Highland Sword by May McGoldrick is a Highland romance and it's a fine one like the best. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical romance.

A Five star read. All readers would enjoy reading this one.

Opposite sides of the fence. Can they find a way through their differences to another outcome? She wants revenge, he wants to end corruption. Will she see the value in working together, will she care about anything other than avenging her father? Will he see her side of this? Together they must make some tough choices.

This series had so far been super enjoyable to me, so I’m happy I now got around to read the 3rd book in the series. It didn’t disappoint and was a joy to read yet again. I love the historical setting, the romance woven into it and this authors duo’s writing style. Can’t get enough of it!

If you’re looking for a great historical romance, set in the Scottish Highlands I highly recommend picking up this series. It’s a typical historical romance series that gives off some good Outlander vibes. Love it!

I have a fondness for compelling Scottish romances. In "Highland Sword," Morrigan Drummond and Aidan Grant share a common goal—to thwart the treachery of Sir Rupert Burney, an English spymaster responsible for numerous Scottish lives lost, including Morrigan's father. However, their paths diverge when Morrigan seizes an opportunity for retribution against another reprehensible figure, putting her at odds with Aidan, a barrister determined to save two innocent lives and rely on the captured man for a strategic strike against Burney. The story weaves together a captivating mix of romance, intrigue, and anticipation.

The cover drew me in, but the story kept me engage. What a beautiful story of love and revenge. The heroine was so strong and brave. Loved her. I highly recommend this of you love a strong historical romance.

This is book 2 of the Royal Highlander Series, Morrigan is fleeing to the HIghlands after her father's murder. She wants revenge, and she meets someone who can help, but will she give him the time and her heart. Or will her thirst of vengeance overrule everything else?

Interesting and great story.

I liked the flow and the characters. There was a great amount of conflict and interest to keep page turning.

Attractive title and cover.

Recommend.

Another series comes to an end, one that captured our heart and riled my feminist sensibilities and made me proud to be Scottish and hope to be a strong woman like these. These authors led their lead characters through a perilous time filed with wars, political change and a time when women were just working hard to earn their place in society as equals and they do it with a skill that any would not have managed. I enjoyed the entire series, but Morrigan’s story of love and discovery is one that I will not be forgetting any time soon. Morrigan has lived through the most unimaginable trauma’s and come out the other side with some issues, but overall is a woman that knows what she wants and is willing to work hard to get it. When she tries to kill the man who once perpetrated the worst crime against her, she is stopped by none other than solicitor Adain, who needs this man alive as a witness in one of the most important criminal trials in Scottish history. Morrigan is forced to face her attacker again and again as her family offers him sanctuary until the trail, but the most time she spends with Adain the stronger the pull between them. Once the trial ends Adain has to decide if he is willing to risk everything he knows in order to have a future with Morrigan and if she is strong enough to heal and become his mate. Morrigan is a woman that has grown a lot, but she has not healed fully from the attack she lived through as a girl, despite her inner strength. I loved seeing her finally open up to the sisters of her heart and spilling the darkness that had festers and made her weak, which finally allowed her to heal and find peace. She was brave and sweet, but at the same time a woman well before her time in the way that she embraces the manly pursuits that she enjoyed like swordplay and fighting. She was unwilling to ever again be a victim and she made sure that she had the strength and skills to back up that need. Adain was a smart and sexy nerd, but in the body of a warrior in his own right. Looking at him Morrigan would not have guessed his spent most of his time in a court, but his brains and cockiness definitely came from knowing he was one of the smartness men (if not always people) in the room. I loved seeing these two circling one another until they finally found their way together and into happiness and the focus of their relationship was definitely a deep and abiding connection on an emotional level, tough the physical attraction was certainly palpable. While this series is over, I am looking forward to whatever comes next because I continue to enjoy anything that comes from the McGoldrick name. More Scottish magick please.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

I was introduced to this series of books a few months ago and fell in love with the strong female leads and the passionate plots. The stories takes place in Scotland during a time when England was doing everything they could to destroy their way of life. It is in this backdrop that we have a group of incredibly strong women ready to fight to maintain their way of life and beliefs. You don’t need to read the other books in this series to enjoy this one, but I would highly recommend it so that you gain a better understanding of the characters history and the way that they connect to each other.

Morrigan has seen many awful things in her young life, including the murder of her Father. She has vowed revenge and will stop at nothing. She is full of fire and determination, she has learned to fight and goes on many missions. It is this fierceness that tends to get her in trouble but is also what attracts Aidan to her.

Aidan is the calm in her storm. He is a barrister who fights for justice. He wants to see his people free and he will do anything within the law to ensure this. He falls for Morrigan but understands how vulnerable she is and how she has been hurt in the past. He is patient and kind – always in tune to her feelings and mindful of them (how can you not fall in love with his character!). He will do anything to protect her. Their feelings for each other evolves slowly and at times you worry that her past will prevent them from having a future together. This was a beautiful story during a time period that was not kind, that you will not want to put down.

