My Rating: 4.5 Stars

John Erskine is the Earl of Mar, and he is also the widowed father of two sons. Thanks to a mountainous debt due to his father, John's estate is suffering and he needs to remarry as soon as possible. John is familiar with the Duke of Kingston-Upon Hull and the fact that he happens to have a young, very beautiful, marriageable daughter. This young woman is Lady Evelyn Pierrepont and she would make just the perfect countess - while affording the opportunity to wipe away John's debts.

Evelyn is certainly not keen on marrying the rugged, handsome Earl. She is working hard as a spy for the Jacobites and feels the earl is too much like her father when it comes to his political leanings. The fact that the earl is part of Queen Anne's council is rather despicable to Evelyn. However, she most honor the wishes of her father and thus prepares to become John's bride. Will she be able to continue as an effective spy? Furthermore, what of his sons, Thomas and Oliver? They only just lost their mother three months previously. She knows it will not be easy for her to jump right in as their stepmother.

It actually does not take long at all for Evelyn to blend right in with John and the boys. The fact that she plans on furthering her activities just might place the family in danger. This is something Evelyn never expected could happen.

The Highland Earl is certainly not a simple romance, a story of a man and a woman marrying for convenience and trying to create a love match in the process. What happens here is that, while they learn about one another, Evelyn's work, and also that of John's, comes to cross purposes and changes the entire flavor of this book. Yes, the aspect of espionage truly makes this story fly.

It is of great interest as to how Evelyn became a spy to begin with, as she was just twenty-one years of age. Her knowledge of her father's activities greatly influenced her to seek to make changes, or make whatever mark she could to right the many wrongs she has seen her father and others do.

While Evelyn seeks to remain loyal to those she answers to, she cannot help but be drawn to John and even begins to doubt some of the rumors she has heard about him. When the family is faced with grave danger the couple are afforded the opportunity to see where their marriage could go - that is, if they survive.

What an exciting read by Amy Jarecki! I have read the first five books in this series and am really glad to have read this entry. This romance by Amy Jarecki is the sixth book in the Lords of the Highlands series. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel. This delightful story has a lot to offer and I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion. ( )

Another great read from Amy Jarecki. Unfortunately I missed 1 or 2 in this series due to a year long reading hiatus but this didn't take away from the story.

Evelyn and John are great characters but I didn't really didn't see the chemistry until the middle. Then it was great. I adored John's sons.

The story flows nicely with a HUGE twist.

Overall it's a great read. I really enjoyed it!

I received a copy for an honest review.

( )

The Highland Early by Amy Jarecki
Lords of the Highlands #6

Lady Evelyn Pierrepont at 21 years of age and bred to marry someone of her own status realizes that she will marry strategically rather than as a result of falling in love but she had hoped to at least be consulted or given a choice. John Erskine, Earl of Mar, is recently widowed with sons 5 and 9 years of age. He needs money to get out of debt and knows he needs a stepmother for his sons BUT he never plans to fall in love again. With their upcoming nuptials and no love in sight the two really have what amounts to a convenient if not emotional marriage.

In some ways I am sure this is more realistic of weddings that took place in the 1700’s than those written with flowery prose and love in abundance. The age difference of 16 years seemed to also be in keeping with the times. I could see how Evelyn became entangled in spying for a cause she believed in though I am not sure that her ability to sneak around would have been as easy as it was made in the book. The physical relationship of the two was much easier than communicating, sharing and really getting to know one another. In fact, there was more misunderstanding than understanding for a large portion of the book.

I am not sure how believable the story is overall but it was a fun way to spend the day today. I enjoyed watching John and Evelyn work their way to a happy life together...eventually.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Forever-Grand Central Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 -5 Stars ( )

John Erskine, Earl of Mar, inherited a pile of debt from his father. The estate had been mismanaged for years and everything needed repair. John had been working to repair the damage caused by his father, but he couldn’t pay the debt off. The only reason he was a member of Queen Anne’s council as Secretary of State for Scotland, was because the money he received for the position allowed him to stave off his creditors. Now, he’s recently lost his beloved wife and he has two young sons to raise. John is almost the same age as his father was when he died and he has vowed that he will not, absolutely WILL NOT, leave the same kind of mess for his sons. Even though he deeply mourns his wife, he decides to marry an heiress in order to put his estate to rights and pay off his father’s debts. He’ll never love again, but he’ll honor and respect a new wife.

Lady Evelyn Pierrrepont, the oldest daughter of the Duke of Kingston-Upon-Hull, is appalled at her father’s dealings, his smuggling and the way he treats the servants. She’s learned a lot about him in the last year – and none of it was good. So, when she was offered the opportunity to make a difference, she gladly took it. She’d do her part to support Prince James and help the common people by spying on her father’s dealings and providing the information to the cause. Her mission was coming along nicely until she received a marriage proposal from the Earl of Mar. She certainly didn’t want to marry him – he was just like her father! But – she has no choice – her father has already made all of the arrangements.

Evelyn’s spying garners even more and better information once she is married, but she has begun to respect her new husband and is reluctant to continue. Then, things go dreadfully awry and she, John and the children are all in great peril. Can they escape the wicked Duke of Argyll? They barely manage to escape London, then they trek across the mountains in the Highlands, cross an ocean, confront a villain all while being chased by the English dragoons. There is definitely never a dull minute in this exciting fast-paced story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Were there problems with the book – Goodness yes – a number of them. It always makes me a bit nuts when an author gets the basics wrong – something as simple as the banns being called but they are going to marry in a week – nope. However, I still enjoyed the read.

This is the sixth book in the series, but it totally stands alone.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

The Highland Earl (Lords of the Highlands Book 6) by Amy Jarecki is an awesome Scottish romance. While book 6, it can be read as a stand alone.

Well written and well crafted with charming, engaging and realistic characters. From the first page I was hooked as I followed John Erskine, the widowed Earl of Mar, with two small sons, and who needs to remarry as quickly as possible. And the beautiful, rich, and feisty Lady Evelyn Pierrepont.

Action packed with Evelyn and sensual interactions, danger, spies, turmoil, betrayal, innocence, a marriage of convenience, treachery and challenges. Readers will be on the edge of their seats, as Evelyn and John, transverse the highland countryside, learning the extent of the betrayal that could prove deadly for John. If they can't find the truth, before it's too late, John, could lose his lands, his sons, his wife, his love and his life.
Another keeper by Amy Jarecki! WOW, what an exciting and intriguing story of love, treason, with a climatic HEA. A must read for fans of Scottish Romance, Historical Romance, where, history meets fiction.
#NetGalley, #TheHighlandEarl,#AmyJarecki

Rating: 5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewer: AprilR ( )