Scottish pride, persuasion, and passion—this is Highland romance at its breathtaking best. From USA Today bestselling author May McGoldrick comes Highland Crown, the first book in the Royal Highlander series. Inverness, 1820Perched 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 … 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 is 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?
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This book moves pretty fast. A woman doctor with a price on her head is on the run. While in hiding, she sees a shipwreck and it’s explosion. One man is shot after escaping from the ship. Once ashore, she and the old woman hiding her drag him to the cottage. She removes the bullet and stitches up the wound. No sooner done, then they are all three on the run. His only instinct is to keep her safe, from the British and the Scots. This (be still my heart) captain of the ship is a lot more than he seems. Historicral fact, a love story and more to be revealed in the next two books. A free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
1832: Sir Walter Scott, author, sits in his home and wonders what happened to Dr. Isabella Murray Drummond. Some say he invented the new Scotland, but he hears the haunting voices of the hungry, homeless Highlanders dying. Pushed out of their homes for sheep and money. His mind returns to the upheaval of 1820.
1820 Edinburgh: Isabella worked alongside her husband in Edinburgh treating those hurt in the fighting. She has been declared an enemy of the Crown for treating injured Scots and has a price on her head. She has a younger sister and step-daughter to care for and they have gone north hoping to find passage to Canada. As the soldiers are pursuing her, she takes shelter at Jean’s, an old woman, cottage. Jean’s son is helping her hide and has the girls hidden in another place.
Cinaed Mackintosh has lost his beloved ship in a storm off the coast near Jean’s village. He must blow it up to prevent anyone finding his cargo – weapons for the Scots. The villagers always come to take whatever is washed up on the shore from shipwrecks. He is also injured. Discovered by Isabella and Jean, they hide him at the cottage and Isabella tends to his wounds. A townsman came snooping around and they decide to head for Inverness, where Isabella expects to board a ship for Canada.
They meet danger and Red Coats on their way but manage to get as far as Cinaed’s uncle Searc’s interesting home. To find out the rest of Isabella and Cinaed’s story read this book! You’ll enjoy it.
Highland Crown is full of adventure and history. The story unfolds in Scotland where there is unrest; the Scottish looking for their independence and the English looking to squash it.
Amidst these times, we have Isabella, a female doctor who must flee for her life and Cinaed a man who was sent away by his people. Both are trying to help their people in the only way they know how.
When they meet the attraction is immediately apparent but can anything more become of it during such tumultuous times?
The story started off slow but I was intrigued nonetheless.
The story is ripe with historical detail but has more history and action than romance. When the romance did come out, so did the sparks, angst and passion.
I loved both the main characters and they were both compelling in their own right.
Cinaed is a man without a real home yet he fights to help those in need. He is just and understanding. Cinaed is a also a warrior and yet he is romantic and kind.
Isabella is a doctor during a time where female doctors are scarce. She is passionate about her calling and it shows in everything she does. She has so much courage and empathy.
I wanted more of these characters though. More from their pasts and more of their relationship since the romance aspect of this book took second fiddle to everything else that was going on.
With that being said, this is the beginning of their story and there will be more to come. I am excited and intrigued to delve more into Cinaed’s past, to see where Isabella will fit in and of course where their love will take them.
I received an ARC via NetGalley of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First book in a trilogy, can’t wait to read the others. Great characters, lots of action.
A good read
May McGoldrick, aka Nikoo and Jim, hit all the right notes for me with this book. The Radical War of 1820 makes a suspenseful backdrop for this tale, the characters are vibrant, and Jean is great at stealing the scene from Isabella and Cinaed.
