Category: Scottish/Highlander

Highland Raider by Amy Jarecki

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Medieval (1066-1540), Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

Highland Raider (The King's Outlaws #2)
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The King’s Outlaws #2
Publication Date: 3/9/21
Number of Pages: 262

Gracious! I’m having to write this review without the benefit of any highlighted notes BECAUSE – I was so engrossed in the story I forgot to make the highlights. It is a fun, exciting read with characters I really liked. One of the best parts is that the heroine was strong, intelligent, and resilient without being a total shrew. Sadly, it seems that many authors equate a strong woman with being a shrew. You are going to love both Anya and Angus.

Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of Islay, never expected to be the leader of his clan. He was the second son while his brother Alasdair was a proud warrior and leader. Alasdair was killed in battle against the MacDougalls, but at least he took one of the MacDougalls’ allies with him, Guy O’Cahan. Angus has a dream – and that dream is to have all of the Hebrides under one Lord. If he succeeds in that, the people of the Isles will be safe, his people will be safe, and Scotland will be stronger for it. All he has to do is prove himself to King Robert the Bruce. He wasn’t off to a very good start in impressing the King after the ill-fated battle of Loch Ryan. While it wasn’t his fault, the King blames him for the capture of two of his brothers. He’s given the King and his forces sanctuary at Dunyvaig Castle on the Isle of Islay, but the welcome is wearing thin, especially with the King’s continued distrust of Angus.

Anya O’Cahan, daughter of Lord Guy O’Cahan, and ward of the Earl of Ulster since her father’s death, is a happy-go-lucky girl who doesn’t do well with rules, confinement, or those quiet skills required of ladies. She’d much rather be outside – drawing. She especially needs to escape after hearing that her betrothal to Lord Chahir O’Doherty would be announced in two days. She knows she is expected to marry a man of her guardian’s choice – and the choice could be much worse – she just doesn’t feel anything for him and she’s sure he doesn’t feel anything for her. She’ll do as she must, but…

Anya and Angus cross paths when Robert the Bruce decides to go to his father-in-law, the Earl of Ulster, to ask for help in obtaining the release of his brothers – as well as his wife Elizabeth and their daughter. When they arrive at Carrickfergus, under a flag of parley, they are greeted with a barrage of arrows and a battle ensues. They barely escape to their birlinns and manage to leave – but with the loss of several lives.

Anya is caught outside the confines of Carrickfergus when the battle begins. Yes, she’s snuck out of the castle again and now can’t get back in. She’ll just have to hide in one of the boats in her guardian’s fleet. Except – oops. She hides in the wrong birlinn and ends up in the North Sea during a horrendous winter storm. The only thing between her and death is the much-feared Angus MacDonald – known to all as Fairhair – and feared by all.

This was a delightful read and I loved both Anya and Angus. Angus was nothing like Anya believed – and Anya was everything Angus knew he shouldn’t want. They had quite a merry dance to get to their HEA. I almost despaired they’d ever get to the HEA, but they finally made it. It just took some very stupid actions by Angus to get there. Oh! And the epilogue is absolutely wonderful – it is set seven years into their future and well … just WOW!

I have to say, I didn’t care for Robert the Bruce in this book – but I’d almost bet that this depiction of him is closer to the real one than many of the others I’ve read. He had to be arrogant and ruthless to take on the task he had before him, and this book shows a bit of that. Now, I can hardly wait for the next book in the series, Highland Beast, which features Sir Arthur Campbell.

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

The Scot’s Oath by Heather Grothaus

On By TracyIn Historical Mystery, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Mystery, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Scot's Oath (Sons of Scotland, #3)The Scot’s Oath by Heather Grothaus

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Scotland, #3

Release Date: February 16, 2021

The saga of Thomas Annesley, Baron Annesley, and the Lord of Darlyrede continues; when he is forced to flee the Highlands to avoid capture. He signs on to a ship and is left for dead when he fails to return to the ship after delivering cargo to the isolated Island of Caedmaray in the Western Isles. This is where Thomas Annesley dies and is reborn as Tommy Boyd. It is on this isle that Tommy meets and marries Jessie Boyd and becomes a humble fisherman and fathers yet another son; Padraig.

But his peaceful life comes to an end when he is taken into custody by Sir Lucan Montague. Lucan takes Tommy to London to answer for his many crimes, crimes that started 30 years ago with the murder of his betrothed, Cordelia Hargrave – a crime he adamantly denies committing. After spending time with Tommy and learning his side of the story, Lucan comes to believe him, and when Tommy once again escapes. This series starts when Lucan sets out once again to find him, but this time he helps Tommy’s sons along the way – this story is how he helps Padraig – Tommy’s only legitimate son lay claim to Thomas Annesley’s title and his estate – Darlyrede. But this will not be a simple case of walking in and claiming his birthright – the King will decide and since the death of Thomas’ parents many years ago – Lord and Lady Hargrave have lived at Darlyrede, first as Thomas’ guardian and later as grieving victims of Thomas’ supposed murder of their daughter. Now Vaughn Hargrave has been ordered to share the keep with Padraig until the King decides who is entitled to the holding. But Padraig is not just looking to claim the property – he is looking to clear Thomas’ name. A task that Lord Hargrave will thwart at every possible turn. While his task seems hopeless, Padraig will find an ally in Lady Hargrave’s maid, Beryl – who has her own reasons for being at Darlyrede and is not who/what she pretends to be. Together, they will have to sift through the secrets and lies to find the truth, but will they be prepared for what they find?

This book was definitely not what I was expecting and was by far the darkest of the series to date. It is well written and fast-paced, but it is not a romance – it is more of a dark mystery or thriller. I liked Padraig and Beryl/Iris, but I couldn’t tell you when or why they fell in love – the focus of the story was just not on their relationship – it was on the mystery of what really happened the night Cordelia was killed and Thomas fled. The book is on the darker side and has a definite “gothic” feel, a lot is going on and there are so many secrets, lies, surprises, twists, and revelations that you don’t even notice that the “romance” novel you are reading doesn’t have any romance until you get to the very end of the book. And while many things are resolved in this book, Thomas’s story is clearly not over and the author leaves us with a final scene that will have you wondering what is going to happen next! If I was rating this book strictly as a romance, I would give it 2 stars, but if I was rating it as a mystery, I would give it 4 stars, so I am going to split the difference and give the book a solid 3-star rating and will definitely be keeping my eyes open for the next installment. This is the third book in the series and while you could read this as a standalone title, I would strongly recommend reading the books in order for the best reader experience.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own *