3.5 stars — While I still enjoyed this book, I will admit I didn’t connect with it and get sucked in as much as I’d hoped. I think I’m likely to be pretty picky with my historical romances. I think I was thrown off by all the political things going on not quite in the background. I find it fascinating, but it was also a lot of information and I floundered a little with it all.

Morrigan could be a bit hard to connect with herself. I think it took me a bit in the book to truly get who she was and why she was the way she was. I definitely had theories, and they turned out to be correct, but I still didn’t quite get her. She had this need to be able to defend herself, but oftentimes she was thwarted by her own hotheadedness and quick to temper. In the end I felt for her, but she’s not going to be a heroine I fall in love with.

Aidan, on the other hand, was adorable and incorrigible, and principled. I enjoyed his mix of good humour and brilliant mind. I loved the way he teased Morrigan and saw all the great things in her — things that others might have seen as flaws. And I loved that he wanted to help her, not take over…well, for the most part.

I really loved their romance, and a part of me wanted a bit more from that side of things. I’m not sure what, but it took a bit for them to start making headway, and there was just so much else going on.

Again, I felt out of depth with everything else going on in the story, but it was fascinating to think about. I think my problem is having no idea what parts are closer to the truth, and what parts were entirely fictional. And I’m too lazy to go look it up. *snort*

While I’m sure the previous two books were also fantastic, I think I’m more interested in the Penningtons and will check out more of that.

This was a pretty good book. The story was well paced. I liked both main characters. I usually like this author’s books and this one didn’t disappoint me. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Gives you all the feels as if you were watching Outlander! There's just something about Scottish historical romances that immerses you into a world long forgotten and no longer there without a little bit of magic. I really enjoyed this - it was also slightly steamier than I expected for a historical romance novel but hey I'm not complaining!

Highland Sword (Royal Highlander #3). By May McGoldrick. 2020. St. Martin’s Press (ARC eBook).

Morrigan Drummond and Aidan Grant both desire to end Sir Rupert Burney’s treachery. The English spymaster has cost Scotland many lives, including Morrigan’s father. But when a means to do so also presents Morrigan with the chance of retribution against another reprehensible man, she clashes with Aidan, a barrister seeking to save two innocent men’s lives and who needs the man alive in order to deliver a devastating blow to Burney.

Highland Sword has a good blend of romance, intrigue and anticipation. Aidan is a good match for the fiercely independent Morrigan. But the opening chapter had a focus on another character, Cinaed (hero from the first book of the series), and I’d like to read book one and the beginnings of Cinaed and Isabella’s story.

what an amazing book!! The author is a master of creating stories and characters. I will definitively be reading books of this author!! Great job.

Morrigan is bent on revenge and she's trained hard to get it. Aidan is tasked with defending the man she's out to kill. The Man who murdered her father.
Their first meeting isn't exactly romantic and it leads to them keeping a wary eye on each other when they're in close proximity. Aidan certainly had his work cut out for him with defending a man who's the sworn enemy of the woman he's falling for. Trust is hard won when so much has been lost.

I love Scottish history and thoroughly enjoy reading romances that take place during that time. Unfortunately, this story just didn't work that well for me.
Too much going on for the main characters to really spend time together to make their love story work.
I did not read the first two books and that may have increased my rating or view of the story. I will try this author duo again.

Unfortunately the rest of the series never lived up to the first one. Morrigan and Aiden didn’t spend enough time together for me to believe that they fell in love. The whole purpose of reading a romance for me is the interactions between the characters and seeing both their personal and relationship journeys.

Thanks to SMP for this arc. It has no bearing on my review.

Morrigan Drummond is a force to be reckoned with. She is smart, strong, and well versed in weaponry. She is also headstrong and does not take direction well, as is evidenced by her scuffle with an unidentified man in an alley after being told to stay with her companions. Returning to the castle with bruises and scrapes, her sisters in law were concerned for her safety in the dangerous times.

Aiden Grant is protecting the very man Morrigan is tracking, intending to kill. Aiden underestimates Morrigan’s determination, and when the two meet at Dalmigavie, Morrigan’s sister in law Isabella, a physician, is called to treat a sick man, not realizing that the barrister, Aidan Grant, is the man who fought with Morrigan. Morrigan and Aiden are wary with one another, not trusting the other’s motives, though Morrigan recognizes that they need this man’s help with their cause of breaking free of England’s brutal rule.

This third book left me wondering about the backstory, and I felt I was at a disadvantage not really knowing who the characters were. The book started slowly, and I had trouble getting interested in the story. Based on this book, I’m not really interested in reading the first two.

I love when history is incorporated into a book. It always makes reading that more interesting. This book was extremely easy to get into. I felt like I had a front row seat and could have easily become a part of the action. The building romance left me excitedly reading to see what would happen next. The villainous goings on only added another measure of reading enjoyment. Book provided by NetGalley.