This book was filled with excitement and suspense. I really loved our hero, Laird Symon Grant. He was so sweet and so honorable – not to mention handsome and strong. As for the heroine, Athena, I just never warmed up to her. I did like her better toward the end, but for most of the book, I just wanted to knock her on her noggin and ask her what was wrong with her. I also have to wonder when, where and how doing absolutely stupid things became equated with being ‘spirited’. I believe spirited should be more equated with intelligence. This heroine kept running away and landing in big, hurtful, dangerous trouble. Our hero kept rescuing her from the messes she got herself into, but she still was determined to run away – and – of all things – head back to England where a really bad fate awaited her. So, in my opinion, this heroine was one of those TSTL heroines.

Symon is a widower whose wife died in childbirth several years earlier. It was an arranged marriage, but he had come to have affection for his wife. He and his cousin Brenda are the last of the line, so one of them needs to marry and produce an heir. Symon knows he needs to marry again, but he just can’t work up any enthusiasm to accept any of the offers he has on his desk. Then, he and his men stop into a spring festival and he catches sight of a gorgeous wood nymph. She ran away and he had to find her again -- and he did – and she ran away again – then, she was abducted and he rescued her, and again and again and again.

Athena was in love with Galwell. He was rich, handsome and doting and they were going to marry. Then, he abducts her while she’s on her way home from church services and informs her that they will not marry and that she will become his mistress instead. He manhandles her a bit, but she manages to escape by setting his townhouse on fire. She gets back to her Uncle Henry and he arranges for her to travel to Scotland dressed as a male. He had to get her away because Galwell’s family is very rich and powerful and has the ear of the Queen – plus – now Galwell could also bring charges against her for setting fire to his townhouse. In Scotland, at a spring festival, she could hardly stand being all alone and dressed as a male, so she decides it can’t hurt anything to shed her boy's clothing and partake of some of the traditional activities. She sees the most handsome man with beautiful topaz eyes watching her and she is immediately drawn to him. Then, one of the men she’s traveling with discovers she’s a female and decides he’ll sell her to a brothel. Luckily for her, Symon rescues her.

Symon and Athena have to travel a long bumpy road before they finally reach their HEA. Mostly because Athena keeps getting herself into trouble, but also because of someone at court who has great influence over the young King. That someone wants something Athena has – and she doesn’t even know she has it.

I loved Brenda, Symon’s cousin. Their relationship was great. There is also a good set-up for the next book (I assume) featuring Brenda and Laird Gunn. I like Brenda’s wisdom, strength, and courage and I just really hope that she isn’t made into just another TSTL heroine in her book.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

This is the first book I had read by this author and I wasn’t aware there were more in the series. It hooked me in quickly, and I loved the way the characters were written! The “good” characters were likeable and the villains were very easy to root against. This was a quick read, even though there were parts of the story that I felt could have been left out without changing the plot at all. Even though Athena got herself into some frustrating repeat situations, she was still a likeable main character. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

If the title alone does not draw you in, the storyline will. This is the first book I have read by Mary Wine and now I only want to read more!! The heroine Athena Trappes is a very high spirited lady who, when angry can be wrath itself! She is in love (or imagines she is) and is thinking she will marry Galwell, but he only wants her in his bed. She sets fire to his things and runs as fast as she can to the wilds of Scotland. She dresses as a boy to dodge Galwell if he tries to find her and evades capture. Taking a chance she dresses as herself at a festival and is spotted by Laird Symon Grant. Symon has felt loss but needs to secure a wife to carry on his name and he is totally enchanted by Athena. This is when the adventure begins and she is abducted. But Symon follows and rescues her and takes her to his clan.
Loved these two characters and their dance to capture each other. This story had a little of it all with humor, intrigue and of course strong emotions that pull these two together. Take the journey in the highlands and find yourself enchanted and wanting to read this entire series!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 5 in the Highland Weddings series. I had read book 1 but not the rest of the them. However, I was able to follow the story just fine. Athena is a woman on the run when she runs into Symon. Symon is in need of a wife and finds that Athena is his perfect match. I did enjoy the story. It was a good and enjoyable read.

4.5 STARS. Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Mary Wine is a delicious historical highlander romance. I loved the fast pace storyline and witty writing bringing the characters to life during England’s Queen Elizabeth and Scotland’s King James time. Time’s were hard for women during this period in history with women being bargaining chips to make alliances, wealth from dowries, advantageous marriages, or to be stolen and abused. But, these powerful highland warriors showed that some men were decent and would rather woo a woman to become a willing partner and wife than to have to sleep with one eye open! I recommend this delightful 4 flame spicy romance for anyone who is looking for a good read!

