This is the second book in the Royal Highlander series! I really enjoy historical fiction. This book follows through on all things great about historical fiction romance, intrigue, murder, abduction, blackmail, passion and so much more. I would highly recommend this! Niall and Maisie are complex characters. I really enjoyed their story and look forward to the next book.

Highland Jewel is definitely a treat for historical romance reader's like myself. The plots are twisted and the love runs deep in this book, making it a jewel within itself. I recommend Highland Jewel to anyone who enjoys an intriguing romance.

Just as good as the first book in this series! Despite the danger Isabella is always finding herself in her values and morals have not and will not change. It is refreshing to see a character strong willed and stick to their morals despite the danger they may face. Love conquers all.

Maisie Murray is the picture of docility, quiet and compliant in the eyes of her family. To her activist friends, however, she's a fearless crusader for women's rights. In the wake of the Peterloo Massacre, Maisie and a friend found the Edinburgh Female Reform Society, and she carries the banner for universal suffrage.

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.

This second installment of the Royal Highlander series offers readers for more political intrigue than romance.
While the action and cloak-and dagger happenings that surround Maisie and Niall are indeed first rate. Their relationship often seems to be left to its own very lackluster devices.
There is also a very obvious disconnect between Isabelle's story as told in book 1, and Maisie's. Though the effort is made to tie the two together by the end of the second.
All other relationships, save that of Maisie and Niall are well done. And serve to fill in the emotional gaps and story line holes left by that rather unfinished plot point.

Surprised is just a beginning of what I think about this book. Author May McGoldrick takes the reader on a merry chase with the delightful character of Maisie Murray. You know that saying "Cool waters run deep"? That is Maisie and what a merry chase she takes us on in her quest to advance women's rights.

Both Maisie and Fiona, sister to Niall Campbell, are entangled in the quest to advance women's right which put them in a precarious position. The times are unruly and the Crown is persecuting anyone speaking out against the crown.

Niall loves his sister and supports her beliefs but wants her safe. His frustration regarding keeping Maisie safe also takes a huge toll on his sanity. When the government wants him for their personal gain neither of these women are safe so the reader is taken on a roller coaster ride involving these three characters.

The story picks up speed when Maisie and her family go on the run to avoid being taken by the soldiers. The twists and turns to the storyline add even more excitement to this already well written storyline.

Well deserved 5 STARS for this exciting historical love story.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 2 in the Royal Highlander series. I have to say I loved this one a great deal more than the first. This one was written a little different most of the book was in flashback format. I enjoyed the story and the romance and can’t wait for book 3.

I’ve had the pleasure of reading from the beginning of the series and most certainly will continue reading the rest. The stories are entertaining with just the right amount of intrigue. Coupled with the rich fodder of historical events which the characters play their parts, I was caught up in the utter turmoil of their circumstances. Concerned for their well-being, I was compelled to keep flipping the pages!

The author told the story using three strong women of spirit and determination who wish to make the world a better place for all. Isabella, who was the main heroine in book one, Maisie and Fiona, taking the stage in book two, and Maggie in book 3, The Highland Sword, publishing March 2020.

Fiona and Maisie are heavily involved in changing the conditions women work under. They start a branch of the Female Reform Society. These societies actually existed. The author captures the sentiment of the times when grassroot efforts of women like Fiona and Maisie are spread throughout England.

When the government decides to curb these so-called disturbances of society, they attack unarmed men and women such as what happened at the Peterloo Massacre. Take time to Google and learn about the massacre. They then enacted The Six Acts, further fueling the outrage of the people. With a heavy hand they beat people suspected of involvement and imprison them.

Fiona and Maisie, our heroines, print material to inform the people what is happening and lead rallies. On several occasions they were almost caught, once saved by Niall, Fiona’s brother. Romance is afoot when Niall and Maisie are drawn to each other, but it is questionable whether a burgeoning love can keep danger at bay.

This chaos was a perfect cover for the undergoing of powerful people who had a different agenda, an agenda to weaken Scotland through killing the man known as The Son of Scotland.

Niall, Fiona’s brother, loves his sister and her two children very much and tries his best to protect her, yet give her the freedom she deserves. He understands her motives and sympathizes with her. When a good man has a weakness, his enemies will use it to get what they want. Niall is snared into a plot to harm the queen. He has choices. All are risky and dangerous. Which does he choose?

A remarkable story and clearly one I will remember long into the future.

Another captivating story by this author. I love how they blend history with the romance.

I loved watching Maisie and Niall fall in love. I wish he would have been a little more honest with her, but I get his reasons.

While this was the second in this series, you could easily read it as a stand alone. You'd miss out on seeing Isabella and Cinead fall in love, but you would briefly get their story while seeing them here.

I am looking forward to Morrigan's story. She is interesting

3,5 stars
If you like historical romance with a lot of politics and intrigue, this is definitely the book for you.

This book is the second book in the Royal Highlander series, and I havn’t read the first one, which I think is the reason that I was a bit confused at times.

In this book we meet Maisie Murray who has always spent her life in the shadow of her sister Isabella. Maisie is a very strong-willed woman who uses other People’s assumptions about her to lead a double life. She was a activist fighting for women’s rights and for equal treatment for all. Through her fights she meets Fiona and her brother Niall.
When Maisie first meets Niall a sweet romance starts to develop.

I would definitely recommend this book, but I would recommend that you pick up the first one in the series first, so that you don’t end up confused.

Maisie is a strong protagonist. She fights for what she believes and at the same time, care for the one she loves.