Read my full review: https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-may-mcgoldrick-highland-crown/
I’ve recently discovered the author duo May McGoldrick and I’ve fallen in love with their beautiful classic historical writing style and captivating fast-paced plots. What I couldn’t get enough of is their weaving of real events happening during the Georgian era in the Highland with fictional characters inspired by true historical figures. Highland Crown is the first book in the Royal Highlander series, featuring a female physician and the long lost son of Scotland…
This is the 2nd book I’ve read about a female physician during the 1800s (the first being Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas, set in Victorian era). As someone working in the medical field, I’ve always interested in the history of medicine and past medical practice. Isabella Drummond was a university-trained physician, a dedicated doctor who took in every patient without discrimination. After her husband was murdered in a raid at their home clinic, she had to flee Edinburgh with her younger sister and her stepdaughter. While she was separated from them, she happened to save the life of a ship’s captain during a stormy night. This chance encounter had set off their entwined fates…
While severely injured, Cinaed Mackintosh still managed to rescue Isabella from those who went after the bounty upon her head. At first, it was about his returning her favor for saving his life, but eventually he realized she was a beautiful, courageous, and talented woman, a rare gem that he’d never encountered in his life. Their journey was thrilling and full of nerve wracking events that helped converge their ideals together: to fight for liberty and equality for Scotland…
I love to see the transformation in Isabella, from a single-minded doctor to a brave fighter, and the recognition in Cinaed for his sense of belonging in his birth land even after 20 years being away, his passion and his leadership igniting the fire in the Highlanders… I’d consider this book as a historical fiction with a bit of steam, and not your typical historical romance. Nonetheless, I’ve really enjoyed reading it and learning about this tumultuous period, and I’m excited for the rest of the series !
4.5 for me!
Nice blend of history, action, and romance.
Isabella is on the run but she’s also a doctor so when a mysterious stranger needs her help she doesn’t hesitate. Cinaed tends to keep to himself but Isabella makes it impossible.
I really enjoyed the weaving of history into this story as well as the action. The chemistry between Isabella and Cinaed was, for me, a bit overshadowed by the other elements of the story but it was engaging enough to keep me turning the pages.
I’m very intrigued by the ending and can’t wait for the journey to continue.
Full review appeared at Reader;s Edyn on 03/01/20
Isabella is a woman who has always done what was necessary to get through life and her choices have not been easy given the path of her deepest passion – a career as a physician. Had it not been for her father’s influence as a doctor, she likely wouldn’t have made the advancements that she did., However, winning people over to a female surgeon is still an uphill battle. Never one to rock the boat despite her unconventional profession, even her marriage is one of a need for protection as well as its convenience. But her husband’s sympathies towards the rebellion land her in unbelievable circumstances and she finds herself running for her life, desperately trying to save the lives of her sister and stepdaughter, her husband already having paid his final dept. When Cinaed unexpectedly lands at her feet, she has no choice but to save him and the path they embark on together is one she could never have guessed she’d find herself on. She may have always been passionate about her profession, but she’s never experienced the kind of passion Cinaed inspires within her and before too long the two realize that together they are more powerful united despite their seemingly bleak future.
Cinaed has never truly belonged anywhere and the truth of his heritage is known only to a few. A revelation that will shake up the rebellion in unimagined ways, even Cinaed isn’t privy to the truth and the implications and weight such knowledge possesses. Known only as a phantom of sorts, he has been smuggling weapons and supplies to those in need so that they are better prepared when the uprising occurs – and it’s coming soon. When his ship is lost and injury threatens his life, he must trust Isabella to save him. Owing her his life, this man who pledges allegiance to no one now pledges himself to Isabella and determines to keep her safe no matter the threat or consequence. The more dangerous their path, the stronger their bond becomes. When the truth of Cinaed’s heritage is finally revealed, the question lingers as to whether Isabella will fight with him or flee. For the first time in his life, he finally feels like he belongs somewhere when he’s in Isabella’s arms. But if he must let her go, he will do just that in order to protect her.
