I was given an ARC of this title from Netgalley in return for my honest opinion.

WHAT A RIDE. I must admit I was not prepared for such a heavy historical romance. I love an Australian author and I love an historical romance. This one was another that I enjoyed reading.

A death in a family, a reluctant laird and a marriage (by proxy).

This is a great book written by an author I had not come across before. I do recommend this to other readers of this genre.

This is a wonderful story. I love the characters! Surprise awaits Roderick as he goes home to Scotland after his father's death. He is married! He has no intentions of being married to Annabel. But the best laid plans...between Annabel and the Redcoats, Roderick's plan will so be changing! Enjoy!

“Have you gone completely mad? If, and when, I feel the need to marry, I’ll pick the lass. Not be shackled to one of my father’s choosing. I’ll wager the poor woman had no say in the matter either.”

Roderick MacLeod has never forgiven his father. Even now, standing at his father’s grave, all Roderick feels is anger. Roderick wished it wasn’t so, but Malcolm MacLeod had always been known for his warring ways. If his father had just for one moment stopped and thought before he reached for his weapons then Roderick's mother would still be alive.

Roderick feels nothing but bitter memories at his childhood home of Castle Finvreck. The sooner Roderick returns to England, the better. However, first, he must pass on his inherited Lairdship to someone who actually wanted it.

Unfortunately, his father has played a cruel last hand — a hand that would tie Roderick to this cursed kingdom forever. For in his absence, Roderick learns that he is married, on his father’s command, to a woman from the rival MacDonald clan. Roderick knows that marriage by proxy is not legal, and he intends to inform his so-called bride at the same time as he plans to tell his people to look for another man to lead them. Nothing will stop him from leaving Scotland for England. He had not, however, countered on Annabel MacDonald, his bride. She wasn’t what he expected, and against his better judgement, he finds himself inexplicitly drawn towards her.

Annabel had no desire to see her husband. She was happy with the way things were. A husband would only complicate her already overcomplicated life, for Annabel is aiding and abetting fugitive clansmen, who fought at Culloden, escape an English unmerciful execution. Annabel hopes Roderick's visit will be a fleeting one.

However, Roderick makes Annabel feel things that she has never felt before. She is torn between wanting Roderick to fall in love with her and saving the lives of those who had fought at Culloden. If only she could tell Roderick the truth about what she was doing. If only he would understand…

Set in the majestic beauty of the North-Western Highlands of Scotland, The Prodigal Laird by Vanda Vadas is the utterly captivating and heartwarming love story between a reluctant Laird and a woman who would be his wife.

I was immediately drawn into the world of Roderick and the MacLeod clan. Vadas has penned a compelling love story set against the backdrop of Jacobite defeat. The Prodigal Laird is set a year after the Battle of Culloden when the after-effects of the fray was still being felt throughout the Highlands. The English government wanted not only to punish those who had fought with Bonnie Prince Charlie, but they also wanted to prevent any further rebellions. Those who fought against the English now found their lands, and in many cases, their lives forfeited to the Crown. However, that was not all, for the English government wanted to see an end to the clan system and everything it stood for. Vadas paints a vivid portrait of the hardship and struggles faced by those who lived in the Highlands during this time. Although the desperate plight of those who had been involved in the rebellion as they tried to flee to France before the English soldiers caught up with them is a subplot to this beautiful romance, Vadas still managed to portray the utter despair and fear that these loyal Highlanders faced. The plight of young Thomas was particularly distressing and demonstrated why Vadas’ heroine, Annabel, felt so moved to help her people escape from so-called English justice.

Vadas has created a highly appealing protagonist in Annabel. I absolutely adored her. Annabel is incredibly courageous, but also wonderfully feminine. She is ready to be fallen in love with. Her quick wit and fiery spirit are a perfect match for the MacLeod’s prodigal Laird. Likewise, I thought Roderick was very well crafted, and as with all good romances, he is a character that is easy to fall for.

The chemistry between Roderick and Annabel is a slow simmering seductive build, and like all great romances, that first kiss was incredibly evocative. But, there is more to their relationship than sexual tension and attraction. Roderick and Annabel are well matched in both mind and spirit, which gives this love story creditability.

The antagonist of this tale changes as the story progresses. At first, it seems that the antagonist is Roderick’s father, for he is the reason Roderick finds himself back in Scotland in the first place, and then it seems to be Annabel’s father. However, this all changes when Captain Hubert Stoke comes on the scene. Stoke is a cruel and dangerous man, who is determined to make a name for himself at the Highlanders expense. Vadas has an intuitive understanding of what makes a good villain! I loathed Stokes. He is just awful, but then I should imagine that is what Vadas intended for her readers to feel all along.

