I loved the story of Magnus and Diantha. This story was a little different then the other Highlander romance novels that I have read. There was a lot of humor as well as thicker accents. When it came to serious situations it seemed to me that Magnus and his brothers took things seriously, but not like a Highlander who would normally calls his men to arm, Mount their horses and chase down their adversary. The story was still good though.
The plot about possibly kidnapping or killing certain royalty held my attention to the end. The narrative and dialogue was easy to follow and understanding. The romance I thought was very cute and sweet. I felt natural between Magnus and Diantha.

First off, this book had me at "Gladiator meets Fight Club". Never did I know I needed that pairing until I was reading this book and loving it. These characters were delightful, plot was strong from word one and ran along at a gripping pace, and it reminded me of Spartacus the TV show in some ways.

If you want a romance that is a little off the beaten path, but still conforms to hero's that are alpha, gruff, but tender hearted with a white knight complex, run, don't walk, to read this romance.

This book is a good read. The author did a great job with her characters and story of Magnus and Diantha. Both were held as hostages when the were children and fed lies by the Duke of Ary. When Magnus was released as a captive he had to find his own way so he started street fighting and soon became the one to beat at the Cal and is loved by his fans. When he runs into Lady Art in town after being free from he husband he runs into Diantha on his way out the door. When Diantha sees him she knows he is her only chance for freedom. Magnus is approached by Diantha for help to return to her home land. The two will need to work together to beat the man who is responsible for so much heart ache and deceit.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. Wow what can I say about this title it was just an awesome read. This book was just something so wonderfully different I’ve never quite read anything like this. You should read to find out you won’t be disappointed. I’m definitely going to read more by this author.

***3.5 Stars***

This was one of those reads that was enjoyable and I’m happy with how things turned out, but I feel like I needed more.

More what?

Well, I needed more of Magnus and Diantha together. It felt like we got more of Magnus and than Diantha and even when they were together, it felt like it was all about Magnus and his evolution and not really Diantha, who was pretty awesome. Naive, yes, but there was a strength in her that I don’t think was truly brought out. And I honestly loved them together. They are opposites in so many ways that I was imagining all that they could bring to the other and become stronger for it.

But with that said. This was a fun read overall. Lots of action. I loved catching up with everyone at the Cal and seeing how their relationships have evolved ~ whether it be romantic or platonic. And I really liked the how things played out with all that had happened with Magnus going home and confronting the ghosts of his past.

So, as I said, this may not have been a 5 star read for me, but it was still entertaining overall.

An amazing adventure that does holds you in its grip from the first page.

Kathryn Le Veque is a master storyteller that pulls you into the time of strong warriors and just as strong ladies.

Filled with adventure, humor, intrigue, violence with war and often tears, I always run the gamut of emotions. In depth descriptions and strong characters, many that continue in stories from the past, bring the action and romance alive!

Do not miss this one or any book written by this author!

Unfortunately, I had to DNF Highland Legend because I found it really a struggle to get through. I thought it was very boring.

4.5 stars rounded up.

As a member of the Scottish royal family Magnus Stewart should hold a powerful position, but as the illegitimate son of a Royal duke, he’s merely been used as a pawn. As a warrior of the Ludus Caledonia, Magnus has used his rage to fight his way to the top of the pack.

Diantha de Mora has heard of the famed fighter and seeks his help to escape those holding her hostage and return to her native Navarre. Magnus finds he cannot send her away and the draw he feels to her is immediate, causing many changes in Magnus’ previously selfish behavior. But with enemies after them, it will take a fight, and require Magnus accepting help from his friends, if they are to have a life together.