I am so in love with this book! I absolutely adore the magical writing prowess of this author team and how they craft such an extraordinary tale woven with historical truths and fictional characters. A reader is nearly robbed of the ability to choose between like and dislike with this author. The inevitable romance between reader and book practically a certainty. I was swept into the mystery of misdeeds by black-hearted souls, and the desperate fight for justice from kind-hearted people from the instant I began reading and continued peeling beck the pages; unable to keep from seeking out what would occur next. Cinaed and Isabella created their own amount of danger for themselves in the lives they led, but once they came together the danger factor soared to ridiculous heights. While their attraction was a bit of a slow burn, once those embers stoked to life, there was no taming the flame. I found myself hoping for a way in which they could be together despite having nearly every possible thing going against them. I’d like to think that there could have been two such selfless people, desiring only to help those in need, that could come together with like goals and find a way to champion the underdogs in momentous ways, all while carving out an HEA for themselves. Initially, there are several characters mentioned, but many of them are not a part of this story until much later in the book. This worked well because once someone who had been described (however briefly) was brought in, the reader had some knowledge prior to the appearance. Had they all been brought in at the same time and without forethought, confusion could have easily taken this story over. Between the cast and the constant state of danger, much happened within these pages, but the brilliance of this writing couple allowed me to keep up as events unfolded, secrets were revealed, and danger relentlessly attacked. I’m still a bit shocked at how intrigued I was with this book. I even told my husband I was pretty sure I had stumbled upon a romance series I believed he would enjoy. *whispers* I never say anything like that and tend to keep my readings to myself. So what a huge statement that was for me to make! And I meant it wholeheartedly! If I had to describe this for those who cling to familiar – think of this book/series as similar to Outlander. Even the parallels with Jamie and Claire – Highlander and surgeon. But this is decades following Culloden and the struggle to find their place and fight for what is right following the defeat. So similar to Outlander and yet nothing like it – if that helps at all. The authors may not appreciate that drawn likeness, but I know several who would be that much more attracted to this series simply for that observation.
As mentioned, some of these characters do wait until quite late in the book to appear, but I came to find out that our main couple continues in the next book and we see many more of these secondary characters and will spend more time with them in future installments. This in no way implies a cliffhanger as I personally despise them. Everything ends in an appropriate place which would allow a reader to feel satisfied at the conclusion, but with just a bit of a hint as to what is to come. Also helpful were the author’s notes at the conclusion, providing a glimpse into the separation of fact from fiction, their inspiration for writing, and where the series was headed next. I literally just came back from my eReader and discovered that I actually managed to obtain the entire series in the form of ARCs, so I am thrilled to know I will be digging into the next book HIGHLAND JEWEL forthwith. As far as steamy, this book kept things modest. While the passion was most definitely a very real thing between Isabella and Cinaed and their heated glances practically sizzled off of the pages, their coming together was basically eluded to and not described except with very minimal detail. While I tend to like a bit more meat within “bedroom scenes”, for this book, it fit perfectly. I believe it would have been somewhat out of place to cut from so much fear and danger to an illicit sex scene despite the fact that several of the most steamy scenes I have come across were born of near-death experiences, or exceptionally dangerous situations just prior to the joining. As far as the league of secondary characters, from Edinburgh to Maggot Green, many of them take a bit of time warm up to, but warm-up I did. Due to the state of unrest these small-town people have been living in, many are wary initially and extremely distrustful. Completely understandable given the recent events within the Highlands leading to so much death and corruption. Honestly, I could likely go on for many more pages about how much I loved this book, how fantastic the creation of these characters were, how perfectly this world was built using history and fiction, and how absolutely thrilled I am to read the second book next. However, that won’t get me to the next installment any quicker, so I will depart with the following thoughts. May McGoldrick is an absolute MUST READ author. If you have not yet experienced any of their books, you are seriously doing yourself an injustice. For those who enjoy historical romance and particularly Scottish history, this will be a gem. Never have I been so swept away. In fact, I’ll likely be reading this series more than once and I will definitely be recommending it to others. I count myself lucky to have stumbled onto this series and author and will relish every single moment I feel privileged to spend within it.
Kindle version provided by NetGalley/St. Martin’s in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great read. A female doctor in this time period, totally unheard of but we have one. This is the first in the series and I can’t wait to read the next book. Thanks for the great read!
What an adventure! Highland Crown by May McGoldrick is book 1 in the Royal Highlander series. May is one of the most gifted writers of today. She can write such original stories and this one is no exception. The characters are amazing and I especially loved Jean, John Gordan’s aunt. Old and grumpy you can’t help but fall in love with her. She cracked me up and I loved a bit of wit in a story. I also loved the historical history in this story. If you love to learn history and the how people lived back in the 1820s you must read this book especially about political idealist and reformers. This story has a women doctor, an orphan, fights, hiding, spies, misunderstandings, kindness, love and so much more. I highly recommend this book… you won’t regret it!!
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
I love all their books. Great writers.
