Highland Spring (Seasons of Fortitude Book 1) by Elizabeth Rose

Highland Spring (Seasons of Fortitude Book 1) Reviews

• 
  Jilly

  You have to be in the mood for a book like this because you are reading historical fiction, but also since it's Scottish, you get the accent written out for you. If you dinnae ken what I mean, ye dinnae want to ken.
  
  
  You might need help with some translation.
  
  So, I was willing. I can do the Scottish accent in my head, after all my hubs is from Northern England and has a pretty thick accent himself - it's almost the same, right? (Hubby is shaking his head in a "no. No, it's not." kind of way.)
  
  So our heroine is named Spring. Sure, that sounds Scottish. She has been raised to be a warrior because her father said they have Viking blood in them. I was pretty stoked because the description of Spring was like my favorite female Viking ever:
  
  
  I want to be her when I grow up.
  
  Spring is married off to the leader of an enemy clan in a ruse to get her access to his castle and help her father invade and take over. The problem is that Spring ends up kinda liking the dude she marries, along with his children. Now, she has a conundrum. Help daddy storm the castle and kill all of her new family, or betray her father, brothers, and clan by not helping?
  
  When all else fails, a good rule of thumb is to ask:
  
  
  
  So, it sounds like a cool kind of story, in a way, right?
  
  Yeah, but the problem I had was with the style of writing. As I read, it was sticking out more and more. Things like calling their eyes "orbs". His "hazel orbs", her "green orbs". Really? Orbs? I've never called eyes orbs in my life - well, until now. I don't think this is a Scottish thing, but correct me if I'm wrong. It was weird.
  
  Then, there were tons and tons of sentences that said things like "Spring was sad." Or, "Spring felt confused." Or, "Shaw was frustrated."
  I'll tell you how this made me feel. Jilly felt angry.
  
  And, the dialogue was really simplistic and felt off as well. It was stilted and had a lot of telling instead of showing. We were constantly told what everyone was feeling instead of just allowing the emotion to naturally come out through the dialogue and thoughts of the characters.
  
  Overall, it made the book, with some potential, fall flat for me. The only fun part was when the guy literally ripped the girl's bodice. I guess it was meant to tell us what genre this book was meant to be categorized as.
  
  
  I think this one will be better.
  
  And, if that doesn't work out, I have a couple of others waiting:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Coco.V

  🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/29/2021)! 🎁
• 
  Lori D

  As with all of Elizabeth Rose's stories, you know you are in for an adventurous and emotional tale. A warrior, Spring Gunn has not grown up with the niceties of life. Although one of the best warriors of her father's Clan Gunn, she has never been treated well by her sire. Unexpectedly, her father decides to marry her off to enemy clansman, Shaw Gordon, in order to get inside his castle walls and basically spy on him. Shaw is a widower with small children and only agrees to marry Spring in order to obtain her weapons that were made by him and his father. Can you image marrying a stranger and being thrown into enemy camp? Spring just wants to be loved and have a real home and feel safe, which she has not felt all her life. As her new life begins, she is torn on what she should do as her feelings start to be engaged by her new family. Full of secrets, betrayals and danger, this story will take you through a web that will make you turn the pages as fast as possible. You will not be able to put it down!
• 
  Karen

  This adventure lands you in the middle of the highlands where some clans where honorable & some just ruthlessly, unscrupulously schemed & plundered.
  I liked that the heroine was a warrior, even so she had a gentleness that helped heal a broken family.
  There was also a 20+ year mystery solved.
  It was a real page turner.
• 
  imanreads

  So promising. So ridiculous. I do not know who should be more offended, the characters for being imbeciles or us for being clearly perceived as imbeciles with the amount of nonsensical shortcuts and loopholes she used. DNF.
• 
  MaryD

  Decent enough story, though I found myself skimming toward the end. I did like how Spring & Shaw's relationship developed, and how it developed between Spring and the children.
• 
  Jane

  I borrowed Highland Spring from the Kindle Unlimited program.
  
  Spring Douglas was stolen when she was a baby with two other baby boys from her clan by the ruthless leader Caldwell Gunn of the Gunn Clan. They are all the same age but not triplets. The three children were raised from a young age to be raiders and lived a violent life at the demands of their father.
  
