Highland Jewel (Royal Highlander #2)
by May
McGoldrick
Blurb:
Niall Campbell, a
hero of the wars, a decorated officer of the Royal Highland Regiment, is battle
weary and searching for stability in his life. A fierce warrior by training and
a poet at heart, Niall walks away from the shining career that lies ahead of
him, to the dismay of his superiors. In saving his sister when a protest turns
violent, he meets Maisie. Their relationship begins as one of experience versus
idealism, of scars versus hope. Soon, however, he finds in Maisie the heart he
longs for.
When Niall's
sister is arrested and disappears, he quickly realizes his life is not his own,
for the British authorities have a mission for him to accomplish in exchange
for his sister's freedom. Overnight, Maisie loses Niall, her friend, and her
home. And the wake of the riots that sweep through the cities of Scotland,
Maisie's own sister Isabella is branded a traitor to the crown, and the family
must flee to the Highlands. Here in the heart of the Highlands, Maisie runs
into Niall again. He has a new name and carries a message of hope―but Niall has
a task to complete―and their future rests on their ability to overcome the
forces that divide them, or―for the future of Scotland―she must stop the man who
owns her heart.
Themes: Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
This story was a strange duck but one that I really
enjoyed reading. If you have read this
first book in this series this some of the story will seem familiar as the
timeline actually overlaps for the first half or more of the story as Maisie
and Niall first meet and begin their friendship which develops slowly into
more. I was really surprised to see the events of
this story as there was not even a hint of any of it in the first novel so it
was fun to see the parallel lives of these characters and how the author
interwove the story so beautifully. Maisie
is a secret rebel and a reformer that is working for the safety and freedoms of
women in Scotland at a time when anyone stepping out of line is considered a
crime against eh crown that is severely punishable. She just barely escapes capture one day with
the help of her friend’s brother and finds herself in the arms of Niall
Campbell, a man that has spent years looking after his sister and her family
only to find himself drawn to another trouble-making female. While Maisie’s family has written her off as
a bubble-head Niall slowly begins to see that not only is she intelligent and
sweet, she fires his blood and makes him long for a future and family of his
own. But the crown will have its pound
of flesh; when Niall’s sister is taken Maisie and Niall are forced apart until
suddenly they are thrown together in the most unlikely of places and they must
chose if they are willing to work together as rebels and find a way to save his
sister and be together or they will lose not only their chance a future
together but likely their lives and the lives of all of those they love. Being a bit of a history buff, it was fun to
learn so much about the women’s movement in Scotland through this story as Maisie
finds her footing as a rebel leader and a woman to be reckoned with. I enjoyed seeing her finally force those
around her to see the real her and accept that she has a lot of contribute to
the world. It was obvious from the beginning that her light would not be able
to be hidden in the dark forever, but at the same time I feared for her safety
once she came out of hiding. Niall is a
man that I would snap up for myself in a heartbeat—hard-working, loving,
protective of those he loves, and willing to give his all, up to and including
his life for the woman he loves. Niall
is terrified when he is reunited with Maisie at the most inopportune time,
while at the same time his heart sings with the joy of having her back in his
arms. It is obvious that he loves her
with all he has, but his mission, the oaths he has taken mean a lot to him too
because he is a man of his word and that makes me like him even more. The passion sparks between Maisie and Niall
from the first argument they have and continues through the moment they declare
their love and earn their HEA and we can see no end in sight for that. I loved seeing them find a way to have it all
and be happy together in the end. I am
looking forward to whatever comes next in this series for sure and think this
author (authors?) has earned a place of my insta-read shelf for sure.
*ebook provided by publisher (via
NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.
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