Another great story by May Mc Goldrick.
Terrific action and adventure with a swoon-worthy romance to boot! This starts out fast and doesn’t really stop with the heart pounding action and danger as Isabella jeopardizes her safety to save the hunky Ship’s Captain from sure death. The physician in her demands no less. I loved Isabella in all her glory and beauty. As she cares for her patient she’s intrigued and not immune to his handsome manliness. A sexy pirate and a hot Scotsman! Two of my favorites. Cinaed with his commanding persona is a leader of men and a favorite with the ladies. He recognizes the growing connection and chemistry with the mysterious and talented Isabella as he heals and saves her from the evil Crown that’s after them both. There are similarities between this story and the Outlander series but don’t let that deter you because this is really terrific and there’s no time travel in this story. Also, history is history regardless of the story and I love a good Highlander tale. I’m a history lover too so this story is right up my alley with the fantastic characters and thrilling historical storyline. I didn’t even mind the hero’s twist at the end and look forward to seeing where this goes in the next installment. Cinaed and Isabella’s romance is quick to develop and sizzles but who had time to waste with all the impending danger and upheaval of the times. I just wished for a few more details of their intimate times, but that’s just me. Going from skin on skin and kissing to afterglow had me missing the good parts! But I can do without. The superb writing with loads of danger, suspense and intrigue along with the wonderful romance had me turning the pages. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. It’s that good! Great secondary characters too. Loved it! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
HIGHLAND CROWN by May McGoldrick is an fascinating historical Scottish Romance with well-developed character including a strong woman and a devilishly handsome, fierce hero. There’s plenty of drama and suspense to keep readers in the edge of their seat, reading straight through to the end. 5 Star
Cinaed Mackintosh has relied on no one but himself since he was a young boy when his family signed him on as ship boy to a merchant ship. Now a ship captain, Cinaed makes the difficult decision to torch his ship full of ammunition when his ship runs aground. While making his way to shore in a long boat, a local villager shoots him and he plunges into the sea. Isabella Drummond while hiding from the Crown finds Cinaed on the beach. Lucky for him, she’s a doctor and she uses all her skill to to keep him alive. Thus begins their journey of hiding and confronting a determined Crown soldier bent on taking them both in custody dead or alive.
I really liked Cinaed. He was everything a hero should be–kind, considerate and an innate sense of right and wrong. He instantly connected with Isabelle, not only for her skill as a doctor, but on a deeper level. Something about her stirs passion within him that he hasn’t felt in a long time. The same goes for Isabelle. Even though she was married before, she had never felt such passion as she does with Cinaed. Isabelle and Cinaed were both well defined characters and I enjoyed their story. I also loved how the author interwove historical fact with fiction. I’m looking forward to reading the next chapter in this series.
This was my first book by May McGoldrick. I must have more! Oh, this was such a romantic, exciting story. Heartbreaking, too. I was not that familiar with Scottish history until I became a huge Outlander fan. The battle of Culloden was beyond brutal. However, I didn’t realize how horrendously the Scots were treated in the years after that tragedy. I loved the blend of history, romance and adventure that was all rolled together in this one book. And I musn’t forget the inclusion of some of the beautiful works by Sir Walter Scott that were quoted herein.
Isabella was a trained physician who helped her husband in his practice. After he was murdered in a clash between the British army and the Scots, she had to go into hiding because both sides put a bounty on her head. She was staying with an old woman named Jean, whose nephew was going to reunite her with her family. One night there was a shipwreck, and the locals went to the beach to recover whatever bounty they could. When the ship’s captain destroyed the cargo, they were furious. The captain, Cinaed Mackintosh, was shot and seriously wounded. Isabella found him on the beach and dragged him to safety and saved his life. Thus begins an exciting journey for Isabella, Cinaed and Jean.
I just adored both of our brave leads. Isabella was a very strong woman and a talented physician in a time when very few women could practice medicine. Then there’s Cinaed…..sigh. The man was totally swoon worthy. He didn’t know Isabella, but his heart knew he must help her reach safety and meet up with her family. I loved that he didn’t fight his feelings for Isabella, as happens in so many romance stories. He followed the call of his heart. A number of supporting characters really stood out, such as Jean, Cinaed’s kinsman Searc and British officer Hudson. Though the story doesn’t end here for Isabella and Cinaed, the book stood alone and didn’t end in a cliffhanger. This was simply a stunning story.
