A Delightful Highland Romance

You might think that Cam is a scoundrel, and so he is. We are all shaped by our lives, but eventually, we all pay the piper. Cam’s turn has come to pay, and he just might find redemption. Love has been known to save many a lost soul. Cam must escort Yvaine to a priory after she killed her husband. No one in the village must know of her guilt. There, their journey together begins, and it is full of adventure, secrets, and romance.

No review I can provide will do this entertaining book justice. I enjoyed this delightful book and would recommend it to those who like highland romance, full of adventure, wit, mystery, secrets, and charm. This story made me want to read all this author’s series and find out about all the characters mentioned in this book.

As with the first book in this series, I had a hard time getting into this book and believing the romance between Cam and Yvaine. She is an abused, pregnant woman who, in an effort to protect herself, she kills her husband and must flee to her brothers monastery for sanctuary. Cam's punishment is to escort her and stay at the monastery to atone for his sins. But, in a weird twist of fate, he finds out he has a daughter who's mother has died and left the daughter to Cam. He is a horrible father and wants nothing to do with his daughter, he is rude & lusty to Yvaine, and he and his friends are so, so immature. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters.

Tropes
Historical Romance, Scotland Romance, Forced Proximity, Low Steam, Rake Hero, Illegitimate Hero, Highland Warrior, Widow/Widower, Working Class, Damaged Heroine

This story has it all, romance, intrigue and laugh out loud moments. A true story of opposites attracting. Wonderful story.
Thank you Elizabeth Rose, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Elizabeth Rose is showing her talent in Book 2 of her series, HIGHLAND OUTCASTS. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 In this book there is a Highlander looking for redemption from his lustful ways is attracted to a widow on the run. They both have dark secrets of the past that can destroy them. But can the flames of passion that burn between them help them to stop living in the shadows once and for all?

*Trigger Warnings: Domestic Violence, Physical and Emotional Abuse, death of a secondary character by self-defense*


✔️The Accused: Highlander Cam MacKeefe.

He’s been called lustful because he stole a kiss from a lassie.

✔️The Crime: Cam likes the lassies a little too much. A wild night of celebrating has brought him trouble when he steals a kiss from a girl in the tavern. Old Callum MacKeefe has a rule in the tavern about no touching, pinching, or kissing the lassies unless they are whores.

✔️The Punishment: Cam’s been sentenced to escort a widow to a priory, and to stay there in repentance. Spending time on his knees praying instead of playing is not to his liking. His lust for the lassies needs to be controlled but, to his dismay, the nun-to-be has his thoughts as well as his libido working overtime.

Let me tell ya, I loved Cam’s story! Yes, he is a libertine with a huge sexual appetite. He is young, careless, and very lustful, in the beginning of the story I alternated between liking him & wanting to throttle him, by the end of the story I was totally in his corner. Cam has a huge struggle with his attraction and yearning for a chaste and holy female, this was the perfect punishment from Old Callum MacKeefe to teach the lustful Cam what is really important in life. One of my favorite tropes - Rake saved by love.

✔️The Abbot’s Sister: Yvaine’s husband is dead and her only regret is that she was the one to kill him. It was done in self-defense, but it doesn’t matter. Being a woman, she will die for her deed. Yvaine is the pregnant wife of a chandler, and must leave town in order to save her unborn baby. If her terrible secret is revealed, she will be sentenced to death. Her brother is the abbot at a priory where she’ll hide until she can figure out what to do. A Highlander needing redemption is her escort, and somehow the fool has the idea she is going to be a nun. She lets him believe it, only to keep him at arm’s length while she continues the family’s business making candles within the cloistered walls.

What a fun story that keeps you entertained full of characters that make you chuckle one minute and tear up on the next page. I can’t wait for the next book of this series. I can’t forget to mention the extra historical details the author includes - loved it!

Highland Outcasts Series
1. Highland Soul - Gavin MacKeefe
2. Highland Flame - Cam MacKeefe
3. Highland Sky - Nash MacKeefe
4. Highland Silver - North MacKeefe

📚I received a review copy of this book from the publisher Dragonblade Publishing and this is my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity. 🦄

A widow with a secret and a rakish warrior whose punishment is to make amends by staying at a monastery and help the widow. She is disgusted by the womanizer but her body betrays her. He likes his single lifestyle until a child he did not know about shows up. As they work together maybe they can be a family if her secret and his single ways do not interfere.

