Photo credits: S. Hermann & F. Richter
Title: Storm the Castle.
Series: Marry the Scot #1. Author: Jolie Vines. Genre/Themes: Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance. Publisher: Self-Published. Year of Publication: 2019. Format: E-book kindle app. R E V I E W...
‘With his back to me and the castle and loch beyond, he stole my attention. No sight in the world could compete with the picture of my massive, powerful Highlander overseeing his land, heavy boots on the rocks where generations of lairds before him would’ve surveyed their property.’ “Come on, woman,” he murmured and then led me away. In the weirdest twist of my fun-filled evening, I, self-contained and independent Mathilda, would have followed him anywhere.’
A warm, wholesome love affair
‘Storm the Castle’ Is book number one in the ‘Wild Scots’ series. Any debut is a crack in frigid ice, a toe-dip in unpredictable temperature, a flight of trepidation for any writer, more so than any reader awaiting that new release, but after scouring the many glistening reviews boasting a glittering story, I have to agree and hold faith by this book’s influence. It’s an uplifting start to a series, I won’t argue that at all. With impeccable writing, this is an adamant, conservative romance, one that I recommend and praise for it’s healthy and wholesome attitude! ‘I didn’t know why I expected another Highlander. Maybe I’d heard Callum’s gentle rolling Rs and decided all men should speak that way.’ We’ve got a lonesome, loving Scott, impassioned and gentle - big-hearted, tender-hearted and open-hearted, he sings his affection in a brogue that can only corral the love of his land and the heart of a lady who belongs by his side, in name, status, loyal partnership and mate. Stalking and storming the layers of his castle, he’s mighty but lonely. When his motivation to claim practical and self-sacrificing Mathilda Storm from a marriage of convenience, he shows her a shade of love both sweet-smelling and passionate but independent and self-supporting. ‘The resilience of the man astounded me. His size, the spread of his shoulders, held up a world. Alone.’ ‘Still flummoxed, I made a rash decision. If you wanted something, you went all in to get it. I wanted to know Mathilda better. I liked the small window into her personality I’d seen, and Christ was she beautiful. Armies of men could die trying to score a kiss from those lips.’
I really am grateful, feel grateful and cherish the feeling of gratefulness when I get to read from a male protagonist who doesn’t, not even once, use his violent, distressing background or rough upbringing as an excuse to mistreat anyone or dish out hordes of cruelty, especially to women. Unfortunately, this can be a commonplace presence in this genre. Jolie Vines take a hammer to that chisel with her Scottish creation Callum McRae…
“Someone that overbearing doesn’t deserve to keep their control once they’ve gone. Secrets hold power. Talking about them stops that.”
He made the decision to draw a line and never cross it. He’s his own man, and this is what I call an inspirational representation of a man in this genre. He’s loyal, honourable, grounded, valuable and once he meets the beautiful Mathilda he knows what he wants and doesn’t abandon any desire to get it. He’s not offensively promiscuous or unbearably egotistical. He’s a stand-up guy, a great role-model/caregiver for his brothers and everything Mathilda might want.
“Because you want to kiss me.” She smiled, and my blood ran hot. “No. I want you to kiss me. I’ll chase ye to the ends of the earth but only if I know you want it.”
The reason for my mid-range rating isn’t for any compromisation in the author’s storytelling skill or technical misdemeanor. If anything, the writing is spotless and the proofreading is just as speckless. It’s more that my reading experience bordered on a lukewarm embrace as opposed to a flaming-with-energy bear hug. More a laid-back acceptance than ensnared by captivation. I felt like I was reading through a fog, trying to access the story and channel some excitement for it. Excitement that didn’t come often at all for this romance junkie was hoping for.
“You’re a laird. A Scottish lord. You’re single, and you live in a castle. With stone towers and crenelated walls? Safe from marauders. Do you swim naked in the loch and fight dragons in the mountains on the weekends?” Mathilda’s voice sounded strained. “All apart from the dragons, aye.…”
As well as examples of ‘telling and not showing’, I wasn’t excited or thrilled by the romance or the overall low-energy hum of the story. The conflict surrounds the more external issues of familial security and precarious future plans. For the most part, Callum and Mathilda’s relationship is more or less stable with what ifs and whatnots thrown in between. Not a criticism at all, but more a personal mismatch for the moment for me. Still, highly recommendable and a pleasant Highlands escape while giving me a chance to work my own imitation of a Scotsman’s burr :D
Callum huffed. “Are you asking if I worried when I saw you being abandoned? Aye. You went to sit down alone and you rubbed your head. You looked vulnerable, and that was all wrong. Did I also plan on talking to you because you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen? True. I did.”
Get involved in some proud and stormy Scots, loving and ignorant family values, difficult relationships, sacrificial intention, gambling livelihoods, a McRae clan that gave this story its energy and a Laird and lady with deep affection for familial welfare. If any man came at me with the incessant vigour as a certain Laird Callum McRae, I’d be another lass in line to champion his home and heart.
‘Callum McRae, with his honour, big heart, and even bigger frame, was far too addictive for just one day.’ I gave this book 3 stars -
Potential Content Warnings: Retrospectively mentions alcohol addiction, violence and child abuse. One-time mention of cancer. Profanity is not excessive, but it is interspersed throughout with a few sex scenes.
I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers and hearing about reader opinion, so get in touch and comment below!
--------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read ---------------------------------------
S O M E F A V O U R I T E Q U O T E S…
‘Even if embracing my fear felt like falling. I knew he’d catch me.‘
‘I’d loved once or twice before, but as a lad. Testing out the emotion and growing the capacity. Even then I knew the real deal would floor me and have me on my knees, offering my life up to the lass who’d stolen my heart.’ “Home. You’ve said it now. I can’t unhear it. Those are the sweetest words to have come from your lips.” Then he ducked his head so his lips were next to my ear, and I burned at his next words. “Until, lass, ye scream my name. Those words will be all the sweeter.” “I’d intended to play this cool, but I’m no good at it. You’re a sight for sore eyes, Mathilda. My memory must have been trying to protect me, because God, woman, your face knocks me out. I can’t even make a sentence.” ‘See, when I gave up on the notion of being rescued, when that childhood dream was obliterated by real-life experience of how hard the world could be, I learned that every single person has to shift for themselves. Take responsibility for their own success within their individual circumstances. In my own tragedy, I would be the one to sweep in and slay the dragon, and I didn’t need anyone else’s help.’ ‘Walk away, Mathilda. This hero isn’t for you. “Goodnight, Callum McRae. It was a pleasure meeting you.” He watched me for a long second, the look on his face one I couldn’t read. Then he handed me into the car, and my driver sped us away into the winter’s night. Out of the rear window, I watched the biggest man I’d ever met—both in stature and in first impressions—disappear.’ ‘I had a real problem with the whole hero complex, and of being the heroine wanting to be saved. So much so I needed to stamp it down and contain it as a fantasy. Ever since I was a girl, I’d dreamt of a man sweeping me off my feet and stealing me away to his stronghold. Protecting me from my father and taking my new baby sister with us. It was so anti-feminist, so backward in every way, I needed to make my life move forward. And yet here, standing in front of me, was the kind of guy who fit that image to a T, and I’d never been more interested.’
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