Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

 Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney-306 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Grady Green has been an author for a while and finally gets his breakthrough when his latest book opens as a New York Times Bestseller. However, the celebration is short lived as his wife, Abby, disappears in the middle of a phone call with him that same night. She appears to have totally disappeared. Was she kidnapped or did she leave without a trace? Grady is in a tailspin after her disappearance and is given the opportunity to travel to a remote island off the coast of Scotland for 3 months. There's a writer's cabin on the island that belonged to a former author who died and bequeathed it to Grady's agent. Grady sees Abby (or at least he thinks he sees her) upon arrival to the island. Is Abby on the island and/or what has happened to her?? 

I did not see the twist near the end coming. This is my second foray into an Alice Feeney book and I liked this one a bit better than the first (the first, Daisy Darker, was well written I simply didn't like part of the end reveal). I liked this one. My favorite thriller author is still Ruth Ware, but Alice Feeney is pretty good, also. 

When He Was Wicked - Julia Quinn

 When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn - 448 pages

In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one’s life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London’s most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca’s surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

But that was then . . . Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love . . . until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets.

Death of a Spy (Hamish Macbeth #36) by M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green

Death of a Spy (Hamish Macbeth #36) by M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green-240 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is back at it again. All he wants is to live a quiet life in his small town in the Scottish highlands. He never seems to succeed at it, though. There's always something going on. This time James Bland, the American who previously saved Hamish's life, comes on as his Constable to try and sniff out a spy ring. Also, a burglar is on the loose in Lochdubh that Hamish can't seem to locate. The burglar may be hiding in plain sight. Will Hamish and Bland break up the spy ring? Will they find and apprehend the burglar? I always enjoy a visit to Lochdubh and I liked this one like all the rest I've read.

Death of a Traitor (Hamish Macbeth, #35) by M.C. Beaton with R.W. Green

Death of a Traitor (Hamish Macbeth, #35) by M.C. Beaton with R.W. Green-240 pages

⭐⭐⭐1/2 

I always enjoy visiting Lochdubh. Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is likeable as ever. Kate Hibbert goes missing and her body is found floating in a local lake. Sergeant Macbeth must find out who killed her and why. The investigation leads him to several locals who were blackmailed by Hibbert, but which one killed her? DCI Blair returns to Hamish's dismay and he must try and avoid Blair as much as possible while still placating him just enough. The ending was a bit disappointing, but it was still a pretty good read, overall. I look forward to reading the next, most recent Hamish Macbeth mystery. 

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan -- 317 pages

Sparks fly when an occult expert and a disgraced archeologist become enemies-with-benefits in this steamy romance.

Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she's pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired.

Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even.

Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.

Through the Glen by Samantha Young

Through the Glen by Samantha Young -- 317 pages

He’s a cynical, world-weary Londoner. She’s a shy Scot. They might seem like opposites, but a few weeks in the Highlands will bring them together in ways they can’t imagine…

Theo Cavendish is the second son of a British viscount, and he’s spent years running from the aristocratic world he grew up in. Betrayal and loss taught him lessons he’s not quick to forget. As an award-winning screenwriter and creator, Theo prefers to throw himself into the world of film and television. He moves from one project to another, never really letting anyone truly know him.

As a housekeeper at the exclusive Ardnoch Estate, shy Sarah McCulloch feels invisible most days. No one really knows her, and they definitely don’t know she’s a bestselling crime writer. She dreams of seeing her series on screen and believes only one person can develop it for television. On the day she quits the estate for good, she shares her secret with club member, Theo, and asks him to consider her books.

Sarah never expected him to say yes or to show up on her doorstep ready to write with her. Or that weeks spent locked up in her cottage would lead them to form an intense but undeniable connection. A bond that Theo is not sure he’s ready to accept, even though he can’t bear to be without her.

However, when they finally venture out of their bubble, Theo finds he’ll have to battle more than his own demons to protect Sarah from hurt. For he has another fan, one intent on bringing the darkest elements of his most famous script to life. And unless he can figure out this real-life antagonist’s next move, Theo could be in danger of losing Sarah forever.

Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae

Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae | 279 pages, Hardcover

Una Graham, aka Ugh, has been murdered in a shed, and there are as many motives as characters in this book. A genre-conforming cozy mystery set in a bookshop in the Scottish Highlands town of Inversgail.

