This book was captivating
Loved Anya's spirit.
loved reading this love story unfold
Almost wished I could see her drawings she did

I really enjoyed this new boom by Amy Jarecki. Characters are very likeable and the story flows smoothly.

Loved this story, Ms Jarecki never fails to entertain with her swashbuckling heroes. Could not stop turning the pages.

Wow. Such a fantastic read. I just absolutely loved it and I know I will be reading it again in the future.
I do recommend this book

I found that, in general, I wanted more from this book. I wanted more emphasis on the 'enemies' in enemies to lovers and more connection and development between the two as they fall in love, as well as more action—it started a little slow and never picked up quite enough for me to really get into it.

I received a digital advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Highland Raider by Amy Jarecki was a very good read. It is Book 2 in the King's Outlaws Series. King Robert is not happy with Angus Og “Fairhair” MacDonald. Angus suffered a major loss at the fight at Loch Ryan. To recoup from this loss, King Robert tries to get help from his father-in-law, the Earl of Ulster. The earl is not happy with Robert and the men have to run for their lives.

Anya O’Cahan, a ward of the earl had escaped the castle for some private time. She was returning to the castle when the men were running to their ships. Realizing the danger, she hides in one of their ships instead of a local fishing ship. Their tumultuous relationship starts when Angus finds her on his ship.

I loved Anya. She is feisty, persistent and creative character. At one point, she escapes by tying sheets together. You have to love a character that thinks outside the box.

I can't wait for the next book in the series, Highland Beast which is coming out June 29, 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me an arc of this book for free.

A great story about two enemies who are trying to survive together. There's plenty of action, a unique love story although hard won, and of course I love the Highlands, the swordplay and everything that comes with that. HEA.

This is a very interesting read. Jarecki really brought the characters and settings to life. Advasary clans, accidental kidnapping, playing chess with peoples lives, and of course a wonderful love story. Angus and Anya know they should hate each other, but it's hard to hate someone you're falling in love with. Hard decisions have to be made that will change people's lives forever. Great book!

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lights! Camera! Action! Prepare to enter the battle between the Scots and English and protect King Robert the Bruce!

"He was Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of Islay, and he intended to protect his clan and kin no matter what." Angus was all that was strong and loyal but after a fierce battle that killed most of the men, he reports back to Robert, who is furious because two of his brothers were captured.

In a twist, Angus finds a stowaway on his berlin/boat and out comes fiesty Anya! His life will forever change, as will hers. They should be enemies, but sometimes enemies fall in love.. or kill each other!

Another fabulous story created by the brilliant Amy Jarecki, who always leaves me caught up in her imaginative writing, interwoven with true historical characters and magical settings!

Amy's stories are always saturated in history that she makes come alive. I always care for her characters and fall for every one of her heroes. This is the second story in Robert The Bruce's time of securing Scotland for the people from the overbearing English. Angus MacDonald is the Scot who gave Robert shelter during the winter at his castle in the Hebrides Isles. She makes Angus so real being torn between his duty to The Bruce and his unexpected captive, Anya O'Cahan.

Angus is not in The Bruce's favor as after losing a battle against the British where his two younger brothers are taken captive. Angus sails Robert to parley with his father-in-law The Earl of Ulster and is met with armed soldiers. As they are escaping for their lives to the boats Anya is caught outside the castle. She hides in a boat she thinks is one of her uncle's fishing fleet but is Angus'. This sets up Angus and Anya getting to know each other. Anya has been lead to believe Angus is her hard hearted enemy when in reality he is the second son, not meant to be laird and loves his people. It doesn't take long for Anya to become loved by the people at the castle and Angus as well. This sets of a chain of events that are quite unexpected.

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

***3. 5 stars***

Another Highland series by Amy, this tells the story of Anya and Angus. Meant to be sworn enemies, they meet when Anya accidentally stows away on Angus ship and the rest is history. Like the previous book in this series, there is quite a lot of action and war but that's outshone by our leads characterizations and journey. I really enjoyed watching these 2 fall in love and was so happy that Angus never, ever, acted like a jerk. What a refreshing change.

I recommend this, and as stated earlier, although there are scenes of fighting, this was a lovely story of 2 good people falling in love despite circumstances and fate.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Since I have a soft spot for historical romances, I wanted to try one from Amy Jarecki. Because I can really enjoy phrases like 'a wee wisp of a lass'.

