I started this book quite a few weeks ago and to be honest I gave up. The start did not hold my attention and as it is the 3rd one in the series I was a bit lost at first.
I did go back to it and try again and I’m glad I did. The story is well written and the characters come to life out of the pages. I would love to read more by these 2 authors.

Highland Sword is the third book in the Royal Highlander series by May McGoldrick, which is the nom de plume of the phenomenal writing team of Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick. This book can stand alone, but I highly recommend you read the previous two books first. If you don't, you'll be missing a lot of background and the development of the characters. This story was the perfect blend of history, politics and, of course, romance. Trigger warning and possible spoiler alert: This volume contains references to a sexual assault.

Morrigan Drummond fled to the Highlands with her family after her physician father was murdered. She vows revenge on English spymaster Sir Rupert Burney, the man ultimately responsible for his death. She trains with the other rebels at Dalmigavie Castle, biding her time. While going after a man she plans on killing, she is confronted by barrister Aidan Grant, who needs said man as a witness in order to save two innocent clients. In the battle between Morrigan and Aidan, he basically had his butt handed to him. Is he humiliated? Not Aidan; he is extremely intrigued by this warrior woman. He does his best to convince Morrigan to help him in order to put an end to Burney's reign of terror.

I was intrigued by Morrigan in the glimpses we received of her in the previous books; I couldn't wait to read her story. She was truly a warrior, but also a woman conflicted and hurt about an incident in her past. My heart broke for her, yet I also admired her strength. And then there is Aidan...I LOVED Aidan! I've put him on my list of favorite romance heroes ever. Aidan does his best to seek justice for his Scottish countrymen and women, first by being a barrister and also by his future plans to become a member of Parliament. He was intrigued by Morrigan from the start, and the two first became friends before deeper feelings rose to the surface. He had the deepest respect for Morrigan and refused to give into passion unless they married. ~Sigh~ The romance was beautiful, but I also loved the witty banter between the two. It was wonderful to see the couples in the previous books, and I adored Aidan's brother Sebastian. I would love to see funny and endearing Sebastian have a book of his own. Don't miss this fascinating series!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

In this installment of the series, Morrigan Drummond finds love. We've seen here before, but now we learn more about her past and how it has influenced her. She's a true fighter, in every sense of the word, and I was pleased that when confronted with a challenge that might have given a weaker character an excuse to flee and be rescued, she chose to stand her ground and fight.

Aiden Grant, introduced under less-than-ideal circumstances, proves to be her soulmate. He never imagined he would fall in love, especially with someone like her. She never imagined allowing herself to fall in love.

One of the things I appreciate about these authors is that they don't take the simple path of plot development. When presented with an obvious choice that could lead to misunderstandings and stress, characters choose to communicate instead. I love this! I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for its fictional adherence to historical events.

I thought this was supposed to be a romance book, not a historical novel. I liked the back and forth between Morrigan and Aiden but I was lost with some of the history. The book got better as it moved along but it was a bit tough for me to get through.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Morrigan Drummond knows that she will get the justice that she wants when the man that took everything from her dies, she just needs to find him. She knows that she has to be careful as her new family has many enemies that would be quite happy to see them dead. She can't believe that she has found the turncoat and she has the chance of taking him out but that is dashed when a stranger stops her. She has no choice but to go with the men to Dalmigavie she just has to find a way to keep her face hidden from everyone as they will all want to know who she got hurt. Can anything go right, the two men from the village are here the Grant brothers Aidan & Sebastian and the turncoat. Morrigan can't believe that they are all here and that Robert Sparrow is actually dying and he wants to see her before he will help the brothers. Aidan didn't realize that he would feel anything for the woman that tried to kill his witness and he knows that he needs her help but will he be able to convince her to help them? She doesn't know if she could do what they are asking, she just wants him dead and that if she can help Aidan save two men from hanging she must try. She can't help herself from falling for Aidan but could it be even more? The country is upheaval and she worries about her family and what would happen if things change. Can she put her heart in Aidan's hands? Aidan knows that nothing will stop him from coming back to Morrigan he just needs her to stay safe. Can Morrigan let go of the past and move on with her life now? Is Aidan her future? A good read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

I love historical novels and I’ve read many books by this author and they always do exactly what I want them to do. I always feel transport it back in time and I’m always so invested in the story. I simply can’t wait to meet more of her wonderful characters.