I really enjoyed this series conclusion, and I was happy to find that it was lower on angst and didn’t stress me out as the previous books did. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Magnus and Diantha but I especially liked seeing Magnus grow as a person and realize the true depth of his bond with his fellow brothers in arms. I loved seeing Magnus and Diantha come to trust each other. After the childhoods they both had been on their own it was nice to see them needing each other and providing one another with something neither had ever had. Magnus was an excellent reformed rake and his need to prove himself changed to Diantha endeared him to me and made their relationship all the more believable and special. I think this book had an excellent balance of conflict and action with romance and relationship building, without getting caught up in too much angst. This is definitely my favorite of this series for that reason.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fun, adventurous, and full of action, Highland Legend by Kathryn Le Veque will surely grab you right from the start and takes you on an unforgettable journey and it will not let you go till the very end of the book. It is a stand-alone, but I would encourage you to read this author's previous series.
Just one moment is enough for two souls to recognize each other, two parts of the same whole .... one look, a few words, and destiny is sealed ... some people simply belong together, their frequencies coincide, vanity and self-righteousness are forgotten and there is only the desire to hear the other, whose words are the cure for everything ..... but how to protect an innocent love when the enemies are numerous and strong? Does love have the power to win?
It is no secret that I adore Kathryn Le Veque's novels, her subtle style of expression, full of emotion and detail, not to forget her wonderful gift of drawing you into a story and not letting go.
Every book is tense but beautiful, emotional, and satisfying... Her commitment to researching and incorporating historical facts is commendable. It was the same here, page by page, chapter by chapter ... and I realized it’s almost morning as I was finishing the last words. Everything moves quickly, not because the story is short, but because it is so very good that you want to continue reading. But unlike other books, here somehow the focus was more on the hero, Magnus and his life in Ludus Caledonia were much more elaborated than the life of Diantha, who is a fantastic heroine, but somehow she was in the shadows, like a submissive female. The chemistry between the main characters as well as the emotions was simply perfect and flowed from every scene where they were together. These two had me wrapped around their love story. The relationship has so much passion, trust, heartache, honor, guilt, and love. Reading their love story was the best part of the book. Not to mention the steamy scenes…… The supporting characters are masterfully fitted and contribute to the compactness of the whole story, as always.
Definitely a perfect choice for all those readers who enjoy the type of old school romance, a good story with some great characters, such as a gentle heroine and a strong hero and love that simply captivates with tenderness and belonging

HOT, HOT, HOT🔥

This book had everything; hot men, action, sexy women, sweet romance, and a once in a lifetime, passionate love.

Magnus is a gladiator, he's also a womanizer who meets the woman he was made for, the woman who will change him into the wonderful man he was meant to be.

Diantha is a woman who is strong and knows she deserves a man who will love her above all others.

Magnus and Diantha are perfection when united. While this is a standalone book, I recommend reading the previous books in the series before hand because the characters evolve throughout the series. You can however read this book without reading the previous books. All that books are very well written, full of passion and action, and are Kathryn Le Veque at her best

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am volunteering an honest review.

Highland Legend is the third, and if I'm not mistaken, final book in Kathryn Le Veque's exciting Scots and Swords series. I have immensely enjoyed all three books and am a big fan of this series. The romance itself stands alone, but I highly recommend reading the volumes in order as the friendships, and the progressions thereof, build throughout each installment, culminating in a clan of warriors who are as close as brothers. This may be my favorite of the three!

Magnus Stewart is the illegitimate son of a duke. As a child he was basically held as a hostage by another family member to keep his father in line. When he was released, he made his way to the Ludus Caledonia, a legendary fight club, to make a name for himself and eventually becomes a prized gladiator known as The Eagle. (Or as his brother gladiators teasingly call him, The Chicken.) Diantha de Mora, a young woman desperate to escape the man to whom she is unwillingly engaged and his awful father, entreats Magnus to help her after she visits the Cal. In return, she will keep house for him and earn money from teaching other fighters until she has the money to return to her home. The two are immediately attracted to each other; but will their pasts come back to separate them forever?

Though there was brutal fighting in this book, the romance between Magnus and Diantha was surprisingly sweet. Magnus was possibly the best fighter at the Cal, and he was certainly arrogant about it! He was also, to put it nicely, a womanizer. Big time. However, as soon as he met Diantha, she made him want to be a better man. Diantha was a gentle woman, much different from the women who threw themselves at Magnus. She was smart and wanted to make her own way in the world; Magnus offered her money so she could find passage home, but she wanted to earn it instead. She was so kind she took care of a bumblebee who had lost its wing, thus earning her the nickname Bee. Though the romance was lovely, it was the relationship between the fighters that was at the heart of this book. They loved each other and would willingly die to protect their brothers. The sisterhood among the fighters' women was a nice touch, too. The 1488 setting in Scotland was a good change of pace. This book was a delight and I am eagerly looking forward to more novels from the talented Ms. Le Veque.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is a perfect name for this story! I've enjoyed Le Veque's Highland Gladiators. I couldn't tell if this is the last book of the series but I want more. It's a fabulous brotherhood of warriors who have each other's backs while protecting their women. This was Magnus Stewart, The Eagle's story. I wasn't sure I was going to like him at first because he was so full of himself but he showed wisdom at looking into himself and finding true character when a woman of worth came into his life. I found this story well crafted and came to love each and every character in The Cal - Ludus Caledonia.

