Bas has lived his life as the Horseman of Death, a title given him by his father after his mother died giving birth to him. But is he really a cold-blooded killer? Even though his brothers and sister have told him he wasn't responsible for their mother's death, it isn't until a kind-hearted midwife enters his life.

Bas can appear frightening in appearance, but he has a soft spot for those unable to protect themselves and animals. And he has plenty of quirky animals on his property that he cares for. The story also has plenty of suspense, betrayal, romance, and family unity.

Having followed the Sinclair sons’ stories from the beginning, I was so happy to receive an ARC of the fourth Sinclair son. Bas is the Horseman of Death so I was very curious on how his story would come about. I was not disappointed! Other than his sexual knowledge being a bit of a stretch, everything else told a beautiful story. Add in some intrigue and the threat of treason, it kept me turning pages. I’m excited to see that Hannah will get her story next.

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

Publication date: April 25, 2023

Highland Beast is the fourth instalment of the Sinclair Sons series by Heather McCollum. These books can be read as stand alone - which is great because it was my first of the series!

The Sinclair boys were raised by their brutal, somewhat mad father George Sinclair in the Scottish Highlands in the late 1500’s. It’s a time of Clan wars, protecting your lands and your people.

The four Sinclair boys were named after the almighty horseman and this book is focused on the youngest, Bas named for death. After his mother died giving birth to him, his father declared him death and anointed him the executioner for the clan.

Bas is a warrior and executioner and everyone he comes in contact with is terrified of him, except his animals. He lives alone in a cottage hidden in the forest and rarely spends time at his childhood castle where his three brothers and their families reside.

Shana Drummond is terrified and running from her sister Ivy’s evil husband. She also has her sisters new born baby after Ivy was thrown in the dungeon minutes after giving birth. Hurt with nowhere else to go, she encounters the gentle highland warrior willing to protect her and her nephew at all costs.

Bas has never felt a connection as strong as he does with the beautiful Shana Drummond. Bas is a fearless warrior of death and is terrified of what Shana will think when she finds out his role as executioner for the family. Is it possible for this young warrior of death to find love and happiness?

This was a great read! Excellent historical references and representation, loved all the characters and enjoyed Bas and Shana’s relationship development. There was a bit of spice but it was tastefully placed and didn’t take over the entire plot. This was four stars for me!

#NetGalley #highlandbeast #heathermccollum

It’s fine, I’m fine. Just leave me here in a puddle of my emotions.

Bàs Sinclair and Shana Drummond are one of those couples that had me rooting for them from the beginning.

It doesn’t hurt that I’m a sucker for a good Highlands-set historical romance. They rarely let me down, and Highland Beast certainly didn’t.

This is the problem with long awaited stories, they have built in our imaginary and then we are very demanding in term of rendering.
And Bàs’ tale is the one that has been developed over the span of three years.
So here it is, the moment many readers of this series have waited for.

As he impersonates death, it was simply logical, his counterpart was to be life herself.
And while Shana tends to judge him on sight without having all the facts in hand. There would be no life without death and vice versa.
The prologue is heart wrecking, immediately setting that despite everything, Bàs is an Angel tasked to become the opposite.
And while he has to change his way around people, his father never succeeded in altering his inner core. He is a good and caring man, one who was given no other choice than to comply, but when he finally got a little leeway, he organized his existence in two worlds, the one his name brings fear and retribution and the other, secret where he can be who he is in the inside, kind, caring, gentle.
Shana supports life as she assists mothers in bringing their babies on earth. But time and experience taught her to be wary of men and their way. After all she is in this predicament because of a man who has decided he was justice and god.
Why she never would have imagined the soft giant to be the warrior who will see her meet her maker. But even there he surprised her.

Bàs is one hell of a character, always true to himself, scarred in the inside by the many live he has to take, but never bitter, always tender with those in need of support.
From the warrior’s farewell to his terrestrial existence to the birth scene, as well as the squirrel or cows’ rescue, at every turn of page, he is just perfect. For all the sins he committed under his charge, he is an Angel when free from it.
Shana does struggle to reconcile with his executioner actions from the kind part of him, the one she glimpsed first. At first, so blinded by his death’s mask she can not accept one is part of the other without making him a monster.

