What a lovely story! A sweet romance, a worthy hero, a sacrificing heroine, and an adoring son. All of this comes together as a result of the tragedy of the Highland clearances. Things do conspire to create difficulties. However, problems tend to show what people are truly made of. A bit of an adventure awaits you in this bit of good reading.

This reminds me of Poldark a bite. Both Conall and Aileen are both facing big struggles in life. They both need each other in so many different ways. Can Conall protect Aileen and be the father figure for her son? Jennifer Moore is wonderingly author you can never go wrong with her books!

3.5 Stars

I have really enjoyed all the books by Ms. Moore that I have read so far and was really looking forward to reading Miss Leslie's Secret. I have book friends who absolutely loved it so it saddens me to say I only just liked it. It seemed to drag for me in some places and there were parts that I had a hard time getting through. I found myself wanting to strangle Aileen at times. But I adored the relationship between Conall and Jamie. All in all it was good and I did like it. I'm looking forward to seeing what Ms. Moore has in store for us next.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I love books set in Scotland, and this book ended up exceeding my initial expectations. I couldn't put it down, and I'm definitely going to go back and read more of Jennifer Moore's books!

Sergeant Conall Stewart has returned home from war to find that his family has been expelled from their home and the house has been burned to the ground. Conall decides to move to a local village and send out inquiries in order to find his family. Through a series of circumstances, he becomes acquainted with Aileen Leslie and her son Jamie. Unfortunately, Aileen is keeping a secret about herself and Jamie that could harm them both if it's exposed. As Conall and Aileen draw closer, Aileen has to work harder to keep her secret, and their safety and happiness hangs in the balance. Can they find peace and a happy ending?

I liked how unexpected the plot was as the story unfolded, and I also enjoyed the characters and various tidbits of Scottish culture that were woven into the story. The romance was sweet and clean, and I especially liked Conall's character. I've become quite interested in Scotland lately, and I wish more good books like this existed. I definitely recommend this book!

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Jennifer Moore is a great writer and she has written a wonderful book. This book was not what I was expecting from this author. However, it was better than I expected.
A woman, Aileen Lesslie, is a single mother, raising her son on her own. Jamie, her son, is caught stealing from a man in town and this man, Conall, wants Jamie punished. However his mom does not wish to punish him and Conall gets angry. When Aileen finds a coin in Jamie's pocket, she realizes that Jamie did steal and that he must make restitution.
Jamie starts helping Conall around his farm and Conall forms a bond with him. Aileen starts developing feelings for him and Conall is not sure how far he wants to go, if he wants to form a relationship.
Only time will tell.

I loved Miss Leslie's Secret. It is among one of my favorites written by Jennifer Moore. I highly recommend it!
5 plus stars.

4 1/2 stars.

I really liked this book, but the Scottish brogue got heavy really quick. I understand it served a purpose (it's historical, and set in the Highlands, it fits the characters, etc), but it made it hard to read at times.

Aileen is a strong character. She's trying to do her best by her son with the poor means she has, and can't help feeling a bit put out when Connal shows up. But soon she sees he's a good man and a good influence on Jamie.

The setting is well done, and it portrays well the difficulties people had. The ending gets exciting with bad guys in the mix, but everything turns out well, and the epilogue is very sweet.

Highly recommend.

I received an e-copy through Netgalley. The opinions are all mine.

This book was what I would classify as a Highland Romance book. I was expecting more of a regancy book so was a bit taken off guard. I did enjoy the storyline and liked how fiercely it showed the love between a non-biological mother and son. The romance between Connall and Aileen didn't have the push pull that I was hoping for. This is about my third book I've read by this author and falls in the middle of the pack for me.

There are few authors that can bring a setting alive like Jennifer Moore.
It`s obvious how thoroughly she`s researched the culture. From the Scottish brogue to the description of the highlands, this book will completely capture your heart.

Opening line:
"A color sergeant of His Majesty's Royal Marines, decorated as a war hero and discharged with honor, does not weep, Conall Stewart reminded himself as he swallowed against the burning in his throat."

Sweet story of love, friends and family. Oh! And secrets!

Aileen Leslie has been through traumatic times and which has caused her to hold onto an honorable secret (is there such a thing?). Conall Stewart has just returned from war to find his home burned down and his family gone. The two meet in a little village in Scotland and did not start off right, thanks to Conall taking Aileen's son, Jaime to task over his lack of respect and manners. But as soon as Conall realizes Jaime may just need a second chance the relationships change. Conall takes young Jaime under his wing, teaching him how to work and take care of a farm. Jaime loves the attention and being entrusted to help. Of course, Aileen loves how much Jaime is changing for the better and in turn, this reflects on Conall.
With secrets come the possibility of danger and intrigue and there is a bit in this story!
This is a great love story set in hard time in Scottish history. The characters were richly written and their relationships kept me reading. Thanks for another great read, Ms. Moore!

