gunn returns home to find out what has really been happening and who has been the force keeping his clan together in The Highlander’s Return by Lynsay Sands!

Annella Mackay Gunn didn’t have the loving marriage she wanted however she got a second chance with Graeme. It was a second chance for her however I liked that there were many get-it-girl passionate firsts for her!

This story was wild! There were many threats to lives causing sick bed situations. When the entire truth comes out, it makes you wonder what family really means.

I enjoyed Annella and Graeme’s situationship. Their issues stemmed from a warrior taking charge without consulting his team. He eventually realizes that the lady can also be the laird and Annella was always a vital piece to the team.

This was a well-paced and easy read. If you enjoy highlanders, close proximity, who-dun-it situations, sick bed and forgetting one’s kilt again and again then I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I adore the heroine of this story. Annella doesn’t sit around feeling sorry for herself. She takes the wreck of her life and turns things around for others. She also knows when to bow out, well sort of. She does like to be in charge, and she does that very well. I’d like to believe I would be like her if I had lived in her time.

Graeme seems to blunder a lot in his choices but one has to be fair in understanding that his training to be a duke didn’t exist. For me not knowing what was expected of your position is hard. This would be hard for any person. Author Lynsay Sands character development of Graeme is believable and helps the reader to have compassion for his position when he stumbles through learning curve after learning curve.

All the characters in this book are written with finesse and are fully developed. I really enjoy this author’s books because no matter genre she writes it’s extremely well researched and believable.