A Reader's Opinion
David Nix has a writing style that draws a reader into the story so they become one with the landscape and characters.
DEAD MAN'S HAND, the first in a new progressive western series, and my first read by this author, takes the reader on a journey through inhospitable country, making way for a lot of adventure.
Aftyn was an understanding woman who knew her people and stood strong when faced with certain challenges. She became meek and silent when it came to using her abilities to heal the people of the clan. Yes, she has limited experience, and she relied on her mom, but when Jamie entered her life, Aftyn grew defensive and insulted. I’m like, you can’t have it both ways. Luckily, both characters turn out to be wonderful.
The author is a great storyteller and did a wonderful job bringing Highland Prodigy to life. It was easy for me to picture the scenes while reading since the details and descriptions were richly explained. I thought the tone of the book fit both the genre and the plot well. The romance between Jamie and Aftyn started out as smoldering and accelerated to a heated romance. Highland Prodigy is an entertaining read and great for fans of historical romance.
Jamie Lathan is a formidable warrior, yet his life depends not only on his legendary prowess with a sword, but on keeping a dangerous secret. Like his mother, Jamie wields the power of healing magic. From childhood, he knew that those skills, often feared in a woman, would be condemned outright in a man. Discovery could mean imprisonment or death, but Jamie soon learns that denying his compulsion to heal is to deny the very core of himself.
Aftyn Keith desperately tries to fill the role of Healer after her mother dies unexpectedly. Still an apprentice, ill-prepared and hampered by her illegitimate birth, Aftyn knows that her best may not be enough to keep her place as a useful member of the clan. When a handsome Lathan warrior with healing skills far beyond her ken arrives and succeeds in saving his gravely injured kinsman, she begs him to teach her.
Jamie risks everything in choosing to trust Aftyn. But when she unwittingly betrays him, Aftyn is faced with a decision that may gain Jamie's freedom, but cost her the only home that she has ever known. In the face of her growing feelings for Jamie, she knows that either decision will leave her heart broken beyond any Healer's mending.
BOOK INFO
Genre: Historical Highland Romance
Release: November 16, 2022
Format Read: E-Book
Reviewed by: Rainelle
Source: Provided by the author or publisher
Content Rating: 5 Hearts—Pull out your fans and grab a glass of ice cold water because this book is steaming hot! One or more graphic sex scenes.
NOTE: Ratings are only provided for content (sex, violence, language, etc.). We do not give star ratings on this blog, though reviewers may do so on retail outlets and Goodreads. We review and share only those books we have enjoyed and think others will enjoy, too. Learn more.
Disclaimer: Books & Benches received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely those of the reader/reviewer.
Sarah E. Ladd is an auto-buy author for me because her stories always draw me into beautiful settings. Her wonderful characters and interesting tales add an extra layer of enjoyment. Cassandra and James have great chemistry on the page, and though Ladd keeps her books clean, the attraction is undeniable. With a touch of intrigue and plenty of sweet romance and chivalry, The Letter from Briarton Park is worth reading.
This book releases March 1, 2022, which means I will get to enjoy it again in the spring. I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy.
About the BookIn Regency England, one letter will alter a young woman’s fate when it summons her to Briarton Park—an ancient place that holds the secrets of her past and the keys to her future.
Cassandra Hale grew up knowing little about her parentage, and she had made peace with the fact that she never would. But Cassandra’s world shifts when a shocking deathbed confession reveals a two-year-old letter from Mr. Clark, the master of Briarton Park, with hints to her family’s identity. Stung by betrayal, she travels to the village of Anston only to learn Mr. Clark has since passed away.
James Warrington is a widower and the new master of Briarton Park, where he lives with his two young daughters, his sister, and his mother-in-law. When Cassandra appears at his doorstep with a letter from the previous owner and then proceeds to assist his family in an unexpected way, he is honor bound to help uncover the answers she seeks.
The more time Cassandra spends in Anston, the more she begins to suspect not everything—or everyone—is as they seem. As details emerge, the danger surrounding her intensifies. Using wit and intuition, she must navigate the treacherous landscapes between truth and rumor and between loyalty and deception if she is to uncover the realities of her past and find the place her heart can finally call home.
Sarah Ladd’s latest Regency romance, first in the new Houses of Yorkshire series, combines mystery and intrigue with the best of historical storytelling.
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