Thanks to netgalley for the early read!

This book starts out kinds slow but establishes the players really well. The characters really become real and you get caught up in the story and the romance. So when the last third of the novel really takes off and things start to happen quickly, it is a bit of a shock. I enjoyed the story a lot. I thought the setting of the story was lovely. Scotland is always one of my favorite places visit in stories. The characters were great. The plot was interesting even during the slow parts. I thought it was is great story. Lovely, clean romance.

Wow!!! I am never disappointed when I read one of Jennifer Moore's books and this one was no exception. The book is well written and the characters are developed. The story has romance, suspense, drama and lots of love.

Aileen Leslie is a single mom who is raising a son, Jaime. Jaime isn't really her biological son but the son of her dear friend, who died after giving birth. She asked Aileen to raise her son and keep him hidden from his father, who was an awful man who was part of a criminal element. Aileen takes Jaime and an older woman friend and flees. She lets people in the town believe that she is a widow raising her only son. Her secret is crucial to keeping them safe.

Sergeant Conall Stewart has just returned to Scotland after the Napoleonic wars. He has been away from his homeland for ten years. When he arrives, he finds his home has been burned and his family is gone. Where does he start to rebuild his life? He rents a home and begins to farm and become part of this community again. He continues to search for his family hoping that he will find them alive and well. His first interaction with Miss Leslie isn't pleasant because he is delivering Jaime to her to inform her that he is a thief and should be disciplined. Aileen doesn't believe her son is capable of such mischief, but she soon finds out that he had indeed stolen from the Sergeant. When she takes Jaime back to apologize for his wrongdoing, Conall decides he can help to mentor Jaime. James soaks up the instruction and time that Conall spends with him. He begins to make changes and better himself. As Aileen sees the change, she recognizes that she is beginning to have feelings for the Sergeant. But, she can't believe that he would ever see her as a woman he would wish to plan a future with. Besides, she has a secret that she can't share for fear it will place Jaime in danger.

I won't give away any more of the story but there is a happy ending and you will have to read to find out how that comes about.

I was given an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Moore is good at what she does. She knows how to write simple, yet enjoyable Historical Romance. Miss Leslie's Secret was no different. I did enjoy the change in location however. Not a lot of the Historical Romance I read is set in Scotland and, more specifically, Jennifer Moore sets a lot of her books in the Caribbean. This change in location was a nice one. My only complaint, and it is a small one, is that the epilogue felt out of place. It tied up a story that simply wasn't well developed in the book. If that story had been more fully developed, I think it would have been a perfectly fine epilogue. Besides that small complaint, I enjoyed this book. It was simple and sweet, just what I look for in a Historical Romance.

Beautiful story, set in the stunning Scottish Highlands. One of my favourite places on this planet is the area around Glencoe, Glen Nevis - Fort William & Glenfinnan. You can imagine my delight when I discovered that Jennifer Moore had set one of her stories here. She has developed a consistent reputation for doing her homework. Always thorough with her research, you can be sure that Miss Leslie's Secret will follow suit. I was impressed with her use of the language and the local dialect. While I'm not a fan of too much written speech in the form of the way it would be spoken, because no matter how skillfully done it can be difficult to read and follow as a reader. Especially one you are not familiar. I think the 'thoughts' of the character are better written without the dialect. It works here though, which is mostly used in the spoken text. To a certain extent it adds to the authenticity.

What do I love about this book in addition to the location that just sets my mind wandering through all my memories of walking through these places? The originality of the plot. The villagers of Dunaid are written into the life of the heroine, Aileen Leslie. They have been her sole support system for almost 8 years. Posing as a widow with the son of her best friend who died, she has been hiding from the boy's father. Sergeant Conall Stewart is back from the war, a hero and ready to return to his homeland. A place he always felt the need to escape as a young boy, he now feels that longing to return. His family are gone and he intends to do what he must in the interim while he waits for news of their whereabouts. They emigrated to America, and although he has the opportunity to live and farm in the Highlands in fairly comfy able circumstances - he dreams of the day when he will see his family again. Aileen and Conall are thrown together almost immediately and he thinks her a soft woman who refuses to see the true nature of her son. There is every element of a good story within the pages. History, danger, survival, mystery, hope, joy and romance. This one was hard to put down. As ever the covers just seem to be getting better, I've LOVED the past two.

In addition - I was not surprised in the slightest to discover (in the acknowledgements section) that Carla Kelly is an inspiration to Jennifer. You very much get the feel of a Kelly book as you read Moore's. That same quality and certainly both of their deep love for history, and writing beautiful stories with it.

Thank you to Netgalley & Covenant for the eARC. This is my honest review.

