First, let me say that I have thoroughly enjoyed every May McGoldrick book I have read. Then, allow me to add this seemed to be the most confusing book the duet has written, at least in the beginning. Yes, it ends beautifully for Maisie and Naill. You must stay with it even if you have already read Isabella and Cinaed’s Highland Crown. Both the historical and fictional characters keep you engaged once you get through the switch between time periods.

Maisie is unique for the typical female of the period and you will love her for it. Naill is everything you would want in a Highlander. Take time to read this addition to the Royal Highlander series!

A great continuation of the Royal Highlander series! I love reading about strong characters and it is fascinating to see them interwoven into history. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Highly enjoyed Highland Jewel by May McGoldrick. The characters and the story transported me to another time. I always like books that include characters from previous books. Its like getting an extra epilogue! I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received an ARC for my fair and honest review.

This was an absolutely-delightful, romantic romp through the Highlands. It had all the essential elements that make for a great, historical romance read. The story line was interesting, and the characters were complex and rich with life. I enjoyed this book immensely!

#NetGalley #HighlandJewel #MayMcGoldrick

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & St. Martin's Press in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Maisie Murray is in the thick of fighting for Scotland’s freedom from the British crown’s tyranny and women’s suffrage as well as maintaining the subterfuge of a demure and acquiescent demeanor at home. While working with her friend, Fiona, in the thick of political intrigue that has become quite dangerous, she meets Niall Campbell. He is her friend’s brother and newly retired from the Royal Highland Regiment. Niall is quite weary of fighting for a government that he no longer believes in or respects.

Just when Maisie thinks she has found her soul-mate, they are torn apart because of Niall’s situation with his sister and her activist proclivities. They have to endure many trials and tribulations to be together again with several forces trying to derail their happiness. Set in the back drop of historical events, Maisie and Niall have much to overcome in order to be together. After Fiona is arrested, Niall is strong-armed into working for a government he disdains shattering his happiness at having found Maisie.

Set in the Scotland of 1820, fans of historical fiction, especially Scottish, will enjoy this tale interwoven with actual facts where much unrest and violence is happening while the characters are trying to have a life beyond the political strife and discord. This is a complicated and complex tail that actually has its origins in the first book of the series, HIGHLAND CROWN, which is Maisie’s sister, Isabella’s story. The author does an admirable job of interweaving fact and fiction with authentic letters of the period and incidents that demonstrate the challenges of the time.

Second book in the Royal Highlander series and it's definitely a nice addition to it and while I do think it works as a standalone, I'd recommend people to read the first book.
This story has more of a historical fiction vibe than a historical romance, and it's interesting for sure and it has complex characters ans a good plot but I feel someone looking at this book mainly for romance could be dissapointed that it takes a back seat to the rest of the story. Despite that I'd still recommend this book because the author does a fine job of weaving this story, there's intrigue and suspense, so it does keeps you engaged, I do admit though that I'd have liked for the ending to be a bit longer, it felt a bit hurried.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

This book was ok, but not my favorite. This book felt more historical fiction than historical romance. The romance between our characters seemed to take a back seat to everything else going on. The second of a series, it felt like it. While I didn’t feel lost having not read Cinead and Isabella’s story, it took me a few chapters to understand who the characters were. I especially didn’t like the time jumping from chapter one to two going back a few months to catch us up to where Chapter one left off. Maybe it would have flowed better if I had read the first book.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY>>>>> BUY!
This author never lets you down. From the first page to the last, I was totally enthralled. I was pulled into another world, another time. I must admit to being totally captivated by this story. I loved her characters, her plot and all in all this was a fantastic read for me. A compelling story that has so many layers and so much heart that it made me sad when it ended and left me wanting more immediately. So if you want a fantastic read... this is definitely the one to get. I was given this arc. However, all opinions expressed here are totally my own. So if you want a fantastic read... buy this book.
Regards,
Anna

Highland Jewel is the second book in the Royal Highlander series. The entire series has been wonderful. The author writes such detailed history to go along with her romances. The book was well written and hard to put down.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me through NetGalley. This book was just absolutely wonderful. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just couldn’t put it down. This is the second book in the Royal Highlander series and even though I hadn’t read the previous book I was just so lost within this story that I didn’t even care that I hadn’t read the previous books. I most definitely will read more by this author.

