Review: Tanya Anne Crosby's Highland Bride Series is pure brilliance one you don't want  to miss!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 30, 2013
Lets me start by saying I started reading Tanya Anne Crosby's books captivated me some twenty plus years ago and still continue to odo so. Ms Crosby is truly a gifted and multi talented author with a golden pen as it is no surprise to me that she is a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author! I must say that The Highland Bride Series is one of my favorite of her works, my only complaint is I loose a lot of sleep when reading her books as they tend to pull me to the point I can't book the down as I need to know what is going to happen next. I purchased these books all  separately for my kindle as well as each having them in print as well as they are all on my keeper shelves and never to be deleted on my digital electronics as well.The. Highland Bride Series are four compete novels in this wonderful set. The Mackinnon's Bride, Lyon's Gift, On Bended Knee and Lion Heart all are equally wonderful as you can read alone or together. So if you love historical Scottish romance fiction as I do I definitely recommend this wonderful set. My suggestion since this unbelievable set is together you start in order as you will be more invested in specific characters such as Broc, a secondary character in book 1 is the main hero in book 4 etc. I am going to give you a brief description of each book without giving away any spoilers of this truly a magnificent book set and each story will stay with you long after you have read it if not forever!BOOK 1 -  THE MACKINNON'S  BRIDEThis is the book closest to my heart as being the first as I call it my feel good book as I have read it four times and each time enjoyed it more then then the time before and yes I am positive I will read it again. It's that good!This book is about about two tortured souls that find each other in a nutshell but its so much more then that. It starts out as  Laird Iain Mackinnon of the Scottish Highlands son is kidnapped  by English Earl FitzSimon so he in turn kidnaps the Earls daughter expecting an even trade. Well things definitely don't go as expected in this book. The Earl has never shown Paige any type of love or acceptance and Iain's. first wife chose death over Iain and his son. The secondary characters too are wonderful in this book Malcom the young son who only wants a Mother to sing to sleep and flea bitten Broc whose best friend is his dog Merry Balls, and the hero in book 4 Lion Heart,  If you loved Jamie Fraser Outlander fans then I guarantee you will fall in love with Iain Mackinnon. This books has all the elements you would want in a medieval Scottish romance conflict, hate, betrayal, jealousy,regret,mystery, humor and love.  It's very fast paced with lots of unexpected twists. This is one my favorite books I have ever read as I can't praise it enough, a definite keeper the type of book you wish never ends.BOOK  2 - LYON'S GIFTThis is the second book of the set which is about Piers de Montgomerie and Meghan Brodie. I found both these characters extremely complex yet likable as well. I think this might be the most humorous book in the set, but of course all the other elements are in the book as well sadness, regret, remorse, mystery, trust  and of course at long last love. Piers a Sassenach whose father was a King and mother was a whore and has worked hard to get the position he is in. He gives up being a mercenary to settle on Scottish lands given by King David by also on the promise for to stop the fighting and bring peace in the highlands. Of course not so easy when the Brodie Clan  has been nothing but a thorn in his backside stealing/raiding on each others livestock. First it starts with sheep, so Piers  returns the favors and steals a sheep from The Brodies, then they stole two goats so again Piers does the same as this goes on for some time,,yet its getting old Piers wants to put a stop to this for once and for all! Although known for his prowess of the battlefield he wants to put an end to this feuding. Then he sees the beautiful Meghan and wrongfully thinks she's joined her brothers in the thieving so he decides to make her a pawn in his game and decides to make her a prisoner and marry her. Sounds easy enough right...well  as they say about well laid plans.  Meghan who is extremely beautiful, but she's also a strong willed woman with a sharp mind,. For h she does understand that this alliance would bring peace between Clans but she also wants a man that will love her for her heart and mind not just her physical appearance . Trying to be less appealing and with rumors of females of the woman in her family being mad Meghan pretends to be crazy. Meghan does all sorts of things to turn Piers off and make him think she is insane and most  undesirable in the least! This is totally hilarious without giving anything away. Personally I love a strong female characters that totally baffles the alpha male especially in a medieval time period novels. This book was wonderful and a sheer joy to read total delight as I know anyone who reads this will adore