Historical fiction has always been one of my favourite genres, but it's not often that i get to read stories when it comes to Scottish historical fiction. Really enjoyed reading 'Highland Jewel' and do hope to read more books in this series. Loved the character Maisie, who had such strength. A well written book and one that i could recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review, which i have voluntarily given.

This book started out a little slow for me but once the story developed it was so good. It has a combination of history and fiction to it. This is the second book of the series. This story is about Maisie and Niall. Can their love survive the deceit of others? They are both strong characters and though separated their love endures.

This story was so much more than I thought it would be. Strong women characters fighting for the rights of the people and amidst the rebellion a love story blooms. Many surprises in store as to who is a villain. Simply wonderful. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of Highland Jewel.

I love how the history is intertwined with the plot in this series. Maisie tends to underestimate the danger she’s in. She’s also impulsive and sometimes takes actions before thinking them through but it comes from a place of caring and loyalty to her family. Niall is also loyal to his family and will do anything to protect them.

I liked both Maisie and Niall as characters and thought that a marriage between the two would work. I wish there had been more on the romance between them. The historical element of the plot is stronger than the romance in this book.

This is an enjoyable read and the there’s much going on in the plot that kept me engaged in the story.

Highland Jewel is a fun mix of historical fiction and romance. Add in a strong heroine, daring men, and political intrigue and you have a great read. McGoldrick's tale helps detail the early years of King George IV's reign and the terror the working class were dealt.

Everyone in Maisie's family believes that she is a quiet, biddable young lady. No one would believe that she is fighting for women's rights alongside her best friend. She meets Niall when she a protest she is at turns violent and he gets her away from the crowd.

Niall is smitten with Maisie from the first time they meet. He gets to know her as she visits with his activist sister. But their romance comes to and end, when his sister is arrested. He is given a mission in exchange for her freedom. He doesn't think he will survive, so releases Maisie from their promises.

Months pass and they meet up again. But Niall has been sent to harm a member of Maisie's family. Can they make it through this trying time to get their HEA?

I loved Niall and Maisie's story! I would definitely read the first book in the series as much of the events of both overlap. After the first book in the series ended with what I would call a cliff hanger, I was anxious to read this next part of the story. McGoldrick did not disappoint! I loved that for at least half of the story, the main characters of the first book were part of the main story line because I needed that cliff hanger to be answered!! Although, I still believe that there is more to that story in the third installment...at least I hope so. McGoldrick definitely kept me guessing with where this story was going to go, which always keeps me eagerly reading! This series is definitely one you need to pick up!!

I really looked forward to this book but I wasn't crazy about it. I like books that weave real history into the fiction a great deal. This book, however, focused almost completely on the history with a small amount of getting to know the characters, even the H and h. And what we did learn about them was repeated a few times like reminders as the book stretched through all the history. What I did learn about Niall and Maisie, I liked a great deal. The thing I disliked a lot: they were together a handful of days in over six month period. There was hardly any romance at all. If I had picked a history with a touch of romance, fine, but I thought this was a romance novel with a touch of history. Nope.

This was another great book by May McGoldrick. I am enjoying the series so far & look forward to the next one. Highland Crown was about Isabella & Cinead. This one focused on Isabella's sister, Maisie, & the man she falls in love with, Niall. Niall is the brother of her best friend, Fiona, with whom she has started an organization to inform women about politics & their place in it. Niall is a former soldier that really just wants to move on to a quiet life with Maisie but of course we know that's not going to happen. Fiona is arrested & he must leave to find her. If you've read Highland Crown, you know what happens with Isabella, Maisie, & Morrigan up o a certain point. So Niall becomes a spy to find out Fiona's whereabouts & that leads him back to Maisie with some surprising twists after that. I love seeing what is happening with Isabella & Cinead & look forward to the next book! I highly recommend reading this book (after reading Highland Crown).

Where do I start! I’m not sure I actually read the synopsis of this book before starting, I jumped at the chance to read it after all the hype for the first book (Highland Crown). Wow, was I in for an amazing and inspiring historical ride! Activism, political intrigue, feminism, sure love, clans and castles… oh my!