  One of the men from the Gunn Clan intercepted a messenger from their enemy the Gordon Clan. The message was sent to neighboring clans requesting a wife for Shaw Gordon the Laird of the Gordon Clan. His wife had been dead for four years and he wanted a new wife and mother for his three children. Caldwell forced Spring to enter into marriage with Shaw and her life started to change.
  
  In the end she finds our her entire life was a lie and she finds a true home in the Gordon Clan and a happy ending to this story. It is not an easy path the happiness but that is what makes it a great historical fiction.
• 
  Gina

  Highland Spring
  
  Spring raised as a warrior is given in marriage to Shaw as a truce between clans. Except her father wants her to help him storm the castle. As she gets to know Shaw and his children she will feel so conflicted. Will she give in to the stone cold warrior side or the side that is starting to care for this family? A huge secret will be revealed about Spring that will shake her foundation to the core. A passionate story of betrayal and love.
• 
  InD'tale Magazine

  "Highland Spring" is an interesting tale of family and loyalty, set against the beautiful backdrop of Medieval Scotland.
  
  Read full review in the
  2017 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
• 
  Brenda

  Publisher's Description:
  
  Seasons of Fortitude Series - Book 1
  
  (This series is about the sisters of the bastard triplets from the Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series. Spring is the sister that was stolen as a baby. It is recommended to read that series first, but not required, as this book stands on its own.)
  
  Spring has been raised as a warrior, always trying to please her father of Viking descent. Through the years she's tried to be the son he wished her to be. At a young age she's chosen the bow and arrow of a dead man as her weapon, and now she's mastered the skill. Growing up without a mother, the only skill she hasn't mastered is how to be a lady and someday a mother. But now her father decides to marry her off to their enemy, Shaw Gordon, in order to get inside the castle walls. Wanting to be a part of overtaking the castle, she goes along with the plan.
  
  Shaw Gordon, chieftain and laird, is a widower with two boys and one unruly adolescent daughter. He decides it's time to take a wife again, but never expects to be presented with his enemy's daughter. The woman is fierce, and nothing like the mother he wants for his children. The Gunn clan has been an enemy of the Gordons for as long as he can remember. While an alliance would be good, he doesn't trust them. As he's about to reject the offer, he spots the coveted bow and arrows of his late father in the girl's hands. In order to retrieve it, he does the only thing he can besides fighting - he marries her.
  
  Can two enemies push aside their differences for the benefit of all? And can a woman draw strength from herself as well as from her new husband when she discovers the horrible secret of her past - that her entire life is nothing but a lie?
  
  Watch for the other books in the series coming soon:
  Summer's Reign - Book 2
  Autumn's Touch - Book 3
  Winter's Flame - Book 4.
  Also, be sure to read the Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series: Destiny's Kiss (Prequel)
  Restless Sea Lord - Book 1
  Ruthless Knight - Book 2
  Seasons of Fortitude Series - Book 1
  
  My Thoughts:
  
  I really liked this first book in Elizabeth Rose's new series. Since I had just read another of her books that I found not to my taste and I did not care for the cover art of this one I was very skeptical about this read.
  I was pleasantly surprised.
  Spring has been raised as a warrior and can't see herself as the wife of any man, much less her enemy. How can she be a wife and mother when she has no idea what is expected.
  Shaw Gordon is the laird of his clan and a widowed father of three children, two boys and a precocious younger daughter.
  When the children meet Spring the eldest son is intimidated by her warrior's skills and takes an instant dislike for her. The other two children, however are totally enamored by her skills and attach themselves to her hip.
  Will Spring betray her new husband or will she find herself so in love that she can't possibly do the bidding of the man who she has thought to be her father for most of her life?
  I gave this book 4.25 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.75 of 5 flames.
  I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author's publicist to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I have read and reviewed voluntarily.
  
• 
  April

  Highland Spring (Seasons of Fortitude Book 1) by Elizabeth Rose is another interesting and intriguing tale.
  
  "(This series is about the sisters of the bastard triplets from the Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series. Spring is the sister that was stolen as a baby. It is recommended to read that series first, but is not required, as this book stands on its own.)"
  
