This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Wow, this was non-stop excitement, drama, intrigue and romance! Graeme came home after years of mercenary work because he is now the next in line to be the laird. He brings along a couple of friends and a new friend who happens to be Annella's brother who thinks she is a shy and proper lady. Oops, not so!

There are things that they find out are just fiction and many twists and turns so there is never a dull moment. While Annella feels attraction for Graeme, they still are not on the same path for their clan and they need to work on communication.

Nice ending and wrap up and loved their HEA.

"The Highlander's Return" by Lynsay Sands has some interesting elements, but overall, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While I appreciate the Highland setting and the promise of a romantic adventure, the story felt a bit predictable and the pacing lagged in places.

If you’re a die-hard fan of Highland romances, you might still find some enjoyment here, but for me, it didn’t deliver the emotional punch I was hoping for.

If you're in the mood for swoon-worthy Highlanders, laugh-out-loud moments, and a romance hotter than a bonfire in the Scottish Highlands, then *The Highlander’s Return* by Lynsay Sands is exactly the book you need in your life!

This tale brings the ever-so-charming Laird Niels Buchanan back home after years away, and oh my, has time been good to him. Enter Lady Isla, a headstrong, no-nonsense lass with a sharp wit and a heart of gold. Sparks fly the minute these two cross paths, and Sands weaves a delightful, humorous romance that had me grinning like a fool throughout.

One of the best parts of this book is the banter. Niels and Isla's witty back-and-forth had me giggling constantly. Take this gem for instance, when Isla sizes up Niels for the first time:
*"You might be big and brawny, but it takes more than muscles to win a lass's heart. You'll have to try harder than that, Laird."*
And boy, does Niels rise to the challenge!

But Sands doesn’t just give us laughs; she throws in some seriously swoon-worthy moments too. I practically melted when Niels, with all his Highlander charm, says:
*"I’ve traveled the world, fought battles, and faced danger—but none of it prepared me for the storm that is ye, lass."*
Cue the heart eyes.

What makes *The Highlander’s Return* even more enjoyable is the perfect balance between romance and adventure. There's plenty of action to keep the pace moving, with a dash of intrigue that keeps you hooked. The Scottish backdrop adds that extra bit of magic, and Sands’ attention to historical detail immerses you in the rugged beauty of the Highlands.

Lynsay Sands delivers everything you could want from a Highland romance—humor, heat, heart, and a couple you can’t help but root for. If you’re looking for a story that’ll make you laugh, swoon, and cheer all in one go, *The Highlander’s Return* is a must-read. Five stars and a Highlander-sized thumbs up!

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this #book from Avon and Harper Voyager publishing via #Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are cross-posted to social media, goodreads, and blog. 🦄
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We return to the world of Lynsay Sands Highland Brides, where the heroines are beautiful and feisty, and the men are handsome and well a bit dumb when it comes to things of a romantic nature.
In this installment, we meet Graham Gunn, who is returning home to give his sister-in-law some bad news. He from listening to her brother is expecting a lady who could faint with the news he's about to give. What he gets is a woman who conks a man over the head with a pot to knock him out and sew him up after he injures himself. I think for him it's love at first sight! For our heroine Anellea its not. All she can think when she receives the news is that she can finally escape this place and return home to her family. Graham has other ideas and proceeds to hatch a plan to get her to stay.. forever.

I loved Anella from our first meeting. She has been through a lot to become the confident woman she is now, and her spirit, sass, and sarcasm made me root for her from the beginning. Now Graham is a good guy, although in his earnestness to woo Annella and marry her he does make some dumb decisions, which leads to some complications in their relationship.

Alongside all the wooing, and knocking boots (which did happen a bit fast, but, Annela has been through the wringer and if she wants to Graham be with Graham in that way, I say you go girl! ) There is a side mystery about someone trying to get rid of both Graham and Anella. Now was this part kind of predictable in who was behind it all? But it didn't diminish my enjoyment of this book in any way, and I do enjoy a good villain's monologue where they tell the reasons why they were trying to kill off the MCs.