I just loved this story! It had wonderfully sexy Highlanders and really awesome and interesting characters. The story was very well-written with some suspense, murder, kidnapping and villains who you will come to hate very quickly. Wonderful romance, some steamy sexy scenes, a feisty heroine along with a stubborn and determined hero made this a story that I found hard to put down and sad when it ended. This is an author that I will definitely want to read more from as she knows how to blend romance, suspense and humor into a story that will pull you in and keep you there. Well done!

Between a Highlander and a Hard Place is a great historical romance novel! I love reading about hot scots and their headstrong ladies and Mary Wine delivered just what I craved from this book. I highly recommend reading this book!

Highland Wedding series continues with Laird Symon Grant's happily ever after and Athena, a girl that unexpectedly stole his heart.

The fast pace of this story, its villain and especially the hero, are what made this story worth the reading.

Hope you get it!

Melanie for b2b

Highland Laird Symon Grant knows he must do his duty and get married to have an heir. Must like his cousin though, he’s been putting it off as long as possible. Englishwoman Athena Trappes found herself in a bad situation and is now hiding. When Symon sees an unknown woman in the early morning, he is entranced and must find her again.
Overall this was a good story (more a 3.5 than a 4 though). Athena is a very smart and capable woman in a world where women don’t have many rights. Symon isn’t quite as defined but proves himself worthy of Athena’s trust. While I liked Athena from the start, the fact that she finds herself in crap situations by doing the same same thing several times throughout the book, you’d think she’d learned her lesson. There was just extra stuff/situations in the book that didn’t really need to be there and seemed to just drag it a bit and had me skimming through some pages. Still a good read. I recommend for fans of this genre.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Mary Wine is one of my favorite historical romance writers as her books tend to have my essentials: a good plot/story line; likeable hero/heroine; steamy goodness; and a satisfying HEA. While Between a Highlander and a Hard Place is the 5th book in the Highland Weddings series, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone.

Athena decides to go on the run (disguised as a young man) when her betrothed declares that he would prefer to have her as a mistress than as his wife. When she encounters Symon, a Scottish laird, the sparks fly almost immediately. Their banter was entertaining and engaging, but it felt like too much of a slow burn (I am not a fan of the insta-lust and then a long wait because of constant interruption), and then all of a sudden they have several oddly timed encounters that were not as satisfying as Wine's usual love scene writing style. There was also a lot of frantic suspense/mystery/political upheaval/nefarious-intentioned "villains" thrown into the mix that seemed a little forced and somewhat contrived. Overall, though, a good read (3.5 stars) and worthwhile if you enjoy steamy slow burns.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
3 Frustrating Stars

Between a Highlander and a Hard Place is the fifth installment of the Highland Weddings and can easily be read as a standalone without any confusion had by a new reader.

I'm mixed on the rating and how I feel about the novel overall. The entertainment value. The overall emotion I felt while reading was frustration. The mystery suspense angle overshadowed any and all romance, then all the sudden politics of the era came out of nowhere, with zero buildup, and stole the show. I feel as this novel didn't have a firm hold on its identity, to the point it detracted from the entertainment value. Chaotic. Paced oddly.

Athena is on the run when the man who was to be her husband decides to make her his mistress instead, thinking he didn't need permission from her guardian or her consent. Escaping England, Athena dresses as a male, catching the notice of a Laird in Scotland.

Symon was a solid historical romance hero – the perfect highlander. He was gruff and rough yet tenderhearted when it came to Athena. This lent well to the insta-lust, slow-burn, bantering between the pair. The early part of the novel was truly romance.

Symon is the last of his line, outside of his cousin, Brenda. Both widowed, both must marry to ensure the stability of their lands and their bloodline. Neither is too keen on the prospect, but Symon is instantly taken with the English beauty, and woos Athena to be his wife.

Thankfully, Athena isn't contrary. She's not too stupid to live. She's not a damsel in distress. However, the story is contrary, irrational, convoluted, chaotic, and frustrating, burying the romance entirely by forcing the characters to deal with outlandish events.

After waiting through countless interrupted lust scenes, where I am the biggest slow-burn fan. When it came to the payoff, which I'd been highly anticipating, I was disappointed beyond belief. The between-the-sheets action was ill-timed, time and time again. Brenda had just been kidnapped, one of their people killed, yet the author decided that was the time to finally reward the reader?!?

