So, a while back I shared with y'all my review of a really awesome book called Love Beyond Time by the amazing Bethany Claire. Today, I'm going to tell you a bit about the rest of the series and my thoughts on each book. First, though, I just have to say I highly recommend this series, one of my favorites and you all should definitely expect it on my Top Books of 2014 list!
First up, let's start with the book that started my love of this series, the first one! I know I've reviewed it here before, but I thought I'd save y'all some time going to the old post and putting the review here, too!
*Although I received these books for review from the author, this in no way affected my opinion or reviews This post contains affiliate links, but again this does not affect my thoughts expressed in this review*
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars!
About Love Beyond Time:
It began nearly four hundred years ago. The Conall clan and all their people were murdered in a surprise attack, their beloved castle and all evidence of who destroyed them burned to the ground with their bodies. In the centuries following, archaeologists searched through the ruins looking for any evidence of what or who had caused the untimely demise of such a powerful Scottish clan. All efforts were fruitless, until a spell put in place by an ancient Conall ancestor finally began to work its magic...
Texas kindergarten teacher, Brielle Montgomery, finds comfort in the mundane routines of her life, but when her archaeologist mother asks her to accompany her on a dig in Scotland, she decides to step out of her comfort zone. Once in Scotland, they discover a secret spell room below the castle ruins, and Bri finds herself transported back in time and suddenly married to the castle's ill-fated Laird. Now, she must work to change the fate of his people, all while trying to find a way to return to her home and century. But with each passing day, Bri finds herself falling more deeply in love with her new husband. If she can find a spell to bring her home, will she use it? And if she stays, will it ultimately mean her own death as well?
My Thoughts:
In case you all haven't noticed in past reviews I love time travel novels, especially those with romance and just the right dash of suspense. So, when Bethany asked me to read and review Love Beyond Time, well, let's just say I'm glad I didn't scare her off with the fangirling I probably did in that first email. I also don't know if you know this, but I live about 20 minutes away from Glasgow Kentucky, which has this huge Highland Games festival every year celebrating Scottish heritage. So, I'd been looking for a good book that had a nice hint of Scotland flavor to it.
This book did not disappoint! Brielle(love that name!) is just an ordinary Kindergarten teacher from Texas, not too adventurous. Her mother, however, convinces her to visit Scotland with her to help with a dig. While there, they discover that there is a secret room in the basement of the castle. Upon finding the room, Bri discovers a portrait that portrays a woman who looks eerily close to her in appearance. When reading the words attached to the portrait she is transported back in time to just shortly before the castle, and those inside it, are set to meet their demise. This is where the story really gets going.
I loved Love Beyond Time from start to finish. Bethany Claire certainly knows how to write a book! The description of surroundings, dialogue, etc, all perfect! You learn to love every character and you just can't wait to read more! This book is definitely one of those page-turners, you know the kind where you just need to clear your schedule for an afternoon so you can just devour in one setting? Yeah, one of those. I honestly cannot wait to read more, and I can't wait to start recommending to my reader friends(if you're one of those reading this, you've been forewarned. Don't be surprised if this is Kindle-gifted to you for Easter!). As far as who I'd recommend this too: well, in short, everyone! I would caution against younger teens reading because there is some heat, but for older teens on up this is a perfect read!
So, if you're like me and love time travel, romance, and just really well written books, I highly recommend you check Love Beyond Time out!
This book did not disappoint! Brielle(love that name!) is just an ordinary Kindergarten teacher from Texas, not too adventurous. Her mother, however, convinces her to visit Scotland with her to help with a dig. While there, they discover that there is a secret room in the basement of the castle. Upon finding the room, Bri discovers a portrait that portrays a woman who looks eerily close to her in appearance. When reading the words attached to the portrait she is transported back in time to just shortly before the castle, and those inside it, are set to meet their demise. This is where the story really gets going.
I loved Love Beyond Time from start to finish. Bethany Claire certainly knows how to write a book! The description of surroundings, dialogue, etc, all perfect! You learn to love every character and you just can't wait to read more! This book is definitely one of those page-turners, you know the kind where you just need to clear your schedule for an afternoon so you can just devour in one setting? Yeah, one of those. I honestly cannot wait to read more, and I can't wait to start recommending to my reader friends(if you're one of those reading this, you've been forewarned. Don't be surprised if this is Kindle-gifted to you for Easter!). As far as who I'd recommend this too: well, in short, everyone! I would caution against younger teens reading because there is some heat, but for older teens on up this is a perfect read!
