Beyond the Thistles cover art

Beyond the Thistles

The Highlands Series, Book 1

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Beyond the Thistles

By: Samantha Young
Narrated by: Shane East, Stella Hunter
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About this listen

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
Contemporary Contemporary Romance Romance Romantic Suspense Highlander Suspense Heartfelt Feel-Good Scotland

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All stars
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Gahhh! I will miss these characters, their banter, their love for one another and how sweet and heartfelt this story was at times. The narration was absolutely fabulous!! Stella Hunter and Shane East are so incredibly talented and skilled. I am simply in awe. They brought so much depth and heart and LIFE to this story. Highly, highly recommend!!!

I am utterly in love with this story and narration!

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Listener received this title free

I'm a fan of Samantha Young's novels, and I've already read the Adairs series, as that was an intro for Walker and Sloane characters. But this is the first book I'm listening and I loved it. I love to take my time to read normally so I didn't know what to expect from listening a romance by Samantha Young. Well, it's so worth it and I absolutely recommend it.
It has everything you'd like in a romance novel :lovable characters, she is a gorgeous, strong woman with a dificult past that will come tumbling into her present, he is an atractiv man that wasn't looking for commitment and relationship complications, but was very attracted, and  protectiv of her and her daughter, was admiring and was falling for her.
You'll not miss sparkling intimate scenes as well, conflict and tention and obviously action. I'm used to Samantha's style of throwing the characters in battles for their life and their loved ones, and I always like how the story unfolds, it makes you feel it, suffer and be releaved with the outcome.
I loved the narrations both for female and male voices. I believe that they done a great job and literally you getting transferred in the story like you are part of it, I have to point out that in a book this is very important for me, i like to hear their voices and somehow it's exactly how I imagine they'd sound.

Loved it!

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Listener received this title free

knew from the glimpses we got that the spin off series of The Adair family would be good, book one is here and it is so so good!!

If you like suspense, single mom and the bodyguard trope just pick it up and you won't regret it.

Sloane is a single mom who is running from her past, she got the change to start over in Scotland and she immediately jumped to it. Her new life has a schedule, close friends and a sexy security man that drives her wild.

Walker is used to protect people, it's what he does, but he always keeps his distance, he doesn't want to get close to people and he certainly doesn't want anything more than a casual relationship, the fact that Sloane is a single mom, makes things more complicated or so he tells himself.

I have to be honest, Walker drove me crazy, he kept putting on walls around him thinking that they could protect him but they only kept him alone. But the moment he decided to feel, my, my that was glorious. I loved how secretly sweet he was especially to Sloane and her daughter.

Sloane is a serious badass heroine, she is fighting to the end and I loved how open and honest she was about her wants and needs.

The suspense and mystery is always something I am looking forward to see unfold in a suspense romance and this was very nicely done.

I look forward to the next book!


Both narrators did a wonderful job giving life to the characters!


* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Perfect combination of suspense & romance

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Wow what an explosive and suspenseful story. This book had actio;and love all the way. Full of drama, intrigue and love it was perfect. Can’t wait for the next book now. The narration was excellent too

Fabulous book

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Listener received this title free

It's great to be back in Ardnoch, the home of the Adairs.

With The Highland Series, what were once secondary characters are being given centre stage and ultimately their HEA.

A prologue of sorts for Sloane and Walker was aired in Only You, Monroe and Brodan's story, BUT it absolutely does not prepare you for the intrigue of Beyond the Thistles.

Can you say 'intrigue, secrets and mystery'? There is plenty of all three in this series' debut novel.

The journey towards Walker and Sloane's HEA is a twisty turning journey that will keep you guessing as they find their way to each other.

There is certainly more mystery than other novels that I've read from this author and I think she slays this trope. Hopefully she will explore this further. Definitely a more 'romantic suspense' vibe than pure romance!

Bravo Samantha Young...I can't wait for the next book in, this new, The Highland Series.

As you'd expect, the narrators brought this story to it's full technicolour splendour. Despite my love for the male narrator and his splendid portrayal of a Scottish man, as a Scot myself I would have loved a fellow Scot to bring me the voice of Walker. However, this in no way detracted from my enjoyment of this newest addition to Samantha Young's catalogue.

The beginning of another fantastic series.

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