The pros: Instead of one protagonist, the role is filled by 4 female friends all working together on a restart to life. 3 Americans and 1 Inversgail native; all met in Illinois and are in the process of moving (or moving back) to Scotland. I love this setting and their big ideas. And who doesn't like a book about books!

The cons: There are far too many characters, all of whom are suspects. I found my mind wandering and losing track of who is who. The book is fine but didn't catch me the way MacRae's Haunted Yarn Shop series did.

Wild Scottish Love by Tricia O'Malley

 

Wild Scottish Love by Tricia O'Malley, 250 p.

"I draw the line at serving people grasshoppers for dinner. As luck would have it, on the same day I quit my job as head chef at Suzette’s, a fine-dining restaurant in Boston, I was offered an opportunity to open a restaurant at a castle in Scotland. But now that I’m here in Loren Brae, I’m not so sure this city girl can hack it. The nights are too quiet–with no horns honking or insults being hurled–and everyone knows my business. And on the first day of my new life? I meet the hottest man I’d ever seen before. Munroe Curaigh. Owner of Common Gin, a dedicated nerd, innately shy, with the biggest golden retriever energy of any man I’d ever met.

He immediately appoints himself my protector and I’d be annoyed if his kisses weren’t so wickedly hot. Still waters run deep, and all that. Speaking of still waters…it appears that Loch Mirren is haunted by murderous Kelpies and the people of Loren Brae need my help. That’s right. It turns out that I’m descended from a long line of Kitchen Witches and Loren Brae needs me, Lia, a chef from Boston, to help save them from an ancient curse. So what’s a girl to do? It’s time to sharpen my kitchen knife, pull out my recipe book of spells, and get to work–or this tiny village in Scotland that I’m quickly falling in love with will be in danger. That is, if I can come up for air from Munroe’s decadent kisses."--Amazon blurb

I went into this second book of the series without reading the first and didn’t feel lost at all. These characters were fun to follow and root for, and  the story line easy to digest and entertaining. The two narrators did a fantastic job. While I felt the character development and laissez faire attitude about finding magic left a lot to be desired, I would pick up an O’Malley book again. 3 perfectly pleasing stars for me.

Beyond the Thistles by Samantha Young

Beyond the Thistles by Samantha Young -- 384 pages

It’s been a long time since Walker Ironside left behind Scotland and the memories that haunt him. Yet after years of traveling the world as a bodyguard, Walker misses his homeland enough to return. To a village in the Scottish Highlands that plays host to an exclusive members-only club, Ardnoch Estate. If not happy, Walker is content working with the elite security at the club and maintaining his bachelor lifestyle. What he doesn’t need is distraction in the form of the enticing but too-young newcomer, single mother Sloane Harrow.

Sloane never imagined she’d get pregnant at sixteen. Or that a decade later she’d escape from California with her daughter, Callie, to start over in the Scottish Highlands. Hidden and safe from Callie’s dangerous father, Sloane is satisfied with their new lives. Her daughter is happy. Sloane has a stable job, a quaint cottage, a passion for baking that might just be turning into a business, and a huge crush on brooding security guard Walker Ironside. Unfortunately, the grumpy Scot seems immune to Sloane’s charm, but she can’t help but try to seduce him with cupcakes and baked treats whenever the opportunity arises.

However, when someone arrives in Ardnoch intent on destroying Sloane’s life, Walker is the first to step forward to protect her and Callie. Even if it means giving into temptation and awakening his own demons. Because in doing so, Walker faces failing not only to shield Sloane from her past, but to safeguard her against his own.

Only You by Samantha Young

Only You by Samantha Young -- 414 pages

Once upon a time, Monroe Sinclair was Brodan Adair’s best friend, but now he’s a stranger and one of Hollywood’s leading men…

It took Monroe Sinclair eighteen years to return home to Ardnoch after a fateful night that devastated her friendship with Brodan Adair. She fled her unrequited love for him, as well as her difficult family life, and tried not to look behind her. Only a daughter’s guilt could lure her back to the Highlands and the assumption that Brodan Adair rarely ever sets foot in their hometown. She can handle seeing the rest of the Adairs so long as she can avoid her ex-best friend and the only man she’s ever loved.