Magnus Steward is the illegitimate son of Hugh Stewart, the Duke of Kintyre and Lorne, the Scot's king's youngest brother, and his wife's Lady-in-Waiting, Fia. We later find out the wife sent Magnus and Fia away to her home after Magnus was born. He was taken hostage by Hugh's jealous cousin Ambrose. Life in his household was full of bulling and persecution. Ambrose used Magnus to try to control Hugh and poisoned Magnus against his dad. Eventually he was released as an adult and Magnus went to find his way in the world knowing he had no family to go to. He was found by Clegg's man and brought to the Ludus Caledonia to be trained becoming their greatest champion. Magnus reveled in the adulation and brotherhood of his fellows given he had nowhere else to find love. When he accidentally runs into his former captor's wife Lady Agnes Stewart he meets Diantha de Mora, a fellow captor of Ambrose's and now betrothed of his son Conan.

Diantha is looking for a way to escape the Stewarts. When she meets Magus she sees a way and seizes it. She now knows where to find Magnus and runs away to find him at the Cal. Magnus finds a woman who's suffered a similar childhood as he and gives her shelter. They come to know each other and see they are kindred spirits. He and Clegg help her find ways to earn money so she can return home. She makes friends with the wives of the warriors. Along the way she touches Magnus soul and makes him want to be a better man. I found I really liked this man and hoped for a happy ending. Of course Ambrose eventually finds them and they must fight for their HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Highland Legend was my first Kathryn Le Veque and what a ride! This book is PACKED with action! I really enjoyed the setting (medieval times) and Le Veque does such a great job of describing everything.

Magnus, the hero, is a gladiator of sorts and I loved it! He is the bastard son, so he has to find a way to make a living and such, so he jumps on the chance Ludus Caledonia offers. I enjoyed reading about the other members in the fight club-it is an odd sort of bonding happening that really worked for me. This is good, since it really felt like the story was about Magnus and the club, and not so much a romance.

I loved Diantha because she took charge of her fate in a time when that just didn't happen. But, I felt like she was just a side character to Magnus, which was a bummer. She is GREAT! She almost feels relegated to the role of supportive, standby wife instead of a partner in a relationship. This did give me the old school romance vibes though and while sometimes problematic, still hold a special place in my heart.

Highland Legend is a combination of fight club and fake relationship trope that really keeps the story moving at a quick pace. Obviously, there is tons of action from the fights, but there is a romance here as well. I will say I had some trouble keeping up at parts because I haven't read the previous books (I didn't realize it was a series), so I do think it would help to read them in order, even though its not directly necessary. Fans of historical romance who want something not written in the regency period will really enjoy Highland Legend! Le Veque really has a great writing style that I look forward to reading more of!

Magnus Stewart's royal blood has been a curse he spent part of his life held as a political prisoner, a hostage by his uncle the Duke of Ayr. He filled a young Magnus with lies about his father not wanting him causing a bitterness to grow and thrive as Magnus began to hate his father. Magnus also known as "The Eagle” now leads a life of a professional warrior, a gladiator, winning fights, winning money and beautiful women. Diantha de Mora has been held captive by the Duke of Ayr’s for many years too, she’s expected to marry his son Conan. Conan is a brash, spoiled and intolerable young man and she has no wish to marry him. Once she learns of Magnus she has a plan go to the Ludus Caledonia ask for help and Magnus for his help escaping. A captivating story as these two lost souls find each other. Magnus and Diantha seek to escape and leave behind their old lives, learn to trust and love again. I voluntarily read and reviewed this extraordinary story.

Highland Legend by Kathryn Le Veque is a story of the Ludus Caledonia through one of its warriors, Magnus Stewart. Magnus was the nephew of the king who had been held for hostage by his cousin, the Duke of Ayr, for years, his cousin hoping to control his father thus. It had been a miserable time but eventually he was of no further use and left the keep. Diantha had been a girl, also help captive by the duke. She was betrothed to his son but had been given no choices and was planning to escape at her first opportunity. She saw that opportunity when Magus ran into the duchess in town. She just knew Magnus, a childhood friend, would help her. No one noticed her gone for hours. She used those hours to locate Ludus Caledonia. The duke, when he found out where Magnus was, came up with his own plan for Magnus.