As a reader, am I to be invested in Brenda as a character, for their perilous situation, or am I to get hot and bothered by a love scene? Tell me, because it felt like an unwanted, interrupting sex-sells commercial shown as an intermission during my favorite TV show, where I want to know what happens next, where I'd undoubtedly fast-forward to get past the sexy commercials. I was looking forward to the romance and their connection in bed, but I was too worried about Brenda, or the other situations they were in, to find enjoyment in the scenes. What should have been a reward became ill-timed, frustrating, and annoying, to where I 'fast-forwarded' the last two to find out what happened next.

This happened not once, but three times. All smexy scenes took place during times of great peril. Written as an unwanted intermission, as if I enjoyed it, I obviously am heartless for not caring that a character has been kidnapped to be sold into sexual slavery (a threat used repeatedly, until I was desensitized). Whiplash. To go from someone being kidnapped, which is heart-racing suspense, where you don't know what happens next, to the scene you've been waiting forever to read, only to have it be lessened because clearly I care more about their longevity and Brenda than they do.

This rubbed me wrong, approximately at the 75% mark, and went downhill from there. The first third of the book had one identity (romance), the second third had the identity of mystery suspense, and the last third was filled with political maneuverings and the characters being held hostage without autonomy. This meant any connection I felt for the characters in the first third was gone by the time politics came into it. I would be fine with any three of these things, if they were consistent from start to finish, not fighting against one another and overshadowing each other.

Was I entertained? At first. Frustration won out, but I wanted to know what happened next. How many times does Athena get kidnapped by the same villain? Four? More? Such a bumbling idiot manages to keep kidnapping the cousin and wife to a Laird. As I said earlier – the characters aren't the issue, the events and situations the author wrote for them is. Yet there is no justice by the ending, so more kidnappings can be had at a later date.

Would I reread? No.

Do I recommend? To fans of the author and the series, as well as those who do plan on reading the next in the series, as it's the lead-up.

Do I plan on reading the next? Yes, because the politics of the last third was the heavy-handed setup for the next book featuring Brenda, at the expense of Athena and Symon's journey.

I didn't realize this was book 5 in a series but I didn't feel like I had any trouble settling into the story. Mary Wine is a new to me author but after finishing this book I definitely want to read more of her works.

I loved Symon's character and I was rooting for him all the way. His cousin and the other clan members all made me smile and fall in love with them. Athena was a bit harder to like as I felt like though she was strong and independent she sometimes took it too far and didn't make the smartest choices. She seemed to find it more important to make go her own way just to show she could even when logically it didn't make sense. Still it was great watching the interaction between her and Symon and watching their relationship develop.

Despite my misgivings about Athena I couldn't put this book down and cannot wait for Brenda's story!

I felt really sorry for Athena, the heroine of this story. Fleeing London disguised as a boy because her other options were unpalatable at best (become a wealthy man’s mistress or go to jail for setting fire to his house when he attacked her) she keeps ending up in dreadful situations caused by most of the men around her behaving like complete asshats. It’s no wonder she’s had an absolute gutful of being pushed around and told what to do when she runs across Symon, Laird Grant, who saw her dancing with abandon at a maypole and followed her for a week, arriving just in time to help her escape being sold into a brothel.

Symon’s a decent man, but he’s a clan laird and accustomed to being obeyed. Even though she’s drawn to him, Athena really doesn’t want to be. She owes him her gratitude, but she’ll give him nothing more, and he’s not the kind of man to take it.

Symon and Athena played off each other really well, and there was a build up for a second intriguing romance between Symon’s cousin Brenda and another clan chief. The court intrigues of both Elizabeth Tudor and King James VI of Scotland (as a teenager) were touched on, sixteenth century politics catching up the protagonists in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

There was obviously a great deal of research put into making this book historically accurate, with enough detail to make it feel as though the reader is really in the sixteenth century, though the author delicately glosses over some of the less savory details of everyday life in that time period. Dysentery and smallpox really aren’t sexy, after all!

I really enjoyed the read and I’d definitely read Brenda’s story, along with any other Highlander books this author writes. I’m giving this five stars.