Nothing is more important to Brodan than family, and only his demons have the power to keep him from them. For years, acting was something he was lucky enough to be good at, yet it wasn’t his priority—Ardnoch and his siblings were. But when a ghost from his past returned out of the blue, Brodan tried to outrun its haunting, taking him further and further from home. When exhaustion finally forces him back to the family fold, the last thing he wants is to encounter another ghost. But that’s exactly what Monroe Sinclair has been to him.

When a promise to his nephew obliges Brodan to work with Monroe, it forces them to face their past. The explosive connection that has always existed between them resurrects truths long buried. Yet, just when they might be on the brink of a second chance, the ghost from Brodan’s past finally catches up to him and threatens not just their happiness, but their very lives.

Be With Me by Samantha Young

Be With Me by Samantha Young -- 338 pages

While Arran Adair might have followed the call of wanderlust in his younger years, it isn’t the reason he stayed away from Ardnoch. Home now, desperate to put the sins of his past behind him, and rebuild his life in the Scottish Highlands, Arran could never have predicted Eredine Willows. The Ardnoch Estate Pilates instructor is a complicated mystery and one Arran can’t help but want to solve.

Eredine has spent the last eight years hiding in Scotland and building walls between her and the people she cares about. Arran is the first Adair who doesn’t treat her as if she’s fragile and demands a genuine friendship. Yet, the attraction sizzling between them is undeniable. So when she realizes she trusts him, Eredine surprises them both by offering Arran one night of no-strings passion. Arran knows one night will inevitably lead to a desire for more and he’s willing to stay by Eredine’s side for as long as it takes to convince her there’s something real between them. However, just when Arran thinks they might build a future together, Eredine’s past returns to stalk her. And Arran won’t just have to battle her demons to keep them together. He’ll need to battle his own.

Always You by Samantha Young

Always You by Samantha Young -- 370 pages

Arrochar Adair has loved her brother’s ex-bodyguard and best friend, Mac Galbraith, for years. Once upon a time, she was too young for him, but now that she’s a mature woman in her thirties, Arro can see no issue with their difference in age. Yet something deeper, a problem much more difficult to surmount, is keeping them apart.

Mac Galbraith remembers clearly the night Arro became everything to him, no longer just his best friend and boss’s younger sister. However, having made many mistakes over the years, there is one mistake Mac is determined not to make: to believe that he is worthy of Arrochar Adair. Allowing them to grow closer during his daughter, Robyn’s, return has proven his undoing. And when Arro forces the subject of their relationship, his response pushes her away. He just never meant for it to destroy them completely.

Devastated by Mac’s final rejection, Arro is determined to move on without him in her life, though he seems intent on staying put. And when the Adair family face a new threat, one that may have ties to Mac’s past, Arro can’t seem to be rid of the man. In fact, Mac will do anything to protect her. But with so much hurt between them, will Arro let Mac close enough to guard her from their enemy… before it’s too late?

There With You by Samantha Young

There With You by Samantha Young -- 462 pages

For Regan Penhaligon, there's no better place to run to than the exclusive Ardnoch Estate in the remote Scottish Highlands. Her impulsive behavior has finally caught up with her, and Regan's visit with her sister, Robyn, is an opportunity to hide from someone who has grown dangerously obsessed with her. Determined to make amends for her mistakes, Regan plans to repair her relationship with Robyn by staying close. And when an offer of help comes from Thane Adair, Regan gratefully accepts. Widower Thane needs a new nanny housekeeper for his two young children and when they bond with Regan Penhaligon, he offers her the job. But as the weeks pass and the complex American reveals who she really is, Thane struggles with his growing attraction to her. Regan never expected to feel so intensely for Thane, but she can't deny her passion for him or her love for his children. When someone from Thane's past threatens his family, Regan wants to be his pillar of support. However, his continued inability to trust her might just destroy their chance at future happiness . . . and the person who drove Regan to Ardnoch might snuff out her chance for any future at all.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