  Spring Gunn was raised as a warrior, always trying to please her father, who is of Viking descent. She has become the best archer of her clan, the Clan Gunn. Her father is a cruel man. But now her father decides to marry her off to their enemy, Shaw Gordon, in order to get inside the castle walls, so they can seige what her father believes is rightfully his. The Gunn and the Gordon clans have been bitter enemies for years.
  Shaw Gordon is a widower, with three small children, he is chieftain and laird of his clan, now he feels he needs to form an alliance and find his children a new mother. He is no fool, so does not trust the Gunn clan, but he finds Spring to be spirited, comely, and she has what he covets most, his beloved deceased father's bow and arrows, which he helped his father make as a young lad, so he agrees to marry Spring, although, he doesn't trust her or her clan, especially, her father. Spring is confused, and wonders who will now protect her two brothers, with her gone. All Spring wants in life is to be loved, protected and feel the safety of a real home.
  
  "Highland Spring" is well written with
  complex characters. The plot is unique, complicated, and the back story is well written. It is a steady paced story.
  I found Shaw and Spring's story to be interesting, while, not as much fighting as Ms. Rose's other stories, "Highland Spring" is more of an inner turmoil and conflict, type of story. Spring has been lied to nearly her entire life, as well as, her two brothers. Could Spring and her two brothers be the children stolen from another clan years prior? Will Shaw be able to trust the woman he, his clan, and his children are beginning to trust? Will Spring be able to betray the clan who has begun to trust her or will she betray them all?
  
  With deception, danger, secrets, betrayal, lies, a young lady looking for love and a true family, the reader will find much to recommend, "Highland Spring". I enjoyed the many twists and turns, the surprises, the learning to love, and the desperation to do the right thing. Spring has inner turmoil and conflict to deal with, as well as, beginning to love her new husband, his children and his clan.
  A powerful and compelling love story!
  
  If you enjoy much inner conflict, learning the truth of where you truly belong, and the power of the love of a family, Scottish clans, Scottish Romance, the feeling of being wanted and the power of finally finding love, then "Highland Spring" is a perfect story to read. I can't wait to read "Summer's Reign", coming soon. Any great story by Elizabeth Rose!
  
  
  
  NOTE: "Watch for the other books in the series coming soon: Summer's Reign - Book 2, Autumn's Touch - Book 3, and Winter's Flame - Book 4.
  Also, be sure to read the Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series: Destiny's Kiss (Prequel), Restless Sea Lord - Book 1, Ruthless Knight - Book 2, and Reckless Highlander - Book 3."
  
  
  Rating: 4.5
  Heat rating: Mild
  Reviewed by: AprilR
  
• 
  Kathy Heare Watts

  WE ALWAYS HAVE CHOICES
  
  I enjoyed this page-turning, emotional and action-packed, filled mystery suspense. The story has a great cast of characters, romantic suspense, lies, deceit, betrayal, and eventually the truth. While the story is part of a series, it will read well as a stand-alone.
  
  Raised and told she was a Viking Warrior named Magna Spring, she has always had some doubts and questions. She is proficient with a bow and arrow that she removed off a casualty of war, but that man has always haunted Spring. Now the man she calls father has a plan to marry her off to their sworn enemy and wants her to help betray her new husband so that Gunn can take possession of the castle. The only problem, she has a conscience and has developed feelings for her husband, Shaw Gordon.
  
  Laird Shaw Gordon has been advised that if he wants to do what is right for his children, he will take a wife. It has been four years since he buried their mother and maybe it is time. What a shock when his enemy, Cromwell Gunn, shows up with his daughter, Magna Spring, claiming they will forge a peaceful union with this marriage. He finds Spring attractive, but she is a hardened warrior, is this a wise move for him, his children, and his clan.
  
  The plot is full of secrets, plans, deceit, and choices. With the marriage of Spring and Shaw comes other concerns. While this is an arranged marriage, he still does not trust Gunn, and he is cautious about Spring, but his daughter likes her. What will become of this union? The more time Spring spends with the Gordon clan, Shaw and his children, the more she hates herself and what Cromwell expects her to do. How can she make everyone happy without problems? At what cost to herself and her happiness?
  
  “Sometimes a love of somethin’ can cause someone to do foolish things.”
  
  “Because we make our own future by our choices,” Nairnie told her. “I canna stop anyone from doin’ what they are intent on doin’ no matter if it is wrong or right. Sometimes love makes a man strong—and sometimes it is the nail in his coffin. Be honest with yer husband. He trusts ye and also loves ye. I canna say he’ll still feel the same way when he discovers ye have nothin’ but deceit, lies, and greed in yer heart.”
  
