Return of the Lost Bride

Crowns & Kilts: The St. Briac Family, Book 4

De: Cynthia Wright

Narrado por: Tim Campbell

From New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Wright comes a thrilling new romance of 16th century Scotland!

A PROUD HIGHLANDER
Darkly handsome Ciaran MacLeod revels in his life as a Highland warrior. He spends his days training with his comrades at Duntulm Castle on the far cliffs of the Isle of Skye, and takes his pick of smitten lasses.

However, Ciaran harbors a secret, passed down from his dead mother, that has caused him to become deeply suspicious of love. He’s grateful he doesn’t have to worry about taking a wife, for the castle is efficiently run by Violette, a plain young Frenchwoman who covers her head with a gable hood and reveals nothing of her own past.

SECRETS REVEALED
Violette Pasquiére fled to Scotland to escape a vengeful stepfather. On the remote Isle of Skye, she feels safe, disguised in drab clothing and tending to these strong Clan MacLeod men who would be lost without her care. The potent attraction Violette feels for Ciaran MacLeod is just one more secret she keeps.

But a threat to Duntulm Castle changes everything, and Ciaran’s elders propose that he marry Judith MacRae to bring additional lands and warriors to the clan. Rebelling against the efforts to control him, Ciaran proposes to Violette instead, setting in motion a passionate series of events that shake not only their future, but challenge their carefully guarded hearts....

“Cynthia Wright magically entwines passion and history!” (RT Book Reviews)

Connecting Books:

The St. Briac Family in the 16th century:
You and No Other (Thomas and Aimée)
Of One Heart (Andrew and Micheline)
Abducted at the Altar (Christophe and Fiona)
Return of the Lost Bride (Ciaran and Violette)

The St. Briac Family in the 18th century:
The Secret of Love (Gabriel and Isabella)
His Make-Believe Bride (Justin and Mouette)

©2019 Cynthia Challed (P)2019 Cynthia Challed

Wonderful 16th Century Historical Romance!

Return of the Lost Bride is a wonderful historical adventure revolving around a runaway French noblewoman and a sexy Highland warrior in 16th century Scotland. Tim Campbell does an amazing job narrating this audiobook, as he does with all of his narrations. Tim’s artful performance and Cynthia’s wonderful prose combined for a thoroughly entertaining experience.

We first meet Violette Pasquiére in the first book in the Brides of Skye series, Abducted at the Altar, where she travels to the remote Isle of Skye in Scotland with Fiona MacLeod as her lady’s maid. After Fiona’s marriage to Christophe, Violette remains at Duntulm Castle running the household for the MacLeod men, in part, because she fears returning to France where her vile stepfather arranged a marriage for her to a horrible man. While she appears to be meek at first, Violette shows flashes of temper toward the strong and handsome Ciaran MacLeod who frequently charms the knickers off of smitten lasses.
 
After the clan elders try to persuade Ciaran to marry a young widow in a neighboring clan so that additional lands and warriors would be at the clan’s disposable, Ciaran unexpectedly proposes to Violette instead. She ultimately agrees to the marriage in an attempt to further hide her identity, but she soon succumbs to their undeniable passion for each other and they fall madly in love. Soon thereafter, Violette learns of her mother’s failing health and she embarks on a journey to see her. While sailing back to Skye from France she is tossed overboard during a violent storm. The rest of the story details how Violette returns two years later only to find Christophe wed to the young widow. The way that this conflict is resolved is quite ingenious and thoroughly satisfying. Brava!

Loved This Novel So Much!

I loved this book with Tim Campbell’s narrative so much that I found myself listening and reading up to 4 hours at one time. Cynthia Wright takes you to the beautiful Isle of Skye where we find the handsome Highlander Ciaran MacLeod at Duntulm Castle determined to never marry. He’s contented to bed any lass that catches his eye and never has he found one not wanting to come to his bed. Enters Violette Pasquiére the castles plain, unattractive housekeeper who seems to be hiding a secret that could endanger her. Ciaran and Violette have become friends but she is definitely not his type and she finds his bedding all the lasses he wants disgusting.
As time goes by the the Clan MacLeod faces a deadly threat from another clan and Ciaran is expected to do his part in protecting the clan, a forced marriage to help reinforce the clans number of warriors to fight the planned invasion of their beloved home. With Ciaran so opposed to this political marriage that will take away his freedom and become a pawn in his grandfather’s plan for the clan he turns to his one friend that feels the same as he does about marriage, Violette, but what can she do? He proposes a plan to her that will save him from the political marriage to Judith MacRae who lusts for his body. Ciaran will not be forced against his will and he will be the one to determine who he marries. So he decides that Violette will marry him instead and he will employ a custom found in the Highlands that allow a husband to put his wife away after a year than once again he will be free. Ay first she refuses and he can’t understand why she finds him so unacceptable as a husband and if she does marry him how will this affect the shameful secret that she has hidden so well. How will this sham of a marriage affect them both? Will it destroy the clan, destroy their friendship and forever alter both Ciaran and Violette’s future happiness?
Read and listen to Cynthia’s thrilling novel and listen to Tim Campbell’s deep and husky voice as he narrates, “Return Of The Lost Bride.” You won’t be disappointed!

Amazing!!!

I loved this book it had so many moments that had me on the edge of my seat and moments that made me scream!!!! I will definitely read this again as well as others from this author!

The story and narration deserve more than 5☆

I just found another amazing narrator to keep forever. This is my second story by Cynthia Wright and it deserved more than 5 stars. I found this writer by chance and after this story I'm sold. Everything is perfect, the story is very entertaining, the mc are unforgettable and Tim Campbell has the perfect voice and sexy accents. On to another adventure. Thank you Audible 😊

Extremely Good

Best book so far. I love the historical portion. I have been to many of the places named in the audio and it brings back so many wonderful memories. I didn’t want the book to end.