#NewReview~~Beyond the Thistles by Samantha Young
Beyond the Thistles by Samantha Young
He’s a brooding bodyguard. She’s a single mom on the run. And in a town this small, they can’t hide from their fierce attraction…
It’s been a long time since Walker Ironside left behind Scotland and the memories that haunt him. Yet after years of traveling the world as a bodyguard, Walker misses his homeland enough to return. To a village in the Scottish Highlands that plays host to an exclusive members-only club, Ardnoch Estate. If not happy, Walker is content working with the elite security at the club and maintaining his bachelor lifestyle. What he doesn’t need is distraction in the form of the enticing but too-young newcomer, single mother Sloane Harrow.
Sloane never imagined she’d get pregnant at sixteen. Or that a decade later she’d escape from California with her daughter, Callie, to start over in the Scottish Highlands. Hidden and safe from Callie’s dangerous father, Sloane is satisfied with their new lives. Her daughter is happy. Sloane has a stable job, a quaint cottage, a passion for baking that might just be turning into a business, and a huge crush on brooding security guard Walker Ironside. Unfortunately, the grumpy Scot seems immune to Sloane’s charm, but she can’t help but try to seduce him with cupcakes and baked treats whenever the opportunity arises.
However, when someone arrives in Ardnoch intent on destroying Sloane’s life, Walker is the first to step forward to protect her and Callie. Even if it means giving into temptation and awakening his own demons. Because in doing so, Walker faces failing not only to shield Sloane from her past, but to safeguard her against his own.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/414yiFj
Tera’s 4 Blush Review
After finally getting all of the Adair family stories, now we are blessed with an all new spin-off series! The Highland series is starting off with Beyond the Thistles which highlights Walker and Sloane’s story both of whom we meet in the final Adair novel.
I want to start by saying this story stands alone perfectly. If you have not read the Adair Family novels, you will have no problem starting with this one; however, there are tons of crossover characters in this new series if you have the time to invest in the those first.
Sloane and Walker both have incredibly dark pasts. Sloane is quite the badass and faces her demons like they are nothing. Walker is also a badass who is struggling with facing his demons of the past. Together, they find comfort and healing. Not to mention they’re chemistry is off the charts.
One thing that Samantha Young seems to be really great at is bringing in an element of mystery/suspense into her writing which adds another dynamic to the story. I feel this addition takes out some of the monotony that can be found in repeated tropes. Sure, this one has the bodyguard/age gap trope going for it, but that element of suspense is refreshing. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It flows well. It has tons of likeable characters and just the right amount of spice.