this fascinating story as always Tanya does it again!BOOK 3 - ON BENDED KNEEIn this fabulous books its a tale about Colin Mac Brodie and Seana. Due to a lame leg in childhood Seana is banished from any Clans due to whispers of being a witch. cAt this time she was a child had loved Colin Mac Brodie, but he as other had been cruel and taunted her about her lame leg which broke her heart. Due to her dire upset over Colins taunts her father then rebreaks the lame leg so it will heal properly. Now many years later as she reappears, and Colin does not recognize Seana. Since being banished from the Clan as a child,he has never seen her as a woman full grown. Seana had decided its time to find a husband and has decided Broc Ceannfhionn is that man due to the fact he is the only one who has ever showed her any kindness. Since Broc who is not interested in marrying she decides to ask Colin Mac Brodie his best friend for help as he has no idea who she is and doesn't understand why she would want Broc over himself. Due to Colin's own self esteem issues from his own Father never being good enough, he became a bit of a rogue. Going from bed to bed as all the women love him except the one he truly desires Seana. Collin also starts  to taking a good hard look a himself and is not liking what he sees at all. It's seems helpless everyone wanting the wrong person Seana wants Brock and Colin want Seana in addition besides that there is a villain in there mist! Unbeknown to them that wants to see both Colin and Seana both dead! Talk about twists and turns  as each page you turn you don't know what's going to happen next. This book was pure perfection, but I definitely shed a few tears as well so bring your hankie when read the lovely read it was a true masterpiece in my opinion so very articulate and beautifully written.BOOK 4 - LIONS HEARTThis let me sat this last book in this fabulous book as I myself an animal advocate love author like Tanya Anne Crosby as well as author Danelle Harmon etc who also puts animals in a heroic light which I personally  enjoy and means so much to me. Again that is only part of it as Broc the Blond has always had a specially place in my heart since The Mackinnon's Bride as I feel he deserves some everlasting love and true happiness with all the tragedy he has due endure since childhood.  Again Ms. Crosby has a talent of pulling you into her stories and making you feel a part of it as only a truly gifted writer has the power to due.The story starts off as Broc is walking through the woods and meets this mangy mutt of a dog and as the dog is  he befriends this mangy dog not realizing the owner Elspeth is also looking for her missing dog "Harpy" . Just as Broc meets this lovely fiery haired lass who is claiming the dog as her own he sees a bowman ready to take a shot. Realizing her life is in danger Broc goes right into action and decides to be her protector and keep her safe, Well let's just say Elizabet seeis this in the same light as Broc more like an abduction. Broc doesn't know Elizabet  was on her way her to live with her cousin one Piers de Montgomerie  the mother of a courtesan asked to leave her fathers house from an evil new step mother just a fourth night after the they married!  So I think this couple Broc and Elizabet. are made for each other. Of course it an easy road for either one of them due to past hurts. It really is wonderful to see how this story plays out. Also it's sort of like a family reunion as well as the reader will see characters from all three previous books of The Highland Bride Series which was an enormous enjoyment for me. This book is an excellant read a definite keeper as all the books in this series, I enjoyed it  immensely.FYI - BOOK 5 HIGHLAND SONG WHICH IS A NOVELLA IS  NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SET BUT IS AVAILABLE AT AMAZON FOR FREE AT THE MOMENT.It is the story of Gavin Mac Brodie and youngest brother of Mehgan Brodie of Lyon's Bride and the heroine is Catriona know to friends as Cat welcome to look at my 5/5 star review of this book as it is another magnificent read by this truly gifted author Tanya Anne Crosby.I loved each and every book in this series as I can't help keep my enthusiasm contained as they are all excellent read whether you read alone or on order. I think I enjoyed them more in order as I was very invested in all the character as Tanya has a way of doing that quite easily as only one who is an expert storyteller can do.If you love a  beautiful Scotland scenery, a verra handsome man in a kilt with a verra verra sexy brogue of an accent then you have come to the right place in simpler current times words Tanya Anne Crosby's Highland Book Set totally rocks pure excellence in my opinion .**FUTURE HIGHLANDER BOOKS**TANYA ANNE CROSBY'S NEW HIGHLAND SERIES "THE GUARDIANS OF STONES SERIES" OF THREE BOOKS COMING OUT IN THE SPRING OF 2014!!!!THESE ARE THE FOLLOWING TITLES  OF THE GUARDIANS OF STONE SERIES::1. HIGHLAND STEEL2. HIGHLAND FIRE3 HIGHLAND ICEI CAN'T WAIT SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS BRAND NEW BOOK SERIES OF THREE HIGHLANDER STORIES!!!ALBA GU BRATH - SCOTLAND FOREVER!