Maisie Murray is a woman of two faces—one she shows to her family playing the meek and obedient sister, and the other is that of a fierce activist and co-founder of the Edinburgh Female Reform Society. Maisie is determined to bring a change to the way the government treats the women regardless of the threats of violence and risks of imprisonment. But lack of fear of the consequences costs her greatly…the arrest of her dear friend as well as the loss of her fiancé.

Niall Campbell, decorated war hero and officer of the Royal Highland Regiment, continues to warn his sister the dangers of being involved in the activist community. When she begs him to assist her dearest friend, Niall is taken by Maisie’s beauty and spirit. As he grows to know her more, Niall is certain he has found the woman he wishes to take as wife and start a family away from the continuous fighting and drama within Parliament. But when his sister is arrested, Niall is faced with making a deadly choice to regain her freedom.

Maisie and Niall are each set upon a path of their own convictions that could either lead to their own version of happily ever after or destroy all they hold dear.

Highland Jewel is the second installment to May McGoldrick’s Royal Highlander series. Having read Highland Crown (book 1) and thoroughly enjoying Isabella and Cinaed’s story, I did a bad, bad thing in assuming this one would pick up where the other ended. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Highland Jewel takes place prior to Highland Crown telling the story from Maisie’s point of view, then begins to overlap. So the beginning left me a wee bit confused, but once I finally figured out what was going on, I began to enjoy the story.

Personally, I would not consider this series a romance. The chemistry between Maisie and Niall was ok, but I found myself skipping around to get back to Cinaed and Isabella. The real passion in this story lies in how fiercely Maisie and Niall fight for what they feel is right and just.

Highland Jewel is well written, and readers that appreciate the history of these times will enjoy. However, if you are picking up this book thinking it’s going to be a smexxy kilt wearing highlander romance, you may be disappointed. Overall, I would recommend to fans of historical reads.


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

Highland Jewel grabbed me from the beginning and held my interest throughout! Great book! Highly recommend

Heat Factor: Not so much
Character Chemistry: It works in that “let’s get married after we’ve talked 4 times” sort of context
Plot: I don’t even know what to tell you
Overall: Historical Fiction? Yes… Romance? … Ehhhh...

Holy plot labyrinth, Batman!

Okay, I didn't realize I was starting in the middle of a series when I agreed to read this book, but I was super confused for the first few chapters. Then I read the jacket and got on board but… The book starts with a prologue in Brunswick 26 years before the book takes place. We begin with the arranged marriage of Princess Caroline and the man who will become King George IV. Sort of. In that we are introduced to a little boy born of Princess Caroline's first (secret) marriage. Forgive me for thinking that the story would be about the little boy. As I said, I didn't realize there was a prior book.

Then we jump to 1820. August. And the little boy who is now a grown man is there… married to another woman than the one we've been spending time with for the first chapter. Again, read book 1, because that's the story of Cinead and Isabella. Isabella is Maisie's sister, and Maisie is the woman we've been sympathizing with for chapter 1. She's so miserable because her true love has been ripped from her and she must go on alone. Except her true love shows up at the castle, and she accuses him of attempting to murder Cinead. So, you know, really solid relationship there.

Then in chapter 2 we jump back to January 1820 and the narrative progresses in a much more linear fashion. This is the point I stopped, said WTF is even happening right now, read the synopsis, sighed, and dug in. Here's the thing: I hate this way of framing a narrative. It's supposed to be engaging and exciting, but what's really happened is that the story has been bisected. We always go back and then work our way to the exciting moment, at which point we get the second (and usually more exciting) half of the story. There is basically no better way to convince me that I'm wasting my time than to tell me something exciting happens and then make me work my way back to the exciting point.

Case in point: I do not care that Maisie is a political activist or that Niall wants to marry her and live happily ever after because I know in 8 months they're going to be in a castle in the Scottish Highlands, and Maisie is going to barge into a very sensitive situation and accuse Niall of trying to murder her brother-in-law with no thought for the consequences to Niall if she's wrong when she does so. And I might have cared that Maisie is being the change she wishes to see in the world, especially because I love the history of the labor movement. But now I’m just really busy being pissed that she's totally thoughtless. Here we are.

