A shock8ng introduction to this story by one of my favourite authors. However, the following se lions I found less than straightforward. I persevered but for me, the storyline limped. I got 25 % through and still very little had happened to our heroine except she had been in a fire - dismissed in 2 or 3 paragraphs through mentioning her burns; and had been kidnapped, again mentioned only in passing. No details of either event des ribed. I would also query her health after the fire (having had a severe burn myself), which left more than just pinkness that then faded! Burns leave scars of varying intensity and skin appearance, even kitchen pan burns...
Thus I got rather annoyed with the story and stopped reading. Shame. Bree you normally write better.

This is an author that I have enjoyed reading from the first book I picked up. I never hesitate to pick up one of her books. I enjoy her writing style as well as her attention to details that bring her stories to life. This book is no different. This is a well written story that is hard to put down and kept me engaged to the end. A story where the past and present come together and unexpected. What happens with these characters you don't want to miss. I enjoyed watching their growth and chemistry throught out. They are connectable and added so much to the story. I had no problem picturing myself in their world and they had me coming back for more. This is a great read for sure. I highly recommend this book and this author.

I did not enjoy this i'm sad to say. I wish it could have been better. I wasn't connected to the two leads or their journey

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. I generally like this author, and it sounded like an intriguing story. I liked the fact that the main characters were French and Scottish (not the usual English ones featured in the historical novels I tend to read). They also were just regular people—not nobility. Noele is the first character introduced. After tragically losing her husband at sea, she is raped by a pirate, gives birth to his daughter, and he steals the baby from him. We think the story will center around the quest to get Ophelie back, but the romance portion of the story is actually more significant. I guess that’s what to expect from a romance, but I did think the romance would build more during the quest to find Ophelie and bring her home. When the child was returned to its mother, it was only about half-way into the book.

Ian is a mysterious member of the crew on Noele’s husband’s best friend’s boat—confusing enough for you? The particulars are not that important, just the fact that this friend trusts Ian to help Noele and protect her with his life. And yes, they do fall in love. But Ian is so frightened of his feelings that most of the rest of the story is spent trying to resolve issues from his past and convince him he is worthy of love.

The story is okay. It contains a lot of what my mother used to call “navel gazing.” I expected more action, but instead, I received lots of internal musings about what Ian and Noele were feeling, questions and fears they had, and so forth. It was an examination of love and whether it lasts forever and whether you can love someone else just as much and how much love you have to give, yadda-yadda-yadda. Honestly, I found myself rolling my eyes one too many times. And the use of exclamation points occurred far too often for my tastes.

Punctuation is intended to make it easier for the reader to read something. Italics can be used to emphasize something or to indicate internal dialogue, instead of using quotation marks which would make the reader think something was said aloud. Question marks usually occur at the end of thoughts or statements, not necessarily at the end of the sentence. For example, if a character said something aloud, it would look like this: “Was she right?” he wondered. If the question was a thought instead of spoken out loud, it would be like this: Was she right? he wondered. Here’s how it was addressed in this book—repeatedly: Was she right? He wondered as they moved across the beach… There are no quotation marks to indicate anyone is saying this. There are no italics to indicate anyone is thinking this. The question ends and a new sentence starts with “He wondered…” I found this so disconcerting every single time it popped up, and it happened a lot. The author was telling me the sentence was finished and then saying, “Psyche! There’s more to this sentence.” And because I’m so accustomed to relying upon punctuation to help me read properly, it began to infuriate me because it happened so often.

By the time I had reached the end of the book, I was forcing myself to continue reading. I could tell that the author was laying the groundwork, and in fact, has very likely already released other books in this series, but I found the thought of reading any of them difficult to imagine. Prior to the epilogue, the narrative actually ended like this. I’m leaving the paragraph breaks because I think it’s significant in showing how the words were emphasized as if to convey their import. Apologies in advance for the banality of what’s to come:

Indeed, life was what one made of it, and Ian was determined—now mre than ever before—to make the most of it.
To love.
To laugh.
And be happy.
For as long as they possibly could.

I immediately groaned, “Maybe they should put that on a plaque, but make it a little more succinct. How about ‘Live, Love, Laugh.’?”

Well paced, brilliant characterisation and an ending I loved, this was a wonderful romance which I enjoyed immensely.