I had a really hard time with this book and I only made it half-way thru the book before I had to say, "enough." I was looking for more of a romance and this book seemed to be more bogged down with history of the Scottish highlands and of England trying to gain control of them and the underhanded ways they went about undermining the ruling son of Edinburgh. This book was also about Morrigan trying to seek atonement for her father's murder and her step-mother's imprisonment and the attorney who I think was trying to help her, but by the midway point he hadn't done much and there did not seem to be any romantic entanglements between them on the horizon. I don't mind a little history with my romance, but not when at least half the book is history with no romance.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are freely given and are strictly my own.

The development of this story is slow in places, but very well described. The characters are lovable and the plot is interesting.

Aidan and Morrigan are strangers at their first brutal and unusual first encounter. What they didn't know is that they are both fighting for the same cause and destined to meet again. Unknowingly Aidan revives Morrigan's horrid past. A past that she has kept buried even when it weighs her down. She is quite positive that her future is bleak, despite all the family support. Can Aidan restore her faith in a happy future?

Aidan is patient and his sense of humour makes light of dire circumstances. He is also very good at his job, and his reasoning is quite impressive. Morrigan is hot headed, which often lands her in hot waters, but as the story develops she becomes more sensible about thinking before acting. They balance each other nicely and get their happily ever after. The manipulations are portrayed and handled very nicely. Beat the enemy at his own game.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

This was a great read and is third book in series and I recommend them all. I absolutely enjoyed reading Aidan's and Morrigan's story. Morrigan past comes face to face with her last and she is out for revenge. But that is until a handsome lawyer determined to protect his witness stops her. They butt heads but soon they come to an understanding and Morrigan is.determined to keep her distance from Aidan. However Aiden has a different plan for them and is determined not when her over.

This was a fun and entertaining read. I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a wonderful conclusion to this series. I have enjoyed all of the books. This is Morrigan's story. She and the hero, Aidan Grant, butt heads at the beginning; we all know the old adage... "opposites attract", it's true in this case. Morrigan has relocated to northern Scotland with her step mother and step sister; since the tragic events that occurred in Highland Jewel. While on a trip to Inverness; Morrigan sees a man from her past and decides she needs to confront/eliminate him and hopefully, her long repressed demons along with him. Morrigan has learned how to protect herself and always carries a sgian dubh in her boot. She trains most mornings at the castle with the head of the guard. She is so focused on her revenge that she doesn't realize she's been followed. What ensues is her and Aidan's story; sprinkled, of course, with the history of the times, including the need for reforms and acknowledgement of Scotland by the English monarchy, etc.

Well, you learn something new everyday, right?! Turns out this author is actually a duo (a husband/wife team)...how cool! Wonder who writes the love scenes! 🤣

My first from them, and I was pleasantly surprised. Swoon-worthy hero ✅, feisty, strong heroine ✅, humorous banter ✅...what’s not to love?! I will definitely read more from them in the future.

Two things to note here, it’s the third in a series, but I was able to keep up, and *SPOILER* the heroine was sexually molested as a child. It is not graphically explicit but thought I should mention it.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

This was a fantastic ending to a wonderful series. I loved the characters of Morrigan & Aidan. Their story was fascinating & I loved seeing the characters from the past novels & finding out where they are now. Great read & highly recommend!

Why I haven’t read this author before?
I absolutely loved this slow burn live story.
This is one of those books that shows me again why my live for reading historical romance never faded over the years.
It was my first book by the author but definitely won’t be my last.


Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Full review appeared at Reader's Edyn on 02/29/20

Morrigan has always been a bit different. She looks at the world around her with vengeance and has never hesitated to act when necessary, going so far as to killing a man to save her sister. But no one knows that her thirst for vengeance regarding her father’s death stems from much more than his murder alone. Beneath her tough exterior, Morrigan is frightened and prepares to keep those she loves safe in the best way she can – through endless amounts of training for battle with weapons. Isabella has always ignored the signs, but as Morrigan’s past is revealed, much more of the puzzle pieces begin to link together. She finds herself in an extremely uncomfortable position with a barrister, Aiden. Not only did they become acquainted in a harrowing way, Aiden now needs her help in the form of the single thing she is absolutely unable to help with. Aiden will allow the time she needs but hopes it is not too late to save his clients who will surely hang. A system so corrupt, Aiden has been forced to learn a new way to lunge and parry his way through the courtroom. As Morrigan spends more time with Aiden, she sees into his heart and altruistic personality; to try to do good in times of great strife and exploitation. Also does her affection for Aiden grow – but given her past and Aiden’s bright future, Morrigan is unable to tie herself to him permanently fearing to tarnish his good name.

Aiden is determined to do what is necessary to free his clients, unjustly accused of treason as is the normal practice of late. Those who seek to squelch the rebellion, ending Britain’s thumb over Scotland, only operate more and more dastardly as time stretches on. But Aiden has learned a few of his own tricks in dealing with the unethical courts and refuses to lose this case. With his rapidly gaining reputation comes an offer for a future he has been working towards. He understands Morrigan’s reluctance, but he also appreciates her uniqueness in a way no other ever has. He wants her with him by his side as he moves towards a position of power that could truly make a difference in this broken land they have desperately been trying to save. But Morrigan will not capitulate, refusing to blacken Aiden’s name and reputation. Aiden is left with no other choice but to bring out all of his skills he’s learned as a barrister to prove to her that they were meant for one another. And the first order of business following the trial is taking down the family’s longtime nemesis, Burney.

Three books in, a series complete, and still my advice remains … McGoldrick is a MUST-READ author. Without a doubt, hands down, one of the absolute best! I sometimes worry when I am so caught up in a series that the author will be unable to meet my expectations as the series unfolds. This happens all too often and can be extremely disheartening. However, I should have trusted my instincts. The enthusiasm I began with, never wavered! If anything, the thrills I experienced all through the series remained consistent from beginning to end. I couldn’t even muster up the slightest complaint within the story. I just wish there had been a bit more time revisiting with the two previous couples. My only regret is my sadness that this series has reached its conclusion. I would have happily continued reading within this series for as long as possible. However, a character referenced from a different series from this talented duo gave me hope. I now have other books I can experience with McGoldrick, despite my time drawing to a close with the Royal Highlanders. I also very much enjoyed a new feature added to this book: the toggling points of view between Morrigan and Aiden. With the seriousness of some of the content in this installment, the retelling being presented through both Morrigan and Aiden’s eyes was a positive move for this book, strengthening the depth and emotion.

Each member of this family struggles through some extremely difficult times. Any average being would have given up the ghost in the face of such overwhelming odds. But Morrigan is made of just as stern stuff as her other family members, Isabella and Maisie. If you are familiar with this series, you understand that nothing is sunshine and roses for this family and Morrigan’s story is no different; I daresay darker than the previous books due to her past. I do not want to provide any spoilers despite the fact that I knew exactly her past as soon as her reaction toward a particular person was described. Suffice to say that these women were made to rise above the ashes and make their own marks on their dangerous paths toward freedom and equality. A family for fierce, female, Phoenix. With the amazing talent of McGoldrick, each character was granted their own unique part to play, never once creating a feeling of dejavu within the books. I adored Aiden and Morrigan just as I did the preceding main characters in this series, especially their completely unforgettable initial meeting. As their sordid connection from that first meeting is revealed, my love for the couple grew. Sebastian, Aiden's brother, is a crack up and provides a much-needed bit of levity to this heavy story. I wouldn’t mind seeing a story for him in the future. 😊 As far as the romance, this is definitely a slow burn, but is also necessary in order to keep these characters true to who we come to know them as. Once the passion is released, lookout. The McGoldricks have a way of keeping the sensual scenes beautiful without turning it into a lesson in eroticism. Quite descriptive when compared to the first book in the series, but packed with passion, each of these books builds in the sensuality aspect. I appreciated that when Morrigan and Aiden finally did come together that the authors did not lose sight of her past and how to honor that – refusing to turn her into the seductress she had never been and even providing a setting that was more comfortable for them mentally.