So, if you're like me and love time travel, romance, and just really well written books, I highly recommend you check Love Beyond Time out!
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
About Love Beyond Reason:
It all started with a spell.
Arran Conall lives with the consequences of his foolishness daily, his mistakes guiding him into darkness. He had no way to know that his beloved would fall prey to the ancient magic that awaited Blaire on the day he’d sent her away to marry his brother. Now, the only woman to ever give pause to his philandering ways lives centuries ahead of him, out of reach while still holding on to his heart. Now, he must try to live a life without her and marries another to save the lass from a greedy suitor who only wants to lay title to her father’s territory.
His love for Blaire haunts him. With every breath, he prays only one thing – that she will be able to feel his love for her across the chasms of time…
Born in the seventeenth century, Blaire MacChristy lives each day trying to adjust to the challenges of modern-day life. Magic brought her here, but heartbreak keeps her from using the magic to travel back to her home. When visitors from her past arrive asking her to return to the life she’d known before, Blaire takes a chance on love. Once home, she is shocked to learn that the man she loves has married another. Will fate find a way to mend their broken hearts by bringing them together once again? Even if it does, will they be able to stop the darkness that is coming for them both?
Arran Conall lives with the consequences of his foolishness daily, his mistakes guiding him into darkness. He had no way to know that his beloved would fall prey to the ancient magic that awaited Blaire on the day he’d sent her away to marry his brother. Now, the only woman to ever give pause to his philandering ways lives centuries ahead of him, out of reach while still holding on to his heart. Now, he must try to live a life without her and marries another to save the lass from a greedy suitor who only wants to lay title to her father’s territory.
His love for Blaire haunts him. With every breath, he prays only one thing – that she will be able to feel his love for her across the chasms of time…
Born in the seventeenth century, Blaire MacChristy lives each day trying to adjust to the challenges of modern-day life. Magic brought her here, but heartbreak keeps her from using the magic to travel back to her home. When visitors from her past arrive asking her to return to the life she’d known before, Blaire takes a chance on love. Once home, she is shocked to learn that the man she loves has married another. Will fate find a way to mend their broken hearts by bringing them together once again? Even if it does, will they be able to stop the darkness that is coming for them both?
My Thoughts:
After reading the first book in this amazing series, though I loved it all the same, my heart ached for Arran and Blaire. There was a lot of chemistry between these two and I knew in my heart of hearts that they should be together. The only problem? Blaire gets transported into the future. Left behind, Arran married another. Now Blaire is back to the 17th century and ready to return to Arran. That plan is slightly altered when she finds out he's married. This storyline immediately pulled me in just as quickly as the first in the series, I was on pins and needles wondering if Arran and Blaire would be able to beat the odds and finally be together. Arran is such a complex character, I both loved him and wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him, and then loved him again.(Tell me, who can't forgive someone with a Scottish accent, yes even in a book!)
If you have read the first book in the Morna's Legacy series,
I highly recommend you check out this wonderful followup to a series that is fast becoming a favorite!
My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
About A Conall Christmas:
Don't Miss This Happy Ending For The Carefree Mother That Stole Your Heart by USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Bethany Claire NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Although this can be read as a standalone novella, it could more accurately be described as Book 2.5 of Morna's Legacy Series. It is highly recommended that you start your reading with Book 1 in the series, "Love Beyond Time," followed by "Love Beyond Reason." The characters in this story and the events that led them to the beginning of this novella have occurred in the previous books in this series.
It’s Yuletide at Conall Castle.
Christmas is quickly approaching, and Adelle is determined to make this Christmas the best one Conall Castle has ever seen, but loneliness haunts her. Love for her daughter sent her into the past, but she’d not expected the isolation she would feel. A former socialite and serial dater, she finds that her current age seems much older in the seventeenth century than it did in the twenty-first. She resigns herself to the fact that she will remain single for the rest of her days. At least until an unexpected visitor arrives at the castle.