A moving rollercoaster tale of the man who with his kindness will seduce a woman to see him for whom he is really outside and inside.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Bàs Sinclair is the youngest of the George Sinclair, Chief of the Sinclair's children, his birth resulted in the death of the chief’s beloved wife and killed whatever compassion his father once had. Filled with rage at her death, George seems to forget he has a daughter and focuses on his four sons, claiming them to be the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and at the tender age of five, naming Bàs, whose name literally means Death, as the Horseman of Death – the executioner of the clan, tell him that his mother was his first execution. Bàs fulfills his role, but it eats at him and robs him of peace and companionship, as no one aside from his family wants anything to do with him. But that changes when he rescues a woman and a baby in the forest near his home.

Shana Drummond is on the run, trying to save her sister and newborn nephew from certain death. Shana is a widow who became a midwife after the loss of her own son, when her sister Ivy requests her presence for the birth of her child, Shana learns the truth about Ivy’s marriage and her pregnancy. Convinced her husband, Erskine Oliphant, the chief of the Oliphant clan means to kill her and her son Edward, she begs Shana to save Edward by taking him from the castle and letting Erskine think he died. Shana agrees but plans to return as soon as she finds someone to protect Edward. What she didn’t plan for is wolves or a handsome Highlander with his own pet wolf. She stays with him, and even shares a kiss with him, but doesn’t tell him she plans to leave, and she hopes he can forgive her, as she wants to return to him, intrigued by this gentle and tender-hearted warrior. But she doesn’t know who he is and won’t find out until they meet again at her execution and she learns that he is the “Horseman of Death”. That knowledge changes everything she hoped for, because how can a midwife who is a bringer of life share her life with an executioner and a bringer of death? And with threats of witchcraft and treason being thrown around, is Bàs willing to plunge his family into a war for her?

I’m not sure I can adequately convey my feelings about this book, to say that I loved it would be putting it mildly, I never wanted it to end. Bàs and Shana are now one of my favorite romance couples; I loved their connection, their passion, their support of each other, and their willingness to defend each other. This story had me experiencing a complete gamut of emotions; fear, anger, passion, betrayal, remorse, guilt, forgiveness, joy, and finally love. The book is filled with emotion, wonderful characters, intrigue, banter, lots of babies, glimpses of the previous characters' HEAs, a squirrel named Betty, interesting (and somewhat horrifying) historical facts, steamyish love scenes, and finally a hard-won HEA. This is the fourth book in the series and can be read as a standalone title without a problem, but do yourself a favor and read the series in order. I highly recommend this title and was overjoyed to learn that the author is going to finish the series by giving readers the “Horsemen’s” sister, Hannah’s story!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

McCollum has written a book that has a little bit of everything in it which makes it impossible not to fall in love with the story and the characters. The story has several side stories that combined with the main story of Bas and Shana makes for a fun read. The story is longer than most that I like but because of the length and the great writing abilities of McCollum, you feel like you are experiencing the events that are unfolding. The Sons of Sinclair stories have been great reads up to this point but I loved this story best of all because Bas finally gets the wonderful life and ending that he so richly deserves. Shana has the ability and love to get Bas to realize his real worth to himself and his family. This is a fast paced and action packed story that catches your attention from the beginning until the very end. The four brothers who are deemed the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, by their father, along with their sister, Hannah have an unbreakable bond that shines throughout the entire story.
I can’t wait for Hannah’s story that is coming next.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

I just love this series! The Sons of Sinclair series is about 4 brothers who were raised to believe they were warriors like the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This book is the 4th in the series about the youngest brother, Bas. Bas in gaelic means death. He rides a pale horse just as in the prophecy and wears a skeleton mask to show he represents death.
Bas feels he is unlovable because he wreaks of death.
Shana is fleeing an abusive brother in law who is threatening her sisters baby. When she starts being pursued by wolves she climbs a tree to escape. She gets the baby tied up to a branch and starts to climb herself when she slips, falls,hits her head and knocks herself out. But she is rescued by Bas. He takes her and the baby home to recover.
Shana has no idea who Bas is, other than a kind man who rescues both man and beast in distress.
Will her opinion change when she finds out he is known as the Executioner of Death.
I loved seeing these two get to really know each other and grow to love each other.
Can't wait for the last book in the series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

In my mind, I don’t really read romances, but the more I think about it, I read a plethora of romance novels. Jane Austen and Diana Gabaldon come immediately to mind. Nevertheless, I still feel “new” to the romance genre, and I’m afraid I had presumptions about the genre that simply were not true.