The Prodigal Laird is a tautly gripping romance which is absolutely impossible to put down once started. It is engaging, engrossing, enthralling and irresistible. When Historical Romance is written like this, there is no such thing as too many pages.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Roderick MacLeod arrives in his native Scottish Highlands to pay brief respects to his recently deceased father-the man Roderick blames for the death of his English mother. But before he can return to England, he is saddled with two responsibilities he never asked for: the title of Laird of Clan MacLeod and an unwanted marriage, by proxy, to the daughter of a rival laird. Annabel MacDonald thought she had the perfect marriage; her husband's continued absence allowed her independence and the freedom to secretly hide and abet the escape of her fugitive clansmen. When the husband she'd never met shows up, she must convince him to return to England before he uncovers her many secrets, and perhaps her heart.
I read a bit of this book before I decided that I REALLY didn’t like Roderick. Right from the start, I just didn’t like his interactions with any of the other characters. DNF
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This is a great read with characters that jump off the pages. Roderick has returned from England after the death of his father only to find out he has been married by proxy to Annabel and find a his replacement t to hold the title of Laird for his clan. However he is determined that he marriage is not real and plans on returning to London, but after meeting with her father realizes Annabel is better protected at his castle. But Annabel has secrets and he is determined ed to uncover them. When the Redcoats threaten his clan he and Annabel will do whatever it takes to protect his clan and Roderick will soon realizes there is more to keep him ho.e where he needs to be.

Very good read.

Roderick MacLeod becomes the new laird of his clan upon his father's death. He had left Scotland for England and the diplomatic role he sought. When his father died, he returned to Scotland to discover that his father had married him by proxy to the daughter of a neighboring laird. While the proxy marriage was not valid, he felt honor bound to protect the woman until he could return her to her family.

Annabel MacDonald was glad to leave her father's home. He had despised and belittled her at every opportunity. Her new marriage would allow her the freedom she sought to carry on the work of helping Jacobite rebels escape from Scotland since he didn't want to remain in Scotland any longer than necessary. Their proximity to the coast made escape by ship possible. The secrets she kept from her new husband could destroy them all if she was ever caught so she had to be careful.

The more time Roderick and Annabel spent together, the more the chemistry between them became real and something neither of them wanted to give up. Roderick was kind and patient with Annabel, something she had never experienced from her own father. Roderick knew she was keeping secrets and he was determined to learn what they were.

This book seemed true to the time period when England's soldiers roamed the Highlands with brutality and cruelty. The description of the scenery and the people was wonderful and painted the picture that was easy to see with my mind's eye. There were a couple of descriptive sex scenes that I am not a particular fan of and descriptions of some brutal assaults between the English and highlanders.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

A slow read at first but when it picked up boy did it grab my attention or what. It has been some time since I have read a Scottish romance and this one is set just a year after the Battle of Culloden was very much to my liking. How don’t love a good Highland romance with a fiery quick-witted courageous female and a strong headed prodigal Laird? This is the first read by this author so I very much went in blind and at first enjoyed her very descriptive language and details but the story was a bit slow to move along for my liking. I did think about giving up at one point but I was already too invested in the characters and needed to know the outcome of there lives.

Roderick MacLeod was not happy when he returned home to Scottland after the passing of his father to learn his father had left him the role of Laird of Clan McLeod but also a wife that he had never meet or even wanted. He left Scottland as he blamed his father for the death of his mother and when to England to say with his grandparents of his English mother. How could his father married him off with a proxy, marriage and the Lairds responsibility was not what he was wanting in his life.

<i>“The future was neo mine to plan. Nor years, ‘would seem. Our fathers saw fit to negotiate that for us”
“Have you gone completely mad? If, and when, I feel the need to marry, I’ll pick the lass. Not be shackled to one of my father’s choosing. I’ll wager the poor woman had no say in the matter either.”</i>

Annabel MacDonald was happy with the arrangement her father made for her for many reasons but to be the Lairds wife of the Clan MacLeod with no Laird in residence was just what she needs to continue with her secret. She would help fugitive clansmen wanted over the Culloden battle by the redcoats to flee the country to safety and a second chance of life. When she learns the Laird has returned to his native Scottland Annable knows she must make him return to England before her secret is revealed.

<i>“We’re not married, lass. Don’t deceive yourself into believing it so. You deserve a man who will love and protect you”</i>

They were both going to learn that their plans may not go as they wanted and the more time they spent together had a changing effect on those very first plans. They were both determined to have things there a way which gave us great chemistry and entertainment in their arguments/ interactions.

<i>"I would have your forgiveness, instead of your anger."
"As I would have your trust, instead of your silence."
“Returning to Scotland, to pay his respects to father for who he held not respect, had not unfolded quite as he’d planned.”</i>

Annable started so her wrong ways as her feeling for Roderick grow but was it too late to keep everyone safe and happy?

Can they save themselves and their beloved Scottish Highlands?