Hew Moray has spent the last twenty years all alone, only leaving his isolated home once a year to pay homage to the wife he lost long ago. When a winter storm causes him to seek shelter at the castle where his sister lives, he meets the first lass since his beloved Mae to make his heart flutter in his chest once again. Will he be able to release himself from his past grief to allow another love to enter his life? If he does, will his love be returned?
My Thoughts:
I just have to say, I absolutely love that Adelle got a story! The side characters in this series in both previous books(and this one too, of course) were so strong, that I already had grown to know Adelle and was so happy to dive into her story. It was set at Christmastime, which I loved. Who doesn't love Christmas in July(okay, August), after all?
Even though this is a novella, it packs as much punch of any of Bethany's full-length novels, and that's saying something! All I can say is, this got me so excited for the next book and made me wish that it was Christmastime again in the real world. After all, Christmas is a magical time of year and this was a magically beautiful story!
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
About Love Beyond Hope:
Love is the most powerful kind of magic.
Baodan McMillan values many things in life: friendship, loyalty, kindness, but certainly not love. After the tragic death of his wife many years ago, he hardened himself to the idea of giving his heart to another. There is but one lass who can thaw his chilly heart, a lass he’s never met nor knows of, a lass whose birth won’t occur until centuries after his death…
Mitsy Fredrickson is in serious need of a distraction. With the ink still drying on her divorce papers, she flies to Scotland determined to forget about her own problems by helping her best friend re-enter reality. She knows Bri’s claims that she is able to travel back in time and is currently living in the year 1647 are a lie but, instead of locating her friend, Mitsy falls prey to the same magic and is quickly forced to believe the impossible.
Modern and sassy, Mitsy finds few who know how to take her fiery personality in the seventeenth century, but she finds her match in Baodan, laird of McMillan Castle. He is her opposite in every way, yet she feels balanced in his presence. The more time she spends with him, the harder she falls. She suspects he feels the same way, but something is holding him back -- a dark secret from his past that even Baodan doesn’t fully understand. Mitsy works to uncover what is hidden in the hopes that with resolution Baodan will be free to love her. But the truth is darker than she expects, and it threatens to destroy them both.
My Thoughts:
Hello McMillan clan! This book took me completely by surprise. It had the same great writing style of the first two full lengths and the novella, but this author's ability to create amazing, unique characters never ceases to amaze me! Mitsy is what my grandfather would have called a little spitfire. She's slightly opinionated, but you can tell that she has a good heart. Not believing Bri can travel back in time, Mitsy takes a little trip to Scotland to clear her head. She's kind of forced to believe the her, however, when she herself is transported back in time!
Bethany just has that ability to not only put you in the mind of the characters, but the heart. You sort of feel what they feel, and so you're rooting for them the whole way. I cannot wait to see what she cooks up with the next book in the series!
About Love Beyond Measure:
Don't Miss The Latest Tale in Morna's Legacy Series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Bethany Claire What is life worth without the love you’re meant for?
Sent to the brink of death by his own brother’s blade, Eoghanan McMillan clings to the brief moments he spends in the shadows, watching from afar the beautiful lass he’s never met. He spends his time some four centuries after his birth, slowly building his strength so that he may return home, but each glimpse into the woman’s life leaves him wanting. He wants nothing more than to know her…
When Grace Mitchell’s job as a photojournalist sends her to Scotland with her young son, Cooper, in tow, her greatest wish is to escape from the aftermath of the wedding she abandoned. Instead, her life complicates further when she meets the mysterious, scarred, and alluring Eoghanan McMillan – a man so unlike any she’s ever known. She falls for him quickly but, after a spell sends them back in time to the seventeenth century, Grace is forced to accept the amazing truth about the man she’s just beginning to know and to re-think the life she had planned for herself.
Will their love for one another be enough to make Grace stay in a time so different from her own – a decision that will alter the direction of her young son’s life entirely? Or will she sacrifice a future with the man she loves to give her son a life of normalcy? In the end, she may just learn that the decision isn’t hers to make.
My Thoughts to Come:
Haven't read this yet, but I'm sure it's just as fabulous as the rest of the series! I've come to love this particular bookish world throughout this series so far, and the Conall/McMillan clans will forever be some of my favorite book characters! I cannot wait to see what Bethany Claire cooks up next! I've read there's another novella coming up soon! :)
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