A lush setting and memorable characters lift this novel a notch above most tales of romance.
Sakwa begins the Highland Lairds of the Crest series with a romance set in the modern day and 15th-century Scotland.
Gwendolyn Reynolds is a skilled medical practitioner who resides in the modern world. She leaves her familiar life to move to Scotland, led by an unexplainable feeling of fate. The story alternates between Gwen’s modern-day problems and the historical experiences of Greylen MacGreggor, who lived as a Highland laird in 15th-century Scotland. Greylen has lived under the shadow of a prophecy foretelling that his future and his heart are bound to a woman from another time (“The prophecy foretold that these souls would find each other one day. And once they touched, they’d be joined forever, soothing the male’s lonely heart”). A violent storm carries Gwen through time to his world. The romance between Gwen and Greylen is both fiery and tender; Gwen’s contemporary independence frequently conflicts with Greylen’s protective instincts, which produces intense moments that deepen their relationship. The story includes secondary characters, such as Greylen’s first-in-command (Gavin), and Isabelle, Greylen’s sister, who add depth to the narrative through their relationships with the main characters. The novel’s atmospheric setting contributes greatly to its success—the author’s descriptions of Scottish castles, rugged coastlines, and storm-laden skies are vivid enough to transport the reader right alongside Gwen. The tension grows progressively from Gwen’s choice to abandon her life until the critical point when Greylen saves her in a thrilling rescue that combines danger with intense passion. This first book in Sakwa’s series will meet the expectations of historical and time-travel romance readers; the author introduces a determined hero and a noble yet brooding romantic interest whose love endures despite the challenges they face. The narrative advances swiftly while delivering genuine emotional depth. Sakwa’s epic romance shows how love transcends time, prophecy, and reason, and readers will want more of Gwen and Greylen in upcoming books. The novel is both escapist and heartfelt, inviting readers to surrender to the pull of destiny and believe, at least for a while, in the possibility of forever.
A lush setting and memorable characters lift this novel a notch above most tales of romance.Pub Date: July 16, 2019
ISBN: 9781733617215
Page Count: 410
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Aug. 25, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A lively, quirky gothic romance for readers who like ghost stories as much as love stories.
The fourth wife of a dreadful lord finds intrigue in the Scottish Highlands.
Nobody wants Genevieve to marry Lord Burnsby, “England’s most boring peer.” He’s almost 70 and has three dead (possibly murdered) wives in his past. But Evie isn’t looking for love; she’s just looking for some stability at her “august age” of 25 and a dowry for her younger sister. Through their hasty wedding and long trek north to his estate in Scotland, she’s determined to make the best of it—until they arrive at the dreary, cold abbey where he resides. Lord Burnsby, it turns out, has been keeping his mistress there, and generally terrorizing everyone around him. Evie also meets the handsome Sir Godric Everley, a lawyer friend of Burnsby’s heir, whom she initially counts as another villain but soon discovers is surprisingly interesting and kind. Faced with a situation for which her years of perfect behavior have left her utterly unprepared, Evie realizes she will have to take charge even if it means acting unladylike. And though her growing confidence brings many good things to the abbey and its residents, it also brings danger, as Evie and Godric begin to uncover decades of secrets. This historical romance is technically a Regency, but more than anything, it’s a gothic tale. Told in the first person from Evie’s perspective, the book stands apart thanks to her dry, knowing voice combined with the haunting yet whimsical nature of Burnsby’s abbey. It’s a moody ghost story, full of plot twists, but it’s also the tale of a strong heroine with a quick wit and a piglet for a pet. There’s plenty of chemistry as Evie’s relationship slowly develops with Godric, but Evie’s personal development is almost as compelling. Though the story takes some time to find its feet, this book is likely to be enjoyed by James’ fans, as it’s one of her best in years.
A lively, quirky gothic romance for readers who like ghost stories as much as love stories.Pub Date: May 12, 2026
ISBN: 9781668200056
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A top-notch, spooky Regency page-turner.
Two lady novelists are haunted—and not just by thoughts of each other.
Lady Georgiana Cleeve has had enough. She and her mother gave up everything to escape her abusive father, and her writing career keeps them afloat, but lately every time she writes a novel, it's plagiarized before it’s even published by someone calling herself Lady Darling. When, after staking out Belvoir’s Library one morning at dawn, she discovers to her horror that Lady Darling is none other than Catriona Lacey, the daughter of her family’s butler, with whom she was once “hopelessly infatuated.” It turns out that Cat—shocked to see the aristocratic girl she used to pine for—also depends on writing Gothic romances to support her family. Unfortunately, after they part ways in the worst of tempers, they almost immediately see each other again at their publisher’s office, and then at a haunted churchyard, and then, somehow, at a haunted house in Wiltshire where both expected to find inspiration for their next novel. They agree to stay out of each other’s way, but in just a few days, their chemistry has fully reignited. Their first kiss is the “most erotic” experience either has had, but after their second kiss, they find a dead body in the probably haunted garden—and things only get stranger from there. And despite the supernatural happenings and growing danger, they can’t keep their hands off each other, leading both to wonder if a future together might be possible. The third story in the Belvoir’s Library series starts in the bookstore and then, as the women face being haunted by both the paranormal and their pasts, comes alive against the eerie setting. Georgie and Cat are tempted into plenty of scorching-hot moments no matter where they are, and they forge a gripping emotional connection as well. The satisfying ending is topped only by the excellent author’s note, in which readers will be delighted to learn how much of the story was drawn from the historical record.
A top-notch, spooky Regency page-turner.Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9781250910981
Page Count: 352
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
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