Through the Glen (The Highlands #3)
Samantha Young
Blurb:
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.
Themes: Contemporary
Rating: 4.5 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
Ok
let’s be honest, none of us thought that we would love Theo because he was a
huge prat in North and Aria’s novel, despite the glimpses of goodness we
peeked. But I have to tell you I think that Theo is my favorite despicable,
wounded, and bastard of a hero in any novel I have read in a long time. Samantha Young has such a beautiful ability
to pull readers into the lives of her characters, their backstories and the
emotional trauma that has shaped them into the broken individuals they are that
you can’t help but fall into the story and never want to crawl out. This story
is filled with pain, passion, exploration, and laughter right along with the
chance for two people to truly heal one another and find their way out of the
darkness that has kept them both back from living full and fulfilled lives for
far too long. This series continues to
amaze and thrill me and with each new story I find myself wanting to jump on a
plane and fly to Scotland (again) so that I can find out myself if the beauty
of the Highlands might present me with a new and amazing chance at love and
life. I cannot wait for the next book
and I know I will devour it just as quickly as I have the last three stories in
this series—and not to mention the original Ardnoch series, which cannot be
discounted and really shouldn’t be missed.
Sarah
McCulloch has finally made the difficult decision to come out of her shell and
move on from her day job as a housekeeper at the esteemed Ardnoch Estate, to
continue pursuing her shining career as a bestselling author. But before she does she has one last task—to
ask the gorgeous and award-winning screenwriter Theo Cavendish if he will team
up with her to write the screenplay for her books. Theo can’t believe his ears when Sarah admits
her secret, but despite his writer’s block, he always works alone and turns her
down; but when he is forced to reconsider its decision he finds himself chasing
her instead to ask her to allow him to work with her. Spending time together at Sarah’s secluded
beach-side cottage, they begin to grow close and their friendship evolves into
something more, leading to a passionate relationship neither of them is
prepared for. When they leave their
privacy, they are forced to face challenges and truths neither of them are
ready for and they have to come to terms with their differences quickly or they
will lose the emotional connection they have developed. Can an emotionally
stunted former playboy and an innocent but brave woman find a way to grow
together and find love or will they be forever separated by their vast
differences?
I
loved getting to know these two and seeing them get to know one another,
because let’s be honest the secrets they have been keeping from everyone around
them, with only a few exceptions, have made them both island in a sea with no
way to cross to them. Sarah’s shyness,
fears, and insecurities from her youth, before moving to Ardnoch with her
grandfather, left a deep and abiding stamp on her, preventing her from moving
forward and becoming the woman that she was always meant to be. She is passionate, smart, witty, and sweet,
but she has so many fears and anxieties that she truly fears venturing out into
the world and so many experiences bring up painful memories for her. But the beautiful dichotomy of her is that
when her friends, family, or lover are having their own issues with past pains
or insecurities she is soft and loving enough to be there for them, forgiving
them and allowing them into or back into her heart when so many others might
hold grudges. I loved her playfulness
with Theo, even when he was at his darkest, giving him that respite and showing
him that life is not always meant to be so serious. Theo was a dark soul, his ability to hold a
grudge and willingness to wallow in his own darkness a little bit worrying, but
on the other side of the coin he was always there for his friends. He feels so deeply especially the pain of
loss and betrayal from those that should have loved him the most that he has
never recovered, never let go of the anger that shaped him in to the prick he
presents to everyone except Sarah. For
Sarah he is willing to be softer, to be a better man and forgive those that have
tried to break him, but with her love he will prove they failed. I loved his sweetness under the gruff
exterior, his mischievousness and his willingness to play with Sarah even if he
rarely lost his edge. The passion he
shared with her as he brought her out of her share allowed him to find his own
softness and her gentleness smoothed out the hasher edges of his personality,
allowing the puzzle pieces of their hearts to fit together perfectly.
Is
there ever a better story than the edgy asshole falling in love with the
innocent lass, getting his heart handed to him, and finding himself tamed once
and for all? I cannot tell you just how much I enjoyed this story, but just to
say I think I only moved three times during the entire time I was reading. Sarah is the type of woman that you just love
to watch blossom as she heals from her loss and finds her way past her shyness,
but the best part is as she finds her footing as a passionate and loving woman
with the help of the man that is slowly stealing her heart, even before he
captures her body. She can’t resist the
sweetness that Theo only seems to show when he is around her and begins to see
the true man buried under the pain and hatred he has hidden behind for years,
and her determination to bring out that true loving man shows that despite her
misgivings she will fight for her love.
Theo is one of those characters that you love to hate, but in the end
you are rooting for because you feel his pain right alongside him. He was so betrayed
and never got over it, but the healing and support he gets from Sarah allows
him to embrace the man he truly has always been underneath the angry shell he
shows to the world and instead be the caring, giving, and loving man he
is. I loved the teasing, and sometimes
naughty banter that these two shared continuously, but the passion that they
shared was evident even when they fought it in the beginning. However once they unleashed that heat, there
was no hiding that they were compatible physically and the chemistry would always
be an underlying part of their relationship. I am dying for the next book,
which I understand will be between Sarah’s cousin, Jared, and Aria’s sister,
Allegra, because from the scenes in this book that one is going to be another
explosive and emotional rollercoaster.
Ms. Young is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to authors and you
can surely bet I am spreading the word far and wide, because no one should miss
the greatness that is Through the Glen,
and into The Highlands.
*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.
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