4.5*

What a beautiful story. I will warn you though, if you're looking for a fast paced mystery/suspense read with some romance thrown in, this is not the book for you. Although I'm not trying to discourage you from reading and enjoying this book, I wanted to make sure you know that the pacing is nice and steady. Steady, as in no sudden moments of intense action and then back to a slower moment, then bam, action. Steady, as in continuously moving forward at a constant pace. The story flows and moves along like a constantly moving stream. A few little rocks in its path here and there but nothing treacherous until it reaches the end of its journey and must pass through a group of boulders.

That may not be the best analogy there and truly I didn't sit down with that in my mind, it just sort of popped out. ~ok, little tangent here~ Have you seen the 2007 Masterpiece remake of 'Sense and Sensibility'? When the character of Anne is getting interrogated about what she knows about Edward Farris' relationship with her and her sister and she lets slip some important (like mega, super important info) and then her sister arrives on the scene and looks at her and says "Anne, what have you done", then Anne replies "I'm so sorry, it just 'popped out'". Love that scene and the way Anne says it! Well that was kind of me with the analogy, it just 'popped out'. ~Tangent over~

Scottish Highlands, a secret, a young boy, a young mother, a soldier returning home from 10 years at war, villages burned to the ground trying to recoup, missing family, friendship, sickness, bees, orchards, rain, mud, rain, mud, rain, rain (ok it is the coast of Scotland), animals, growing up, peril, love, ships, library, celebrations, community and sweet kisses.

I really enjoyed this read. Flawed and imperfect characters, learning and growing, teaching and helping others to become better. I loved the moments between Connall (male MC) and young Jamie Leslie. A young boy finds a confidant and teacher in a seasoned soldier who needs peace and healing. Miss Leslie, or Aileen, has her own secrets and will go to great lengths to protect them and her family. This newcomer, who is he? Has he come to tear apart her secrets or help her protect them?

The peril and danger come and it's a race against time for these characters to save each other and put to rights the mistakes of the past. Will they be too late to keep everyone safe and whole? Or will their family be broken and missing members? These characters are definitely Scottish through and through and are quite enjoyable to read about. I loved the traditions used within the story and the descriptions of the land. I always enjoy a good story from this author.

I'd share a few more thoughts but I'm running off for rehearsal and packing dinner and getting kids before this crazy week begins. I will say on my final note though, that I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy read.

Content: Clean. Talk of villages being burned and destroyed, death, kidnapping, and some moments of peril. Sweet romance with nothing more than kissing.

I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Miss Leslie’s Secret is a heartfelt historical fiction romance that takes place in the Highlands during the 1800s.
When Sergeant Conall Stewart returned home after the war, he was devastated. His hometown was in ruins, and his family was missing. Conall rented a place temporarily, in Dunaid until he could locate his parents and sister. But, the town of Dunaid began to grow on him, especially, after he met Aileen Leslie and her son Jamie. Conell’s relationship with the two, however, had a rocky start. Cornell was furious and confronted Aileen when he found Jamie wandering around his library, supposedly looking for a cat. That lie was exposed, much to Aileen’s dismay when she came upon Conell’s war medal in Jamie’s pants.

Conell took Jamie under his wing and was surprised when he found himself developing a strong bond with the boy. Jamie idolized the Sergeant, and although Aileen was happy to have a positive male role model for Jamie, she was ashamed of how jealous she became of their relationship. But, Conell Stewart was an easy man to like and trust. Aileen, even found herself falling under the Sergeant’s spell. She wanted to confide in the man and confess her secret to him. But, Aileen could never find the right time or words to tell him. Her indecision cost her. Aileen’s silence had not only broken hearts but also put her son in danger.

Miss Leslie’s Secret is a superbly written story. She paints a stunning picture of Scotland’s scenery and history, using authentic details, customs, and dialect. I felt as if I was transported back in time to the beautiful Scottish Highlands.

Thank you, Covenant Communications and NetGalley, for my advanced review copy. I Loved it!

I loved this book! Such a great setting in Scotland, in the aftermath of a tragic history that shows not only the mettle and strength of Aileen and the other members of the community, but their heartache as well. Everyone has lost someone, and both Aileen and Conall have family members who are lost. Aileen has created a new family for herself with Jamie and an elderly woman from her village (who is pretty funny) and soon Conall joins their tight-knit circle as he and Jamie take to each other. It was fascinating to learn about many of the traditions of the Scottish and how they weave into their spiritual beliefs. A wonderful story of change, opening up to love, and the importance of family and community.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Not my favorite by this author, but a good read. I love the setting in this story. Now I really want to visit Scotland! I don't blame Leslie for her secret keeping. I don't think I would have done anything different. A mother's love is an amazing motivator. I like the twists kept it from being a straightforward story.