I love the way Lynsay Sands writes a historical Scottish romance and I will any and all books she puts out in this genre.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

"The Highlander's Return" isn't a horrible book. However, I don't think it is a great romance. It is mostly an erotica. I consider myself a slow burn lover. I love my romance to be filled with the emotional and physical aspect but drawn out in a way that we can grow to care about the characters. This book was quick when it came to building the relationship (more so the physical part). It left me wanting more. The mystery was not hard to figure out either.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc.
This was a great book I loved the characters and the story development. This was a great addition to the Highlander series

*Spoilers*
This book took me forever to get through. I've read books that had to do with the same characters but NEVER did it take me FOREVER to get through the book. This was the first time I've read anything by this author and it will most likely be my last considering how long it took me to get through the book. I really thought I'd enjoy this book especially after reading the synopsis. I was wrong. It was so predictable. I knew right away who pushed the boulder off the roof, killed William and pushed the father down the stairs. If you're that clueless then this book is right up your alley.

It begins with Annella who has been laird of Gunn for 6 years after she came there to wed William. Unfortunately, William leaves to go on pilgrimage and ends up dying, So, his brother Dauid goes out in search of Graeme their other brother who is warrior to help find William. Well, William is dead so Graeme comes back to Gunn with his friends, one of them being Annella's brother Payton. Graeme takes over being laird and Annella is forced to marry him because she gave up her virginity to him so her brother demanded it. There were attempts on Graeme's and Annella's lives but the end up surviving each one. You do hear about some of the people who live at Gunn and also about more of Anella's family as they show up to visit.

I love historical books but this just didn't do it for me. I'll stick with the others that had more to it than predictable people trying to kill off people due to jealousy.

3.5 Stars

Lynsay Sands knows how to write a historical Highlander romance

I’ve read every book in this series, and they are some of my go-to books, because they’re quick, fun, steamy reads.

This series is very formulaic. Which is something I like. I’m happy to know what I’m getting ahead of time. It’s why this series is a comfort read for me.

I will say that in The Highlander’s Return we get to the steam REALLY fast. I love steamy books, but I did miss some of the tension and build up in here, and it felt like things were a little rushed.

While this is book #11 and everything is taking place in the same world, you don’t have to read the other books, as each book focuses on an individual couple.

However I will say that while I enjoyed this book, I don’t think it’s the strongest in the series. The books featuring the Buchanan brothers are my favorites - so I’d personally suggest not skipping them!

Overall, I enjoyed myself and would absolutely recommend it to a friend looking for a Highlander romance!

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: pasties (either with fruit or meat and vegetable)

Triggers: sexual content, murder, injury detail, pregnancy, child death, emotional abuse

in true Lyndsay sands fashion, this was deliciously funny. I loved the hero's determination to marry the heroine and trying to trap her in marriage!

This is the twelfth book in the Highland Bride series, but it can easily be read as a standalone novel. Having been deserted by her husband on her wedding night, Annella Mackay is used to taking care of her clan on her own. So six years later, she's not exactly thrilled with turning over everything to her husband's brother, Graeme. But when mysterious "accidents" start happening, Graeme realizes that maybe not all is at seems in his new clan.
As with Lynsay Sands other Highland Brides novels, this was a lighthearted historical romance filled with fun secondary characters and an intriguing storyline. Her books never disappoint when you are looking for a little reading escape.

I'm in my new Lass era after this book! It did take time to understand the accents, but once I did, it was amazing and I could not stop! Graeme is the best husband and made me swoon. I love how confident Anella was, and how she took on so much responsibility. I loved how they both grew with each other and how Graeme truly listened to Anella.

I must read the full series and I hope it will be as amazing as this.

Anella McKay married at an early age and her husband soon after the wedding took off for a sabbatical and has been gone for the past 6 years. Despite abuse from her mother-in-law, she took over as Laird of the Gunn keep. Her brother-in-law, Graeme Gunn, returns with his fellow mercenary friends and Annella’s brother with word that her husband is deceased and she is now a widow. Happy to return to her family home, Annella instructs her maid to start packing. Graeme, now assumed the title and is determined to convince Annella to stay on at the castle and hopes she will marry him. They are confronted with so many challenges and threats as Graeme transitions to being Laird. When I say some Highlanders are petty, diabolical and hold grudges, oh boy. I enjoyed The Highlander’s Return a lot and finished it quickly. It’s well written and action packed with sides of steam, intrigue, murder and mayhem.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review

His brother's wife...

Graeme's sister-in-law is Annella. She is now a widow, as her husband, his brother died. Annella had a pretty bad marriage (like she was abandoned). She put on her big girl underoo's and became the boss of the clan. With Graeme's return, that is a role she may be ousted from. But these two are super attracted to each other.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC.

