Category: Medieval (1066-1540)

The Highland Rogue by Amy Jarecki

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Medieval (1066-1540)2 Comments

the highland rogueBarbara’s Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Lords of the Highlands #7
Publication Date: 3/24/20
Number of Pages: 368

This book sucked me in and held me captive from the exciting, heart-pounding opening scene to the last beautifully romantic scene in the epilogue. I couldn’t put it down! I was totally transported to another time and place: I existed on the deserted Hyskeir isle with Kennan and Kivana; I fought pirates along with Kennan; I was panic-stricken and vengeful when Kivana was threatened; and I was triumphant when I returned home with Kennan, Kivana and their crew. Yes, I was there and it was wonderful!

Sir Kennan Cameron, heir to the Laird of the powerful Cameron clan has been a supporting character in several other books in the series and I’m glad to see him in his own book. He is, of course, a large, imposing golden god who also happens to be smart, shrewd, and an excellent captain to his crew. You’ll love Kennan – you won’t be able to help it; you’ll just love him.

Divana Campbell, the daughter of crofters, was always poor – they couldn’t even afford shoes. When she was seventeen, she and her family were dragged from their beds and then dumped on Hyskeir isle. They were left to die – there was no food, no shelter, nothing. Her parents and siblings soon succumbed to smallpox (the reason they were dumped on the island), but miraculously, Divana survived. She managed to survive, all alone, on that island for two years. Until, one day …

The opening scene is so exciting! Kennan and his crew are returning to their homes in Scotland – loaded with treasure. They are less than a day away when the impossible happened. Kennan ended up swimming for his life, fighting sharks, and washing up, half-dead, on a very small isle. As he stumbled ashore, he caught sight of a young woman – digging for clams – as he stumbled to her small shelter and collapsed.

Divana reluctantly tended to Kennan and helped him survive. Kennan began to recover and they told each other the tales of how they came to be on this island from which there was no escape. Kennan, however, was determined to escape and find his revenge – even if he had to swim from the isle to the mainland. He lit signal fire after signal fire until finally, they were rescued. Had they just jumped from the frying pan to the fire? Hmmm… Their adventures had only just begun.

I loved the excitement, the chase, the romance. I loved that the romance felt truly genuine and that it developed as they got to know each other. I also loved that Kennan acted honorably toward Divana – really, really, really tried to do what he thought was the right thing. I was also happy to see that she thwarted him at every turn.

You’ll love Divana as well as Kennan. She is smart, brave, determined – yet she isn’t foolhardy as so many of our historical romance heroines are. Well, she did one foolhardy thing, but – if she hadn’t, we wouldn’t have a story.

I can definitely recommend this fast-paced, well-written, well-plotted and excellently written story. Now, to begin the wait for the next Highland adventure.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Highlander’s Promise by Heather Grothaus

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Highlander's Promise (Sons of Scotland, #2)The Highlander’s Promise by Heather Grothaus
Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Scotland, #2

Release Date: March 3, 2020

Thomas Annesley, Baron Annesley and Lord of Darlyrede is on the run, his betrothed Cordelia was murdered and her father, Vaughn Hargrave believes he killed her and is hunting him, he was shot and left for dead, but rescued by Harriet. She nursed him back to health and comforted him, but when Hargrave gets close, he has to leave her and the baby she is carrying. He sets off to Tower Roscraig – his mother’s dowry property and from there sets off to Carson Town to take refuge with his Mother’s clan. But as he approaches, he is taken prisoner by the Carson’s enemy – the Blairs. He is held prisoner and is taken care of by the chief’s daughter, Enda. But when Hargrave comes for him, he fakes his death to save Enda and runs. Unaware that he has left another babe…

Lachlan Blair is heir to the chief of the Blairs, he has been groomed his entire life to lead the people, he is betrothed to Searrach and is secure in his place in the clan. But when Sir Lucan Montague arrives from London bearing news of Thomas Annesley, everything Lachlan has ever known will change in a heartbeat. Lachlan’s grandfather Archibald is furious and disowns Lachlan. His foster father Marcas believes Archibald will calm down and reinstate Lachlan, but he dies overnight and Marcas claim’s his position. Lachlan is further betrayed when Searrach’s father calls off their betrothal and she goes along with it. And if all that was not enough, when the Carson’s come calling and are ready to declare war, Marcas agrees to marry Lachlan to Finley Carson as part of a new treaty.

Finley Carson has been wooed by every unmarried man in her town – all three of them – and has refused them all. She is a spitfire with no desire to marry, so when she is forced to marry Lachlan, she is just as unhappy as he is. Lachlan vows to find the truth about his father and reclaim his position as chief and Finley agrees to help him. By mutual consent, they do not consummate the marriage and he takes up residence in the “old house” the former chief’s burned out dwelling.
Together they uncover long held secrets and grow closer in the process, but when the truth finally comes out, will Lachlan hold the vow he made to reclaim his heritage or will he choose Finley?

I thought this installment was better than the previous book, but it was still not the best work I have read by this author. The story is fascinating, the writing is good and the story is paced well with A LOT of very interesting characters, a lot of secrets, deception, revelations, surprises, betrayal and villains galore. But as a romance I found it sadly lacking, I felt no real connection between Lachlan and Finley, it felt like the author was trying to incorporate a “Taming of the Shrew” vibe into the story, but didn’t quite make it work, Finley is most definitely a shrew at times, but she is not unlikable. I really can’t understand why they fell in love or even when, the love scenes are bland, basically a couple of kisses and one very vague love scene at the end. So overall, I thought this was a very interesting and intriguing historical fiction story, but wouldn’t call it a romance – which is what I wanted to read. I will read the next book because I have a burning need to know what is happening with Thomas Annesley and the epilogue in this book has Vaughn planning something heinous – I am sure I will enjoy the mystery of Thomas and cringe at the villainy of Vaughn Hargrave, but I will not be expect to be wowed by the love story. This is the second book in the series, but the author does provide ample backstory about Thomas, so the books can be read quite easily as stand-alone titles.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*