Elizabeth Rose has done a wonderful job of telling a story. First you have Cam, who is in trouble with Old Callum for breaking his no pinching, touching, or kissing of the lasses rule.
Then there is Yvaine who helps her husband make candles for a living. Yvaine accidentally kills her husband when he was going to beat her.
Old Callum tells Cam he must provide escort for Yvaine to her brother, who is an abbot at a priory. To further turn Cam's life upside down, his 4 year old daughter is brought to him to raise when her mother died. Cam has no idea how to take care of a child.
This story has it all, including a couple of laugh out loud moments!

From the first page to the last you will spellbound by Highland Flame. Highland Flame brings past characters from past series together and you're able to catch-up with those you haven't visited with for a while. Elizabeth Rose has given readers a book that is well-written, filled it with a great cast of characters that will hold you spellbound as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale they come off the pages and pull you in, filled with drama, passion, the book flowed well from one thing to another without being forced, great dialogue and with a strong plot that bring this read together perfectly.

Old Callum punishing the men that caused problems in his tavern is funny. He is making them each learn new jobs and the adventures they wind up in makes the story thoroughly enjoyable.
Don't miss this second installment of their story.

This is the second installment of the Highland Outcasts series. I read the first one and enjoyed it and when this came out, I knew I had to read it. Yvaine is now a widow, but had a terribly abusive husband. One night things went too far and got out of hand, resulting in her widowed status. She does not regret for one bit her husband's death, a result of self-defense, but punishment for her would most certainly be death and she needs to protect her unborn child. Cam is the ultimate womanizer and is being punished for stealing a kiss from a girl at the local tavern. His punishment is to escort Yvaine to the priory. Being somewhat immature and an irresponsible man without having much of a care, he struggles with his journey of redemption. As he helps Yvaine settle in and start a new life, he does quite a bit of growing and maturing. Yvaine struggles with her secret and holds back her growing feelings for Cam. Despite their emotional struggles, they couldn't help but fall in love. This was a heartwarming and enjoyable story that captured my attention from the start and kept my interest till the end, and great characters that had me rooting for them the whole time. I am happy to have had the opportunity to read it.

I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Book: Highland Flame
Author: Elizabeth Rose
Series: Highland Outcasts, Book #2
Publisher: Dragonblade
Page Length: 268
Release Date: April 19, 2022
Cover Designer: Dar Albert
Page Amount: 2 Book
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5 Saltire Flags

Hermitage; Medieval Scotland

Gavin had paid Old Callum MacKeefe in Highland Soul for his crime which turned into love. Now it was Cam’s turn to pay for his crime for stealing a kiss from a nobleman’s sister-in- law and breaking one of Callum’s Tavern rules. As the rule is they are not allowed to kiss, touch or pinch any lassies in Old Callum’s Horn and Hoof Tavern unless they are harlots! His sentence is he must guard a widow and take her to the priory and he must remain at the Abbey and live like a monk he is not allowed back in his claim until he completes his sentence and show his remorse by praying on his knees except this is not Cam’s style at all. However Cam can’t seem to control his lust and attraction for this would be nun so he knows he is headed for trouble for sure!

Cam does not realize this woman he escorting to the priory just killed her husband and is pregnant and trying to save her babie’s life! She just murdered her husband in self defense although she felt no love or remorse, afterall how can you love a monster! Her parents thought her wicked husband Dun was a good match since he was a successful chandler, His abusive nature is a secret that nobody knows as Dun threatened to kill Yvaine if she ever told anyone. Of course she has scars all over her body from her husband’s severe abuse, but in the law a husband is allowed to beat his wife and treat her poorly with even being unfaithful with a kept mistress. It is very unfair as a woman will be executed or sentenced to life in prison if she defends herself or takes a lover. It is definitely a man’s world which is so unfair as all Yvaine feels is fear, because if she is caught and convicted of murder she will be executed! The result will be the death of her and her her unborn child in her womb.

Yvaine is hiding at her brothers Abbey until she can figure out her next step, she also didn’t correct her escort and mislead Cam MacKeefe who thinks she become a nun. She was afraid hExcept if anyone finds out she will be executed as murderess. As the law allows men to beat their wifes and are women just supposed sit still as a statue and take it.

All Yvaine ever wanted was a man who would love her and her child unconditionally. She starts to wonder if Cam could be that man but trust is something that Is difficult after the horrific life she had been living. However they both have secrets that could destroy each other and make them run from each other. Will Cam finally find a woman that will open his heart and tame him? Will he feel betrayed once he finds out the truth Yvaine murdered her husband and is pregnant with another mane baby and mislead him thinking she was to be a nun? Shall he possibly feel remorse that Yvaine was treated like an animal barely surviving in a life that was a nightmare she could never wake up from? Read in this conclusion in the MacKeefe saga.

