~ 4.5 Highlander’s Passion Stars ~

A Highlander’s Passion is book two in the Highlander’s Beloved series by Vonnie Davis. Don’t miss out on the emotional journey through the hearts of a witch and bear shifter.

Oh Lordy, Ms. Davis had me hooked from the first page to the last. I could not put A Highlander’s Passion down. She had me laughing, crying, and doing both at the same time. So many emotions from heartache, sadness, joy, excitement, hope, surprises both good and bad; plus a good doses of humor and romance happen in this fantastic tail.

Bryce is our sexy bear shifter who has some commitment problems. Then their is Kenzie our Wiccan who has some deep trust issues. These two have a very big history together. I enjoy it when a couple has a history and you finally get to see them work things out and come together. Both Kenzie and Bryce have emotional scares from each other and others in their past to deal with. The history they have as well as the secrets, where hard to read, but so worth it to see them help heal each other and come together. The healing they go through was a journey in itself. One of my favorite parts is when they are saying goodbye to two little ones they lost and loved. You will know the moment I am talking about. Ms. Davies had me in tears it was so heartbreaking and thoughtful.

I enjoyed the secondary characters just as much as the leads. Grandma Effie is just a hoot. I loved her in [b:A Highlander's Obsession|21544875|A Highlander's Obsession (Highlander's Beloved, #1)|Vonnie Davis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395700281s/21544875.jpg|40879171] and I feel in love with her all over again here. We get a few surprises from her. Things we may not have known we learn. I love how she brings humor to the story and her free-spirt. Colleen, Bryce’s daughter, was just adorable. I loved this kid. The things she said and did where great. One of my favorite part’s with her was at the end. Oh sweet heaven help me her speech she did had me laughing so hard I was in tears. That child is just too adorable.

A few things I noticed/bothered me:
Why do authors feel the need to give extra names to characters? It get’s to be confusing. The Wiccan’s in this story have their birth name, then when they become Wiccan they are bestowed two additional names, which are their Wiccan names. Then we have Effie giving Kenzie a nickname. Now that I can see, but with all the names it’s just a little to confusing.

The other thing that got to me was how Fauste got his hands on Kenzie so easily. Everyone knows she is in danger from him and they are very big on family and protection, so why did she not have an escort/protection with her when she was walking around. It made no sense to me that they would not have her be with someone when Fauste is out to get her.

I loved A Highlander’s Passion. What is not to love. We have some very sexy Highlander bear shifters, great fun loving characters, and a sweet romance. After reading this one I felt the need to go back and re-read book one again as well as this one. It was that good. I can’t wait for more books in this series.

Disclaimer: ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

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If you read my first review (http://bambi-unbridled.blogspot.com/2015/03/review-highlanders-obsession-by-vonnie.html), you will know that I
expected a historical romance when I first picked up this series. However, this is actually a unique series of fun quick reads that take place in the modern-day Highlands involving a sleuth of werebears and their mates.

This story involves the youngest Matheson, Bryce, and his leading lady, Kenzie. Kenzie is a tortured heroine, having survived a horribly abusive relationship with her late husband, who was one of the villains in A Highlander's Obsession. Bryce and Kenzie have a history, so he has a lot to overcome to win back her affection. Kenzie also has a mysterious past which, once revealed, becomes the suspense plot for the story. While the mending relationship between Bryce and Kenzie was sweet, funny and steamy - the culmination of the drama and defeat of the bad guy seemed a bit rushed and anticlimactic. That being said, I still loved this book. I was so happy that Effie continued to play a big part in this book, as she is my favorite (hilarious) character. Colleen, Bryce's daughter, was also more visible in this installment, and she quickly won my heart. I think she may be my favorite child character ever. She's cute as a button and funny in that way that innocent inquisitive children can be. There was less focus on the bear nature of the Mathesons in this story, mostly because you are learning about Kenzie's and Effie's special abilities. If you are looking for a fast funny read, this is definitely a good series to pick up.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review:

A Highlander's Passion by Vonnie Davis
Loveswept, 2015
Romance (Paranormal); 300 pgs

After finishing A Highlander's Obsession by Vonnie Davis, I was ready to jump right into A Highlander's Passion, the second book in the trilogy. This novel focused on Creighton's brother, Bryce, the youngest of the three Matheson brothers. A Higlander's Passion takes place not too long after the events of A Highlander's Obsession, some of the events in the first book leading up to what happens in the this second book. Even so, this novel can be read as a stand alone.

