Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

Tamsin has the gift of sight, like her grandfather before her. Liam is an outlaw who has been assigned by King Edward to find a book of prophecies that Tamsin's grandfather supposedly wrote. Both of them end up on the run from Edward in Scotland in the time that Robert the Bruce was constantly being hunted by the English. There was danger at every turn and Liam and Tamsin had to learn to trust each other. I really appreciated that Liam was not an overbearing man and was actually tender and loving with Tamsin. Both of them had dogs and loved animals and I must say, that goes straight to this reader's heart.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

What a fantastic read. This was my first book by this author but it won’t be the last and I most certainly will look for the next part in this series. I love it when actual historical events are weaved into the story and this author clearly knows her stuff. Very much enjoyed this.

I love Susan King stories!!!! Would give this one more than 5 stars!
This story is about Lady Tamsin, a widow, who escapes her castle to avoid being forced into maarriage to an ally of King Edwards. Sir William Seton, a Scottish Knight, helps Tamsin escape. While Sir William has had to pledge to King Edward he is really loyal to Robert the Bruce.
This story has a wonderful cast of characters, magic, prophecies, and a glimpse of how the Scottish had to have a foot in King Edward's world as well as being loyal to Robert the Bruce and Scotland to survive the times.

#BookReview #JustReleased #BookBirthday #Scotland #ScottishHistorical #DragonbladePublishing

Book: The Scottish Bride
Author: Susan King
Series:Highland Secrets, Book #1
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Publisher: Dragonblade
Length: 336 Pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags


This book is set during Scottish independence in the fourteenth century between the English King Edward I of England and King Robert the Bruce of Scotland. This English King, also known as Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, is slaughtering Scotland from designing horrific cages and demanding Scottish noblewomen live in them under the worst conditions imaginable! Furthermore, having public and horrific executions for some of Scotland's most honorable and bravest heroes that are remembered and honored to this day. Men like William Wallace and the brothers of Robert the Bruce and so much more! This story is surrounded by the words and books of Thomas the Rhymer who is a real person in Scottish history, he was a Scottish Laird with a reputation of prophecy and supernatural abilities. He was also called True Thomas and was born Thomas Learmont in Ercildoune now called Earlston near the Scottish Borders.

Scotland 1306

Thomasina (Tasmin) Keith was forced to marry elder Englishmen Sir John Witton who left her to her own devices. She was surprised that after he died he left her the Dalrinnie castle. Except she knows this English King Edward I will eventually force this Scottish noblewoman to marry another English enemy. Another man she will hate as the Englishmen will detest her equally. Sir William (Liam) Seton has been kept a prisoner and hates the English for so many reasons including murdering his betrothed right before they were to marry. On top of that he has been imprisoned and stripped of his Baron title and stolen his Dalrinnie castle from him several years ago.

Now Longshanks dangles a carrot in front of him saying he might return his Dalrinnie castle to him if he steals Thomas Rhymer’s book of prophecies from this old crone! He thinks Tasmin is an elderly woman thinking it is her grandmother. He also thinks this book will help him destroy Scotland with his dire predictions. Except she is not old at all but the young and beautiful Lady Tasmin Keith-Witton who is also a powerful seer and the great granddaughter of the famous Scottish prophet and Laird Thomas Rhymer.

Tasmin at first meets Liam as a harper and later discovers he is a Knight. She had dreamed of him rescuing her before she even met him. Except that truly does happen but she has a hard time trusting men with so many who have betrayed her. One dangerous, cruel and treacherous man Malise Comyn is obsessed with Tasmin knowing how beautiful she is and he also wants Dalrinnie castle and hates Liam Seton for other reasons from their past. He was a cousin to the deceased John Comyn that Robert the Bruce killed. Malise will do anything to capture Tasmin and that includes lying, cheating and harming anyone who gets in his way!

Tasmin is very attracted to Liam but has a hard time believing and trusting this man, but soon breaks down her defenses from loneliness. All she wants is a husband that will love her and treat her as an equal partner and have children with. Will that ever happen? Does Liam want Tasmin for his family's castle, dogs or has he discovered true love for the first time? There are many who want to destroy these star crossed lovers. Will they survive or will Malise Comyn or King Edward I who hates
everything Scottish betray and deceive them both? Read and find out.

There is a reason I have been reading Susan King books for three decades, as she knows how to write these swoon worthy heroes and these fun feisty heroines! Plus it is also a story that will knock your socks off! Again I was blown away by another brilliantly superb story that I could not put down!

I also love when real history and fiction are weaved together into an extraordinary story. Just the research alone was pure perfection with enchanting landscapes, breathtaking betrayal and heartwarming passion. This author brings you into her medieval Scottish journey that readers will never want to leave! Another book I highly recommend!

Highland Secrets

Book 1 - The Scottish Bride

Book 2 - The Forest Bride - To be released

Book 3 - The Guardian's Bride - To be released

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Prophecy, Politics, Visions
This for me was a complicated story to follow with a large list of characters and a lot of pollical finagling.
The H and h were interesting, but they had a slow start. The story picked up after the great escape.
I have to say that this book missed the mark for me. Just to wordy, pollical, and not much charisma between Tamsin and William.
The best part of the book was the cover with the Wolfhounds

Umm, yes please!! This was soo good! Plot was entertaining and kept thing’s moving along nicely. A little spice here and there was nice too. All in all, a great book.

A new series by this author that continues to take us into the 1300 during the battle for Scottish independence between Edward of England and Robert the Bruce. Tamsin, a widow escapes her castle to prevent being forced into another marriage with alie of Edward's. In her escape she is helped by a Scottish knight, William, who has pledged to Edward but is truly loyal to the Bruce. I enjoyed the story plot and as always love Scottish history especially when it includes, magic, soothsayers, prophecies and more. In this case, the author has included some of the characters from her previous series which I thoroughly enjoyed. An often complex look at how the Scottish survived by outwardly supporting Edward while secretly being loyal and supportive directly to the Bruce. Beautifully done.