The Ludus Caledonia was a complicated place, housing men who fought for a living. Sometimes they had families, there, as well. Many of the men were single and took advantage of the fame they earned by fighting, having plenty of women in attendance as well. Of course, Diantha and Magnus, fell in love. Of course, the road was not easy. How Kathryn Le Veque continues to come up with these stories and his wonderful characters is astounding. She always gives us endearing characters and a complicated plot, which keeps us on the edge of our seats for the entire book. Another huge success! Thanks, Kathryn!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Highland Legend by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #highlandlegend

Splendid medieval romance!

Wow! I knew I'd love this book because of the author, but I didn't know I could love it this much! Such vivid writing, vibrant characters, heartwarming interactions, this book has it all in spades!

I will say that this author really knows her niche. The setting is so perfectly described, it's easy to get lost in the book and feel like you're experiencing everything in person. Even something as simple as a pet honeybee nearly brought me to tears.

Magnus certainly presents himself as far too arrogant for his own good, but we quickly learn it's really his coping mechanism to feel some self-worth after the childhood he had to endure. This book does focus more on him and his backstory than it gives us of Diantha and her history, but she's no minor character. She's the catalyst for all the change in his life, both inward and outward, and I absolutely loved her beautiful heart and her brave, determined approach to life.

This was an exquisite read, and I was very moved by the emotional depth shown by the main characters, including the other warriors. There's plenty of humor, especially in the men's camaraderie, and just enough villainy and suspense that kept me glued to every page.

Magnus and Diantha have a very satisfying HEA, though I wish more about her homeland had been included. However, there are hints that their children may grow up into their own stories, so I hope we'll learn more about Diantha's side of the family in future books. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical romances. They just don't come any better than this. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

STOP! READ this book! Excellent Stand Alone with characters that have vitality & personality!
Author Kathryn Le Veque writes wonderful books, but her Gladiator Series has not been in my top ten books until this particular one! There is always that one character such as Lady Diantha who stirs your attention in that you are rooting for her against the evil villains. Then we have Magnus who is arrogant of the mighty Ludus Caledonia and your thoughts waver between what a jerk at times and he needs to be shown humility.
The author puts together so much fun and passion, but yet there is learning curves in this book for young and old. I just love how this all comes together and that it’s not cut and dried!
What a beautiful read from page one to the end! I wanted more of this group of friends and their families.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

We are back at the legendary fight club Ludus Caledonia (the Cal) where men fight for infamy and become a family while they do it!

I have read and loved all the books in this series and this one is just as good.

Magnus, known as the Eagle in the fighting ring has come from his unwanted bastard roots to become the best fighter at the Cal. He has found everything from riches , a life purpose and a family of friends… he is happy.

That is until he runs into Diantha, a long lost acquaintance on the streets of Edinborough and agrees to help rescue her from a situation similar to his situation before he found the Cal.

Magnus is a rake and used to having any woman in sight, so when he falls for Diantha and finally has to work for her affection and respect, it makes it all the sweeter when they finally come together. I am an absolute sucker for a rake who reforms for the right lady!

I have enjoyed all the books in this series and love how they all have an element of found family. This is really strong in the case of Magnus and Diantha since they had both grown up in the absence of family.

One thing to note, I found the drama in this book to be less angsty. There was a conflict and it was resolved, but I feel like the romance and becoming a family unit was more of the focus for this book.

This is the third book in the series and the important background facts are relayed to the reader, but I would suggest that the first 2 books are read first to get the full effect- and they are really good as well!

Highland Gladiator by Kathryn Le Veque is scheduled to be released July 27th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#HighlandGladiator #KathrynLeVeque #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

Magnus Stewart, the illegitimate son of King James' youngest brother and Diantha the daughter of a Spanish warlord from Navarre. have been held hostage by the Duke of Ayr for political manipulation. After years of abuse, Magnus was finally set free. Rescued off the streets, he is taken to the Ludus Caledonia where he becomes a great professional warrior called the Eagle. When Magnus and Diantha meet as adults, she sees a man strong enough to help her escape the Duke of Ayr and take her home to Navarre. When she shows up at the Ludus Caledonia, Magnus can not refuse to help. Love grows quickly between them, but their common enemy seeks to manipulate their lives once more. Only the family of warriors at the Ludus Caledonia protect their own. A very unusual series, where humor runs along side extreme violence, a vital part of the story. Very descriptive.
I always plan my time to read a Le Veque book when there are no interruptions such as staying up all night!!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This was a very well-written, entertaining book. It was fast-paced, held my attention and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and am eager to read more books in this series as well as others by this author.