I received Between a Highlander and a Hard Place written by Mary Wine from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This is the fifth book in her Highland Weddings, but can be read as a stand-alone since it is the first time I have read anything written by Mary Wine.
Athena Trappes discovers the man claiming to want to marry her only wants to make her his mistress. In a bid to protect herself, she sets his items on fire and flees London into Scotland dressed as a boy. Laird Symon Grant lost his wife during child birth years ago and now knows he must marry. During a May Day celebration, he spy Athena dancing and is smitten. Following her, he realizes what she is about and takes her to his land and introduces her to his clan. With the passion burning between them, Athena struggles with wanting Symon and wanting to be free.
This was a great book! I am not normally into Tudor/ Medieval romance but this swept me up. The characters were excellent and well rounded. No one was perfect!! Athena and Symon work through their differences and struggle to come to an understanding. And, Symon's cousin was a spitfire and I look forward to her story! #BetweenaHighlanderandaHardPlace #NetGalley

Mary Wine just has the ability to effortlessly transport you to the Highlands with a few sentences. While this story begins in England where our heroine, Athena Trappes, daughter born of scandal is being duped into being mistress to a jerk of a lord. In order to save her reputation and save her family from shame she goes on the run to Scotland. Unfortunately, actually fortunatly, she arrives there under disguise for May day celebrations. While taking a bit of a break she participates in the festivities and catches the eye of a widow laird, Symon Grant. Symon is a good laird to his people and realizes it's time to take a new wife and produce an heir. After all, it is unstable times in the Highlands. Having a son as an heir will provide protection to all.

What comes after is good fun involving Highlanders keeping what they steal. The bantering between Athena and Laird Symon is pretty hilarious, as well as the residents of the castle doing their best to make sure Athena is secured as the lady of the clan. After all she is a perfect counter part to their noble Laird.

While there are some amazing characters to love, there are definitely great villains that you can love to hate. I can not wait until Wicked Highland Ways, as it is time for Symon's cousin Brenda to get her HEA, whether she wants it or not.

Symon and Athena are great together. Adventure in the highlands. Great story. Can't wait to see what happens in next book

A brawny highlander in a kilt comes to the rescue of a young woman without considering the consequences. He acted from his heart not his head. What is he going to do with a woman, obviously a respectable one, out in the Scottish wilds. Darn himself and his honourable ways. Now he'll have to go out of his way to return her to her family.

I was hooked from that point, or actually, from the point I read he was wearing a kilt.

The young lady is Athena Trapps, an English woman who is trying to escape a nobleman who didn't turn out to be the gentleman she thought he was. Every move she makes seems to open up a new patch of trouble for her and for her rescuer. Can she take a chance and trust Symon Grant; is he as good a man as he appears to be.

The story is set a time when relations between Scotland and England were tense and neither trusted the other an inch. In classic romance fashion, love is stronger than bitter distrust. Kind of swoon worthy for me. Each time author Mary Wine describes Symon as wearing a kilt, or donning his kilt, I'm in love with him again. Sure it's a whimsy thing, but a man in a kilt......

I loved this book and would gladly read more in this genre from Ms. Wine.


I received and advance reader copy of this book from Source Books in exchange for honest review.

#IndigoEmployee

I love highland/Scottish books and Mary Wine has written a great series of books that are a pleasure to read.I love the way she developes each character in depth and gives them very in depth personalities.Athena is a woman scorned when she finds out her love only wanted a mistress so she sets fire to his belongings and runs to hide in Scotland.She catches the eye of Laird Symon who takes on the almost impossible task of making her his wife.Great story with suspense and romance,I highly recommend this book!I read this book as an arc and this is my honest opinion.

Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Mary Wine

So excited to read Symon Grant’s love story. After years of mourning the loss of his wife and child, Symon isn’t sure he’s ready to start living until he spies a young lass in a shirt on May Day. After sharing a soul searing kiss Symon knows she’s the one-- except he can’t find her.

Athena Trappes is on the run for arson and dressed as a lad. Though she’s drawn to Laird Grant she’s reluctant to trust men. After all, Galwell Scrope promised to marry her then tried to make her his whore. Symon does everything in his power to help and protect her and is not above a few nefarious though well intended actions. However, Athena is no ordinary damsel in distress. With courage and determination Athena rescues herself a time or two as well- even from Symon’s good intentions.

Mary Wine does an excellent job of weaving humor and history into her novels and her heroines are always admirably feisty and independent yet historically believable. Her heroes are endearingly tender hearted and appealing, humorous, stubborn and protective in the name of love. I am eagerly anticipating the next novel. Cannot wait to read Brenda Grant and Cormac Southerlan’s story.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37930590-between-a-highlander-and-a-hard-place

What a page turner this read was! Full of action a fiery heroine -Athena who had a tad bit of a temper when she realized the man she thought would be her forever was just trying to get her in his bed as his mistress. In retaliation she sets his things on fire- go girl! On the run she disguises her self as a boy. Tired of pretending she takes a chance at the village fair and goes as herself. When Symon sees her, he cant take his eyes away from her @nd the attraction is palpable. But her act of defiance will bring her in danger , keeping her safe is his priority.

This is a wonderful historical story with fiesty characters that get their happily ever after.
I recieved a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion