Tag Archives: Spellbound Hearts

The Highlander’s Wicked Ways by Julie Johnstone -review

Posted on by
13

The Highlander’s Wicked Ways (Spellbound Hearts 3) by Julie Johnstone -review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 26, 2026

When Murieall Buchannan asks for my protection, I offer her the only thing I have left—a bargain carved from sin.

Murieall

I stole a witch’s magic goblet to save my mama’s life and paid for my folly with a curse that binds me to the dead.

The voices never stop. Their grief claws at my mind, and now people whisper I’m mad. My betrothal has been shattered, my reputation destroyed, and time is running out to break the curse before I lose everything.

The witch’s answer to my pleas for forgiveness is as cruel as it is impossible: I must make the wickedest Scot in the Highlands feel again. Munro Ross is grief-hardened, sinful, and dangerous. He wants nothing to do with redemption, but to save myself, I must save him.

Entry into his domain comes at a wicked price: one month in his bed. I tell myself I can endure anything for freedom. What I don’t plan for is the honorable man I find under the dark surface, or the way his touch strips away my careful control, or how falling for him may cost me far more than the curse ever could.

Munro

I lost my wife. I lost my son. And I buried my heart with them.

I don’t believe in witches. I don’t believe in forgiveness. And I don’t save desperate women who come begging at my door. So when Murieall Buchannan asks for my protection, I give her the only thing I still know how to offer—temptation wrapped in shadows and desire.

She’s meant to be a distraction, a fleeting indulgence to dull my pain. But by day, I see a patient, brave woman. And night after night, the ice I’ve built around my heart begins to crack. When she starts whispering truths I was never meant to hear, I realize this bargain may destroy us both.

Because if I let myself feel again, I’ll have to face the lies and betrayals that surround us. And the secrets that unite Murieall and me may be the very ones that tear us apart.

••••••••••

REVIEW: The Highlander’s Wicked Ways by Julie Johnstone is her third book in the Spellbound Hearts series it’s a Scottish historical romance that centers on grief, healing, and the raw vulnerability of learning to feel again.

This final installment in the Spellbound Hearts series delivers an emotionally intense journey that will bring tears as two broken souls find their way back to life and love.

Murieall Buchannan is haunted, (literally) by a curse she brought upon herself when she stole a witch’s magic goblet to save her mother. The voices of the dead now claw at her mind day and night, destroying her reputation and leaving her desperate. To break the curse, she must accomplish the impossible, make the most grief hardened, emotionally frozen Highlander in the Highlands feel again. (Simple 😝)

Munro Ross has buried his heart with his late wife and son. He offers Murieall no noble protection, only a dark, sinful bargain, one month in his bed in exchange for whatever “safety” he can give.

What begins as a transaction born of desperation slowly becomes something far more profound, a tender, aching exploration of pain, patience, honesty, and the terrifying risk of opening one’s heart once more. (I sobbed in parts 😢)

Munro is a classic tortured hero, morally gray, angry at the world, and convinced he has nothing left to offer, but as we peel back his layers, we watch the ice around his heart crack night after night. Murieall’s quiet bravery and whispered truths reach the man beneath the grief, had wanting to shake the highlander and tell him to love her!

Murieall is resilient yet deeply vulnerable, she carries the constant torment of the curse while fighting not to lose herself. Her journey isn’t just about breaking the curse, it’s about hope, and the ability to love without fear.

The redemption arc for Munro feels earned and profoundly satisfying, while Murieall’s strength shines through her compassion and quiet courage.

The magical curse adds high stakes and a haunting atmosphere, but it ultimately serves the emotional heart of the story, turning what feels like a punishment into a path toward healing and connection.

If you love Highland romances that prioritize deep emotional healing, vulnerable heroes, and heroines who heal through love rather than just magic, this book will stay with you.

Highly recommended for anyone seeking a romance that doesn’t just entertain but moves you, perfect for curling up with a cup of tea (and maybe a tissue or two).

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

Share

The Highlander’s Enchanted Healer by Julie Johnstone-review

Posted on by
16

The Highlander’s Enchanted Healer (spellbound Hearts 2)  by Julie Johnstone-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 30, 2025

Love bloomed in the ashes of betrayal—fragile, furious, and unstoppable.

Elena
I came to Campbell castle to destroy them, not to fall in love.
The witch’s goblet promised any wish, any power. I stole it to avenge my murdered family. But magic always comes with a price and every time I use my gift, I’m in danger. And the Campbell laird, Ross—fiercely honorable, maddeningly protective, and impossible to ignore—was never part of my plan.
Posing as a healer was supposed to bring me closer to my adversaries. Instead, every secret I uncover pulls me closer to Ross—and to the truth about who really betrayed us both. Now, the man who is supposed to be my enemy is the only person I cannot live without.

Ross
She came to me cloaked in secrets, a healer with fire in her soul. She challenged me, intrigued me, stoked desire in me—and slowly tore down walls I had meticulously built. She was everything I couldn’t let myself need. I never intended to give her my heart. She took it. But then I discover she’s a Gordon spy—the woman who placed my clan in peril. Now, I must decide whether I can trust the lass sent to crush me.
And even as battle looms and treachery surrounds me, I can’t stop loving her.

••••••••

REVIEW: In “The Highlander’s Enchanted Healer,” by Julie Johnstone I found a wonderful book with a gripping story that intertwines love, betrayal, and the complexities of trust.

I love this author’s work. Her attention to detail is always well thought out, and her characters make me wish I was there to help them figure it out. 😊

The story unfolds as Ross Campbell, an honourable laird, grapples with feelings he never expected to encounter when Elena, a healer cloaked in mystery, enters his life.

Ross’s initial impression of her lies in the shroud of suspicion. She represents everything he should fear, a Gordon spy sent to undermine his clan! However, what he discovers instead is a woman filled with fire, passion, and a spirit that ignites desire in him.

Elena’s character is great.

She is driven by vengeance yet reveals a gentleness that draws Ross closer, making her a formidable force against all odds. She’s capable, strong and pretty resourceful. As Ross navigates his growing feelings for someone he believes is a betrayer, can she trust him? But what about her revenge for her family? 🤔

The author’s writing is vivid and detailed. She paints the Scottish Highlands with lush descriptions, allowing us to feel the chill of the wind and the warmth of the characters’ connections. The magical elements, particularly Elena’s healing abilities, add a magical layer that enhances the storytelling. (Do love a little magic added in 😉)

The internal struggle Ross faces, how to reconcile his growing love for Elena with the fear of her betrayal is well written.

He battles from both past betrayals and the weight of leadership. (I really liked how both compassionate and vulnerable Ross is.) We also have the threat to his clan to figure out! Is Elena friend or foe?

Highly recommended for fans of historical romance and adventure!

Click HERE for Julie’s review of book one THE LAIRD’S MAGICAL LASS

Own a copy

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

Share

The Laird’s Magical Lass (Spellbound Hearts 1)by Julie Johnstone

Posted on by
10

The Laird’s Magical Lass (Spellbound Hearts1) by Julie Johnstone -review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 30, 2025

Freya

Aye, I stole a goblet. A magical one. From a witch.In my defense, I returned it. I just… took too long.

I was trying to save myself from a loveless marriage, not doom my future. But witches don’t take kindly to thievery that cost them dearly. She granted my wish—then twisted it into a curse. Now I’m thrice wed, never for love.

Men want me for my sight, not my heart. And when they don’t heed my visions, they die. I’ve been taken again, this time by Colin bloody MacDonald. A brute. A Highland warlord. My father’s greatest enemy.

He says he’s not like the others. I say he’s worse. He married me to ruin my clan. He thinks he can use me. But I’ve had my fill of being used.

And yet… he’s careful with me. Fiercely so. Worse still, he’s handsome when he’s not scowling, and kind when he thinks I’m not looking. I won’t give him my heart. But I fear it may no longer be mine to keep.

Colin

I didn’t want a wife. I needed leverage. A weapon. A way to end this war. Freya MacLeod is all of that—and more trouble than I bargained for.

I forced her hand, aye. But I swore not to touch her until she’s willing. And now, every day she refuses me feels like its own kind of curse. She’s fire and prophecy, steel wrapped in silk. And I’m starting to forget I married her for vengeance.

Starting to wonder what it would mean to earn her trust. There’s no room for softness in war. No space for hearts in bargains. But when it comes to Freya, I’ve already lost more than I meant to give.

•••••••

REVIEW:  Julie Johnstone’s “The Laird’s Magical Lass” is a beautifully crafted historical romance that intertwines elements of magic, intrigue, and emotional moments.

Set in the enchanting Scottish Highlands, this novel serves as the first installment in the Spellbound Hearts series, and it brilliantly sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting journey ahead.

From the outset, the book grabs you with its richly detailed world filled with vivid imagery. The author’s description of the Scottish landscape not only reflects its physical beauty but also adds a layer of atmosphere that enhances the magical themes woven throughout the story. The author’s world-building is one of my favourite things, very detailed.

Freya MacLeod, a heroine whose strength and resilience is evident. Burdened by the weight of a witch’s curse and the ramifications it has on her life, Freya’s journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment. Her character evolves in a compelling way, grappling with her past while navigating the complexities of her newfound circumstances. Learning to use and control her magic isn’t going to be easy, but she’s not going to give up.

Colin MacDonald, the Highland warlord, is at first glance, a brooding figure driven by ambition and revenge, but as the story unfolds, layers of his character are revealed. And I wouldn’t say a pussy cat, but he had a softer side not many get to see. His initial intentions towards Freya turn complicated as he finds himself drawn to her. The romantic tension between Freya and Colin is charged with both conflict and undeniable chemistry, resulting in a slow-burn romance.

The interplay of magic in the story adds an intriguing dimension, allowing for a unique exploration of themes such as fate, choice, and the consequences of power. The magical elements intertwine seamlessly with the romance, enhancing the plot without overshadowing the character development. Freya’s struggle against the confines of her curse and the expectations placed upon her felt all too real to me.

Julie Johnstone’s writing style is engaging and accessible, with a knack for blending rich descriptions and emotional depth. The dialogue feels authentic and natural, further enhancing character interactions and the overall flow of the story. The pacing is a steady pace, balancing moments of tension with quieter character moments that allowed me to catch my breath 😝

Overall, “The Laird’s Magical Lass” is a captivating read that combines historical romance and magical realism in an enthralling way. Julie Johnstone has crafted a story filled with dynamic characters, intricate relationships, and a richly imagined world that was just enchanting.

It’s a promising start to the Spellbound Hearts series, and fans of the genre will find it hard to put down. With its blend of magic, love, and self-discovery, this book is highly recommended for anyone looking to lose themselves in a compelling tale set in the enchanting Scottish Highlands.

🦋 Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

Share