Niall is a great brother who will do anything for his one and only sister. He fell in love with Maisie's fierceness.

I was happy that they were united but in quite not so good situation. That plot twist wow!

I enjoyed Highland Jewel but I still a fan of Highland Crown. Hopefully, I will be given a chance to read Highland Sword too.

Thank you to St. Martin's Paperbacks and Netgalley for the ARC!

5 star read! This review slipped my notice. I had forgotten to post it. But I absolutely loved this book!! Wholeheartedly recommend. May McGoldrick is one of my favorites. This story is no different. The characters and plot are amazing. The world building is, as always, phenomenal. I consider May McGoldrick to be one (two!) of the best world builders in the historical romance genre at the moment. I adore the settings of all of their stories.

A historical fiction romance that I found very interesting and finished in one day.I recommend to any romance reader

Another great book in this series, it has all the elements we want in a good book. It’s fast moving, suspenseful, and has so many great twists and turns. The characters are interesting and believable; their romance well-paced and invitingly written. The history came alive in this story, making me feel I was right there in Scotland. A really good book.

This series is heavy on a history of the times skillfully blended with fiction such that the line often gets blurred between fact and fiction for the reader. This second book in the series has a lot more romance and interestingly it fills in the lines on the romance that the first book in the series appeared to lack.
Maisie is a firebrand, she strongly believes in women's rights as well as fundamental human rights that the English seek to destroy. Unbeknownst to her family she's out in public and barely escapes capture by the English a few times. Nial Campbell has come home sickened by the human carnage that he's seen in battles and wants to do nothing more than live his life in peace. He tries to do what he can to keep his sister and his love Maisie safe in their dangerous activities. Unfortunately his sister is kidnapped and held hostage to force him into taking on a job that he's already refused.
When Maisie and he come together again, they are on opposite sides but perhaps appearances can be deceiving. I really enjoyed how this story played out especially some of the surprises that came along totally unexpectedly. I can't wait to see how the next book in the series ties together all the events for what I believe will be a stunning climax.

What a fun book. I absolutely loved it. Very well written and with characters that I fell in love with. I highly recommend it.

May mcGoldrick writes lush Highland tales that I can not get enough of. Her Highland Heroes are so brawny and deep that I fall in love with them,.

The second book in the Highland series and I loved the continuing of this story! It was so cool to see Isabella and Cieand's story through her sisters Maise's love story. Thankfully.y, the author answered a lot of what happened to Isabella's story after her and Cienad married.

Maise is SASSY and I love it. She speaks her mind, which isn't a normal or even acceptable behavior for the period. She is fighting for women's rights at the beginning of when women started to do so, also very dangerous as you could be imprisoned or killed for it in this time period.

Love it! I cannot wait for the next book!!

This is a powerful novel from start to finish with strong characters and an excellent plot that leaves you on the edge of your seat right to the very end.

Maisie is an amazing woman that almost leads a double life. With her family, they have always viewed her as a sweet, quiet girl and as a future wife with no thoughts or opinions. This is in the backdrop of a family that hides some political secrets that could destroy them. When she is away from her family, she is actually a champion of women’s rights and the average Scottish person. She hands out pamphlets, organizes rallies – in fact we even see her almost captured at one! She is one incredible female in a time when women were not allowed to behave and think like this. She is fearless in her fight to champion for those would could not fight.

Enter Niall, an officer with the Royal Highland Regiment with quite the fierce history. He has seen and done things that he would like to forget. He has returned home for peace but finds more then he bargains for. His sister is close friends with Maisie and her partner in championing for women’s rights. Niall would do anything to protect both his sister and Maisie, whom he finds himself attracted to instantly (and the feeling is mutual). They have excellent chemistry throughout the novel and are very well suited.

Throw in a kidnapping, blackmailing and we have so many twists that you will not want to put this book down. It had me guessing right to the very end.

The novel is well written, with a great pace to the story. You never feel overwhelmed or lost but it also never feels too slow. I love how she ties in secondary characters from this series, and while you can read this novel on its own, I do recommend reading book one.

(2.5 rounded up to 3)
Unfortunately, Highland Jewel wasn’t quite what I was hoped for. Maisie and Niall were interesting characters in their own right. I adored Maisie’s strength, though at times her naivety was a major source of irritation. Niall was a tad overbearing but I think that is pretty typical for highland males. While I enjoyed them separately, I wasn’t sold on their chemistry as a couple.

Steeped in the social and political issues of the time, Highland Jewel gives readers an in-depth glimpse of the issues plaguing Scotland post-Napoleon. I can only imagine the amount of effort that went into researching and weaving historically accurate facts into this intriguing story. While impressive, it sometimes felt like I was reading a history book and it significantly slowed my reading.

The biggest drawback for me was the alternating timelines that jerked readers from present to past events to fill in the background. Not all readers have this peeve so it isn’t the end of the world but it certainly had an impact on the enjoyability for me.

I’m not sure if I’ll read the next book in the series, but I would give May’s work another chance in the future.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second book in this series I have read, and I think I liked this one more! If you haven't read the first I really suggest you read it before this one. This book is follows Maisie, whom we thought was just a nice, quiet girl in the first book, but shows us that she is an activist and quite the badass in this one. She meets Niall at a rally after he saves her from being caught at the rally and he turns out to be her friends brother.

Soon after, Maisie and Niall are separated following the events that happen in book 1. How they reconnect and the events that surround that are really entertaining to read and play around the historical events that actually took place. Historical figures are fictionalized in a really interesting way as well.