Let's get on track. All of the above is part of the plot labyrinth, but there's so much going on one wonders just how the prologue ties into the political activism ties into the inflammatory scene in chapter 1.
The (future) Queen of England doesn't want to get married and has a secret son who is sent to Scotland.
The hero is accused of trying to murder the Queen's secret son...
...By the heroine.
The heroine co-founded the Edinburgh Female Reform Society, which is a political activist group.
Following the Peterloo massacre, Parliament passed the Six Acts, which basically makes being a radical reformer illegal.
Things are not going smoothly in northern England and Scotland. You know, because suppression always works.
We just can't seem to let go of the Jacobite cause. Scottish rebellion!

I’ll say that it all ties together in the end. As a story, it all shakes out just as it should. But for about half the book I was wondering what I was supposed to be focusing on. Were we all about the secret baby plot? The plot that has nothing to do with the protagonists at all? No? So then the illegal activist plot? The plot that basically dies halfway through the book? I’m not sure if this book is part of a series sandwich or what. Because here’s the deal: Once we hit the castle, the romance story is pretty much over, and the Jacobite story takes over. That kinda sorta means that as a romance it might not hit the mark. As a work of historical fiction, Highland Jewel works pretty well. (There’s a BUT.) All of the history surrounding the events following Peterloo were well presented in the context of the imagined historical narrative surrounding the Queen’s secret son. That secret son aspect of the narrative even has the benefit of being based on a rumor that circulated at the time (probably because the King wanted to divorce the Queen) that the Queen had mothered an illegitimate child. We see things pulling together. But then for some reason McGoldrick has to insert that Isabella (recall the sister/heroine of book 1) is a university trained physician. In 1820. Umm. The first university trained woman physician in England wasn’t even born until 1836. Why spend so much time on the historical narrative and then throw all that research into doubt by adding such an out-of-context and unnecessary element?

If you’re not fixed on romance, then I’d recommend this as historical fiction. The writing is lovely. There’s intrigue and suspense. But as a romance, this one might not get the job done.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I absolutely adored this Scottish historical romance book. I loved Maisie's activism, the political intrigue of Niall whether he was going to accomplish the task to get his sister freed from prison. There romance was on point. This book was such a treat.

I am excited to interview the authors in my podcast.

Historical romance set in Edinburgh and the Highlands.Very unusual heroine,ahead of her time.. Complex and interesting story.

Highland Jewel is a great addition to May McGoldrick's series, Royal Highlander. I think I loved this one even more than the first book. I give it five stars and recommend it for those who enjoy historical romance.

I have not yet read book 1 in this series but I will now do so. This story was fascinating. I enjoyed the history involved and the well defined characters. The words on the pages flow with this story!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love historical romances, but this one fell flat for me. While the characters were engaging and relatable, I didn't find the story line holding my attention. There were a lot of political aspects and though it was well written, this just wasn't a page turner for me.

This book was the first I had read by the author, and I have a new writer to enjoy. I loved this book. I loved the history and the characters. I found the early chapters a little hard to follow, due to the shifting chronology, but overall this was an enjoyable and moving story.

This is a fascinating fictionalized historical account, with real and imagined characters. I didn't read Highland Crown, and wish that I had because there was a gap in the story where Isabella met Cinaed. I didn't realize there had been another book in the series (there's also a third) when I got this from Netgalley, but I felt disoriented when the book jumped from Isabella being widowed to suddenly remarried, and all of them were transported to a new location. I understand the desire to be brief when telling a story that involves a previously told story. No author wants to bore their readers by repeating what they've already read, but in this case, I think a few more details would have been helpful to those of us who didn't.

The other problem I had with this book was the authors' failure to use the past perfect verb tense. It was another thing that I found disconcerting.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and was impressed by the weaving of historical and fictional events, to the point where I sometimes wondered what was real and what was not. I would be interested in reading more from this writing duo.