  The story is a battle of right and wrong, lies and deceit, and discovering that everything you have been told your entire life isn’t the truth. It is about discovering that love conquers hate and that you can overcome adversities if you will only be honest with yourself and those who matter. Spring will have to walk through fire, face her demons, and emerge a victor to move forward. She must learn that love and truth win the battle.
  
  “Do ye ken what it must feel like to realize yer entire life has been based on a lie?”
  
  The story is a historical and does have some intimate scenes between a married couple that are mildly explicit in nature without crude language.
• 
  Linda Walters

  What a great main character Spring turned out to be. She appeared to be all warrior and yes she was a good one. But there was also so much depth in her that she kept hidden. Of course the way she grew up she had to keep any vulnerabilities hidden. To be the tough warrior her father wanted. Not only wanted but demanded. The only true kindness or tenderness she experienced was when Shaw became her husband. A husband that while he married her also suspects that the Gunn clan that she is part of is planning something evil. He is an honorable man but he is also having a bit of a pride issue with her abilities as a warrior. Also is the peace treaty that was established with his marriage real? He didn't think so and wavered back and forth on whether or not he could trust Spring.
  
  The three children of Shaw Gordon add to the story with all their varied issues and whether or not they wanted to accept Spring as their "new" mother. Colina, Donel and Leith are not babies, they are older children who still miss their birth mother.
  
  The mysteries surrounding Spring and her brothers keep swirling. And the truth does all come out at last.
  
  This book has a good ending that had plenty of emotion and action throughout it.
  
  
  I borrowed this book for free with my Prime Reading membership, which is a really nice perk!
• 
  Robin

  The heroine in this story is kind of like Molly Brown in the musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." I'm not a fan of the movie but I love the interchanges between these strange and unusual heroines and the heroes that come into their lives.
  In this particular tale, I found the historical cultural references to be well done, making the story come to life. The setting easily unfolded in my mind and the uneasy life the people of the story live from one day to the next set things up for a story that kept me guessing.
  My favorite character was Spring and I love the way she interacts with the people around her. Her inner reluctance to do things she doesn't feel are right leads her to acts of kindness whenever that avenue is open to her. Her actions and reactions seem to fit her very well.
  I'm looking forward to my next read from Elizabeth Rose. I can't wait to see how she'll tackle the next tale.
• 
  Petula

  Magma Spring Gunn is the best archer in her clan, thanks to the bow she took from a dead Scotsman on burnt candlemas. She is a trained warrior who has put all her emotions away to please her father.
  Laird Shaw Gordon has been widowed for four years. He has three growing children and has decided they need a mother. He is very protective because these are dangerous times.
  Our heroine is incredibly brave but also confused and lonely. Our hero is suspicious but needs someone in his life.
  This is a wonderful adventure linked to the other series that this author has written. You can read it on it's own , but I have read lots of the others and I think it's nicer to read in order. There is lots of danger and intrigue on one side and love and emotion on the other.
  I loved every page.
• 
  Susan Harrowa

  A new series continuing a favorite family line
  
  If you've read the Bastard Triplets of the Crown series, then you know they have four sisters named after the seasons. But the oldest sister, Spring, they just learned about because she was stolen as a baby. This is her story. Her life definitely did not get any easier with the man who stole her. Raised to pillage and fight, she is bartered to an enemy clan, simply as a means to steal a castle. She begins to question things when she starts to love her life there and the people now in it. And then her whole world shatters when she learns everything she thought she was and knew is a lie. Can the man she had grown to love help her find her strength again and move forward into this new life?
  Two thumbs way up for this first book in the Seasons of Fortitude series!!! Looking forward to Summer's book....
• 
  Cleora Moretter

  Clans fighting, raiding and killing other clans, stealing children - it's Scotland of course!!!
  