And in Highland Raider there was enough enjoyment and fun. Amy does a perfect job of describing the wars between the clans and the kings. And the way woman are used as pawns to create alliances. And we meet Anya, who is stubborn and brave. She slips out of the castle frequently to enjoy the feel of freedom and to sit outside and draw sketches. Because, soon enough, she will be married of to a boring Lord. Only Anya gets mixed up in a fight and she hides on a boat. Unfortunately, it is not a fisherman's boat, but it is the boat of the unfamous Fairhair. The man whose brother has killed her Da. When Angus Og MacDonald discovers the wee wisp of a lass on his boat, he can't take her back to her home. They are under attack and they must flee. When the king of Scots decides that Anya can be used as a political prisoner, Angus is ordered to keep her at his home. Anya is angry that she is kept prisoner as a bargaining chip for the king of England. Because the king of England also keeps a prisoner. Anya's friend Elizabeth.

While staying at Angus' keep, Anya learns more about Angus' family and how he tries to keep them safe in a constant time of war. And maybe there are two sides to a story.

Angus can't help but admire Anya. Although he doesn't trust her, he sees a very brave and stubborn lass. Both feel attracted to each other and soon they realize that without the politics they would be a great pair. But it isn't meant to be: Anya us already promised to another man and Angus is an outlaw in the eyes of the King of England.

When Angus is ordered to bring Anya to a monastery, because she is no longer a bargaining chip, Angus must make a choice: defy his king or take away Anya's chance of a future with a family. Which choice to make? And what does Anya want?

Find out for yourself in this wonderful historical romance. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Captivating historical romance!

As if it were ripped right from the pages of history, this story is set in the midst of the battles between the heroic and valiant Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, and the villainous English king, Edward Longshanks. After a failed attempt to gain his father-in-law's support to free his Queen, Elizabeth, Robert and his men are lucky to escape with their lives - and with a young stowaway who was unwittingly caught up in the melee.

Anya is rescued from the ensuing shipwreck by Angus, the MacDonald leader whose elder brother killed her father in battle. To say these two have a complicated past and a difficult start is a huge understatement, especially when Robert decrees that she be held as a political prisoner until she can be exchanged for Elizabeth.

I was completely enthralled by this beautiful romance. The action and intrigue is ever-present but never overshadows the tender love blossoming between two people who have no reason to trust each other, much less to find common ground with in order to build a future. I loved how they both have to demonstrate just how much they're willing to sacrifice to rescue their love from the political fire.

Such a beautiful story, such a heartwarming HEA. And I was prompted to brush up a little more on my Scottish history along the way. I highly recommend this romance. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Will being from opposite clan doom their romance ...

I discovered the author’s work with her previous release, a regency set romance, so with this one it is quite a throwback in time.
But I loved how historical facts and characters were mixed with a story of love beyond any feud.

It began slow, introducing the main characters and their personal challenge and hopes filing their heart. Then upon their first encounter, they are wary of the other, Anya because she must piece together the tales she had been told about the Fairhair devil and the man who stands in front of her, and Angus has no right to desire an lass from the opposite side.

Anya despite the harsh time lives the sheltered life of a well born young woman, which means of course an arranged marriage for alliance and power to those bestowing it. She has no say and much obey.
So she embraces her last days of freedom before her impeding betrothal. Which does not include needlework or any worthy seen women craft. Thus how she finds herself held prisoner by her enemy. But this foe is nothing like she had been told, sure he is fierce but he is also honorable, fair and kind to his people.
Why it was difficult for her to adjust to her new conditions, she is a captive in a gilded cage with nearly more freedom than she had prior to her change of situation.
And while she is no amazon, she is quite a feisty lass, never giving up and up to any challenge if it is right a wrong done.
Angus was not meant to be the chief of his clan, but his brother’s demise saw to it. He has a different vision of his duties, one which sees all his people protected and provided. So while he is not always neck-to-neck with Robert The Bruce, he pledged allegiance so he follows his received orders at best he can.
Thus why he is torn between his assignments and the demands of his heart. He is drawn to his appointed charge but she is an enemy’s daughter. Plus she is already promised. And with this war, where does it leave them.
His integrity and trustworthiness will nearly be his undoing, hopefully for him, Anya is one hell of a determined woman.