This series is one that should not be missed! It also absolutely must be read in order. There is just way too much information provided in each installment that ultimately carries over into the next books. Without such knowledge, confusion is sure to take root. And even though each book highlights a different couple, this series is actually Cinaed’s journey with everyone else becoming connected to him in various ways. However, if you are familiar with this series, I am confident you will enjoy this finale just as much as the previous contributions. The plot is captivating, the characters wonderfully complex, the history and fictional aspects effortlessly intertwined, the series itself a perfect example of beautifully crafted historical romance. I will end this review with a statement similar to my opening. McGoldrick is a duo to be cherished – their writing style a gift not to be ignored – their characters ones to treasure – their stories remarkable and something every reader should experience at least once.

Kindle version provided by NetGalley/St. Martin’s in exchange for an honest review.

This is another romance set during the war/battles between England and Scotland. Morrigan Drummond has fled to the Highlands after her father’s death, hoping to somehow settle a score with Sir Rupert Burney, the English spymaster responsible for his death. Morrigan is working to avenge her father’s death until she meets up with Aidan Grand, a barrister, with his own history of dealings with beauties like Morrigan, though he finds out quickly that Morrigan is different. The pair meet each other and try to convince each other that their causes are justified, while dancing around a feisty romance that seems to grow between them.

I liked Morrigan. She was a woman of many layers, who tends to attack first and question later. Though she has risen from the depths of her past, however, they still manage to haunt her. Aidan is a real gem of a man. He is able to use his innate sense of human nature to guide actions to just where he wants them. He is also just what we all want and seek in a man. It was fascinating to watch this romance grow and flourish amid the backdrop of the Scotland-England battles. The book presents a good insight into this not-well-known side of history. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in the Royal Highlander series. In this one we get Morrigan's story. I hadn't been a fan of her's from the beginning. She did however get better in this one. We did finally get her back story that explained why she is so surly most of the time. I did enjoy the story.

A decent enough read, even if I didn’t find it particularly captivating. It’s best to have read the previous books in the series (which I did, but still found myself lost a few times).

First of all i want to say I immensely enjoyed reading Highland Sword. The story let me feel like I was a part of some very important historical event. It kept me in a loop of hope, frustration and wish for the better.
This book was a masterpiece of nultiple stories beautifully entwined together. The one couldn't exist without the other.
I love historical romance and this one with all the intrigues, fighting for the rights of Scotland, fighting enemies, who were always steps ahead was no exception.
I fell in love with Aiden Grant and wanted to push Morrigan over her boundaries to finally except her feelings for Aiden. But that's just it, this is a great story with great characters meant to stay in your memory forever.

Highland Sword is the third installment of McGoldrick’s Royal Highlander series and this time showcases Morrigan a character we meet in the first and second book but that doesn’t really have a voice until now. Each book can be read as a stand alone however there would be certain details that the reader may feel lost on. I felt that this novel relied on information from the first two books more so than the others with even a mention of the Pennington family – another series all together.
Overall I enjoyed Highland Sword but it was not my favorite. I thought that the chemistry between Morrigan and Aiden was missing, although I liked their witty banter, the romantic tension and sparks didn’t seem quite there. There was also quite a bit of historical information in here which while necessary and needed, did not need to be mentioned so much and so often. I found much of it to be repetitive. The characters are all well done and fully explained, the editing is good and the structure overall is complete, no inconsistencies. The research and homework done on this series is truly evident and I appreciate that.
I do recommend all of May McGoldricks books, I think the writing team are awesome. I loved Highland Crown and feel that the Royal Highlander series needs to be read together in succession to fully understand it all. I’d love to see another book from this series as it is a fascinating historical period… perhaps Fiona’s story!
Thank you to St Martin’s Press and the author for an ARC copy.

** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
The blurb for this book sounded fantastic. However, I didn’t realize it was part of a series. It felt like this was a continuation and not a standalone that is connected to the other books.
The story that opens the book seemed to start in the middle. Although that wouldn’t always bother me, in this story it ruined the book for me.
Although there were things about the book I enjoyed, big parts of the story drag and make it hard to trudge through.
This was not a book for me.