Review - - The Highland Chieftain

THE HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN

By Amy Jarecki

Publisher: Forever Grand Central

Release Date: July 31, 2018

Reviewed by Hellie

Lady Mairi Mackenzie might have been jilted by her fiance, but she doesn’t want or need any pity proposals from her fiance’s right-hand-man, Laird Duncan MacRae. Sure he’s handsome and rock hard and steady as the day is long--but as her father likes to remind her, she can do so much better. And again, she doesn’t want a man who only offers marriage just because he watched her get jilted.

Dunn MacRae is having a hell of a time persuading the only woman he’s ever wanted--and the only woman he couldn’t have--that his proposal couldn’t be more in earnest. However, the vexing female won’t stand still long enough to even talk to him. It’s only when he rescues her from a brutal attack from redcoats and has to go into hiding that Mairi finally begins to see the man she’s been snubbing this whole time.

I’ve enjoyed Jarecki’s series of highlanders--she is skilled at delivering a hunky, heroic highlander you enjoy crawling in bed with--but hands down, Dunn is the McDreamiest. And possibly the McSteamiest. When it comes to fictional boyfriends--of which I have a new one every week and have had for the last twenty-some years--Dunn is a contender for all things we cheer for in a hero. He’s protective, he’s poetic, he’s kind (though grumpy), and he’s always putting her happiness first. I also gotta say of all the covers that Jarecki has had for this series, this one is my favorite--it’s McSwoony. (I gave a ½ star just for the cover alone.)

As for Mairi, I did struggle slightly with her. I applaud Jarecki for creating heroines who are historically in tune with their times (on the whole) and aren’t Lara Tomb Raider in skirts. However, I sometimes get a little lost in the emotional ride the heroines have gone on and they feel a little immature. Fortunately Mairi’s little rides were infrequent and mostly logical (i.e. didn’t pull me out of the story which is what happens when I think the heroines are being too weepy.) Mairi is definitely an equal partner to Dunn in every way, and makes her loyalties known when the time comes.

So if you’re looking for a Highland boyfriend this summer, make haste and fall in love with Dunn MacRae--and if you haven’t already, the other highlanders in this series.