Wow. There's so much danger, abuse, rape, kidnapping that it's difficult to believe there's a love story but there is. Bree Wolf worked her magic on paper. Noelle went through a lot but that isn't going to stop her from finding her baby. Ian is going to help because he knows how it feels to loose family. If you love second chances, THIS is the book for you. It will have you not wanting to move until you've read every last word. Such a great read

I read a complimentary copy from Netgalley and this is a voluntary review

The greatest mistake one could make in life was wasting it, wasting the time one was granted.

An intense book from page one, the love story and HEA are enjoyable but it will not be for everyone.

This book deals with intense subjects- like sexual assault, kidnapping, and death- from the very first page. Although some might really enjoy those themes mixed into their romance, it did make the book less enjoyable for me to have such an edge-of-my-seat storyline, which continued throughout the book. The characters are well rounded, and the writing is beautiful. Like I said, it's just not for everyone.

Star Rating: 2/5
Tropes: Second chance, widow
CW: Violence, death, sexual assault, kidnapping

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is part of the Love's Second Chance: Highland Tales series. Ms. Wolf is a very talented author and I always enjoy reading her books. She does an excellent job of bringing the story and the characters to life and this was no exception.
Noelle once had a happy life, but that soon ended when her husband was lost at sea and then she endured a horrific experience. Abused, raped, and left to die, her past experiences haunt her. As if that were not enough, her abuser has now kidnapped her baby, and Ian has volunteered to help find Noelle's daughter. Ian has also lost his family, so he values the importance of reuniting Noelle with her daughter. They travel together in search of the child. Both have suffered pain and loss in their lives, and they now have a second chance at happiness and love.
The story is filled with adventure, danger, intrigue, and romance and pulled me in right from the start. I was completely captivated till the end. The storyline flowed smoothly and the plot twists kept me glued till the end. This was an emotional, heartwarming story and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

The story begins with Noelle Clement and the tragedy she faces when her daughter is stolen from her. She accepts support from the Duret family to find her daughter, entrusting Ian Stewart, a rather taciturn Scotsman, to help her in her journey. Together, they face an enemy who will threaten the relationship that builds between them.
Not having read previous books in this series, I came into the story quite unaware of past characters. However, I did find it easy to pick up this sixth book in the series. It was lovely to see both Ian and Noelle who have suffered significantly in their past, find joy together in their relationship. This book was action packed and full of emotion.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Summer 1812 France

A wonderful story that runs through all of the emotions, as told by this talented author!

From the very beginning, you will not be able to stop reading as Ian and Noele both face their past and the future that will bring sorrow or happiness.

As they look for Noele's kidnapped daughter, danger will still find them in a journey that will wind around your heart!!

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bree Wolf has been hit or miss for me and this was a miss.
This is not the light hearted book I typically expect in this genre. The book starts with a rape scene and kidnapping.
Noele spends most of the book crying and honestly is kinda boring.
Ian has a mysterious past. I haven't read the previous books but if he is in them then I wouldn't have bothered. In this book aside from his past, he is a dull guy. Doesn't let anyone get close to him, his past is a mystery, but he will help our damsel in distress.
This took a relatively long time for me to finish and I was just happy I got through it.
2.5 to 3 stars

This was certainly a very long book. I was very glad that it answered some of the questions that had not been answered for me in "Banished & Welcomed: The Laird's Reckless Wife". Noele and Ian are two very strong characters. Their lives and adventures certainly will carry your interest to the end. There will be some tragedy, cruelty, sadness, deep emotions, character, mysteries and surprises along the way. Love will find a way.

cw: rape, kidnapping

This one should've had a content warning in the beginning. If I knew that this have recollections of experienced rape and kidnapping of a baby as introduction, I wouldn't request it. I am so triggered after reading the prologue and it took me days to even continue reading because I am not ready to read and even attempt to think about what the third act conflict might be (which I'm right about what it is and I hated that I'm right). I was not having a good time reading this book and it sucks because I generally loved the author's writing style and her ways of telling a story to the readers from what I have read from her so far, but the content and how the book started really made me not okay and thus, affected my reading enjoyment. And this is why we need content warnings at the beginning of the book.