A beautiful tale of a love that feeds from the fire burning in their heart.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 one onscreen detailed lovemaking scene.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Oliver Herber Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of Islay has been host to Robert the Bruce for a while now but after a bad result in battle, has fallen out of favour. A trip with the Bruce to Ireland is just going to make matters worse. At this rate he'll never get the title he wants so badly.

Anya O'Cahan is the ward of a powerful man who is allied with the English King. He has arranged her betrothal. That means she needs to make the most of the freedom she still has. Our heroine loves nothing more than sketching anything she finds interesting.

Family loyalty is not always guaranteed. Nor is a flag of parley always respected.

An action packed historical romance with lots of twists and turns, and fabulous characters.

Great fun.

Highland Raider is well written story and a pleasant read. That said, I found it a little slow at the beginning, and I felt that even once it got going, not all that much happened.

Anya, a young noblewoman from Ireland, accidentally stows away on boat and ends up on a Scottish isle, a political prisoner of the Scottish king under the watchful eye of the Angus, the lord of the isle and owner of said boat. She's surprised to find that Angus is a kind man as the stories she'd heard of him made him out to be a cruel monster. Further, he's the brother of the man who killed her father several years prior.

Even so, they come to like each other a great deal, though Angus supposedly had sworn off love after a bad experience with someone in his past (though that's a backstory that never really gains traction). Everyone else in the castle also likes Anya, including Angus' mother, who throws then together as often a possible.

Eventually, they have to decide Anya's fate; will she be allowed to return to Ireland where she left behind a beloved sister and a half stranger she was all but betrothed to, or will she be used by the proclaimed Scottish king as a bargaining chip?

That last bit is, I guess, the main source of conflict in the story. However, the story doesn't put too much weight behind it, focusing more on the push me/pull you dynamic behind Anya and Angus' attraction.

All that aside, I did find a few moments in the last third of the book where I may have gotten a little teary, and I did like the characters enough to root for them to find their HEA.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. Good read, good characters. Just goes to show that no matter what, love will prevail.

Amy Jarecki takes you to the Scottish highlands like she was born there. Highland Raider takes place early in Robert The Bruce’s struggle for independence. The characters are in depth and true to the era. The dialogue is interesting and the story is great. You become invested in the people and the place. Well worth the time to read this one

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Great book full of wonderful scenes in the Scottish Highlands and Ireland.
Both on sea and land this story never stops, it’s packed with fast paced entertainment and adventure.

Fantastic and in-depth characters, Angus and Anya are brilliant and satisfying to read about, add Robert the Bruce and I’m totally hooked.

Brilliant writing and entertaining throughout, highly recommended !!

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

Book: Highland Raider
By Amy Jarecki

Series: The King’s Outlaws, Book #2

Release Date: March 9, 2021

Publisher:Oliver Heber Books

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Rating: 5/5 Stars/Saltire flags =⭐️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⭐️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⭐️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⭐️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⭐️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Scottish War of Independence , 1307

This book starts as Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of the Islay also known as Fairhair. At one time this nickname was given to Angus as a young lad meaning fair, small and weak, but mostly for his golden hair and bonnie face. Now, Angus grew into an attractive, fierce, brave, strapping, brawny man with a kind heart- though this nickname still stuck. However the Lord of Islay agrees to keep the newly crowned Scottish King, “Robert the Bruce” safely hidden from his English enemies. This is also so the corrupt hammer of the Scots will not be able to seize, capture, torture and execute the Scottish King! Except this now makes Angus, Lord of the Isles, and clan MacDonald traitors and fugitive’s from the English!

Now Angus and his men must keep the English King and his venomous fleet off their scent! So they make haste, on a quick voyage seeking security in Ireland. Yet they arrive in Ireland in the middle of the Battle of Loch Ryan. This is during the Scottish war of Independence on February 9th and 10th. Clan MacDonald is ambushed by the English and were slaughtered, even King Robert’s brothers were taken prisoner! The Bruce, fears his brothers will have the same fate as William Wallace! All their battle plans were ruined he is furious, blaming Angus for everything in grief and anger as if he didn’t feel guilty enough! Anya O’Cahan was to marry her guardian, Lord Chahir 0’Doherty, Earl of Ulster, She really hated this idea. She felt men were the lucky, having a life of adventure, not having to answer to others or worry what others thought. Men did not have to cross their T’s, dot their i’s, or curtsy at the appropriate times. Anya just wanted a little excitement and freedom in her life before she is chained down and forced to marry her guardian. As he is a man she did hardly knew and did not love.