 The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware-336 pages

Rowan Caine has been working at Little Nippers for a while now and after being passed over for promotion when her roommate leaves, she decides it's time for a change. Specifically, she sees an advert for a live-in nanny in Scotland. She applies straight away and gets an interview. She is surprised to learn that she gets the job. However, all is not as it seems at Heatherbrae House. Nannies have come and gone with frequency lately. Rowan wonders why. Everyone at Heatherbrae has secrets it seems, including Rowan. She begins to hear footsteps above her bedroom and feel a breeze in her bedroom, also. Maddie, one of her charges, told her the day of her interview that "she shouldn't come back because the ghosts wouldn't like it." Rowan begins to wonder if Heatherbrae really is haunted. She can't sleep in her bedroom anymore. One night all of the lights in the house come on and music blares over the speakers. She wonders if the house is malfunctioning (it's a "Smart" house of sorts). Who or what is causing all of these happenings? Rowan finds an attic above her bedroom with the help of Jack Grant, the groundskeeper. There are strange writings and she finds other strange things (like her necklace that's been missing for days). One night she goes to check on Maddie and Ellie (two of her charges, the others are Petra and Rhiannon) only to find that Maddie is out of bed and has placed a pillow in the shape of a body in her stead. To her horror, Rowan finds Maddie dead below her bedroom window. Rowan is blamed for the death and charged with murder, but she maintains that she didn't do it. The police don't believe her. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this, but I liked all the twists and turns and I ended up liking the book. I still have questions (one especially), but it was a good, suspenseful book. 

Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (Hamish Macbeth #34) by M.C. Beaton

 Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (Hamish Macbeth #34) by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green-240 pages

The latest in the Hamish Macbeth series finds Macbeth in love with his new police constable, Dorothy McIver. Hamish and his new constable soon become engaged to be married. However, a new murder occurs on their patch and it could have implications for Hamish's and Dorothy's plans. Will Hamish finally get married or will his plans be thwarted once again? I enjoyed reading this book. However, I can't give it more than 3 out of 5 stars because I'm not fully satisfied with the ending. I agree with Mary that, if this is the last Hamish Macbeth mystery, this ending is not satisfactory. I wish the book would have had a different ending. That being said it's still a good read. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then you'll enjoy the Hamish Macbeth series. 

Death of a Valentine (Hamish Macbeth #25) by M.C. Beaton

 Death of a Valentine (Hamish Macbeth #25) by M.C. Beaton-246 pages in print; 5 cds, 6 hrs. Audio CD

I have previously read a couple of Hamish Macbeth mysteries by M.C. Beaton. I listened to this one on a recent road trip. I really enjoyed listening to it. Hamish Macbeth is a Police Sergeant in a small, quaint village in the Scottish Highlands, Lochdubh. A new Constable (police officer) is assigned to work under him in his quaint village. Her name is Josie McSween and she has a massive crush on Hamish. She tries her hardest to get Hamish to notice her romantically. When a local young woman with a reputation for philandering/flirting is murdered Josie thinks it could be the perfect opportunity to get closer to Hamish. Will Hamish finally tie the knot or is Josie McSween hiding something? I would give this 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it, especially to those who enjoy cozy mysteries. 

Here With Me by Samantha Young

Here With Me by Samantha Young -- 528 pages

Settled in the tranquil remoteness of the Scottish Highlands, Ardnoch Estate caters to the rich and famous. It is as unattainable and as mysterious as its owner —ex-Hollywood leading man Lachlan Adair—and it's poised on the edge of a dark scandal.

After narrowly escaping death, police officer Robyn Penhaligon leaves behind her life in Boston in search of some answers. Starting with Mac Galbraith, the Scottish father who abandoned her to pursue his career in private security. To re-connect with Mac, Robyn will finally meet a man she’s long resented. Lachlan Adair. Hostility instantly brews between Robyn and Lachlan. She thinks the head of the Adair family is high-handed and self-important. And finding closure with Mac is proving more difficult than she ever imagined. Robyn would sooner leave Ardnoch, but when she discovers Mac is embroiled in a threat against the Adairs and the exclusive members of the estate, she finds she’s not yet ready to give up on her father.

Determined to ensure Mac’s safety, Robyn investigates the disturbing crimes at Ardnoch, forcing her and Lachlan to spend time together. Soon it becomes clear a searing attraction exists beneath their animosity, and temptation leads them down a perilous path. While they discover they are connected by something far more addictive than passion, Lachlan cannot let go of his grip on a painful past: a past that will destroy his future … if the insidious presence of an enemy lurking in the shadows of Ardnoch doesn’t do the job first.

Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings by Neil Price

 Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings by Neil Price-656 pages

This is a sweeping look at the Vikings and the Viking Age (roughly 750-1050). I have seen Vikings on screen (Vikings on History Channel, in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla the video game, and other places) and I am very interested in learning more about the "real" Vikings and how they lived. I was not disappointed with this book. It is a good, fairly easy read. Vikings did not live glorious lives nor should they be glorified or celebrated. In many ways, Vikings were a very brutal people and Price compares them aptly to pirates (especially those who operated in the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th Centuries). Vikings owned and sold slaves and a goal of many raids was to capture slaves to be sold. Slaves were called thralls at this time and were treated very poorly. Thralls had no real rights or freedom and had little recourse to attain freedom. Many thralls were even sacrificed, sometimes to be buried with their owners when they died. Viking burials are explored in great detail in a chapter and an elaborate boat/ship burial is explained. A Viking male who was almost assuredly of some prominence was buried with several different animals who had been sacrificed and butchered (which was apparently common practice, according to the author). Furthermore (and more brutal, disturbing), a female thrall volunteered herself to be sacrificed and buried with him. According to Price, the female thrall was thence repeatedly raped by males of the community before being ritually butchered and buried with her owner. It paints a pretty picture, right! Price also explores the religion of the Vikings. He explains that they didn't have any real organized religion but they did have somewhat of a relationship with the gods (Thor, Odin, Freyya, Freyr, etc.). They did sacrifice and pray to one or more of the gods at times and they did believe in an afterlife, although not necessarily in the since of heaven and hell/good and bad. Price discusses much of the politics and everyday life of Vikings. For a while, they didn't have unified countries with rulers, but they operated more in war bands and communities. What I found most fascinating in this book, though, was Price's discussion of the raids and battles that took place throughout the Viking Age. The raids started as isolated events, but became much more coordinated as the Viking Age continued. The Vikings held much of England more than once with the longest period being during the Danelaw. They left their imprint on much of Europe and even into North America, the Middle East, and Russia. By the end of the Viking Age, they had raided and/or explored/colonized Frankia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Vinland, Iceland, Egypt, Spain, and Greenland among potentially others. Some of their coordinated attacks may have included hundreds of Viking longships and thousands of warriors. It wasn't really until the 11th Century that Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland started to become more unified and kings tried to unite and rule. This somewhat coincided with the influx of Christianity to Scandinavia. I was fascinated by reading this sweeping history on the Vikings and I have a better grasp on how they lived and their psychology. 

Death of a Liar (Hamish Macbeth #30) by M.C. Beaton

 Death of a Liar (Hamish Macbeth #30) by M.C. Beaton-307 pages

Another (slightly earlier than "Death of a Ghost") novel in the Hamish Macbeth Mystery series by M.C. Beaton, I enjoyed "Death of a Liar." In this entry, the reader finds Hamish Macbeth trying to solve the mystery of the murder of a woman from a nearby village who had "cried wolf" too many times. When the woman leaves a frantic voice message for Hamish one night hysterically exclaiming that a man is trying to break into her cottage he doesn't immediately believe her. However, the next morning, feeling guilty, Hamish decides to check in on the woman and that's when he finds her dead body in her garden. More murders and mayhem commence in the months following this initial crime, but Hamish eventually solves the case (with a little help) as usual. 

Death of a Ghost by M.C. Beaton

Death of a Ghost by M.C. Beaton-256 pages

 This is a Hamish Macbeth Mystery (book #32 in the series) and I enjoyed reading it. It's a light read and one that could be called a "cozy mystery." Police Sgt. Hamish Macbeth is called to Drim (in the Scottish highlands) to a castle now owned by a former police superintendent who has been hearing strange noises and thinks the castle might be haunted. The castle is not haunted, but a dead body of a Professor John Gordon is found on the grounds and a mystery is afoot. More people are found dead soon and the question becomes whether or not the same person murdered all of them or if it was more than one murderer. I read this because NoveList suggested M.C. Beaton as a read alike to Agatha Christie and I would mostly agree. If you like Agatha Christie, then you would probably like M.C. Beaton. Also, I've been to Scotland and the Scottish highlands setting of this novel and series intrigued me.