Release Review: Highland Crown: May McGoldrick
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Inverness, 1820
Perched on the North Sea, this port town―by turns legendary and mythological―is a place where Highland rebels and English authorities clash in a mortal struggle for survival and dominance. Among the fray is a lovely young widow who possesses rare and special gifts.
WANTED: Isabella Drummond
A true beauty and trained physician, Isabella has inspired longing and mystery―and fury―in a great many men. Hunted by both the British government and Scottish rebels, she came to the Highlands in search of survival. But a dying ship’s captain will steer her fate into even stormier waters. . .and her heart into flames.
FOUND: Cinaed Mackintosh
Cast from his home as a child, Cinaed is a fierce soul whose allegiance is only to himself. . .until Isabella saved his life―and added more risk to her own. Now, the only way Cinaed can keep her safe to seek refuge at Dalmigavie Castle, the Mackintosh family seat. But when the scandalous truth of his past comes out, any chance of Cinaed having a bright future with Isabella is thrown into complete darkness. What will these two ill-fated lovers have to sacrifice to be together…for eternity?
Perched on the North Sea, this port town―by turns legendary and mythological―is a place where Highland rebels and English authorities clash in a mortal struggle for survival and dominance. Among the fray is a lovely young widow who possesses rare and special gifts.
WANTED: Isabella Drummond
A true beauty and trained physician, Isabella has inspired longing and mystery―and fury―in a great many men. Hunted by both the British government and Scottish rebels, she came to the Highlands in search of survival. But a dying ship’s captain will steer her fate into even stormier waters. . .and her heart into flames.
FOUND: Cinaed Mackintosh
Cast from his home as a child, Cinaed is a fierce soul whose allegiance is only to himself. . .until Isabella saved his life―and added more risk to her own. Now, the only way Cinaed can keep her safe to seek refuge at Dalmigavie Castle, the Mackintosh family seat. But when the scandalous truth of his past comes out, any chance of Cinaed having a bright future with Isabella is thrown into complete darkness. What will these two ill-fated lovers have to sacrifice to be together…for eternity?
(image from author's Facebook page)
Isabella Drummond is not like most women of her time. She is being hunted by both sides, the British and Scottish, for what she may know, she is in terrible danger if her identity is discovered.
Cinaed Mackintosh is loyal to only himself after he was cast out from his village and family as a child. When Isabella saves his life he finds himself indebted to her and determined to protect her, even if it means doing something he hasn’t done since he was cast out - return to his family lands.
I loved Isabella and Cinaed. She is a fierce leading lady battling gender roles in her own way on a time period that didn’t appreciate her skills. Cinaed may not have typically been protective, but her fierceness pulled him in as none had before. It was her different that drew him to her and brought out the protector in him.
The setting and period are developed wonderfully. The highlands came to life in the descriptions. But a large part of the plot deals with period politics and though it was very detailed and descriptive, I found myself wanting more of Isabella and Cinaed rather than the politics that were driving their lives.
I was looking for a change when I picked up Highland Crown and I found what I was looking for. I haven’t read this author duo before but will keep them in mind when I’m looking for historical romance, and will certainly watch for more from this series. A great mix of romance and history kept my mind and heart interested in equal measure.
Cinaed Mackintosh is loyal to only himself after he was cast out from his village and family as a child. When Isabella saves his life he finds himself indebted to her and determined to protect her, even if it means doing something he hasn’t done since he was cast out - return to his family lands.
I loved Isabella and Cinaed. She is a fierce leading lady battling gender roles in her own way on a time period that didn’t appreciate her skills. Cinaed may not have typically been protective, but her fierceness pulled him in as none had before. It was her different that drew him to her and brought out the protector in him.
The setting and period are developed wonderfully. The highlands came to life in the descriptions. But a large part of the plot deals with period politics and though it was very detailed and descriptive, I found myself wanting more of Isabella and Cinaed rather than the politics that were driving their lives.
I was looking for a change when I picked up Highland Crown and I found what I was looking for. I haven’t read this author duo before but will keep them in mind when I’m looking for historical romance, and will certainly watch for more from this series. A great mix of romance and history kept my mind and heart interested in equal measure.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May McGoldrick
(a.k.a. Nikoo & Jim McGoldrick)
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USA Today Bestselling Authors Nikoo and Jim wrote their first May McGoldrick romance using historical figures that Jim researched while earning a PhD in sixteenth-century Scottish and English literature. Nikoo, a mechanical engineer, is a born storyteller. She is all about characters and feeling. Jim is about action and sense of place. Together, they have crafted over forty fast-paced, conflict-filled historical and contemporary novels and two works of nonfiction under the pseudonyms May McGoldrick and Jan Coffey.
Their stories have touched the hearts and minds of millions of readers all over the world. Their work has been translated into over a dozen languages, and counting. Because of their success, they have been frequent guests on local and national radio and television. They travel regularly, speaking at writers’ conferences, libraries, classrooms, and book group gatherings.
For the past decade, Nikoo and Jim have been conducting workshops bringing 21st century collaboration and writing skills to students and teachers.
These popular and prolific authors write historical romance, suspense, mystery, and young adult novels. They are four-time Rita Finalists and the winners of numerous awards for their writing, including the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Daphne DeMaurier Award, three NJRW Golden Leaf Awards, two Holt Medallions, and the Connecticut Press Club Award for Best Fiction. Their work is included in the Popular Culture Library collection of the National Museum of Scotland.
(a.k.a. Nikoo & Jim McGoldrick)
Website
USA Today Bestselling Authors Nikoo and Jim wrote their first May McGoldrick romance using historical figures that Jim researched while earning a PhD in sixteenth-century Scottish and English literature. Nikoo, a mechanical engineer, is a born storyteller. She is all about characters and feeling. Jim is about action and sense of place. Together, they have crafted over forty fast-paced, conflict-filled historical and contemporary novels and two works of nonfiction under the pseudonyms May McGoldrick and Jan Coffey.
Their stories have touched the hearts and minds of millions of readers all over the world. Their work has been translated into over a dozen languages, and counting. Because of their success, they have been frequent guests on local and national radio and television. They travel regularly, speaking at writers’ conferences, libraries, classrooms, and book group gatherings.
For the past decade, Nikoo and Jim have been conducting workshops bringing 21st century collaboration and writing skills to students and teachers.
These popular and prolific authors write historical romance, suspense, mystery, and young adult novels. They are four-time Rita Finalists and the winners of numerous awards for their writing, including the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Daphne DeMaurier Award, three NJRW Golden Leaf Awards, two Holt Medallions, and the Connecticut Press Club Award for Best Fiction. Their work is included in the Popular Culture Library collection of the National Museum of Scotland.
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