This is the second fabulous Highland Outcasts book that I couldn’t put down. I will make you laugh with the MacKeefe antics and make you cry about the heroine’s hardships. It is is a riveting, fast paced, action packed romantic adventure that historical romance reader will be holding on to the edges of their seats! A define nail biter that will sweep readers away filled with all the juicy element readers love. A book I highly recommend. If you read Highland Souls you will see many of the same characters as secondary characters in this book too I can’t wait for the next book book in this spectacular series!

Highland Outcasts Series
1. Highland Soul - Gavin MacKeefe
2. Highland Flame - Cam MacKeefe
3. Highland Sky - Nash MacKeefe
4. Highland Silver - North MacKeefe

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Flame-Outcasts-Book-ebook/dp/B09TBNJQQF

good story with familiar characters from previous books.

Highland Flame is a love story between a woman who believes she has just murdered her husband and a  womanizer who spends all his time in brothels. Yvaine and he husband, Dun, are chandlers: they make the good candles out of beeswax. He beats her daily and takes her against her will regularly. He told her he wants no children she is pregnant and terrified. On the night f his death he is meaner than usual and when he comes after he she grabs a wrought iron candleholder and she hits him over the head. He drops to the floor and doesn't rise. Her brother, Keithen, shows up and vows to help her upon seeing her. Sadly, two of the "ladies" from his tavern show up as well. They were not to tell anyone. Cam is just to lusty and old Callum thinks he needs to pay for his crimes, so he sends him off to a priory run by Yvaine's half-brother. As they were preparing to leave, a strange woman appears with a small girl. She claims the girl is Cam's daughter; on her deathbed, the child's mother asked that he raise her. It is a motley crew that sets off. Twist and turns they grew on one another. Drama and humor.  Now I must read book 1 and can't wait for the next book.

Highland Flame by Elizabeth Rose is a love story between a woman who believes she has just murdered her husband and a conformed womanizer who spends all his time in brothels. Yvaine and he husband, Dun, are chandlers: they make candles, the good kind, out of beeswax. He beats her and takes her against her will, regularly. He told her he wants to children. No she is pregnant and terrified. This night he is meaner than usual so when he comes after he she grabs the nearest thing: a wrought iron candleholder and she hits him mover the head. He drops to the floor and doesn't rise. Her brother, Keithen, shows up and vows to help her upon seeing her bruises. Sadly, two of the "ladies" from his tavern show up as well. They were not to tell anyone. Cam is just to lusty and old Callum thinks he needs to pay for his crimes, so he sends him off to a priory run by Yvaine's half-brother. As they were preparing to leave, strange woman appears with a small girl. She claims the girl is Cam's daughter; on her deathbed, the child's mother asked that he raise her. It is a motley crew that sets off.

Watching two such different people fall in love reached right into my heart. For both of the, it was about, Avianca, Cam's daughter. He didn't want her at first. Yvaine did and couldn't believe he didn't. She grew on him until it became obvious to him he would keep her. Yvaine was overcome with guilt about killing Dun. It almost kept her from falling in love with Cam. She was prepared to hang. She just didn't want her unborn child to die with her. The little girl was the glue that held all of them together. Nash and North, the highlanders who had been sent with Cam, provided the comedy relief. They didn't like working, they didn't like silence, and they did like meat. It was difficult for them. Through Cam's cleverness, things were put aright. They were a family. It was a complicated story, but one that seemed right in the end.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Highland Flame by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #elizabethrose #highlandflame

A pairing of two unlikely people can often lead to... oh lots of things! A little resentment for Cam, one of the Highland Outcasts and a need for secrets for the widow Yvaine, who he has to escort to her brother's priory.

What could possibly go wrong? Well a bunch of humorous highlander's, one precocious girl and a highlander fighting his attraction to the widow.

Both having secrets, Cam needing to get on his knees in prayer to take away his inappropriate thoughts and Yvaine trying to hide the fact she murdered her husband.

A fun tale but with seriousness for how Yvaine was treated, but a possible future to look forward to! If only Cam can quit his waywardness and straighten up!