Chahir 0’Doherty, Earl of Ulster, had been her guardian since her father passed away two years earlier. Anya is hoping he would meet and fall in love with someone else and break it off! It was basically a business agreement only getting married for her dowry, basically her net worth. It seems in Ireland everyone else can get married for love but the highborn lassies! It was only about money, property and titles and Anya felt this whole marriage agreement was totally unfair and unwanted! Anya wants a little freedom before taking these marriage vows, but ends up in the middle of a battle! Being terrified she hides on what she thought was a local fisherman’s boat, but she ends up being a stowaway on her enemies birlinn! On top of that-the sea craft is taking in water and falling apart!

Angus MacDonald soon realizes they have a stowaway who is drowning and he saves her life, even though she basically attacks him. They are stranded for a couple days on this cold, windy, deserted, isle with only fresh crabs to eat until they get rescued. As their Birlinn is destroyed in the storm. It was his brother Angus’s deceased older brother and former Lord Alastair MacDonald, who killed Anya’s father, Lord Guy O’Cahan! He had no idea who Anya is at first until he is nearly killed by the English who Anya flags down not realizing the English were out for blood!

This is when Anya confesses her identity and Angus feeling very much the fool! If his people hadn’t come at the precise moment and won this battle he would have been killed! Elizabeth de Burgh, Robert the Bruce’s wife is Anya O’Cahan’s best friend, so Angus’s is surprised when King Robert claims Anya is now his political prisoner. Angus had planned on returning her to Ireland to her people and her soon to be betrothed.

Now Angus is at his home at Dunyvaig, King Robert needs to use Anya as a pawn and that could be for years! He wanted to send her to this hidden cold Eynhallow monastery, in the care of the frugal monks where Robert the Bruce’s political prisoners were. It would be colder and windier than the deserted isle they had been stranded on! Plus the monks would give her little to eat and little to keep warm. Each day would be a struggle making her work from sunrise to sunset. Now Angus’s mither suggested she stay with them on Dunyvaig with a guard of course. Of course Angus knew his mither must have an agenda of her own, what it was he had no idea.

Yet under his roof at Dunyvaig the attraction between Angus and Anya grows stronger and stronger. She learns all the rumors about the Fairhair Angus is untrue. Now the King needs Angus to fight with his men and since Angus won’t be their to guard he wants Angus to send Anya the frugal monks at Eynhallow monastery in Orkney. Well Angus won’t do it as he knows how difficult and hard luife would be for this Irish Noble lass. Plus she could be a political prisoner for years! What will King Robert do when he realizes one of his allies has betrayed him? Will Anya now move forward with her Guardian’s marriage agreement? Though Angus knows they can’t marry because of politics and each allied with a different King. Will both Angus and Anya open their hearts and love each other forever or go their separate ways never to see each other again? Read and find out!

This is definitely a book to be devoured! This is the second book In the extraordinary (The King’s Outlaws) series. This is Angus and Anya’s story which is absolutely brilliant from start to finish. My favorite type of read is weaving true Scottish history with a highland fictional romance! Plus having my hero Robert the Bruce in the book just made this an absolute delight to read!

Yes the setting was absolutely amazing, the dialogue blew me away, both the main characters and some of the secondary characters like Rory/Wolfie and his witty banter with Anya was hilarious too! The plotting was so brilliant that I was gasping for air! I truly never knew what to expect next.

This book is definitely another Jarecki Jewel! It is a riveting, awe-in spring, page turning, Scottish-historical-adventure, filled with true history of actual battles and executions during the Scottish wars of independence. No matter if you are a lover of Scottish history or Scottish romance, this book is pure perfection in my honest opinion! I was absolutely swept away in the exhilarating story!

You do not want to miss this book as I can’t recommend it enough!


Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s copy from Oliver-Heber publishing. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair review and blog through NetGalley Booksprout. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

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