This books is about Graeme and Annella. Graeme is brining news back that Annella’s husband and former Laird of Gunn has been found dead. Annellas husband fled on their wedding night and had been missing for six years, she had been acting as Laird of Gunn ever since. Graeme return home means that she can step down as Laird and return to her family home to live the rest of her days as a widow, but Graeme has other ideas for her and sets to making her fall in love. But their bond is soon tested as mysterious accidents keep happening.

I loved this book so much! Lyndsay Sands is an automatic buy for me as she does some of the best historical romance books out there. The pacing and mystery accept keeps you wanting to read more and more. This book is for anyone who loves a tough main female character and a big man who falls hard and fast for her!

The Highlander's Return is another Lynsay Sands victory. I am a sucker for a strong, unflappable heroine and a hero who gets starry eyed over the FMC's strength. The who-done-it elements were also satisfying and added to the relationship arc. I usually love a slow burn, and this is very much different from that. This incendiary romance was delightful, funny, sexy, and all around a great time!

Book: THE HIGHLANDER’S RETURN
Author: Lynsay Sands
Series: Highland Brides, Book #12
Number of Pages: 352 Pages
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags

Scottish Highlands
Graeme MacKay was born a second son and has been a mercenary; he left his home long ago to fight all across Scotland. Now his brother William has passed and he must take his place. He is shocked when he meets his brother’s widow as this who is stunning and outspoken and direct not creature is not the quiet, biddable wife he recalls from his brother and Annella’s wedding from many years prior.

Annella is breathtakingly beautiful but has no reservations about speaking her mind either! When she discovers her husband is dead she is not sad or full of remorse and grief. Quite the opposite really; she is happy and ready to leave this Gunn household. Afterall her husband left in the middle of the night with the village light skirt and it was the last time she saw him. It was the day after their wedding her mother-in-law blamed Annella making such cruel and horrible accusations like she wasn’t pretty, had an ugly physique and didn’t know how to satisfy a man.

What she does realize is Graeme is not the new Laird and needs a wife. Plus Annella needs to have the Lairds permission to leave the Gunn lands. He has decided she will be his next wife. He is already attracted to her and sees her feisty and has done a great job acting as Laird and healer. Plus his people admire and respect her minus his mother who he knows is a wicked witch from his own experience.

Now Graeme has found the perfect excuse to show him the rope and teach him to become a proper laird. Of course he is lying through his teeth but hopes during the time to woo her and have her fall into his arms. Will his charm and manipulation work with this feisty independent beauty? Except it is not all calm safe waters with wooing as an enemy comes into their atmosphere that wants them both dead! Read and discover their fate!

I have been reading Lynsay Sands books for close to thirty years. I have read all twelve books in this series. Again it is another brilliant read that just blew me away! It is filled with breathtaking betrayal, heartwarming passion and a love that could not be denied. A book Scottish historical romance readers do not want to miss! As always it is another Sands book that had me hooked right from the start. It can be read as a stand alone book or in series orders. A book I highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s copy from Avon publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair review and blog through Netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

This isn’t a bad book, but it’s definitely a truly insane one. In the most fun way! There’s so much chaos and mystery and attempted murder and steamy moments and Scottish accents! The very basic, the romance between Annella and Graeme, is actually quite good. They have chemistry and sparks and are really complementary characters. The moments when it’s simply about these two people exploring how they feel about each other work so well.

Graeme’s family, though. The wildest secondary characters I have read in a looooong time. They’re probably gonna make you appreciate your family way more. But they’re so deeply chaotic that the book never lets you settle into it. It’s one shocking, crazy moment after another. If you’re into that, you’ll love this. If you want a soothing read, I would have this for another time.

This is a fantastic historical romance set in the highlands. I love the fact that the heroine is strong and has actually been running things in her clan while her husband was gone, but now that he has died and she must marry his brother there are some disagreements on who shall be in charge. I love seeing how the relationship develops and that they really are a perfect match for one another. They both love the people in their clan, and it’s heartwarming to see how they fight for themselves and their people

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel.

This was a fast, fun read. This Scottish love story had all the drama, steaminess, and action you would expect. I haven't read all of the other books in this series, but I definitely will.

I loved this from beginning to end. Annella and Graeme are a perfect match. There are several facets to their story that kept me so engaged to where I didn’t want to put it down!
I’d give this 5 stars all day long.