Bryce is a bear-shifter like his brothers. He is also the father to an adorable little girl who desperately wants a new mother. And not just any new mother. She wants Kenzie Denune to be her mother. It isn't such a giant leap really. Kenzie and Bryce had been best friends growing up and they became lovers after the death of Bryce's wife. Kenzie has loved Bryce since they were children, and when he spurned her first for his wife and then again because he couldn't let go of his dead wife's memory, she swore she would never give him another chance.

Kenzie has only just lost her husband, a loss she is more grateful for than not. Her husband was a terrible man, beating her throughout the course of their marriage. Bryce blames himself, believing that if he'd not been too afraid to commit to Kenzie, she would not have found solace in another man's arms, especially one that mistreated her. He has his work cut out for him if he wants to win her back. He knows now she is the love of his life.

Kenzie learns early on in A Higlander's Passion more about her abilities as a witch, powers that came into being the last time her husband beat her. She blames herself for his death, believing a muttered curse was the cause. Effie, an elderly American, who had inherited the Scottish manor she now lives in, takes Kenzie under her wing, revealing she, too, is a witch, the head of the coven, in fact, a coven assigned to protect the weak and innocent.

Kenzie's world--and life--are threatened when an evil bigger than any she has ever known seeks her out to use her for his own gain. Bryce is determined to protect her at all costs just as she is determined to live. Everything she has known or thought she knew about who she is becomes a question mark the more she learns.

Vonnie Davis continues to write with humor and wit in this second installment in this series, although this book comes with some very heavy issues. The author does not gloss over the subject of domestic violence and the grief that comes with a miscarriage. There are two scenes in particular that stood out for me above all the rest in the book--the scene at the lake with the white roses and then a scene shortly after Kenzie lashes out at Bryce physically. The author handled both of those scenes was with compassion and thoughtfulness.

A Highlander's Passion was quite an entertaining read, exciting and action-packed. I admit Bryce had to win me over along with Kenzie given his past behavior, but it was clear he was devoted to her. I am eager to read the next book in the series and find out more about the middle brother. And perhaps spend more time with Effie, who continues to be a favorite character of mine. ( )

Saucy, spirited and sexy!

Honestly, I really enjoyed A Highlander's Passion. Humour and passion--not a bad combination! What could have easily fallen into corny is upheld by the genuiness of the interaction between the characters. I fell in love with Bryce's wee daughter Colleen. Paisley's totally outrageous witchy grandmother Effie features as large as life still with her passion for pink including slippers. Between Colleen's innocence and Effie's racy commentary, it's a hoot. But nestled in the raunchy humour is a message of love, acceptance and honouring each other.
I have to say that scenes with young Colleen and the way she'd let loose all the secrets that adults said around her were amusing. It was hilarious when she uncovered her uncle's stash of magazines left in a low down hiding place. Her actions are so true of precocious young ones--and yet Colleen's precociousness is gently surrounded by a pure and loving heart. I did find myself giving snorts of laughter on many an occasion.
Shifter bear and widower Bryce Matheson has the opportunity to win back the love of his childhood sweetheart and witch, Kenzie Denune. Kenzie's story is tragic with a dark mystery hidden in her background. Life has not been great, her now dead husband was a brute and Bryce suffers along side her as he comes to understand her heartbreak. His empathy and love speak volumes, Kenzie is no broken weed though. She is strong, open hearted and wonderful.
Shifter bears, animal guides, a golden lynx, high priestess witches, evil wizards all embellish and play out a story of finding true love and recognizing what is right before you.
I also appreciated Davis' accolade at the end, 'to all stepmothers...' Well appreciated and often unsung, but winning Kenzie's trust is no pushover. The scene with the rosebuds is heart rendering and a beautiful inclusion. This is fun paranormal romantic romp with the requisite amount of compassion, intrigue and complexity to satisfy.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

I loved this book! The story line and setting was great and made better by the Scottish brogue that was added. Bryce and Kenzie's story was an exciting adventure as Bryce is forced to protect and save Kenzie on several occasions. And it is a beautiful love story between a shape shifting bear and a witch. I love paranormal romance, and this story will keep you on the edge of your seat with thrills, the passion is hot, and the emotion between Bryce and Kenzie will tug at your heart. There were some great secondary characters, I have yet to read Creighton and Paisley's story, but I especially liked Effie, she was a blast!!!
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. 5/5 ( )