Series: Royal Highlander (Book 2)
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 in 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.
Excellent continuation of the Royal Highlander series.
While this book can be read as a stand-alone, the experience will be richer if
you read Highland Crown first. One of my favorite things about both books is
that they deal with events outside the usual Society life. Indeed, the upper
crust of Society is shown in an entirely different light. The setup of the book
is a little different also. It starts in the middle of the story, goes back to
the beginning to catch up, then continues in the present. Part of the story
also takes place at the same time as the previous book, but from Maisie's point
of view rather than Isabelle's.
There are two sides to Maisie. One is the quiet, docile girl
who doesn't seem to have a thought in her head. This is the side that her
family sees, and the reason for it is heartbreaking. Outside of the home, she
shares with her family, Maisie is just the opposite. She is an activist,
working for the rights of women and the ordinary people of Scotland. She has
formed a Women's Reform Society with her best friend, Fiona, where they meet to
talk about issues, plan protests, and recruit new members. Unfortunately, the
British government is cracking down on what it considers to be subversive
activity.
Niall is Fiona's brother. He recently retired from active
service, disturbed by the things he's been called to do since the end of the
war with Napoleon. All he wants now is a stable, quiet life with his sister and
nieces. He is dismayed to discover Fiona's double life, knowing from experience
the danger she is in. When a rally turns dangerous, Fiona begs Niall to save
Maisie too. From that moment on, there is an undeniable connection between
Niall and Maisie.
I liked the development of the relationship between Maisie
and Niall. Though he was a soldier for a long time, there is also a softer side
to him that comes out around Maisie. She understands that the things he's seen
haunt him. I liked the way that she listens to more than just the words when he
talks. Niall is also just as protective of Maisie as he is of Fiona and I ached
for how he worries about them both. The feelings between them grow rapidly, but
there are obstacles to overcome. Maisie's brother-in-law has taken a dislike to
Niall, and she has to find a way to overcome that. She also needs to tell them
about her other life. But before she can do that, Fiona is taken by the
authorities.
There is more behind Fiona's capture than either Maisie
or Niall is aware of at first. Niall is blackmailed into accepting a dangerous
mission for the Crown. Accepting the danger to save his sister, Niall refuses
to drag Maisie into it. Instead, he frees her from their commitment, breaking
her heart. He never expects to see her again, but fate has other plans. The
intrigue and intensity ramp up when Niall shows up in the Highlands under
suspicious circumstances. There are multiple twists and turns that put Niall,
Maisie, and even Cinead and Isabelle in danger. I was glued to the pages as
each event played out, and I found myself rooting for the best outcome. I loved
seeing Niall and Maisie come together despite the turmoil around them. I
especially enjoyed Niall's words to Maisie at the end about their future and
life together.
The story arc that runs through both books, and will
continue into book three, is an intriguing one. I love seeing more of the world
outside London, and the realistic look at the social problems of the day. The
story of Cinead and his mother is especially intriguing. I ached for Caroline
and what she went through. I was somewhat familiar with her as a historical
character, but these books provide a different look into her life. The ending
brought tears as Caroline finally got her dearest wish. It will be interesting
to see where it goes in the next book.
The secondary characters were terrific as well. My
favorites were Fiona and Morrigan. I liked Fiona's determination to make a
better world for her daughters. She and Maisie made an excellent team, each with
their own strengths. My favorite was Morrigan. I liked seeing her relationship
with Maisie change from adversarial to the closeness of sisters. She is just as
committed to her cause as Isabelle and Maisie are. I look forward to the next
book and seeing what is in store for her.
