HIGHLAND SCOUNDREL – Monica McCarty
The Campbell Trilogy, Book 3
Ballantine Books
ISBN: 978-0-345-50340-4
April 2009
Historical Romance

Aberdeenshire, Scotland - 1608

Lady Jeannie Gordon wants to take one last dip in the cool waters of the loch near her home before winter sets in. She needs some peace and quiet away from her mother-in-law, the Marchioness of Huntly, who can’t help but criticize everything Jeannie does ever since the death of Jeannie’s husband, Francis. Jeannie takes one of her guardsman with her to the loch, as well as a pistol for protection. This protection is needed since she was almost abducted a few months ago.

Duncan Campbell, also known as Duncan Dubh, has the reputation of having a black heart and has been an outlaw for a decade. He was accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and the one woman who can help him clear his name is Jeannie. Ten years ago, Duncan and Jeannie were young lovers. Jeannie’s father, Chief of Clan Grant of Freuchie, would never approve a match between Duncan and Jeannie because Duncan is a bastard. But that didn’t stop the lovers from acting on their love with promises of a future with one another. Duncan left Jeannie to go into battle alongside his cousin, the Earl of Argyll. What Duncan doesn’t know is that Jeannie’s father wants Duncan out of the way. The last time Duncan was with Jeannie, he accidentally left a map with her telling where Argyll’s troops would be. Duncan assumes that Jeannie betrayed him by giving the map to her father. He left her heartbroken and alone, and now, a decade later, Duncan waltzes back into her life.

Jeannie wants nothing to do with Duncan, and when he comes upon her swimming, she shoots him, thinking he is going to attack her. Duncan only wants to talk, but now he must recover from a wound that may kill him. Jeannie has no choice but to make sure Duncan survives. As she helps him recover, she thinks back to that time when they were in love and had so much to look forward to before it was all ripped away because of politics and greed. Jeannie is so very scared, not only because she is a widow with two young children, but also because she still feels so strongly for Duncan, much as she did all those years ago, something he would use against her if he knew. But Duncan only wants retribution for the person who betrayed him. He wants to trust Jeannie again, but she is a hiding a dark secret that will turn him away from her for good.

Duncan Campbell is the ultimate HIGHLAND SCOUNDREL in this third and final book in the Campbell Clan trilogy. Lies, deceit and secrets run rampant through the Highlands. Monica McCarty has written a tension filled historical romance that her fans will not want to miss. Her research and passion for the history of the Highlands shows in every page, and she has a great way of building up passion between her two main characters who try to defy all the odds to be with one another.

Jeannie is a heroine readers can truly sympathize with. She has lived with ten years of grief because the young man she loved believed she betrayed him in the worst possible way. Even though Jeannie tells Duncan time and again she had nothing to do with his exile, he continues to question her loyalties. I must say at one point I wanted to smack Duncan over the head because he continually places his woes at Jeannie’s feet. At least Jeannie stands up to him and doesn’t cower just because he is some brawny and strong Scotsman. She has suffered equally. And when these two can let go of their issues, their passion and love for one another really shine. The love scenes between these two will not disappoint in any way.

Fans of the past two books will be happy to see past characters such as Duncan’s sister, Lizzie, who is so happily married, as well as his brother Jamie. Jeannie’s children, Helen and Dougall, also bring some nice moments to the story, especially one scene when Duncan and Dougall meet for the first time.

If you are looking for an interesting and lovely love story with great moments of action, definitely pick up HIGHLAND SCOUNDREL.

Kate Garrabrant