Heather McCollum’s novel, Highland Beast, is the fourth book in the Sons of Sinclair series. Each book in the series highlights a different Sinclair brother. Highland Beast is Bàs Sinclair’s story. From a young age, Bàs has been molded to be the Sinclair executioner, a role he believes he cannot escape. He fears his soul is doomed, despite his preposition to care for and nurture hurt animals. Bàs questions his role in the clan after he meets Shana, a midwife. He questions how he can be with someone who brings life into the world where he extinguishes it. War breaks out between the clans when Bàs refuses to execute Shana.

While there is a romance, McCollum emphasizes the story and the character development. It wasn’t all about getting to the sexy bits. McCollum’s writing sweeps you up in the story, the tension between the clans, and the palatable fear cultures had (have) of strong women. The world McCollum created felt very real and was expertly conveyed.

McCollum’s book has shattered my erroneous assumptions about romance novels. I loved the characters and the story. Anyone who loves Scotland, strong female characters, and adventure will enjoy this book. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about midwifery in the 16th century. McCollum’s writing is fluid and engaging. She gives depth and dimension to her characters—the women in the book are fantastic. As I mentioned, I’ve read the Outlander series, which I love. However, the books are long, and I tend to forget who’s who. Highland Beast has all the elements I enjoy in Outlander, yet it is significantly shorter (it’s still almost 400 pages. Don’t worry, McCollum doesn’t skimp on plot or character development). I highly recommend this book and will read McCollum’s other books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amara Books for providing me with an ARC.

I loved this book. Bas is such a sweet kind soul. He been scarred from the treatment his father did to him so, he always sees himself in a bad light when he is such a pure soul.I love that we got to learned about both the main character through their past and present. The 🔞 was so caring. He treated her as through she could break even through she was a very strong women. I love that they were both vulnerable and allowed their flaws to come out and work through their differences. This is such a sweet, funny, heartwarming, and action packed book. I truly enjoyed this read.

What an unusual story this turned out to be. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Making it almost impossible to predict was going to happen next. But that was also a good thing in my opinion. I also enjoyed the things that happened in daily life in his clan that drew both main characters into some interesting situations.
What a surprise Bàs Sinclair turned out to be. You could really feel the emotions beginning from the time as a sensitive 5 year old little boy. I liked seeing the complexity of his life now and that there was so much more to him than just being the hand of death. Hard to believe but I really liked him. He was so alone even among his family.
Everyone feared him, except his brothers who were his fellow Horseman and his sister Hannah. The brothers and their wives added a great dimension to the story. Hannah has been his champion since childhood and protected him as much as she could. She was so clever and a boldness that had been hidden. I was glad to see that she has her story coming too.
Turns out it was a good thing that Bàs met Shana before he was supposed to execute her in his role as the Horseman of Death. It gave him the truth against what was being claimed by her evil brother-in-law. But that doesn't mean things are going to be made easier though. Along the way, it also brings up a question. Could both of the main characters add more to their roles as one who aids life, and one who aids death.
I know Bàs is the one I've talked about the most but Shana was a force to be reckoned with too. I loved how brave, loyal, loving, knowledgeable about being a midwife, and good to the core that she was. More than a match to go toe to toe with Bàs. Especially as she fights with anger towards him when she finds out what he does for the clan.
Fierce battles against lies, betrayals, and a few actual physical battles are in this story. Especially towards the end. It gets really intense.
I liked how the story ended and how it included a good epilogue.

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

This was a really beautiful story about finding who you are and about forgiveness. Bas definitely has my heart he is just the perfect man. Him being an executioner and his name meaning death he has been feared his entire life. Bc of that he just keeps to himself. In reality he is such a sweetheart. Definitely the misunderstood cinnamon roll. Shana was an amazing character. Loved how sweet she was to everyone but especially to bas. She was exactly what he needed, someone to see him for who he really is and she didn't disappoint.

She helped Bas realize that not everything he touches is going to die. They both gave each other a second chance at a happy life

There is a lot happening in this book and a lot of characters were mentioned. It had me a bit confused just bc this is the first book I've read of the series but there a couple of chapters I was able to remember who is who. The romance is honestly what kept me going.

They had their happy ending and can't wait to read the next book in the series!!

