The Scrolls of Cridhe Volume 1: Five Hundred Years of Scottish Romance

“The Scrolls of Cridhe” is a collection of Highland romance novellas, representing a collaboration of seven authors: Ceci Gillenan, Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Suzan Tisdale, Kate Robbins, Kathryn Lynn Davis, Lily Baldwin and Tarah Scott.  Over 500 years of Scottish Highland history is represented in these pages, and fans of the Scottish Historical Romance genre will find their hunger for passionate romance featuring bold, brave and handsome Highlanders, and the spirited lasses they love, well-sated.

With over 800 pages of reading, this collection has a bit to satisfy most every reader with a generous helping of mysticism and paranormal magic, plenty of steamy romance, and a tasty helping of adventure as seven different couples fight for their love and happy ending together.  

Overall, the stories were enjoyable and well-written, although after a while, the sheer length of the collection did feel tedious.  The two most impressive stories were “A Jewel in the Vaults”, closely followed by “Stealing Moirra’s Heart,” due to wonderful heroes paired with inspiring and courageous heroines who are very distinct from the typical young maidens expected in this genre.  Lily Baldwin’s story of a young woman forced to dress as a boy and befriended by a brave Highlander truly is a jewel.  Suzan Tisdale’s story of thrice-widowed Moirra and her bargain husband has a perfect mix of humor and pathos. This volume is a good introduction to seven historical romance authors who specialize in Highland romance, and it shows that the sub-genre is a lot more diverse than expected.  

Danielle Hill