June 4, 2018
Jarecki’s sensual fourth Lords of the Highlands historical (after The Highland Guardian) highlights the allure of the early-18th-century Scottish Highlands amid the turmoil of Jacobite rebellion. Lady Mairi MacKenzie, proud daughter of the Earl of Cromartie, was crushed when her longtime fiancé, the Earl of Seaforth, wed another, but she refused Laird Dunn MacRae’s subsequent offer of marriage, believing it was only made as a favor to Seaforth. After Dunn protects Mairi during an attack of British redcoats, she realizes that his proposal was sincere, based on his enduring affection and admiration of her. The danger is constant as Dunn tries to hide Mairi from the redcoats. When he whisks her away to safety, her father thinks Dunn’s kidnapped her and puts a price on his head. Sexual tension heats up the pages as Mairi agrees to wed Dunn against her father’s wishes. Mairi’s fortitude and sense of independence make her an admirable protagonist for this fast-paced, expertly crafted romance. Agent: Elaine Spencer, Knight Agency.