The book starts whit the heroine, Maisie Murray speaking a rally on womens suffrage… soon the rally is broken up by local yeomanry. Physical altercation takes place, and Maisie is left hanging in the target sights of an officer. Arrest, treason charges, even death lay before her…

In comes recently uncommissioned lieutenant Niall Campbell, formerly of the Royal Highland Regiment… and conveniently Maisie’s best friends and sister activity bother. He races in an rescues Maisie. Thus begins their adventure that will see them travelling and fighting across Scotland in the name of political freedom. They do not fall in love easily and they do not find their happily ever after easily. They fight every step of the way, making the final outcome all the more sweeter.

The characters are living and fight during a great time of political unrest. Shortly after the Peterloo massacre the government enact the legislation known as the Six Acts intended to control the masses and prevent any further disturbances by suppressing any meetings or communication for the purpose of reform. May McGoldrick does an excellent job emerging the reader in this time of turmoil and making history come to life.

The second book in the Royal Highlander Novel series, Highland Jewel by May McGoldrick is due to release September 24th, 2019.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#HighlandJewel #MayMcGoldrick #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

This is the second one book in series by May McGoldrick. She has a great talent for writing g historical Romance with great storyline and characters that will keep you end until the last page.

Maisie is an activist who fight for women's rights. Her family and friends believe she is a quite ad reserved. We all I ow what the quite reserved type are like, they fool you.

Niell is a former officer of the Royal Highland Regiment who just wants to live a quite life after his military carrier. But he finds himself saving his sister Fiona when she gets into trouble with her friend Maisie, so she gets him to save her also. That is She the fun begins.

I really enjoyed this book it was a fun read. I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Highland Jewel is the second installment in the Royal Highlander series, and I found this book to be entertaining, romantic, and full of adventure! This story doesn't just pick up where the first book left off, it also fills in a lot of the background leading up to the events in both novels. This book is filled with intrigue, treachery, and danger, and I really enjoy reading about the events that transpired in Scotland in the early 19th century. I didn't know a lot about that time in history, and it is fascinating! The book is fast-paced as we follow the plight of Maisie and Niall, two young people who fall in love at a time that is unsettled and perilous. Although this book could work as a standalone, it is certainly better and more complete if you read the books in the series in order. I look forward to Book 3!

The second book in the Royal Highlander series was a great continuation of the story that began with Highland Crown. While the second book could be read as a stand-alone, I would definitely recommend reading the first book, which gives the beginning of the story and history of the characters. This book mainly focuses on the lives of Maisie Murray and Lieutenant Niall Campbell. Maisie is one of the founders of an organization for the rights of the Scottish people. Niall has recently retired from the service and looks forward to a calm and quiet life. Their lives become entwined with each other and the man, Cinead, is called the “Son of Scotland” (who is married to Maisie’s sister) and upon whom so much hope lies. The story begins in the Scottish cast of Cinead’s, and then travels back to explain some of the occurrences going on in the story and how lives have been affected. And then we are brought back to the current storyline of star-crossed lovers and their involvement with bringing the Son of Scotland together with his mother for the sake of Scotland.. The book is vintage McGoldrick, as her knowledge and imagination of this period in time comes through in her details and character growth. Looking forward to the final book in this trilogy, Highland Sword (which will focus on the other sister, Morgana), and how the story concludes. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review, which this has been. #NetGalley, #HighlandJewel

I wanted to read this book because I just finished added this generation to my family tree. What a time in history! The struggles of women in that age was amazing. I thought the story was well written and was interesting.

I liked how this story is presented. It was quite interesting to start in the middle; go back to the beginning; then finish up in the characters present. I also enjoyed the fact that some of the characters and the storyline were grounded in actual historical events. Maisie and Niall's story falls during a very dark period in British history; after the defeat of Napoleon. Their lives are torn apart and endangered by a government that is only looking to preserve it's "status quo".
It is very well written, with believable and sympathetic characters, and a period in history that we should reacquaint ourselves with.

HIGHLAND JEWEL by May McGoldrick is an absolutely astonishing book. It is dense with history for which many have no great understanding or appreciation, and is meticulously researched. Within the historical realities is a fictional love story, that of Maisie and Niall. Despite my appreciation of what the writers have accomplished with this exceptional book, I cannot say I found it to my taste.

I search for well written historical romance. In HIGHLAND JEWEL, I found it to be more straight historical fiction with a little romance thrown in. I now understand that I would have become far more involved with the characters if I had realized how much the reading of the first book in the series, Highland Crown, would have contributed to my appreciation. Additionally, I found there to be no straight timeline within the story. Since I did not have a great understanding of the history being relayed, I found myself floundering and needing to reread sections. This definitely distracted me.

Once again, there is no doubt in my mind that HIGHLAND JEWEL was a massive undertaking and a finely crafted novel on the part of this husband and wife team, writing as May McGoldrick. Unfortunately, it did not reach me as a romance.

I received a pre-release complimentary copy via NetGalley. I offer my non-obligatory, personal review.

This next book in the new lush Scottish historical series from USA Today bestselling author, May McGoldrick. is just as well written as the first one.
Maisie Murray’s sweet, docile exterior masks the courageous spirit of a firebrand.
A trained officer with the Royal Highland Regiment, Niall Campbell has spent his life serving the Crown. Battle-weary and searching for peace, he wants nothing to do with trouble.
This pair found an immediate attraction to each other. You knew they were just meant to be. Maisie can't help but cause trouble and Niall is the epitome of all that is good.
I found this book not quite as epic as the first one but so well written and engaging that I could not put it down. I finished it almost as quickly as the novella I was reading just prior to it.
I look forward to the third book in this series," Highland Sword", Morrigan's story due to release 03/21/2020.
I gave this book 4.75 of 5.0 stars for story line and character development.
The characters in this book were first introduced to us in "Highland Crown" and their story was expounded on here.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Niall and Maisie , wow , with theses two about you never need another spoon of sugar in your coffee.
They are what I would term the perfect match .

He’s so beautiful in a manly way of course, I could swoon just thinking of him . Sigh

And she’s the perfect woman sweet , loving just what you’d expect for him .
Adorable

Together they made this book as good as the first one , and I raved at that .
Fantastic book , characters , setting , descriptions, can’t fault it at all .

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

With the epic series beginning in Highland Crown, I thought that the following books couldn’t possibly live up to the bar that was set. Au contraire. This was every bit as good as the first book – just a bit less intense. Not less exciting and interesting, just less intense because this story happens at the same time as the first one – but from another perspective. Therefore, I already knew some of the events that would take place and I could read with that in mind.

There was a lot of social unrest in Scotland, England, and Ireland after the Napoleonic wars. Rather than try to make fair laws to help all of its citizenry, the Regent/King and parliament passed laws that basically stripped citizens of their basic rights. Those laws lead to more unrest and the populace began to rebel. Ever fearful of its citizens taking the same path as those in France had taken, the government clamped down, sent in spies to infiltrate the groups, and sent in troops who beat, massacred and the participants. The Peterloo massacre was one of those events. The author has masterfully woven fact and fiction together that keeps you riveted to the page. I particularly liked the reimagining of Princess Caroline’s life.

Maisie Murray has always lived in the shadow of her older sister who was always their father’s favorite. Her sister was brilliant, compassionate, beautiful and shared their father’s interest in medicine. Maisie just never measured up in her father’s eyes, so she quit trying. She didn’t give up on life – she just went her own way and did her own thing while presenting a meek, mild, and frivolous face to her family. After their father died and her sister married a man in order to give Maisie security and stability, Maisie continued to present the same face to her new family.

