Highland Sword by May McGoldrick

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Title: Highland Sword
Author: May McGoldrick
Series: Royal Highlander #3
Published by: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Release Date: March 31, 2020
Format: eARC
Pages: 320
Genres: Historical Romance
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »memory of childhood rape « Hide Spoiler
Source: NetGalley
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 COYER Winter, Lenoreo's 2021 Historical Romance Book Bingo, Lenoreo's 2021 Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge
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My rating:

Blurb:

Scottish pride, persuasion, and passion—this is Highland romance at its breathtaking best. From USA Today bestselling author May McGoldrick comes Highland Sword, the third book in the Royal Highlander series.

A VOW FOR VENGEANCE
Fleeing to the Highlands after her father’s murder, fiery Morrigan Drummond has a score to settle with Sir Rupert Burney, the English spymaster responsible for his death. Trained to fight alongside the other rebels determined to break Britain’s hold on Scotland, she swears to avenge her father’s death—until a chance encounter with a barrister as proud and principled as she is presents her with a hard choice…and a bittersweet temptation.

A PLEA FOR PASSION
Aidan Grant has never encountered another woman like dangerous beauty Morrigan—and he has the bruises to prove it. Yet she could be the key to defending two innocent men, as well as striking a death blow to the reprehensible Burney. Convincing Morrigan to help him will take time, but Aidan is willing to wait if it means victory over corrupt government forces and freedom for his people…and Morrigan’s hand in marriage. Can two warriors committed to a cause stand down long enough to open their hearts to a love fierce enough to last…forever?

My Review:

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

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.