Beyond the Thistles

The Highlands Series, Book 1

By: Samantha Young

Narrated by: Shane East, Stella Hunter

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.

©2023 Samantha Young (P)2023 Samantha Young

I was hooked from the prologue!

So you say you like romance? With spice? And suspense?

Well, let me HIGHLY RECOMMEND the first book in The Highlands series—a brand new series of standalones by @authorsamanthayoung

I listened to Beyond the Thistles in one go because I couldn’t stop! I had to know what was going to happen; not only in terms of the romance between a grouchy Scotsman and the American single mom on the run, but also for the dramatic mystery/suspense elements!

Here’s what I loved:
💖 The slow burn between the two main characters felt *achingly* slow at times, BUT THAT BUILD UP! 😮‍💨 When our grumpy finally gives into his sunshine he LOSES it! And hindsight had me appreciating every second the author kept us waiting!
💘 Walker is very protective and it comes across as sexy and empowering. He’s not pushy, but he does make the safety of Sloane and her daughter a priority. And the way he melts for them?! *swoon*
💖 Sloane is such a strong FMC. She repeatedly shows her strength, resilience, and determination— she’s hellbent on making a GOOD life for herself and her daughter. As a fellow single mom, she was incredibly relatable.
💘 The suspense elements kept coming and I was 100% hooked. Just when you things will settle down…NOPE! I freaking loved it!

The audiobook was FABULOUS. Both narrators fluidly transitioned from American to Scottish accents—they’re both so talented! And Shane East as a grumpy Scotsman was TOP TIER! I’m hoping to hear more of these narrators as the series progresses. 🫶🏻🙌🏻

Great story

Being visually impaired the narrators must bring the story to life. The narrators did just that. First time reading Samantha Young and will be ordering more of her books. The story was written so well and I was really happy that I ordered this book. Love the narrators!! They can make or break the book even if it's a good story.. You have a new customer on your hands

Great book

I really enjoyed listening to this story. I loved the characters, I felt the storyline was very well written, and the narrators did a phenomenal job! I really liked the way The love story was handled and that Sloane and Walker were such strong individual characters and became even stronger as they grew as a couple. I enjoyed the book enough that I am pretty sure that I will continue listening to other books in the series. I highly recommend listening to this book!

This book was great, until it wasn’t…

First off, let me say that the narration for this audiobook is stellar. Shane East narrates in a Scottish accent, and it seems like that should be illegal for how hot it was! *Immediately starts researching audiobooks where Shane narrates in a Scottish accent.*

As for the story itself, I was sure that this was going to be a 4-5 star read up until the 70% mark in this book when the plot took a weird turn. The main plot point resolved at that mark, and the last 30% felt so disjointed and out of place. I really think that the content in the last 30% should have happened before the event near the 70% mark. The event at the 70% mark, the moment we had been building up to, should have happened around the 90% mark. I don’t know. It was just off. My interest toward the end of the book completely tanked. I did like the representation with the characters in therapy, but that just wasn’t enough to hold my interest.

Very Romantic

Walker and Sloan fall in love up in the Highlands of Scotland. This book has its sad moments as well as a bit of suspense and action/adventure. The narrators did a great job brought the story to life. Off to the next one.