Veena’s review of The Ghost (The Highland Guard, Book 15) by Monica McCarty
Historical Romance published by Pocket Books 31 May 16
I am sorry to say goodbye to Robert Bruce and his Highland Guard as Monica McCarty brings this series to a close. The stories are well researched with a fairly accurate rendering of the history of the times, which should appeal to the historical buffs amongst us readers. The struggle divided families and lovers as the author so eloquently elaborates in the various books in the series.
Alex Seton, once a part of the famous Highland Guard, deserts and joins the English for the sake of his honor. Joan Comyn never recovered from the brutal reality of seeing her mother strung from the ramparts of a castle, imprisoned in a little cage and now serves the Bruce from her position in the English court.
Their story is fraught with choices. How does it all play out between love and honor for each one of them?
The members of the Highland Guard have all grieved in their own way when they lost their friend Alex Seton, who changed his allegiance and went to fight for the English. The readers have all wondered about Alex’s motivation. Well, wonder no more, dear readers, because the author lays it all out for you in this book. As it turns out, things are not quite working out the way Sir Seton imagined when he first made his decision.
Joan has very strong reasons for hating the English. Now serving in her cousin’s household, she gathers intelligence that serves the Scots well in mounting their guerilla attacks against the English. The chemistry between her and Alex is off the charts, and yet they are on opposite sides, especially since Alex is determined to expose the English spy in the court in order to protect his own position.
This story is pivotal from an historical perspective in the series, as well as giving readers closure on Alex and introducing the Ghost. It also concluded with the fateful battle at Bannockburn and finally restoring Bruce as the undisputed King of Scotland. I think the actual battle and how the tides were turned on the larger, better-equipped English army were the highlight of this book and yet overall the story itself was slower paced than I personally like.
All in all, I’m sorry to say goodbye to all the wonderful characters that Ms. McCarty has brought to life in her series, but at the same time can’t wait to see what she’s going to present us with next.
Grade: B
Summary:
An undercover warrior and her sworn enemy play a seductive game of cat-and-mouse in New York Times bestselling author Monica McCarty’s sexy new Highland Guard novel.
Joan Comyn swore allegiance to Robert the Bruce the day she witnessed England’s barbarous king torturing her famous mother, Scot patriot Bella MacDuff. Now the mysterious beauty slips into men’s hearts like a specter and entices England’s most illustrious barons to unwittingly divulge their secrets, then shares them with her king. Known only as the Ghost even among her Highland Guard brethren, Joan has become the most wanted traitor in England.
The man determined to uncover her identity poses her biggest threat yet. Alex Seton once stood with Bruce but now fights for the enemy. Though Joan knows she must avoid the handsome warrior or risk discovery, his knightly chivalry touches a place in her long since buried. When his suspicions grow apparent, Joan realizes she must do everything in her power to stop Alex from revealing her mission and convince the powerful fighter to join forces with the Highland Guard once more. But as the ultimate battle in the great war approaches, will Alex choose love or honor?
Other books in this series:
