Dear Lady Stockton,Once again, you have exceeded my expectations and written a story so captivating, I know I shall be thinking of it for weeks to come! You succeeded at writing a story that didn’t change setting (not really, anyway) but never grew dull, and it is rich, full, and beautifully well done! You know I have adored your Regencies and contemporaries since I discovered your books, but you’ve proven you can write Scottish historical romances just as masterfully.I must tell you that I love how immersive an experience this book felt. While I do not claim to be an expert on the Scottish accent, the way you wrote in the accent was exceptional. I’ve had a Scottish voice in my head for days and I don’t see that ending any time soon. If anything I say comes out a wee bit Scottish, you now know why.I also find it impressive how well you write a book from so many POVs without it being overwhelming. Every single POV adds to the overall storyline, and I see how things from the first book played an important role in this one. I was ceaselessly amazed at how seamless the story felt despite so many POVs. In addition, there is a lot going on here but it doesn’t feel overdone. Every single thread, every subplot, feels necessary. Your story shines all the brighter for every single piece. (Side note: the Highland games interspersed throughout was a really fun touch. I spent a long time researching and watching videos of the events and I loved picturing your characters competing in those events!)It’s possible I’ve praised your storytelling enough now. Allow me to move on to your characters. Cormac is absolutely swoony. You’ve written a perfect book boyfriend and I don’t mind saying it. I loved his integrity and kindness, his care for his sister and the way he treated everyone with respect (even when they didn’t deserve it). I also love Marion, and her spunk and vivacity. And oh, how I loved how good Cormac was for her! He helped bring out the best in her and encouraged her to be better than she was. I loved that dynamic!I have mixed feelings about Alexander & Katherine, though this book has me tipping in favor of them. The ending was especially good for them both. I do not like Simon. Or Brian. But I’m sure you guessed that. Ian is such a dear and I desperately want to see more of him in future. Ooh, I also really like Miles. I need his story! I am exceptionally curious how things will work out for Ealann. I want her story, too. There are a lot of pieces to her puzzle that I want to be able to put in place and I look forward to doing that.My only bones to pick with this book involve a semi-cliffhanger (and you know how I feel about those) and a certain someone not getting his comeuppance about a certain stone. As all the virtues of this book far outweigh any cons, that is all I shall say on the matter.Your place on my favorite author list is still firmly in place. I look forward to more of your books in future to just prove how much you deserve to be there.Yours,Jessica**Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