  Spring is told she has viking blood in her, so she must fight and kill. She does til she's feared by most of her clansmen. Then comes the day her father marries her off to his worst enemy. Cromwell wants her to sneak the clan into the castle so they can kill the other clan and take over them castle.
  The writing is so superb, the characters are wonderful. Spring is so loyal to Cromwell even after she hears that he kidnapped her as a baby and is not her real father. She is torment about who she owes loyalty to. She is in terrible turmoil. Rumors say her two brothers
  aren't blood relations either, they were kidnapped too. It's a great read. I've already boughten the rest of the series.
• 
  Roslyn Stillman

  After reading many of this series, I am happy to say that this is my favourite. It is the first in the series of sisters but brings in other characters from other stories and stories to come setting the pace for many hours of enjoyable reading. I found myself very wrapped up in the characters, at one time with tears in my eyes, something that doesn’t happen often. Ms Rose developed the characters so that you felt for them and their situation and wanted only the best for them. I also enjoy the way Ms Rose puts detail into a certain aspect of life, in this book it is how bow and arrows are made. The story line was developed well, with adventure, humor, suspense and surprise. Plenty to keep you reading. A very good place to start the series and you will want to continue on to Summers Reign
• 
  Kat Green

  Awesome fast paced story with unexpected possibilities involving future and past events. I like that the strong well developed characters were an extension of the previous trilogy. Brian J. Gill gives an excellent, 5 star performance as the audible narrator. His talent gave life to all the characters with his accurate and believable pronunciations and regional accents and voices for the varied characters. I have really enjoyed all of the boo k s in these connected series very much. Not only has Elizabeth Rose given us another amazing adventure, but Brian J. Gill gives an amazing audible performance. They really seem to make a excellent, coordinated team, to bring us an enjoyable listening experience.
• 
  Mary King

  I won a copy of this and i received it yesterday. As soon as i got it downloaded i started listening to it and I couldn't stop until I was done. Spring is a women that is a true warrior and she learns that love can come when we are not looking for it and that true family excepts us for who we are. I loved this story and think that it had everything in it that made the story great. Love, hate, betrayal, family, hope and of course fighting for honor of family. If anyone is looking for a great book to get this one is a must read. Great Job Elizabeth Rose - Author I look forward to reading more.
• 
  Mindi

  Spring was raised believing she belonged to the Gunn clan and tried to be a strong warrior to please her father. Her father gave her as a bride to the Gordon Laird claiming to want an alliance with them but he really wanted his daughter to find a way to get them into gates to take the castle for himself. Spring finds herself falling in love with the laird and wanting to protect The laird and his children and all the other clans members. She also discovers the family she grew up thinking was hers really wasn't. Her and her two brothers were stolen as babies from another clan the Gunn clan had raided. Must read.
• 
  Lorraine Anton

  Great
  
  Spring is the daughter of the Gunn Clan. She wants love and tries to please her father. He teaches them to steal, and other bad things.
  Spring agrees to marry Shaw Gordon from Edinvale Castle , he seeks a wife for his children.
  She was a warrior.
  This book has many twists and turns.
  The marriage was to be an alliance between the two clans.
  
  I liked all the characters, the children, I really liked Nairnie. She had insight.
  
  Spring and Shaw had chemistry between them.
  
  Would she betray him or go with the attraction, since she found out she indeed loved her husband.
  She finds out who she is.
  
  #19 BNB Challenge replacing another
  
  I received this for an honest review.
  
• 
  Rosemary Hughes

  I write after reading "Legendary Bastards of the Crown" series and then Spring's story.
  
  The previous series had given me the family background, and now Spring has finally been found. However, I feel you need to read her whole story, to understand her complex nature.
  
  I admire Ms Rose's writing, enjoying the warmth and jovial attitude most of her characters exude. Nothing seems insurmountable and although there is often times of emotional turmoil, the heart of the character always seems to shine through.
  
  Yes, I intend to see what the other three girls, in this family get up to.
• 
  Sharon

  Shaw- Liard over the Gordon Clan strong enemies of the Gunn Clan
  Spring- A missing daughter of Ross and Annelise , Used as a pawn for the Gunn clan, She believed she was the Laird gunns daughter and of Viking blood a true warrior.
  I enjoyed reading/Listening this intriguing story that is well written with charismatic characters. This story was full of action,adventure, betrayal, truths of secrets, and love. Their story has a loving HEA, With a slight insight into what might happen to Summer and the Baron.
  
  Narrated by Brian J Gill- who did an excellent job in telling this story and great job in in making each character voice sound distinctive with emotion.
• 
  Lesley

  The Stolen Sister
  An enjoyable story about a young woman whose whole life has been based on a lie and has never been allowed to be anything but a stoic warrior. How she copes with being suddenly married and a surrogate mother and her conflicting emotions; torn between old loyalties and new. I have been waiting to find out what happened to Spring who was stolen as a baby from her family and I was not disappointed. Recommended read. This book can be read as a standalone but features characters from other books.