Bree Wolf is one of my very favorite authors. This story connects with so many of the past stories that if you haven't read will make you want to out of cirousity. They have to find Noele daughter. I loved how Ian and Noele were brought together and found their way to forming a family. It is a messy family that doesn't fit neatly into any easy category. This was an extremely emotional book. I loved it and the journey.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and am voluntarily reviewing it. With an honest opinion.

This book carries a dark side of violence against women PTSD kidnapping ect which is not my favourite as I prefer my books a little lighter, It is well written however with lots of action and angst (perhaps a little too much at times) going on, I haven't read the other books in this series and did feel i might be missing out so perhaps best read in order. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The 1st I read of the series and now will definitely read the previous books. The story and characters are very compelling. This is Noele story, a young widow, raped and now has a beautiful daughter. Then her daughter is kidnapped and Noele is left for dead, but a mother love knows no bound and when her daughter is taken she will do anything to get her back. Enlisting the aid of Ian, a friend of her family they together search for her daughter.
The story has a story within about the mysterious Ian. A story of learning to trust, never giving up, a chance of 2nd love, I would suggest read the previous books, which will fill in the few missing pieces, but as I stated I read as a standalone and enjoyed the story. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #WrongedRespectedTheGentlemansValiantWife #WolfPublishing

Bree Wolf’s Highlander Series continues and we finally get the story of Ian MacDrummond. And. it. is. beautiful.

This is a story of healing, redemption, forgiveness and love. It’s combining so much of previous books, but I feel like you could totally read it on its own if you’re interested in a historical romance with these tropes: pirates, highlands, single parents, second chances, found family.

Ian Stewart is promoted Captain and is tasked with finding a young widow’s daughter who has been abducted by an old enemy. Noele Clement has lived through the worst but can’t lose hope and boards Captain Stewart’s ship to find her baby daugther.

Two broken people emerge from this journey finding love, healing and a second chance. Despite the heaviness of the adressed topics I enjoyed the straight forwardness of the characters and how reflected they were.
I won’t tell where the journey leads them or who they find among it, but I will say that I enjoyed the story immensly. And a big treat for all Bree Wolf Fans: the epilogue and what it implies. READ IT!

Wronged and Respected by Bree Wolf is a Regency romance. Noéle Clément was a happy wife until her husband Έtienne was washed overboard on a French privateer. Ian MacDrummond has reinvented himself as Ian Stewart after leaving Scotland and his family behind. He thought they would be better off without him.

Noéle was disgraced by an enemy of her husband and had a daughter. Now the child’s father Dubois comes back. He takes her daughter, beats her and sets her home on fire. She stayed with her friends with to recover her injuries. Three months later she is ready to find her daughter and bring her back.

The voyage to find her daughter is being captained by Ian Stewart who is determined to find Ophélie for her. Together they search for her and in their time alone, they find each other. Ian needs to make peace with his Scottish family before he and Noéle can be happy together.

I found this book to be very entertaining although this genre is not really my favorite. The novel was entertaining and exciting at the same time.

I received a copy from Netgalley; this is my honest review
TRIGGER ALERT: Wisps of rape, then details, plus PTSD, also notes of physical abuse against someone, more than once.
-The pace is extra slow; it took me over 7 hours to read this and I was getting bored.
-I think I also got annoyed because every other paragraphs finished with a question but the questions were also inside most of the paragraphs. That got old fast and the more I saw them the more I wanted the book to finish. "Only he had been, had he not?"
-Noèle (never seen it written like that) was mostly stupid, in the way and couldn't keep up. It might seem harsh because she went through a lot, but she cried A LOT.
-I found Ian brave, decent and faithful to anyone who believed in him. I loved the wolf.
-The non-repetition of how Ian was never good enough could have cut the book in half.
-The end dragged on too long and the end is somewhat a cliffhanger. Noèle and Ian do get their HFN but the prologue brings to future problems that does end as a cliffhanger.

Noe'le Cle'ment has had much suffering and pain since her husband was lost at sea. One man is responsible, Captain Dubois. Ian Stewart helped save Noe'le once and comes to her aid when her child is stolen by Dubois. Ian carries pain and unhappiness from his past. By helping Noe'le, she helps him find closure by returning to Scotland. It's a perilous journey to find the child, with more death and destruction from Dubois, but a chance for a young mother and a Scotsman to find love with each other.
This book carries a dark side of violence against women for possible triggers.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.