Maisie became appalled at the oppression of those around her especially after the new laws were passed. Things were getting worse and worse for ordinary citizens and Maisie had to get involved. She and her best friend, Fiona, founded the Edinburg chapter of the Female Reform Society with the goal of suffrage for all citizens. Once the new seditions laws were passed even their non-violent meetings were illegal and would be treated as treason by the crown. Maisie really came into her own and began to blossom as a real leader. Her main talent was writing and she wrote all of the pamphlets and flyers for the society. However, later, she was forced upon the speaking platform and found that she also had a real talent for engaging the crowds. She never had any thoughts about love, marriage or even whether she was attractive or not – her entire focus was in her suffrage movement. Then, the troops started cutting a swath through one of the rallies and she was on the stage – and couldn’t get down – until a very large and handsome man saved her.

Niall Campbell, highly decorated war hero, had had enough of being required to draw his sword against his own countrymen – so he retired from the military. Not only was he highly decorated, he was revered by his men, and greatly respected by those to whom he reported. They tried their best to convince him not to retire, but he’d just had enough. Niall knew of his sister’s political activities and was on the outskirts of a rally when he saw the militiamen start cutting through the crowd. As he started toward the platform to save his sister Fiona, he caught sight of another woman who was saving her. His sister begged him to go and save her friend Maisie. After that first meeting – he and Maisie became closer and closer and finally agreed to marry.

When Fiona is arrested and charged with treason, Niall is beside himself. He’ll do anything to free her – even if that means giving up Maisie. The government has a task for him to do – and if he completes it, his sister will go free.

I loved this book – but I don’t suggest reading it as a standalone. Be sure to read the first book as it sets up the entire premise of the series and the additional books work off that one. I loved that all of the ends were wrapped up and we got to know Morrigan better – setting up for the next adventure.

One thing I didn’t understand was – why was Niall still only a Lieutenant? He was in the military for ten years, he was highly decorated, his men loved him and his superiors greatly respected him. I’d think he’d have been a major or more likely a colonel at that point.

I highly recommend this book – and I can hardly wait for the next one.

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

Fantastic historical romance!

As much as I loved Book 1, Highland Crown, I have to admit I love this one more. Still the same all-consuming historical detail that requires frequent reality checks to make sure you're still in the 21st Century, but this one was a little more sweetly focused on the romance.

And oh, what a romance! Maisie is so sweet, so perfect for Niall, and oh boy is he worthy of more than a few swoons! An love story for the ages, to be sure, yet it also felt like these were everyday people that we'd be friends with in real life. I was completely swept away, and I couldn't have loved it more. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Maisie Murray's family believe her to be docile and empty-headed, a beautiful doll. They couldn't be further from the truth, but she cultivates this misconception since it enables her to have freedom for her activist activities. She and her friend Fiona found the Edinburgh Female Reform Society and protest for equal rights and speak out against an increasingly repressive government.

Lieutenant Niall Campbell, decorated officer of the 42nd Royal Highlanders is done with fighting the king's wars and craves a quiet, settled life. His superiors despair of his loss but he's determined not to return to government service, especially when he meets his sister's friend Maisie and realizes she is just what he wants for his future.

But when Niall's sister is arrested and he is unable to find her, he realizes the government never intended to let him go so easily. The government has a task he must accomplish to free his sister and overnight Maisie loses her friend, her fiance, and her home. Maisie and her family are forced to flee into the Highlands where fate brings her and Niall together again. But Niall's task remains incomplete and his sister is still imprisoned and if they can't overcome the secrets and treachery that stand between them, both their future, and that of all of Scotland, is in danger.

Y'all this book stressed me out. Maisie and Niall had so much to overcome and Niall was so questionable for a good part of the book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. This is part of a series, but I think you'd probably still understand everything as a standalone, thought I'd definitely recommend reading the first one before this one. This book gives us more details of the events leading up to the start of the previous book then gives us more information from after that book ends and I had to go back to the first book to get the timeline straight. As with its predecessor, this book is heavier on the action, intrigue and history than on steamy romance, but it was steamier than it's predecessor and I was here for the Robert Burns quotes. This book is incredibly well-written and didn't even have the editing issues I expect in ARCs. I'll definitely keep following this series and I'm looking forward to the next one.

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