Good book

There a few predictable turns but it's enjoyable. Some of her other books have stronger plots and more interesting characters, but I listened to this book all the way through. It does have a sweet ending. I'm still very much a fan of Lynsay Sands.

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pleasantly surprised

Being a first time listener, I wasn't sure what to expect. I really quite enjoyed Kieran Elliott as the narrator. His accent and story reading brought an extra element to the story.

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Excellent narrator but not much else

Fabulous narrator in Keiran Elliott, who makes this mediocre story worth the listen. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to have anything else available here on Audible. Story is simple, uncomplicated, and unoriginal. Not much chemistry between the H/h and a very icky/awkward first romantic encounter. Worth a listen through for Keiran's Scottish brough.

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A Rollicking Good Romp&A Cool Storyline to Boot...

We start out on a long journey to Scotland from England. Our heroes' pig-bladder has broken, and he won't risk getting a woman with child, and so he leaves his inn (with the lusty tavern wench,) to go home to Scotland. As such, along the road, he finds what appears to be a boy, being beaten senseless by three thugs. Saving the boy and fighting off the robbers with his sword, Lord Campbell Sinclair (Cam to his friends,) is stabbed in the back and nearly dies. Thanks to the peasant boy, "Joe," whose mother was a healer and taught "Joe" everything, "Cam" is saved. Because "Joe" is travelling/going to hand his mother's final written letter/request to a Scottish Lady (from England) on foot, Cam offers his protection to "Joe" along the way to Scotland.

Here is where things get a wee bit muckle, because, in fact, when "Joe" goes to bathe in the stream, "Joe" turns out to be "Joan," a beautiful lass who travels as a boy in secret so as to be less of a target to bandits...And a little too much time alone together, and a lot of passion and Joan and Cam...

But the story doesn't end there. It turns out that Joan's mother is not her birthmother. Joan's travel to the Lady allows her to find out that she is, in fact, the niece of a noblewoman, and, as Joan gave Cam her innocence, they will have to marry.

Yet, the story doesn't end there. Poison, fainting damsels in distress, Joan's horrible cacaphonic attempt at singing, and nearly shooting Cam are all solid parts of this interesting story. Definitely worth a credit for the diehard romantic, in my opinion.

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another beautiful story

I loved it very much the story was wonderful intrigue and some sadness. I am glad the story picked up on the first book. and blended the two family's together

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Pleasantly Surprised

The overall story has many twists and turns which kept me guessing. The intimate moments were not typical of the time period as they had a modern edge to them. Learning how conniving people were back then to get their own way was surprising. I liked the investigation they did to determine the person responsible for the deaths. It was a good who done it. I enjoyed this book.

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good read

the story was riveting and entertaining...and I was surprised to find Annabel and Ross from previous story..amazing job

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Fun story

Cons: too much sex especially in 1st part of book. I prefer when sex is alluded too rather than in my face.
Narrator was great for male voices and slightly better than most males portraying female voices.
Pros: fun story with some several bits of great writing in it. It made me smile.

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Disjointed Plot

I have no complaints about the author's voice or the characterization, but the plot was irksome, to say the least. The first 1/3 of the book was full of romance, anticipation, sex, and some heart-pounding, worrisome moments, but the last 2/3 of the book felt like a completely different story. The sex and romance disappeared and a new villain, new problems, and new motivations were introduced. It felt disjointed.

I feel like Cam found out that Joan was a woman far too early. There were so many missed opportunities for humour between the two of them. Also, Joan gave up her virginity *really* easily for someone that's petrified of becoming pregnant. I realize that they were in the moment, but as a healer who has seen all sorts of gruesome births, how could that not have popped into her mind?

The latter 2/3 of the novel was painfully predictable, and as soon as the ladies are poisoned by the cider, it's obvious who the culprit is. I don't get why it's a mystery, and I certainly don't get why these obtuse characters can't figure it out from the onset.

The epilogue is heartily disappointing. Why waste all this time on a new villain and new problems in the latter 2/3 of the book, when there was a perfectly good problem *right there*, plugged in from the beginning? Both had horrible fears of a pregnancy! Shortly after marrying, they could have found out that she was with child, and they could have spent time initially grieving, then deciding to go on mini adventures, or picnics (etc) on their "last days" together, realizing that all they wanted before she (potentially) died was to spend every moment together. It would have been heart-wrenching and beautiful, and it would have made the ending that much more impactful.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good adventure in my historical romance. I love nasty villains and devious plots, but this one was introduced so late that it felt like it was the beginning of a totally different story. If the author was so keen on having a villain appear in the latter 2/3 of the book, then my advice would have been to sneak a few peeks into the villain's head in the beginning 1/3. We needn't know their name, but just having a few thoughts, like "when is Cam going to be back? I've been waiting with these awful women for too long!", then at least a villain has been introduced, and the book flows from beginning to finish without feeling so disjointed.

This was my first Lynsay Sands book, and I'm very disappointed. I've heard good things about her other books, though, so I might give her work another shot. Fingers crossed that this one was just a fluke!

The narration was done pretty well. I liked the guy's voice, but I found that he paused at the oddest moments (usually a spot that wouldn't have a comma, so they felt really out of place). I became used to the odd pauses and just enjoyed the timbre of his voice.

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