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 are entirely my own.
Great debut to the Royal Highlander series by new-to-me authors May McGoldrick with complex characters and a visually descriptive story that made me feel like I had traveled back to 1820 Scotland and was right in the middle of the fast-paced, conflict-filled drama. I loved the strength and determination of Doctor Isabella Murray Drummond and enjoyed her dynamic with the other characters, especially sea captain Cinaed Mackintosh. “Highland Crown” is a must read for anyone who enjoys well-crafted historical romance and I can’t wait to see what happens next in book two.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Highland Crown by May McGoldrick is book One in the Royal Highlander Series. This is the story of Cinaed Mackintosh and Isabella Drummond.
Isabella is a very bright women who learned the skills to become a trained physician who worked in her husband’s office. But her husband had a double life where he worked as a DR during the day but a radical reformer at night. This lead to his death and put a price on Isabella’s head. Of course she is on the run now but ends up meeting Cinaed, a sea captain who she ends up saving his life. Cinaed is a smuggler of arms into Scotland from Canada. On this run he ends up having to do some dangerous action to prevent his loot from falling into the wrong hands.
Of course Isabella and Cinaed are caught in their attraction but both have danger following them…can they have a happy ending?
Great start this this series!!
I know that I have said this in the past, but I am a huge fan of anything to do with Scotland. When I read the blurb for Highland Crown, I knew that I needed to read this book. It was set entirely in Scotland. Plus, I was intrigued by Isabella. A female physician in Regency England was unheard of. I needed to read this book. I am glad I did because it was fantastic!!!
Like I mentioned above, Isabella was an anomaly in Regency England. In that era, women were expected to be seen and not heard. An educated woman was rare. Even rarer was a woman physician.
The prologue was poignant. I wasn’t familiar with how Scotland was treated in Regency England. So, I wasn’t expecting it to be as bad as Sir Walter Scott said it was. Regret and sadness were tangible. It also gave a great introduction to Isabella’s character.
I liked Isabella. She had to be strong to become a physician in an era where a woman was considered property. When her husband was killed and a bounty placed on her head, she did what she had to. She wanted to make her that Maisie and Morrigan survived. Separating from them was her way to ensure that they wouldn’t be killed or hurt. Of course, that put her on a crash course with Cinaed.
I fell a little in love with Cinaed every time he appeared in the book. He was brave. What he did when he was injured showed that. The guy had two gunshot wounds, and he still killed two people. Impressive. He had a vulnerable side also. He was hurt over being cast out of his clan when he was 9. He didn’t know what he did to deserve that, but 21 years later, it still weighed on his mind.
I liked that Isabella was older than Cinaed. In the grand scheme of things in the book, it was a small blip. But for me, it was refreshing. She wasn’t easily disturbed by things that would send a younger girl into a faint. She also wasn’t a virgin. So the sex scenes weren’t all about her being eased into sex. Instead, they went at it.
The secondary characters brought depth to the book. Auld Jean, Searc Mackintosh, Sir Walter Scott, John Gordon, and Lieutenant Hudson were terrific. Lieutenant Hudson scared the crap out of me. He had one train of thought, and that was to get Isabella.
The romance between Cinaed and Isabella took a while to kindle. Which was OK with me. I wasn’t expecting them to fall in love while Cinaed was injured. I did get a small sense of Instalove after he was on the mend. It didn’t bother me. I actually expected it because of the era that the book took place in.
I thought the sex scenes were great. They were not graphic, and just enough was written to get my attention. Then I had to use my imagination for the rest.
The end of the book was great. I loved how Isabella’s storyline ended. It was what I expected. But, it was Cinaed’s storyline that threw me for a loop. There was a twist in the plotline that I didn’t see coming. It shocked me as much as it shocked Cinaed. With that plot twist, came the cliff hanger. I have said in the past that I do not like cliffhangers. But in this case, I do. It did what it was supposed to. It is making me want to read book 2. I need to see what Maisie and Morrigan’s stories will be!!