It’s time for Cam’s sentence for breaking Callum’s rules. He is to escort a new widow, and her candle making supplies, to her brother in a priory in England and remain there working for her until he is called home. What he does not know is that Yvaine is pregnant and has just accidentally caused the death of her husband to save her and the baby’s lives. As with Gavin’s sentence, the other three MacKeefe miscreants will travel with him. He will also be accompanied by Avianca, the four-year-old daughter he didn’t know he had. This trip hasn’t started and it is already quite a ride. The is the second story in the Highland Outcasts series. There is heartbreak, as it turns out for more than one character. There are secrets, mystery, danger, adventure, action, and humor. The story moves fast and keeps you guessing what will happen next. Cam and Yvaine? Well, it is a Highland romance.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

The verbal muttering and bantering from Cam is hilarious. I snickered and laughed my way through the book. In all seriousness, Yvaine lives in an abusive marriage. She and her husband are the local chandlers/ candle makers. One night the abuse goes to far and Yvaine kills her husband with a candle holder. Her brother, Keithen, helps cover up the murder and arranges to get her away from Hermitage Castle. Four MacKeefe warriors escort her to another brother who is the abbot at Lanercost Priory. This trip is Cam's punishment for not following the rules at The Horn And Hoof Tavern. His biggest fault is loving too many lasses. Cam is in more hot water before the trip even starts.
Yvaine is keeping more secrets and sending mixed signals to Cam. Between prayers, singing, not enough food and working the dirtiest jobs, Cam is having a hard time with his punishment. You know, he might even grow up. Once Yvaine reveals her secrets, it's up to Cam to save her.
I enjoy a book that goes from dark hopelessness, but has the other side with humor. 🔥🔥
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Yvaine’s husband is lying on the floor of their chandler’s shop, dead. She knows that she is really in trouble. Afterall, she hit him over the head with an iron candlestick protecting herself from his drunk viciousness. Trying to protect herself and her unborn baby, she did the only thing she could. But will anyone understand, or will she be tried for murder? Cam MacKeefe has been in so much trouble that no one wants to believe that he will change. Now the clan decides he must escort Yvaine to her brother’s monastery in England, to regain any sort of redemption from the clan for a job well done. Believing that she will become a nun, is the only chance she will have to live. What an adventure follows them as they make their way. Can Cam find a solution to solving his lustful ways and will Yvaine be able to live peacefully after the death of her inebriated husband? More than one surprise happens to them along the way. Interesting to read..

I really enjoyed this book, but it was a little bit too short. I don't feel like we had enough of Cam and Yvaine relationship. But the story was nice, and the characters too. And that's why I'm giving it 4 stars !

This Highland romance had an excellent opening and after the first book in the series, I was hopeful that I would enjoy this one. Yvaine has more than one secret to keep and although she is a fairly mature character she swings between warding Cam MacKeefe off and opening her arms to him. Cam and his friends are frightfully immature and I was frustrated by the amount of bickering between them. A further frustration was that the novel was written using period Highland speech that was difficult to follow at times, but every now and then the author threw in very modern language that jarred with the background of the story. I was glad, however, that this novel came to a good conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

CW: offpage rape, DV, SA, miscarriage

Spoiler Alert.

Highland Flame is one of the more problematic romance novels I've read in a long time, reminiscent of a 1980s romance novel with no self-awareness of casually using violence against women as a plot device. With juvenile prose, Rose writes a flat, emotionally uninspired tale that includes scenes where our female lead is sexually assaulted by our male lead (who kisses her when she's unconscious bc he 'can't help himself'), our female lead decides hours after she miscarries that she's going to be okay, and our male lead saves the day by exhuming. a corpse. Rose lacks the descriptive skill to bring you into her characters rich mental worlds, let alone the landscapes that provide the backdrop to her tale. With a confusing, overly large cast of characters, a plot centered grotesquely on female trauma without exploring that trauma thoughtfully or empowering our heroine, and abrupt, unbelievable changes of heart, this mess of a book is better left on the shelf.

You only have one life. Don't spend it reading underdeveloped plots, characters, and settings.

Oh Cam, the second Highlander to receive his punishment! I was definitely excited for this one due to learning about Cam's carefree nature from the first book.

This book could have been read as a stand alone book, but I thought the character building from the first book enhanced this one. That is the reason I gave this book 4 instead of just 3 stars.

So the punishment of having to take Yvaine to the priory made me chuckle a bit due to putting loud and rough and tumble characters into a place of quiet. The plot moved along nicely, especially Yvaine trying to get through how her husband died. The romance between Cam and Yvaine was nice as well, but I would have liked a little more "secret room" heat.

So, for what I didn't like. Brothair Gillies character annoyed me to no end to the point I think he should have been punished in some way. He seemed like a bit of a creepy stalker that wanted to undermine everything and came off a bit too evil for what was necessary for the plot. Maybe it would have been better splitting up his character amongst many nuns and monks to have the eyes and ears part, but not the crazy purposeful interference.

I enjoyed this book and wonder what is in store for Nash and North's punishments.

Thank you to Dragonblade and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.