3.5 Stars
After her family is slain and her home seized, Elspet McReynolds flees into the forests surrounding Tiran Castle, where she resorts to thievery to survive and save her sole remaining kin. There she finds an unexpected protector and ally in Sir Cailin MacHugh, rightful heir to the earldom of Dalkirk.
Sir Cailin owes his life to the Brotherhood for saving him from a murderous plot.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & it won’t be the last, I do need to go & read the earlier books in the series as it took me some time to get into this book & there were questions I had that I felt I would have known the answers to if I’d read the earlier books. I found it to be well written with strong characters of depth. The pace varied throughout the book & I must admit I did skip through some of the slower pages.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

** 3.5 Stars **

Series: Forbidden #4
Publication Date: 8/6/19
Number of Pages: 214

This book was certainly exciting and action-packed. While it is part of a series, you don’t need to have read the other books in order to enjoy this one. It was a good story, but I almost quit reading it before the half-way point because the heroine was so very, very annoying. She was one of the most TSTL, selfish, self-centered, reckless, inconsiderate and foolhardy characters I’ve ever read. I honestly couldn’t understand why anyone, especially our hero, would come to love her. Luckily, there were fewer situations that allowed her to show her TSTL side after the 40% mark or so. She hadn’t changed – just didn’t have the opportunity to show that side of herself.

Elspet McReynolds led a happy life filled with love – until she didn’t. She adored her mother, step-father and step-brother then the unthinkable happened – their Laird, the Earl of Dalkirk, had his knights attack and burn her home, hang her parents, and capture her and her step-brother. He had planned to use her as his mistress, but she managed to escape from Tiran Castle – and now she has to save her beloved step-brother from the dungeon – if he hasn’t already been killed.

It is freezing cold and Elspet is on foot with no money and no resources. She had been to friends she thought would help her, but they were going to turn her over to the Earl. Now, she is even more desperate to save her step-brother – he must be suffering terribly. When she sees two travelers, she decides to steal their coin so she can bribe one of the castle guards to free her brother. Except those travelers discover her and give chase and are about to ravish her when – out of the snow comes a hero to rescue her.

Sir Cailin MacHugh is traveling in stealth. His father was the former Earl of Dalkirk and Cailin is the rightful heir. Both his father and mother were murdered by his evil uncle who also arranged for Cailin’s murder. Luckily, Cailin escaped that fate and soon joined the Knights Templar. Now, after the secret dissolution of the Knights Templar, he has returned to claim his birthright – with the support of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland.

As Cailin is riding through a nasty winter storm, he hears a scream – then another – and rides to the rescue. He takes the woman, now injured, to the inn in which he is staying so that he can assess her injuries and determine how best to help her. So, imagine his shock and dismay when he awakens from a drugged sleep to find his sword missing – along with the young woman. Furious, he sets out to find the woman and his sword that is the proof of his identity.

Thus began an exciting story filled with betrayal, alliances, friendships – and a matchmaking king.

My rating for this book is 3.5 stars and it could have easily been 4.5 were it not for the TSTL heroine. I guess the thing that disappoints me most is that the author has a military background and should surely know what constitutes a smart, cunning, savvy heroine – and it certainly isn’t acting the way this one did.

I think you’ll enjoy this book if you can get past the heroine in the first 40% of the book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Description:
Bound by revenge, a woman turned outlaw and a knight sworn to reclaim his birthright band together to vanquish an enemy of Scotland …

After her family is slain and her home seized, Elspet McReynolds flees into the forests surrounding Tiran Castle, where she resorts to thievery to survive and save her sole remaining kin. There she finds an unexpected protector and ally in Sir Cailin MacHugh, rightful heir to the earldom of Dalkirk—a noble rumored to have perished at sea . . .

Sir Cailin owes his life to the Brotherhood for saving him from a murderous plot. But what is the Knight Templar to do about the fearless, sword-wielding beauty who has enlisted his aid--and awakened his desire? In the face of devastating betrayals and traitorous enemies closing in, can Cailin and Elspet dare claim a love that makes no promises—for a future they may not live to see?

This is another well written book in the Forbidden Series.
I have been enjoying Diana Cosby books since her debut novel when I didn't know what an e-book was.
I really enjoyed reading Elspet and Calin's story and look forward to the next book by this talented author.
The characters are well drawn out and the story needs no explanation. It can easily be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the series in order. This is book #4 of this series.
I gave this installment 4.4 of 5.0 stars for story line and characterization.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntaily.

I have to apologize not only did I not know that this was part of a series and I was so lost I was bored so could not continue, so I dont know if it had to do with the fact that I didn't know really know that story line, but I couldn't have cared less about these people.

Cailin MacHugh returns to his beloved Scotland to claim his birthright as Earl of Dalkirk, immediately he becomes embroiled in savings the damsel in distress, but alas even a rose has thorns, the damsel in question Elspet, drugs him, steals his sword thinking to hock it and use the proceeds to save her stepbrother from the clutches of the current Earl, Cailin’s Uncle. But while in the process of hocking the sword she overhears a conversation revealing the identity of the swords true owner, thus Elspet humbly sets out to return the sword.
Realizing Cailin may hold the key to saving her stepbrother she joins him. From dodging his Uncles hunting parties, betrayals, sword fights, sieges, this book has it all. Loved the chemistry that the two main characters exhibit, the trust they have in each other, chivalry isn’t dead.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

It was just ok for me. I struggled to finish it. I didn’t care for the heroine, she was so annoying. She over did the stubbornness and feistiness. The hero was just ok. The Scottish slang was way off.

Forbidden Alliance
Forbidden #4
Diana Cosby
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Elspet McReynolds has no choice but to flee into the forests around Tiran Castle, after her parents are slain, Step Brother is thrown in the dungeon, and her home burned down by the current Earl of Dalkirk.
She has found someone who is willing to help her get her brother out, but she has to pay him alot of money that she doesn't have so she resorts to thievery. Then she meets Sir Cailin MacHugh who quickly becomes her protector and friend. Sir Cailin is the rightful heir to the earldom of Dalkirk, but was rumored to have perished at sea.

Sir Cailin MacHugh owes his life to the Brotherhood for saving him from a murderous plot. But what is the Knight Templar to do about the fearless, sword wielding beauty who has quickly become more then just a friend who has enlisted his aid? Now he's having feelings and thoughts that he never expected to have as a Knight Templar (even though they have been disbanded).

Now in the face of devastating betrayals that have the traitorous enemies closing in, can Cailin and Elspet claim a love that makes no promises-for a future that they may not live to see?

Diana Cosby is simply brilliant. This book was a real page turner. Once you pick it up the story will weave around you and pull you in until the end. Elspet and Cailin were fantastic together. Their chemistry was off the chart and so high that it fairly sizzled off of the pages. I really enjoy the historical fiction part. It's always nice to learn something new. Ms. Cosby I believe that your books get better and better every time and I can't wait to see where the next story will take us to.

Striking medieval romance, maybe prodded by Robert Bruce, in which a lost lord comes home to reclaim his heritage, aided by a fiery young woman with practical skills and a steel determination.