Bàs Sinclair is synonymous with death. He’s the Sinclair family executioner. He is feared. When he dons the skull mask his father gave him as a young boy, he is the Horseman of Death. And while he does his duty for his family on and off the battlefield, underneath the brawn and the muscles and the mask and the scars, he is a giant cinnamon roll who prefers to live among the animals. They seem to be the only ones who don’t fear him after all.

When Shana Drummond and her newborn nephew trip into his life, he begins to reconsider what he has always believed. Should he be questioning the death sentences that he is called to serve? Is there more to him than death? Is it possible that he can bring life and dignity, too?

The stakes are high as clans clash and Bàs and Shana fall in love.

Oh my gosh, I loved this book. I adored Bàs’s tender heart and Shana’s strength, his relationship with the animals, and watching Bàs reframe how he sees himself. I enjoyed the Sinclair family dynamic and how strong the women are. It looks like I’m entering my Scottish Highlander era, and I’m not upset about it.

I received an advance copy of the book from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Book Name: Highland Beast
Series: Sons of Sinclair #4
Author: Heather McCollum
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

This is is probably only the second highlander type romance book I’ve read, but I’m trying to get slightly adjacent to my comfort zone and the last highlander book I read was **chefs kisses** so I thought I’d give this one a go too.

This book is part of a series of standalone books and this is the first one I’m reading, but I think it might have peaked my interest enough to go and have a look at previous books.

Bàs had a very traumatic upbringing where he and his brothers were essentially trained to represent the four horsemen, Bàs literally meaning “Death”. Luckily for us, he is actually a sweet little thing under all that killing and we get to see the softer, saving animals and making friends with giant wolves side. When Shana arrives with her little newborn nephew as they try to escape the babies father, she doesn’t know who he is or that she should be afraid.

I loved that Bàs got to experience meeting someone who didn’t already come with preconceived ideas on who and what he was. She was able to just see him as a man, not the monster he was brought up to be. Also, I am definitely annoying everyone around me as I have now started to talk like I am a highlander.

It was cute and fluffy while also giving us a lot of action and adventure as we tried to work out who was working with who and how they were going to avoid an all out civil war. Some parts were a bit cheesy, but I think that’s what make this kind of book good, yeah?

Thanks to #NetGallery and #Entangled for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Genre: Romance (Historical)
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+
Photo: Stolen from the internet

I’ve been eagerly anticipating Bàs’s story since the very first book, and I’m so thrilled that I received an ARC of Highland Beast, the fourth book in the Sons of Sinclair series. Bàs’s story is a fabulous and moving addition to the series, and I adored Bàs as much as I had expected.

Bàs has been shrouded in mystery since the first book in the series, and I knew there was more to this brutal man than was revealed. His character arc was fantastic. A solitary man with a lot of torment, Bàs slowly starts to see himself as more than just an executioner. This is a man who was forced from childhood to become something he despised, and it takes him a long time to reconcile the different parts of himself. It was heartbreaking to read his story as a sweet young boy who liked to pick flowers being told he killed his mother (she died in childbirth) and being forced into a ruthless and brutal existence. There’s a deep sadness in this man, and his unfeeling, heartless, and distanced outward persona is very different from the guilty, lonely, and sensitive man he is inside. I love that we see the tender more vulnerable side of him, like when we learn he keeps a monument to all those he had a hand in killing, or when he patiently and compassionately helps a dying man live his final moments the way he wishes, and when we see how lovingly he treats animals. I also love how his growing relationship with Shana changes him.

Bàs does not let people in, not even his brothers, so he is surprised and confused when Shana gets under his skin. I thought Shana was great!! Brave, kind, and stubborn, Shana helps Bàs see himself as more than just a killer. A healer who will do anything to protect her sister, Shana finds Bàs as she flees from her brother-in-law with her sister’s newborn baby. Her brother-in-law, the vile leader of a neighboring clan, believes the baby is not his and is intent on killing it. Shana is terrified for her sister and her baby nephew, and she finds safety for herself and her nephew with Bàs. It was interesting to see these two develop feelings for each other. Shana, a midwife who brings life into the world, and Bàs, a man who ends lives, balance each other well.

The story also has a lot of suspense and intrigue, as Shana is desperate to free her sister from imprisonment. Afraid of murmurings of witchcraft, Shana knows her brother-in-law won’t stop until he finds the baby, but Shana isn’t giving him up, and she will do anything to reunite the bay with her sister. Shana is pulled into danger and murderous plots that go way deeper than she imagined. Luckily she has Bàs and his brothers to help her. And, I have to mention Bas with the baby. So adorable! I love how tender and sweet he is. He is kinder and more compassionate than he ever gives himself credit for, and his gift with animals is also very special.