We soon learn all the secrets both families are protecting as the story in the second half of the book moves along at a better pace with more dialogue and interesting storylines.

*I was given a free copy from NetGalley for an honest Review*

This is my fair and honest review in return for this ARC. Scotland, after Culloden, was a terrible place. People were beaten and killed for no other reason than they existed. Into this comes a brave lass and a Laird who doesn't want to be there. A great mix and a great read.

His marriage might cease decades of hostilities between two clans, but that doesn't mean he wants it and his bold unwanted wife who is keeping secrets of her own.
Roderick MacLeod arrives in his native Scottish Highlands to pay brief respects to his recently deceased father. What he intends to be a brief visit culminating in a fact that finds himself saddled with two responsibilities he never asked for; the title of Laird of Clan MacLeod and an unwanted marriage, by proxy, to the daughter of a rival laird.
Annabel MacDonald thought she had the perfect marriage; her husband's continued absence allowed her independence and the freedom to hide a secret that could get her arrested by the English.
What secrets does Roderick's unwanted wife hold?
Will this pair come to love each other or will their immediate dislike for each other continue?
I gave this book by an author that is new to me 4.75 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Great Scottish romance. Roderick and Annabel are forced into an arranged marriage by their father. Roderick fights it and Annabel needs the safety of the union but tries to convince the hero to leave her there. I thought they had great chemistry and we were able to see the progression of their relationship. Annabel is a fiercely, independent woman but chooses to allow the hero to show her the ways of sexual pleasure without compromising her independence. She harbors dangerous secrets of her own and I was relieved to read that the hero protects her regardless of the betrayal.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am on a bit of a historical, and and particular a Highlander binge at the moment, so as soon as The Prodigal Laird crossed my emails, I went and downloaded it right away.

This is my first Vanda Vadas story, and was pleasantly surprised to find out she was a fellow Australian.

I liked the detail that the author has gone into regarding Culloden, the Jacobite uprising and the aftermath of both.

Roderick MacLeod is one of those characters that could fall into the I love him or the I hate him crowd at times. I for one loved this surly man. I could understand his anger, his hurt, his reluctance to do what everyone expects him to.

And I adored Annabell and her willful attitude. You just know that she is going to rock all of Roderick's beliefs and expectation.

The story did drag a little bit in the middle, however I was fully involved in this story so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. And then when things took off again, wowsers!

This was my first Vanda Vadas story, and it won't be my last. Now I am off to find some more Highlanders to devour.

This is the first book I’ve read by Vanda Vadas, an Australian author. I’m always up for a Highland romance and I really enjoyed this one. I appreciate all the effort that the author put into the historical details of this book….including the battle at Culloden and the hiding of Jacobite sympathizers.

Following the death of his father, Roderick MacLeod returns to his Highland home. He finds out that his father’s last action was to marry him by proxy to Annabel MacDonald, the daughter of his clan’s long-time enemy. The return of her absentee husband, hinders Annabel’s efforts to help her fugitive clansman.

This book was a little slow. The writing style wasn't for me - while the characters had promise I was distracted by the sheer amount of adjectives in every paragraph. It caused the writing to feel bogged down, adding to the sense of slowness.

Great premise! Roderick returns to pay his respects to his father and finds out he is not only laird, but his father married him by proxy to a rival laird’s daughter. He does not find this peaceful and refuses to have anything to do with either. Well, that was his original thought! This highlander adventure of perceived betrayal and love as Roderick, half English and half Scottish Laird finds himself married to a stranger. Annabel’s idea of the perfect marriage is everything she hoped, until her husband shows up. Neither of them ever expected Roderick to return to his childhood home and take his father’s place as laird.

Beautiful Annabel was the scapegoat in her family. Her father despised everything about her. Makes you think he might have sent her as wife of his enemy as a punishment. She used the opportunity to help Jacobites escape to France. Roderick begins as he means to go on constantly stating he will not be laird, nor does he consider himself married to Annabel. He plans to find a replacement for laird and return to London.

Roderick realizes quickly Annabel is keeping something from him, but he comes to respect her anyway. They quickly decide how to communicate what is expected and what is requested between them. In spite of himself, Roderick is drawn to Annabel and her unusual habits.

Both see their home in its neglected state from Roderick’s father’s mourning of the loss of his wife, Roderick’s mother. Roderick was disowned by his father for blaming him for her death. Between the English redcoats and the fleeing Jacobites, no one is safe. Annabel is staunchly loyal to assisting her clansmen to escape England. Roderick, being loyal to both, remains unaware of her helping the escapees. Until everything comes to a point where decisions must be made.

As my first Vanda Vadas book, I found this to be a very engaging book with tremendous relationships that deal with the difficult issues of the time period. You will find yourself intrigued without realizing you cannot put it down.