Speaking of animals, I adored all of the animal additions to the story. Bàs has a menagerie of non-human friends, and he has a gift for caring for, befriending and understanding these creatures. I think my favorite was the squirrel. That little guy was so cute! Though Bàs’s wolf is also amazing!

The story is a nice mix of action, intrigue, character growth, and romance. I would recommend checking out the content warnings since there are elements, including violence and abuse. Special thanks to Entangled: Amara for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Not great. The romance storyline takes a back seat to family drama and clan squabbles throughout. Some scenes between the couple were nice. What really turned me off was the comically obvious villains and the overly naive and ridiculous sister of the main character.

I read this as a standalone, and that was fine. Some references to prior stories, but nothing was unclear. I did get the impression that the earlier titles in the series are similarly over the top.

eARC provided via NetGalley for review.

I love Heather mccollum. Highland beast was awesome. Highland Beast is set in 16th century Scotland and it’s about injustice and prejudice and shedding chains induced by them so that you can finally grow into yourself.
I loved Bàs’ journey. The way he was so inherently good and managed not to loose that even when forced to become everything he abhorred speaks of his resilience. The characters were great, I was a bit emotional at times but you will absolutely fall in love.

This was another great book in the series! I absolutely loved how strong and determined Shana is. She has set her mind to help bring Bas back around other people and them not fear him. It is a hard task but she is up to it. Bas just wants a quiet life where he can be with his animals in peace but when Shana showed up into his life he has new plans. Will they be able to make the plans a reality? I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death…”

I’m always a soft touch for a story with a maligned highland hero and a feisty heroine. Particularly for Shana Drummond who sees through the public persona of the Sinclair brother named Death to the true man inside. Set in the 1590’s in Northern Scotland.
As a five year old child, his father called him to his purpose with the words, “Ye became the Horseman of Death the day of your birth, the day your mother died giving ye life. ’Twas why I named ye death, Bàs.”
Bàs is known as the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, the Sinclair brother named Death, and trained to be just that, to be the clan’s executioner. Fearsome to behold, mounted on a pale horse, an unparalleled fighter, men quaked when he and his cohort, a spectre of biblical proportions, were aimed towards them.
Bàs sadly and lovingly maintains a garden of rocks, a silent monument to his victims in a highland dell. With a wolf as his companion, Bàs’ fierce outer persona is seeking to come to grips with his inner poet, attuned to beauty and nature. He’s bearing a great sadness.
Shana is a midwife who steals away from the Oliphant clan to save her sister Ivy’s newborn babe from her brutal husband Erskine Oliphant, who knows the child is not his.
The meeting of these two will change both their lives.
A tale of misunderstanding, of love and acceptance, of Beauty and the Beast.
I loved every minute of it!

An Entangled ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This is the fourth book in the Son's of Sinclair series. I have not read any of the other books in the series, but I feel you can go straight into this book. This is my first Heather McCollum book, and I can't wait to go back and read the other books in the series. I'm sure this book would be even better if you have read the other books, since the brothers and their wives are a big part of this book.

Bas is an executioner in 16th century Scotland. His father named him Bas, which means death. Each of his sons was raised to be the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Bas was forced to be the Horseman of Death, even though he was a sweet and tender-hearted child. His father blamed him for his mother's death since she died giving birth to Bas. He started training Bas to be death at 5 years old. This was so heartbreaking when you see what a kind soul he has, but lives apart from his family and how everyone is scared of him.

He rescues Shanna from a pack of wolves when she is trying to save her sister's newborn baby from her husband. Bas takes her in for the night, and they share a sweet kiss. However, she needs to go back to help her sister. Bas ends up going to execute a supposed child murderer, but it is Shanna.

I absolutely loved Bas. He is such a cinnamon roll hero. He takes care of a lot of different animals. You have to love a man who is big, strong, and a badass, but loves and nurtures animals. There are so many sweet scenes with his wolf, squirrel, horses, and cows.

This book had a beautiful love story with interesting plots. There is a lot of action, a deeper look into the family, and political intrigue. Shanna helps Bas realize he is more than death and that he deserves love.

I do wish there was more spice, but it just might not be Heather's style. It was still a beautiful story, and I can't wait to read the brothers' books, as well as their sister's.

**Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.